Pinks and greens

As September segues into October, and Autumn is slowly creeping up on is, the balmy weather we've been blessed with is starting to feel slightly unreal.

The garden is still wearing its overgrown lushness with relish and, even if the process of decay is unavoidable, its verdancy soon making way for mouldy browns and greys, for now it is dressed in hues of pink and green.

And so am I!

I've centered my outfit around this new-to-me green and pink pussy bow blouse which, after a bit of head scratching, I teamed with a green floral print vintage skirt. At my waist, a sage green woven belt

Both green and pink are represented in the rest of my accessories: a green beaded necklace and a chunky plastic ring in bright pink. Even the Bambi in my vintage brooch is frolicking on a pale green background!

The exuberant bush behind me is our beloved Fuchsia magellanica, which really comes into its own this time of year, providing a late-summer pit stop for visiting bees.

Another bee magnet is Sedum spectabile, the colour of which perfectly matches my pink Tweed jacket. I only needed it for my commute in the morning and had to carry it home in my bag as it was far too warm for a coat by then.

Here, I just threw it on for the purpose of this post, with the late afternoon sun illuminating the pinks with a magical glow.

The last Saturday of September was another one of those picture perfect Autumn days, with a sunlit afternoon inviting us for a walk in the park. 

The low, slanting light was almost too bright, adding to the unsettling poignancy of the season, knowing that the blue skies will all too quickly fade into a long season of grey.

The short-sleeved plaid dress, with its shades of green and olive, neck tie and box pleats, was a charity shop find from years back. Sadly, it was too large, but I took the plunge anyway, and had it taken in by a local seamstress. 

I used shades of rose red and pink for my accessories: a vinyl belt with a slanted buckle, beaded necklace, ring and orchid brooch.

I secured the neck tie with a vintage diamanté tie clip.

My cropped red cardie was only worn briefly, just long enough to show you my brooch with the cloche hat wearing lady.

Autumn still has to begin in earnest in the park as well. While the leaves have long ago lost their freshness, the trees are still holding on to them, only a handful wearing their bright autumnal coats.

There's still a scattering of dog rose and mallow flowers, their pinks a startling contrast with their withered and long-dead neighbours.

I was wearing plaid on plaid, adding my royal blue, chartreuse and white plaid Lilli Ann coat, a lucky € 4 find at Think Twice back in February.

It's not in the best of conditions, but good enough for a walk in the park.

Beyond the trees are pools of hazy Autumn sunlight and walking in their dappled shade, we delighted in the seasons's sights, smells and sounds, appreciating the rhythm of nature.

Oh, who could find a dearth of bliss

With autumn glory such as this!

~ Gladys Harp

Indeed, it's days like these that get my spirits soaring, realizing it's useless to mourn the passing of Summer. Surely, Autumn is nothing if not atmospheric!

To end this almost perfect day, we had a quick dash around the charity shop up the road, where I found a handful of necklaces and a scarf. While we were jokingly telling each other we now needed something to carry them around the shop in, I happened upon this tiny wicker basket, which was ours for € 0,25.

Green, ruffles and a row of self covered buttons at the cuffs. What's not to like? As luck would have it, this blouse was exactly my size too! There was no room left in the basket, but it still came home with me.

All I need now is some decent Autumn weather to wear it!

Meanwhile, I am taking my pink and green outfit to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style as soon as the link is up!

Going to the docks

It was Jos's birthday in the last week of September, and just like I did last year, I'd taken the day off so that we could spend it together.

The day was almost a carbon copy of last year's too, the sun shining just as brightly in a deep blue sky.

Admittedly, this was kind of a busman's holiday for me, as here we were waiting for the tram, which would take us into Antwerp.

I was still making the most of my Summer wardrobe by wearing this short-sleeved black frock with a Peter Pan collar, a row of sky blue buttons and loops and a striking floral and geometric print.

For some reason, this dress only seems to come out of my wardrobe this time of year, just before the big wardrobe changeover, as the last time I wore it was in September 2017. 

