Hydrangea Hill Cottage: Emma Bridgewater

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Picnic Pleasures

Well, I learned something new again this week.........I learned that this is International Picnic Week. Yes! Who knew?

Apparently, it began about 10 years ago in Britain and is now a national holiday in some countries. So, this happens to be the week to begin summer picnicking, if you haven't already begun..........June 11 - June 19th and Saturday, June 18, is International Picnic Day.......and it is celebrated on the same day every year.

So, when did picnicking actually begin? It's believed to have begun after the French Revolution and according to http://www.wincalendar.com/International-Picnic-Day, it was most likely started when the Royal Gardens were opened to the public for the first time for the French to visit and bring along their own food. It was popularized during the Victorian era as a way for the very wealthy to dine and socialize informally without the restrictions of formality and etiquette.

What picnicking was like then......usually in a park or open space.

Picnicking today is a whole new production. The British even recommend places to picnic such as the moors, or the beach, or national parks. But, the best bet is to keep it simple and picnic wherever you are.......it could be your own backyard!

Veranda

Indulgy

How about a tailgate picnic?

Indulgy

Or a boat!

And don't forget that Father's Day is this weekend!

Another excuse to picnic!!

Cath Kidston Picnic Basket

(My favorite!)

Cath Kidston Picnic Blanket

Emma Bridgewaater Picnic Blanket

Laura Ashley Picnic Blanket

As usual with any subject, the picnic ideas were endless! Where to stop? There were food ideas, beverages, places to go, games to play and endless shopping for such beautiful picnic baskets, blankets and supplies. I ran out of time on this one! But, in Canada and the U.S., check out Wayfair, Victorian Trading Co., Amazon, etc. for picnic supplies.

I can assure you that putting this post together was a 'picnic'!

Happy picnicking and happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

AGA Ranges

After yesterday's post about the kitchen designed around an aubergine stove that the homeowner found at a clearance sale, I wondered if I would spend that amount of money on an appliance that I really wanted, but wasn't sure of the color (even at a discount, these stoves are still very pricey). Of course, it helps to have a friend/interior designer standing by to steer you in the right direction in co-ordinating the rest of the kitchen design, but could I live with a color that was not my first choice. I really am not sure I could. Could you?

I've added some colors below to show you what's available in AGAs.......

They are certainly beautiful and I like the idea of so many ovens, no knobs and heating the kitchen.

The following information is from an article in the Wall Street Journal:

"AGA

The cast-iron, British-made AGA is different from most ranges in that it isn't just for cooking, but for keeping the kitchen warm. The original AGA, which dates back to 1922, was designed to stay on all the time. Nowadays, an AGA user can program the stove to turn on at certain times. In the U.K., a smartphone app allows users to set their AGAs remotely and text them commands, such as "roasting oven on," says company spokesperson Laura James. The Five-Oven AGA Total Control has separate ovens for roasting, baking, simmering, slow-cooking and warming. It comes in 12 colors, such as "duck egg blue," "heather" and "aubergine" (shown here).

Price: $20,299 (Five-Oven AGA Total Control)" = $29,000 CAD