Thursday 16 April 2020

The cat that got the cream

For this episode of the lockdown diaries, I am taking you back to Friday last week.

It was Good Friday, not that you'd notice. There weren't even any Hot Cross buns for breakfast, just our usual weekday fruit and yoghurt.

Still, I'm looking for all the world like the cat that got the cream!


It was a sunny day for starters, but we've recently had a whole string of those, so that couldn't be the reason.  Nor was it the fact that I didn't have to get up at the crack of dawn and go to the office. 

It might have been because I'd just rediscovered this gorgeous poppy dress in my wardrobe, but it wasn't. And no, neither my green belt, bird brooch, necklace and bracelet, nor my floral wooden bangle, were the source of all this giddiness!


I'm sure that by now you are all on the edge of your seats, so I'm not going to taunt you any longer and keep you in suspense.

Ta-da! 

Yes, I was finally able to lay my hands on some garden plants!



Although garden centres were not allowed to open(*) we'd found out that a chain of shops catering for the agricultural market, which were allowed since they were selling pet food and baking products, had received permission to open their plant department.

(*) As per yesterday's regulations update, garden centres will now be allowed to open starting the weekend, if they can comply with the usual safety measures.

So, we took our car and drove down to the nearest shop, which is in a neighbouring village and, while Jos waited in the car, I queued to get in.

Only twenty people were allowed in at the same time, but I only had to wait for about 10 minutes before it was my turn to get hold of a cart, which was sanitized after the previous customer handed it in.



I did go a bit wild and completely filled my cart with Spring and early Summer flowers, thyme, lavender and a pot of rhubarb.

There was no need to hurry, really, as we had the whole of the Easter weekend to allocate each of our purchases their rightful place in the garden.

Still, my hands were itching to get started, so I got stuck in immediately, only pausing to have soup and bread for lunch.


For starters, the tête-à-tête daffs and African daisies got the company of a pot of pinks and some more bulbs, which I planted in an old wicker basket I found hidden away in the potting shed. 

I left the pinks in their cheerfully coordinating pink plastic pot, which I put on top of our rusty garden scales, and added a couple of odds and ends which I found lying around to the display.


A terracotta pot of delicate, ruffled and pink edged Ranunculus joined the houseleeks and rusty weights on our windowsill, where they are kept company by Baby Gargoyle, whom we bought at Past Times when on holiday in the UK over twenty years ago. 

And look, I seem to have made a shelfie selfie :-)

The framed chickens used to be in our kitchen in its previous incarnation, when we had a bit of a chicken theme going on. It was another forgotten potting shed find. 



After lunch, I gave the "garden bathroom" a good clean as it was looking decidedly grotty.  

We've lost the jug, which was part of the vintage wash set, after we forgot to take it inside during a frosty period, and it inevitably cracked and fell into pieces.  Phoebe sometimes uses the basin as a drinking bowl, although we try to discourage her as the water trapped inside can get rather slimy.



At the end of the passage, which runs alongside our kitchen, is our dining room window, where I planted the window box with some pansies and primulas.

There's still quite a bit of work to be done here!



My final task of the day - before watering the plants, obviously - was cleaning the miniature greenhouse which was pining away in a border, and putting two lavender plants in it.

The same border also housed a redundant round metal garden table, which I asked Jos to move to the other end of the garden, next to our bench. 

Here, the lavender is enjoying the company of pink and yellow Argyranthemums, again in terracotta pots. We have quite a few of these in our potting shed, although not nearly as many as the few hundred Vix brought back from her parental home.




With that day's flurry of activity going on in her beloved garden, Her Majesty was definitely not amused!

Still work to be done in front of the bench as well, as we need to clean those tiles, which we rather grandly call the Roman Path.



In total contrast to Friday, I was feeling tired and lethargic on Saturday. 

I briefly ventured outside for a socially distant visit to the chocolate shop in our village to buy some Easter eggs, and spent the rest of the day reading and doing some gentle pottering.



I was wearing a mostly pink and green Spring outfit, built around a pink floral vintage frock from Think Twice and a charity shopped nautical style short-sleeved jumper.

The belt, necklace, shoes and bangles were charity shopped as well, while the vintage brooch was a flea market find bought from the original Brooch Lady.  Well, I suppose that by now I am a bit of a Brooch Lady too!




Time to enjoy the results of my labour and yes ... still looking like the cat that got the cream!


Will be back soon. In the meantime, please do stay safe and sane, my dears!

Oh, and I almost forgot. I have added a follow by email gadget to my blog. It's on the top of the sidebar, for those who are interested. Thank you Nancy and Sheila for reminding me! 





48 comments:

  1. I love that poppy dress on you, such a flattering fit and, of course, accessorised to perfection!
    The BBC's Belgium correspondent (yes, we have one!) mentioned that your garden centres would be reopening and I thought of Dove Cottage straight away. Not that you need any more after that tremondous haul of colourful beauties.
    I remember swooning over that Gargoyle in Past Times back in the 1990s - it was next to the bus stop in Birmingham city centre so perfect for a browse if I'd missed the Walsall bus.
    Pheobe looks very content in her beautiful Spring garden.
    Thanks for that marvellous post about your lovely garden!
    Stay safe, healthy and fabulous. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Vix! How funny that you used to swoon over that gargoyle. I love him to bits. We used to go inside Past Times a lot back them. They also had a brilliant collection of books and jewellery! xxx

      Delete
  2. I loved your shelfie selfie! Baby gargoyle is gorgeous but was leaning a bit precariously - had drink been taken, I wonder?