Accessorizing is easy when there are so many colours to choose from. For my birds-in-flight brooch and necklace, I took the lead from the blue of the buttons, choosing more vibrant shades for my bracelets in turquoise and red with - again - a Millefiori design. I was tickled pink when I found out that all the way over in Australia, Sasha has exactly the same bracelet!

I had a hairdresser's appointment - which sounds uncannily like last year as well - and while ambling towards the salon, I took in some of the details which normally all but escape me. Would you believe these snaps were all taken in the street where my office is?

Just a couple of doors away from my hairdresser's is an Oxfam shop, which we went into as we were early. We were actually in search of a Winter coat for Jos, but no joy in the men's department: just a small rack of shapeless, tired-looking coats one wouldn't be seen dead in.

But then there was a mannequin wearing this delightful cape. Its label said Chartage by Luc Bex, whom I'd never heard of , but who, according to the almighty Internet, is a Belgian jewellery designer. Couldn't find anything about the cape itself, or even if he actually designed clothes as well. One thing is certain: there was no way I was going to leave this much fabulousness behind!

After Michel, my hairdresser, had worked his magic, it was time for lunch. 

We'd booked a table at the same little restaurant we went to last year. Not only is it very cosy, with all its assorted junk a little reminiscent of Dove Cottage, the food is delicious, and it's quite unpretentious, which is just how we like it. 

Afterwards, we went for a browse in a second hand shop we'd passed earlier. Much to our delight, there was an extensive selection of menswear, including a wide choice of coats. After trying on a gorgeous leather jacket, which sadly was too big, we finally found this sheepskin coat, which fit the bill (and Jos!) perfectly.

Walking towards the River Scheldt, we passed this ornamental, neo-classicist gate, which was constructed between 1859 and 1862, and belongs to St. Paul's Church (Sint Pauluskerk).

The church itself was completed in 1639. Originally, St. Paul’s Church was part of a large Dominican monastery. It was consecrated in 1571 as a replacement for an earlier church. A new Baroque steeple was built after a ravaging fire destroyed the church in 1679.

While the main entrance of the church is around the block, this gate, which for once stood invitingly open, leads to a secluded garden complete with Lourdes grotto, in the shadow of the monastery ruins.

Nearing the river bank, I was struck by the plentiful architectural references to Antwerp's maritime tradition.

Thanks to its location at the upper end of the tidal estuary of the River Scheldt, Antwerp has become what it is today: a metropolis with an international seaport, and the city's fortune has always been closely tied in with that of its port.

We strolled along the river's quays up to 't Eilandje (Little Island) with the impressive MAS Museum, which opened in 2011, as its focal point. 

It's where we ended up last year as well, but now, instead of walking up to the viewing platform on top of the museum, we just walked around the docks surrounding it.

This formerly abandoned dockside district has been turned into an attractive neighbourhood. Its rundown historic warehouses have been refurbished and its grubby cafés frequented by drunken sailors have made room for hip coffee bars.

I love how the museum's undulating glass panes resemble waves, another tribute to Antwerp's relationship with its river.

Just a short walk along the quays from the museum is the world’s largest museum collection of harbour cranes and, right in front of MAS is its real showpiece: the oldest crane in the collection.

This is a ten ton manually operated crane from German manufacturer Stuckenholz, which was purchased by the city of Antwerp in 1884 for handling heavy loads and mounting shore cranes.

The four larger than life sculptures which seem to be climbing on top one of the renovated warehouses (top right) are part of an interactive art installation called the Antwerp Whisperer (de Antwerpse Fluisteraar). The sculpture on top of the roof  whispers general and personal messages that are received by a fifth sculpture, which is positioned below near the dock, but not pictured.

Apparently, you can record your own message for € 1,99 by using a free App. An idea for Jos's next birthday, perhaps?

All too soon, the afternoon was drawing to a close, but before taking the tram home, we stopped for coffee in the museum's café.

And finally, better late than never, I am linking my black frock to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style!

Sand dunes and salty air

It was on the Friday of our holiday week back in September (can't believe it's already one month ago!) that we were finally greeted by the sun.

Drawing back the curtains, we were met by a sun-drenched landscape as far as the eye could see, even if the hills we were supposed to see in the distance were still obscured by a haze.

