. . . apple that is, an heirloom variety from Scotland. At Malvern Flea yesterday, a charity was selling organic plums, Bloody Ploughman and James Grieve apples from her orchard yesterday. She planted a heritage orchard many years ago when there was funding available to establish it. £1 a bag (4 big apples) and £2 for a punnet of plums. I got two lots of James Grieve, one lot of Bloody Ploughman and some plums. YUM.
Not for me . . . and I have to say an awful lot of the stalls (99% of them in fact) also weren't for me yesterday. Plenty of stalls, but it wasn't as big as it usually is. Not as car bootish as it's been though.
Nearer the mark, but not unusual enough for me.
I had a lovely chat with the guy that brings these over from Turkey. I have several pieces of his already though.
Some quilts - The good old English hexagon . . .
I bet the one using woollen? coat remnants was heavy on a bed. A modern version I think, of what women used in the past to make up a warm winter quilt as this one is cut very regularly, not using such scraps as were available.
I have to say a kilt and a fur coat is not a good look! His mate also sported a kilt.
The light wasn't very good - the little owl on the left had a nice look, as did the lion? on the right. I didn't ask the price as they had Nice Stuff so I knew there wouldn't be dealer prices in my range! I did ask the price on a couple of other stalls as I could hear Keith's voice saying, if you don't ask, you won't know! I think he was there with me yesterday. One stall had books and militaria which would have really interested him, and I approached thinking, oh, I'll get that book for Keith, before the realisation hit home . . .
Isn't this fun? He had £60 on it and would have done a deal, but I would have needed to have found this before he did to make it profitable. I wish I'd had something like this as a child, but if it didn't come out of mum's Morse's Catalogue, I didn't get it!
See what I mean in "not much for me this time" . . .A steam punk chest of drawers isn't really my scene. The stuff in the background too - also not for me.
It was a long day (I was up just after 4.30 a.m. after a restless night's sleep). I got there a smidge after 7.30 a.m., walked around for 2 hours doing the outside stalls and then came back to the car for breakfast. I did another 2 1/2 hours revisiting the outside stalls, and then doing the Avon Hall and the Sheds. I saw a couple of friends who didn't know about Keith's death, so telling them was difficult. I was tired from the get go and tears kept pouncing on me as I was driving to Malvern, then were twice as bad on the way home, so I think that tiredness is definitely a contributing factor to how well I cope. (I slept for 10 hours last night, which is unheard of.)
I had time to please myself after Malvern and decided to seek out a little church (Bromesberrow) about 5 miles away which had two small English Civil War flags (known as Cornets). I shall do a post about that later. There can't be many of those surviving, that's for sure. It was good to be able to enjoy my interests again and not have to rush back home.
When I did get back, and unpacked, I had a cup of tea and then HAD to go and lie down on the sofa. I put Heartbeat on in the background and was out for the count for an hour and a half. Normally it's about a 10 minute nap I have, so that shows how shattered I was. My injured foot has been complaining too - all that walking (17,000+ steps) and the driving have irritated it no end. I hope it will soon settle down again.
I bought just 8 things and 5 of those were from a lady with a set price for everything. I've bought from her before and done well from these set prices. Unusual things too. I also bought two interesting horse bits for my collection, and these may just have come home with me . . .
I pounced on these too! I am thinking Rosie-Posy quilt of course! Some really beautiful fabric scraps. The lady selling them had sadly lost her sister to early-onset Alzheimers and made things to sell to support the Charity. These were offcuts.
Finally, from another stall that had lots of bigger lengths of patchwork and dressmaking material. About a metre here for £3.
It will need something to tone it down, but those colours put a smile on my face.
I shall take things quiet today, don't worry. I'd better put the recycling out though, before I forget.
I do love it when I can buy heritage English apples. Everything for sale these days apple wise in supermarkets seems to come from abroad. Such a shame when we have so many lovely varieties in this country. I hope you have a quieter day.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping to get some in Hay last week, but the fruit and veg shop was shut (many of the shops were in fact). These have made up for it. I think it's a shame when good English apples aren't in supermarkets - presumably not a perfect enough shape. It's the taste that counts though.
DeleteNot so much to suit you but still an interesting assortment.
ReplyDeleteYes, and although I can appraise a stand at a glance whether or not it's for me, it's still the looking which is tiring. Along with the concentration of driving too.
DeleteI like the pots on the table...French ? I love the big one!!
ReplyDeletePlenty of these around nowadays. The big one packs a punch indeed. Lots of stalls have them, and the glazed-top French confit jars which were buried in the soil to keep the meat in them fresh for longer.
DeleteI love all your fabrics. I have a roomful of fabric but sadly have neither the energy or the mojo to quilt. Please take care of yourself and don't push yourself too much. I really enjoy reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteI know, sometimes it seems too big a deal to get started, so I start small and say "five minutes' sewing" and get something under way, then find I want to do more. Glad you enjoy my blog.
DeleteI am resting up completely today - on the sofa with the heated blanket, tv on softly in the background (had a snooze too) and the latest Barbara Erskine book to read.
I also would be exhausted wandering around all that length of time, my brain tingling with trying to absorb all around me. I have often wondered do antiques diminish with time, there becomes less and less on the market.
