Weird Extras

As you wander around London you see some cool and bizarre sights. Here are a few of mine from this past weekend.

Check out this cool 'air stream-esque' building five floors up in Southwark........hope it has air conditioning!

Hmmmmm.......

Being forewarned is forearmed... stencilled on side of wall in Southwark

The Bona Fide Weekend!

There are huge time constraints to the time I get to spend with Andy; his fungi season is now in full swing and his job at Kenwood demands a nine hour day.  Weekends together are a rarity, so with this past Saturday being his day off I seized it without mercy and tortured him with one of my favorite things to do which is to take a long walk along the South Bank, beside the River Thames. This place is alive at weekends. There is an assortment of street entertainment and small galleries to soak in and if you stay the distance, you can take a short detour near the end and visit Borough Market.

Borough Market is not for the bargain food shopper but offers a rich assortment of the finest cheeses, freshest fish, wines, oils, mushrooms and exotic meats such as Ostrich and Boar. Andy and I actually had a Wild Boar Sausage Sandwich AND it was delicious.

Here are some of our photos from our day out.........

Bubbles on South Bank

Skate Boarding



The Shard, the latest London sky scraper (well, tall building)  under construction

Fish Stall

Pastries

Lavendar

Turkish Delight

Wild Mushrooms

20 minute line for Bolivian Coffee at Monmouth coffee bar....not sure what that is about!!!!!

Farewell Old Friends

Have been sorting through some computer files and found this pic I took back in May when Andy and I had visited Michelle in Martha's Vineyard. The day before we left we decided to go in to Boston, and at Jorges recommendation, visit the Harvard Natural History Museum.

As we wandered around the small. yet impressive exhibits, my senses were interrupted with a rank smell. I edged away from the invisible offender and was horrified to realize the smell was following me....not only was it following me it was attached to me...... in the form of my feet and more specificaly my boots.

I have had these boots for over 15 years and to all intent and purposes thought I'd be buried in them. They have seen me through baseball games, cheerleading, Georgian mountains hikes, British holidays, countless dog walks, Floridian winters, Floridian summers, rain, snow, airports, shopping expeditions. They have been dressed up, dressed down, never cleaned but always fit like glove and what should have been the prime of their existance they were taken down and due to logistical obstacles had to be left to the cruel elements.

I miss them, they are irreplacable and I would be remiss in not acknowledging our shared journey.



From My Petal-spective

Flirting Stamen - Wellgarth Road

Seductive Rose - Kenwood

Perfection in Passion

Moody Marguerite - Fairlight

Good Morning Mrs. Kensington!

As a child, my sisters and I would take turns to visits my Grandmother in London with my mother. She lived in a lovely area called Kensington which is known for Kensington Palace, offical home to Princess Diana and is set in the most lovely gardens, with a large pond and even larger swans!

I remember at the time, it felt like we were walking for miles and miles to get to my Grandmother's home. Many times we would make a quick stop to pick up a small 'posy' of violets and I remember that intoxicating scent as if it was yesterday. In fact, this was the inspiration for my Violet Truffles which have been enjoyed by my closest friends.

So as Charlotte was here this past weekend, she was very keen to head to Kensington and explore the shops.

We passed the flower stand, still in the same location outside St. Marys Abott Church but no violets here now! And as Charlotte and I meandered along Kensington High Street & Church Street I indulged myself in day dream and thought of Michelle being with me in this same area next May. She would be in her element.....

Firstly, we would stop at a small cafe and have a delicious latte....

We would then explore the myriad of antique shops and speciality stores like this fabulous chandelier shop and lovely establishment bathed in chintz close by. Recently found out that Chintz, the most English fabric you can imagine, was originally created in India in the 1600s!!

Not sure we would have much money left for an expensive dinner so we could settle for relaxing drinks at this nice British pub, Churchills, which funnily enough, cooks some of the best Thai around. What do you say Michelle, are you game?

Respite

Heading back to London, Andy, Charotte and I decided to veer off the beaten path and follow signs to Marle Place, for afternoon tea. Marle Place is a small country estate just outside Tunbridge Wells. In the summer months they open their garden to the public to help pay for the upkeep.

We found this lovely 16th century home nestled in rosy apple orchards and decided to explore the gardens - what a treat! What appears to amiss here are photos of the flower gardens  but I got distracted with the front foor, the pool and the lime avenue. Fortunately we were also distracted from the 'afternoon tea' aspect of the afteroon which basically consisted of make your own, drop the money in the jar and risk some dried fruit cake. Andy and Charlotte nicked a couple of apples ro compensate.

Here is the big house.....

Followed by the little house....

I just loved this small secluded pool.....very different from Florida....

The lime avenue



And these apples were soooo sweet...........

