Now those days are gone

The Hound and I are mourning the loss of long light evenings, and warmth. The thermals have been unearthed, scarves, even gloves. The Boy Wonder has demanded the heater be plugged in and moved to his bedchamber.

The colours of summer, have gone, it is all about orange and blue at the moment. I quite like orange and blue so i don't mind, but it seems forever ago that we were being bowled over by peonies.

A lady came all the way from Durham today to see the shop. That is a long way. I always worry people will be terribly disappointed with the reality.

It's Bucks Fizz.

Also does anybody know of any stylists? As in fashion, not fiddling about with interiors.

Merci.

Currently loving....

stamps. Postal ones. From America.

Mini works of art.

I don't think buying a packet of them makes me a philatelist.

Flower school

Yesterday was the last full day flower school of the year.

Dates are being finalised for the 2011.

It was a joy, people travelled from as far as London, Cheshire and Birmingham. I was very impressed as people took to hand tied and buttonholing with great enthusiasm and aptitude.

We had lunch and drank wine, The Hound was adored and flowers taken away in baskets.

Polly Alexandre came, I adore her work, and tried play it cool and not gush. She brought a camera. I died.

Christmas courses are being organised as we speak, details at the end of the week.

Such fun.

This post was brought to you after 6 hours of being patronised by BT Broadband customer service.

Another flower shop

Yesterday, whilst whizzing across the streets of London in a cab, I spotted Cave.
A flower shop that sells wine, really good wine, and chocolate and a shop I would be happy to call my own, and certainly a far lovelier shop than a lot of the big names.

I wanted to steal the occasional table.

It is on the achingly cool Bermondsey Street. An area never before explored, but i fully intend to return. It seems you don't actually need a lopsided haircut or a passport to get in.

I might make this an occasional series. I like meeting other florists.

Have flowers. Will travel.

To London. SE1. Train cancelled. Spill coffee down top. Second train running at reduced power. No seats. Men in suits staring at girl with flowers in basket. Saved by a black cab, that was pea green. Arrive flustered.

That's the highlights of an early morning journey up to London.

The flowers were for a shoot for Wedding Flowers magazine. A hand tied bouquet and a table centre if you will. I ditched the pot et fleur, as pretty as it was it was too stiff, so i went to my large cupboard of jam jars and filled one of those instead. At first it was to be just foliage, but we were saved by the appearance of some locally grown purple anemones.

I panicked when i got there, as the London florists designs had been shot yesterday, and not a scrap of foliage in sight, and they had all been sent in smart boxes, and not vintage baskets. Why didn't i think of a box?

The photographer Andy at RGB digital was a star, and showed me how everything worked. It was fascinating, it has inspired me to try some photo editing, or at least to try a little more than saturation levels.

Then i popped into an amazing florist a few doors up, more on that tomorrow. Now we must prepare for a shoot with the Wall Street Journal.....Wall Street off of New York City.

In the shop today

Old Liberty fabric of Venetian gondoliers, out of season but oh so beautiful Webber tulips. Local dahlias, Dartmouth swans, pumpkins, copper beech, jam jars.

Pot et Fleur - part 1

We are doing some flowers for a wedding magazine.

Brief: Purple

Not the easiest colour to work with at this time of year. Unless i am missing something there aren't many mindblowing purple blooms around. Yesterday I bought the violas, just the most perfect colour.

Could ye olde fashioned pot et fleur of mixing cut flowers and plants make a comeback?

Hopefully the roses will blow overnight.

Toad in the hole

Start with the Yorkshire pudding batter. Everybody has their own variation, most are closely guarded secrets. how to get the perfect crisp puddings with a soft and enveloping centre.

125g plain flour
2 pinchs of salt
2 eggs and an extra yolk
a grind or 2 of black pepper
125ml of milk
125ml of water.

Whisk together and leave to stand.
Heat a tablespoon of fat in a chichi enamel tin a la Jamie Oliver.
Heat in a hot oven for 10 minutes.
Add some sausages and return to the oven until browned.
Flip the sausages over and pour over the batter.
Cook until risen and golden brown.

You can also make chop in the hole, or dispense with the meat all together and pour into muffin tins. My Grandmother used to make them with onion, sometimes we had them for pudding with jam, the plain ones, not the ones with onion. That would be weird.

Whilst the oven is on, empty the fruit basket of slightly soft peaches. Destone and place in a dish with butter and sugar. Roast. Cool. Serve with yoghurt for breakfast.

In the garden, things have perked up, new buds, there is actually colour, and the newly purchased dark violet and white violas patiently await their turn in the pots.

Ham hock 2 - the sequel

Despite the previous attempt being a complete turkey. A sequel was made.
This time pearls of barley did not feature. It was destined straight for a sandwich with double barrel Lincolnshire Poacher, and panfried in butter. Served with a cup of roast tomato soup, made from another batch of those sticky syrupy tomatoes, a red onion, whizzed up with some stock and a dollop of creme fraiche. Comfort food. The shot glass? Last season sloe gin. For medicinal purposes.

Anyone expecting a report back from the Designer Wedding Show, sorry. I woke with my throat on fire and the inability to move. Did you go? Let us know who blew you away, who inspired you? Did you find a dress? A headpiece? A venue? A honeymoon?

The cupcake made by The Other Miss Pickering, she is turning into quite the baker.

I did get a chance to catch up on some reading.

There was plenty of meat on the hock, headed for a pasta dish. Left out to cool on the worktop, then a loud crash, a hound, the hock is no more.

The silver swan

I heart old glass.
I bought some yesterday at the Newark Antique Fair. A trip with my beloved The Other Cityboy
The sun shone, the tea flowed and the bacon sandwiches were toasted.
It was an insight into the very small world of antique silver. A male dominated world, which is always fun.

The shop looks great, I have the wrong lens on the camera to capture it, and i think the table needs a hot date with some nitromors.

Next week.

In other news, we have to congratulate Becca long time commenter, first time bride, on her engagement.

Will you be going to the Designer Wedding Show? I will pop my head around the door on Sunday. I'll be the one in very high heels and tweed jacket.

Bon weekend
xx

The appliance of science

I mugged a chemistry teacher.

The shop looks very different. I have had to admit that my circular table does not work, people don't walk around it.

We have a science corner. More to come.

Did you watch Wedding House? Were you scared? Will you still watch it next week though?

Me too.

In other news we have been listening to Taio Cruz.

If you fall for me
I'm not easy to please
I might tear you apart
Told you from the start, baby from the start
I'm only gonna break break your break break your heart

Forewarned is forearmed wouldn't you say?

Changes

415 years ago we made some changes to the shop.

I promised you photographs.

They never materialised, because I never finished.

Now we are changing the changes.

It involves science apparatus.

This time there will be photographs.

Because I am not the one in charge.

I have relinquished control.

you see darling I can do it.

32

Majolica roses
Why are the foil wrapped chocolates always the last to go?
Perfumed ink, perfect for love letters
Batman and Robin reunited
Gravy should always be on the side
Jack Wills
Good times

How to make a glass of Autumn cheer

Line a drinking glass with hydrangea leaves
Insert a piece of well soaked oasis

Cut foliage from the garden, scented herbs work wonderfully.
Insert into oasis
Floret a hydrangea head and add

Add suitable autumn like flowers and seed heads

Repeat to fade.

Do wear red nail polish and matching lipstick when you make these, have a Manhattan on the go as well, a Gitanes if you will.

But please, please don't make them whilst wearing a black satin dressing gown, and side on to camera.

Happy weekend my darlings.
xoxo