Bloomin Hestonthal

OMG, I did, did you? What a taste sensation, there's no going back now.

Merry Christmas

                                 May no cloud mar the gladness of this festive time dear friend,

                                 But Christmas bring you happiness and joy without an end.

Best wishes to all, have a healthy, wealthy and very happy 2012

Surprise

We had the best weather in East Sussex yesterday, not a cloud in the sky and absolutely no wind. The beautiful day coincided with a visit from our boy Jack, who popped down from up t'north to spend an evening with us before Christmas.

We thought it would be a cracking idea to get out and enjoy the day, after all almost all of the Christmas prep is done, we only need to go out today for the BIG food shop.

We are NT members so we took a short drive to Sheffield Park which was looking tres splendid and very wintery, added bonus, not many people there. We made a discovery.......................

This amazing 'secret' walled garden, within the Sheffield Park grounds. Owned and run by the kitchen garden brewery

The lovely chap there and his playful puppy Freddie were very friendly, the guy knows everything there is to know about the wine he stocks, they have their own vineyard on site, and his daughter is the micro brewer there.

Lots of plants and really unusual garden ornaments, a total pleasure.

Can you see Mr. S&P taking this pic, he looks like Monsieur Hulot, no?

We were dazzled by the choice of wines, but chose a couple, and also bought some Somerset apple brandy, Mr. S&P had to have one of each of the real ales brewed on site. Just the sort of shopping experience I enjoy, supporting local makers and meeting the people who have a passion for what they do.

Christmas Treats

I'm not sure dear reader if you know but I do strive to buy and sell a little bit of vintage objet trouve. I once had high hopes for my on-line vintage knitting service, but alas for various reasons it just didn't work out. The plus side of that is of course I now get to search the highways and byways for all manner of vintage treasure. (As I used to do many years ago when my son was very small.)

                                                            bring out your vintage treasure
It is my hope to buy and sell beautiful vintage and retro inspired items at reasonable prices. I really do want to feel that when someone buys something from me they are very pleased with their find. And of course that they realise they are re purposing a once much loved and useful item.

Like most thrifters I find myself drawn to places where I can hunt out the vintage bargains, boot fairs, charity shops jumbles etc. You do understand I have to check out every possible source? I'm hoping next year to attend some 'proper' auctions to raise my game slightly.

Anyhoo the run up to Christmas has been a busy one and I will need to get a wiggle on in the new year to find some stock. Stock that is, not stock I buy then decide to keep.

 Today I found some gorgeous little side plates, late 60's or early 70's, German made, but I need to keep those.

oh, and this wonderful oven to table bowl by Midwinter, it's called Stonehenge (which amuses me.)

Have to keep that.

And this little beauty, a mirrored triple tealight holder, but this has reindeers on it, so it's a keeper too. You can see there's a problem developing can't you ?

Black and white images
canberrasgotstyleblogspot
bluevelvetvintage.com

Hand Made Christmas

I've given the old hand made a bit of a bash this year, it's always something I mean to do but never quite get around to. Not presents for other people you understand, just cards and a wreath for my door, something for my mother in law's door will be following at the end of the week. I'll try and remember to take a picture of that too.

This is the design for my hand screen printed cards, my inspiration was an old 1950's glass.

I sent one of these to my son, who's living in Cheshire at the moment, and he called me to say how much he liked it. I had a little chuckle to myself whilst looking at his tree decorations made at nursery, still gracing my tree after 18 years or so. Funny how the roles reverse with your children eh?

I went to a workshop to learn how to make this wreath. Wonderful learning a new skill because not only can I always make my own in future but possibly make some to sell next year.

Apart from the florist wire and the copper base everything else was found. Fir cones, ivy with lovely dark berries and my favourite, pheasant feathers.

I'd love to be able to say this is also something I have 'just' made but no, this image is from the Templar Poetry Society's web site.

Oh, the rising of the sun and the running of the deer....................

Birthday Treats

My birthday is just two weeks before Christmas. Not always a good thing. People are busy, restaurants are full of people having Christmas parties, so limited menu, stressed staff. So a little bit of creative thinking has to be employed to make it a celebratory event rather than just a prelude to Christmas.

