A Vintage Cake Stand

My own pressed glass cake stand,
with a lovely Breton Apple Cake

Sometimes you can come across something perfect (and simple) just by chance or happinstance.  More often, these days, it's because you have it bookmarked on your computer.

I was looking at some vintage cake stands recently in Kingston, they were retailing at about £50.00.  They were lovely, but Oh sooo expensive, for what was really two second hand plates. and then....

I found the most fabulous link on the Guardian's website:-

How to Make a Vintage Cake Stand.

I'm certainly going to have a go, though it will probably have to wait until September, when I'm back in London!

Here are a few photos of cake stands I have come across recently.  How I would love one to show my baking off on!

A lovely, simple pedestal cake stand

This is the kind I'll be aiming for

A press glass cake stand

An hotel cake stand, for afternoon tea!

Do let me know if you decide to have a go!  I'd love to see the finished results.

A Simple Morning Walk

Gosh!  I see what you mean Penny!  I have been so busy cooking that this poor little blog has been rather deserted.  I think initially I'll try to post once a week, to get some momemtum going.

So here are a few photographs from my morning dog walk here in Brittany.  I find it heavenly.  Firstly, I'm not in a rush, back in London I have to very quickly take the dog out, before my husband leaves for work, or I have to take my little girl with me.  I don't like to as she leaves for school so early, I think she needs her breakfast unhurried.

Here, we are able to take a lovely, long, meandering walk over the dunes.  (No dogs on the beach in July and August!) Although it's been overcast, there is such a joy in the fresh, clean air.  It really does blow away those proverbial cobwebs.

We're up reasonably early, but the young people at the sailing club are ahead of us.  Preparing their boats, and generally having a great time.  Occasionally, we meet another dog.  My little girl was delighted that a neighbouring dog, who always barks very fiercely at our old boy, had arrived this morning.

I love looking at the wild flora, but also the lovely things I see in other gardens.

Which way shall we go?

First we walk past the children's playground

Through the pine path

With lots of fallen pine cones 

To the dunes, this is our view!

Preparing the safety boats
for a day of sailing and wind surfing

Looking down there is some Sea Holly

So beautiful

Lavender in a garden we pass

A very fierce dog (or so he thinks!)

Hortensia in my own garden,
the only bush that has survived the drought!

As I hope you can see the morning walk is not a chore here in Brittany.  It's a pure, simple delight!

The First Post

As I state in my description, I hope to use this blog as a complement to my food blog " A Trifle Rushed".

I was listening to Radio 4 this morning, and on Prayer for the Day, just before Farming Today, I heard Alison Murdoch, Director of the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom,   say "Simplicity is the New Black."  This  phrase, made me think, it says so much about the way we live  today, and our desire to re-introduce "simple" things back into our lives.

Throughout the country people are growing their own (I only manage herbs, but it's better then nothing!).  There is a new value put on homemade and hand crafted things.  It is more and more acceptable, indeed preferable to give friends gifts that you have toiled over, rather then rushed to the shops to buy.  Frugal living is embraced by many as a mantra to live by.

But there are other simple pleasures, walking in woods, mountains or on the beach.  Laughing with children and friends.  Reading books, visiting art galleries.  Listening, Looking, Thinking and Consideration are all important in living a simpler life.

I hope in this blog, to be able to (occasionally) post about non-food things.  I'm really enjoying writing about my pleasure in preparing (and of course, eating) food, but I believe there is joy in all sorts of 'simple" things around us.

My (rather straggly) herb garden in Brittany

Let sleeping dogs lie

Yellows

Whites

The beach

Sorry a couple of the photos are a bit out of focus, I just selected a few for a flavour of what I hope to do on this blog:-)
And of course (re new black) I want to be at the fore-front of Fashion (hee-hee)