Wednesday 29 April 2020

Staying in the same place, just staying out the time

At I'm writing this, the glorious Spring weather we have been blessed with for the last few weeks has deserted us, leaving the usual grey skies and rain in its wake.

Not entirely unexpected, taking into account our usual April capriciousness, it has nevertheless forced me to leave the garden and spend the day indoors.

Being cooped up inside doesn't generally bother me, and it's certainly something we're all having to get used to one way or another. I can always find plenty to keep me occupied! Today, however, I was lacking the inclination to do any chores around the house. Instead, I set myself the much more pleasurable task of writing another blog post, this time backtracking to the weekend before last.


As often seems to be the case, my initial weekend energy which resulted in a hustle and bustle of activity on Thursday and Friday, had somewhat fizzled out by Saturday.

We slept late and had a late cooked breakfast, with the last of the big chocolate Easter egg for dessert.

By the time we'd done our usual Saturday morning wash load and folded everything away, the day's initial sunshine had disappeared, and there might even have been a smattering of rain to quench the garden's thirst.



That massive bush encroaching on our ramshackle potting shed is our old white current, planted soon after we moved to Dove Cottage over twenty years ago. Over the years, it has been providing us with more fruit than we can ever eat. But no worries, as the birds often get away with a large portion of it, to which they are most welcome. Jos usually manages to produce a couple of pots of jam out of what's left as well.


The dress I'm wearing is one of my first ever Think Twice finds but, although I still love it to bits, it hasn't been getting as many outings as it should have. To be honest, I do think it is a bit short on me, leaving my knees - not my favourite body part - exposed whenever I'm sitting down or reaching up.

Still, its print of brownish, orange and yellow balloons never fails to cheer me up. 

My accessories that day were a tan belt, an orange beaded necklace and a yellow plastic bangle, all of which were charity shopped. As was the brown and white bracelet, which I picked up in charity shop in Ludlow, Shropshire, in 2018. The orchid brooch, which doubles as a pendant, was a flea market find.


Here's the terracotta window box on our dining room sill, which is at the end of the passageway next to our kitchen. I planted it with those ubiquitous early Spring favourites, cheery-faced pansies and proud double primulas. By now, while the latter are still going strong, the pansies seem to have had their time, and will soon need replacing.

I spent the rest of the day doing my usual mix of pottering and reading. Oh, and my journal tells me that I cut Jos's hair, using clippers. He keeps insisting that I didn't do too badly, although for some reason he's not so keen on having his photograph taken these days!



I'm so thankful I had mine cut and coloured he week before we went into lockdown, so that it's not too bad yet, especially when I've just washed it. 

I would love to tell you what I did on Sunday, but unfortunately it's a complete blank, as I forgot to make a journal entry at the end of the day.

But at least I can tell you what I was wearing, having opted for a skirt and a short-sleeved jumper in a mix of floral prints.

The skirt was yet another Think Twice find, while all the rest I'm wearing here were charity shop finds. The jumper is another King Louie delight, while the painted wooden bangles were part of a haul of seven, all found on the very same day in October last year.



I'm soaking up some late afternoon rays of sunshine and enjoying the spoils of our garden, including a glut of newly opened sweetly scented Tazetta daffodils, their creamy white petals surrounding bright orange cups. 

On the top right is one the countless of the white current's flower clusters, which are slowly but surely transforming themselves into juicy berries.


Inherited with the garden are various clumps of ferns. They seem to multiply year after year and are turning the garden into a veritable jungle almost overnight as their prehistoric looking fronds start unfurling one by one.


It was a bit chilly that day, so I topped my outfit with another charity shopped cardigan from retro brand Zoë Loveborn, to which I pinned a big, modern flower brooch.

Temperatures were on the up again on Monday, which was an office day, and kept climbing towards the low 20s on Tuesday.

While Jos went to the drinks supermarket and the newsagents - buying a paper for an elderly neighbour in the process - I gave the bathroom a perfunctory clean. 



The perfect opportunity to show you some of our bathroom treasures. 

The vintage mirrored and rose-sprinkled bathroom cabinet is made from a very sturdy and heavy plastic called Ornamine, by the French company Gilac. It dates from the late 1950s or early 1960s and cost us all of € 8 in a charity shop.

Made from the same material but in a different design are the hooks and the bathroom stool, which were flea market and charity shop finds respectively. We're still on the lookout for a loo paper holder!


Speaking of  loo paper, people used to laugh when we told them we'd bought vintage rolls of loo paper at a flea market, but at least we've got some back-up if the shops run out again as a result of people's hoarding tendencies.  And I'm sure the Shingling Clippers might come in handy as well. 