 Mr. S & P came up trumps this year.

Tea and presents in bed. Followed by Eggs Benedict for breakfast. Up to the big smoke in a train full of the Santa Claus family.

Hundreds of Father and Mother Christmas' in Trafalgar Square making merry and making sure we all know Christmas is coming.

A quick snifter in a rather gorgeous Dutch pub.

Then oh joy, The Theatre darling. This production of The Ladykillers is tremendous. If you see nothing else go and see this.

Spot of supper in China Town, then home. What a perfect day. And I've still got Christmas to look forward to. I have been doing a spot of home made this year, which I will share with you very soon.

Frugality, Ugly or Beautiful?

I think just about everyone is watching the pennies, but it strikes me that means different things to different people. Blog world is awash with tons of chat about how best to make our money stretch. As far as I'm concerned it's all good, and even if you're reading stuff you already know, that's fine. Some bloggers seem to lead (to me) an unbearably frugal lifestyle. Looking for the cheapest of everything including food. I do understand that it is a lifestyle choice for them, and even when brought about by necessity, they seem to get a buzz from living in that way, because they have chosen to do it, rather than it being enforced.

I respect what they do and I'm not going to be critical about any efforts to lead a less consumable lifestyle.

But, yes you knew that was coming, I wouldn't eat and don't eat the flesh of an animal that has been ill treated  or force fed. I'm well aware that good quality meat can be  EXTREMELY expensive. But there are also many cuts of meat and special deals on meat that can make it an affordable option. Eat less meat and I include chicken in that, pad your meals out with veg or pasta or rice, and don't expect to have it with every meal. I was amazed to see a very well intentioned lady on a penny pinching tv programme last week feeding her two boys microwavable burgers.

Both boys said that the 'burgers' were disgusting  but because they were cheap she had bought tons of them. Please don't buy and please don't eat this kind of s**t, it's not good on any level. Not good for the animals, not good for the producers of the meat, and truly not good for anyone who eats it.

Be creative, take all the advice out there and make your money go further, try to spend less or what you can comfortably afford, but also live well.

My vote goes to frugality is beautiful.

Pictures From Across the Pond.

Oh dear reader this post was supposed to come hot on the heels of the last one, what happened I hear you cry?

Stuff, I cry!

I have been following this lovely gal's blog for the longest time. It used to be a vehicle for her vintage on line shop, but she has been developing slowly into an absolute ace photographer. Unfortunately the post I most wanted to share about the deep south, seems to have been deleted, or am I just going nuts?

Anyhoo please take a squiz, her images are really amazing.

Oh and the other thing is she loves cats.

What a Picture.

You know how some people just have an eye for a good shot? Well I know just such a person.

                     Some of her images are obviously composed and are more pleasing because of it.

                                                                Others not    

Go find her on Flickr under the moniker of penwren. But leave plenty of time, so many wonderful images to see.

Shutyerfacebook

I am as you know dear reader, an old fashioned girl. It took me the longest time to buy a microwave oven, I still don't cook anything in it but I do use it to heat things up, all well and good. I held off for as long as possible before I succumbed to a mobile phone, and yes of course it is very useful and yes I feel odd if I go out without it now. But I hate texting and only really use my phone to make calls. A fact which totally bemuses my call provider when I tell them I don't want to upgrade my phone. So there is no way I would want to get involved with facebook or twitter or any other 'social networking site'. Less is always more for me. And in my mind nothing can or should replace dealing with people, acquaintences and friends face to face. Liking/loving people and sharing time and space with them is a very important part of what gives meaning to 'quality of life'.

                                                                   Sharing Interests

                                                                  Loving the same fashions

Just yesterday I took myself off to an Antiques event in Lewes town hall, where I set up my Shrimpton and Perfect stall and spent the day talking to the public and selling them top notch vintage accoutrements. It was the best fun, seeing and meeting all different types of people, and talking to them about what they love about vintage.

