Pink fluff and stuff

Hello from Long Mizzle,

Time to put some lippy on, dance around the garden and find coordinating pink and fluffy flowers! This week's bunch includes river lilies (Hesperantha coccinea), feather top grass (Pennisetum villosum) and Honeywort (Cerinth major 'Purpurascens').

I've never been too keen on the black kitchen tiles we inherited with the house, but they make a great background for the flowers to pop out from. Maybe one day I will lavish as much attention on the inside of the house, including the kitchen, as I do the garden!

If you haven't already seen it, Vintage Vix's lockdown kitchen makeover here is amazing and I completely agree that coffee tastes much better in a vintage cup. I found a lovely old article on Sue's blog about the Teapot Pub (Old Star & Garter) in Falmouth here, which is how I fondly remember it (newer entries here).  If I had the space, I think I would collect teapots too! Here's a small selection of my vintage cups -

Vintage cups with a purpose - from top left, clock wise:

1) Saturday morning posh tea with croissants and jam

2) Rare occasion hot apple juice

3) Elevenses coffee (nice wide rim for dunking ginger biscuits)

4) Suitable Scandinavian mug for late night drinking whilst watching 'The Bridge' (Monsieur has taken to trying to sing along with the theme music and I whinge "stop it, you're ruining it", whilst I myself am noisily slurping tea)

Elsewhere in Long Mizzle Garden, the patio pot pansies are so sweet and I intend on dry pressing some under piles of books.  The Crocosmia does not age gracefully and here it is sprawling all over the Elephants Ears (Bergenia cordifolia).

Much better tidied away! These leaves really do look like elephants ears don't they? There are some pink flowers emerging but many more on the way.


It is amazing to think this whole patch grew from this sad looking one, planted in essentially builders' rubble, then shortly after hailed on.

Down at the bottom of the garden, among the birds and the trees....

 ... are some some yuckles (mushrooms) , hedgehog rose hips and emerging Camellia buds.


These mixed hedges by the veggie patch have had a trim (Ilex aquifolium, Griselinia litoralis, clump forming bamboo). Plus, as I was dressed all in pink and feeling particularly muscly, I finally moved those two paving slabs that have been sat there all season.


Here's a quick update on the red onion that narrowly escaped last week's soup pot...


Mam has sent a photo update on the forced hyacinths in vintage vases. They are out of the garage and now taking prime spot in her kitchen -


I don't have a cold garage, or a hot one for that matter, so mine get super glam treatment in the downstairs karzy -

 

This weekend I am looking forward to a lie in with a cuppa and a book.

Hope you are well. Please let me know what you've been up to in the comments sections below.


Lulu xXx





Latest posts here - https://longmizzle.blogspot.com



 

Comments

  1. Jess 21 November 2020 at 00:21

    I do love a good outfit and flower coordinated look!

    Vintage cups and saucers are so gorgeous, aren’t they? I have a little collection too.

    Love your mum’s hyacinths in vintage vases. The light shines through the glass and they look wonderful. X

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    Replies
    1. Lulu21 November 2020 at 11:05

      Thank you Jess, how funny, looking at your gorgeous sunflowers and yellow dress, it must be colour snap flower and outfit week! I thought you might have a vintage cup & saucer collection too after having seen your indoor picnic.

      Mam has a whole window ledge collection upstairs of vintage ‘Mdina glass’ that looks like the crystal clear waters of a Greek island when the sunlight filters through… beautiful. Have a great week. Lulu xXx

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  2. Catmac21 November 2020 at 04:07

    Floral deely boppers - what a laugh! "Yuckle" is a new one on me, what a charming word. Is it Cornish? Your bouquet is lovely and all the lovelier for being garden-picked flowers. I also have some vintage cups and saucers. I don't tend to use them to drink tea as one gulp and it's all gone. I have modern bone china cups and saucers that are HUGE and more in keeping for my ever-present thirst and enormous capacity for drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic!). The garden looks great. Mine is a disaster at the moment. Still haven't done any clearing as, incredibly, my annuals are STILL out there flowering away. Bless them! I know the first frost will carry them off, but there hasn't been one yet. Isn't nature wonderful? That red onion has sprouted in no time at all. Successful experiment, I would say. Enjoy your relaxing weekend. I am procrastinating as the house needs hoovered and dusted. We'll see .....

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    1. Lulu21 November 2020 at 11:07

      Thank you Catmac! I got the name Yuckle from a brilliant Aussie childrens’ programme in the early 90s called ‘Round the Twist’. It was about three children who lived with their mad sculptor dad in a haunted light house and it was way ahead of its time in terms of environmental themes. In the episode ‘Yuckles’ the kids try to thwart local business villain Gribble’s plans to rip up the woods and build a casino, complete with plastic trees, by proving the mythic toadstools ‘yuckles’ exist. They do indeed find the yuckles, but they are not quite what they seem to be…!