    How exciting you got plants! And what lovely ones they are, too. I love pinks; bought them for the first time last year and plan to buy more - hopefully!

    The poppy dress is beautiful and I loved your pink and green outfit and all the fab accessories.

    I must try and follow your lead on the follow by email link - I think mine is at the very bottom of the blog which is not the best place.

    Keep enjoying your time off and your lovely garden.
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As we are both tee-total, there's no chance Baby Gargoyle could have gotten his hands on any drink. He might just be happy to be outside, as for some reason he'd been banished to the basement! When I added the email link, it put itself automatically at the top. I'm glad it worked out as I'm a total dunce at such things! xxx

      Delete
  3. That printed pink dress is wonderful. It fits you perfectly and I like how you accessorized with green. I also like the combo of a green top and a pink floral skirt. Both outfits are perfect for Easter weekend.

    You got some lovely flowers there. I see that you have been very hardworking this Friday, no wonder you felt tired by Saturday but hard works pays off, it must have nice lounging in a refreshed and replanted garden. You look really nice.
    I'm trying to stay safe and sane as much as I can. I'm grateful for having a job that occupies so much of my time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ivana! I love working in the garden, and find that once I start I'm unable to finish until my muscles start protesting :-)) Working 2 days is ideal for me at the moment. I give it my all when I'm at the office, and then I can do my own thing on the other days. Not sure I'll want to go back to full time when this is all over. xxx

      Delete
  4. That floral brooch is so lovely. I also like the bracelets and the necklaces you sported.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That first dress is lovely, what a nice find, it looks so good on you and was the perfect outfit for flower shopping! I'm glad you were able to find some pretty plants for your garden :)

    Hope that you are having a good week :)

    Away From Blue

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Mica. I was quite pleased with how the outfit worked out! xxx

      Delete
  6. Good morning Ann. You look positively delightful in your cheery spring-colour outfits. Your poppy dress is so sweet, as is your floral bangle (I love collecting these). The combination of green top with floral skirt is a real winner too.

    What a fantastic haul at the garden centre. Daisies grow really fast, they'll be showcasing their beauty early. Lavender is divine and so fragrant, especially if grown in the sunshine. We had quite a few growing beside our outdoor table setting but I pulled them out as they attract so many bees. Got to a stage that every time we had a BBQ or sat to enjoy some dinner, we would be swarmed!

    Chocolate eggs! Yes please! Stay safe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Suzy! Expect to see more of my floral bangles in the months to come! I was really pleased with my haul, and already made another journey to a large garden centre on Tuesday. What a delight that was, and no problems with distancing at all! xxx

      Delete
  7. You are stunning in your poppy dress - I adore the green accents! How wonderful that you were able to get some plants, Ann! We're happily discovering that the downtown local bookstores and record stores are taking orders by phone or email for pick-up, so L is ecstatic. I've been eyeing one of the local consignment shops, which is letting people book private shopping appointments...I'm sorely tempted!

    Loved your pictures - I was grinning the entire time I read your post. I also chat to Phoebe at the screen - lol, I am a crazy cat lady! Her Majesty looks rather disgruntled, doesn't she? I got a similar reaction to moving some things around on my deck today.

    A late Happy Easter to you - your eggs look so good (I was good and did not buy any Easter candy). I hope this week is finding you feeling a bit better, but it's natural to have up and down days. Let them flow over you like a spring breeze...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sheila! Don't worry, I'm a crazy cat lady too, so I understand :-)) I do hope bookstores are the next to be allowed to open. Eggs were all gone soon, I'm afraid. xxx

      Delete
  8. That poppy dress is enough to put a smile on anyone's face! It's gorgeous.
    I'm jealous at the thought of you going to a garden dentre. Luckily I did go a few days before lockdown so I can't complain but oh to be able to just hop in the car and go whenever I wanted to! I've been known to go twice in one day before now.
    Your garden looks lovely, you've really created something unique and quirky.
    My cats love it when I'm outside, they trot along beside me and are never far away. It's lovely.
    Take care
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Hazel. Can't wait to wear the dress again, but it does need ironing. Something I haven't had the itch to do just yet :-) Our garden centres are now all open, and I went on Tuesday. It was utter bliss! xxx

      Delete
  9. Sweet Ann, it makes my heart smile as warmly as the returning rays of springtime sunshine to know that you were able to find some new plants and that doing so brought a hugely welcome jolt of joy to your week. That's fantastic!