The 4711 eau de cologne isn't just for display purposes. Next to it is a recent Summer edition of the old classic, which I used to keep at the office. It smells heavenly!

Finally, on the bottom left, is one of the baths from Bath, so called as we bought the prints in Bath on one of our UK holidays.


The garden is coming along nicely, isn't it? 

Here's another frock I haven't worn in years, but with good reason. It was the dress I wore the day my Dad was committed to hospital in 2016, mere days before he passed away.

After almost 4 years, the lure of its fabulous blue, pink and russet flower print, enhanced by the dark background, proved to be too strong to resist.



I added a dragonfly and a butterfly to frolic among the flowers and cinched in the waist with a pink, yellow and cream woven belt.

Our garden centres having re-opened during the weekend, we couldn't resist driving down to our favourite one, fully expecting there to be a queue. But on this sunny Tuesday afternoon, there wasn't, so, donning gloves and armed with hand sanitizer, I hesitantly stepped inside.


But the place is huge, especially now that their glasshouses full of annuals and summer flowers are open, so that social distancing wasn't a problem at all. 

As well as a well-needed bag of garden compost, I bought a whole tray full of annuals, a couple of perennials, a curry plant (Helichrysum italicum), a huge pot of butterfly lavender and some Nasturtium seeds.


I'm sure you can imagine how I spent the next 4-day weekend?

But that, my dears, will be for next time.

Stay safe!


42 comments:

  1. Your current bush is so much more robust than mine, I had to chop it right back last year and it's really not keen to get going again with any enthusiasm.
    Your balloon dress is so cheery, perfect for the moment. The blue one at the end of the blog really suits you, I can understand why you haven't worn until now, clothes can bring back strong memories. I had to get rid of the dress I wore to my Dad's funeral.
    The flowers in your window box must be a happy sight to greet you as you loom out of the window, they're a lovely colour combination. I would love to visit a garden centre again!
    Have a good long weekend and as ever, stay safe xxx

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    1. Thank you Sally! Our current bush is really gigantic, we need to do some vigorous pruning after it has fruited. We have been to the garden centre a couple of times, it's a very relaxing outing as it's so huge which makes social distancing a doddle! xxx

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  2. I like the length of that first dress, you should wear it more! Love the second pattern clashing mix and the third frock, too!
    How lovely that the garden centres have reopened and that there's plenty of space so you can take your time choosing rather than being under pressure. You chose some beauties, too. The garden and the window boxes look smashing!
    That bathroom cabinet is amazing, I've never seen the like! You could have sold that loo roll for a fortune a few weeks ago.
    Well done on cutting Jos's hair, c'mon Jos, let's see you! xxx

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    1. OK, you and some of the other commenters have convinced me I should wear that dress and other shorter-length ones I have more. Jos's hair is growing longer again, so I'll have to play hairdresser again soon! xxx

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  3. It's nice you could give that last dress another wear - so pretty but I do understand why it would be unworn for a time.

    It's nice you are able to enjoy the garden centres again! They are still open here, we are relaxing some restrictions that will be good but we won't be back at the office for a while yet I don't think. Our office has been fully closed down and sealed up.

    Hope you are having a great week :)

    Away From Blue

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    1. Thank you Mica! We are relaxing restrictions here too, so hopefully people will use some common sense! xxx

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  4. Our garden centre has an order online and drive up to collect your order scheme. I'm getting my compost tomorrow. I'm so glad you were able to get some flowers-that makes everything better.

    I had to laugh at your antique loo rolls-they'd likely disintegrate if you tried using them so hopefully it won't come to that!

    For the longest time we couldn't grow currants in the US as they're considered invasive. That's changed in recent years but I doubt they would do well in my part of the country.

    Hope you have a great week.

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    1. Flowers do indeed make everything better. I'm so glad to be able to give our garden some well-needed TLC. You are probably right about that loo paper ... xxx

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  5. Oh I am in love with the last picture of you,Ann. This frock is amazing and you look fabulous. I love the cardigan with flower brooche too. A very good find.
    Yesterday we went to the garden center for Sarahs terasse. We bougt orange and lemon trees for mediteran feeling. And she us painting. She have holiday, but she can not travel to London. Stay at home.
    Have a good long weekend! A very huge hug Tina

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    1. Thank you Tina! I was supposed to go to Zeeland in the week after Easter but obviously that was cancelled, as will our UK holiday in June. Sad but necessary ... xxx

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  6. the skirt/sweater outfit looks like tropical holiday - enhanced by the lush green background!
    i always clip off the faded flowers of the pansies (and others too) - this way they bloom&bloom wide into the summer.....
    hugsies! xxxxx