Neither a dress nor a pair of trousers were my outfit of choice that day: I'd brought a jumpsuit I'd bought from New Look, and I thought it was about time we went out together!

I used the scarf clip on the bottom right, with its exquisite Millefiori design, for modesty purposes, even though I was wearing a tee shirt underneath. With so many colours to choose from, I picked out blue for my accessories which, apart from the scarf clip, consisted of a belt, beaded necklace and ring.

If you look sharply, you can see I'm being photo-bombed! The tiny figure on top of the ridge where the dark green of the shrubs and the bright green of the field meet is actually the resident goat! Can you spot it?

Not having had our full fix of sea air yet, we decided to make the most of the sunny weather and return to the coast.

So, again we drove down to our nearest seaside resort, De Panne, which also happens to be Belgium's most westerly coastal town, just a stone's throw from the border with France.

Walking towards the seafront, we were welcomed by the statue of Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians. Brushing up my knowledge of Belgium's national history, and educating my non Belgian readers in the process, when Belgium became independent in 1830, its constitution declared that we should have a King. After considering several candidates, the honour fell to Leopold von Saksen-Coburg, who was born in German, but who lived in England at the time.

The new King arrived in Calais by boat on July 17, 1831, from where he was taken to De Panne by coach. The statue was erected in the spot where he first put foot on Belgian soil.

It was quite a blustery day, and as soon as we arrived at the seafront and ventured away from the shelter of the promenade, Jos had to make a run for his hat, which had decided to go its separate way.

Walking along the promenade and then down to the beach, we were leaning into the gale, with the roaring of the waves obliterating every other sound.

Where sky and sea meet, the horizon seemed to be hemmed in a choppy silver line.

No intentional silly pose: I actually had a problem staying upright, and it truly felt as if I was being tossed about by the wind.

The legs of my jumpsuit were flapping about, the thin fabric no match for the tempestuous wind, and putting on my scarf wasn't an easy task, as it kept trying to escape, following the example of Jos's hat.

Walking on the beach, eagerly breathing in the sea's briny aroma, we were mesmerized by the mermaid's call of the waves, overlapping each other in rapid succession, their tips edged by bubbling white foam.

Several years ago, we walked for miles in a nature reserve in the dunes, walking the final stretch along the coastline towards De Panne on the beach.

It had been a glorious Summer's day and we recalled eating our picnic at a viewpoint in the dunes which, in our imagination, wasn't all that far from where we were now.

What if we walked to the viewpoint from here? However, as the tide was high, we had to abandon the beach and walk along the sea wall.

As soon as we'd reached the path leading off the coast, and into shelter of the dunes, the cacophony created by the wind and the waves died away and it was as if we'd entered another world.

Shortly after entering the nature reserve, we started climbing until the aquamarine sea could be glimpsed in the distance. The whitewashed and red-roofed cottages are all that's left of the fisherman's village, where the town's origins lie and where fishing still flourished 100 years ago.

No fisherman could afford to live there now, as the cottages have been turned into exclusive residences.

The 340-hectare Westhoek nature reserve is the only dune area on the Flemish coast where nearly all dune vegetation is represented in one unbroken dune landscape. This is due to two artificial breaks in the dunes (called "slufters") where sea water penetrates into the nature reserve at high tide, making the vegetation and wildlife here of particular interest.

This is a region of rolling sand dunes interspersed with dense thickets of thorny shrubs, where it is possible to wander for hours, feeling miles away from the rest of the world.

The meandering sandy path took us deeper and deeper into the dunes, but we kept going, expecting the viewpoint to appear around the next bend.

We were just about to give up when suddenly there it was. It was hard slog climbing up to the platform erected on top of a dune through the soft and shifting sand, but the panorama which awaited us was definitely worth the effort.

We returned the way we'd come, passing a lonesome and bedraggled cormorant along the way. 

It was getting late and back at the promenade the newly renovated Kursaal beckoned us for lunch.

Sufficiently restored, we explored De Panne's one kilometre-wide sandy beach, which is the widest on the Belgian coastline. 

