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!