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    1. Thank you Beate! I actually dead-head pansies and other flowers, but the pansies on the left didn't seem to bounce back ... until now! Glad I didn't get rid of them yet! xxx

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  7. Your first dress doe shave a very cheery print. Your garden is looking so colourful and inviting. I wish I could go to a garden centre, you're very lucky to be able to go.
    Andy want's me to cut his hair, but we don't have clippers, so it'll be a scissors job.
    Isn't it strange garments can evoke memories, Andy has been known to throw shirts away that remind him of difficult days, I normally have to tear old garments out of his stubborn hands!
    Let's hope the sunshine returns again soon.
    xx

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    1. Thank you Hazel. We have been making weekly trips to the garden centre and find it very relaxing. It's our one and only outing for fun! xxx

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  8. Lovely first outfit, the brownish shades look fabulous with the orange and mustard accessories you picked. Love your orchid brooch (amazing that it doubles as a pendant)!
    I've never seen a white currant plant (nor fruits!). Having berries in your own garden sounds perfect!
    Lovely mixed floral prints outfit, and so cute cardi and brooch, and those wooden bracelets are gorgeous too!
    I've used the 4711 eau de cologne for years and still love its fresh&classic scent!
    Love your floral dress, its dark background and stunning colors, and love your brilliant accessorizing, both brooches are fab and the belt enhances all the colors in this dress!. Glad that its fabulousness is too strong to resist!. You're looking particularly gorgeous in the last picture, sat on the bench.
    besos

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    1. Thank you Monica! The white currants are just the white version of the red ones, and yes, it's lovely to have berries in one's own garden. We have a gooseberry bush too! xxx

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  9. Writing your blog is a wonderful thing in so many ways Ann. It now only gives us something lovely to read and look at but is a great way to record what you were doing during these strange times.
    I’ve got the 4711 Nouveau cologne, it’s such a lovely scent and I spray it on to tissue I use to wrap gifts. Picked that trick up off a friend.
    Take care both of you.
    Lots of love xxx

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    1. Thank you Lynn, writing my blog is indeed a wonderful thing, and it's a journal of these times as well. What a lovely idea to spray some scent on to tissue used to wrap gifts! I'm totally going to steal that from you :-)) xxx

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  10. White currants are not common here. An Uncle of mine used to grow them in his garden in Reading when we were children and I loved going to visit because he had red, black and white currant bushes and we could eat as much as we wanted. The flowers on it are extremely pretty.

    What lovely outfits and all so beautifully accessorised. I think the first one was my favourite and it doesn't look too short at all.

    I loved your bathroom cabinet. I've never seen one like it! I have been thinking of buying a mirrored cabinet for my bathroom as the current open display shelf is about 18 years old and I'm very bored with it...

    Your garden is looking lovely and what a pick me up a garden is. All those plants and colours and wildlife just lift the spirits.

    Take care and stay safe,
    xxxx

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    1. Thank you Vronni! I guess white currants aren't very common here either. We bought these instead of red ones at the time, as it was said that birds would be less attracted to them. Not true, I must add. That bathroom cabinet was such a lucky find. xxx

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  11. White currants make me think of The Magic Faraway Tree as the first time I heard of them was when the Faraway tree was growing them one day! Never actually seen any in real life!
    Your dress looks not like balloons to me but rather like fruit pastels or Jelly tots!
    Your bathroom cabinet is marvellous and vintage loo roll is a first for me- never seen any before!! Apart from the Tracing Paper kind which my friend Norma had in a vintage dispenser in her toilet (I wonder what happened to the beautiful vintage tiles and bathroom accessories in her house (and all her lovely vintage dressing table stuff) when her family sold her house?!?!?! I hope it didn't just get chucked in a skip!??!?!
    Your plants look beautiful- and I am envious of the Nasturtiums! I think I need to get on the phone to the garden centre!!!

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    1. Thank you Kezzie! How funny that white currants make you think of The Magic Faraway Tree! I love Nasturtiums and actually bought some plants the next time we were in the garden centre. In the meantime, those climbing ones I sowed are coming up! xxx

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  12. Thank you for sharing the daily happenings, joys, vintage treasures and fabulous outfits (the fall toned ones - swoon!) with us, dear Ann. These posts bring no small amount of happiness and positivity my way.

    Immense hugs & wishes for a safe, sunny, wonderful May,
    Autumn Zenith 🎃 Witchcrafted Life

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    1. The pleasure's all mine, Autumn, I'm so glad you're enjoying my rambles! xxx

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  13. Oh, all these lovely outfits! I disagree about the skirt length on the first outfit - you've got killer calves, so show 'em! No one's looking at your knees but you, silly. :) That second outfit is my favourite - so much visual interest, and I do believe it's the cardi that makes it, with it's bold colour and edging. I have a few things that bring back sad memories too (my chrysanthemum skirt), so I feel for you missing your father in that last dress, but it's too beautiful to languish unworn.

