Minnesota

We are a few days away from a new exciting experience as we head off to Minnesota to The Creative Connection Conference beginning on Thursday 15th of September We are taking part with a TasteBud demonstration with delicious samples on Saturday 17th of September. Carolyn and I are mastering the art now of transporting all our tools and props across the pond with a limited weight limit this time. I am already thinking that I may be wearing all my clothes layer by layer if I am to get everything in. At least we are not having to transport flowers.
The ordering of flowers and plant material from country to country is quite interesting. You never know quite what you may end up with, I like the surprise!
An important element of this trip is that we are going to have a whole day learning how to improve our blog . Hopefully in the next few months you will enjoy all the changes and additions we are able to make with our new found skills. We can make our pages visually more attractive and appealing so bear with us as we tip toe through the new techniques we hope to learn.
We are demonstrating on Saturday the 17th and it is entitled An English afternoon tea. Do not be fooled by this as see how we bring this to a contemporary  level full of flowers in unexpected guises. We hope to educate and entertain so try not to miss it. See you there!

We are back!

I cannot believe that it has been this long.................Have we been missed?
We were on our way to HK when we last communicated , well that seems a lifetime ago. The summer has carried us along through all sorts of things and its such a surprise to find that we have reached mid August already!
Carolyn and I are planning our trip to the Creative Connection in Minnesota in mid September . You will be hearing all about our plans during the next few weeks. I have been studying lists of flowers here and in the States and comparing names. Although  we use the latin names to trade with as its universal of course,  each country, even county sometimes have their own pet names for plants and flowers and it can become rather confusing  to say the least . Phormium tenax in the UK is known as flax in the States and in the UK bun moss is known as mood moss across the pond, just an example of the differences. As you can imagine if you are ordering from this distance it can be quite a surprise to see what you have to work with on arrival some destinations. I must say that in Hong Kong they were spot on , incredibly precise in fact.
 I visited the flower market there and completely drooled over the wonderful orchid selection........ totally amazing..............I could have brought them all home with me!
Already I sense a slight Autumnal feel when I look at the hedgerows as I fly past in the car. Berries are blushing more each day and fruits are plumping up ready for picking. Soon leaves will turn their colour and we will enjoy another seasonal spectacle.  We will try and keep you updated as TasteBud moves into Autumn with many new adventures before us !

Memories of Hong Kong

Oh Gosh..................how did this happen!
We are over a week away from our last journey from Hong kong and our feet have literally skipped along to this day within one  blink. So sorry for not keeping the journal going . We were so very very busy and when we were not busy we were sleeping , albeit briefly. I think I have just recovered from lack of Zzzz,s seriously.
We had such an incredibly memorable time. Our hosts were the dearest, kindest, sweetest people and we were so very well looked after. The weather was hot and steamy and most of the time I  was dressed in wet clothes  which are not particularly comfortable and definitely not attractive . All images of me that have of course been heavily censored show me with a certain patina that would look so right on a glorious antique table perhaps, but not an English geriatric florist up to arms in Mandarin and Cantonese!
On the final day Carolyn and I treated ourselves to an adventure to the much revered Stanley market. Where  risking life and limb we took a double decker bus. The drivers are ingenious how they master the intestinel like route that takes you from one Island to the next next.
On arrival the antenna soon perked up  as the market unfurled before us. Ooooh colours and smells and bargains galore!!!! From cashmere to chopsticks and  linens to laundered labels. We were in our element. Poor Carolyn with back pack resembled a pack horse by the time I was finished poor girl. We came across a small stall selling fruits and flowers with orchids begging for my attention ....how I wanted to take them all home.
As it was on returning to the Hotel bags and cases were stuffed , Carolyn took pity on my overflow bless her.   I was saved at the check-in as my seriously overweight case wobbled , groaned and leant on the scale barrier relieving itself off a few tell tale 1Lbs just in time not to have to pay any ecxcess!!!
Our Memories of HK will last for a lifetime , the kindness, humility, complete utter madness and disbelief at the volume of people, the culture shock and the real discovery that shopping and eating are the biggest pastimes for  everyone.
Eating! How is it they eat so much so often and stay so slim........if only I could bottle it!!

