Himself (Little Whale of course), ensconced very happily on our bed this morning. Fortunately he hadn't been out so didn't have muddy paws (it has been raining for the past couple of days, just what the garden needed).
Drat - cannot think of the name of this so will have to check it out later. Update: It is Acaea simple (Atropurpurea) "Brunette". Must write that on a label for it now. Anyway, it doesn't need a moist spot as original advice on line said and is happy enough in this planter.
One of two Japanese anemones I bought recently - this one has made it to a pot. They were only £3.99 each at Aldi and I wish I'd bought more now.
This weekend's reading. I love the photography in this magazine and there are always interesting articles and recipes of the sort I would make.
For several years this little Gwili pottery lamp has been my bedside lamp. Now it's migrated downstairs and I can see to make a cup of tea in the mornings.
In its place upstairs is this lamp, which is a nod to a g.g. aunty of mine who was the schoolmistress in Widecombe in the 1860s or 70s. I think she was my g.g. aunt - I need to check out that branch of the family tree again. We had to replace the fitting for the bulb and I took the old trim off the shade and put a fresh one on, but it gives a better and taller light to read by. I know it's not many people's taste but I am old-fashioned and sentimental when it comes to anything Devon . . . Hence the plate below, which cost me all of £1 on Sunday at the Antiques Fair/Fleamarket. When I turned it over and saw the Bovey Pottery stamp on the back, tears pricked my eyes - dad grew up in Bovey Tracey and there is a long family connection to Hennock, up the hill from Bovey. (It's pronounced "Buvvy" by the way, and not "Bovey" as in bovine.)
Tam has sensible and healthy breakfasts - this is a veggie hash and Free Range egg. She and her boyfriend are at a wedding in Morecombe this weekend and having a little autumn break. I am envious, but I have got my Birthday Outing booked (FINALLY - it was my birthday in April!, during Lockdown). Keith and I are off to Plas Newydd, near Llangollen, famous for its "Ladies of Llangollen". Can't wait.
My Japanese Wind Anemones are about 6 feet tall and look like white stars floating in a sky of deep, dark green leaves along the border. I am promised a root of pink when the time is right.
ReplyDeleteLandscape is such a lovely magazine.
Enjoy Llangollen and Plas Newydd. Don't forget your Welsh hat!
Gosh, mine will need propping up perhaps. You have described them so well. Mine are or white with pink highlights in bud. I think I need some more!!
ReplyDeleteLandscape magazine is my monthly treat. I read it from cover to cover.
ReplyDeleteThere were a couple of other similar ones but they have faded away during Covid.
DeleteI love Japanese Anemones - so wish I had some in the garden. I subscribe to Landscape Magazine it really is very good with a super mix of interesting articles. Love the Widecombe Fair lamp and plate :)
ReplyDeleteThey're worth investing in (esp. when on offer from Aldi!) I was interested that the spellings differed - Widecomb on the Bovey plate and Widdicombe on the lamp.
DeleteLove the Qwili Pottery lamp and can see why the Widecomb lamp appeals to your love of vintage. Although the Landscape magazine isn't sold over here (US), I have sometimes been able to read it through my library website. Such a great magazine. The photography and articles are so good. Plan to buy my own copy when I visit next month.
ReplyDeleteOooh, visiting next month Mary! Where are you going when you're over here? How exciting for you.
DeleteIt's a great magazine - shame it's not on sale in the States. You could probably get an overseas subscription but postage might be on the high side. Enjoy your copy when you can buy it yourself here.
London first for a few days; then two train rides and a ferry to stay a few days at small town on a loch in Scotland; ferry/train back over to Glasgow for a couple of days and then the train back to London for another four days. Solo trip. Can't wait.
DeleteOh that sounds wonderful Mary. Brave girl doing it all alone. I am so used to being everywhere with Keith it feels quite strange to go off on my ownsome. You will LOVE Scotland.