I also met two new fabulous women who were also there on their own selling their wares. Margaret and Pepita.

Two women more unlike you couldn't possibly imagine, but both lovely bright energised people with a love for life. What a great day. Now I suspect our paths may cross again but if they don't it doesn't really matter, the day was perfect as it was.

I do have a good circle of friends, some close friends and one special friend, I know how lucky I am and what friendships mean to me. And yes I have 'friends' in the blogging world but that is on a different level. Valued but different.

These two ladies have been great friends since they met at primary school over nine decades ago, they are both 101. They have stayed close throughout their lives and have had many shared experiences. Real life experiences not virtual ones. Times are very tough, we can help each other through it, family, friends and community. 

images

1&2 Beryl Cook

3 Don Pasquale Glyndebourne

4 Mydaily.co.uk

5 Menmedia.co.uk

Anyone Seen a Wabbit?

If you have a pet you love you'll know what I mean when I say although our cat does have a 'proper' name,  we do call her so many other things, depending on our mood but let's be honest mostly dependent on hers.

Sometimes she just is a rabbit.

He's Gonna Find Out Who's Naughty or Nice

It's on it's way folks, Christmas that is, hopefully not the snow, I think that should be reserved for Christmas day only. Most efficiently I've started my present shopping and it's all going rather well at the moment. I've ordered some 'things' for Mr. S&P and I'm rather pleased with myself because not only did I get free delivery but I used an online discount code (for the first time ever) and also got 10% off the order too. So they really do work. Who'd of thought?

I have put in a small request to Santa for myself, Mr. Buble's Christmas album. I've just been on to Amazon to check out the tracks, they are all super smooth and very festive, with the added bonus of guests The Puppini Sisters and Shania Twain. I wish I could also have some reindeer in my garden, look at these beauties, any chance Santa?

Downton Abbey No More.

I'm missing Downton Abbey already. I used to wake up Sunday mornings and think oh good Downton tonight. I've enjoyed it so much and I'm also a little bit in love with Carson the butler played by Jim Carter, I think it's his voice, but strangely it's also his furrowed brow and austere demeanour. A man in control.............lovely.

I don't watch huge amounts of tv but when I find something I do like (especially a series) I really hate it when it finishes. Good drama, great locations, fantastic costumes and pretty perfect casting too, Downton has it all.

Michelle Dockery aka Lady Mary has played the part brilliantly, so sensitive, reserved and well spoken. But the fact that she speaks soooo slowly made me wonder if she is as upper class as she sounds. Well no actually, she is an Essex girl and her Mum hails from Stepney. Well done girl.

So now we'll all just have to wait until the Christmas special to hear more of the delightfully acerbic comments from Violet Dowager Duchess of Grantham.

Cora " I might send Mary over to visit my aunt. She could get to know New York"
VDD of G " I don't think things are that desperate"

VDD of G "What is a weekend?"


VDD of  G on entering a room " I do hope I'm interrupting something"


all images via Daily mail

11 11 11

Driving to the gallery today with my chum we pulled over and sat silently together for the 2 minutes silence. I wish I had seen more people observing this and showing their respect.

Watts Gallery

I went off to Compton in Surrey today on a little bit of business that turned out to be a whole lot of pleasure.

I visited the Watts gallery there which has recently reopened after a very expensive renovation project. The small gallery is full of the work of "The greatest painter of the Victorian age" George Frederic Watts.

Close by is the most extraordinary chapel built by his wife Mary, heavily decorated in a celtic art nouveau hybrid style. A strangely eerie and moving place, with exquisite internal decoration. I don't want to be over descriptive about it, as I hope you might be interested enough to find out more and maybe visit.

Many of the paintings were moving and beautiful, but my favourite was quite ethereal and peaceful, and quite appropriate for the difficult times we are all facing at the moment.

                                                                               Hope
                                          On loan from a private collection but only for a short while. 

Happy Birthday

Pssst, Shrimpton and Perfect blog is one month old today, I think I'm gonna become a follower to celebrate, what about you?

                                                           image via awhitecarousel.com