HONG KONG DAY 2!

We arrived yesterday afternoon after a longer than usual flight - (having been diverted to Helsinki en route to drop off a passenger who needed urgent medical attention.) Our wonderful Hong Kong liaison, Betty, met us at the airport and delivered us to our hotel. Having only left here 10 days ago it was rather like a home-coming.

Not wanting to waste valuable free time last night we set off on a nocturnal adventure, heading by train for the 'ladies market' in the frantically frenetic district of Mong Kok. It was a designer label paradise .... as long as you didnt look too closely and disappoint yourself when you realised that they were 99% fake reproductions! From 'Harrods' shopping totes to 'Herods' shopping totes (that's a bad fake!!) Burberry, Kath Kidstone, YSL, 'Polo' shirts (but not Ralph's polo) Jimmy Choo, Christian Dior were all there in abundance. We shopped a little and bargained a lot. The vendors all seemed to have developed a similar expression of deep disapproval, that they wore as they grudgingly agreed to your lowest bid.

Unfortunately Sarah discovered half way through the evening that the small camera that had been suspended from her wrist was no longer there.  We re-traced our steps but to no avail. That lead on to our next adventure this morning when we went to find a police station to report the missing camera; it was a very long and slow process.

After that it was finally time for me to present myself in the kitchen for the big run through of all the dishes for tomorrow and Sunday. All restaurant kitchens seem to be hot, steamy and tiny - but this one wins hands down on all scores. Added to which the chefs speak but a few words of English - so it was interesting!

Sarah meanwhile was at the hotel instructing her 4 'assistants' for the workshops tomorrow and Sunday, which seemed to be a lively and high spirited gathering. Apparently some showed more dexterity with a tube of glue, some leaves and a slippery bag than others..... We wait with baited breath to see what tomorrow will bring!

That wedding.......

It is late on Monday night, Sarah is driving home from France and I am in the throes of packing ...again! In just 48 hours we will be half way to Hong Kong for our extravaganzas at the New town Plaza. It seems like no time at all since we were getting off the plane 9 days ago, but a lot has happened in that time including, of course, THE WEDDING. What a breath-taking, seamless and exciting spectacle that was. It certainly left me feeling both very proud to be British but also proud to have been a part of the Royal household and privileged to have been part of Williams life for those 11 years.  It would have been lovely to have been able to contribute something to that special day for William, but it is now 10 years since I left the household and I couldn't hang on forever - there were always going to be things in the future that I knew I would wish I could still be a part of! Perhaps in a sense I did contribute something... one of my favourite tasks when I first joined the household and William was just 7 and Harry was 4 was preparing the afternoon tea to send up to the nursery. Chocolate fridge cake was a firm favourite then and clearly it still is now as it was his choice of wedding cake!
More news from Hong Kong later in the week......

Our return to Hong Kong!

I feel as if I have just caught up from the last whirlwind trip to HK and now its only 3 1/2 days until we leave again. This time we know what to expect (I think!)....
Our hotel was lovely - fantastic views to the harbour - in fact you could lie in the bath and look at the view....  the bathroom had only a huge panel of glass between the massive kingsize bed and the bath! For me the other great thing was the gorgeous outdoor swimming pool, on the night that we flew back last time I had such a great swim - in the warm Hong Kong rain. It was very fortifying after a long day of quite intensive media interviews  and endless photographs.
 The last session of the day was a photo shoot for a photo to be used for further promotion of the event. I was joined by a beautiful little boy and girl (dressed as a bride and groom....) they held traditional Chinese wedding sweets and I held a red and yellow 'carriage', created from sugar paste, carrying a plastic bride and groom (who were dancing in the carriage)...... I'm not sure that there will be any pictures of the three of us all doing the right thing at the same time........lets hope that perhaps I might be spared that indignity!!

