of life and colour to come..
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Afer a winter of buying flowers I love when it's time to pick my own These are February Gold though they mever appear in February here.  I have watched the harrowing film Mr Jones and have been thinking about how fortunate I am to be able on the whole to pick my own surroundings, my own thoughts, my own pastimes, ideals and values. To have so much freedom of choice is not to be taken for granted I think. ..my mother on Mother's Day. My sister made a small repair on the beautiful Shetland shawl knitted by our Mum. It was knitted in one ply wool so fine it could be pulled through a wedding ring. She also knitted Aran and Fair Isle patterns.    in a rainy day slice of cake and cup of tea..    After greasing the cake tin, have you tried dusting the tin with a light coating of caster sugar? It gives the cake a lovely delicately crunchy edge which is a nice contrasst to the soft sponge. Ater an excellent (rather expensive) lunch in Sylvan with a lovely friend and neighbour who has just moved back to the city, we wandered around the Park Circus area looking at the elegant houses and interesting juxtapositions of old and new and at the converted mews lanes. And at the Mercedes, Aston Martins and Ferraris!       I like this house within a house.
The West End of British cities is the posh end becasue the prevailing winds in Britain are from the west, so the more desirable houses were away from the smells and noise of the factories and mills and tanneries which in many cases would have created the wealth to build them. One stormy day some years ago I stood watching the ferry coming in. It took some time to dock as the water was choppy and the wind was strong and I chatted to one of the stewards - an older man who always wore a hat which had corks on strings around the edges of the brim. The weather forecas was uncertain, and so was I and I confided that I was not sure whether I should get aboard or not. 'What if the ferries are cancelled and I can't get back?' I asked him. 'Well' he said cheerfully 'You'll have a wee adventure!' I got on the ferry. He's long dead, that kindly man, but I often hear his voice.  It snowed quietly most of the morning. Mesmerising, and so peaceful.      The new mug with its sunny Mediterranean vibe. I didn't expect to chhristen it with hot chocolate in snow! It was delicious. The shops are full of vibrant colours and I could not resist the plate, mug and carrier bag, I just had to bring some of that vitality home with me today.  If yesterday's photograph represents the peace and quiet of home, this one represents the little jolt of city buzz which I need every now and then. I am so lucky to be able to have a bit of both. The ice on the water bowl was thin by the time I photgraaphed it, and althugh we got about twenty minutes of snow yeasterday, it is about to turn to rain again soon.   The cosy throw is back out of the cupboard. Be warm and safe wherever you are. ..of the romantic Valentine roses bought three and ahalf weeks ago.  Every lamp should have flowers under it.
Can you see the moonlight reflected in the ice on the water bowl? And of course there is also the reflection from the open door to the kitchen, and me standing there.  We Brits love talking about our weather. Today there is a diffetence of 27 degrees between the north and south of the country. In our little corner of Scotland we have had the nnost remarkable run of sunny days. 13 days I think! On yesterday's trip to the city the sun spatkling on the water of Loch Long, Holy Loch and the River Clyde was beautiful. Blue water and blue sky. I have had several breakfasts outside and one lunch in the greenhouse. At night the stars have been brilliant and the moonlight bright as day, transforming the landscape into some magical realm. Loved this unexpected spell of sunshine and feel completely re-energised by it. Full sun forecast for tomorrow, though it may snow on Sunday.. I was inspired to make more of my winter garden by this witch hazel in my friend's garden. She nurtured it from a little sad sales table specimen and shaped it carefully. It has been in fuull flower for weeks and in our recent sunny weather it's perfume has been enjoyed to the full.  A new watering can, gardening clogs and gardening gloves, and some pretties to grow on for the greenhouse in summer. I'm all set to go! The continuing sunny weather has energised me.     A splendid hellebore, a small sarcococca which is scenting the greenhouse beautifully, and a witch hazel will fill the gaps in my future winter gardens. It's my word for the year after all, not just for February. It struck me this morning that a good synonym for romantic in the wider sense that I am using the word could be life-affirming. Thank you Rosemary who described the image of my outdor breakfast as life-affirming and put this beautiful word into my head. It makes me want to do a series of paintings of life-affirming breakfasts! I digress (as ever-the format of my blog allows full rein to my grasshopper brain). I intended to write about a romantic home. Flowers, a certain amount of order, treasured things around, and for me, frequent small changes to keep it fresh and full of good gentle energy.    My bedrooom is very simple (all 'stuff' is out of sight). Softly lit, only one painting, plain bedlinen but I love to change the pillowcase with the seasons - from snowdrops in winter to daffodills and bluebells, then there is a summer one and an autumn one. Add a bit of Mozart and it is a very romantic and life-affirming and peaceful place. I am so grateful for it. ..for spring! I always am. I am ready to put away the winter things and change everything. I put this throw in the cupboard saying thank you for all the cosiness and comfort and adding that I might bring it back out again if it snows this week...which is a possibilty.  Do you get like this? I change the towels, the cushion covers, the rug in the sitting room, some paintings, certain vases come out for daffodils and catkins, and I can't wait to wear something other than my duvet coat! But I musst hold off a little bit longer.... Yet more sunny days!     Have switched on the heated propagator though I dom't know yet what I will grow this year, other than sweet pea 'Gwendoline' and more ox-eye daisies.  Seen on the ferry, but not by me unfortunately! I have never seen the Northern Lights. Have you? A new word for me. It means the warmth of the winter sun, and that is what we have been enjoying here for several days now! Thank you to crossword wizard Lynne for this happy word.   Are you my robin? Sunny days and starry nights and breakfasts outside.. beautiful.  I find travel very romantic - even by erratic public transport! I can just visit Edinburgh in a day, usually, but midweek I found myself back in Glasgow around 6.30pm being told the bus did not go as far as the ferry. Driver shortages and changes of timetables. Fortunately a hospitable Glasgow friend put me up for the night and we had fun watching the romantic comedy Falling For Figaro - lighthearted with spectacular Scottish scenery and beautiful music, and we went out for breakfast the next morning.  In Edinburgh I met an old Art School friend and we had lunch at The National Gallery, and then visited The Scottish Gallery (where I photographed the above), The Open Eye Gallery and and had coffee in The Ntional Portrait Gallery where my friend bought me this card. All thiese galleries are within easy walking distance of each other.  We both love this brilliant portrait of Tilda Swinton by John Byrne. Thank you Ian!
 As you will know from recent posts I got caught up in the medieval Romances and really got interested in the tapestries and stained glass images in the Burrell Collection in Glasgow. I take photographs of things in order to see them better (I have little central vision) so apologise for the poor quality of the photographs here - I had noot intended to publish them on the blog. They were just a kind of notetaking for me. Having said that, I will share them anyway and hope you can make something of them, which will in part depend on what device you are using . Here are some details about the images I posted recently. The first the tapestry three days ago, the second the stained glass four days ago and the third today's image of the mille fleurs tapestry. I hope they are of interest!    At last a decent day and I had breakfast outside for the first time this year. A chance to get ito my very unromantic garden and see what can be done to transform it! The warmth of the sun on my face was delicious. Wishing you a sunny weekend.  |
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