at home
Our version of 'at home' is very different to the posh At Home version of entertaining. I have always been intrigued by the fact that some people send out extremely expensive invitations on thick card with gilt edging to announce the fact that they will be 'at home'. I now know that 'At Home' entertaining is in fact far removed from a simple domestic gathering round a table with wine and fishfingers and chips and children running around (which is exactly what I used to imagine it was and therefore couldn't understand why the letterpress invitations were necessary).
We have been 'at home' for a while now, but there haven't been any upmarket parties in that time. Although one day Phoebe and I decided to dress some plain straw hats with fresh flowers and foliage to create millinery that made us look as if we were about to host some wild garden party (at home, of course).
Phoebe's was more extravagant and My Fair Lady-ish than mine. She believes there's simply no point in trying to keep these things restrained.
She's also been harvesting her fantastic mix of salad leaves recently (sadly none would stay on her hat) while I've been cooking tomatoes which look like snooker balls (photo by Phoebe),
and picking my roses like something out of an E M Delafield novel (in which the heroine always sends out At Home invitations).
So there we are. The Brockets 'At Home'.
Gosh, I never knew people actually formally let people know that they would be "at home". I'd rather people not know I was home :P
Posted by: Melissa A. | July 23, 2008 at 06:07 PM
Two elbows would be my guess! Glad to see you back to the blog from time to time. Hope you're enjoying your summer break!
Posted by: Becky | July 23, 2008 at 06:08 PM
It looks like you sure are having fun at home with none of that fancy curly lettered golden stuff. It's simpler just being and going with the moment.
Posted by: Linnea | July 23, 2008 at 06:28 PM
Good to see you "at home" and back blogging occasionally!
Posted by: Gina | July 23, 2008 at 08:06 PM
Fantastic hat from Phoebe (I'd expect nothing less - she sounds like one stylish young lady!) and beautiful juicy looking tomatoes.
Hope the Brockets enjoy being 'at home'!
Posted by: Mrs C | July 23, 2008 at 08:07 PM
How every elegant! Glad you're enjoying your summer :)
Posted by: Gem | July 23, 2008 at 08:58 PM
I love especially the first and the last photo! The first makes think about Eliza Doolittle singing "Lovely" and the last one is just simply _beautiful_.
Posted by: Kutri | July 23, 2008 at 09:17 PM
ha, "me" was mysteriously dropped out of my phrase: "makes ME think"
Posted by: Kutri | July 23, 2008 at 09:18 PM
Love the hats! And what beautiful roses!
Missy
Posted by: missy | July 23, 2008 at 09:45 PM
'Brockets at Home' would make a great title for a book :)
Posted by: raina | July 23, 2008 at 09:58 PM
Beautiful roses, Jane. I've just treated myself to the Virago re-issue of Diary of a Provincial Lady with its floral cover. Like I need yet another copy!
Posted by: Nicola | July 24, 2008 at 12:03 AM
lovely hats. it is so nice to read your lovely words again. i hope you're having a nice summer.
Posted by: martha | July 24, 2008 at 12:19 AM
Actually, it is at Home. Pleasing, because it emphasizes the hospitable thought of Home. Denoting neither ceremoniousness nor the impersonal inclusion of "will be at home".
Not to be confused with the lovely tradition of At Home Cards, included in a wedding invitation or wedding announcements, merely apprising the recipient of the address of the happy couple, and the date they will begin residence.
Etiquette, where would we be without it?
Posted by: Kathe Kramer | July 24, 2008 at 12:28 AM
I'm At Home anytime you want to pop in for a cuppa and an iced biscuit! A bit out of the way to anywhere, but there it is!
I think it's a close run thing between the Phoebe's exuberant hat and the plate of luscious salad leaves she grew! Both look wonderful and I'd put them on my head any day, at home or not! t.x
Posted by: Teena | July 24, 2008 at 12:46 AM
I just read this on bloglines and popped over here to say something terrifically witty and sardonic about the [cl]assiness of your fridge art ... but I think I'm hallucinating. David Austin roses instead, hmm?
Probably for the best.
Posted by: suse | July 24, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Just received Cherrycakes, which i ordered as a birthday gift for a friend. Moments later, I was chatting over the back fence with a neighbor who was reading Ballet Shoes as a means of reliving childhood summers and showed her the book -- she loved the book, but will wait for it to appear in the US. Nice roses, too.
Posted by: mary lou | July 24, 2008 at 01:08 PM
Good for you! Everyone should decorate a hat with flowers some afternoon - realxing and beautiful. My Graham Thomas yellow roses are about to bloom too!
Posted by: Anne Reeves | July 24, 2008 at 02:13 PM
I've just ordered your second book and it is flying to me here in New York. I couldn't bear to wait until it came out here!
I'm so glad to have a new post from you!
Posted by: Alexis | July 24, 2008 at 09:39 PM
I love yellow roses. Are they David Austin roses? "Charlotte" is my favorite.
Posted by: Red | July 28, 2008 at 01:26 AM
oh, those salad greens and roses! i believe i have a similar rose but it's just so hot and humid here! what i would give for a blast of english air!
Posted by: colleen | July 30, 2008 at 03:03 PM