Monday 25 May 2009

Surrey with a fringe on top



On Thursday afternoon, before the beginning of half term there was a stillness and calmness about the house that rarely happens. The hall was free of the piles of shoes, bags, letters, keys, mobile phones etc that usually fill the space. I had been waiting impatiently for the wisteria to trail across our front door and its flowers to bloom in front of the window.



On Thursday it was perhaps at its finest - against a blue sky, a peaceful hallway, its lilac fronds framed my view out and for some reason made me think of that song from "Oklahoma" - " Surrey with a fringe on top". My mum used to love singing that song. I listened to it again on Youtube on Thursday and thought it captured this moment completely. The complete joy of the moment, the optimism of the time of year and my little flowers showing off to as many passersby as possible.



Over the next couple of days the shoes, bags and flotsam and jetsam of daily life mounted up on and around the hall table, the sun came and went but my "fringe" remained,



Sunday morning was perhaps one of the best of the year, a real "Surrey with a fringe on top" morning. Patty's Plum, my favourite oriental poppy, had woken from her winter slumber and added her vibrant colour to the ever increasing blooms in the garden. Isn't it wonderful, this time of year, when we are surprised almost daily by the floral goings on in our gardens?
This riot of colour was a complete contrast to the calmness of my hall and I loved it just as much.



We wandered that afternoon across the city through parks full of families picnicking and toddlers toddling, through deserted roads shimmering in the haze of a glorious day.



The colours of the houses basking in the Sunday sunshine.



We spent the afternoon with friends in their home by the seafront. Played rounders and laughed in the gardens, looked at the view and felt as if were caught inside a painting, framed by the sun, sea and greenery.



Perhaps we had taken a wrong turning and been transported to the South of France - it was that good...



Now if ever there was a "Surrey with a fringe on top" kind of day, this was it. A day of laughter, colour, sunshine, friendship and that feeling you get as you look round at your friends and family and all the other families laughing, playing, lying in the sunshine around you that it is a special day indeed. A day that should be marked with fireworks and fanfares like the ones we saw on the beach that evening, marking the end of the festival and a fitting full stop to a special day.

29 comments:

Hen said...

Wow, looks fabulous! It was a wonderful weekend weather wise but is raining hard here in London today. My Patty's Plum which I only planted last year has one big fat bud. I just hope it flowers when we are at the cottage or I'll be gutted!
Hen x

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

You and I are still in a parallel universe.. I had just the same thought seeing those gorgeous cosmopolitan and neopolitan houses and that palm tree.. simply mediterranean !!
We even have twinned poppies (see C & C) though Patty's Plum wins the rosette!
Have a lovely day my friend..however soggy it may be.
Dxx

Unknown said...

Isn't it wonderful when the house has that unusual sense of calm...just before unsightly bills and erronious toott creeps in...
lovely post and photos;showing how brilliant Brighton can be!
x Philippa

Cape Cod Rambling Rose said...

What a sight for my longing-to-return-to-England eyes! This is what I see in my mind when I think of lovely cottages and parks across the pond. How wonderful to have that wisteria over your door!

tcg said...

I enjoy your blog! I know you don't live in London, but I wonder if you can help me...I will be in London for 5 weeks this June and July [v. excited!] and would love to know how to find shops, obscure or famous, that sell all this great shabby vintage stuff that we love. Also, how do I find junk and boot sales? I'd love to paw through as much discarded English household stuff as poss while I'm over there! But I have no idea how to find the kind of small neighborhood sales that would have these things to see and buy. Any suggestions you may have would help enormously!!
Thank you also for that amazing spring tour of Sissinghurst...so special!
Thanks,
Kassie

aromatic said...

What gorgeous wisteria and what a fantastic sight it is through the window above the door.... so glad you managed to capture it on camera.
Also love the poppy, so magnificent in full bloom.
The weather has been so beautiful and we have spent some much needed time in the garden and enjoyed a quiet barbecue for two... daughter left home, and son off on a car convention with his mates, so its mainly hubby and I these days... we do not get an awful lot of time to spend together as I am usually busy looking after Mum, bless her heart.
But the weather has been such a treat and makes one feel so much better....
I adore all the wonderful colours of the houses, what a wonderful place to live! Your whole post as ever was adorable to read and your photographs just superb!
Take Care,
With Love, Jane xxxx
ps... sorry about the lack of comments of late, looking after my Mum full time does not allow for much spare time.. lol!!

