Wednesday 8 October 2008

Another day out, another blog date!

Each time I go up country I try and fit in a day out with my sister G - last time we went to Hastings. This time we had vague thoughts of Whitstable, but decided we didn't want to spend too long in the car. Ben, my nephew (he of the lovely chicken coops) was booked for dog sitting duties and we went off to Petersham Nurseries where Kristina came and joined us for coffee in the Teahouse.


In our emails beforehand sorting out the logistics, Kristina said:
"How will I know it's you?"
"Easy" I said, "I'm the tall dark scruffy one, and G is blonde and glamorous!".
It is a standing joke in our family that G does the glamour for myself and my elder twin sisters. I should add that Kristina found us immediately! We lingered over coffee and cake (there's a wonderful selection, including the most divine chocolate brownies) and chat, admired the surroundings and the yummy mummies, and wandered around the nurseries. It wasn't great weather-wise, being grey and drizzley which later turned to a torrential downpour, so not inspiring for photographs.


The dahlias were impressive - big, voluptuous and all shades of pink through to the dark reds.


There were also a couple of huge troughs of cosmos, magnets to the bees.


From Petersham we headed to Barnes to pop in to Tobias and the Angel, which was a little disappointing this time. They are renowned for their wonderful christmas displays and goodies, so worth visiting in December. Putney was our final destination, to find a lovely yarn shop called Stash. Kristina was still gamely with us - it's easy to be left trailing in G's wake, she does love to shop! We drooled over all the lovely yarn and gorgeous colours. I bought a skein of Noro Kureyon, in the hope of knitting some fingerless mitts, and G bought some wool to knit a scarf. She's not knitted for years, so I had fun that night teaching her long-tail cast on, and deciding what rib pattern to knit.

We had a lovely 'girlie' day out - not a time for big chats as we were whizzing round so much, but so lovely to meet Kristina. Especially as there's second helpings next week, when we find ourselves on a foraging and feasting weekend together. Kristina, thanks for putting up with us!

edited to add: Kristina gave me some wonderful lavender sugar, beautifully packaged, along with a recipe for lavender cupcakes. I've yet to take a photo... Thanks, Kristina!

10 comments:

Meadowlark Days said...

I enjoyed hearing about your adventures! I just came back from my own little trip. Hopefully someday I will meet some of my virtual friends. And please send some of those gorgeous dahlias my way! ;-)

Pipany said...

Sounds just blissful Diana. A girlie day is so special sometimes and to have wool shopping into the bargain! Beautiful pictures of the dahlias. I am so going to get some of the spiky ones next year xx

Gina said...

What a wonderful day out and thank you for taking us with you! I've a lovely time following all the links.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness you came so close to me. I work in Kingston and used to live in Richmond when Petersham Nurseries was just an ordinary garden centre. I keep hearing about it but have yet to visit it in its new, to me, incarnation.

Anonymous said...

gorgeous cosmos! our garden just fizzled this year. i'm hoping for better next year. ;^)

Sally Anne said...

I wish I could have been tagging along too, but your post was almost as good as being there in person. The shop Stash sounds fun, can't wait to see the Noro knitted up.

Ali said...

Ooh, lucky you. Petersham and yarn and blog pals sounds like the recipe for a perfect day.

dottycookie said...

Sounds wonderful; and lucky you to spend a day with Kristina - she's such lovely company!

kristina said...

Thank you again so much for such a lovely morning/afternoon out. I had so much fun! And just for the record: you are not in the least bit scruffy. I just recognized you as the only blonde/brunette pair in the greenhouse! Looking forward to foraging! K x

Irene said...

I have to admit that the yarn shops sounds the most intriguing tome who can hardly knit, but wants to learn, because I love beautiful soft yarns and can just bury my face in them and want to take them all home with me.