Monday 23 March 2020

Accentuate the Positive

The world is in turmoil and everything has gone topsy turvy, and at times it feels as if there is no way out of this nightmare we're currently living in.

I'm determined to spread some cheer and accentuate the positive, but still I'm having good days as well as bad.

For my own peace of mind, I'm trying, if not to eliminate, then to reduce the negative, by having snoozed everyone on social media who's been scaremongering and posting the often fake and blown out of all proportion news the Internet is rife with. Beyond the bare necessities, I don't want to know. In the end, we can only do what we've got to do, which is to try and keep calm, to practice social distancing and to self isolate as much as possible.

And to wash our hands! Mine are red and raw from constantly doing so and they seem to have aged 10 years in as many days.


There will be no walks to take you on or finds to show you for the foreseeable future, but I can still show you what I've been wearing, can't I? Nothing's changed in that department.

On Friday before last - Friday the 13th, how very apt - the first steps towards lockdown were taken by the Belgian government, closing all pubs and restaurants except takeaway ones, cancelling all events and closing all non-essential shops during the weekend.


I'd taken the afternoon off as we had an appointment at the bank, but that got cancelled as well, leaving me with time on my hands.

There was definitely something fishy going on, so I accessorized my burgundy, rainbow striped dress with the shrimp brooch I recently found at the flea market and a cream belt with a mottled plastic buckle and a ditto little dangling fish. 

I used pops of turquoise for my necklace, cardigan and opaques. Although this wasn't the intention, it just dawned on me that the turquoise might be representing the sea! After all, isn't that what we all are: at sea with the current state of affairs?


The sun was shining on Saturday, so it was too good a day to waste inside. 

But rather than joining the idiots who found it necessary to flock across the border to Holland where shops, pubs and restaurants were still open, and acting as if nothing untoward was happening, we just stepped across our backdoor's threshold and into our garden.


To say that it is showing signs of neglect is a huge understatement, so we took advantage of our house arrest to start with the first of our tidying sessions, removing some of the rampant ivy and pruning our lovely Hydrangea which was still sporting its dried flower heads among its luxurious new growth.

My denim ankle length gardening apron came from IKEA, but at almost twenty years old it can practically be considered vintage. The pink floral gardening gloves were a bargain from a local shop and I have them in yellow too. 


And this is what I wore for the rest of the day. Flowers, and more flowers! 

Both the navy, flower sprinkled skirt and the blue and white floral blouse, were Think Twice finds, but while the blouse already joined my wardrobe last Spring, the skirt was a more recent sales bargain.

Picking up the orange flowers in the skirt's print, I opted for an orange belt, necklace and tights. Orange also appeared in the raised flowers on my brooch, while the tiny white ones and the green background echoed some of my skirt's other colours.




We have recently started using our bread machine again - it had somehow fallen out of favour in the last couple of years - and as Jos had stocked up on ready-made bread mix, we didn't even have to leave the house for a loaf of bread. And baking one's own bread makes your house smell heavenly too!


Sunday was mostly spent lounging on the sofa. Or rather, sitting on our 1950s cocktail chairs, as our sofa was occupied by another family member ... Oh well, we all know who's the real Princess of Dove Cottage!


I've been reading my latest book, which is rather good. With my book hoarding tendencies, there will be no shortage of reading materials, that's for sure.


First wearing of this multi-coloured beauty of a dress, another fairly recent Think Twice find.

Here I am smiling as if there is no tomorrow, and faking that I haven't got a care in the world. 



With so many gorgeous Spring colours to choose from, it wasn't easy to pick the one I'd use for my accessories, so after doing some eeny, meeny, miny, moe, the choice fell on green! 


I didn't object and wore a vinyl belt, beaded necklace, opaques and a massive bird brooch in my favourite colour.

For the outfit photos I even donned my sage green ankle boots. They are pull-on ones in waxed leather, and bought while on a short break in Zeeland in November 2018.

Speaking of Zeeland, we'd booked an airbnb there in the week after Easter, which unfortunately it looks like we will have to cancel. Oh, how it breaks my heart!


But I didn't laze around the whole day. Enter Isolation Occupation No. 2!

Taking out my sewing basket and rummaging in my vintage button stash, I set out to replace the tired and washed out buttons on this crepe vintage dress. 

Aren't these magenta ones a definite improvement?  They match the pink-ish bits in the dress's flower print almost exactly.


