Tuesday got off to a damp and icy start but the news about the first Covid vaccine being administered helped brighten my morning. After my Wii Fit workout I threw together the ingredients for a dahl into the slow cooker* and left it to do its thing. After tea and toast, I wrapped my eBay parcels and Jon dropped them round to the post office before doing a grocery run, with fruit at the top of the list.
*Find my recipe HERE
I caught up with blog comments before putting on a coat & raking up the last of the leaves, depositing them in the garden waste bin which isn't due for collection until April 2021. Who knows what the world will be like then!
We ate half the dhal for lunch accompanied by a quarter of a garlic roti each then, mindful of the forecast for heavy rain later, went on a walk around the block.
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| Tuesday: Farah jacket & Rockport boots (both charity shopped), Levi 510 skinnies (eBay), wool hat (made by me) |
Jon bought this jacket a couple of years ago but, as we'd had such a mild winter last year, he hadn't worn it for ages & it was a bit of a surprise when he rediscovered it in the cupboard. I gave my vintage Anokhi jacket a whirl and despite it being a feeble 3°C outside it kept me deliciously warm. I didn't realise my chazza-shopped gloves were quite such a violent shade of pink!
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| Tuesday: Vintage Anokhi jacket & Hindu Kush Afghan dress (both eBay), Aldo fedora, Faith gloves (both charity shop finds), Biba boots (inherited from Mum), Silk kantha scarf (bought in Jodphur) |
Back at home Jon tidied the music room and, after attending to some grown-up administrative stuff, I took myself upstairs cutting out some fabric ready for a dressmaking session the following day. Frank decided to go out just before the rain started and hid underneath Gilbert until Jon took pity on him and dashed outside with an umbrella to escort him back inside.
Tea was salad, fritata and a cheeky bottle of IPA, well it is my birthday week. We watched The Antique Road Trip from earlier in the day and another couple of episodes of The Same Sky until Jon got the urge to create and headed to the music room. I went to bed with Exile, the book I'd started on Sunday, sequel to the thrilling Nomad, which I read (and loved) in India last year.
On Wednesday, after my Wii Fit session, we had fruit and yogurt for breakfast then cracked on with our individual pursuits, Jon making a start on the Swedish project (all will be revealed soon) and me with my planned sewing.
With this collection you probably don't think I need another waistcoat in my life but I'd a yearning for a dark green one so I was brave and cut into the Anokhi fabric I'd bought from eBay back in the spring.
I used a vintage McCall's pattern from 1971. With just eight pieces it's a straightforward make but as it involves a lot of hand stitching it's the perfect slow sew, there's no rushing these days.
After a break for noodles we again went our separate ways, me finishing my waistcoat and Jon calling it a day when the natural light disappeared. What he has done so far is utterly amazing, I can't wait to share!
I love your waistcoats, they are all amazing. I used to love a maxi skirt and waistcoat look back in the 90s but somehow lost them all during the Professional Years (ugh) - you've inspired me to look for some replacements since I know my sewing skills wouldnt be up to the task. Look forward to hearing more about the mysterious project.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Julie! You and I sound very alike, losing a bit of our identity during the dreaded professional years. You'll have to make it your mission to stock up on waistcoats and maxi skirts over the coming months. I replied to Kezzie's later comment about how even the women's waistcoats tend to be hung on the men's rails in our charity shops, so don't forget to have a look if you're out hunting.
Deletexxx
Evening Vix, firstly you made me giggle Jon doing some "grown up" administration stuff( I underneath begrudge all the "grown up" admin I have to do) but of course it has to be done Once I start it's ok. I love the pic of you with that amazing holly. The fedora and your mum's boots complete that stylish outfit! You are just so clever knocking out a waistcoat so quickly to go with your amazing collection. I don't think I have seen you in pink before but of course that colour looks good on you too! I am intrigued about this secret project hmm... it will be like the kitchen worth the wait I am sure. I know you don't do Christmas but will you be putting any Vix like decs up? enjoy your rums as you should do. All the best people celebrate for a weeklol hugs Shazxx
ReplyDeleteHello Shaz! I can't bear all that grown-up admin. It was part of my professional life for years but I'm lucky that Jon has taken the baton and deals with it instead of me.