      I like the sound of your huge teacups. I do find myself chain drinking tea. An old work colleague of mine had the right vessel size idea when he used to have a pint of wine.

      I can’t believe your annuals are still going! Mine packed in some time ago. Procrastination is always acceptable when hoovering and dusting, or any other work of the devil, such as ironing, is on the agenda. Have a lovely week. Lulu xXx

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    2. Catmac23 November 2020 at 01:51

      Thank you for the yuckle update! I will refer to yuckles from now on! Fyi, Lulu, the book of the week on Radio 4 is "Entangled Life" by Merlin Sheldrake about fungi (lots of yuckles!). My sister read the book and enjoyed it but this is my introduction.

      Delete
    3. Lulu23 November 2020 at 10:20

      Thanks Catmac, I’ll listen out for that on Radio 4! Fungi are an entirely new kingdom to me…

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    4. Lulu30 November 2020 at 01:52

      Hello Catmac, just wanted to say thank you for the tip on Merlin Sheldrake's 'Entangled Life' reading on Radio 4 - I really enjoyed it. Merlin is wonderfully eccentric, as anyone called Merlin who has researched underground fungal networks at Cambridge University should be!

      Here's a link for anyone else interested in listening -
      https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/m000pm13

      Delete
  3. Elderberry-Rob22 November 2020 at 00:21

    what beautiful colour, black tiles certainly are a good backdrop and when you get bored with a colour scheme you can so easily jazz it up with a change of accessories. You look very snug in your pink outfit. I agree Vix has a fabulous kitchen and with everything pretty much self made or charity shopped it's a brilliant example of how we can make a home our own without great cost and have a lot more fun in doing so - I met her a while back when she came to a vintage fair near me :) Answering your question - the frames for silk painting are just sticks with slots that can be used to make up a variety of sizes, which I bought I think from either Amazon or Rainbow Silks where I get my supplies, but you could easily use an old picture frame, remove the glass and use that - you do need the pins though (three prongs little round things with hole in middle) and they are available from specialists and only cost about a fiver for a big tin, without these you can't stretch the silk really tight without damaging it you see. Betty :)

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    1. Lulu23 November 2020 at 10:21

      Thanks Betty! That is one of my comfort outfits, I just need a pink fluffy poodle to go with it! My kitchen is so boring… practical…but dull. I just love the colour and character in Vix’s.

      Thank you for the silk painting tips. I used to paint a lot (mainly acrylic on stretched paper or canvas, or oil if I was feeling brave) and I have always fancied trying painting on silk. I look forward to seeing more of your work. Lulu xXx

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  4. The Small Fabric Of My Life22 November 2020 at 06:55

    I was inspired by you and just bought 3 hyacinth jars and bulbs from Tesco. They were £3 each so though it was worth a go!

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    1. Lulu23 November 2020 at 10:22

      How exciting Jane! Glad to hear you picked up some jars and bulbs. I look forward to hearing about how it goes. A little warning, it can be quite addictive. Lulu xXx

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  5. Vix22 November 2020 at 09:05

    I'm loving the floral headpiece, one to remember for when the festivals start back up! The outfit is a joy, too - what a cheery little soul you are!
    The flowers really do look wonderful against those black tiles and ta very much for the shout out, most kind.
    You can't beat a posh cup and saucer, makes everything taste a bit special. I'm craving a ginger biscuit now and giggling as it's me that used to sing along really badly to The Bridge.
    The garden is looking spectacular. so colourful and lovely. I'm not surprised Jane's been inspired to treat herself to some hyacinth bulbs and vases, I think we'll all have a few on our windowsill after seeing your lovely photos.
    Have a wonderful week! xxx

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    Replies
    1. Lulu23 November 2020 at 10:23

      Haha, thanks Vix, yes it is total over the top festival head wear! There is actually a household disaster going on at the moment, aside from the broken guttering… we have ran out of ginger biscuits. The Bridge theme tune is great and we never skip it. I wonder if your rendition is any better than Joe’s ?!? ;) Heading over to your blog after tea, as I’m behind on the rounds. Lulu xXx

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  6. Flowerpot25 November 2020 at 02:14

    Black tiles - well they look great with the addition of some flowers! and those bulbs are amazing - I will definitely have a go. Fond memories of the Teapot Pub.....! X

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    Replies
    1. Lulu27 November 2020 at 05:36

      Thanks Sue, I think I can live with the black tiles if I keep the flowers coming! I absolutely loved the old Teapot Star and Garter - great food, beer and music nights too. It seems like a whole lifetime ago now. Lulu xXx

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