Well, that was it, the first of the undoubtedly many isolation weekends. I'll probably get cabin fever, but I'm sure I won't get bored.  If only that scary virus would pack its bags and leave!

Do stay safe and sane, my friends!

34 comments:

  1. I am in love with the last picture. Green and pink... I like it so much.
    In Germany all is closed and the virus is dancing in the street. More ana more people have to stay at home. I hope they do!
    We stay at home after work and on weekends...playing with Laila, reading /writing blogs and watch TV.
    take care of you both, a very huge hug Tina

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    1. Thank you Tina, I love green and pink too! And we too stay at home, as we should, after work and in the weekends. There will be less work for me though, as my hours have now been reduced to 2 days a week ... xxx

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  2. dear ann - i´m very happy that you try to make the best of it!
    its the only way to come thru halfway sane. its like with dresses: dull, uncomfy clothing will make us feel dull & uncomfy - but we can chose to wear bright and pretty and flattering so we feel like a mill. $$....
    as you do - love the spring colored dress - so sunny. and how georgeous the shrimp brooch looks on the purple one. wearing flowers aprés gardening is a fun idea :-D maybe you´r inspiring your garden to bloom soon - to lift your spirits on one of that bad days.......
    tons of hugsies! xxxxx

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    1. Thank you Beate! With all the flowers I have been wearing, our garden should soon look magnificent :-) xxx

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  3. It is hard to motivate and carry on with outfits, isn't it? I'm glad you were able to write your post, Ann. Hugs to you, my dear!

    Loving your colourful outfits - they just make me smile! From your sea-themed ensemble to the blue-orange mix to the wonderful pink/yellow/green (loving that bigass bird brooch!), you're putting a smile on my face with every single one. And there's our Phoebe, glaring haughtily as if to say, "My couch!"

    Take care, Ann!

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    1. Thank you Sheila, wearing my usual colourful outfits is what keeps me going right now. And yes, it actually IS Phoebe's couch. It's her house too, we are just her humble servants :-) xxx

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  4. I'm so glad you've posted some of your lovely outfits, so many lovely cheerful colours and quirky well-chosen accessories (all hail the prawn!), enough to take our collective minds off the current situation.
    We're all going to have wonderful gardens by the end of the Summer, aren't we? i'm glad you're able to work in yours stylishly with those fabulous gloves and apron!
    Jos's bread looks so good I can almost smell it from here.
    Phoebe is looking very regal!
    Aren't people idiots? You ought to see them here, flocking to Snowdonia, having boozy picnic in parks and queuing for miles outside Tesco. Mind you, most Brits are stupid, they voted for Brexit!!
    Stay safe both of you and enjoy your book. xxx

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    1. Some people are definitely idiots, and I'm afraid they will learn absolutely nothing from all this. But let's remain positive, wear fabulous clothes and transform our gardens! xxx

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  5. That shrimp! I love it. You've posted some cheerful and happy inducing outfits.
    I agree, we don't need any scare mongering and need to ignore it and get on with things.
    The days are looking very different and having more time is good, I spent time looking at birds for ages today.
    Thank you for your lovely post Ann. xxx

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    1. Thank you Sally! I have actually been watching the birds' antics in the garden too! xxx

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  6. Your outfits always lift up my spirits.. I can not or actually can believe you have a shrimp broach.. what a hoot!

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    1. Thank you Hena! Well, a shrimp brooch was a first for me too :-) xxx

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  7. Yes, the outside world is grim, but thankfully we have a wonderful little IG world where some normality reigns. I think we just have to accept that this whole episode is going to go on for awhile because not everyone is remaining indoors. We still have people wandering around, completely oblivious. Either that or they just think they're untouchable. I've just accepted that it's going to be totally impossible to restrain people. The whole thing has given me moments of grief but I'm trying to stay strong and remember a vaccine is on it's way.

    Anyway, on to a brighter subject: your lovely outfits.
    Your burgundy dress is delightful and the turquoise you introduced is perfect. The other dress with spring tones is lovely too and just perfect for sunny days. My favourite is the floral blue shirt and skirt combo. Very nice.

    You are not alone in bread making or clearing the garden. I've been at it this week too and I suspect there are many others. There's lots of catching up to do when it comes to our homes and gardens.

    We had planned to go away during the Easter break too, but that's all gone down the pipehole. We had to return early from our Xmas break because of the bushfires and now this!!!!

    Give Phoebe a big kiss and keep well.

