Sunday 4 October 2020

The last of the Summer days

The weather has definitely turned Autumnal by now, with a string of granite grey rainy days leaving puddles and a slippery carpet of soggy leaves in their wake. I can feel the dampness in my bones and have unearthed my snuggliest cardigans. I'm wearing my crazy clog slippers to keep my toes toasty as I sit here typing this post, trying to put off putting the heating on until my fingers have become uncomfortably numb.

For the sake of my blog's continuity, though, I'm casting my mind back to Saturday 19 September.

It was another gorgeously sunny late Summer's day but, following our Antwerp escapade the previous day, it had been a languidly lazy one so far.  I was also having a bit of a Covid-wobble, as one does from time to time. 



By mid-afternoon, a serious case of the jitters finally made us flee the house. Grabbing an afternoon snack to savour while sitting on a bench, our initial thought was to drive down to the water tower in the next village to take some outfit photos. But the site, which is unsheltered by trees, was bathing in glaring sunlight which bleached my painstakingly assembled outfit of much of its colour. On top of that, a wedding party, intent on following our example, arrived on the scene after we'd only taken a photo or two so we left them to it and departed elsewhere.

The place we finally settled for was a tiny park adjoining De Schorre, a recreational domain and nature reserve on the site of a former clay pit. Here, the sunlight was filtered by a leafy canopy, dappling the layer of crispy leaves underneath.



I was wearing my recently charity shopped vintage skirt, giving it a twirl or two, my feet happily kicking the satisfyingly crunchy carpet beneath them.

The bright pink of the flowers falling towards the skirt's hem prompted my choice of top: a short-sleeved pink knit one with a pattern of tiny white squares across the yoke and shoulders, which if I remember correctly came from Think Twice.

Both bracelets were charity shopped over the years, while the beaded necklace was an old flea market find. The rest of my outfit - brooch, belt, bag and shoes - were all retail buys, which have more than earned their places in my wardrobe by now. The shoes in particular have hardly been off my feet during the Summer months.



The sun, as well as my wobble were still very much present on Sunday.  I tried to keep myself busy in a bid to alleviate the blues, so I washed my hair, watered the garden, read a couple of pages in the Jonathan Coe book I'd picked up in a charity shop and did a massive blog catch up.

Our old Fuchsia magellanica shrub is always coming into its own at this time of year, its scarlet and purple flowers vying for attention with the glossy red berries of the even older Cotoneaster.

Helenium 'The Bishop' and Gaillardia 'Wild Fire' (top and bottom right) are still blooming profusely, providing colour to the borders, while Echinacea 'Meditation White' (bottom left) is still lording it over the patio plants residing on the plant table outside our back door.



I needed clothing as therapy that day, and my tropical leaf print King Louie dress, charity shopped for a pittance last Summer, did the job perfectly. The squishy flamingo brooch - a recent find - seemed to feel quite at home among the exotic foliage.

My other accessories picked up the deep red from my dress's print. Both the belt and shoes were charity shop finds, as was the pale blue polka dot bangle, while the red bracelet came from our local Oxfam Fair Trade shop. The transluscent red beaded necklace was a gift from the lovely Gisela.



I am skipping Monday, which was one of my office days, and a busy one to boot. Apparently, it was another perfect Indian Summer day, but I hardly had time to notice the weather. Not having slept very well that night, I was tired and on autopilot for most of the day.

To say I was glad that Tuesday rolled along is quite an understatement.

We had officially entered Autumn and the weather forecast was looking pretty dire for the foreseeable future. As it looked that Tuesday would be the last of the Summer days, we wanted to make the most of it and spend it outside.



Not wanting to stray too far from home, we drove down to Middelheim, the sculpture park which I'm sure needs no further introduction for those of you who have been following my blog for a while.

