Entwined

“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.”  

Louis de Bernieres, Captain Corelli's Mandolin

The Outfit

Dress: Charity shop

Skirt: from Granny Penny

Sandals: from Asos

Hat: Charity shop

The Soundtrack

Goldfrapp: Tales Of Us

I've not made a blog post for so long I'd almost forgotten how to do it! My babies are now walking talking toddlers, and most solitary free time is spent doing the laundry.

I did have a 20 minute break from childcare yesterday and the sun was shining so I took these photos as quickly as I could before I went back in to give the girls their bath.

To respect their privacy, I won't be showing my children's faces on this blog, but it feels ok to show you how big they've grown in these photos from our recent Easter egg hunt:

Fin De Siecle

 

 

 

 

 

 

“It has made me better loving you...it has made me wiser, and easier, and brighter. I used to want a great many things before, and to be angry that I did not have them. Theoretically, I was satisfied. I flattered myself that I had limited my wants. But I was subject to irritation; I used to have morbid sterile hateful fits of hunger, of desire. Now I really am satisfied, because I can’t think of anything better. It’s just as when one has been trying to spell out a book in the twilight, and suddenly the lamp comes in. I had been putting out my eyes over the book of life, and finding nothing to reward me for my pains; but now that I can read it properly I see that it’s a delightful story.”  

 

Extract from The Portrait Of A Lady by Henry James, via 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Outfit

 

Vintage Victorian Black Lace & Pink Satin Cape: passed down from granny Kiki

 

Vintage 1930s Purple Satin Skirt With Velvet Trim: made by granny Kiki for Kiki Couture

 

Black & Purple Beaded Top: a gift from a friend, originally from the high street

 

Black Wide Brimmed Summer Hat: from Next

 

Vintage Black Lace: from granny Kiki

 

Vintage Silver Earrings: from granny Penny

 

Vintage Ruby, Diamond & Gold Ring: my 'non-wedding' ring from Mr Eve

 

The Daffodils: planted by my own hands 5 years ago

  

 

 

The Soundtrack

 

Erik Satie: Gymnopedie



All photographs taken by me, self portraits using the self timer on my little digital camera.



I want to say a massive thank you to two wonderful blogging ladies:
Jill who in her gorgeous blog Tea With The Vintage Baroness featured me in Sunday's blog post as one of  her favourite 'Dreamy Bloggers' - see the post here;
and Veshoevius, who I haven't forgotten gave me a Versatile Blogger Award a while back via her inspiring blog The Taxonomy Of My Wardrobe - see the post here - I'm still working on that response for you sweetheart!

I'm delighted to be a part of Visible Monday, hosted by the lovely Patti from www.notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.co.uk, click on the website link to see her outfit and those of many others.

To The End Of Winter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring Quiet

 

 

Gone were but the Winter,
Come were but the Spring,
I would go to a covert
Where the birds sing.

Where in the whitethom
Singeth a thrush,
And a robin sings
In the holly-bush.

 

Full of fresh scents
Are the budding boughs
Arching high over
A cool green house:

Full of sweet scents,
And whispering air
Which sayeth softly:
"We spread no snare;

"Here dwell in safety,
Here dwell alone,
With a clear stream
And a mossy stone.

Here the sun shineth
Most shadily;
Here is heard an echo
Of the far sea,
Though far off it be."

by Christina Rossetti, via 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Outfit:

 

Vintage fur cape: made by granny Kiki for Kiki Couture in the 30s/40s

 

Red dress: bought in a charity shop, originally from Whistles

 

Red cloche hat: bought in the sale from Village Hats (www.hatsandcaps.co.uk)

 

Vintage patent mary jane shoes: granny Kiki's in the 30s

 

 

Vintage gold heart locket: An heirloom handed down through the generations.

As a child, I placed those photographs of the two of us in the locket after my dear mum gave it to me.

 

 

Beaded handbag: a gift from my aunt and uncle years ago.

 

 

The Soundtrack

Paul Weller: Wild Wood

 

All photographs taken by me, self portraits using the self timer on my cheap digital camera.

 

 

 

 I'm delighted to be a part of Visible Monday, hosted by the lovely Patti from www.notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.co.uk, click on the website link to see her outfit and those of many others.

 

Winter Tale: At The Snow Queen's Table

 

 

 

 

 

The snow-flakes grew larger and larger, till at last they looked just like great white fowls. Suddenly they flew on one side; the large sledge stopped, and the person who drove rose up. It was a lady; her cloak and cap were of snow. She was tall and of slender figure, and of a dazzling whiteness. It was the Snow Queen.

"We have travelled fast," said she; "but it is freezingly cold. Come under my bearskin." And she put him in the sledge beside her, wrapped the fur round him, and he felt as though he were sinking in a snow-wreath.

"Are you still cold?" asked she; and then she kissed his forehead. Ah! it was colder than ice; it penetrated to his very heart, which was already almost a frozen lump; it seemed to him as if he were about to die--but a moment more and it was quite congenial to him, and he did not remark the cold that was around him.

 

Extract from The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson

via 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Outfit:

White corset: bought in the 90s when I was about 16 from M&S

White long sleeved top: very old from La Redoute

Vintage white lace skirt: by my granny from Kiki Couture

Vintage white fur scarf: from granny Kiki

Vintage white kid leather elbow length gloves: from granny Kiki, passed down from her mother or grandmother

White flower fascinator hat: bought years ago from the high street

 

White woollen scarf tied as a belt: a gift from a friend

 

White mohair scarf wrapped around hair: from H&M years ago

Faux pearl necklace: a gift from a friend

 

Faux pearl bracelets: Accessorize

 

Ponytail hair piece, attached to my hair to make it very long: from H&M years ago

Wellies underneath: Hunter, via ebay

 

 

The Soundtrack

The Caretaker: Patience (After Sebald) 

Photographs taken by my mother and by me, using the self timer on my cheap digital camera.

I'm delighted to be a part of Visible Monday, hosted by the lovely Patti from www.notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.co.uk, click on the website link to see her outfit and those of many others.

Time Stood Still

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One must have a mind of winter

To regard the frost and the boughs

Of the pine-trees crusted with snow;

And have been cold a long time

To behold the junipers shagged with ice,

The spruces rough in the distant glitter

Of the January sun; and not to think

Of any misery in the sound of the wind,

In the sound of a few leaves,

Which is the sound of the land

Full of the same wind

That is blowing in the same bare place

For the listener, who listens in the snow,

And, nothing himself, beholds

Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is.

 

 

The Snow Man by Wallace Stevens

via 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Outfit:

Handmade vintage tapestry 30s coat: by my granny, Kiki Couture

Red 70s maxi dress: from ebay

Black polo neck: high street

Vintage fur hat: from granny Kiki

Vintage costume jewellery brooch: a gift from Mr Eve

Vintage mink muff: from granny Kiki

Painted wooden bead necklace: a gift from a friend

Red faux leather gloves: a gift from a different friend

Wellies underneath: Hunter, via ebay

 

 

 

The Soundtrack

Colleen: The Golden Morning Breaks 

 

 

 

Photographs taken by Mr Eve and by me, using the self timer on my cheap digital camera.

 

 

 

I'm delighted to be a part of Visible Monday, hosted by the lovely Patti from www.notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.co.uk, click on the website link to see her outfit and those of many others.