Things of beauty...

Hello! Funny old week, now very much looking forward to a weekend of friends and fun. The sun has stayed - yippeee! I have one of my oldest University friends coming to stay with her brood so that should be lovely. Best of all, the white picket fence has been put up and is being painted today! It has the sweetest rose trellis arch...picture perfect! These things make me happy.

I have had so many lovely comments this week, thank you, honestly, it's been a pleasure and comfort to read.

One day I would love to have a sea view...what better way to pass the time when washing up, than gazing out...

via are so happy

I saw SATC 2 on Wednesday...this image is from the Japanese leg of their promotional tour. Loving Kim Catrall's new hair.

The most delicate Jessica Cooper painting, I can always rely on her work to make me feel happy and calm.

Vintage Vogue...my thoughts this week have been dwelling on our summer holiday to Portugal, where I intend to spend a good portion of it in this position...

Emily Blunt, looking absolutely stunning...

A Dior Bagatelle Rose ring...

I just adore this image...peachy loveliness...

I don't like to sail but it's a big past-time around here...it does look rather relaxing...

We have a part share in a beach hut on West Wittering beach, so I took the Boos for half term beach fun. There were 5 Mums and 13 children there playing 'Swallows and Amazons' in the dunes, swimming and building sandcastles. It was such a gorgeous day, I am so so pleased we got the beach hut, they are like hen's teeth to get hold of...

via www.sarahbrown.co.uk

I took Boo with me to have twin pedicures, as a belated birthday treat. She absolutely loved it! She choose Miami shell pink and I had Las Vegas red polish!

How dreamy are these hanging lanterns? Would be perfect for a summer party...

via it's mary ruffle

Peach petal beauty...

I borrowed this gorgeous image from Daniella at Dress, Design & Decor. It's Marion Cotillard. I think she is wonderful in 'A Good Year'...great film with Russell Crowe

1963

I like the 60s. I know, its odd, I wasn't there, but I have a fascination with it as an era. In 1963 my parents got married, and ask anyone who was alive then the question: 'where were you when Kennedy was shot?' and most will recall in minute detail.

One of my favourite ever books is 'Couples' by John Updike, which is set in 1963. I have read this book over and over; this book I love. The subject matter however is dark, its about adultery in suburban New England. Its such an intimate view of a listless marriage, its almost painful to read at times but the way he writes, the accuracy of human emotion, is well...its amazing.

This image appeared in Vogue in 1963...and the Vogue cover below it...what is with that headscarf? And that is some 'do' underneath...

Under Parasols at the Beach photographed by Louise Dahl-Wolfe- Vogue 1963

I have a first edition of the book...I saw it in an antique book shop, just there alone on a shelf - I could not believe my luck!



Here is John Updike, who died in 2009. He was a genius...


Christine Keeler in 1963 when the Profumo scandal broke...an iconic image with the Arne Jacobsen chair...

Lewis Morley Portrait of Christine Keeler 1963

John F Kennedy in another iconic White House picture...he was assassinated in November 1963.

JFK painting by Aaron Shikler

Jackie Kennedy looking radiant...

'Mad Men' is set in 1963...the styling on that programme is a dream. The dresses! These shots appeared in Vanity Fair and capture completely the sentiment of John Updike's 'Couples' novel..

Things of beauty...

Midweek. Not doing very well on my 'to do' list in readiness for Easter holidays...spending far too much time looking at pretties like these...

Dining al fresco...when, oh when will we be able to?


Love this ballet shot - waiting for audition...

Vintage Vogue - from 1963. What a wonderful neckline she has...1963 interests me as a year, not least as it was the year that my parents were married and the year that Kennedy died.

The weeping willow in our garden. One of the reasons we bought the house (although their roots are meant to be baaaad news for underground pipes). One year we had to have it 'pollarded' which means to take off all the branches. Boo was so distraught at how it looked, she cried...then went out and wrote 'I love you' on the bark. She is a gentle soul...


Tables laid for friends...

This is for Simone whose whimsy and creative cleverness is behind The Bottom of the Ironing Basket...another incarnation of the Eiffel Tower...she is into Paris at the moment... :-)

Kate Moss...up close...

More door handles...I like the contrast of rust against the blue...

Provencale soap...the best kind...Verbena is my favourite scent.