Thursday 21 December 2017

When the world stops for snow

They've got it wrong again! That was our first thought upon opening our curtains on Sunday before last. "They", of course, are the weather forecasters, who'd predicted snow during the night. And what did we see? Exactly, nothing! The world outside our window was looking its grey old self!

For once, we were glad they were wrong, as we had a flea market to go to!



But look: we'd hardly stepped outside before it did start snowing, very gently at first, but by the time we reached the garage where our car is parked, snow was drifting down in fat fluffy flakes.



Being a Sunday morning, the roads were all but deserted, with only a few other people like us foolhardy enough to be venturing outside, instead of watching the transformation of our streets and gardens into a white wonderland from the warmth and safety of our homes.

Nobody seemed to be in a hurry, though, so we made our way at a snail's pace to the flea market venue in Mechelen, taking much longer than the usual 20 minutes or so.

Having made it safely to our destination and having checked in with our membership id cards, a happy few hours of rummaging could finally begin. 



It didn't take me long to make my first purchase, at a delightful stall full of treasures, where I found this small lot of vintage buttons.



As usual, all manner of goodies, including quite a few oddities, were shouting for our attention.

Of course, I had to photograph the creepy dolls' heads, some of them eyeless, others staring into space as if wondering about their fate. The stall's owner even re-arranged them for me so that I could take a better picture!


As we'd arrived late, our stomachs started rumbling soon, but before we sat down to lunch, I bought my first two brooches. 

The little boat with its long pin, proudly displaying the Belgian colours, might be a Liberation brooch, made to celebrate the Liberation of Belgium after the Second World War.

From the same stall came the blue and sparkly green flying bird. Both were € 3.



Soon after lunch, two more brooches came my way. The black one, which might look like plastic but is surprisingly heavy, is a vintage mourning brooch, and I think the € 7 I paid for it is quite a good price.

The plastic dove, fittingly in dove grey, was only € 2, from the same stall.



More oddities! I loved the packaging of the "Sport-Trainer", depicting three "absolutely harmless" girls. That's my friends Ingrid and Inez and me then, although I'm not too sure we are absolutely harmless. 

Then we came across the two ladies with the jewellery heaped stall I keep promising you photographs of. Well, I did it this time!


After a good old rummage more purchases were made in the form of these six brooches, for which I paid a total of € 17.

I do believe the black one with the sparkly stones might be another mourning brooch.



We also found another plaster wall plaque for our wall of heads! Isn't she absolutely gorgeous?

The snow had been replaced by yet more rain by the time we left and thaw had set in, turning the snow piled up at the side of the roads into dishwater coloured sludge.



Daylight was fading rapidly when we finally made it back, so that flash photography was required for my outfit photos, making me look all shiny and bright.

The Tweed jacket I'd been wearing on Saturday was now accompanied by green accessories: a  knitted scarf and warm woolly hat! The tan handbag - a firm favourite! - complimented the jacket's furry bits, and I was wearing my burgundy boots, which are lined with a welcome layer of woolly insulation.


First wear of this Paisley print dress, with its pleated skirt and built-in tie, which I secured with a floral scarf clip. 

Further accessories were an olive green belt, which you can only catch a glimpse of, a burgundy plastic ring and a pink owl brooch, one of the few contemporary ones I own.




Same scenario on Monday morning. Almost all of Sunday's snow had melted and the streets were looking wet and forlorn. 

While I was on the bus into town, the first batch of fresh snow starting falling, which had turned into an onslaught of merrily swirling and dancing flakes by the time I got to the office.


The sky was dark and foreboding, promising no let up of the snow and, as I stood looking down from our windows on the struggling pedestrians and slow-moving traffic, I made the wise decision to take the afternoon off.

The merest amount of snow makes Belgium's traffic come to a standstill, creating chaos, so it would have been madness to make my way home during rush hour.


An added bonus was that I could enjoy the sight of our snow filled garden and watch Phoebe leaving delicate paw prints as she explored the strange white substance.

Again, the snow didn't last and was gone within a day, so that I could breathe a sigh of relief.

Picturesque it may be, but not much fun if you have to commute!

26 comments:

  1. Well, our snow has been and gone. It lingered for days because it was so cold but then the rain washed it away. The last couple of days have been much milder. I'm glad to hear the UK isn't the only country that falls apart at the first sign of snow; last Monday neither of the two school age grandchildren or my daughter (she's a teacher) had to go to school because of the snow!

    The buttons are exquisite - some of them are hats! How cute.

    You bought some wonderful brooches. I;m wondering if your black mourning brooch is made of Jet? Here mourning jewellery from the Victorian era was nearly always made of jet or gold...the head with the spotted headscarf is fab.

