Monday 10 June 2019

Lazy hazy Summer days

In the weekend before last temperatures soared to Summer heights.

They had been on the rise since a couple of days, as if to ease us gently from Spring into Summer, when suddenly they were turned up to full volume, reaching the high twenties by Saturday.

It was the First of June and, while Summer hasn't officially begun in the astronomical sense, it does mark the start of meteorological Summer. And oh my, did it start with a bang!


Enticing us with the first of the velvety red roses, the park near our favourite charity shop was beckoning us to come in and stroll along its shady paths.

Birdsong floated down from the leafy canopies and summertime pollen triggered itches and sneezes.


I'd picked up the maxi skirt I'm wearing here just days before at Think Twice, one of a bagful of € 4 sales bargains. It's handmade and the fabric suggests curtain couture, and isn't that print fabulously suited for a Summer's day? 

And look: bare feet and sandals! No close-up of my badly painted toenails, though. I'm such a Clumsy Fingers in that department.


I shopped my wardrobe, as they say, for the vintage orange cap-sleeved blouse, with its melange of black, white and peachy spots.

A pale green cameo brooch was pinned to it, and I added a string of carved, ivory coloured beads and a brown moc-croc belt with a tortoiseshell buckle.


The only retail items I'm wearing are the sandals, snapped up in last Summer's sales, and the basket bag, which was an impulse buy from a high street pop-up in Antwerp. No regrets, though, as it's fast becoming my most worn bag.

The frames of my sunnies, on the other hand, are the bargain of the century. They are from Rodenstock, and I found them in a charity shop for € 0,50 back in 2013. I had them fitted with prescription lenses and they are still going strong after six years!


The thermostat was cranked even higher on Sunday, when the mercury climded to the mid-thirties.

The heat which was trapped within the walls of Dove Cottage's garden drove us inside, but rather than succumb to indolence, we racked our brains for a cool place to escape to.



Once again, the park in Boom, which is only a 15-minute drive away, came to our rescue. 

As Thursday had been a public holiday, and lots of people had Friday off as well, most of them must have flocked to the seaside, so that we had the park virtually to ourselves. We even found a parking space in the shade.


Boom's delightful town park, all of 27 hectares, used to be part of a larger wood which, in 1925, was turned into a park. 


It is triangular and shape and laid out along the banks of a brook, the Bosbeek (beek is Flemish for brook), which meanders through it.


The cotton 1950s Summer dress was another one from that week's Think Twice bargains.

It's still a bit wrinkly, as I'd washed it but couldn't muster the energy to iron it. Still, I was adamant to give it its first wearing, as it was perfectly suited to the weather.

I added a red vinyl belt, a red and white beaded necklace and a couple of plastic bangles in similar shades. All accessories charity shopped, except for the white plastic ring, which is an old retail buy.


The brook's water is quite murky in places, its surface milky and opaque, which made the ever-changing mosaic of light and shade created by the gentle breeze confuse eyes and camera lens alike.


Several paths converge at a clearing. Now which one shall we take? And do we need to leave a trail of breadcrumbs to find our way back?

It's early Summer, and the trees have donned their best verdant hues, while the grass verges still have a freshness they will have lost in a month or so.


The brook ends in a series of pools, where the water is like a freshly cleaned mirror, shimmering in the haze of the afternoon.


Circling it and arriving at the brook once more, we crossed a bridge to return along the other side.

But first it was time to rest my feet while reclinng like Little Mermaid on a rock at the water's edge, with the pond a dream-like mirage behind me. 

Linking with Patti's Visible Monday and Mica's Weekday Wear Linkup.


44 comments:

  1. Oh I am in love with you in this red/blue dress. You look soo amazing. The weather was very fine. You know we used it to travel to Saarland ;)
    You made very nice pictures, I see a bag there, it is cute :)
    With a very huge hug Tina

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    1. Thank you Tina! Saarland looks really beautiful, I must visit it sometime! xxx

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  2. That skirt is beautiful, and the dress looks so good on you.

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    1. Thank you Goody, they were both a joy to wear! xxx

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  3. I think Mother Nature changed to summer temps to lure you into wearing these fun summery outfits so you and she could match. You really do look the picture of summer and fit right in with the pretty landscapes you visited.

    Hugs,
    Sherry
    http://www.petiteover40.com

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    1. Thank you Sherry. I must have offended Mother Nature, as she took here summer temps with her. And I hadn't finished wearing my summer frocks yet! xxx

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  4. I am so glad you are having summer at last! It's cold and wet here and I have the heating on...

    Your parks are wonderful and look so cool and green. You look fab in that big floral maxi skirt and spotty blouse and your red and blue dress looked very crisp and smart. Loved all the accessories, too. Great buys all round!

    Have a great week.
    xxx

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    1. Sadly, it didn't last Vronni, and we had to have the heating on too ... xxx

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  5. Oh, that first skirt is amazing. So pretty.

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  6. BOTH your outfits are GORGEOUS!!! I LOVE that skirt and orange outfit in general- so pretty! I always long to find another pretty maxi skirt like that! You look beautiful. The second dress is absolutely stunning on you too! The escape from Dove Cottage looks so tranquil too!x

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    1. Thank you Kezzie. I'm always on the look out for maxi skirt and dresses. xxx

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  7. I'm gobsmacked by that fabulous maxi skirt in your first outfit! I love that pattern! How lovely that it's so nice weather-wise right now for you! I can hear the chirping of the birds, and hum of insects, and can practically smell the green. Just beautiful, Ann! Glad you and Jos are out enjoying it all!