DeleteIsn't that holly bush incredible? We've got a few bushes in our garden but nothing as impressive as that one. i bet they'll have a few gaps in it when people start making Xmas wreathes!
You inspired me to make my cheeseplant a bit more festive! xxx
The gold details on your Anokhi jacket are so beautiful. It is such a pretty jacket and I'm happy you wore it, I was hoping you will wear it soon because I was curious about it as soon as I saw a photo of it and the gold details really come to life under natural light. It is also great that you were comfortable and warm in this jacket. This whole outfit is wonderful, from the Afghan dress to fedora and the lovely silk scarf. I also like Biba boots you inherited from your mum, they look great- isn't it amazing how well made things used to be.
ReplyDeleteI love your waistcoat collection---and you always wear your waistcoats so well.
I do love my Anokhi jacket, I wish I could photograph the fish a bit better, this winter light is so tricky for photos! I really like that it's quite fitted, a bit more elegant than a big heavy coat. xxxx
DeleteP.S. Thank you for the link and the feature. I actually did another version of that illustration, this time with watercolour pencils and I'm more happy with this version.
ReplyDeleteYou've excelled yourself, Ivana! xxx
DeleteThere is nothing like a stew/sou/stewp simmering on the stovetop all day! It'll warm your cockles, ha ha.
ReplyDeleteYour gloves are...dare I say? PANK!
Look at all your wonderful waistcoats! I have a solid collection too. I'm amazed at how colours can shift at this time of year - nothing looks right in my photos!
Aw, I love the picture of the two lads snoozing with the warmth of the radiator.
Enjoy your rum & Cokes, Vix!
It's so tempting to keep lifting the lid of that slow cooker and give it a stir, the smell makes me hungry all day!
DeleteYou're right, those gloves are PANK! I did think of your dress when I looked back at the photos. xxx
That is a very impressive waistcoat collection. I hope you are having a nice Birthday week, even though the usual celebration at 'Spoons is out of the question this year. The cats look so cozy - Sylvester has become much more snuggly now that it's cold, and if I sit down on the couch he lays across my lap.
ReplyDeleteI'm very curious about the "Swedish Project"!
Thanks, Shelley! We missed the traditional boozy all-dayer on the first Monday after my birthday this year. My liver will thank me for it!
DeleteI love how snuggly cats get when it gets colder, ours have been pressed up against us in bed for the last few weeks. Jon uses it as an excuse to lie in bed longer "I didn't want to disturb the cat!" xxx
What a huge array of clothes you have - I do love that olive green waistcoat the best but your latest make is lovely, with the distinctive Anokhi print it will be a classic. Lovely to see you are enjoying your birthday week :) its freezing here and gloomily grey but the news of the vaccine is so uplifting.
ReplyDeleteI'll never be a minimalist, will I! I didn't realise I had quite so many waistcoats until I photographed them, it's as bad as the clog obsession!
DeleteWe've had some miserable and bleak days recently. It's lovely to see some sunshine this morning and to see the vaccine being administered, light at the end of the tunnel! xxx
The Doctor have a jacket that looks like Jon's. He calls his "The horse blanket". He also got his thrifted years ago. Good job on the vest.
ReplyDeleteThe Horse Blanket is a great name for it! Jon's is apparently a reproduction of a US Pilot jacket from the 1940s. xxx
DeleteLove the waistcoat collection, but I am in the large busted category so I imagine I would look like a carry on secretary! I will keep to my 25 amine t-shirt collection and counting. It was chunky boots but some were too heavy and I had to sell them.
ReplyDeleteMum sent our presents and the house now smells of lush which Paul hates. We have a few dotted around near us. But Paul refuses to go in as the last time he went in, he nearly passed out at the prices!! Lol .
