Playing with a Canon 40D

It is on loan from Mr F, I might not give it back.

Running away to join the circus

The Hound has returned. Did I tell you he ran away to join the Chinese circus? His head was turned by a pretty lioness. He returned this morning, evidently circus animals do not sleep on beds of Egyptian cotton.

Today, I have felt like running off. I am having the ultimate bad hair day, caused by my air styler blowing up, and getting caught in a rain storm delivering flowers - the recipient was not even in. To those that think delivering flowers must be the best job in the world, think again. People are never in, houses do not have numbers or names, sometimes you are greeted not with a smile but with a "he needn't think he can win me round with flowers"

Or as in today's case where we were given the incorrect address, the lady who answered the door was so pleased "I can't believe he remembered" said she, problem was he hadn't, they were for the cottage around the corner. I felt so bad for her, I returned to the shop and made her a little posy. My main reason for feeling blue involves shoes.. Yesterday I purchased a pair of leather pixie boots, hoping that I would look like this. I don't.

It doesn't help that in my haste to procure a sale bargain, I picked up a pair of wide fit boots. My feet are not wide, hips yes, bosom most definitely but my feet are slender and I have the daintiest ankles - quite how I remain upright is a mystery.

Mental note made to stick to expensive shoes in the future.

Wild abandon or I would choose Harry

Experimenting with flowers for Valentines Day, The Hound and I have decided that Valentines flowers are too prim and proper. Who wants a neat dome of red roses? What does that say about the man giving them to you? They are Sheldon flowers, remember that film?

"A Sheldon can do your income taxes, if you need a root canal, Sheldon's your man... but humpin' and pumpin' is not Sheldon's strong suit. It's the name. 'Do it to me Sheldon, you're an animal Sheldon, ride me big Shel-don.' Doesn't work"

Instead we want flowers with wild abandon, trails of ivy, and heady with the scent of rosemary and myrtle, flowers that say, let's have a "lie down" in the middle of the afternoon, and give you pink cheeks for the rest of the day.

Ladies spread the word, drop hints, email him this link, otherwise you too may end up with a dozen red, they may even have faux diamantes in the centre - quelle horreur!

Introducing ........Mr Naylor

Mr Naylor, a real life grower of flowers and the odd potato. Here he is pictured ready to start bulb planting with some of his helpers.

He is one of the funniest people I know, King of the quips, Prince of the one-liners, and baker of delicious brownies He also grows beautiful flowers, daffodils, delphiniums, peonies, that sort of thing.

Should you wish to know more about this fine chap, have an interest in the environment, current economic crisis or just like dogs in costume, read his blog, or his column in the Farmers Weekly, listen to him on Radio 4 or make him a friend on Facebook.

Your life will be enriched.

The money shot

Turns out there were thousands of people at the other end of the street.

Everyone must have gone to Obama's inauguration

He's the one on the left

Apparently there were bigger crowds in other parts of town.

Much ado about nothing

The streets of Stamford have been cleaned, roads closed, cones everywhere - anyone would think Royalty is coming.
Actually HRH Prince Charles is about to walk past the shop, I will endeavour to get a photograph.
The atmosphere has reached fever pitch.

The ultimate man to eat tuna carpaccio with

Mr Ron Dennis. The 2009 season won't be the same without the camera panning to see the delightful Mr Dennis at the pit wall. Martin Whitmarsh doesn't hold quite the same appeal.

Unveiled on Friday the Mp4-24, much prettier than that red one, and a sure fire Drivers and Constructors Champion car. There are still 65 days until the first race, so fear not back to photographs of flowers, weddings and other such delights until then.

Today's post has been brought to you by a sprinkling of narcissism, a pair of high heeled Mary-Janes, Berocca, and has had the Soundtrack. It has also just dawned on me that in the whole of 2009 I have only had 2 gins.

Once upon a time Miss Pickering lived in Italy

Where the food is delicious

They name biscuits after kisses

There are lots of men to eat tuna carpaccio with

and Miss Pickering was known as La Bionda.

(Soundtrack for this post)

Something blue

For Emma and Tom, one stylish girl, and one hopeless romantic - a marriage made in heaven.

Roses and muscari

Today

I have made a bridesmaids bouquet that is so pretty, it moved a lady to tears.
I have been listening to some vintage Bryan Ferry.
I have had a bad hair day.

The end

Vintage roses - here are some I made earlier

They are tres popular are they not?