another update soon!

room with a veiw

My room with this view........................As the sun rose above the mist like a gossamer cloak skimming the ocean................... like an old moggy  I stretched and yawned feeling so pleased that I was again going to enjoy another day in this incredible land. Refreshed and ready for another adventure with Iffo my guide for the day. 
Breakfast first and how stunning it looks .
 I eat with my eyes as I take a selection of beautifully  prepared fruit and that's just for starters.................so colourfull and enticing. Drat! Most of it not on the slimming worlds daily free page though.
Today am off to the flower market and then to see fabrics and much more hopefully to enable me to gather information and ideas for our aprons we hope to have made whilst we are here. We plan cloths and labels , postcards and bags so this is a voyage of discovery with a lady that comes from China and knows all of the options and possibilities . I cannot believe my good fortune to be blessed with this experience.
 Poor Carolyn has another difficult day with the media preparing her meal again for the press in readyness for the next trip on May the 4th . I seem to have the fun part now that all my flower prep is out of the way.
Another thought to share with you before I skip off   is that our sheets get changed every day!!! Gosh that is such a treat ..................I always said if ever I make it, the best thing would be to have   that pleasure and hey....I haven't made it yet but at least I get to know what this indulgence would actually feel like ....................Oooh it feels GOOD!!!!
Will colour your day with the latest happenings later!!!
Lots of love everyone 

hong kong

Hong Kong has seduced us with her warmth, humility and colourful demeaner.We already look foraward to our trip on May 4th. We are involved in lunches , dinners and four workshops. No mean feet but we have the support of Betty Luk and her team.
The lansdscape continues to consume us as we headed right across town to Kowloon toinight . Crabs and tofu carresed with wok fried vegetables dance  quench . The water front is  smoky, sultry and yet radiant in her own reflection . We walk and walk embraceing the mood and its people. I am so taken by the trees thatt drape above our heads , danceing to the rythm of the people beneath.
Tonight weary from all our smiles created for the gleaners today........... our beds look inviteing.
 In work we are professional , polished and glowing enticed by the odd caramel macchiato and a chocolate old fashioned...........we found ourselves sustained until this moment.
 Invited down town tommorrow I head off alone to experience the flower market and fabrics.......... woven of the landscape whilst also of the loom. Poor C has another press call..................whilst I indulge my starbuck fix and obsession for a culture sweep in the remaining hours tt tick and tick.!

Travelling.................

Having spent a whill wind trip in London last Friday meeting the inspirational Holly Becker , Queen of the Blog and interiour designer and creater of Decor 8 let us tell you, WE ARE TRULY INSPIRED!!! Wow what a lady and such an honour to meet chat and discuss the art of bloging and much more.
 We also had the pleasure of meeting Jo Packham the creater and editor in chief of the magazines "Where Women Cook" and "Where Women Create". Caroyn will be in a forthcoming issue so look out for that. We are both hoping to join Jo at The Creative Comnnection in St Paul Minnesota in Sepember. We will be so thrilled and delighted to be apart of this wonderful inspitational event .
In the meantime we are packing as we speak for our visit visit to Hong Kong. We take off tommorrow evening for a journey of discovery. We hope you will follow our trip from the departure lounge across the miles into a country that never sleeps apparently. We hope we get some thats for sure.
We are there until Friday when we return to the UK briefly for me as I touch down and head straight to France and the Tarn et Garrone for a holiday...................going home, it is a journey I love to take. The landscape transports me through the country with colourful images of markets ,sleepy vollages , amazing architecutre , chateaus to die for and of course the vineyards , the wine the food and the people.............C'est Parfait!
Look down  find the image for our new transport!!! Have not shared this with Carolyn yet...............thought it best to ease her in gently. We just need to get her another pink helmet and we are taking to the road! At least you will hear us coming!!!
Meanwhile we continue to pack , myself for the three journeys as on return from France we head off to Hong Kong again for a week. Gosh we will have so much to share , exotic food and flowers combined , Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm we are in so excited!!

