Things of beauty...

As this is published, we will shortly after be making our way to Wimbledon. I have never been before, let alone enjoyed the benefit of corporate tickets. Strawberries and cream anyone?

And so I leave you with a mood board of English loveliness. Incidentally, did you see Alexa Chung's comments on blog 'mood boards' in British Vogue? She incurred the wrath of the blog population by stating that blogs are 'ridiculous' and that blog mood boards are passé...well, even my hackles rose! She later reneged her view on Twitter. But a selection of images here nevertheless...

via lets drift away

via cannelle et vanille

English hedgerow....lovely cow parsley by me

...anyone for tennis?

from Vanessa Arbuthnott

photograph by Jamie Beck

via brown dress with white dots

 

via toast

...a Sussex meadow by me

via dustjacket attic

via lets drift away via vogue

a show of mother-love...painting by Jessie Wilcox Smith

Here's to a lovely weekend...

The little things to brighten a day...

I've got to say, it's not been the best of times lately. It's not that bad, but it's not great either. With one thing and another I feel like there are too many important matters that are being neglected in my little world. Try as I might (and I really do) I seem to never get on top of things. Sometimes this passes me by and I figure 'I can not do it all'. Other times it weighs heavy on my wellbeing, making it harder to see the light side. Along the way though, when working out what on earth should take the priority, some of these little things help me find my perspective.

Like Jake Gyllenhaal...one word: eyes...

Bowls of the freshest fruits, packed with vitamins that might just stave off the down-time lethargy.

via cannelle et vanille

A well thought out email from a dear friend whose empathy and advice made my worries about my currently tearful daughter seem less...worrying...

via sailboats and seersucker from luxe paperie

 The prospect of hot summer sun and nothing to do all day but be...

Going to bed when it's still just about light outside...all sleep is good sleep...

via toast

Beautiful flowers...I am almost considering retraining as a florist...!

via once wed

In the world of Lou...

I am having one of those productive days; spurred on by a few terse words between myself and my beloved this morning about the uselessness of our house filing system. I loathe filing. Paperwork and admin are my worst, worst activities. So I shove everything in a drawer and hope for the best until one of those days arrive where something has to be located. Rapid leafing through pile after pile of un-filed paper ensues, until defeat is admitted or the key item is triumphantly discovered! I wish I were more organised...

via tick tock vintage

After the long weekend, I am settling back into the norm of work days and home days, interspersed by the school run. Term time offers the calm of a quiet house during the day, an opportunity to regroup and to not be Mummy for a few hours. But in return is the tyranny of the drop-off/pick-up/homework/sports matches. I like it though, as I get to go running more and to plan appointments for things I normally don't have time for, like the homeopath or beautician. It's pedicure season; one luxury I afford myself in the summer months.

How can it be May already? I feel like April went by in a whirlwind of Spring days; it really was a fabulous month. Now May means Boo's birthday - she will be a whole decade old. Impossible. My Boo? Surely not; I remember when she looked something like this...

via a lady's findings...washing eggs to be sold at the farmers market, near Falls Creek, Pennsylvania, 1940, Jack Delano.

Trying to eat well (as in really trying; have cut out a-l-h-o-t of bad stuff and it's good but also exhausting cooking everything from scratch). But then when food can look as beautiful as this, I figure it's worth the effort.

photograph from Canelle et Vanille - this food blog is just beautiful...

I am just trying to get on top of everything again, trying to be a better me.

Oh and before I forget - here is what I think:

It's gotta be Prince William.

Ballet - all the way.

Bikini - for as long as I can.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (let's call her Kate as we are between friends...)

Could not live without tea. Chocolate a close second...

Really really want to be plan in advance, but something always ends up last minute (I wish I were more organised!)

Skinny jeans.

Go it alone on holiday planning - did an all inclusive once; probably not again!

Worrier, Worrier, WORRIER!

Emerald.

Light and floral on the perfume front - I wear Diptyque.

'When Harry Met Sally' - all time classic.

Botox - currently no. Think I will stick on that point.

I love getting into summer clothes - we are so deprived on the weather front...sun = instant wardrobe high.

Marilyn Monroe.

First thought...universally it seems we all agree on this: is it morning already?!

Mental note: go to bed earlier!

Things of beauty...

Thank goodness for modern medicine! I am starting to feel much better now, thanks to a day of rest and crucially doing nothing. The sun has been shining and it feels like summer, let alone Spring! As I type, Boo is outside in the garden, lying on a blanket in jean shorts and a vest, reading 'Harry Potter'. Boo 2 is watching 'Scooby Doo' on repeat...oh, the joys of school holidays. So what else?

