Mostly I like my images to be much as they left the camera, but I've been playing with this one. I'm not sure if it's
quite what I want it to be, yet, but it's getting there. Could they perhaps be decaying dried blooms, trapped in a Victorian, domed glass cloche? What do you think?
Actually, they were still on the plant when I snapped this back in February: drying in situ is absolutely the easiest way to preserve your hydrangeas for winter use indoors* ... so long as, unlike me, you remember to gather them in! Harvest in October and you should see plenty of colour remaining in the petals. These had been forgotten and overwintered in a sheltered corner of the garden, hence their subtle, bleached hue.
Why am I showing you this? Because I have another
artist's book commission to complete and most satisfyingly my brief is merely a delightful title,
Taking Tea with Miss Havisham. I'd show you more but I'm never really sure of the etiquette of sharing these things when I haven't sought permission. I am hoping you can help me though: what dainty morsels do you suppose Miss Havisham might have fed her guests? Brandy snaps seem suitably fragile, but what else?
According to Charles Dicken's I shall also need candles, cobwebs, and speckle-legged spiders, but I think I shall forego the latter!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
A note for those who don't always want their images to appear on Pinterest. Did you know that even where you have a 'Pin It' button installed,
as I do here as I did here before it stopped working, you can
override that facility by adding a short piece of code to individual photographs. It won't stop the most dedicated picture thieves, but it might give some a moment's pause. I'm happy for 95% of my images to be shared, so it would be nice if the inclined-to-be-naughty folk could respect my desire not to have the other 5% devalued by duplication across Pinterest!
And while I'm sharing things, don't forget that today is the last day for blackberry picking if the old folklore is to be believed. Tomorrow is when Michaelmas - The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels -
would have fallen if the Gregorian calendar hadn't been introduced back in 1752, and it's reputedly the anniversary of the day when Satan was banished from heaven and plummeted, cursing, into a bramble patch**. Me, I don't believe a word of it and will be picking for as long as the fruit is good!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
* But not when it's as wet out there as it has been recently. In rainy years your best option is to
cut fresh and use silica gel.
** Or spitting, or worse, according to the locality of the storyteller. The Archangel St. Michael, of course, famously defeated Satan: "...there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost ..." (That's from
Revelations, but please don't ask me for chapter and verse. I only know this stuff because, poor unfortunate that I am, I once had to write a paper on Milton's
Paradise Lost!)
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beautiful beautiful bloom ...
ReplyDeleteI imagine Miss Haversham serving wrapped candies in a pretty pale rose colored candy dish - but pity the poor child unwrapping one - sticky and stuck to the wrapper I'm afraid
Golly, so many interesting bits and bobs in this post, I don't know where to begin!
ReplyDeleteI think Miss Havisham would have enjoyed a few skull-shaped Day of the Dead cookies. (Ghoulish, perhaps, but they somehow seem appropriate to decayed dreams.) Or failing those, something that would keep well. Rosemary shortbread? (Rosemary, that's for remembrance.) And of course a wedding cake...heavy with fruit and laden with marzipan whorls and swirls. And to continue the bridal theme, something flavoured with orange-flower water. Madeleines perhaps?
Your photo looks as though it could have been taken through a picturesquely grimy window - as Miss H's windows might have looked like under their decades of cobwebs.
Enjoy the rest of your week! :)
Hi Annie,
ReplyDeleteI love the vintage look of the hydrangea and yes, you could imagine it under a cloche in the parlour.
Taking tea with Miss Havisham sounds like fun and yes, must have the wedding cake.
Hope you are enjoying the week
Carolyn
I wonder how they worked that one out..I don't think anybody was around when satan fell...except God! I think Miss Haversham would at have at least a few cucumber sandwiches, definitely no crusts on white bread and possibly a neenish tart or two.
ReplyDeleteI was always told the devil had wee-ed on the blackberries by the end of October.
ReplyDeleteThere's a new film version of Great Expectations (not sure of its release date). Helena Bonham Carter will be Miss H and Ralph Fiennes Magwitch.
Ooh, I must watch for that, thanks Sue :D
DeleteI love all these stories about when to stop picking blackberries... I wonder how all these beliefs start up?!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what you've done with the hydrangea in your photo to age it though!
How about lace biscuits to have tea with Miss Haversham and egg and mustard and cress sandwiches?
I used a few digital filters Sandra and desaturated the image a bit, just trial and error really until I got a look I liked :D
DeleteI'm not sure I know what lace biscuits are?
Whatever Miss Havisham would eat for tea, I think you are very wise to avoid speckle-legged spiders. What an exciting commission, have fun.
ReplyDeletethanks for the pinterest tip, you are a mind of fab information
love jooles x
It's beautiful and absolutely Miss Haversham. To be honest I've only just finished watching A Great Expectation from last Christmas.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day
Nina x
I think she would have had dainty sandwiches of Gentleman's Relish and seedcake!