Three days until our next appearance...

Tonight there is quite a feel of Easter in the air here. I have been getting out some of my favourite Easter recipes in readiness for our demonstration in Ashleworth this Wednesday. I'd better not let the cat out of the bag and give away too much about what we will be doing, but our theme is; 'Spring - cum - Easter - cum - Wedding - cum ... any time is a good time for pretty flowers and good things to eat!'

There is so much more to gastronomy at Easter than Hot Cross buns... Simnel cake (fruity, marzipanny), Easter biscuits - which are not just 'bunny shaped biccies' - traditionally they contain Cassia oil , (which you should be able to get from your chemist.) Then there are many traditional Easter breads from around the globe - my favourite is based on a traditional Swiss bread called 'Zopf' - light, buttery, slightly sweet and straight from the oven it is almost impossible not to eat too much of it!

Enough writing for now as I must get to the kitchen and start doing some of my preparations and filling the atmosphere with deliciously bready, cakey, spicy aromas! I expect Sarah's house is filled with the wonderful scent of many a spring flower as she works hard on all her preparations...

After Wednesday - next stop Hong Kong!
Do follow our progress as we spread our wings and our food and flowers across the world.......

Ashleworth, Hong Kong, California.....

I can't believe that here we are on Friday night, the week draws to a close and I am only now doing my first blog - oh dear. This time there is a more legitimate excuse than my usual run of the mill ones! Each night I have been burning the midnight oil as I tussle with technology..... one night it was trying to print off, fill out, scan and e mail off visa application forms to Hong Kong - sounds easy I know but believe me its fraught with danger and I know Sarah will back me up on this - its been a nightmare and taken hours. Another night it was e mailing high resolution photos that were requested only to have them all bounce back again as this time they were too big. Then it was searching on line for suppliers of edible gold leaf and those famous (rare and EXPENSIVE) white truffles from Alba in Italy and calculating how much of each I will require to for 200 people! Those are just some of the many time consuming tasks that have been filling the all too few hours between my Lucy going to sleep and waking up again!
However, we are both very excited and motivated by what lies ahead for us in Hong Kong and California.

But first we have our engagement in Ashleworth next week. I know that Sarah has been gathering together wonderful and  probably unexpected bits and pieces for our demonstration which will embrace spring, Easter, 'that' wedding and of course Sarah's great passion for flowers and mine for wonderful food ....

Blossom!

As the sun warms the earth everything is slowly waking.

 How beautiful the blossom as it appears in our landscape. Pink frothy frou frous of pure delight. Bold and blousy and so  glamourous , I just want to wear it.
 Its fragility reminding us of its short term...............

Do you remember The Wooden Tops?............A children's program from a certain age........ahem!......... Where the landscape was enhanced by trees aglow in their floral canopies. As were the pages of Janet and John reading books........"On the farm" particularly I remember the nostalgic scene of our  incredible english landscape dotted with dainty images of blossomy branches.

 Let us think of Japan....amongst its devastation. A landscape that hosts a multitude of cherry trees May the blossom rise from the destruction and shout and glow amongst the sadness and bring a glimpse of hope........... comforting their hearts.

Did you ever make blossom trees at school?  Teacher would assist in the large mural we would create each spring. Painting branches with dark brown sticky paint and then the best bit would follow...............scrunching up pieces of bright pink tissue into clumsy balls of "blossom" which were then stuck on the tree with complete abandon. This brought our childlike winter trees to life in such a magical way.

Nature as we know it is never ordinary.............most of the time it gives us extraordinary beauty. How lucky we are.

Friends and Aprons........

