Chicken

I'm still loving you, like it was the first time

1. Bringing back the 1970's, locally grown gladioli, fern, and coloured glass.
2. Learning old fashioned magic tricks
3. Eating ice cream
4. Wearing cowboy hats....do you think I should look into Botox?

On Saturday I saw a lovely skirt, it was Per Una. Have I really become old enough to hit this demographic? In blind panic I have listened to a lot of Tinchy Stryder and bought a top in New Look....I love Amelle's new hair. I am still hiphop and happening.

Everything is never quite enough

Table centres for a wedding, Sylvac "hyacinth" vases filled with sweetpeas, hydrangea, wild anenome and roses. Not a herb in sight.

This week we have been
1. Dancing to Wasis Diop - it makes me go all of a quiver.

2. Making bread

3. Discovering that Waitrose have changed their flower display, it is now half the size it was.....contrary to popular belief i don't think it has anything to do with what i said and yes I am still allowed in.

4. Suffering from insomnia, at 3am this morning I completely redesigned the house. I think the delectable George Clarke might have something to do with it. Channel 4 we thank you.

For the weekend, chutney making, trout eating, and a shoe audit.

Let the games commence xoxo

My best friend came and told me, that there may be a job in the city.

There is an air of restlessness blowing through town. The summer never came, and we have been left with dull, humid and rainy days. The stocks are over, and we wait impatiently for the dahlias, crab apples, and rosehips, the back to school signs in shops and the the pull of a new pencil case.
The glorious twelfth is just days away, and soon it will be Burghley. Before that there are one or two or six weddings, a scarlet dress to find and a decision to make.

Also a gentleman has suggested that if i wish to pitch to The Telegraph, I should do so with this tag line....

Miss P, like Sarah Raven but in sluttier shoes.

Are you racking your brains? It's wishing i was lucky....WetWetWet

Flowers for

A giveaway

A wife

A lover

Introducing..........The beautiful people

Yesterday Javier and Tony of By Appointment Only popped in for a cup of coffee, they are event organisers extraordinaire and devilishly good looking.

Country living the dream

This morning I headed into the garden and cut lots of herbs and a few hollyhocks to add to roses and peonies for a party. We are using purple glass cubes, I have a love/hate relationship with coloured glass. The purple is a love.
I looked like I had just stepped out of CL Magazine, albeit with my freshly washed hair in a towel turban. The basket sat in the shop for a bit whilst i rattled out some bouquets. One of my customers sighed and said "you are living my dream"
I explained the grass is always greener, and there are downsides to life as a "florist", then she asked "What is your dream job?"
A few flashed through my head, GoGo dancer, Chef, fisherman, chatelaine, showjumper, air hostess? My answer was this: The Saturday Telegraph's flower columnist. I realise this will mean that the lovely Sarah Raven will have to leave, but you can't have everything. I love the Saturday Telegraph.....I could just do it if Sarah went on holiday?
Do you have a dream job? - does that sound like a feature from daytime television? Did I mention I would like to present GMTV? xoxo

Miss Pickering and the five fishes or get thee to a tackle shop

To make this delicious meal of trout baked in a salt crust with preserved lemon sauce you will first need to catch a fish or five, yes that is five fish I caught.

To catch your fish you must first procure the guidance and tuition of gentleman Angler Mr March.

He is the most lovely man, and I can't recommend a days fly fishing in a boat on Rutland Water with him enough. I am hooked, and can't wait to go again, I would also like to try river fishing, thigh high boots are making a big comeback this winter. By a bizarre co-incidence the delectable Mr Warner was also extolling the virtues of trout, and it won't be long before we try his recipe for trout croquettes

If you are reading this and thinking I don't do fish or fishing, you must still head to your nearest tackle shop. In amongst the rods, waders and strange waistcoats with 57 pockets, is all of this.

It was like being in a haberdashery, feathers of all colours, sparkly twine, and all kinds. Normally used for the making of flies(a fascination of it's own) I feel sure that some of these feathers will end up in bouquets, or at the very least in my hair.

Easy like Sunday morning

1. Breakfast of pancakes, maple syrup, and blueberries
2. Books currently on the nightstand
3. The Hound somewhat startled at the news that this is the last in the series of Top Gear.
4. The garden continues to provide us with armfuls of herbs and elderberries, we have scoured our ridiculously large collection of cookery books for different recipes.
5. Are you a Katie girl or a simple girl? Catching an early episode of SATC, we all know he chose a Katie girl in the end.

