Friday, May 21, 2010

Hermes scarves a luxe treat...and bittersweet.

I have been drawn to Hermes scarves like a moth to a flame...
I think it hearkens back to when my aunt was alive.
She donned only the finest in clothing, jewels and scarves.

I need to give you a bit of background here.

She was born into a wealthy family who were privileged and established...Old Money.
After her formal education she was sent to a finishing school abroad.
 She later returned and married my uncle, an officer in the Canadian navy.
 (I was the flower girl) 
High mass in an Anglican church and a catered garden reception...at their home.
I vividly remember that I very nearly fell into the pond trying to pat the ducks!
 (I was all of 5 years old)
My uncle retired from the forces and went back to college getting a teaching degree so he could spend more time at home with his growing family.
She kept most of her her money in the bank and lived humbly on his salary.

It interests me that my uncle managed to save money every year in order to give her expensive jewelry  at Christmas.
 She only bought the very best of clothes and scarves were worn tucked into the neck of her fur jackets.
She was very quiet, polite and proper.
Never over did things, showed restraint and class.
Unfortunately she developed lung cancer and died much too young.
When she passed away my uncle called me up and suggested I come over and look through her collection of scarves and choose one or two.
I felt too emotional to even consider the possiblity and I do regret that I was not brave enough to do this.
 I suppose my love of scarves runs very deep.








Hermes and the signature orange colour.


My first Hermes...


It happened in SanFrancisco!


I'll never forget...
my aunt.


Thursday, May 20, 2010

I've been very naughty....

Sometimes....once in a blue moon, I want to eat something really naughty.
No, it's not chocolate, fries or chips....

Take some Rice Krispies....


some marshmallows...


some butter...


follow the directions...
and chill.

My mother never made these...
but as a teenager I did...
it's like a nostalgic trip back in time.
I'm taking them to school for treat day.
It's "May Munch" for the staff in the Library today!



Wednesday, May 19, 2010

White shirt basic and as versatile a garment that ever was...and then a polyvore collapse...

I have several white shirts...love all of them...so basic, so versatile, and can wear them as a shirt or a casual layer over top of a tank or camisole.
I like to layer pearls and beads at the neck, roll up the collar and cuffs.


This shirt is from Talbots, crisp cotton with even top stitching and buttons which are placed well and do not gape.
I can wear white shirts with just about anything...


Dressy black wool trousers from Precis Petite


Wool lined skirt from Joe...
I have worn this layered over a black tank,
and with the shirt under a black cashmere V neck sweater
and simply classic as the white shirt tucked in and worn with a skinny black belt and black boots.


DKNY jeans, old, faded soft as silk...
this image looks funny! 
the pants look like they are hiked up too high...LOL
(I am short waisted!)
They actually sit lower on the hips.
I cannot part with these...they are so old and worn, 
pants of memories, 
feel good pants, 
possibly related to the pants of the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants!
I hope they are not too scary!


Here's another funny image...bow legs?
Giddy up!
OMG this is too silly!
I have these skinny jeans which are a great basic, slimming and they are BFF when worn with ballet flats.


Gap wide leg cuffed striped pants...
Hermes taking liberty as a belt...

I have so much respect and appreciation for those of you who can put together the Polyvore on the floor, 
the vignettes on the divan,
I am in dire need of polyvore tutorials!
I have tried but alas failed miserably...
look only if you need a chuckle


Silk lined skirt, good start.


meets vintage bakelite clamper bracelet...


sparkly top...and then it goes sideways...
how to fit it all in....
lose weight, buy smaller sizes?
 pretend...make the top look skinny, 
layer over the skirt, 
add bracelet as a belt...
burst out laughing...
give up and put the kettle on!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Tick Tock....

I have been pretty quiet on the baby front...
I am getting much more excited!
Lovely DIL looks radiant. 
She is naturally a little weary.

The baby's room is complete and all is in order.
Now it's a question of when the babe will decide to arrive!
I'll be blogging that news for sure!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Monday...a bit of everything really.

Here is the vintage birdcage from my BFF that I recently painted...
on the front porch with an ivy inside.

Atop my country cupboard in the unfinished laundry room.

Here it is again downstairs in my unfinished room.


I had to take Stickley the Bungalow Cat to the vet for her claw clipping and some dematting. Her arthritic joints are making it hard for her to groom herself. She hates the cat kennel carrier and lets me know by meowing at the top of her kitty cat lungs during the 10 minute car ride. When we enter the vets she must smell the other cats and dogs and she stops immediately. She is happy that the trauma is behind her and found a sunny patch on the carpet to curled up and went to sleep!
I met lovely daughter for some grocery shopping and then a sushi lunch. We thrifted for a bit and I got a large wicker basket to put my backyard veggies in when I harvest them. I  also found a vintage black leather clutch and a book on backyard makeovers all for under $10.

We stopped in at a second hand cum antique shop and I found a large black vintage tin tray for $10....to add to the black theme I have been chasing!



Domestics are nearly done, I am taking a tea break and blogging.
I have to get chopping as I am making a vegetable rich dish with beef shanks which will be simmered for several hours...it is bascially onions, celery, carrots sauteed until soft then brown the beef shanks in oil and add stock and simmer for 2 hours...its easy peasy and tastes great!
While the meal simmers I plan to read a bit...have been so busy gardening that I forget to sit and read...besides my muscles are a wee bit sore...so a good excuse...wouldn't you agree?