    I love your paisley print dress and lovely green accessories. Hope the snow stays away!
    xxx

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    1. The snow wasn't so bad that schools were closed, but then again I think we had less snow than you did. I wish the mourning brooch was Jet, but somehow I don't think it is. I'd have to consult someone in the know, I guess. xxx

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  2. I'm sorry you had to endure the snow, too. What a relief that it's not just the UK that grinds to a halt when we get any.
    I love the paisley print dress, such a lovely length on you and the green cardi is perfect.
    What a haul of brooches. I've got a fair bit of Victorian mourning jewellery but I've never come across anything as blingy as your find. Very interesting!
    The wall plaque is fab, love her eyebrows. I'm drooling over the Acapulco ceramics (in the collage under the creepy dolls' heads), I've only got one plate, I'd love to find more.
    xxx

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    1. I'm just guessing the blingy brooch is a mourning brooch, as I came across similar blingy ones when I was googling them. Well done on recognizing the Acapulco ceramics! I'd collect them if I hadn't so many different ceramics already. We come across them quite regularly, but they're usually quite pricey! xxx

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  3. Those dolls heads really are creepy. I love the brooches you found though.
    You look fab in the Paisley print with green cardi. Green looks great on you.
    The buttons were such a good find, I'm always on the lookout but rarely find any that many worth having all together.
    The view from your office is wonderful. xxx

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    1. Thank you Sally! I bought a lot of my buttons from a flea market trader who sells them at € 1 for 12. At that price, I always go mad and buy several sets! xxx

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  4. There is so much fabulousness in this post, Ann! The buttons are so pretty and the brooches are all amazing. I would so love to go shopping with you!! I love your paisley dress and it looks great with the green cardie. The pink owl brooch is fab too! I love seeing pictures of the snow. It's so hot here that it's hard to imagine! Phoebe looks adorable exploring in the snow! XXX

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    1. Thank you Sacha! I'd take you shopping in an instant if you didn't live at the opposite side of the globe ... xxx

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  5. The first mourning brooch is interesting-could it be jet with some sort of polymer over it? I've run across a few that seem too heavy until I realised it was stone.

    Your paisley dress is beautiful and you look so smart in it. Sorry the weather is being troublesome, but at least it melts quickly. When we get snow it tends to stick around for a bit.

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    1. I'm taking the brooch with me to the next flea market. There's a lady trading there who's fount of knowledge on costume and other jewellery. xxx

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  6. Ah snow...I hate it. Perfect for Christmas Day otherwise I have no need for it.

    You've found some more wonderful treasures for your growing collection.

    I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

    Suzanne

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    1. Thank you Suzanne. I have no need for snow either, so I hope that that was it for this Winter ... xxx

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  7. I think like Suzanne. Please let it snow for christmas:)
    In Mannheim it is raining the whole week, a fine rain all the week, arghhh it is a mess to go out and ride bike.
    I love your brooch findings and you look stunning in this green cardigan. Green is a great colour. And hey you are fashionabel trendy, it's greenery Ann :))
    I wish you merry christmas, huge hug, Tina

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    1. Unfortunately, no snow here on Christmas! How about you? Did it snow in Mannheim? Oh, and I'm a big fan of green, whether it's fashionable or not! xxx

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  8. growing up in regularly snow covered mountains - at least 30 years ago - i just wonder how the whole modern world come to stop by one snowflake upright ;-DDD
    i know it is a case of being used to. and the modern fragile technic.

    love your brown-green look! <3 <3 <3
    i definitely need a brown skirt - have a brown/beige herringbone tweed lying around - itching to sew it up!
    the jewelry stall is magic! and you found very pretty brooches and super cute buttons.
    i hope the beautiful wash set is not destroyed by the ice yet.....
    hugest hugs! xxxxx

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    1. I think it's exactly because of the so-called modern world. Cars,tramlines, railroad tracks: they're not exactly snow resistant. Special tires for Winter are hardly used here, and certainly not compulsary like in Germany. And as you say, we are not used to it, some Winters it doesn't even snow! Oh, and we'll definitely take the wash set inside once it really starts freezing! xxx

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  9. I think the snow is so pretty, magical but only until it stops me going anywhere or doing anything :) and I do dislike the sludgy grey aftermath - it looks so depressing.
    What a great haul, I rather like the mourning brooch. I'm glad you didn't let the snow put you off venturing out, it looks like an amazing flea market.
    xx

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    1. The grey sludge after snow looks horrible, doesn't it? I think snow is only pretty in rural areas, but in towns it doesn't stay pretty for long! xxx

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  10. I love your new plaster head and oh look... there's Auntie Jean's coffee service. (or one just like it)
    More brooches! I especially like the Belgian boat.
    Poor old Phoebe doesn't look too sure about that snow, we had the merest smattering here in Sussex but it disappeared within hours.
    xxxxxx

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    1. Your Auntie Jean has fabulous taste, whether it's the service in front (Acapulco) or the one at the back (Argenteuil). Both are Belgian made, which I am just a tiny bit proud of! xxx

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  11. You always combine colors I'd never think to match and they work in surprising ways. The wares here are delightful, even the creepy doll-heads!

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    1. Thank you Ally! And yes, the creepy doll-heads do have something, too! xxx

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  12. I love seeing how snow transforms the world! Every time it does it, no matter how many times I've seen it... Your outfit is gorgeous - you look beautiful and positively cozy! And you make me want to go to an antique mall now! :)
    <3

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    1. Thank you Natalia! I do love seeing snow, but not when it messes up my commute ... A white Christmas would have been welcome, though! xxx

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  13. I love the shots of Phoebe in the snow.

    I bet you'll find the perfect use for those buttons.

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    1. Thank you Mim! Well, a black cat certainly stands out in the snow, doesn't it? xxx

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