Monday 25 June 2012

Weekending

































Sunday was fun.  Painter sister 'P' was visiting from Chester after going to see an exhibition in London. She stopped over to stay with us and catch others at Modern Art Oxford and the Ashmolean.  


Both exhibitions were impressive with big Jenny Saville paintings on a huge scale. Drawings too. I'm not the biggest fan of her paintings but I did love the sketches some informed by classical artists.  I was in awe of how she manages to work on such enormous canvases.


I couldn't take any photos...but we had tea in the Yard...a consolation.  We had to stop when we noticed tins of  Smoky Russian Caravan Tea on the shelves... You've just got to try tea with a name like that, haven't you?  Mind you, you've got me with anything with the word 'Russian' in it...I blame Dr. Zhivago!  P opted for Spiced Masala Chai both were delicious, as was the tray-bake with a kind of streusel topping...mmm...


I did bump into an artist who I am a fan of though in MAO. An old friend from uni.  He's a really nice guy and a great artist. I haven't seen him for two years so it was really good to catch up, especially as he gave me a little pep talk. Told me it was ok that I hadn't done any art work for a year. He said  it's good to stand back sometimes and think about what you're doing, creativity can't be forced. That made me feel so good.


After the exhibitions we went to one of our favourite shops Toast.  I can't say that I've actually ever bought anything there except some honeycomb candles.  But I do love the shop and the clothes and the home-ware. Although they are mostly outside my budget at the moment. I go into the shop every so often and pick up a catalogue, sneak a few photo's upstairs where all the textiles and ceramics are, then go home a happy bean.  On Sunday it was even better than usual as P wanted to try on a couple of shirts. I could admire the lovely grain sack covered sofa, wonder if I could do the same to mine and where I could source some cheaply all whilst sitting on it and reading the latest copy of Vogue,  all courtesy of Toast...


...I did love these three quarter length herringbone trousers though and they are reduced...yarn or trousers...decisions decisions...


The final stop was to introduce P to our new favourite eating place Turl Street Kitchen we were too late for lunch but imbibed cooling ginger beer and apple and rhubarb juice on a lovely sunny sunday before ambling happily back home for supper before seeing her back to the train station...a perfect day...  ...except for her going home... :o(   


linking over here today...

12 comments:

  1. What a wonder filled visit. Thank you for sharing the artist links. Such fascinating work. Your hometown is such a beautiful place.

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    1. Thanks Heather. We're really fortunate to be living in Oxford it a really lovely city with all the old colleges and a great museums and galleries and always lots going on.

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  2. Hello lovely Debby! It's so wonderful to be reading your words again ... I've missed your delightful posts and tempting treats (that'll teach me for being away for so long). ;)

    Your weekend looks and sounds wonderful. Smoky Russian Caravan Tea? Oh my, I would have so joined you on that one ... what did it taste like? I also think I would have sampled that lovely baked treat ... I'm a sucker for a streusel topping! :)

    I adore 'Toast' ... even from all the way over here in Australia I've spent many an hour browsing their beautiful goods ... all in a virtual sense of course. I've never purchased, but yes ... a girl can dream! ;)

    The goodbye part at the end of a wonderful day is definitely the worst part. Surely the only thing to do is to buy yourself both yarn AND trousers? ;)
    xx

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    1. Oh it's so good to have you back Tracey. So glad that everything is rosy. I hope you've managed to do some writing while you've been away.

      The tea was lovely...It's a mixture of Indian and Chinese teas and you can definitely taste the deep smokiness of Lapsang Souchong...very aromatic.

      Toast is lovely isn't it I even follow their travel blog. I dream too about all those lovely purchases.

      I still haven't decided which way to go...the dilema of decisions...

      Have an amazing day.
      Deb

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  3. I love when my sister visits me! Sounds like a wonderful visit filled with yummy food, shopping and fun!

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  4. oooh hard choices (yarn vs trousers). i'd probably pick yarn and then complain about having nothing to wear ;-)

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  5. Your post contains so much joy Debby. I love the name of the tea, how was it? I too love anything Russian. Oh and Toast? I have never heard of it before, but now am determined to visit one day. Well, did you pick yarn or trousers? Much love to you .

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    1. It was really good thanks Tracey the combination of Keemun, Assam, Darljeeling and Lapsang Souchong was blended really well so the smokiness of the Lapsang Souchong didn't over power...lovely...

      I think it's going to be yarn because I'm dying to start a new project...but still not sure....

      Have a fund day with your little visitor
      Deb

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  6. great visit!... I love those bowls... must HAVE THEM NOW!

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