Silly Saturday

“Bonjour,

Passe moi l’aspirine”

Passion for Pineapples

Have you noticed that lately, pineapples are appearing in all sorts of places, on clothes, as jewellery, on china ……….

I’ve had a ‘thing’ for pineapples for a while, and have a couple of them cheering up the doors of my dated kitchen cupboards, (along with a clown drawn by Miss E when she was 6).

They were painted by Raoul Speek, a Caribbean artist living in Solva, Pembrokeshire. Decorative pineapples have popped up in all sorts of places since they were first brought to the British Isles.

Origin of the Word
The word pineapple in English was first recorded in 1398, when it was originally used to describe the reproductive organs of conifer trees (now termed pine cones). When European explorers discovered this tropical fruit they called them pineapples (term first recorded in that sense in 1664) because of their resemblance to what is now known as the pine cone. The term pine cone was first recorded in 1694, and was used to replace the original meaning of pineapple

They are often found in and around old houses as a symbol of prosperity – like on these railings outside a house in St.Davids.

Raoul Speek’s pineapples inspired a cushion I made back in 2013

And more recently I ordered some smaller wooden shapes from Hazel Woodcraft for the grandchildren to decorate as presents.

A trip to the Caribbean fuelled my Pineapple Passion,

they were everywhere

on chairs

as wall lights

pool-side lanterns

balsa wood sculptures

on carpets

and can you spot them in this room?

yes, the tray.

I loved the atmosphere in that house – it’s name is Serendipity and you can stay there……

…….. and then……oh! …. oh my goodness! … my heart skipped a beat,  I saw a pattern for Pineapple Bunting on Etsy …….

and hey presto another mini-obsession takes hold ………

 

So many colour combos to explore!!! Juicy!

to be continued….

 

Painted leaves

The beautifully painted leaves on The Green Dragonfly today prompted me to find the photos of the leaf doodling I did on Nevis.

I never did discover the name of the plant this leaf came from, it grew near the sea.

Each morning I would create little arrangements on the table on the veranda

I can’t stop arranging things – even the loose tiles in the swimming pool could not escape

…….. a coral collection

……..shells

some of which I doodled on wondering if they would combine with a seahorse to make little hanging decorations

What do you think?

 

 

Bird

plain grey pelican

diving into the shallows

small fry for breakfast

A joy whilst on Nevis was to watch the pelicans diving near the shore on my early  morning shell hunts

Joining in with Ronovan’s weekly Haiku Challenge, prompts PLAIN and FAST

and

combining it with our One-a-Week Photo prompt for this week of BIRD.

Cathy and I compiled the list for the year, just for fun. Join in as and when you like using new or archive blog posts. We love to see your take on the subjects – always a fascinating variety. Leave a link in the comments to be included in the Round-up.

Arch

My entry for our One-a-Week Photo Challenge

Golden Rock, Nevis, Caribbean

We were told that this was the best place to eat on Nevis – what a place.

Gorgeous gardens

fabulous cocktails

Lunch:

sumptuous burger with obligatory Rum Punch for my friend L

and a Conch Chowder for me, (with pink and orange napkins) Yumsk!

Then masses of arty stuff, which was right up my street

side tables made of plastic rubbish set in a solid foam  – now … could I do this with some of my beach finds I wonder???? Hmmmm … must find out more.

I want that green chair!

I want to make that lampshadeHad to go for a sit down – I was getting over excited!

An Antillean Bullfinch came to see if we had any crumbs to spare.

So romantic …….

Lunch

spying from my seat

beach activities below

wonderful delight

~

Our Photo Challenge Week 15 : LUNCH

Ronovan’s Haiku prompts (10th April): WONDER and SPY

~

Two weeks in the Caribbean! Lucky me!

I’m playing catch-up. Thank you so much Cathy for keeping the Photos purring along.

I can’t just leave out the two weeks of our One-a-Week Photo Challenge I missed – not after nearly three years of weekly postings, so I will be catching up with a couple of posts today.

A few more scenes from that balcony – not a bad place to sit and have lunch 😉

Looking towards St Kitts

Pelicans bobbing on the water in the early morning light

diving for fish

the boys going snorkelling

fishing

evening

storm brewing

Click on any photo to see it larger.

I was staying at The Hamilton Beach Villas which were beautiful, but not quite what they promise on their website. No Spa. When we questioned this we were told that they “had got a bit over enthusiastic on their website” !

There seemed to be a lot of that going on in the Caribbean. Often when travelling I have found people tell you what they think you want to hear – anyone else had that experience?

In a Vase on Monday: Pulmonaria

 

Just back from a wonderfully exotic and quite crazy 2 weeks on the island of Nevis, in the Caribbean. I was on a Ben Waters ‘Rock n Roll holiday’ , he was playing at the Nevis Blues Festival – more to come on all of that!

Driving home from Gatwick airport on Thursday I was struck by how beautiful England is – cherry trees and others full of blossom… and bluebells – so early! I’m trying not to be concerned about that and enjoy their beauty.

Before I even went through my front door, I checked round my garden to see how everyone had been doing in the two weeks I had been away. Aquilegia already flowering and so many Spring bulbs needing dead-heading. The Pulmonaria was past its best and flopped over from the middle, so I grabbed handfuls and cut it back. There were still some pink blossoms to enjoy so I plonked them all in a couple of white jugs.

I nestled them amongst some exotic blooms that greeted me inside the house

I’m delighted with this one on a cactus and am entering it in Cee’s Flower of the Day

The red Amaryllis weren’t planted until January, but they don’t seem to have minded their late planting. The one still in bud is one from last year, flowering again – the first time I have had one flower a second year – I’m thrilled.

A couple of Vases from my holiday:

This one greeted us as we arrived at our luxury home up on the mountain

and I put these few blooms from the garden in a wine glass on the last day, with IAVOM in mind

leaving it as a little thank you to the house.

It is taking a while to get back in the swing of things and I know you have had glorious weather in England whilst I have been away as my garden needs watering.

As much as it is fabulous to experience foreign climes, other cultures and meet some wonderful people – it is so good to be home, especially at this time of year.

Pop across to Cathy to see all the April wonders of ‘In a Vase on Monday’.