DeleteI do love Scotland. When I was growing up, we often camped up in Scotland. A friend is having a one woman art exhibition there which is one of my main reasons for this trip. As for traveling alone, well, I've done it for decades between many business trips all over the US and other overseas trips. A seasoned traveler.
DeleteAh, no worries about your journey then, as you could write the manual by the sound of it! I can't see me making Scotland again, but how we loved our two holidays up there as a family and I did my Archaeological Dig up there, in Aberdeenshire. Enjoy your trip.
DeleteLove Little Whale keeping an eye on you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for showing us your Widecombe lamp and plate. I would feel the same sentiments as you do about them and the lovely memories. It shows how much you treasure the lamp as it has survived intact through all the upheaval and work you had to do during your move! My family were mainly in Widecombe and nearby Dunstone where my Aunt had an ancient stone cross re-instated. She also paid for restoration work in Widecombe Church. Hope that you have a lovely 'birthday' break in Llan (are you an Aries like me?)
Wendy (Wales)
Hi Wendy, yes a fellow Aries and very true to type! The Gwili lamp (well wrapped) came with us from our old home but we found the Widdicombe lamp (change of spelling between that and the plate) at Malvern back in May or June. It wasn't a giveaway bargain either as they are quite rare survivors. Thank you (and Mary above) for understanding why it appealed to me. Tam thinks I am Quite Mad to like it. I told her - you wait until your father and I are no longer around - all sorts of things will become so precious to you.
DeleteWell done to your aunt for paying for restoration work in the church (the Cathedral of the Moors) an reinstating the ancient stone cross. If I looked back far enough, I probably have a photo of it somewhere (Lord knows where) as ancient stone crosses are my "thing".
The photo with the Gwili lamp tucked in a corner of the kitchen work counter speaks to me--I can imagine you puttering there first thing in the morning. I've put a small LED lamp in the corner near our coffee machine so that I can have a light in the kitchen that won't shine across the great room into J's domain. Your Landscape magazine looks just the thing for a quiet break with a pot of tea. I've kept three mag subscriptions [A Primitive Place; Farmhouse; Country Sampler] for such escape moments.
ReplyDeleteI like the look of Tam's breakfast!
We have muddy cat paws this morning--walk first in the dew-soaked meadow then plod through the newly tilled garden before entering the house.
You can just see the door behind that lamp (with its Georgian glass - a couple of panes have survived). The flowers are the long bed I dug and planted this year. When you see that the door middle is on a level with the raised lawn outside, you will understand HOW much rubble is over the original ground level! All came from when they took the old render off the house about 15 years ago.
DeleteThe lamp brings me pleasure - I like subtle lighting and on dark winter mornings, it will bring me even more joy.
Oh my GOODNESS. Just looking up your magazines. Oh they are SO "me"! I can actually get a digital subscription online to the 2nd two. Tempting. A Primitive Place looks an amazing magazine.
Smiling at your cats - they know the best way to leave a trail don't they?!
A Primitive Place is very well done--high quality paper, beautiful photography. Country Sampler has a large 'shopping' section--some nice things but not at prices I would pay, some more 'crafty' than collectible.
DeleteWe have magazines - Country Living, Period Living, Homes & Antiques etc. Everything VERY up-market (£150 for a metre square of wallpaper anyone?) I like to get ideas from them, but try and get "a look" on the cheap, compared with that silliness.
DeleteColonial homes just have that wonderful look - and seem relatively minimalist, which isn't normally me. I guess it's seeing Living History in a way.
I'm a long-time lurker...I hope you don't mind me popping into your comment box! I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your posts...your love of walking and antiques and gardens and old houses ...and horses! really speak to my soul.
ReplyDeleteI love your little lamp in the kitchen...my favourite thing on dark winter mornings is making my tea by lamplight. It's just somehow much cosier that way. May I ask...how do you feel about the tile on your countertops? We're going to be re-doing our kitchen next year and I have a fondness for tiled surfaces but wasn't sure about the practicalities :). Thanks again for sharing your world.