ReplyDeleteIt's all the concentration that does it. Keith and I always used to share the driving but I had to do it the last 4 or 5 years as he found it too much when we were still at Ynyswen. I didn't mind, but now doing it all - despite it being much nearer from Builth - I find it a bit much when it's the very big Bank Holiday Fair, and so much to see. Antiques - well, there are always fashions in antiques. The classic pieces will always be desirable. Mid-Century is currently "it". (I grew up with it and can't understand the allure, personally). I don't have the space or strength to take the bigger pieces of good furniture to Fairs, as some do. Mine need to be portable and it's all "about the look" now. The stalls at Malvern are often full of whatever someone has got cheap. Not necessarily desirable, especially when the prices of them has shot up. I asked the price of a kitchen chair (Warwick back). One stallholder had two for £50 the pair (not too bad but I would want them cheaper). Another chap had one and it was £65!!! It's just a standard old kitchen chair, worth about £20. He said, make me an offer then - with a grin I told him I didn't want to insult him! As for what "the look" is - people's tastes do vary, but often it's old, often shabby or downright tatty, and looks to have a history. I guess it is aesthetic as much as anything. Me, I buy what I like, which appeals to me and that way if I'm stuck with it, I can still enjoy it! I still have boxes and boxes of pre-Covid stock which I need to put a few bits at a time on my stand to get rid. I just do the two Fairs a year now to clear stuff out and love to go to Malvern to get the buzz Keith and I used to have.
DeleteI have never hear of Bloody Ploughman apples, love the name though. If Alan ever dared to wear a fur coat over his kilt I would disown him immediately, it's not a good look. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's Scottish apparently. Pink inside when you cut or bite into it. Not a sweet apple. I doubt very much those two lads were Scottish - just thought they looked clever!
DeleteI do love a tasty apple, the supermarket ones have crunch but no taste. Sitting down and having a nap is probably nature's way of helping you. I have had another book sort out and there are 2 carrier bags to go to the charity shop, mostly coffee table style books. OH wanted to put my Elizabeth West books in the charity bag, they got put back in the bookcase pretty swiftly. I managed to get the front lawn cut as it was recycling/garden waste day today and the edges done. We are still waiting for a moving date and our solicitor has gone on holiday! I despair! Hugs Xx
ReplyDeleteSupermarket apples are a big disappointment. Tesco used to do Russets, but not any more. That's one of my favourite apples, and Discovery, which is the earliest eater.
DeleteYou are doing very well STILL clearing out. If you don't get a date soon, your house will be empty before you move!! Glad that you saved your Elizabeth West books. Every time I drive through Rhayader I still get reminded me of her Garden in the Hills which I bought there on a coach trip in my 20s. It was lunch - or the book . . . I went hungry.
Such lovely fabrics. I hope you show us anything you make from them.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
They're beautiful. I've lost my craft mojo rather since Keith died but hope I can sit myself down again soon.
DeleteI think it must take a degree of chutzpah to wear a fur coat in public! He looks ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteLove the Liberty scrap bags, what a snip! Brings back memories of my friend driving to Newtown where she picked up two bin bags full of Laura Ashley scraps for a fiver! Some were more than scraps at nearly a yard!
He did indeed look ridiculous! Prat. Gosh, all those Laura Ashley scraps were worth the drive!
DeleteSuch a good name. I will look it up in my apple book - here we are - arose Carse of Gowrie, recorded 1883. Blood red, heavily ribbed, when very ripe flesh becomes stained pink. Sweet, light taste, crisp and juicy. Reputedly takes its name from a ploughman caught stealing Magginch estate apples and shot by a gamekeeper. His wife got the bag of apples and threw them on the midden and one of the seedlings that emerged was rescued and named thus. This is from Joan Morgan’s book of apples. If you see one secondhand do buy it (mine is from a charity shop) as it is so interesting and with beautiful apple paintings. I see what you mean about the car boot though - not for me either, perhaps due to the dog days of August. The dealer in Petworth who would buy all his stock from Ford car boot sale is closing down. He had good eye for small saleable items, usually snapped up by the other Petworth dealers, so maybe the supply has dried up. Also David Swanson who specialised in really good examples of English country furniture has recently closed his shop to retire. I used to love admiring his stock. We attempted a swim yesterday at Littlehampton’s Rope Walk beach but although not busy the water just did not appeal so we had a walk through the nature reserve. We came home via Arundel thinking we’d use our HHA passes one last time in the castle gardens but the car park was full and I couldn’t face a hot walk down and back up if we parked roadside so we came home and ate our picnic sitting on deckchairs in the garden and had a quiet afternoon before going out for film show in the church in the evening. Hope you manage some quiet sewing time soon - the Liberty fabric is a steal. I’ve abandoned my knitting until it cools down again although today is only forecast 23 degrees and it is also our swimming day - thank goodness as I am feeling very lacklustre and need some endorphin through my veins! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting history for the Bloody Ploughman. The chap who had the shop where we once had a Unit used to go down to Ford car boot sale and bought stock there, having been to Ardingly Antiques Fair previously. Judging by the stock at Malvern these days - it has gone right down since Covid. Either people can't get what they want for it, or the stuff they used to be able to afford from auction has gone up in price, or the punters just aren't buying. Hard to say, but I know I used to get wonderful, and unusual things from Malvern and there aren't many of them to be had now, or they are damn silly prices. I think you used to tell me about the wonderful things in David Swanson's shop.
DeleteIt's been a lot cooler here than where you are. Currently only 10 deg and very foggy.
I love poring over the flea market photos. The crocks and colored glass jars are so lovely and useful, one of each would have come home w me. Picture that squat brown glass jar filled w sunflowers!
ReplyDeleteGreat finds/ prices on fabrics, esp the Liberty that can run $30-60 dollars a yard here. The finished quilts are interesting too. Thanks so much for the virtual visit.
It sounds like you'd have had a spending spree if you'd been with me at Malvern!
DeleteThe Liberty scraps are lovely and destined, I think, for some hand-sewing projects.
The made quilts not so interesting this time.
Those colors put me in mind of your bedroom selection! Perhaps a couple pillows or shams?
ReplyDeleteMy bedroom is navy and sky blue. Those colours might tie in if I use them for cushion covers down in the kitchen.
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