Being a weekday, we hadn't expected any problems finding a parking space. Much to our surprise, however, it was chock-a-block, probably with the cars of people working in the neighbourhood rather than those visiting the park. This meant that we had to leave our car around the corner and approach the park from a different angle than usual.

There had been quite a foggy start to the day, and by late morning an ethereal layer of mist was still lingering in the clearings, as if caught between the copses of trees, and enhancing the other-worldliness of the dancing sky tubes which make up the artwork called The Pogo Never Stops.



The sunlight filtered by the misty veil spotlighted he colours of this border which was headlined by magenta-flowered Sedum spectabile and bronze-leaved Heuchera.

Feeling like Alice - or more aptly, Alice's daughter - after having stepped through the looking-glass, I crunched through the leaves towards two topsy-turvy houses in the distance, being careful to skirt the lethal looking giant silver maces tied to some of the trees.




Both are works of art, of course, the houses by Berlin artist Timm Ullrichs (Modelhäuser Typ Bomarzo, 2001) and the maces by Belgian artist Berlinde De Bruyckere (Innocence can be Hell, 1993), the latter a recent acquisition by the sculpture park.




With no itinerary in mind but to clear our heads and enjoy the last of the Summer days, we wandered at will, marvelling at the trees changing into their Autumn finery while dodging the acorns which kept plummeting to earth with alarming regularity.




We'd brought a picnic, of course, and were looking for the perfect spot, when Jos's eye was caught by a giant weeping willow, which seemed to have a passageway running underneath its tangle of branches.

Investigation revealed a kind of secret room, the tree's crooked and twisted boughs having wreathed themselves into a vaulted ceiling offering shade, shelter and privacy.




A single silver painted chair was the room's only furniture, but as these chairs can be found all over the park and in fact, a threesome could be spotted on the lawn beyond, this was easily remedied. 

We've made a mental note of this particular spot, as surely there cannot be a more idyllic place to have one's picnic in. 



The outfit I was wearing on this gorgeous Autumn day started with this red Diolen dress patterned with green dots, white circles and green and white flowers. As usual, I accessorized it with green, finding both a beaded necklace and a stretchy fabric belt in the exact shade of green in the dress's print.

I needed a brooch that stood out among the busy print and, and this big vintage poodle brooch just fit the bill perfectly.




When we were finally able to tear ourselves away from this heavenly spot, we continued our walk and crossed into the main part of the park.

Meandering at will, we just followed our eyes and feet, admiring and pondering over various works of art, with Firmament III by British artist Antony Gormley (top left) one of our favourites.




Clockwise from top right you can see Song, by Japanese sculptor Shin Hongo (1967), followed by O Indio e a Suassuaparà by Victor Brecheret (Brazil, 1951) and finally, Yayoi by Corey McCorkle (US, 2005).



Another favourite is Kolom by Belgian artist Felix Roulin (1975), a polished metal column enclosing a human figure - or is it more than one? - trapped inside. Through holes in the column different body parts can be seen. The ever-changing light and the reflections on the smooth polished surface of the column is quite mesmerizing. 




As always, we were lured by the Braem Pavillion, designed by architect Renaat Braem and completed in 1971. 

The pavilion usually hosts an exhibition of some sort, but although we could see what looked like revolving rails of tapestries through its windows, it didn't appear to be open. Not surprisingly, as due to security measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, tickets have to be pre-booked. 

I do miss the days one could just wander inside and have a look around ...

Well, that's it for now. I will be back soon but I'm afraid I won't be bringing sunshine.

Until then, stay safe out there, my friends!




30 comments:

  1. I love your skirt, it really is a beauty. The sculpture park is so fabulous, you have some lovely open spaces in Belgium.
    I am sorry summer is on its way out. I was hopeful we may have enjoyed an Indian summer but we have just had a very wet start to Autumn.

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    1. Thank you Carole! I'm afraid we've had a very wet start to Autumn as well! xxx

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  2. I adore that sculpture park - I wish we had one like it here!

