Monday 6 November 2017

Some velvet morning

The first of November is a holiday here in Belgium. It's All Saints Day, when people visit their departed loved ones' graves and decorate them with flowers.

We don't have any graves to visit nor do we need a special day to remember our loved ones, as  remembering is a continual process and memories, good or bad, can pop up when least expected.


The day started as it meant to go on, with a blue sky in which marshmallow clouds carelessly floated, the sun shining with a blinding, dazzling brilliancy, shrouding the world in a gauze-like haze.

Not a day to be spent inside, obviously.



What we needed was a good long walk, so we wasted no time in getting dressed and ready.

I dressed in velvet: my dark green velvet jacket, of course, and a printed velvet skirt in autumnal colours, charity shopped last December and last seen here. Needless to stay, I felt quite strokeable in all that velvet softness. Purr!



I combined the skirt with a wide-cuffed and pointy-collared blouse bought at a flea market last Summer, in a heavy moss green polyester with a light green and orange flower print and closing with green buttons, with a smaller version of these at the cuffs.



I added bright orange beads and a gold tone ring with a round orange centre. On top, a pale coral polka dotted cardigan, adorned with one of my Bambi brooches, which has a greenish background.

Another brooch was pinned to the jacket, with an orange and green flamed stone.

My handbag of choice was made from buttersoft dark green leather, with sturdy round handles and a flap closure ending in a fringe.



I wore, and probably ruined, my last pair of burnt orange tights. I've been looking on the High Street but I don't think burnt orange is in fashion. My only remaining hope is the weekly market in our village, which has a stall with a fabulous and inexpensive range of hosiery.



The scuffed brown boots are my footwear of choice when I go out walking from Autumn until early Spring. They are super comfortable and warm to boot (pun not intended) but the culprits of the ruination of my tights ...

I needed a scarf, as the jacket is quite low cut, but there was no need yet to bring out the wool, so I chose this large square one in yellow, orange, purple, pink and blue.



Our walk took us to one of our favourite wild places: the watery nature reserve Het Broek in Blaasveld.



The air was pungent with Autumn smells, a heady mixture of rotting vegetation and mulchy leaves, mingled with some strands of far-off wood smoke.


A patch of crown vetch was basking in a sun trap, attracting the last of the bees. It usually flowers from June to August, so it must have been rejuvenated by the late Summer weather of only a week or two ago.


Vegetation - even in its various stages of decay - was still quite abundant, and partly obscuring the view into half-hidden pools and brooks.


I love this watery world of mystery and imagination.


Flocks of geese arrive from further North to spend Winter in this paradisiacal half drowned landscape.

The meadow where I posed back in August was a squishy cushion of earth and grass. This is, after all, a marshy area, and will revert to water meadow in months to come.


For now, I could still walk across its surface without getting my feet all too wet, rejoicing in the sun's balming rays.

It felt good to be out and about in what could very well be the last of the delicious Autumn days!

Once again linking to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style!

36 comments:

  1. Glorious scenery! I love those Autumnal colours and the wooden ducks - I thought they were real at first glance.
    Your outfit is fab, velvet rocks! xxx

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    1. Thank you Vix. I do love a bit of velvet, and that green jacket especially. xxx

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  2. The photo's of the nature reserve are glorious and a feast for the eyes on a freezing cold day here.
    Its a shame you can't find any more burnt orange tights. Why do these things have to come in and go out of fashion? It would be nice to be able to get bright tights all the time. I haven't found good colours this year yet, although I keep looking xxx

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    1. Thank you Sally! You're right about this year's colours: it's a good thing I've been bulk buying coloured tights in the last couple of years. xxx

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  3. Dark green velvet is perfection in these gorgeous Fall settings! Thanks for linking up, xo

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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  4. Oo yes, strokeable in velvet! How did Jos keep his hands off you? These sunny autumn days are just wonderful aren't they, made for nature walks xx

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    1. It was quite difficult for Jos, I must say ;-) I'm so glad we went for that walk, the weather this weekend has been pretty horrendous ... xxx

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  5. What a lovely walk you’ve had. That velvet jacket needs to go on my pile. I love that like me you wear two brooches, one on your jacket and one on your cardi. I do it all the time.
    Do you think we are turning into grumpy old woman over the forthcoming silly season haha. I certain am xxx

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    1. Only over the forthcoming silly season, I'm sure! I'm sure that we are the opposite of grumpy old women otherwise ... xxx

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  6. Oooh! Velvet, stroke stroke...what a lovely outfit and so very autumnal.

