Easter always signifies the beginning of Spring for me and this year Mother Nature was right on time here in Scotland. Towards the end of last week the miserable clouds had drifted away and brilliant sunshine greeted me when opening my bedroom curtains. I hate to be one of those boring British people who obsesses over the weather but I really feel much happier when I can venture outdoors without a coat and sense all the lovely things that Springtime brings.
Aside from hosting a Dinner for the neighbours, my Easter weekend was blissfully peaceful. This is one of the things I like most about this holiday. Unlike Christmas, there is no pressure to pull out all the stops and plan what seems like never ending festivities. At Easter time people seem happier with simplicity and if weather permits, enjoying the outdoors.
One of my favourite things to do is set the table. Whether it be for a light breakfast or lavish dinner I really enjoy creating a beautiful setting to celebrate food and the pleasure it brings. Excessive to some, I dine like this for all meals and get real enjoyment from using my things rather than leaving them abandoned and unused. This year I decided to keep my table quite classic and the only hint of Easter was Chocolate eggs in a small bowl at the centre of the table. I used a Wedgwood dinner service with simple, embroidered napkins and bowls of fruit to add colour and freshness.
The remainder of my weekend was spent enjoying the Garden. Being able to sit out on the lawn overlooking the Sea was an incredible reminder of how beautiful Scotland is, especially in Springtime. In just a few weeks the trees will have new leaves and the flower beds will begin to bloom.
Tea overlooking the Firth of Forth
Sophie and I enjoying much needed Vitamin D
Although the trees are still looking bare, daffodils are a sure sign that things can only get better
Taking advantage of free time I spent much of Sunday evening on Pinterest pinning more images of inspiration. I now have three new additional boards..Linens, Hardware and Table Settings.
Finally I would like to share a very rough sketch of a floor plan I have created for my new home in the Caribbean. This plan is very basic and messy..I actually debated whether I should create a 'neat' version but what is the point in that? At least this plan shows my ideas as they came to me. When I created this plan I listed all the rooms that I want in my new home and then tried to think of a layout that would be classically Georgian i.e Square and symmetrical. I also wanted to incorporate a layout that would work logistically. You will see that a suite of service rooms run off the Dining Room which makes for functional entertaining.
I hope you all had a great weekend
N