I have taken heed of advice and I pledge to try to slow down the pace of life for a few days atleast, regain my strength in readiness for a forthcoming birthday (yep, my boy will be 6!) and family Easter celebrations.

Oh and I read the book - near enough cover to cover; and it did what all good books should do: it made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me nod my head in recognition and it made me think. Perfect.

via where is the cool?

Marion Cotillard by Raymond Meier

Love this print...it's on order so that I can have it as a constant note to self:

via jones design company

photograph by Paul Graham via dust jacket attic

by Period Living

Spring-like ballet shoes in many variations...

via audrey hepburn complex, art by Caitlin Shearer

via the bottom of the ironing basket

This food and photography blog Canelle et Vanille is just a feast for the eyes...

Photograph by Aran from Canelle et Vanille

Photograph by Elizabeth Messina

by sweet berry me

Fabulous chair...

photograph by Adrian Briscoe from house to home

I like this shot of Molly Ringwald; she looks very comfortable in her own skin...

...Molly Ringwald...

by jcrew

Beautiful brown-eyed Olivia P...

Olivia Palermo via the vogue diaries

Happy Friday everyone!

The girl who could not cook...

I was the girl who could not cook. I went away to University, leaving home for the first time at 18 and I can genuinely state: I had never cooked one thing. I spent three years at University living on 'Crunchy Nut Cornflakes' and 'Danish Blue' cheese on rye bread (that's the Danish heritage kicking in). It's not that I had a bad relationship with food, I just had zero interest in cooking it. Luckily as a student I lived with friends who took me under their wing, but still my repertoire was limited. I was however always an ingredients junkie - I used to buy Parma Ham and mozzarella without really knowing what to do with it. My pasta dishes became legendary in their simplicity; pasta and one ingredient. That was it.

photograph by Aran from Canelle and Vanille

I met and married a man who cooks. I now realise this sort of man is a rare commodity. My husband cooks for real. He can make a decent meal out of not very much. He did a Home Economics A-level (for those unfamiliar with the British educational system this is a specialist level study you do at ages 16-18; that's early commitment to the culinary art!). Anyone who has ever stayed with us or come for dinner has been treated to his foodie expertise. The man can cook.

photograph by Aran from Canelle and Vanille

Meanwhile I managed to get through my twenties without cooking; I heated stuff up but had no clue about anything else. Even motherhood initially did not change this. The requirement to feed my child was met with the dreaded 'jarred food' - there you go I have confessed, yes I fed my first born on processed, shop-bought monstrosities. Then the second child came along, and with him some semblance of parental awareness and maturity. I became ensconced on the 'ice-cube' stage of motherhood and by this I mean the bizarre pursuit of pureeing fruits and vegetables and freezing them in ice-cube trays ready for a tiny mouth's consumption. I loved the ice-cube stage. To this day I swear that the process of pureeing everything from peaches to butternut squash taught me how food behaves when you cook it. It was a revelation.

I started to cook. I learned and created and now...well now I can cook. However the myth persists amongst those who know me well - that I am incapable. Everyone knows that he cooks and I just do the frippery that surrounds food; like laying the table and serving drinks. They seem surprised if I manage to put anything resembling a meal together! However as this weekend we are hosting a dinner party for 12, I think I will labour under the no-cooking illusion and let him take the reigns...

Apple fresh...

So we celebrated in style, twenty friends and family gathered together to mark my husband's 40 years. FORTY YEARS! Whhhaaaaat? How did that happen?!

There is that feeling of sanctuary when going away for a night, even if 'away' is only 3 miles from home. There's just something about it that renews me, gives some perspective.  It was made even more poignant knowing it would the last time there as it's closing. The place is going to be a private residence again; I can only imagine what it must be like to live there as a family.

...the view from our room...

...all rather gorgeous and eclectic; our room was called 'French Grey'...

...love the finer details, flowers on my dressing table...

...the most divine apple crumble souffle with apple ice cream...

So, the next day we went for a long walk on an unseasonably warm day, climbed to the top of Kingley Vale and then had a pub lunch. Yep, all in all it was a fitting time for the special chap in my life :-) I was reminded again that we have some really beautiful countryside right on our doorstep.

...overlooking ancient yew trees...

Then after all the frivolity, we spent the weekend in relative quietness at home. Saturday a pyjama day for my son who literally lolled around all day. Sunday afternoon, the Boos climbed the apples trees in the garden while I read a book. We did not much of anything and it was perfect. Trying my best to take deep breaths of life, notice the small things, freeze these moments in time to remember later. Memories for a rainy day...

...oh, to climb trees...

...the gate to the field...

...still more apples than we know what to do with...