I am home annoying Paul . Acting like a Queen. Sent home a Ton more drugs that I should have never been taken off from the last time. I will message you later. It’s getting dark here and Paul is making me coco curry which is katsu to you. Take care and keep safe love to you both.
Hello Allie, no harm in looking like a Carry On secretary, sounds like a good look to me! I don't own a single tee shirt.
DeleteJon loved Lush stuff but can't bear going in the shop, the smell overwhelms him. He did buy me some treats from there for my birthday though, I think buying it online is much easier, you can read the descriptions of the scents and take your time.
Hope you're feeling much better now you're home! I think I'd starve to death in japan, I had katsu curry once but wasn't keen, Indian food has spoilt me. Take care! xxx
You can never have too many waistcoats, in my opinion, they can pull an outfit together. Well done for creating a beautiful number 13. It's quite chilly here and a bit dreich. These dark mornings . . . I just stay abed reading till it's light. The cats have the right idea - snuggle and snooze!
ReplyDeleteHello Ctamac! You're right, waistcoats do add a certain something extra to an outfit and are brilliant for disguising a badly fitting dress or shirt!
DeleteIt's been awful here recently, yesterday it rained all day and was so dark we never turned the lights off. Only seven days until the days start getting longer, we're nearly there now. xxx
Hello Vix
ReplyDeleteI'm signing in from my ancient iPad. I've kicked started it so that we can watch a friend's wedding live from Arley Hall on Saturday. Hope I can get it to work.
I must say it was a lot nicer reading your blog on here than on my phone. It's lovely to see your pics in a proper size. You look ever so distinguished in your beautiful out for a walk outfit. The new jacket fits like a dream.
Well done on the waistcoat and your collection. The lady in the card shop asked me about my Fly London boots yesterday. She said you always seem to have a different colour on when you come in. Well I have got quite a collection of them. That could be another blog post ... "What have you got a collection of" heehee.
I often wonder what your outfit is for doing your wifit session. I've got a bottle green velour lounge suit that I do my daily Pilates. Perhaps we should have a outfit of the day post on our exercise wear.
Take care you two lovelies xxxx
Hello, Lynn! How lovely to be watching a friend's wedding. Saturday was the nicest day we'd had for ages, too - I hope they had a wonderful day!
DeleteI'd love to see a blog post detailing your amazing Fly London collection. You've got that gorgeous new carpet as a fabulous backdrop for indoor photos now as well.
After reading your comment about sportswear I thought I'd better up my game and invested £3 on a vest and Nike leggings from the charity shop on Friday. Liking the sound of your velour tracksuit, my Mum loved them! xxx
The boys have found a great cozy spot to spend the winter. 3 degC us cold for us.
ReplyDeleteThat is cold, stay cosy! xxx
DeleteThat's a really good sketch of you, she's very talented. I love the cat bunkbeds :-)
ReplyDeleteShe's a clever girl, isn't she? xxx
Deletethe tiny waistcoat looks fabulous in the anokhi fabrik!
ReplyDeleteand you have such a gorgeous collection of waistcoats...... thanks for the dhal - just today i needed an inspiration because the fresh veggies came to an end.
lovely shot of the cats sleeping in front of the radiator! so sweet!
ivana captured the dress perfectly in her sketch - its very hard to draw a pattern on a dark ground, but she mastered it.
xxxxx
Thank you! I've been scared about using that fabric which is silly as there's absolutely loads of it!
DeleteI do love a spicy dahl and some roti on a winter's day and when it's cooking I can think of nothing else.
Ivan'a's sketch is wonderful, isn't it? She's really captured that fabric. xxx
Love your new waistcoat, you've never professed to be a minimalist so please don't feel guilty for adding to your collection. We've had the dark days of winter here too - with the odd sunshine. We even managed a short walk with Buddy yesterday. Cheers to continuing to celebrate birthday week and enjoying the rum to go with it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tammy! The more I have of something, I more I seem to need - waistcoats, clogs, massive pieces of tribal jewellery!
