On checking my fitness app this morning I discovered that I'd walked almost 9 miles since Saturday. I've not been anywhere noteworthy or done any running, that's just me constantly walking to the lockers and the local parcel shops and back, its been a bumper weekend for Vinted sales! Anyway, with the weather being so grim, it's been a day of pottering and, with it being a Monday, houseplant watering day.
It was too wet to contemplate outdoor photos earlier (it's now late afternoon and rather lovely) but I rather like the effect of flash on these pictures. Long-time readers will, I'm pretty sure, recognise this embroidered Indian cotton maxi dress which was a gift from a German blogging friend back in 2010, it used to belong to her hippy mother in the 1960s.
Lacking in windowsills, we have houseplants anywhere with a bit of light. I try and rotate them every few months so they all get some sunshine although some are getting far too big to move, like the Umbrella plant (or should I call it a tree?) I'm watering in the music room. It was 12" when I bought it during lockdown, now we have to get the ladders out and lop the top off. Fortunately it roots really well and we've managed to grow four substantial plants from the trimmings.
The Mother-in-Law's Tongue (I think it's known as a Snake Plant elsewhere in the world) started off as one plant and has now become six. Those ceramic head pots were from Poundland last year (although they weren't £1).
What a difference a day makes! Yesterday (Easter Sunday) it was gloriously sunny and warm and we spent most of the day outside - Jon doing some tasks in the garden and me photographing Vinted stock.
I'm very much drawn to blue at the moment, possibly as there's so much of it blooming the the garden, swatches of bluebells, clouds of forget-me-nots and an annoying amount of green alkanet (which is actually blue). I wore this 1970s Mayur block printed midi dress (bought from a neighbour in 2018) with my chazza-shopped pewter trainers.
These Indian dresses can very gauzy and sheer but I hate having to wear an nylon underskirt underneath them as it takes away the joy from wearing cotton. What's the alternative when it's too warm for the usual thermal leggings? My used, abused and worn to death, Levi 501s!
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Our amazing charity-shopped tagine's proving to be very useful. We took advantage of the supermarket Easter price war and bought some 8p vegetables from Lidl, using some in yesterday's vegetarian tagine. Jon did a variation of Jack's Not-a-Tagine recipe HERE - highly recommended!
More blue! On Saturday I wore the Monsoon dress Nikki gave me, with an All About Audrey shirred cotton blouse she'd alerted me to on Vinted and my vintage Anokhi waistcoat worn inside out - that's the beauty of artisan made vintage clothes, the interior is often just as gorgeous as the exterior!
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It was so cold on Saturday that I wore thermals, a jacket, a scarf and gloves to walk to the lockers! Talk about four seasons in a day!
I spent some of my Vinted earnings on some new Bohemian Bloom reversible cotton bedding, isn't it fabulous?
Here's the inspiration for my blog title...Squid rock!
Thanks for reading, see you soon.
The maxi dress in the red photo looks great on you.
ReplyDeleteI think this is the first time I've seen you in jeans today.
The vegetarian "not a tagine" looks delicious.
Thanks, Andrea! I've had it for so many years but always feel like a princess it in when I wear it! The perfect choice on a miserable Monday morning!
DeleteI never really feel like me in jeans but quite like them under a dress.
That tagine really was tasty. xxx
ReplyDeleteMeant the maxi dress from the first photo :)
Got it! x
DeleteWhat a fabulous horticultural household collection; they all look so healthy and strong.
