Home is where the heart is

Easter has come and gone and so has the gorgeous Spring weather, the temperature having dropped considerably overnight. We woke up to grey skies and a bit of rain today, but although it has cleared up by now and the sun has resumed her shining, there's a definite chill in the air.

Time to write another blog post and let you know what I've been up to, starting with a week ago on Monday. Having to go back to work after 4 days of Sundays initially felt a bit weird, but I was feeling reasonably calm and rested and as there were quite a lot of things to catch up on at the office, the day whizzed by very swiftly.

On my way to the spot where Jos is picking me up in the car after work, I was passing one of a handful of shops that are still open, this one selling cheese and delicatessen. 

Much to my delight, there was a cart full of pots and small flower boxes, with a choice of hyacinths and daffodils, outside the shop, which is in a traffic free street, the owners clearly cashing in on the fact that garden centres and flower shops aren't allowed to open.

It was as if I had found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, so I bought myself a bright yellow flower box filled with Tête-à-tête daffs!

Back at home, they joined the orange-yellow African daisies left over from last year. Although these had become very leggy, I was overjoyed to see several flower buds making an appearance, one by one opening their sunny faces! All that yellow is such a cheerful sight in the recently spruced up little corner just outside our back door.

Tuesday being the in-between day book-ended by two working days, we slept a bit later and then had fruit and yoghurt for breakfast while still in our dressing gowns. Obviously, mine is vintage, colourful and with my trademark print of flowers!

We put in a load of washing consisting of a couple of quilted plaids and tablecloths and then walked into the village to get some fruit at the organic grocery shop, as we were starting to run out.

For lunch, we had the rest of the fresh mixed vegetable soup Jos had made during the weekend, accompanied by slices of the bread he'd bought from a local vending machine on Monday. Lately, all loafs of bread are packed in government sponsored bags outlining the COVID-19 safety measures. 

As the gorgeous Spring weather continued, and I had as yet to finish my wardrobe changeover, I trawled my temporary capsule wardrobe, opting for a skirt and blouse, both of which hadn't seen the light of day for quite some time.

I'm keeping both my short-sleeved and long-sleeved blouses out all year around, so that I had more than enough choice in that department. The skirt, on the other hand, was one I rescued from a box of items to be sold. And no, I have no idea why it ended up there in the first place!

There was nothing planned whatsoever about this outfit, it just seemed to have grown organically, which is one of the upsides of having more time at hand. I just loved how the shades of plum, purple, pink, orange, blue and white seemed to cooperate and interact most naturally.

How lush our garden has grown in the space of only a couple of days! Here's the view from our kitchen window towards the shed at the back, a tray of Sempervivums or houseleeks and a couple of rusty weights adorning the windowsill in the foreground.

And speaking of houseleeks, I'd completely forgotten that years ago, we put a couple of small ones on the corrugated roof of our potting shed, until Jos recently noticed that now there was a huge patch of them up there!

Here's a closer look at my accessories, which consisted of an ivory coloured bangle and brown and purple bracelet, a green plastic heart brooch and orange wooden beads and, finally, an elasticated belt with a round, multicoloured buckle.

Honestly, I did not set out to coordinate with our Honesty, which had opened the first of its many, delicately fragrant, purple flowers.

After Wednesday's far too quiet office day, I was ready for some domestic activity on Thursday. 

I'd initially thought I'd be slowly making my way through the house, tackling the jobs at hand one by one. However, it soon transpired it wasn't working that way.  Instead, I find myself doing the things I feel like doing, without any forward planning or ticking off of lists.

While having breakfast, I noticed that the glass sliding doors of one of our vintage kitchen cupboards were looking positively grubby. But rather than just wash them, I decided that now was as good a time as any to give the cupboard a thorough clean inside and out and reorganize its contents.

It truly has everything but the kitchen sink, including several vintage pieces of Sunlight soap and a 1970s cheeseboard I confess I'd nearly forgotten about.

I fully took advantage of the balmy temperatures by taking things outside and giving them a good polish while sitting at our garden table with the sun warming my back. I could get used to that, although I don't think I'll ever be known as a domestic goddess!

We found the little yellow, orange and green floral dishes and the matching serving platter in a charity shop many years ago, then happened upon the purple and olive ones on their rectangular orange tray at a flea market back in May 2018.

The wooden tray on the top right is modern. We've added the floral inlay, which is actually a piece of vintage wallpaper encased in a transparent L folder.

The Fry's Pure Cocoa add was found in a UK antique shop and the raffia trivets - exactly like the ones my parents had in the 1970s - were charity shop finds.

But I'm guessing that you would love to have a peek at what I was wearing, right?

It's officially Spring, and what better colour is there to personify Spring than green, symbolizing renewal and growth. 

Sprigs of delicate yellow and orange flowers and fresh green foliage are sprinkled liberally across a background of palest green.

I added more green in the form of my necklace, apple ring and bracelet, which is accompanied by a carved plastic orange bangle. 

Notice the lady on my brooch, who is wearing the most outrageous beribboned hat ...

As the time for berets has clearly passed, and my hair is getting out of control due to cancelled hairdresser's appointments, I might have to dig out some Summer hats soon. 

Of course, I might also take a leaf out of Veronica's book and start wearing fashionable headscarves.

It's a nuisance, that's for sure, especially with my short, asymmetrical haircut. Any suggestions are welcome!