    What a great nature reserve that is. On such a beautiful day it so good to get out into the outdoors and enjoy the sights, smells and colours.

    Good luck with the burnt orange tights!

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    1. Thank you Veronica! That nature reserve is a firm favourite, where both short and longer walks can be enjoyed in all seasons! xxx

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  7. You always make such beautiful pictures. I love the atmosphere. You look amazing in velvet, this scarf is great coloured.
    I adore tights in colourful colours.
    Jos poppy brooch is amazing
    Big hug, Tina

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    1. Thank you Tina. Jos and I both wear poppy brooches this time of year, although mine's a bit bigger. I think it's very important to honour the memory of all those innocent men who died fighting in that horrible war! xxx

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  8. Does Belgium have the same tradition as France where they only ever decorate graves with chrysanths on All Saints Day and they are not seen in gardens etc?
    Lovely velvet jacket Ann, what a bummer that your comfy boots ruined your tights. Btw my trip to Bruges is at the beginning of December. xx

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    1. We do indeed have the same tradition here, Fiona. Chrysanths are grown especially for the day, and the bigger cemeteries have - often rivalling - stalls selling Chrysanths at their entrances ... They are hardly grown and gardens and - God forbid! - certainly never given as bouquets! xxx

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  9. What a beautiful place you took us to! It looks very similar to here, where I live (Canada's west coast). I love your autumnal colours - love that velvet!

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    1. Thank you Sheila! If it looks similar to where you live, you certainly must live in a beautiful area! xxx

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  10. Always enjoy taking a virtual walk with you as you take us to the most beautiful spots.
    I hope the weather continues to be favourable as it would be a pity to hide all those beautiful velvet clothes beneath a heavy coat.

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    1. I'm glad you're enjoying the virtual walks, Goody! The weather has turned nasty in the meantime, so I won't be able to avoid the heavy coats for much longer ... xxx

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  11. What beautiful colors in your outfit. So in tune with the season.

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  12. lovely outfit, all that velvet looks fabulous, and your jacket has a perfect color and shape!, and I love all those orange details around you, and the colorful scarf which adds lots of interest!
    sorry that your orange tights get ruined, they're really hard to find these days, I agree!
    besos

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    1. Orange, like your beloved turquoise, really adds a pop of colour, especially this time of year. I popped into the local market on Saturday, and was able to buy up the last packets of burnt orange tights, which were leftovers from last year! xxx

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  13. gorgeous nature shoots!
    indeed does your outfit inspire me to pet & hug you - so much lush materials :-D
    and fab colors too!!
    big hug! xxxxxx

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    1. Thank you Beate! I think this season always inspires to wear lush and luxurious fabrics and colours. xxx

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  14. Make the most of the sun! (It is horribly grey and soggy here today and I do not like it at all.)

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    1. I am glad we did make the most of it, Mim. The weather has turned here and it's been quite grey and wet here too. xxx

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  15. Love the velvet jacket! Perfect with the yellow too. It's pouring with rain as I right this! You weather looks perfect for a walk xx

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    1. Thank you Laurie! It's actually pouring with rain while I'm writing this too. xxx

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  16. What beautiful photos from a lovely sunny Autumn day! The colours in your outfit harmonise with the backdrops so perfectly. xx

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  17. The last picture says everything! It brings me peace just to look at these photographs. I adore the green jacket - such beautiful color, texture and details! And with this bright scarf - amazing on you! Lots of love!

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    1. I'm glad my photographs brought you peace, Natalia! I think I'm going to have the last photo framed, and it makes my heart sing whenever I look at it. I look like a free spirit, don't I? xxx

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  18. I've got a pair of burnt orange tights I think. I've worn them but I'm happy to send them to you if you want. Might have some other coloured tights I don't really wear but don't want to chuck away as it seems a waste.

    I like your outfits muchly.x

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    1. Thank you Kezzie, that's so sweet of you. If you're sure you're not wearing them anymore, I'd love to take them off your hands, and send you a little treat in return. If you'd like to contact me, my email address is dovecottage@skynet.be xxx

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