ReplyDeleteLove that photo and I do think it could go under a dome. I love to leave my hydrangeas until they are like fragile skeletons....lovely! Joan
PS thanks for the info about Pinterest.
Our blackberries are definitely waning, though there's still a few to come. Must be some reason for these folklores. Miss Havisham would surely have something with rice paper - tiny macaroons? Sounds great fun.
ReplyDeleteSeed cake with lemon curd. I must pop straight out to check my hydrangeas for dried heads. It had never occurred to me to dry them in situ, obvious though it is! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post Annie! And beautiful picture. I'd forgo the spiders and the cobwebs...I really think I must have arachnephobia! I scream at the smallest spider, and even shiver when I see them on the tv/computer/book.
ReplyDeleteBut candles and brandy snaps sound lovely :-D
Enjoy you week! xoxo
Love the picture - it's beautiful! As for Miss H - it has to be wedding cake, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteIf you want a spider, there is a GINORMOUS one under a glass in my sitting room - Little Miss was petrified of it earlier and wouldn't move until it was safely trapped from chasing her. Now to wait for D to come home and rescue/rehome it!
Hi Annie. Miss Havisham is one of my most favourite characters and I used to frequently tell my daughter to 'break their hearts' (in jest, I may add)! What a wonderful commission.
ReplyDeleteI also absolutely love your image on here today - It is so atmospheric and delicate. Really lovely. And yes, I pick the berries for as long as I am able too :)
That photo is perfect for Miss H! What a brilliant heading for a commission! Can't wait to see what else you snap.....
ReplyDeleteCarly
x
Dear Annie
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post. I think shortbread should be included as it can crumble away to crumbs, or melting moments, for the same reason. It does conjure up wonderful images of dust and cobwebs, faded silks, rotting tapestries...Perhaps I need to get out more!
Best wishes
Ellie
If you do then clearly so do I, I'm loving this commission ... but I found myself on ebay looking for bird skulls!
DeleteWhat a GoRgEoUs photograph Annie! Great Expectations is my favourite Dickens tale! I'm with Sarah, a wedding cake would be fabulous!
ReplyDeleteVictoria xx
Oh, Annie!! That photo! gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteI would love to serve a modern day Miss Haversham some olallieberries (must be modern day because I don't think they were hybridized or grafted until the 1930's and released to be grown in the '50s) but I LOVE the name!!!!
Wonderful photo -- so perfect for Miss Havisham. I'm with Ellie, shortbread would be nice.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely photo, Annie, and definitely very Miss H.
ReplyDeletePerhaps she might have served very, very dry meringues?
xo
Love the image. What an interesting commission. There would have to be a wedding cake - you couldn't have Miss. Havisham without one!
ReplyDeleteJune
Definitely very Miss Havisham ... and definitely very beautiful ... Bee xx
ReplyDeleteBrilliant..tea with Miss Havisham! What an amazing commission and even more amazing image. You are wicked talented.
ReplyDeleteYour commission sounds such fun and your hydrangea blooms are so in keeping with it too. I immediately thought of a wedding cake too and some sugared almonds and vintage tea cups.
ReplyDeletesarah x
I love you photo, there is something dark and twisted and spooky about it, very suitable for October 31st which is fast approaching, and perfect for Miss Havisham. In my humble opinion, her menu should include wedding cake, lavender shortbread and madelienes, for the Proustian memories. Great post, as always. x
ReplyDeleteI love your atmospheric photograph Annie, very beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAnd if you insist on picking blackberries, on your own head be it!! ;)
Vivienne x
I too am loving your photography Annie, such delicate yet rather hardy beauties are those hydrangea's. I was dead heading loads from my next door neighbour's court yard yesterday evening, I love that they have grown and expanded into my little courtyard space. I am a definite lover of dried out seed heads and will be scouting for these this weekend I hope.
ReplyDeleteAs for Miss Havisham, well it would simply have to be wedding cake, maybe with a few worms crawling out!!!
As for the blackberries, I'm afraid we have missed our opportunities this year, the birds have been very hungry in these southern parts :o)
xox Penelope
I am in love with your photo. Hydrangeas always used to be on our Christmas table when I was growing up and I love them although I have since been unsuccessful at growing them myself. Sweet memories though.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been able to pick blackberries here but soon it will be time for the mulberries and that is almost the same :)
I can't wait to see your new shop when it eventuates as I'm sure it will be as delightful as you!
xo Jen
That is such a stunningly beautiful image Annie. I love hydrangeas and used to have a few in the garden but they had to be dug up to make way for the chicken run. Maybe I'll treat myself and try some in a pot for next year. What a wonderful commission with plenty of scope for your fertile imagination there - I do hope you can share more in time.
ReplyDeleteOooh can't wait to hear/see more about the commission, Annie! Well done you.