    Your plant knowledge is impressive and your garden is beautiful. I just love all these pictures. I adore your vintage bathroom cabinet and accessories! How very fun are those!

    Big hugs to you, my dear!

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    1. OK, you and some of the other commenters have persuaded me that skirt length isn't too short after all. Killer calves, though ;-) I used to have a better knowledge of plants when I first started our garden 20 years ago, but it's all coming back. Sending big hugs right back! xxx

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  14. Hello Ann. Your white currant bush looks amazing. My father-in-law has some growing in his garden which produce an abundance of fruit every year. He gives us heaps and I make verjuice. Great for deglazing meat/chicken pan juices into a zesty gravy.

    My favourite is your balloon dress. Why is it we all feel we have knobbly knees!!! Maybe the angle we're looking at them from. Your orange and yellow accessories are so cute.

    Love that you have 4711 Nouveau cologne!! Might've been one of my first perfumes as a teenager. Love your floral bathroom cabinet. Hold onto that loo paper!!!

    Fantastic collection of plants to introduce into your garden. Those nasturtiums will provide a pop of colour amongst all the greenery and are great for cake decorations too. The tulips are lovely too, but sadly their beauty is fleeting - they droop and shed petals quickly in a vase. I trim them right down and place them in vintage teacups. Have a great weekend.

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    1. Thank you Suzy! I must admit I never heard of verjuice! I used to hate my legs, but now it's just my knees, so there's definitely an improvement! The balloon dress is too good not to wear, though! xxx

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  15. I'm surprised the chocolate lasted so long! Our weather has taken a real turn Ann. We really were spoilt and this made staying home so much easier. I love 4711! I have some and my grandmother always wore it. It reminds me of her xx

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    1. Thank you Laurie! I know, we have been very restrained, eating the mini eggs it was filled with first! I think lots of people get bouts of nostalgia from smelling 4711! xxx

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  16. That first dress is so lovely, Ann! It looks great on you and is definitely not too short! ;) I love those striped bangles in your second outfit. They are fabulous! I can certainly understand why you haven't worn that last dress for a while, but you really look so lovely in it, Ann. That last photo of you is beautiful! Love those cute brooches, too! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, Ann. Take care. XXX

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    1. Thank you so much Sasha. I guess I'll have to wear all my shorter length frocks now that everyone seems to be urging me to do so :-) xxx

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  17. Ah 4711, that was on the bed side table of my grandmother in the 70s! Good memories. Love your first dress, the colors and the print appeal to me a lot. Isn't King Louie a fabulous brand, I love it very much. I cut Gerben's hair too last weekend because he went to work again last Tuesday. Why does it always looks so easy to cut someones hair......but it isn't! I think a lot of men have weird haircuts now, all cut by their wifes lol!

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    1. Thank you Nancy! It seems 4711 evokes grandmotherly memories with lots of people. I found a tiny bottle of 4711 in my parents' house when we were emptying it, and I took it home as a memento! xxx

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  18. I know how the season and weather can affect our mood. It's rainy today and dampening my enthusiasm for anything.

    Vintage toilet paper?! I never imagined it would survive time. Cool purchase; I'd buy that.

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    1. Thank you Ally! That toilet paper will probably be totally unusable, but I agree that it's cool. Pleased to hear that you'd buy that too! xxx

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  19. I love every single one of your outfits here, Ann. Especially the floral one with memories of your dad attached to it. It's gorgeous and definitely deserves to be pulled out more often.

    A trip to the garden store- sounds exciting. X

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    1. Thank you Jess! Our weekly trips to the garden centre are certainly highlights! xxx

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  20. I didn't even know currants came in white! We have blackcurrant bushes. Young plants, so not enough to make jam with yet.
    I enjoyed the peek inside the bathroom, it it a funny that you have vintage loo rolls as an emergency backup now!

    Beautiful frock, that last one, I hope you can create some good memories to attach to it.

    Xx

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    1. Thank you! I don't think we'll ever use those vintage loo rolls, though. The white currants are just another variety of the more common red ones. They do taste the same, though! xxx

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  21. Well done on getting some plants I am really missing prowling round garden centres that is something I can't wait to be able to do again.

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    1. Thanks Gisela! I'm so glad our garden centres were allowed to open. We've been making weekly trips, which are totally safe, as the one we go to is huge! xxx

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