Flowers by Miss P, Cake by Katie

Valentine's Day

The Hound and I are sitting discussing Valentine's Day over a bowl of soup (homemade smoked bacon and butternut squash) We are actually discussing the forecasted high price of red roses and the euro exchange rate, the challenges of it falling on a Saturday and our hatred of a dozen red, but you don't come here to read about such trials and tribulations.

To The Hound love is a packet of tripe sticks and a good smoked pigs ear, he is also partial to a good back rub, which sends him into a cloud of tail wagging , followed by a twirl of contentment but thankfully sans the post-coital cigarette

For me it is a kiss, a full on hollywood kiss, the type that literally takes your breath away, leaves you weak at the knees, and your lips plump for days. I think kissing is my favourite thing to do in the world. I love it more than ice cream, even pistachio.

This is as far as we have got in our Valentines discussion.

The day Miss Pickering rejoiced over a piece of software

If like me you have a polaroid camera, but are struggling to find film for it, or even find the camera in some dusty old boxes - help is at hand. A new fandangly piece of software turns your images into polaroids. It is probably the most fun you can have with a computer. Download the software at www.poladroid.net

Recipe for a jolly good wedding

Flowers in jewel colours and men in uniform

More colour?

What with the yellow, red and turquoise, this cream dresser looks a little out of place. I am thinking orange.

Drama over

The website has now been restored, huge thanks to Jamie at Cowbelly for pointing out the hacking. If you haven't been over to her blog, do so now, I am still hoping to persuade her to hop over the pond and photograph The Boy Wonder.

Our website has been hacked into

My apologises to anyone who has been onto our website this morning. It would appear that it has been hacked into. We are sorting out the problem, in the meantime I would prefer you not to visit it.
Another day, another drama!

Miss P

Stroke of genius or massive mistake? - you decide

Before

After

Yes it is yellow, and yes the top is blackboard, so we can write prices and stuff, love messages, recipes, shopping lists, or the names of cheeses.

Taupe be gone, it is all about accent colours now - but not an accent wall - WAG's we are not.

Using different colours

Purple, yellow and green, the tin of yellow paint is for the shop, it could be a stroke of genius or a massive mistake.

Meanwhile.....The Navara seems to have taken on a life of it's own, perhaps it should have a blog or at the very least a facebook fan page?

Alternative form of transport

Whilst we await the fate of The Berlingo (I suspect it has delivered it's last bunch) The Hound and I have been without transportation. Sadly the horse and carriage were unavailable and we are still searching for our own Morris. Enter Mr Ferrari with his very generous offer of the loan of The Navara.

I know what you are thinking, are they not the vehicles commonly seen by the side of the road, with some caravans and a lone horse? Or by gentleman offering to tarmac your driveway? Indeed the very same vehicle.

They are also rather handy for florists

Or for general shopping a la supermarche.

My social standing has dropped several levels, my neighbour (who drives an Aston Martin)shudders every time she sees it, people rush to lock their doors as I drive past, and The Captain is quite convinced that by parking it on his drive just for a few minutes, his house has been devalued, it is also quite difficult to park - but I love it. The Hound is enthralled by it, I think he has found his spiritual home. I have however denied his request for a velour tracksuit and hoop earrings - one doesn't need to go that far.

Introducing.....The Mother Hen

Part of our new "Introducing....." feature, I thought it might be nice to introduce you to some interesting people. First up The Mother Hen, all round wonderful person, domestic goddess, true matriarch, and possibly the most glamorous lady in all the land.

Changes

It is that time of year, resolutions, new starts and a desire to do something a bit different. Christmas was wonderful, very relaxing, and delicious food courtesy of The Mother Hen.
Unfortunately The Hound, The Mother Hen and I were involved in a car accident just after, thankfully we are all alright, but have taken on a "Bride of Frankenstein" look. Did you know airbags are filled with smoke and burn and bruise your inner arms? I might take to driving in opera gloves. The main thing is everyone involved is fine.
It does make one think that a girl cannot live by flower shop alone, and working 7 days a week isn't really the way forward. So from now on we will be closed on Mondays (except when we do flower school) I realise this is a radical change, but I feel quite sure you will get used to it.
The shop reopens on Thursday, expect a few more changes.........

Pinch, punch, first of the year

2009 has barged through the door with a cup of kindness, and a childlike sense of optimism. A rather boisterous entrance has meant several resolutions already lie broken. He has packed away the deep reds of amaryllis and ilex, and installed a frosty morning heavy with the promise of magnolia branches, snowdrops and burgeoning buds of blossom.

A Happy New Year to you all.