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    1. Thank you Sheila! I was gobsmacked when I set eyes on that maxi skirt too. Couldn't believe it was my size in every way, including lengthwise! xxx

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  8. Roses. Deer keeps eating mine. Looks like lovey park.
    Coffee is on

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  9. I absolutely love your red and blue dress, Ann! It is such a lovely print and style. I love how you've accessorised with that vinyl belt and the chunky accessories. You know how much I love them! ;) That bag is fab too! Such a beautiful place to wander and explore! Hope you have a wonderful week ahead, Ann! XXX

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    1. Thank you Sasha! That dress was such a lucky find. It's been quite a while since I found anything like that! xxx

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  10. Another beautiful trip through nature with you Ann, just what's needed today, we have grey skies and endless rain at the moment.
    I absolutely love your orange outfit, not just my favourite colour, but the skirt, that pattern, wow, love it! xxx

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    1. You're welcome, Sally! Sadly, in the meantime, we were treated to grey skies and rain as well. xxx

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  11. I love your maxi skirt, what a great find! But that red and blue dress is definitely my favourite - it looks great on you! :) Enjoy your warmer weather!

    Hope you're having a great start to your week :) It's a more relaxed week this week for me after a busy week last week!


    Away From Blue

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    1. Thank you Mica! It's almost holiday time for me. Just one more hectic week to go through ... xxx

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  12. Love the print on your maxi skirt and the 1950s dress is a treasure, love that square neckline on you.
    What a wonderful stroll through that verdant park. It's 11°c here today. I'm wearing boots, a hat and a coat with a sheepskin collar! xxx

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    1. I wonder if I need to bring a winter coat! Let's hope for a change for the better. xxx

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  13. Clever turn to go to the parks!
    In north east germany, the little rivers, connecting the big lakes, are called bäk/bek.....
    Love the orange maxi look! Very chic! The dress is fab too with its interesting shoulders and skirt design. Stay cool! Hugsies! xxxxx

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    1. Thank you Beate! I was instantly smitted when I set eyes on that dress! Oh, and aren't our languages quite alike sometimes! xxx

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  14. The 1950s dress is a gem, great colours and silhouette on you. Well I'm glad you had some warmth! We've had nowhere near that in Wales so far. Pretty chilly at the moment to be honest! Xx

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    1. Thank you Sarah! I do hope you get Summer weather soon! xxx

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  15. omg you look stunning! beautiful outfits!
    Jadieegosh   Instagram

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  16. The curtain couture skirt is splendid - so cool on a hot day. And I can't see the wrinkles on the cotton dress, the pattern clearly hides them well.

    I wish the weather was still as nice as that - it's horrible here right now.

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    1. Thank you Mim! I have heard tales about your horrible weather. Let's hope for improvement very soon! xxx

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  17. I love both the maxi skirt and the dress Ann. I love the pattern on the maxi skirt! This would look great with a sweater for our colder months or the way our weather is behaving, you could wear that way sooner! Hurry up summer! xx

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    1. Thank you Laurie! Oh, yes, hurry up Summer! I'll be in the UK this time next week! xxx

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  18. The print on that maxi skirt is so gorgeous and eye-catching. This maxi is a great find and it's simply perfect for the start of summer (here it's really hot as well). I also really like how you paired it with that orange blouse and a basket bag. Isn't it fabulous to be able to slip into sandals again? I started to wear them too.

    Great idea to fit prescription glasses into vintage frames. A lovely way to get unique sunglasses. I like vintage frames but I didn't wear vintage sunnies because I wasn't sure about the quality of the glasses. This is a great way to have both quality and style!

    The maxi dress is lovely! It looks ironed to me, it must be that kind of material. You look great in it. (btw I hate ironing, especially in the summer and avoid it whenever I can).

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    1. Thank you Ivana! I'm sure your Summers are usually hotter than ours ... I never thought of buying vintage frames, but when I saw these in a charity shop, I put them on for fun, and was surprised they looked so good! xxx

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  19. It never occured to me to add prescription glasses to a thrifted frame. From now on I'll have a closer look at glasses. :-) Have a nice weekend in another wonderful park. Regula

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    1. I actually put them on for fun when I found the frames in as charity shop. They looked good and as I a) didn't have prescription sunglasses yet and b) I saw they were Rodenstock, I hit upon the idea to have prescription lenses added. Luckily, my optician was willing to oblige. xxx

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  20. It's nice to see that you're getting some sunshine. I adore your maxi skirt, the print is wonderful!
    xx

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    1. Thank you Hazel. The weather is still up and down here. We've had 28°C yesterday. I've packed that skirt for the UK, just in case ... xxx

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  21. What a dreamy spot! Straight out of a fairy tale.

    That maxi skirt is FAB!!!

    I'm happy you scored that cotton dress. No one likes to wear polyester after the temps climb above 25 C.

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

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    1. Thank you Suzanne! I love places like that. I do have a range of cotton dresses for hot Summer days. I'd wilt in polyester ... xxx

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  22. woww, what an inspiring post!, all those colors and the landscapes and your summery outfits are fabulous!. Love your 'curtain couture' skirt with the polka dot shirt, such a perfect combo!, and your cute basket!
    And I love your cotton dress, it's a totally adorable classic piece and looks so delightful to wear!. Love its colors and the cute sleeves. Actually, this kind of dresses are perfect for summer weather! the most comfortable thing ever!
    besos

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    1. Thanks Monica! I actually wore the same combo - curtain couture skirt and polka dot shirt - again in Shropshire, as I love it so much! xxx

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