DeleteI'm glad to hear that Buddy got his walk, everything seems like a rush at the moment, trying to pack everything in before sun set. xxx
You are both so creative. Great waistcoat and I can't wait to see Jon's projectx
ReplyDeleteNeither of us are capable of sitting still! xxx
DeleteOf course you need another waistcoat! Especially a green one..it's lovely btw and you're right it looks a different colour in each photo.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to see what the Swedish project looks like and those cats of yours are like mini humans! Umbrella escort indeed...
I can't wait for the slightly longer days to come either; I always seem to be in the dark!
We've been enjoying 'The Same Sky'too and loving the clothes in particular; it's a big nostalgia trip for us.
Take care
xxx
It's so weird how fabrics coloured with natural dye seem to take on a different colour in every light but, talking of light, only seven more dark days until they start getting longer again and we can start to look towards Spring.
DeleteThe costumes in The Same Sky are wonderful, aren't they? Jon's been swooning over the cars, too! xxx
Aha, the new jacket is a figure-skimming jewel! And the new waistcoat is a worthy pattern for the precious hand-blocked fabric (no matter what color). Useful garments, waistcoats, particularly when one doesn't care to crank up the central heating...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the imagined image of Jon escorting Frank to warmth under an umbrella. My brother keeps a giant golf umbrella on hand for a tiny Bichon Frise who is an occasional house guest. When it rains, the poor mite can't potty in the yard unless someone offers it shelter. It's either hold the brolly over Gizmo -- or clean the rugs!
It's a refreshing change to wear something that keeps me warm without adding bulk! I was going to wear that jacket as a base layer but it's warm enough to wear alone, a worthy investment!
DeleteI'm glad your brother is as daft about his Bichon Frise as Jon is with the cats! xxx
The Covid vaccine is indeed a bright spark in these dark days, although we will have to patiently await our turn here. Jos will be in one of the priority group due to his age, but I won't. In the meantime, we are just bumbling along really. First they re-open the schools and then the non-essential shops, and a week after the latter, they are complaining that there is too much unnecessary traffic. Big eye roll! Anyway, let's get back to your post.
ReplyDeleteThe dahl looks absolutely delicious, and I'm loving both Jon's half-forgotten jacket and your vintage Anokhi jacket worn for your walk around the block. I wore shocking pink gloves too today! What a fabulous collection of waistcoats (your new one fashioned from that previous fabric is a delight) but of course you couldn't have 13!
I read the part about Jon escorting Frank back inside with an umbrella aloud to Jos, and we both chuckled and nodded knowingly. The things we do for cats! xxx
The Covid vaccine really is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, I'm sure it will take a while but at least there may be an end in sight.
DeleteI've seen footage on the TV of hoards of Xmas shoppers acting like life is back to normal but Walsall was very quiet when we popped to the charity shop on Friday and the roads were dead on Saturday.
Those gloves are ridiculously bright but put a smile on my face on such a gloomy day!
Jon is such a slave to those cats, they've been known to wake him up in the night as they don't want to go downstairs alone and the worst thing is that he gives in! xxx
Thank you for including my artwork again Vix. Have a great evening.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, it's too good not to share! xxx
DeleteI keep meaning to get a slow cooker, I remember my mum having one when I was young. I love a good dahl.
ReplyDeleteYour waistcoat project sounds very therapeutic. Its beautifully tailored. I love waistcoats too, I have several but I'm not in double figures yet!
Glad to hear you're having an extended birthday week. xxx
I'd thought about investing in a slow cooker for ages and was really excited to find mine at a car boot. They're brilliant for dishes with lentils and split yellow peas, none of that boiling, simmering and skimming!
DeleteI didn't realise I had quite so many waistcoats! xxx
The Anohki fabric is so wonderful! The waistcoat is so nice- can't wait to see it in action! Your collection is IMPRESSIVE! I think I have 5 waistcoats but one was left at CBC's friend's house on New Year's eve last year- I really miss it- it is such a winter layer staple!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see Jon's project. Your picture by Ivana is wonderful!xx
Thanks, Kezzie! I was thrilled to score that fabric, there's loads of it.