    Many hugs,
    Autumn Zenith 🎃 Witchcrafted Life

    ReplyDelete
  10. garden cream!
    no wonder you were exhausted the next day! you really got some pretty plants and did a lot of labour to give them a home..... i cant wait to go on a trip to our gardeners open air shop for some potted flowers for the summer salon!
    the poppy dress - in pink! - is absolutely fabulous - especially paired with green :-D
    no worry if the cat drinks from the algae water - a (outdoor) cat knows very well whats good for her and whats not - lissy always drinks from the little water lily pond (the water never get chanched because its better for the plant).
    big hugs! xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good to know the slimy water isn't bad for her, as it's impossible to keep Her Majesty away from her outside drinking facilities! We made another trip to a larger garden centre on Tuesday, the open air one is next on our list! xxx

      Delete
  11. I love this garden post, especially the windowsill with the weights and I adore the gargoyle.
    I'm glad you managed to get those colourful plants, we havent got anything new but at least our garden is getting tidier. I love how wonderfully abundant your space looks.
    Your poppy frock looks very pretty on you :) xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sally! It is quite lush, isn't it? And it's becoming even more so, now that our ferns are starting to appear. As for our white currant bush, I've no idea what happened, it has become positively huge! xxx

      Delete
  12. Yeah! What a lovely surprise to find a email of your blog in the mail! Isn't this so much better! What a lovely explosieve of colors, in your garden and on you! That green top is very nice. Love the neckline. In our garden there is always something in bloom. When one thing is blossomed out the next begins. I love that. Gerben made me some hanging,, things,, where I can lay fruit on for the butterflies...... I havn't seen one single butterfly yet...... Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've seen several butterflies in our garden, and today I was being followed by a pretty white one. It might have thought I was a flower :-) Glad the email thing is working! Thanks again for nagging me :-))) xxx

      Delete
  13. Our garden centre is open but you have to order ahead and they will bring your order to your car. It does cut down on impulse buying, I suppose. I haven't gone yet, and I think will probably just do with what I have this year for flowers (nasturtiums and violas).

    Your garden looks like such a lovely place to sit and enjoy the quiet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's the impulse buying I like about visiting garden centres. Can't spend it on clothes right now, so there'll be no impulse buying in that direction! xxx

      Delete
  14. What a lovely cheery bright blog post Ann. It’s brightened my day and you look gorgeous in your poppy dress.
    You seem to have a wonderful knack for gardening.
    Lots of love to you both from us two xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Lynn! This horrible situation we're in does have at least one upside, as I've rediscovered our garden and the joys of gardening! xxx

      Delete
  15. I’m glad you’re giddy again! Oh the plants look WONDERFUL!

    And the chocolate looks delicious, just look at that fancy looking one with a picture of a bunny on it.

    You are definitely the QUEEN of brooches! I can’t wait to get my butterfly brooch collection started once this lockdown finishes. X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jess! We kept that fancy egg with the bunny picture until last. It was delicious! xxx

      Delete
  16. I love your style! So lovely and sunny!

    xoxo
    Lovely

    http://mynameislovely.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your post has inspired me. You will see ... :-) xxx Regula

    ReplyDelete
  18. Such a wonderfully cheery post! I am itching to go and get some plants, my garden looks a bit hard, apart from some pansies, which I bought pre-lockdown. I miss mooching around the Garden Centre. Have a good week. Carole.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Carole! I was so happy to have a mooch around the garden centre earlier this week. It was a huge one and only a limited number of people allowed at one time, so that distancing wasn't a problem! xxx

      Delete
  19. https://babajeza.wordpress.com/2020/04/19/inspiration/

    ReplyDelete
  20. That poppy dress is gorgeous, it really suits you. How lovely to be able to get some plants. It's been breaking my heart to hear about all the ones that have had to be destroyed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Gisela! It is heart-breaking for sure! xxx

      Delete
  21. I really love that poppy dress, Ann! It's gorgeous and I love how you've accessorised. Happy to see Phoebe supervising your garden work! I bet she's a pretty strict boss...just like Amber! Haha;) XXX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sasha, and yes, Phoebe is a very strict boss. She doesn't like anything changed, plus she prefers that we just sit in her garden, not work in it :-)) xxx

      Delete
  22. Your garden looks delightful with those new additions! Tete a tete daffs are one of my favourites, they are so sweet. Mine have just finished flowering.

    That poppy dress is just beautiful on you!
    Xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, and so does yours! My tête-a-tête daffs are about over too by now, but I've got some very pretty yellow hearted white ones in bloom now. Forgot what they are called ... xxx

      Delete
  23. woww, so many delightful plants and lots of gardening!, no wonder you look so fabulous! and you totally rock in this floral dress (poppies!!!), love its print and the green accessorizing (ohhh, those cute birds and green beads!)
    And I also love your green and pink outfit, such a fab color combo and such a brilliant accessories. I'm loving particularly the brooch!, and bracelets!
    So lovely post!
    besos

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Monica! I'm always inspired by my garden, but this year even more so, as you might imagine! xxx

      Delete
  24. Hoorah for getting plants! That ranunculus is lovely. I've got some growing from whatever it is they grow from - weird spiky things too big to be seeds but definitely not bulbs! I bet your garden is really nice to be in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't had to deadhead any of the ranunculus flowers, they just become papery in the end but still look lovely. I'll try to plant them out into the garden afterwards, but I'm not sure our soil's the appropriate one to grow them ... xxx

      Delete