Marie Antoinette Style - a beautiful book

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqaHsy7hMWo

Above is a video from Youtube by someone who went to the exhibition.  Lucky them!

(These are my photos from my copy of the book - they are not great quality thanks to the grey and dull weather, but give some idea of some of the images)

I was very lucky to receive a beautiful coffee-table book which is the catalogue of the V & A exhibition about Marie Antoinette Style which is on at the moment, but sold out, unless you are a member of the V & A.  While I would love to be, it just isn't practical as a trip to London is not a cheap day out and to see the museum in all its glory would take a week, not a day!

However, there are many videos about the exhibition (such as the one at the top of this post) which give a good taste of what it is and the book is a beautifully produced accompaniment and looks to be an interesting read in its own right.  

There are lots of gorgeous photos of jewels, furniture, clothes, shoes of the time as well as discussions about her influences, from the films about her to fashion, interiors and many things in between.   

There are also videos about the book on instagram and facebook (neither of which I am part of) but I am sure they will give a good idea of the book.  I am really looking forward to sitting and reading the book (in stages, as it is quite a tome).

There are lots of blog posts about the exhibition too, so here is just one.  I am sorry that I am not able to see the exhibition in person, but with all the articles, videos and reviews, and a copy of the book,  it's the next best thing.

Welcome, February!

I am pleased that it's February.  While I don't want to wish the time away, January always seems to be at least twice the length of any other month.  I was having a wander in the garden yesterday and these old stems from a herbaceous clematis caught my eye.

There's something very sculptural about them.

Then further down the garden, there were some snowdrops looking fresh, elegant and gorgeous.  

They are definitely one of my favourite flowers.

Hopefully I will get out to see some in the big drifts where they look so wonderful.  Yes, welcome to February!

When one door closes...

When we moved in, over thirty years ago, we had all new windows and doors, as you do.  They have done pretty well, but we knew the back door was on the way out, although we kept putting off doing anything about it.  It decided to lock shut one day and that was that.  We had to have a new door.  We got a man in to fit the door and that went well, although he said our previous door had been fitted too far in, so he would rectify that, which he did.  

Chris said he would finish off around the door, so he got the various bits and pieces needed and set to (after having a few issues because the framing pieces had been curved to fit in the car and then wouldn't straighten out!).  However, Chris persevered and has finished the framing, which looks great.  (The photos aren't the best, thanks to the miserable grey rainy day and lack of light!).

We also got another cat flap fitted, which looked good, but we have since discovered doesn't have a very strong magnetic fastening, so when there is any sort of breeze, it flaps open, letting draughts in!  Another one with a better magnetic catch may be in order...

The door is lovely - and Chris did a great job with the framing!

Winter flowers

Although it is still quite early for a lot of plants to be flowering, there are plants to enjoy. Above is Hellebore Winter Ballet Lulu, recovered after having a snowy hat.

Here is a Hellebore Credale double with just one flower so far, but a beautiful looking pink picotee edge to the petals.

Hellebore Hello Ruby just starting to flower.

Hellebore Ice and Roses Red looking very glamorous.

Cyclamen coum with its silvery leaves and pink buds.

Snowdrops, which really do need dividing this year.  They used to have lots of flowers but these have dwindled so I really need to dig them up, divide and replant them, giving them more room.  Of course, the heat in Summer is not really to their liking, so that won't have helped. 

Three more flowers.

Finally, Hellebore Ericsmithii Winter Sunshine, again flowering but perhaps not quite so happily as in previous years.  It may not have liked the heat either, but may need to be in a bigger pot now.  Lots for me to do when the weather is slightly less wet!

Wintry weather (for the UK)

Like many parts of the UK, we have had some snow.  I know this isn't the depth or duration of snow that other countries get, but here it is becoming more unusual to get any and if we do, everything grinds to a halt, as somehow we are never prepared for it! Above is my new hellebore, bravely flowering away despite the weather.

I took these photos last Monday, at lunchtime, so the snow was beginning to melt (and had gone completely by Wednesday).

Scotland has had much more than we have here. I like looking at the snow, but don't enjoy having to travel anywhere in it. Here is our patio table and some pots of bulbs.

You can just make out a cyclamen coum in bud to the left of the pot and you can see the noses of snowdrops starting to push up - always such a positive sign.

I leave the old foliage of grasses and perennials over winter for any insects.  I will cut the grasses down in February. 

I think the hydrangea flowers look lovely with their snowy hats!  I think we are due some more wintry weather over the coming days as Storm Goretti sweeps in.  I think we will be having heavy rain in this area but this may become snow - we shall see.  In the South of the UK, they are bracing themselves for 80-90 mph winds. I hope people will be sensible and keep safe. 

Happy New Year 2026

(Photos of the London Fireworks last night/this morning from the TV)

Happy New Year and I would like to send you good wishes for 2026. Yet again, the year seems to have gone quickly, so it is time to look forward with plans for 2026 and revisit aims from last year.

(Photos are from my Care December (Green Edition) journal) 

Read interesting books - this has continued and I have read 78 books this year.  Some I have enjoyed were: the Shardlake series by C.L Sansom, A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes, The Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing, Over My Dead Body by Maz Evans, The Mitford Girls by Mary S Lovell and The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer.

Be Creative using what I have - this aim will definitely carry on in 2026 and I have completed my online art journal course, continued my slow drawing online classes and have continued to explore watercolours.  I have also made cards all year, which I enjoy very much.  I have a few sewing projects to do and various book-making projects on the go too, so there won't be any shortage of creativity in 2026.  I have several online classes which I also need to focus on.

Get rid of or donate things I no longer want or need - this has stalled somewhat this year, although I have still been taking the occasional things to the charity shops. I need to get this going again and and really make an impact.  I am going to decide what I wish to keep going forward and what I don't, which is what I did with my books.

Take more notice of nature - I certainly did this while I worked in the garden. Birdsong is such a joy, as is to be able to sit with a cup of tea and enjoy the peace and quiet.  Living in a city, this is not always easy, but early mornings seem to be a good time. We had such a warm Spring and hot Summer, so I perhaps wasn't out there all that much during that time.  I need to purchase another water butt to help with irrigation.  Chris has been busy at the allotment, and we need to work on our plot and get the raised beds in. 

Visit gardens - I have not been anywhere again in 2025 so I would really like to visit some this year. York Gate and Hemingford Grey are still top of my list.    

So, these are my plans for 2026.  I wonder how I will get on?

I hope 2026 will be a more peaceful and a happy one.