(Not So) Lazy Sunday Afternoon

"Lazy Sunday Afternoon

I've got no mind to worry

Close my eyes and drift away"

That's the way I'd planned it.  The Photographer had other ideas.

He bought me a present.  These top-of-the-range neoprene gardening gloves.

I tried to respond with enthusiasm and gratefulness.

He then directed me to my gardening cloggies (bought in Holland a few years' ago)

And I was put to work.

I emptied last year's pots and hanging baskets.  Cleaned and washed them.  Recycled any reusable plants.  As quickly as he dug up the self-seeding agapanthus, I busied myself potting them up.  Because he likes them.

Bertie was even sent out to check that I was working hard.

Finally I was freed from my labours.   I hastily changed out of my gardening clothes before he changed his mind.  And I scarpered!  To enjoy a Lazy Sunday afternoon walk around my Hood.

I hastily slung on a Woolovers cashmere/merino sweater over Peacock crops and Clarks sandals.

Feeling smug with myself after my labours, I perked myself up with this lovely grey hand-painted scarf which I won on Janice's blogsite, here.  She's taking a break from blogging.  I am missing her already.  I was a daily visitor to her very special blog.

Ready for walking around the Hood's ruettes.

(I apologise for my hair, I had been slaving away in the garden all morning, folks!)

I met Henry, the Hood Cat.  He's so friendly and he pops up just about anywhere in the hood.  Last summer he spent happy kitten times on The Photographer's shoulders as we walked the lanes.  This year he seems to have grown up.  He was far too busy to spend more than a short stroking time with us.

So the rest of the walk was spent without my cute feline companion.

The hedgerows are filling out with lightening speed.

Wild honeysuckle is everywhere.

There are hills to climb - OK, hillettes!

Big eucalyptus trees' shade to walk under.

Celandine-filled fields to wade through.

Wild flowers to admire.

In just a few short weeks all this wild loveliness will be cut back.  Such a shame.  But it's a requirement to do this twice during the summer months and the parish constables tour the roads and ruettes to check that we are law-abiding citizens.  First check is mid-June.

Plants to choose to fill the now-empty pots and hanging baskets back on the Pout Estate.

Luckily I nabbed the last two punnets of strawberries on the Hood's hedge stall.

They'll be nice with a dollop of cream for afternoon tea!

These stalls operate with what the English call honesty boxes.  You are trusted to leave money when taking goods.  

We broadly call them hedge veg.  Because it rhymes.

Maybe a few freshly-laid eggs would be nice too ...

It's a pretty nice hood.

So, peeps.  That's how I spent my Sunday.  Work.  Play.  Eat.  Not much lazing.  Not quite the Lazy Sunday I'd planned, but nice all the same.

Hope you've managed to have a nice Lazy Sunday Afternoon.

What have you been up to?

Has it been a sunny day where you are?

A la perchoine.

Mixing Pattern and Being Nora Review

Now I'm not good at mixing patterns.  There's a lot of mixing happening on the street, some are quite bold, some subtle.  Either way, they get it to work. 

I feel a bit uncomfortable mixing it up.  I think it's because in doing so I have to forget a fundamental rule that's prevailed through most of my life.  One pattern only in an outfit.   I know where I stand with rules.  Give me free-format and I waiver.  So pattern mixing just hasn't been my bag.

Last night I stopped the dithering and, dressing to meet with friends at home, I found myself boldly going where no Pout has not gone before.  I came up with this ...

An old Next grey patterned stretchy jersey jacket, an even older embellished grey patterned top, grey/taupe glass beads.  

I kept to the same tones. It seemed a bit cluttered but I think I just about pulled it off!?

Do you have any tips to share?   What are you like at pattern mixing?  A big no-no or do you love throwing yourself into some form of controlled pattern mayhem?

I've been "thinking Nora", reference the post here, for the last week.  Let's see where I've been.

Well, I've mixed patterns, as evidenced above.

I've worn a smart-end jacket with jeans

And a more casual jacket with linen cut-offs.

I've tried a "posh" blouse with a more casual look of cardi and jeans.

I've made more effort to mix the jewellery round a bit (I tend to stick to the same pieces for weeks!).

And, all importantly, I've worn heels with jeans and cut-offs!

These are all things I noticed Nora did and I didn't.  Until now!