Pipany said...

A lovely post Kim with gorgeous pictures. love the wisteria and poppy. Our scarlet ones are going full pelt. The house colours are just beautiful too. Happy half term x

A Thrifty Mrs said...

What an up lifting, happy post.
Thank you for sharing, you have put a much needed smile on my face.

Simone said...

Stunning photos. The poppy is outstanding. If it was in my garden I should like to paint a picture of it!x

Poppy said...

Gorgeous pictures Kim!

I feel all calm myself now after that beautiful post!

I hope you have a lovely half term…love Lou xxx

A time to dance said...

We have been in the garden all day and I was so jealous of the wonderful wisteria in my next door but ones garden...he has transformed a concrete mess into the lovlest garden...i have always waned a wisteria and they have always died but mr B offered to buy me one today so I think I will hold hi to it they remind me of holidays in france...bliss...rock on Doris Day!!! (it was her wasnt it?)

Linda said...

Sounds like you are having beautiful weather at the moment, could you possibly send some my waqy? I just popped my head out the window looks like more rain coming, great that is all we need.
Cheers Linda

Thimbleanna said...

Wow! What a great weekend. And that poppy is GORGEOUS!!!!

Helen said...

What a wonderful day, an absolute treasure, cherish it.

{Love, Love, Love} said...

Lovely pictures as ever, Kim! I am still waiting for my poppies to come out but I am looking forward to it! x

Emma Herian said...

I think your fringe suits your house Kim.Goes perfectly with the shade of your door. Glad Patty has opened, my big white one is opening now in this wild rainy weather, hopefully I will be able to pop out and take a snap.
I too was transported to a mediterranean vista looking at your photos, pure bliss. Weekends like that can refresh the heart, hope it did for you.
Emx

Sea Angels said...

You are so right....it is magical what a bit of sun can do for us all. I think the forcast is the same for this weekend....enjoy.
Hugs Lynn xxx

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Oh BOY! What a great blog. I'm coming back to visit when I have loads more time to just sit and enjoy.

Blessings,
Spencer

PS....I've added you to my favorite girlies.

Tina said...

Waht a great day you had! A bit of sun can make such a difference. Love to come to your blog and see all the things you share.

Betty said...

That poppy is gorgeous! You day sounds perfect too!

Rowan said...

You've been having a lovely time while I've been away, your trip on the Downs sounded fun and the sculpures are fabulous. I enjoyed all your photos today, Pqatty's Plum is such a gorgeous colour and all the pretty coloured houses look as though they are in the Mediterranean. A very enjoyable post, you always make the simple things in life sound wonderful.

Shirl said...

Sounds like a wonderful time! Gorgeous photos ... :0)

Shirl x

Garden Girl said...

I have been singing 'It's such a Perfect Day' after reading your post- and how bizarre that you and Custardo both wrote about your beautiful poppies?! Separated at birth, obviously!
x

Willow said...

Simply stunning photos!! The colours of those houses and the peeks of blue, blue sea are just gorgeous! Glad you took full advantage of such a glorious day!!

Willow xx

Joshy and belle said...

it looks lovely, gorgeous photos, our house is only calm and uncluttered for about an hour when joshy is asleep the next morning toys and books take over, my sewing stuff creeps out, by its self couldn't be me!! husbands newspapers, books, stuff everywhere, some one always comes round then never when its spotless!! he he
felicity xx

Heidi said...

A wonderful feeling isn't it! Your wisteria looks beautiful peeking through the window. Ours is already finished blooming and I miss it. I has performed wondrously once again. Did you see it on my blog? We have another holiday weekend now and are leaving for Cranberry Cottage tomorrow morning. There is too much traffic tonight so we are waiting. Have a glorious weekend dear Kim!

Hugs ~
Heidi

Pondside said...

This was a lovely post. I know the song well, having lived for a year in Oklamhoma City, where the musical "Oklahoma" is a bit of a cult - indeed, the theme song is more or less the state anthem. Another happy song from the same show is "Oh What a Beautiful Morning"

{Love, Love, Love} said...

Hi Kim

There is an award on my blog for you x

galant said...

I have just bought Patty's Plum and will plant her tomorrow! Never grown poppies before ... do you have to allow them to self-seed in order to get more plants next year, I wonder?
Love mauve, purple and pink flowers best of all, and Patty's Plum is a winner!
Margaret P