ReplyDeleteTaking tea with Miss Haversham....well, dainty triangles of cucumber, or egg and cress sandwiches... tiny meringues - of course - a pastel coloured dish of powdery marshmallows....a Victorian seed cake (not my idea of a good time, but apt!) and of course, the wedding cake would have to be in evidence somewhere...several tiers of ROYAL ICED (in capitals because I detest that awful rolled stuff which might be easy to manipulate but tastes foul. In my opinion!) cake with fine, spidery trellis decorations all over it. Oh the lace! Oh the faded silks and linen! Go for it! Lx
The tale that I was always told was that you could pick blackberries up until the first frost, then the devil spits on them! We haven't had a frost yet ...
ReplyDeleteRegarding pictures, you can also disable the right click altogether on your blog, which makes it difficult (though not impossible for the really techie) to steal pics.
Pomona x
Annie, I left a reply on my blog, to your comment, but just to say, I've just caught up with the Gjermund Larsen Trio on youtube...breathtaking! Thanks for the recommendation! (But Triette are pretty darned good too...... ;-) !)
ReplyDeleteFor tea with Miss Haversham the thinnest of cucumber sandwiches (white bread, of course) and fragile, rosebud-patterned bone china - oh, and a Georgian silver teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl.
ReplyDeleteLovely hydrangea picture, Annie. We have lots of hydrangeas growing here and I love them in all their different stages, from fresh new colourful blooms to the faded and subtle dried versions as they die back.
ReplyDeleteHave a happy weekend :)
Helen x
I love what you've done with the photograph! I followed you over via a comment you left on my blog. I'm so glad you found be because your blog is gorgeous! I'm excited to read more and see some more of your photos!!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend!
xoxo
Selena
Hello! Thank you for stopping by my blog and saying hello! So nice of you. And I think you're right about my little guy - not so keen on the green smoothie. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely blog you have. The hydrangea photo is just stunning - so delicate and aged-looking.
I was suddenly seized with a twinge of vertigo upon the mention of writing a paper on Milton.
ReplyDeleteThe photo is intriguing, perhaps because I have had a life long affair with the Hydrangea. The flower alone recalls stories that go much farther back than I. I have always planted one wherever i have lived - if none was already growing. I like the affect on the photograph.
I haven't a clue about Miss Havisham's nibbles, never was a Dickens girl, but I like the sound of your project!
This is a gorgeous, gorgeous image. I love how you've enhanced it, and love the look of dried hydrangea. I used dried hydrangea for the centerpieces for our wedding, which was in october. I planted my first shrubs this summer and miraculously they seem to have survived the heat. Cant wait to see what other lovely images you share with us!
ReplyDeleteThis is a stunning photo! Tea? has to be something toasted in front of a fire- crumpets? And the tea was for a boy- so chocolate cake- great big slices!
ReplyDeleteI think you have a real evocative faded thing going on there in that photo, so you are definitely on the right lines. Am still trying to get to grips with Pinterest myself - not sure if I've managed to pin anything or not! xCathy
ReplyDeleteHi Annie,
ReplyDeleteYour hydrangea looks beautiful. Wish they looked as pretty in my garden, but unfortunately the rain and wind did not do them any good!
I opened a Pinterest account recently and have to admit I don't know much about it yet...
Wish you a lovely Sunday!
Madelief x
Such a wonderful title Annie which conjures up all kinds of images, doesn't it?...Love your photograph..it's beautiful. We have hydrangeas in out garden which have taken on a wonderfully faded and fragile appearance now that we are in autumn.
ReplyDeleteI'm always interested in your Pinterest info...still haven't joined but am happy for my pics to be used if they are linked back to me and from what I have seen most of them are (well at least I think so!)
Happy Sunday,
Susan x
I, like you, mostly prefer my camera photos straight from the camera with not a lot of effects. But I sure like what you did with that photo. Looks lovely and mysterious.
ReplyDeletexo
Claudia
I've been reading all these comments and there are some wonderfully imaginative and very specific ideas for Miss Haversham's tea table, aren't there. I should love to see the final image..when?
ReplyDeleteI've missed blackberries this year - haven't seen any in this area of Spain, though we have lots of quince just now. And that seems quite a nice link back to Miss H - some quince jelly. I adore the photo - it is absolutely wonderful. Hope the cold's a bit better now. Axxx
Just caught up with you Annie, my silly blog feed not working again and sadly neither is my pooter showing me any of your pics so apologies for not referring to them.
ReplyDeleteMillie (our youngest) referred to the shiny ballet shoes she liked the look of as those Satan shoes. She roared with laughter when I told her it was satin and then said they looked pretty evil really. Satan pops up everywhere does he not. Like you I had to write an essay on Paradise Lost. I argued on the misogyny of the Bible which was another means of repressing women. I was incredibly impressed when our professor who scared the bejesus out of me gave me a 1st for it. Only one I ever got mind you. Can't remember what it feels like to have a proper brain that could deal with facts like those again.
Hopefully you'll be able to show us your work once it's all done and dusted.
X
Oh, I do like whatever it is you did with that picture. I'd rather fancy taking tea with Miss Haversham though I'm not sure I could eat or drink anything that was produced in Satis House. I'd have to take a picnic.
ReplyDelete