    Loving that amazing skirt in the first picture, Ann - it is so full of wondrous detail. I hope it helped to live your wobble. The flamingo brooch made me smile - so perfect with your fabulous King Louie dress!

    I love the pensive picture of you in the park - great shot.

    I hope this week is better for you! I have two days of work (Mon/Wed) and then I'm off for a full week! So exciting.

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    1. Thank you Sheila! That skirt definitely was love at first sight. And I'm so glad we have the sculpture park nearby, it's our first port of call if we don't want to venture too far from home. xxx

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  3. That sculpture park is absolutely wonderful, I love the juxtaposition between nature and man-made. A wander around there must be so life-affirming and a real joy.
    I love your skirt, I thought it was knitted at first. It was a great find.
    I hope this week is better for you. After a couple of glorious days when we got home it's all gone very Autumnal here with torrential rain and very cold nights. Roll on Spring! xxx

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    1. Thank you Vix! A wander in that sculpture park has never failed to cheer us up, no matter what. I'm OK with Autumn, but not when it's this wet! xxx

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  4. You look so beautiful in all of these outfits. I like how you paired a pink top with that beautiful striped blue skirt with pink flowers. I like how the shades of pink match in this first look and the belt you wore with it is perfect.

    The second look with the blue leaves print dress and red details suits you so well. The third outfit with the red dress and green accessories is fabulous as well. You always look so chic.

    I loved the park with the sculptures, thanks for the info:
    Both are works of art, of course, the houses by Berlin artist Timm Ullrichs (Modelhäuser Typ Bomarzo, 2001) and the maces by Belgian artist Berlinde De Bruyckere (Innocence can be Hell, 1993), the latter a recent acquisition by the sculpture park.

    The houses are so surreal and fairy tale like, I love them. Have a great week ahead! Here the weather is very temperamental, we even had small storms.

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    1. Thank you Ivana! We've had quite temperamental weather here too. Today just cannot decide which season it is, for example! xxx

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  5. Your blog is your diary, I see. Don't fall back too far. ;-) I really hope that October has some lovely and warm days in store for us. xxx Regula

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    1. I live in hope too, Regula. As for my blog, I'm always running behind, but especially after I've been away for a couple of days! xxx

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  6. always love when you show photos of the sculpture park!
    and you´r wearing gorgeous outfits, the tropical leaf dress is a fav! wonderful flowers....
    i fired on the oven today - its chilly and wet here and the house gets damp and uncomfy in this weather without a fire.
    hugsies! xxxx

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    1. It's my pleasure, Beate, and in the meantime we have put on the heating as well. With all the rain, it got very chilly and uncomfortable here too. xxx

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  7. Funny, in our national park you can find all white bicycles you can grab and cycle on in the park. You have silver chairs! Love that kolom, that is fascinating. And what a wonderful outfits as usual. Love that King Louie dress. Not the typical KL print. Have a great week!

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    1. The bicycles are a great idea! I love the KL dress very much, and I've actually got a short-sleeved jumper in the same pattern but different colours! xxx

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  8. It's nice to hark back to September and some sunshine, a contrast to today which is pretty rain lashed here.
    I like your hidden picnic area! xxx

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    1. I know, it's been pretty wet here too. I'm sure we aren't the only one to have discovered that secret place under the weeping willow. My friend actually told me she knew where it was! xxx

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  9. Hello Ann, hope you're feeling better. Grey, rainy weather certainly doesn't help. We've had some wet days here too which has definitely dampened our mood.

    Such pretty outfits shown here. My favourite is the red floral dress. I find red such a hard colour to wear but it looks fantastic on you.

    Thank you for taking us with you on you walk. You're fortunate to have such a beautiful park nearby and the sculptures make it even more interesting. Plus, you're in the most spectacular season now. I love all the autumnal tones of red, yellow and orange. Sitting under that huge weeping willow was the perfect spot to sit and rest. I adore those trees. Years ago I approached our local garden nursery because I wanted one to plant in our front garden but was offput by the salesman who said they were very toxic to the soil. Instantly diminished my dream of setting an outdoor table underneath for long lunches!