Having friends to stay is always a pleasure , they inspire and cajole you into believing! Believe believe they say as Carolyn and I continue on our TastBud journey.
  Carolyn and I are  embarking on a mission to secure a design and colour for our first work-wear apron and its important to have other ideas and opinions. Deciding on all the elements required is so important and thats why another persons point of view is always a joy.........if  you choose to listen to them or not!!
We are working with many different elements and we do .....well ok.... I do  always manage to get quite grubby.
Carolyn manages to stay wonderfully clean.........she does, truly. So the design needs to work for us both, combining food and flowers ,  to be stylish and elegant of course  whilst disguising the toughness that lays beneath.............well we will have to wash them at high temperatures no doubt. Also we want the finished apron to be so irresistible that our clients , friends and followers will make a purchase.
Meanwhile..........................
Having friends to stay also makes you go out, have fun, window shop, clothes shop , charity shop shop................ try on gorgeous impossible bras, floral, lacy, balcony? and risky!! ....... that  of course we could never afford. Then the dresses and blouses, coats, jackets and trousers, too big, too tight, too short, too bright.............................hours just vanish completely. Its all Dianes fault of course.
We walk together swiftly past cafes and restaurants as the delicious smells try and entice us away from our strict dietary regime of the week. We continue to talk about aprons.
We examine  other offerings, discussing, analysing and criticiseing....... (but only a little)........ as we explore the back streets of Nailsworth.
I linger the longest amongst plants and flowers at the local flower shop........inhaling fragrances that  cry out to me ..........and my purse.
Thats Monday over and done!
Having friends to stay is a bit like taking a holiday, but perhaps one that you have not personally chosen.................................
Diane I love you dearly XX
P.S. I will clean and dust the house tomorrow ok!

California here we come!

Tastebud will be at the 'Ojai Valley Inn and Spa' on July 16th and 17th! We are both very excited about this trip and our brains are working over-time as we piece together menus and floral creations that will bring a little bit of England to Ojai. The Inn is a corner of paradise - stunning scenery, lovely sunshine, wonderful food and beautiful gardens - we have our work cut out for us. Watch this space for more details of this and other exciting trips that are in the balance....

Thomas and the fromage frais!

The day started as most Monday mornings do - rushing around, never quite finishing anything before being called away to the next task! With quite a bit of cooking to do for clients this week a trip to Waitrose was near the top of the list. I know it like the back of my hand, in fact I'm probably almost as informed Waitrose's own employees as to where to find almost any ingredient I or anyone else could possibly want. It is a different challenge that I now face - as there are certain items that my little Lucy very determinedly thinks that we need to buy on every single visit... a large block of Parmesan cheese, a new toothbrush, a small tub of Green and Black's very delicious vanilla ice cream and a large block of peppermint Aero....  Its best to try to avoid these aisles altogether but as the Aero is opposite the oats that I needed and the ice cream is opposite the butter, the tooth brushes are at floor level and there's no way of her not spotting the long cheese counter today's shopping wasn't without its challenges. As a compromise we ended up coming home with some 'Thomas Tank' strawberry fromage frais... the irony of that being that usually she won't touch the strawberry ones she only likes the apricot ones. When we got home she devoured 2 pots of strawberry - and all because 'Thomas tank' and 'Percy' (a green engine) were on the lids of the pots!  

Coco and Cartier

Coco and Cartier are my darling Kitties.
 When we are all together at home they are such a great source of company. They have the ability to lift my spirits as a jugfull of spring flowers would. They also enjoy assisting me with whatever my daily tasks maybe. Favourites are laying across the key pad on my computers...........trying to get my attention or relishing in the warmth they generate.
They also are quite accomplished at the art of conditioning flowers and foliage with me. They drag stems across the table , biteing at the tips. They paw at my displays as if making the final adjustments their black velvet paws having mastered the skill of such presion. They wash often , generally lounging across my prepared blooms with a nonchalant glance whilst extending their claws chewing and gnawing between their toes at the debris they have gathered. Licking  and licking over and over, the repetition  so labour intensive,  I continue with my  display.
  My greatest critics watching the final flourish, Co co  staring , stretching and then with such stealth  moves forward  burying  her nose into my fragrant expression. A flick of the tail and she is gone............... off to investigate something elsewhere no doubt.
I am left to clear away my snippings  whilst Cartier assists in the game as the stems jostle to the dance of the broom. Smiling I stroke her soft silky fur........like a therapeutic massage she soothes me................ purring her pleasure and administering mine . Meow!