We have also debated if kitten heels are acceptable footwear for fishing tomorrow, and as instructed I have acquired a baseball cap....don't expect a photo.
We have also been talking Italian

The lovely Mrs B, visited our shop on Friday, she came with Mr B and dog Lucy, it turns out she is also a florist, and came bearing gifts of cake and pig's ears. The Hound and I were bowled over, thank you so much, stay in touch...x

Flower napkin detail

Napkin details are very pretty, and are often something that bride likes to attempt herself. Here are a few top tips:
1. If you are having 150 guests, you will need to make up at least 150, you might think this will be a lovely job to do the night before your wedding with your bridesmaids, but trust me when I say it gets boring after number 27, or when you start counting them after you have made each one, willing another 10 to have magically appeared.
2. If you are using fresh flowers and they are out of water they will be dead by the time you get to sit down.
3. They will end up on the floor being trod on as soon as the starters have been served.
4. Where possible pay somebody else to do it for you.

Still want to have a go? Good, they do look beautiful. First you need to acquire some plastic phials to put the stems in, you can get these from a florist. They have a valve top to prevent the water spilling out. Fold the napkin to create a pocket which will hide the phial, finish with fancy ribbon if your heart desires. Remember eventually your guests will need to unwrap your creation, so leave a vase or a Bonne Maman jar on the top in which they can all be placed, adding extra decoration to your table.

Repeat as required with all kinds of different flowers depending on your mood.

Next week, ideas using things that aren't flowers.

And the winner is.......

We used a very lovely vintage Bretby vase, and fancy purple ink. So ladies contact me on flowers (at) misspickering.com with addresses and the book or marmalade jar will wing it's way to you. Thank you to everyone that entered, for all your lovely comments, and birthday wishes. The Hound is still hungover, his party got a little out of hand, I fear it will be a long time before he can look at a bottle of Bourbon again without suffering a flashback......he didn't get her name but has assured me she was a quite a looker.

I thought I might also use this post to discuss the issue everybody is talking about. It was so pressing that one gentleman interrupted my quiet dinner last night to inform me....you know to whom I refer.

He may be a 7 seven times World Champion, although to have raced for that long, one might imagine he would be better acquainted with the rule book. My fear is not that he will come in and win, or even shunt a few drivers off the track in his attempts, but that he will be mediocre.
Think ahead to 2020.

"Do you remember that Michael Schumacher?"
"Didn't he drive in 2009 for a bit and score a point for Ferrari?"
"Yes, but before that he was 7 times World Champion"
"Was he? I just remember Valencia 2009 - awful drive, guy didn't know one end of the car from the other"

Sometimes heroes should stay in the history books....unless of course Mr Ecclestone offers your team boss an awful lot of money to produce headlines that will sell a few more tickets?
Mr F is in a state of euphoria at the return of his hero, helped in part by some post surgical analgesia.....it would be such a shame if the bubble was to burst.

Tomorrow I bring you napkins, and flowers, oh so many flowers.

I kissed a girl

just to try it, hope my boyfriend don't mind it.

It was the first song we heard this morning....don't start a rumour.

xoxo

The story of how The Hound came to be

3 years ago today, I collected The Hound from 3 counties dog rescue. He ran into the house, up 2 flights of stairs jumped on the bed, and went to sleep. Later we walked round to Chez Mother Hen, she will recall watching me nearing the house with a skinny white dog on the end of a rope, he relieved himself on her cucumber plants. She was less than impressed.

The first 2 weeks were awful, he kept running away,I spent most of this time in tears, whilst he was blackballed by all of Stamford's dog walkers.
I bought a book that talked of pack leaders and how you needed to be assertive and show them who was boss, sit in their bed, pretend to eat form their bowl...I did all of this, I tried clicker training, all to no avail, and decided he had to go back, that we just weren't compatible. Then we bumped into somebody who had known him before, it became evident that his Houndini talents had led to him being in several dog's homes as one by one people had had enough.

This was all the information I needed, this time he was staying, besides I had spent a small fortune on beds, bowls and fancy collars, and after reading an article that owners morph into their dogs, was looking forward to becoming a lithe blond with a marvellous set of pins. He had also become quite adept at handtied bouquets and was progressing nicely with his buttonhole training.

