Finally

 

I have wanted one of these amazing swing seats for years. I have been saving up and we bought one and installed it last weekend. It's not an exaggeration to say that it calls to me, ha ha. And it's name? The Idler.

 Well I have been a busy bee and should by rights have been blogging profusely, but somehow things got in the way. Sounds like a cue for a song :)

The Mr and I had four glorious days in Athens as we celebrated his birthday. Yes it was warm, yes it was beautiful, but oh my the people were out of this world. I speak a few words of Greek and it seemed to enchant the lovely folk we met. I want to learn more before we return, as return we surely will.

We stayed at The Hotel Grande Bretagne and I have to say it is the best hotel we have ever stayed in. Quite exceptional in every way, with the view of  The Acropolis from the rooftop restaurant to the atmospheric bar and Winter lounge which was in fact a delightful palm court.

Both of us have been very busy in the garden as we prepare the house to put it back on the market, keep your fingers crossed for us that it sells this time.

Today has been a sewing day, reworking vintage linens and filling some pretty fabric hearts with our home grown lavender, harvested last year.

I have this month also signed up for a three year study course with OBOD. The order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. So far so good. I think it will be transformational.

The Harp of Erin by Thomas Buchanan Read.

Maybe not quite as transformational as this but a girl can live in hope.

What A Delight

 A little surprise left on my doorstep Sunday morning, a gift from The Brownies.

How lovely to know that children are being taught kindness, generosity and a love of nature.

Tulip

 

Such a sweet and tender story, a Thumbelina adaption by Andrea Love & Phoebe Wahl. I can't begin to imagine the amount of work this took. Absolutely charming.

Spring Equinox Refresh - Here Comes The Sun

 

Hello Lovely Quaintrelles

 Why have I never heard of this before? Surely all my friends are Quaintrelles?

International Women's Day

 I'm not really sure if I applaud this day of recognition for women, celebrating everything we have and do achieve. Should we have need of a day to celebrate half our species? I'm not sure.

Although once thinking about women who inspire me, or mean something to me and my life, I find filed away in my brain many many many women. Here are a few.

My dearest chum Linda who passed away in 2020.

Brave and Strong Trailblazers

Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun, self portrait in a straw hat c1782.

Delightful painting of Madame Perregaux by the above artist c1789

Joni Mitchell

The divine Linda McCartney

A very warm welcome to my latest follower Gill who took the plunge and clicked on the follow button. Thank you.

I'm Still Here

 Well my 'radio silence' has not been because of anything dreadful or indeed anything wonderfully exciting, simply procrastination. I probably have lots to share but keep mulling over any content I think may be of interest, until I decide no, too mundane, I'll wait for inspiration.

I'm biting the bullet today and posting regardless of the lack of world shattering interesting content.

In a rather nice turn of events the Mr has decided to reduce his working week to three days which means he and I are able to spend more time together. We are aiming to make greater use of our National Trust cards and get out at least once a week for a grand day out. We would also love to visit various interesting spots overnight, the only issue is finding a loving cat sitter to look after our chonky cat Morgana.

Happily a lovely girl I work with has been helping us out with that and she and Morgana have been spending cosy evenings and nights together.

A few weeks ago the Mr and I visited an extraordinary place in Wales called Portmeirion. I feel sure most of you will have heard of it. Designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis in the early 20th century, it has Riviera inspired multi coloured houses, huge ornamental gardens and sits on a gorgeous bay. You can actually stay in the 'Village', but it was so early in the season we decided not to on this occasion.

 

Apparently it was a place Brian Epstein visited many times and guess what? My fabulous Guru George Harrison stayed there for his 50th birthday. A magical and mysterious place.

I would like to extend a very warm welcome to my latest follower 'Stitchy Woman'. It pleases me greatly to feel a few more folk are part of my online family. Could I ask that if you visit regularly that you also press the follow button. I seem to get thousands of visits but don't know who you are:)

Celebrating LOVE

 

My Beloved George and His Father In Simpatico

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Joy With Her Keeper at The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

To All Best Friends

And if money were no object I would hot foot it to Philip Mould's Mayfair art establishment to secure my Valentine's heart's desire. This totally romantic painting (pastel) by Rosalba Carriera c1725, "Cleopatra Holding a Pearl". Totally swoon worthy, no? It's enough to make a gal's heart melt.

Burns Night Fun

 The Mr and I are out galavanting tonight. We've booked tickets to a Burns night at a local historic house, Thornbridge Hall.

Photo By Frances Milburn

The dress code is glam, dress to impress. I've pulled out a sensational Northern Lights green skirt that I bought in Norway a couple of years ago that I have never worn. Coupled with a lightweight knit with gold details on the sleeves and a pair of boots also not worn before. They have a slight iridescence when they catch the light, very on trend, ha ha. I do have some Camilla Elphick shoes that would look gorgeous with this skirt but unfortunately they do not fit too well and keep slipping off. Sadly I have to face the fact that I need to sell them on. No point in keep getting them out of their box, trying them on and sighing when I can't walk in them. Brutal realisation.

I love all the fanfare and Scottishness of a Burns night supper. Very excitingly there will be pipers and an address to the haggis. Burns wrote the address in 1786. All very thrilling. The Mr is especially thrilled with the Whisky flight that will be served with the meal, doubly so, as he will be drinking mine too. A cab has been ordered!

Gareth Morrison addresses the Haggis in this Youtube short. Fabulous.

The Maestro Has A Spa Day

 

Oh how happy is The Maestro now he has had a spruce up? The poor love had some very old twine stuck in his throat, filthy eyes and a nasty dirty robe.

I hand washed his little garment in an especially mild detergent and carefully dried it. I used barely moist cotton buds to clean his glass eyes, ears and hands. For the rest of him, fabric etc I used something called a smoke sponge.

I volunteer in a textile department within a local stately home, and this type of sponge is fabulous for cleaning antique and important fabrics. Good to know my friends if any of you have similar work to do. The idea is it lifts the grime without wetting any delicate precious materials. It can be used on books as well, so I'm told.

I'm away now to put his little robe back on and to clean his metamorphic Victorian dolls chair which happily came with him. A Marionette needs a choice of chairs methinks.