What a day

What a day !
Confronted by too many little mishaps that followed me around whatever I set myself to. Washing powder can spread itself like a blizzard..........into so many crevices it falls when you knock it over by accident .....................
And pressing the wrong key on your computer can alter the whole spectrum of your morning................... when hoping to have groceries delivered only to discover with horror I had pressed collect instead of deliver!
A journey to Stroud prevailed...........and then to find out when an offer says "buy one bunch get one free"  you do automatically believe you will receive  both . No,  unless you  type in  two bunches you only end up with the one!!!
 Acutely frustrated and its only 11.30 am..............
I am suddenly soothed (as I return my trolly to the store and re-enter to purchase the batteries I had forgotten) by the gathering of flowers in the entrance  jostling for my now undivided attention. I had of course lingerd with them longer than is necessary when I first arrived..................
 Well I deserved a treat didnt I?  Anyway how could anyone  resist the buckets FULL of fragrant white narcissi alongside those darling double double even treble daffodils........
An armful soon gathered up along with some pussy willow and my karma was restored...........
They just make me so very HAPPY.

Pecan pie

It's yet another gloomy, cold morning but we are quite happy to be inside today; the kitchen is warm and cosy, the oven purrs away and the air is filled with the sweet scent of pastries a-baking! A client has just left with the raspberry cheesecake that she ordered for her sons 25th birthday, but theres still a lot more birthday baking underway for a very special celebration this Saturday. My wonderful mother will be 90! She is having a lunch party that started as quite a modest gathering but the numbers have gradually crept up as more and more peopelehave eased their way onto the guest list. The latest addition is a very important one - my big brother called last night  from South Africa to say that he'll be here in time for Lunch on Saturday. He wanted it to be a total surprise and arrive un-announced but decided perhaps that might be too much of a shock!

Now I must get back to my pecan pies, brown sugar meringues, lemon tartlets and chocolate mousse then there's the birthday cake to do. Lucy thinks Grandma should have a 'purple cat cake' - but I think we'll make something a little more demure .......

.....more daff-dills

Daffodils and snowdrops - that 'oh so welcome' sign that after an eternity of winter months, Spring really is finally on the way. They are out in force in Wallingford too. This afternoon, while out on our regular meander to feed the ducks  - I was both astonished and delighted. My two (and a quarter) year old very proudly pointed out to me that 'the daff-dills now awake' and also that 'I know those ones are snow-drops' If her botanical knowlege continues to grow at this rate I feel she will soon be at Sarah's elbow - dying to be her assistant!

Daffodils

Oh so bright and gorgeous !
I confess to being a daffodil addict at the moment. They are everywhere in the supermarkets so tightly buddied...... trying to sleep on through the crashing of trolleys and the rustle of  crushed shopping lists ..........where they do not appear!!
At the exits they huddle in their temporary bucket of a home. One bud may not resist a peak so keen to share in the conversations at the checkout  humming above their heads. A golden petal like the wing of a fantastical angel  extends itself . We are tempted , so reasonable they are for such a moment of glory in the grey of the morning . They are bunches of hope .......reliable, consistent...........as long as we administer a little water they ask for nothing  further.
 They will unfold and glow before us bringing with them the memory of  Springs gone by and the hint of the one on its way.
I place jugs of them in every room because as they catch my eye I feel my face smiling. Such wonderful therapy.........go and buy some...................  