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time I had a similar botanical explosion in my house, but too many moves, and maybe a lot of garden and then the dogs whittled it down to nothing. Looking at your gorgeous collection I am thinking I may have to reverse that sad state of affairs :-}
Hello Jayne! I can't imagine dogs and house moves being great bed fellows with houseplants. I'm very attached to mine, I find wandering around with my watering can and the Baby Bio really therapeutic and along with the cat, really look forward to seeing them again when I go away on holiday (sad but true!) They became like dear friends during lockdown! xxx
DeleteLove the plants. I have no luck with them. The new bedding is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marjorie! I think the main problem with houseplants is taking too much care of them, I let mine dry out between waterings and never water the succulents or cacti! xxx
DeleteI didn't expect the Levi's reveal under your lovely dress Vix - You did make me smile xx
ReplyDeleteHello Flis! They aren't the most elegant of undergarments but they do the job! xxx
DeleteOh Vix, what a lovely post. Your clothes and home are absolutely breathtaking. I have thought about you several times during the past week. Firstly, I found a gorgeous dress in the British Heart Foundation for £3. My local BHF is currently running a huge sale which I very much hope isnt preparatory to closing down. We have recently lost several excellent charity shops in my home town. Secondly, I had one of my regular appointments at our local hospital for a chronic but relatively minor health condition. My nurse loves the Greek islands and has previously opened that she can't stand places with laminated menus, crowds and English breakfasts. She tells me that Kefalonia of all places stressed her to within an inch of her life. Anyway, during the most recent visit, she told me that she was following my lead and going to Corfu this summer. Delightedly, I asked where she was staying. Her reply? "Sidari! Have you been there?" My reply: "We have driven through it, and the Canal d'Amour is pretty."
ReplyDeleteAnyway, big hug.
Heloise xxxx
Hello, Heloise! Its not long till Corfu now, is it? I'm so excited for you. I hope we get there this Summer!
DeleteThat's great news about the dress you found in the BHF. Several of our local charity shops have closed recently, I really miss them. I always try and buy something even if it's only a 50p book.
When you mentioned your nurse and her dislike of laminated menus, crowds and English breakfasts I was nodding away thinking, a woman who thinks the same way as me. Sidari! Oh no! I think your comment was very diplomatic. I read a comment on a travel forum which went "the best bit of Sidari is seeing it in the rear view mirror of my hire car!"
Take care! xxx
My typing! "Opined that" not "opened that."
ReplyDeleteI got it! xxx
DeleteOoh, your new bedclothes are fabulous! I love how bright and cheery they are. I am wistful when I see so many houseplants, but I am just a plant killer and there's no getting around it. Wonderful outfits as always, Vix!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sheila! I've not bought any new bedding in years, I was quite excited about going to bed when I made the bed on Sunday morning!! xx
DeleteThat bedding is beautiful. I’m struggling to keep up with the weather. Every time I head out I’m either too hot or too cold. I missed a trick today, I should have put my houseplants out in the rain xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Louise! The weather's utterly mad, every day bears no resemblance to the day before. I was freezing in the garden today! xxx
DeleteYou have some absolutely brilliant houseplants! I also struggle for Windowsills- the only ones we have are in the kitchen, front room (which has a porch in front of so not very light) and the bathrooms!
ReplyDeleteIt's so frustrating not to have space for more plants! xxx
DeleteI really wanted to buy 15p Broccoli in Hexham on Friday and I really wish I had done, even if it had to go in the car home with us for some hours! That tagine looks very tasty!
ReplyDeleteI made some lovely veggie pasta tonight for us and it was SO nice to have lots of vegetables in one meal- the thing I most miss when on holiday and eating out all the time!
What a shame you missed out on the bargain veg, Kezzie! I was so pleased to get soe, I still haven't used the parsnips but I reckon they'd be delicious in a another tagine. xxx
DeleteYour home looks so beautiful and charming. I love the aesthetic. You your plants are doing so well. I am struggling with my swiss cheese plant. I just put it on a moss pole but not sure how well it is doing.
ReplyDeleteAllie of
www.alllienyc.com
Thank so much, Allie! Maye try moving your Swiss cheese plant elsewhere, often its just because they're unhappy with the amount of light rather than how you're looking after them. Mine's away from direct sunlight away from any heat. xxx
DeleteGorgeous as always Vix. Your home looks fabulous, and the plants super healthy.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julie! xxx
DeleteI am not to be trusted with any house plant as I have black thumbs. I even killed an aloe vera which are supposed to be indestructible! In the end I rehomed an orchid a client gave me. Astonishingly it had survived a year of my neglect, but I didn't fancy its longterm chance. We've done Jack's tagine in the slow cooker. Loved it. Picked up one of her books in the chazza for 50p just before the first lockdown and it's become a staple in our house. Love her use of ingredients and never lacks flavour. Arilx
ReplyDeleteI have no luck with aloe vera either! Those Umbrella Trees are so easy as are spider plants and cheese plants, they thrive on neglect, honest!
