Cornflower

In and out

    Imagine if these people actually lived in the same building - Noel Coward popping next door to borrow a cup of sugar from Laurence Olivier, Joyce Grenfell chatting to J.M. Barrie as they put out the bins, Charles Laughton helping Edith Evans up the stairs with her shopping ...

    In fact, the names are those of rooms at the Draycott.

Colours of the season

    This is 'Samhain' by Jess at Olann, and if I've time today I shall wind the skein and cast on, as Samhain starts at sunset.

    In the Isle of Man, where I grew up, Samhain 'crosses' with Hop-tu-naa, and never mind the Johnny-come-lately pumpkin, it was turnips we made into lanterns on this day.

    If the Culture Vannin website (from where that video comes) is anything to go by, the old ways are being kept alive, though I do admit that pumpkins are easier to carve and don't have the distinctive aroma of the turnip when the candle flame scorches the flesh ....

Open for business

    For all who have been following Flora Shedden's progress with interest, I am pleased to report that her Aran Bakery, in Dunkeld, is now open! According to her Instagram posting, they sold out in four hours yesterday - the first day - so that's a great start.

An old curiosity shop

   

    My London wanderings yesterday took me down Middle Temple Lane where I came upon the tailors Thresher & Glenny (established 1696).

    Specialists in legal dress, they also offer more mainstream tailoring for the discerning customer. They have an illustrious history, and their website a good copy writer - you may enjoy a browse, as I did, if you have a spare moment.

Things to make and do

    -    Bake a blackberry galette - some eating apples (straight off the tree if possible), chopped and fried in butter with a little cinnamon, are a good addition.

    -    Stitch your city - (my northern fastness is just off the map).

    -    See this exhibition before it closes next month. I went for a second look recently and this picture is still the one I'd take home.

    -    Live long and prosper - Dan Buettner's TED talk tells you how, and ties in with Ken Mogi's book.

Thought for the day

    "The Japanese concept, ichigo ichie (literally meaning 'one time, one encounter') originally comes from the tea ceremony tradition. [...] Ichigo ichie is the appreciation of the ephemeral character of any encounters with people, things or events in life. Precisely because an encounter is ephemeral, it must be taken seriously. Life, after all, is filled with things that happen only once. The realization of the 'onceness' of life's encounters and pleasures provides the foundations for the Japanese conceptualization of ikigai, and is central to the Japanese philosophy of life. When you take notice of the small details of life, nothing is repeated. Every opportunity is special. That is why the Japanese treat the tiniest detail of any ritual as if it were a question of life and death."

    Ken Mogi, The Little Book of Ikigai

Noteworthy

    The wild flower swirls at Forde Abbey. 

    I'd have a go at those if I had the space.

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    A new yarn company (local to me).

    Read Jane's story here.

    I've bought the mini skeins to start with.

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    Superfast service from Just Dogs.

    I placed an order for dog food at 2.05pm and it was delivered at 2.16. Admittedly we live not far from the shop, and it happened to be one of their twice weekly delivery days, so ordering another day would have entailed more of a wait, but even so, that's impressive!

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    On the other hand, speed caught me out earlier in the week when I switched on my new iron and discovered (at the cost of a nasty burn to three of my fingers) that it heats up a great deal faster than my old model did.

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    "Once the north winds get speed and strength, and the night frost spreads on the lawns and the nights get dark and the warm light inside the house gathers everyone inside around it, then there will be more time to listen to thoughts and find time to write more."

    That's from Lene whose creativity (and industry) is most certainly noteworthy.

I've started so I'll finish ...

    ... as Magnus Magnusson famously used to say. It sounds straightforward, finishing what you've started, but as Anne notes in her comment here, it doesn't always follow. If anyone has any suggestions on how to find a more direct route from the start of a project - of whatever nature - to the finish, please do let us know. I'm sure that having few distractions/competing tasks is key, but then if you have a lot of interests, as many of us do, you will be drawn in different directions, and sustained focus is harder to achieve ...

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    On the subject of doing only one thing at a time, this week's All of Bach recording is BWV 598 - Pedal Exercitium: look, no hands!

Tip of the day

    Snapped at the Ashmolean Museum where, to mark the Raphael Drawings exhibit, they have sketch books and pencils on hand for visitors to use as they tour the galleries.

Wise words

    "Fear not to sow because of the birds."

    Lorimer birdbath, Kellie Castle.

Permit me ...

    ... a 'proud mum' moment.

Wise words

      For those of us who blog, Victoria gives some sound advice based on her experience over 12 years at the excellent Bois de Jasmin.

Lost sheep

    This is a bit of a longshot, but has anyone lost this baby blanket?

    A friend found it the other day while out walking on the coast near Ipswich in the Shotley/Holbrook area.

    If you recognise it, please just comment or email me (link in the right hand sidebar) and I'll put you in touch with the finder so that it can be returned. It looks like a nice piece of work (this pattern?)* and was clean and dry when found.

*Edited to add: I've been through all the Ravelry projects for that pattern but this one with its little black sheep doesn't seem to be there.

Style council

   

    Beverley Nichols expounds his views on flower arranging in Down the Garden Path; amongst those things for which he expresses distaste are the "glass umbrella stand" vase insert which keep stems separate and upright, and its counterpart, wire netting.

    He acknowledges that while yet being "vulgar and hateful", these accoutrements do serve a purpose, but one equally well met by the natural alternative he came up with: earth. He tells us how he half-filled a semi-opaque bowl with garden soil, topped it up with water, then waited for the dirt to settle and the water to become clear. Into the earth went a bunch of paperwhite narcissi which "stood up perfectly, exactly as they stand in their native fields. [...] Through the water shone the stalks of the narcissi, rising from their natural bed, which was bounded by the coarse green glass. I may add that the flowers lasted nearly two days longer than usual."

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    Next up, napery, and once more I am found wanting - I do not have a signature fold:

    I do enjoy those Quintessence videos!

Gather round once more

   

    For all those who are keenly following the progress of Flora Shedden's Dunkeld bakery, here's the latest update: her building work has hit a snag and the renovation required is more extensive than originally thought, so she's raising the extra money through a crowdfunding campaign. Should you be minded to lend your support you'll find the details here, and assuming all goes to plan, the bakery is now expected to open in early July.