There's a huge variety of boldly coloured and striped old-fashioned beach huts, which are quite irresistible and a magnet for my camera lens.

Many of these have wheels, looking as if they have just arrived by time machine from a bygone age, when bathing machines, which allowed people to change into swimwear at the water's edge before wading into the sea, were an essential part of sea-side etiquette.

They huddle together in clusters, their colours and names identifying the different rental agencies.

Apart from the quintessential striped ones, I especially loved the blue and white huts named Alice (my late Mum's name), which were decorated with a yellow scallop shell.

We walked all the way along the beach, past a graveyard of empty razor shells and a lonely yellow buoy left landlocked in the rippled sand, to neighbouring resort St. Idesbald.

The wind had lost some of its enthusiasm by then, so that the going was somewhat easier. 

We almost had the beach to ourselves. On this wind-blown day, it was almost devoid of holidaymakers and day-trippers, with only a handful of people like ourselves blowing the cobwebs away. 

Our feet tired after all this walking, we took a breather and then returned to De Panne by tram.

Just one more day, and our holiday would be over ...

Linking my jumpsuit to Nancy's Fancy Friday!

Back to life, back to reality

All that travelling can be quite exhausting, so I thought it was time I gave you a break. What's more, my ongoing travelogue is the reason I'm once again lagging behind. It's almost as if my every day life has been put on the back burner, which obviously isn't so. Nothing exciting has been happening, but I've still been wearing clothes, so high time I treat you to a good old outfit post!

For the purpose of this post, I'm taking you back to the third week of September when, even if we were well and truly on the slippery slope to Autumn, the weather was still going up and down like a yo-yo, with warm Summer weather one day and stormy Autumn weather the next.

That week, we were unexpectedly treated to a brief period of Indian Summer weather. Obviously, we would have loved it if this had coincided with a weekend, but alas, it was from Monday to Thursday that temperatures temporarily soared to a balmy 25°C and more.

At least it gave me the opportunity to wear some more of my as yet unworn Summer frocks. Take this delightful red and white bamboo print dress, for instance. It was one of the vintage dresses I picked up at the charity shops' Retro Day back in March. It's a very simple short-sleeved shift dress, with a tie collar, and it is clearly handmade. I thought it benefited from the addition of a red belt and further accessorized it with a gold tone butterfly brooch with red and turquoise plastic pearls. There are shimmering gold tones in my plastic ring as well.

Intrigued by my necklace, which I admit is quite sedate for me? All will be revealed at the end of this post. But please do not scroll down yet ;-)

This vintage frock, with its profusion of flowers in a multitude of colours, has been living in my wardrobe for many years. This too was a charity shop find and I love its 1940s vibe, although its Diolen label firmly dates it three decades later.

Whatever the case, it's a pleasure to wear, so I'm glad the weather stayed put until I'd done so.

I usually wear this with green accessories, but this time I thought I'd break the habit and chose blue for my belt, beaded necklace and ring.

After playing around with a couple of brooches, I finally settled for this tortoise shell bird.

By Friday, Summer was over. Quite literally, as it was the 21st of September!

If it was raining lightly when I left home, the rain had become torrential with strong gusts of wind by the time I got off the bus in Antwerp. Waiting for the tram to take me to the city centre, I wedged myself into the inadequately cramped bus shelter.

I have a choice of two trams but as there was no sign of the fastest and most comfortable of the two, and I was running late, I made do with the first one to arrive, the infamous tram number 7. The majority of the trams on this line are old and do not have nearly enough space for its number of passengers, so that they are usually already packed to the rafters by the time they get to my stop. I managed to get on, feeling much like the proverbial sardine, when just before the next stop the driver announced that she couldn't continue as there was a branch hanging from the overhead tramlines.

So, there was nothing for it but to get off and trudge back the way we'd come through the relentless rain, my umbrella bent wildly out of shape by the wind.  In the end, I gave up and, with some difficulty closed the damn thing and continued without it. 

Needless to say I was soaking wet by the time I got to work. 

It's a good thing I was wearing my orange leather jacket and burgundy flat heeled booties!