DeleteI thought I'd done well getting Jack's book for £1 the other week. We're very impressed with the Greek style pasta with feta and yoghurt, its absolutely amazing! xxx
I love houseplants! It's so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBjxxx,
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Thank you! x
DeleteFabulous houseplants indeed! Wow! It's a jungle (✿◡‿◡) Adoring the dress and jeans too! So many fabulous maxies. What a lovely post to linger over. Thanks so much. ššøššøš Thanks for being here! Thanks for being YOU! & thank you for reading and your comments, as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Ellie! xxx
DeleteHello
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that your plants are beautiful and very well cared for! I'm also impressed with your house, it's a reflection of your unique style! Have a good week, hugs
Thanks, Marisa! That's very sweet of you! xxx
DeleteFor some reason, I'm and absolute dunce when it comes to houseplants, which isn't helped by the fact that - like her predecessor Phoebe - Bess is intent on destroying any houseplant that hasn't been killed off by me. Your collection of houseplants - and planters - is a feast for the eye.
ReplyDeleteI too love the effect of the flash on those first pictures (and the last) and isn't that dress just stunning?
I'd never have guessed you were wearing old Levi 501s under that gauzy dress! Very clever, that is.
Swooning over your new bedding! xxx
I've never had any trouble with cats and houseplants, another friend has mentioned her cat Emmeline attacking her plants, I wonder if it's a girl thing and the boys are too lazy!
DeleteI always used to wear jeans under dresses and kind of forgot, I was scrolling through the Naked Generation website the other day looking for the dress I bought on Vinted and noticed lots of their buyers layered their dresses over jeans. xxx
That's a very 'come hither' look in the first and last photos. ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou have an amazing collection of plants, and the Monday watering day is obviously working very well to keep them healthy. I don't have space for too many plants so every now and then I sell one of my Mother in-Laws tongues on Facebook Marketplace. It's been a good little earner that one plant bought a few years ago, three sold, and I now have two large ones that need splitting again. Jeans under a dress, now that is a good idea, I might turn into a dress wearer yet!!
Thanks, Sue! That's a good idea, selling your Mother-in-law's Tongues on Marketplace, they're so expensive in B&Q, I think they've become very trendy after years of being in the doldrums.
DeleteJeans over dresses was my go-to casual look for years, I'd forgotten how much I like the weird combo! xxx
It's lovely seeing all of your beautiful houseplants. They look fantastic, and wonderfully healthy. Several of mine 'checked out' in recent years - I'm not very green fingered, but I'm learnng as I go along.
ReplyDeleteMy new pilea is growing well, since I liberated a tiny cutting from a plant at the apartment I stayed at in Hebden Bridge last year :) And my spider plant has started to look happier now I'm remembering to water it.
In other 'blue' news, I've just discovered that my forget me not plant, grown from.some seeds I was given when my dad died, and was killed off by the hard frosts, has actually managed to self seed into the lawn, so I've transplanted some of the tiny shoots into a small pot. Xx
Thanks so much, Jules! I'm glad your spider plant is thriving, we've just potted up some spiderlings, the meaner I treat ours the bigger and better they get. That piklea is a nice memory from lovely Hebden Bridge. They root really well, too"!
DeleteI'm so pleased that the forget-me-not has revived especially with the special connection with your Dad. I filled my window boxes with them a few years ago and they looked lovely. xxx
I like the music, I imagine if we could hear plants (apparently we can if we have the right techology), a very angry cactus would claim that track! Good idea wearing jeans under dresses, I wear leggings under mine! Betty
ReplyDeleteHi Betty! I agree, it does sound like an angry cacti singing that song! I usually do wear thermal leggings under my dresses, they're okay first thing in the morning on my walk down to the baths but I'm a sweaty mess on the walk home! xx
DeleteThat black, dramatic look is amazing! <3 The first two pictures are stunning. And your home is amazing too - I'm serious, not dramatizing at all. :-D The bed looks like a dream - hope it's comfortable too. I need a modern comfortable bed, otherwise my back will hurt. I also love that jeans look and the turquoise nails and rings.
ReplyDelete