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    1. Thank you Suzy! After a week of many wobbles, I'm now feeling much brighter, and actually relishing the fact that I will have some more time for myself! Accentuate the positive, right? xxx

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  8. What a lovely uplifting post Anne! You look lovely in your Spring outfits. Such lovely colours. We too have been outside in the garden, and are lucky to have such a large garden in which we can exercise Barney, our dog. Thank goodness for the sunshine this week! Stay safe and well, and keep posting XXX

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    1. Thank you Linda! Aren't we lucky to have gardens at all? xxx

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  9. Please keep posting your fabulous outfits, they're always so cheerful!
    I'm trying to stay positive but I have moments of feeling very unsure and upset. I've never wanted to hug each member of my family more than I do right now! But I have plenty to keep me occupied, i still have work to do and and never ending to-do list, so the time in lock down won't be wasted. We'll all have fabulously tended gardens and spotless houses by the end of this won't we?
    I can't believe some people aren't taking this seriously.
    I love the new buttons on that dress, they look splendid, as does Phoebe - I think we all need to be a little more cat.
    take care
    xx

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    1. I have every intention of doing so, Hazel. Dressing up is great therapy for me, and one of the things that are keeping me sane! xxx

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  10. Totally agree that all we can do is keep calm and try to block all the (increasingly stupid) scaremongery.
    So lovely to see you wearing your colorful outfits and looking so fabulous!. Love your burgundy striped dress (such a cool print!) with all the turquoise details and the fab shrimp brooch!, a seaside vibe never fails to appeal!.
    Lovely floral ensemble and orange accessorizing, you totally rock it!. And so delightfully springy is the last dress!, really lovely and so brilliantly accessorized. Love your green cardi and matchy tights and all the cute details, you're so cool!
    And also lovely to see you in your gardening attire, wearing your floral gloves and cute apron. You're all going to have wonderful gardens (as Vix commented)!
    besos

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    1. Thank you Monica! If we can't go to the seaside, we have to bring the seaside to us, don't we? xxx

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  11. Glad to see you're still smiling! Muting the grumblers is definitely a good plan - I decided this morning to come off Twitter for a bit because the constant stream of angst wasn't helping my mood any.

    We're all going to have splendid gardens this year...

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    1. Coming off Twitter was a sensible decision Mim. And now I've blocked all the scaremongers on Facebook, it's an oasis of cat pictures and the like, which is great! xxx

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  12. I do agree that we should focus on the positive. Yes, the situation is very serious and will probably get worse before it gets better, but we can each only do as much. Spreading panic helps nobody.

    I love your outfits. That printed burgundy dress is a beauty. You have accessorized it so well. Your blue floral shirt looks great paired with blue floral skirt. The green cardigan and printed dress is a lovely combo too.

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    1. Thank you Ivana! Well, if we can't focus on the positive, we will only get depressed, won't we? xxx

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  13. What beautifully accessorised outfits, Ann. I loved them all and I am very envious of the sage green boots! I think our gardens are going to get so much love and attention this year they won't know what's hit them.

    I, too, have a pretty large collection of books so there will be no shortage of reading material.

    I'm hoping that a lot of good will come out of this awful crisis; the desirability of working less and chilling out more for one!

    Stay well and strong!
    xxxx

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    1. Thank you Vronni! I'd been looking for green boots for ages. Once I bought these, I found another pair in a chazza very soon, which is typical! I'm now definitely going to work less once this is all over! xxx

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  14. Let's hope this crazyness doesn't take too long and brings results. What ever those will be. I try to keep my immun system in good health. All the best! Regula

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  15. My eyes are so bad, at first seeing those gloves on you, I thought you'd washed your hands bloody!!! I'm relieved to know that's not the case. Your bread looks lovely, and I'm sure it was delicious.

    I've never seen a shrimp brooch! How absolutely adorable.

    We'll get through this! Stay strong.

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    1. Thank you Goody, and heaven forbid my hands would look like that. It's bad enough as it is :-) xxx

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  16. I’m glad you’re focusing on the positive when so much is going on in the world right now. I try to do the same and find it very helpful for my state of mind.

    I loved seeing all your outfits. Hands down, you have the best gardening outfit ever!


    Baking bread is fantastic – especially the aroma that fills the house. My mum has frequently made bread over the years and it seems now everyone is starting to see how great it can be. Stay safe and enjoy your time at home. X

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    1. Thank you Jess! We're actually living the good life now, if only we could go wherever we please without the virus fear! xxx

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