I have felt that I've dressed a little more stylishly than usual.  I've been pleased with all the looks.  I've felt very comfortable with the outfits chosen.  And the process has been easier because I sort of channelled Nora without thinking too much about it.  And these outfits were the result. 

So, the idea of playing the "Being ..." is a keeper in Pout World! 

Now who am I going to have a bash at Being ... next?

A la perchoine.



Rockie III, And Other Stuff

Last night I made yet another trip to my local, the Rockie.  I met up with a girlfriend who I have know since first year Infants!

Although the day had been beautiful, it clouded up come teatime, so I went for some layers.  As it happens, the jacket didn't need to come off!

La Redoute striped linen jacket with Alexon stone jersey top and M&S stone linen trousers.

Just wanted to give you a close up of my necklace here.  It's made from belt loops and rivets.  It weighs a ton.  The colours are silver and bronze and blend in with so many outfits.  I've had it for about 20 years and it continues to receive compliments each time I wear it because its so unusual, a real eye-catcher.  I am so pleased I found it. 

When I wear such a statement necklace like this, it's enough on its own so I don't wear earrings.  Looking at the pic today, maybe that bracelet (just visible) was one piece too much.

And here's a close-up of the M&S nude wedges.  I featured them here.  They have Insolia lining so are very comfy.  They give some height but as they strap the food nicely in, I walk with confidence.  Which is nice.

Yippeeee!  Got lucky again with another window seat.  And another glass of wine!

Chicken and Leek pie.  You can see it was an embarrassingly huge plateful; needless to say, a huge amount was left on that plate.

My dining companion had a monster of a pork chop, so I got her to hold it up for you (vegetarians, please scroll quickly down).  My friend is very petite but left a clean plate, bar the chop bone!  Throughout the meal she kept commenting on how good it was.  So that one definitely comes with the highest of recommendations, should any local readers be popping in to the Rockie sometime soon.

My Rockie trips should now be done and dusted.  For a short while at least. because the temperature is warming up by the day and it just so happens that there's a lot of outdoor seating there.  A glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc, a sun setting over a azure and jade sea ... I'll probably be returning very soon!


We were ready a tad too early for golf this morning, so I took a stroll outside.

And found my first rose of summer!  Isn't she pretty.  Fab perfume too.

I don't know what type she is  - if you're into roses, I'd love to know what she is.

More clumps of purple gladioli.  Such a giving plant.

Then after a stroll around Pout Estate we move on to the golf course.  Thought it would be nice to show you how I "waste away" my time twice a week!

The sixth hole involves a drive across a protected field of purple wild orchids.  Apologies, they don't show up well in this shot (these golf shots are taken with my iPhone). 

If you don't make the drive over the field, you lose the ball as it's off-bounds for tramping on. 

I sacrificed yet another ball there this morning :-(.

Here are my three golf mates.  No pics of me: 8 a.m., hair scraped back under sun visor, no make up, face puce from heat and exertion = not publish-able!

My game was good (apart from the 6th!) and it was so pleasant out there this morning  Wind just a light puff of 1-2, temperature already creeping up to 16c ... my gilet and sweater were off and I was down to short-sleeves by the second hole.  Aaahhh, summer, how I've missed you!

A la perchoine.



A Dip in the Sea and a Dive in the Garden

The Dip

Quite literally.  Yesterday whilst out walking I dipped my toes in the sea for the first time this year - and the sea was warm!

And The Dive

It's all started happening out in the garden.  After the beach walk I took a tour around the Pout Estate.

Figs are started to show through.

Iris and Lillies are in bud or blossoming.

No roses yet but they're almost there.

One more shot of these,  I love 'em and they've popped up all over the garden.

Clematis looking quite blousey.

The hydrangea have just started to pop out to say "hi"!

Some more of my fave ceanothus.  I love these cornflower blue fluffballs.

The bees adore these flowers on the echia which are now coming through

Buds coming on the agapanthus; the garden will soon be ablaze with their big blue flower heads.

Another year that I haven't killed the old grapevine with my ruthless March pruning!

The last of the wisteria heads :-(

And then indoors ...

... my orchids keep on giving.

What's growing in your neck of the woods right now?

Are you dealing with a demanding garden?

Do you enjoy facing up to its demands?!

Thanks for popping in to see the colour that is popping out all over my "estate".  It's clear from my little tour that I need to more than just flit around the garden taking photos, I need to get out their and get my hands dirty!  Now, what should I wear for hard graft in the garden ...?

A la perchoine.