DeleteWhat a shame you've mislaid one of your waistcoats. I'm always rummaging through the mens rails in charity shops, the volunteers seem to assume it's only men who wear them even if they've got female sizes inside! xxx
Waistcoats are so practical, it seems impossible to have too many. Your new make looks beautiful, and very professional.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I was scared of cutting into that precious fabric! x
DeleteIsn't that great news about the vaccine. Look like we're on way out of this pandemic, once shots start covering most of population we can return to normal.
ReplyDeleteI real like your collection of vests. I like green one, and don't believe I seen one quite like that.
The kitty look quite comfy.
Stay Safe and Coffee is on
It's brilliant news, I'm so happy that there might be an end in sight!
DeleteAccording to the pattern instructions that little waistcoat can also be made in suede or leather, a great use for a tatty old jacket. xxx
That waistcoat is wonderful, Vix! I would like it in any light. ~Andrea xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks, Andrea! xxx
DeleteThe dhal looks delicious. I know what will be on my menu this week. X
ReplyDeletePerfect winter comfort food! xxx
DeleteLove your Tuesday outfit: it looks so chic.
ReplyDeleteI have worn my Laura Ashley pinafore and just love it. Just my sort of thing.
N xx
I'm so thrilled you snaffled that pinafore, the quality of the wool was a delight! xxx
DeleteI love Ivana's drawings! and you make a great muse. Wow, you whipped up that waistcoat pretty quickly, it takes me ages to follow sewing patterns, nevermind hand sew. Your cats certainly have the right double decker lounging setup for this weather. Thank you for sharing your Dhal recipe, it looks delicious. Lulu x
ReplyDeleteIsn't Ivana talented?
DeleteIf I'm in the mood for a sewing session it doesn't take me long at all. That waistcoat is a really simple make though, it's all the slip stitching and basting that takes the time. xxx
Hi Vix, some great looking meals on your blog, warm and filling for cold days. One day have a trip to Key Hill cemetery, it is beautiful, especially in Spring when drifts of bluebells grow over the graves, you wouldn’t think you were in the inner city. This morning I’ve been to visit a friend who works in Small Heath and I stood outside the Garrison Tavern, oh it is looking shabby, I just thought if I stood there long enough I might get a staring part in the next series! Love the waistcoat you have just made, I’m not much of a sewer but do like making things to give to friends, right now I’ve got orange slices drying out in the oven and some pine cones that I collected which I’ve mixed up with some essential oils that I got cheap up the Rag Market. Have a good weekend.Brummie Sue Xx.
ReplyDeleteHello Sue! With these short dark days food seems to take on a lot more importance. I'm already thinking of my tea by 8am!
DeleteWhat a shame The Garrison is looking so shabby, you'd think with the popularity of Peaky Blinder there would be a keen interest in preserving it for posterity.
I'm liking the sound of your Xmas crafting. I thought about drying out some orange slices for my door wreath but I like eating them too much! xxx
Lovely and inspiring recipe, I do love some easy and tasty comfort food!.
ReplyDeleteLove Jon's jacket (and his new hat with orange pompom really rocks!) and love your quilted jacket, you look cosy&stylish!.
And I'm in love with your waistcoats collection, a girl can't have too many of them as I'm concerned!. The Anokhi fabric is a beauty and you made a fab job, your new waistcoat looks gorgeous!. I'm missing my crafty activities a lot!
Glad there is a vaccine, it makes me feel hopeful (but still worried as it's going to take some time to have everybody vaccinated, and people behave as if everything's right Just Now.)
besos
You can't beat a big bowl of spicy dahl on a Winter's day!
DeleteWaistcoats add that little something extra to an outfit, don't they? (And a welcome layer of warmth,too!)
The news of the vaccine is really encouraging but you're right, people need to remember that the dreaded Covid is still out there, we're not safe yet! xxx