He will still run off, it's just the way he is, but we have at least reached an understanding that he won't do it whilst we are in the middle of a wedding.
I am under no illusion as to who is boss, I run round feeding him roast chicken, ensure he has a soft enough bed, he has seen off several suitors, and encouraged one or two as well. He refuses to leave the house if the weatherman suggests it might be damp, he walks so elegantly he could have been a dressage horse, and the whole town of Stamford is besotted by him. He was the cause of Mr Ferrari falling in the river, and my nettle stung feet, he leaves a trail of blond fur wherever he goes, and would probably rather celebrate his birthday with a bottle of Jack Daniels and a cigar (he will be having a party, goodie bags, cucumber sandwiches and fairy cakes).

I can't imagine life without him.

Still plenty of time to enter the giveaway, thank you to all of those who have and all your lovely comments, I am quite touched. The Hound is not open to bribery.....x

A Giveaway - Celebration of post 351 and The Hound's Birthday

Would you like to win some flowers? Some flowers in an old marmalade jar? Well then this is your lucky day. It is to celebrate that this is post 351 (didn't quite work out for number 350) and that on Wednesday it will be 3 years since The Hound came to live Chez Miss P. It is also my small way of thanking you all for reading for all this time, and for all your lovely comments.

The giveaway is in two parts.
For those that reside in the UK, that marmalade jar filled with vintage roses, and homegrown herbs.
For international readers, the Flower Shop Secrets book, we will post it to you, and The Hound will even sign it if you like.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post with your name, and whether you would like to win flowers or the book. You might also like to put something interesting about yourself...... you don't have to, it will just make the comments page more exciting and we can all get to know one another a bit better.

The Hound and I will put all the names in a hat and choose a winner on Friday morning, so entries close at 5p.m. BST on Thursday 30th July.

Mother Hen - you are not allowed to enter.

This is the first giveaway we have done, my fear is that nobody will comment, that I will look like a fool, so be a darling, comment, tell your friends, put it on your blog....share the love xoxo

If you don't win, you can always just ring us on 01780 482961 and place an order for yourself, we deliver throughout the UK, and the flowers actually come from our shop, travel overnight and arrive the next morning....all very clever.

Was this weekend all just a delightful dream?

1. Posies and champagne by candlelight - reality
2. Discovering that showgirl shoes are very comfortable, even when dancing - reality
3. The Hound dressing up in flowers - reality
4. A McLaren win in Hungary - reality
5. Mr Redford - sadly just a dream

Flowers for a Friday

Poppy heads, viola, mint, sweetpea, gladioli, larkspur, rose.....all there.

This weeks flowers are dedicated to a couple who packed up their trunki, and voyaged to distant lands to say "I do", congratulations Mr and Mrs W. They are also dedicated to The Captain's arm.

The napkin thing will come next week, it has taken on a life of it's own, I may also then have time to tell you of The Hounds encounter with a snake, a new recipe involving fresh lavender, a new cocktail, and tales of a wedding.

This week there have been a few florists sharing dark secrets.

Have a fabulous weekend, we will be weddings, listening to vintage Madonna, laughter, and wearing those new shoes. xoxo

I would like something modern and contemporary.

It is not often people say this, but when they do panic sets in. What does this mean? I have dark visions of parallel arrangements of liatris, bended steel grass and anthuriums. All very well if you like that sort of thing, but I do not, and nor do I have those types of flowers or the posy pad of oasis needed to do it in. (is that what you do it in? let's not forget I have no qualifications in floristry)
Then it starts.....the self doubt, perhaps we should be doing this sort of thing? Should we appeal to a broader market, not everybody likes old marmalade jars filled with flowers and herbs do they? Should we have paid more attention to the nice relay man that called in this morning? Is it bad that I have no idea what a massing Xanth is, and have never made a letter or a gates of heaven or an empty chair?
Then I (artfully) tie together 10 stems of that mottled hydrangea, wrap it in grey tissue paper and tie a big bow on it, the customer is bowled over and the self doubt passes.....until the next time.

Is there anything more twee than a rusty milk churn and dusty hydrangea?

Well perhaps a rusty old pint measure, filled with odds and ends

that have a very similar colourway to this necklace, which I have lost.

This Quattro keeps parking outside the shop, you can't tell from the photograph, but it is iridescent pearl.

Also I have sent one text message this morning, but it was just to reply to one, so I think that is ok?