Slate and stone

Until death do us part

Whilst I was sitting discussing ribbon colours with a bride, a lady came in to buy flowers for her husband's funeral. He died 48 hours ago, and will be buried at a green burial site tomorrow.

"It must be dahlias, that's what we agreed"

She had nursed him everyday for 16 years. After she had left, the bride and I fought back a few tears and decided that getting the exact shade of ribbon didn't seem as important as it had done 15 minutes earlier.

A labour of love by Crash Taylor

What is it with photographers and cool names? Crash Taylor photographed the labour of love wedding. I think the last one is set to become the most famous wedding shot ever
Have a look at his blog and website

Call him up and ask him to do your wedding,
"Hey Crash!"- who would want to go through life without ever saying that? I suspect you have to book very early to avoid disappointment.

Per Matteo

A peek at my drawers

I prefer old furniture, my flat pack days are over, Ikea fills me with horror (aside from the fabulous assortment of herrings, the meatballs and Daim bars) As I generally fail to grasp the concept of fit screw B in fitting A, I buy my furniture ready made. Charity shops are great for this, there is one opposite the shop that has had some gems. I purchased these bedside drawers at the weekend, it's a fine line between fabulous and not so sometimes and I can't quite decide if they work. It doesn't help that they are actually quite low, and me being a princess and all, my bed is very high, they do however have the most charming Bakelite handles.
Whilst I mull it over they are sitting in the shop window.

Other things being mulled over

Is Shakira really only 4'11''?
Nigel Slater, like his recipes, not sure about the television programme
Julia Mackenzie....is she just annoying as Miss Marple? I think it's the voice
Christmas...there I have said it.
Did I dream my smoke alarm going off at 5.09am?
3 bad hair days in a row, surely tomorrow will be the day it all goes right?
Piquet versus Briatore

Currently loving.....grey

I know I should be embracing this seasons purples, and there was a brief flirtation with navy, but I always come back to grey.
1. Grey vase works beautifully with yellows and oranges
2. Charcoals, seriously underused these days
3. Joining the quilted bag bandwagon
4. Needs no explanation

How to make Sloe gin

1. Acquire some sloes. The hardest part of sloe gin production. If you haven't got some already, you may have been pipped at the post by fans of Hugh Fearnley Whathisstall? Foraging has become very chichi and Boden welly wearers take no prisoners. Life is made much simpler if like me you have a marvellous friend with a stash in his freezer.
2. Put in jar/ bottle with sugar and gin, don't be deceived by the photograph, this is a 4 litre kilner jar.
3. Wait 3 months and drink, or decant into antique hip flasks and give as gifts at Christmas - homemade tags will add extra twee.

The ratio of Sloe:sugar:gin is a hotly debated topic in these parts, the lady at our local Co-op* thinks the less sugar the better, others think equal ratios of sugar and sloe. I went with minimal sugar, you can always add more.

* How is this for twee, do you remember our Co-op burnt down? Well it is now in a tent in the car park, yes a tent quite a robust one, but a tent none the less. The new store is being built alongside it, all Eco chic with a grass roof and curves.

Pick up rubber

A Saturday morning in the shop means one thing.....men.
Jostling the papers and a coffee, they form an orderly queue. They leave with flowers for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, or just because. Some come just for the F1 practice and qualifying. This is a hardcore group, generally fans of Mclaren or Brawn, with one notable exception, we stand around the laptop debating fuel loads, KERS, tyre choices and 2010 seats. It is an elite club, knock 3 times and bring a cappuccino (skinny, 4 shots) and a pig's ear (smoked). There is also a written entrance exam.
There was a very big "whoop" when Mr Hamilton got pole, and at least he went off in hot pursuit of 2nd place. Nobody but Mr Button could begrudge Mr Barichello his win at Monza, as our chances seem to be over for this year, I hope the enigmatic Brazilian wins the drivers championship.
I am starting a campaign to get Mr Sutil to Mclaren for next season

p.s. Mr Raikkonen, kindly do us all a favour and get thee to a barbers.

Flowers for a friday

A wedding of roses, a bit blurry but you know the sort of thing. The bouquets are badly photographed beneath a picture of Daniel Lambert. He was the fattest man that ever lived, and he died in Stamford. Quite the celebrity all sorts of things are named after him, pubs, ales and really big sandwiches.

I like the hazel leaves in the buttonholes.

Class dismissed.

xoxo

Vintage wedding dresses

This is not an "If i were getting married today" feature, I was looking for something completely different, but google has an interesting way of throwing up gems.
These dresses are all from between 1940-1970, top right looks like it just stepped off the catwalk...it was made in 1945. Take a peek for yourself

Ambushed

I was persuaded by a team of ladies to buy some old bowls and jugs from a church which has closed down. They had a combined age of 439. I have always been a sucker for old things.

What of The Hound? Well he spent much of the latter half of last week at the horse trials. Dressed in Dubarry boots, tweed jacket, and a monocle, he spent a lot of time in the members enclosure. My apologises if his rather raucous behaviour interrupted your weekend of horseplay. He finally returned in the small hours of Monday morning, weighed down by an assortment of shooting sticks, the odd bronze, and a new pair of plus fours. He is now working flat out on "Operation destagnation" it is a tough case but he has some wily tricks up his sleeve.

There will be 6 of us, 8 if you include the dogs

and it will be held in the sweetest little chapel, on a Wednesday.

This bride was a girl after my own heart

Whirlwind

So much has happened lately I am in a spin. Weddings, Burghley Horse trials, flowers for Country Living magazine, the new book, Project X, I have spent the last 2 days replumbing the loo, and trying to get a broadband connection....I am hopefully going to get there tomorrow. There have been tears and laughter, 2 god-awful hangovers, 3 new recipes and 1 big discovery.
Regular blogging should be back soon...thank you for your patience.
xoxo

5 roses 2 ways

Roses don't have to all go in one vase, use bud vases, or Diet Coke bottles. It makes them go further. A dozen along a mantle piece look striking, vary the heights, use different colours, go wild.

You're my diamond in the rough

A mini rose that had suffered at my neglectful hands, planted out in the garden, and rewarded us with a single bloom.

Change of subject - I couldn't think of a link, forgive me
Sometimes I like a bit of formality, unless a friend, I'd rather be addressed as Miss Pickering, especially by sales people. Addressing me by my Christian name will not make me want to switch my broadband provider, quite the opposite. I also like this degree of formality with lovers. There is something very chaste and Austenesque gained in addressing one's lover as Mr ..... try it, you might like it, wear an Empire line dress for extra titillation, or send a love letter written in purple ink.
Speaking of which, (another terrible link, let's all praise be that I am not a DJ) my friend Sally, she of The Book, has started a blog of love letters between herself and Billy Kelly. Take note any of you that use dreadful text speak to woo a lady...this is how it is done, my favourite so far.

The post title, is from Candy by Paolo Nutini - anyone with a penchant for outdoor weddings and fairy lights should watch the video.

I'll be there, waiting for you.

Currently loving......boatyards

Ropes and bits of wood, I like low-tech.

Pollacks

are surprisingly easy to catch, much easier than filleting without the aid of a flexible filleting knife.
They also taste delicious when barbecued, served with chips and eaten at sea.

I'd like to add his initial to my monogram

but I didn't......in case you were wondering.

Back next week

xoxo