    I'm looking forward to more of your wanders in Autumn's glory.

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    1. Thank you, Suzy, and it was my pleasure taking you along. That sculpture park is such a blessing to have nearby. My mood seems to go up and down like the weather, it seems. It's a very bittersweet Autumn! xxx

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  10. Such colourful outfits! I like the red and blue tropical print dress, such a fun brooch with it! :) My favourite outfit is the first one though, pink and blue together is a combination I love and it's a great pairing with the top and skirt together!

    Looks like you had a lovely relaxing day and a beautiful picnic spot to lift your mood after a few bad days :)

    Hope that your week is going well :)

    Away From Blue

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    1. Thank you Mica! The first one is my favourite outfit too! xxx

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  11. woww, love your new vintage skirt, the bright pink flowers, and the matchy pink top and fab accessories!. So beautiful photos of you in the golden sunlight!. Nothing like a nice walk outdoors to cheer the day up, totally understand the covid-wobble feeling!
    I'm loving your leaf print dress, it has a fab print and fab colors!, And You Rock It!. The flamingo brooch and red accessorizing are brilliant!. Looking so fab that you've put a smile on my face!.
    Also loving your photos in the sculptures park, the amazing atmosphere, the mist and evocative views, and your description!. Anf you look fab in your red dress walking on the crispy leaves, surrounded by the trees and these topsy-turvy houses!, it looks really like Alice through the looking glass!. And so lovely that you found a secret sheltered spot!. This red floral dress is so beautiful and love the green accessories and the brooch!. So delightful!
    I also miss those days when we could wander spontaneously wherever, as now everything has to be booked in advance!
    Wish you lots of sunshine!
    besos

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    1. Thank you Monica! I think most of us are having Covid-wobbles from time to time. It helps to be positive when the sun is shining, though, and one can somewhat forget about things by going for a walk, away from it all! xxx

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  12. Your beautiful bright outfits are a pure joy to see Ann. I hope you’ll keep wearing them through the autumn months. They brighten my day.
    The park is beautiful and fancy there being a Gormley statue. The ones on the beach at Crosby Liverpool are a sight to behold.
    I hope you’re feeling more on an even keel now. It’s horrid how this pandemic has messed with all our minds.
    Take care xxx

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    1. Oh, yes, we do have a Gormley! I'd love to see the ones on the beach in Crosby as well as, of course, the Angel of the North, with my own eyes one day! In the meantime, I promise to keep wearing my colourful outfits to brighten your days! xxx

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  13. I hope your colourful outfits lifted your spirits, they certainly bolstered mine. The skirt in your first photo is wonderful, what a find. I did enjoy the wonderful sculpture park , it must be such a joy to visit. I hope the grey days have disappeared and the Autumn sun is shining . xx

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    1. Thank you Jill! We often go to that sculpture park. It's less than 15 minutes down the road from us, and it's large enough so that you can do different walks! xxx

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  14. Sooo in love with your wonderful red, green and cream ensemble - the precious vintage poodle brooch wholly included. Few things telegraph the mid-twentieth century more than those sweet, smart pups.

    Autumn Zenith 🎃 Witchcrafted Life

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    1. Thank you Autumn! I do agree! Poodles are the ultimate mid-century icon! xxx

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  15. Much, much love for the outfits, esp that first one- the combo is absolutely spot on!!! Watch your front door, I may be on my way to steal it! Haha!
    I love the idea of a secret room! We had these amazing weeping silver birches at my primary school which were like tents which we played under all Summer- I loved my field at school!x

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    1. Thank you Kezzie! Thanks for the warning, we'll be putting on extra locks :-) That must have been one amazing playing field! xxx

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