Tuesday 6 May 2008

Familiar faces & floral finds



The first weekend in May is marked for us by the beginning of the Brighton Festival and the children's parade that sets the whole thing rolling. Children from schools across the city and beyond take to the streets in fancy dress, accompanied by parents, teachers, samba bands and dancers. A children's carnival that is much as part of the Festival as the Open Houses, theatre, music and literature.
For ten years now we have donned various wigs and costumes and walked through the streets, It's a happy day and, as I said last year, it's a time to catch up with old friends and their children amongst the crowds. Above all it's a time for the children to celebrate and be celebrated.



This weekend seems to be our 'official' start of Spring weekend, coinciding as it does with a Bank Holiday, the desire to garden and the appearance again of some familiar faces in the garden. I can't remember there being a children's parade without a showing from these poppies. Beautiful, fragile, yet strangely dependable these gorgeous golden orbs seem to beckon us into the garden.



Out in the front garden the first peony bloomed for us. It's reappearance is just as breathtaking as it was last year and just as reassuring. I love the way our plants seem to install some sense and order to our lives, however mad, rushed or stressful a time it is, the constancy of the flowers is very calming.



They take their time and bloom when it is right, unhurried and quietly.



My garden beds are slowly filling up and those perennials that have survived the recent snail attack will soon (hopefully) be adding height and structure to the borders.



Some recent floral finds to share with you now. This gorgeous Wedgewood plate was sitting at the bottom of a pile of plates in a charity shop It's got the prettiest lillies and flowers on it.



On Sunday a trawl of the car boot resulted in some very spring-like goodies too. I love this old linen tea cosy with gorgeous trees and floral border. An old crocus biscuit tin, crocheted cloth and bird cups and saucers all look good together.



I seem to be acquiring lots of bird things at the moment - more in the next post.



I also found this lovely old nightie case. I remember at school making a pyjama case in Domestic Science, it was our first attempt with the sewing machine and it seemed to drag on and on and on. But I love this one, not sure what I'll do with it, but I'll let you know. I was lucky enough to find some old lace trim and a book of vintage bird cigarette cards (I said I was getting into the bird theme, didn't I).



The blossom is out on the apple tree and Little Sister is back in her old favourite spot reading. Time to take a deep breath and enjoy the fresh air of May!

26 comments:

A Thrifty Mrs said...

Oooh such pretties.

Simone said...

Lovely garden shots. I really like the tree tea cosy. I would like to be sitting up a tree with a book right now! (Well under a tree anyhow.)

Knitty, Vintage and Rosy said...

Ooooh more lovlies. Jealousy abounds over here.

And greens are my perpetual favourite.

Lucky girl.

Lisa
Knitty, Vintage and Rosy

Thimbleanna said...

Ahhh, a fresh breath of spring from your cosy corner! Little sister looks wonderful in her reading corner. Do they still teach domestic science in schools there? We used to have what we called home economics (my favorite classes!), but I think very few schools still have it.

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

I would love to have been at the parade Kim.. but alas was not to be.. ! I hope the sun shone for you and much fun was had by all..
Your colour themed photos are very attractive and my eyes were smitten with the biscuit tin and the clock night case.. I think you have a better class of booty there in Brighton.. I never seem to find such treasures, but then again.. I rarely get to the boot sale here.. make mental note to oneself..!

Michelexx

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

Spring is in the Air eh?!

I love those lovely little bird cigarette cards? I wonder what are cigarette cards though...hmmmm

Cape Cod Washashore said...

Beautiful photos! Your thrifted finds are so lovely! The Wedgewood plate is so pretty! But my favorite photo has to be the last one with your daughter! =)

Elizabethd said...

How very lovely. There is nothing quite so satisfying as finding something pretty and making it your own, matching it up, displaying it . Lovely!

carolyn said...

Great buys as always and I'm so jealous of your peony, ours are awfully behind this year, the buds are still tiny. Can't wait they are my favourite flowers.

Attic Clutter said...

Hi Kimx
..Oh your parade sounds great we too have an Apple blossom parade in town here first week of May``always a fun time..thanks for visiting.. (") yes cabins on the lake are so special... Hugs Patty

Louise said...

I wish I had a tree I could escape to with a book, that's a great spot for Little Sister. It must be so much fun to live in Brighton especially when the festival is on, so much to see and do. The gardens are looking lovely at the moment, amazing to have that poppy flowering already. Kim you have definitely got a nose for carboot treasures. x

Niki Fretwell said...

Hi Kim,
What a lovely weekend - the Brighton festival sounds great fun.
I love your latest finds - the mirror is gorgeous.

Its wonderful to see the gardens springing into action on Blogland - Peonies are a fav of mine too.
Niki x

Samantha said...

Lucky thing you - I love the biscuit tin!

meggie said...

Lovely post as usual Kim.

Thankyou for your kind words & thoughts.

Sal said...

Your garden looks good.I love herbaceous borders. Your finds are great too! ;-)

Anonymous said...

Jealous fumes: I don't find all these pretty things at boot sales, though admittedly I'm really looking for books and trying to declutter at home. What a good eye you have! I love that Wedgwood plate.

Lucy Bloom said...

Hi Kim, I think you do very well at your car boot, believe me the ones around here are pretty dire most of the time. I don't get to Shepton as often as I'd like, it's a 1 1/2 hour drive from here, so I tend to go a bit mad when I do get there! Hope you're enjoying the sunshine.
Lucy x

mollycupcakes said...

Kim,
Sounds like a fabulous bank holiday. Gorgeous finds and such pretty colours and flowers.
Enjoy the sunshine, you have a wonderful garden, I'm green with envy, you lucky lady you. Ours isn't big enough too swing acat in lol and believe me we've tried hehe!

Hugs.

Catherine x

dottycookie said...

Very very pretty post, Kim! I do like that nightie case; it would match absolutely nothing in my house but I still think it's lovely!

Betty said...

Wow! Look who found some great finds herself! Love that pink plate. Your children's festival sounds so fun. We don't have anything like that here.

Sea Angels said...

Wonderful posts and fabulous finds Kim. You are right about how cut off you feel when the computor is ill, I was the same, twiddleing my fingers and getting worried about what was happening......All better now..for the moment. You have bought some gorgeous stuff at the car boots...I am green again, you inspire me to go out hunting ha ha .
Hugs Lynn xx

Twiggy said...

Lovely pretty things, great flower pics. I love the idea of a parade to celebrate children. Magic :)
Twiggy

Heidijayhawk said...

lovely shots kim! welcome to spring!

Mrs.Kwitty said...

Beautiful flowers, traditions, acquisitions, and a perfectly charming place to read a book! Nice post!
Smiles, Karen

Rosezilla (Tracie Walker) said...

Such lovely flowers, and I love the pink plate, too. You take nice photos of your lovely things all arranged. I got very nostalgic over your daughter reading in a tree, as that was always my favorite spot to read when I was young.

Ally Jay said...

Birdsong is one of the sweetest sounds I agree. Smell is very much associated with long term memory. I use lemon to stimulate memory in the classroom and peppermint for recall.