The dress I was wearing is new-to-me. It's from Mexx and I paid € 4 for it in a charity shop after falling in love with its fabulous black and red chevron print. 

The atrocious weather during my commute made me thank my lucky stars I'd added a cardigan. I picked this mustard one from my collection and pinned a red 80s style brooch to it. 

In order to break up the expanse of chevrons in this midi length dress, I accented my waist with a purple woven belt and wore a long beaded necklace, which I knotted.

Once again, I'd taken the afternoon off, and we went for a browse at the charity shop in our village before heading home. 

I found another King Louie top. It's short-sleeved so has been put away for next year.  And just before calling it a day I happened upon this hardly worn pair of cobalt blue Miz Mooz slingbacks. I couldn't believe that not only were they my size, the asking price was a mere € 4. Yes, I know, that's crazy, isn't it?

Back at home, a package was waiting, which came all the way from Omaha, Nebraska. I'd won Goody's draw, and I'm now the proud owner of last year's Nebraska State Fair cookbook featuring all of Danny's prizewinning recipes. There was also a fridge magnet, which has joined our collection, and a pair of crazy novelty socks for Jos. Last but not least, Goody had kindly added two gorgeous cat brooches!

The stormy weather had subsided by Saturday, but conditions were still far too inclement for Summer frocks.

In honour of the new season, I was wearing autumnal shades, with yellows, oranges and browns in a starring role.

I don't recall the reason this ochre corduroy jacket was banished to the depths of my wardrobe. Perhaps I got tired of it? In fact, I was surprised, and pleasantly so, that I'd had to presence of mind to keep it instead of re-donate it. 

Obviously, it was very crumpled when I pulled it out, but just a couple of spritzes with my new best friend, a crease remover spray called Ta Da!, did the trick without the need of getting out the iron and ironing board.

Look, I'm wearing one of Goody's cat brooches pinned to its collar. 

Orange is the first colour that hits you when seeing this bright floral skirt, but the addition of the sky blue flowers and their smaller, dark green counterparts, makes its print even more gorgeous.

Orange was also the first colour to come to mind when picking out accessories, and I didn't resist it by choosing an orange belt and beaded necklace, as well as a brooch featuring a translucent orange heart in a swirly gold nest.

My ring was a nod to the blue flowers in the print.

But I didn't mention my blouse yet! Yes, it is brown, but I'm sure that is the last thing you notice about it. Look at that fabulous print! No wonder it shouted at me from among a rack of more timid blouses at Think Twice!

We went charity shopping again on Saturday, but pickings were very meagre. 

While browsing the rather splendid book collection in the smallest of the shops, I came across a whole batch of 1930s novels. With space in our bookshelves at a premium, I limited myself to four, for which I paid the princely sum of € 1, as they were only € 0,25 each!

The other, bigger, shop we visited was a huge disappointment. We noticed it had been going downhill but what to think of half empty shelves and the clothing rails still full of Summer remnants. Even the books seemed to have given up and were reclining on the shelves in quite a higgledy-piggledy fashion.

Only these rather unusual clip-on earrings came home with me.

Finally, allow me to introduce you to some family heirlooms which recently came home to Dove Cottage. 

The chair on the right is part of my parents' first set of kitchen chairs, dating from the late 1950s. There were only ever two and, even they were replaced in the end, I remember them throughout my childhood. Although a bit worse for wear (the other one's seat is much more damaged), they have started a second life in Dove Cottage's kitchen.

The two ceramic dwarfs (the only survivors of the seven) used to be living on a shelf in my paternal grandparent's lean-to veranda. I don't remember if Snow White was there as well ...

And now I've come to the mystery of the necklace I was wearing at the start of this post. The pendant is actually a tiny gold ring engraved with my name, which was mine as a young child. I'd forgotten all about it but my sister found it among her daughter's things when clearing up at home. Too small for even my pinkie now, I thought I'd give it a second life as well, by wearing it as a pendant.

Isn't it sweet?

I'm taking my autumnal outfit to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style, and this time I'm also joining Tina, Beate and Natalia at Modish Matrons!