My Mum, Peggy Stone May 25, 1930 - August 18, 2011

My wonderful Mum gently passed away while my sister Lorraine held her in her arms and as sad as it was to let her go, it was her time. There was no suffering, no pain, she had lived her life, raised her children, enjoyed her grandchildren and said her goodbyes. She was without a doubt, the kindest person I have ever met. She only saw the good in everyone and always put others before herself.

I remember when we were children, our parents used to take us for long walks on the Sussex Downs and wrapped up for inclement British weather, my Mum would invaribaly end up carrying everyones coats, jumpers, the blanket for a picnic and goodness knows what else.  Yet she never complained, never expressed discomfort, just glowed in the fact that everyone was having a good time - this is just one small example of her complete selflessness.

My personal memories are plentiful but one of my favourites was back in the eighties and a beautiful summers evening in our garden. We looked up in the sky and saw a hot air ballooon quite some distance away and we decided to chase it in the car. We drove for miles, paying no attention to direction or time, just following and it was beautiful and my Mum laughed in delight at the simple indulgence. She just loved hot air balloons!

And so now my Mum is taking her own hot air balloon ride to a place where I cannot follow and all I can do is look to the sky and wish her a beautiful journey and say farewell until our spirits reunite and dance in the wind.

Balance and Breathe

All is good with the world and I can breathe again. Sophie arrived safely yesterday after her long and I am sure, arduous journey. Andy and I were tortured by a long wait at Heathrow but were thrilled to see her looking none the worse for wear.

I don't think she can believe the spacious grounds she has to run in and has had two long walks around Hampstead Heath. She also came to Kenwood today to see her second home......now, this makes me very happy.

It's My Birthday & I'll Eat if I Want To.....

August 11th, my Birthday is being overshadowed by the fact that Charlotte dropped Sophie off at the airport this morning to make her long trip to London. As I write she is being loaded in to her first plane from Fort Myers to Newark. Here she will have a three hour layover at a dog hotel and then get the evening flight to London. I feel helpless, there is absolutely nothing that I can do, NOTHING,  other than EAT!!!!!

So far I have managed to consume about ten chocolates, half a bag of chips, a sandwich, bacon and beans and Andy is taking me out to dinner. We are also seeing a play at The Young Vic called the Beauty Queen of Leenane.........better sneak in some goodies to munch on!!!

Had two lovely surprises of flowers today tho'....roses from Andy and a spectacular bouquet from Julie.....and they smell heavenly!

Mashin' of the Passion

Some of my favourite memories stem back to the early Charlotte and Tom years, where we lived in Brooklyn. Anxious to have children that were engaged in the network of New York society and in particular the arts, I enrolled Charlotte in the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music where she would learn the music basics and make some friends of her own age. This is where I would meet my best friend Michelle.

Michelle had Lauren, a daughter the same age as Charlotte and very soon the four of us were inseperable and spent many mornings walking around Prospect Part or ambling through the Antique shops for priceless goodies. Michelle and I had a very similar approach to life and our surroundings. Although it was paramount that we lived in an organized home with the utmost functionality, it was equally important that this functionality was presented with the greatest beauty. We marvelled at our collections of antique mirrors, glasses, dishes and other random spectacular finds.  We loved to admire the local gardens, window shop and share a cappacino BUT most of all we loved to explore our mutual passion for food. We would spend hours discussing recipes, making lunches, baking desserts and planning a dinner party - we were 'foodies'. 

In fact, we were laughing recently, when Michelle re-introduced me to her old friend Linda. Linda that I hadn't seen for 18 years yet I remembered her for the appetizier she bought to a party - Crab and Cream Cheese Dip!!!!

So, I was thinking about 'foodie' and what it really represents and to some it may initially spur the idea of over indulgence, gluttony but in fact it is something so, so different. It really comes down to an exploration of art, the creative way to present food, but most of all love.  What better way of telling someone you love them through the baking of a pie, a cake or a special dinner. And tonight I will be telling Andy how much I love him with a fruit tart.

Hey Big Spender!!!

Very industrious trip to Florida where I managed to arrive in time to spend Tom's birthday with him, secure my American Citizenship and seek out the legal ramifications of a short sale with my attorney. Of course, the unexpected(s) reared their ugly head like Charlotte's car dying a sudden engine death but luckily managed to get her back on the road in one of Darrin and Tim's fleet of Mustangs.  So in 10 days, I managed to spend a mere $20,000.00 - that does inlcude the house settlement tho'.

My consolation was my early family Birthday party....thank you Janet and going home with half of Charlotte's wardrobe after a closet clean up. Now I just have to work out where to put all these clothes!!!!!

Pedestal

In the last couple of weeks Andy has made a couple of comments criticizing me for an action or interaction....one was a phone conversation I had with T-Mobile on how to use the phone overseas and to be honest, I can't even remember what the other one was. His criticisms left me with a slight sense of relief as the last thing I want is for him to put me on a pedestal......when I relayed this to him he responded that indeed I was on a pedestal BUT it was only two inches off the ground....Good One Andy!