Tart Tatin

I have donned my kitchen apron and created a tart tatin this morning for my dear friends birthday and as I made it I remembered the story of how this dish was originally created by two sisters Stephanie and Caroline Tatin  in 1898. Apparently as they were so busy at there restaurant one day Caroline smelling the caramelisation of her apples in a pan threw over the pastry and pushed the tart in the oven in dispair.  On flipping it over after the pastry was cooked was amazed at how good it looked and so sent it out into the restaurant where it was relished by the customers and the dish became a classic.
Probably defined by a Monsieur Louis Vaudable who made it a permenant feature on his menu . His restaurant was in fact Maxim's of Paris! This goes to show how something simple and unexpectedly created can turn out to be  a real star.
 Funnily enough when I had the restaurant in France more than 20 years ago, I often made a stylised  crumble or a bread and butter pudding for the desert menu as a little fun more than anything. Now you often come across the same deserts in many top notch restaurants all over France. I sometimes wonder if they snaffled the idea from me. Ha ha the Champier Crumble has a certain  ring to it!!

Rainy nights in Tetbury........

Rainy nights in Tetbury........or a week ago it could have been the same but in Georgia perhaps.......or are you to old to know that song!

So here we are back on our little Island , and how small it appears compared to the vast expanse of land we have just left.......still reminiscing and throughly missing .

Had a mail from our dear friend Jane Sloan, she came across a bouquet on reception at a local restaurant in Nashville apparently made at my workshop at The Antiques and Garden Show. What an honour that my student was so thrilled with their very own creation they gifted it to a friend! WOW


We are continuing gathering pictures from last weeks extravaganza and will be posting them  within the next few days............

Well..... Carolyn and I are gathering our thoughts and ideas  ready for the next events on our horizon. The ladies at Ashleworth have requested our company so we are about to create a demonstration for them which is very exciting.

I have been enjoying the snowdrops which are everywhere in abundance now........so so beautiful. The bulbs are pushing up fast and furious and soon the landscape will be highlighted by pools of golden pleasure as the daffodils escourt us out of winter.

Tastebud in Nashville, Tennessee!

This time last week we were there - right in the heart of the mecca of country music!
It was the Nashville Antiques and Garden show; a showcase of the finest antiques and antiquarian goods as well as garden displays demonstrating local trends and an eclectic mix of artisan crafts people exhibiting their wares. The highlight was undoubtedly the lecture titled 'Florigium' given by a softly spoken, hugely talented florist from Gloucestershire, England..... Sarah was absolutely fantastic and the audience were totally spellbound for 90 minutes! Both the lecture/demonstration and her workshop got rave reviews.

The lecture was based on flowers through the seasons and during the hour Sarah created 4 very different pieces while regaling the entranced audience with some of the amusing escapades and antics from her time as a royal florist. The finale was pure genius and a wonderful surprise for the audience as a bride and groom processed up the aisle both dressed by Sarah in some of her incredible floral 'designer creations'.... a special yet light-hearted tribute to a very big forth-coming wedding...

We had a very busy time behind the scenes preparing for the lecture and workshop; there were flowers and props to be gathered, prepared, conditioned, assembled, wired, glued, bound, tied........and for a chef there as an assistant to a florist, there was a lot to learn! I loved every minute of it. I never fail to be entranced by Sarah's wonderful touch. My sentiments were echoed approximately 400 times - by all those who attended.

By lunchtime on Saturday our work was done and we hit downtown Nashville - it was boot shopping and later in the evening honky tonking...... the two things that you can't possibly leave Nashville without doing! Both were fantastic fun , we'll be back.....

Exciting Times!!

Everything has gone mad..................
Carolyn is on her way to New York as I type and it two weeks time we are both off to Nashville Tennessee. I am presenting a lecture and work shop at................... www.theantiquesandgardenshow.com If you would like to take a look. I have been planning and preparing as Carolyn has told you. As quite a shy person I need to know that I have everything just so, I want it to be  a really enjoyable show for all who attend. I have a few surprises up my sleeve so I have been fine tuning them .
Of course I have had to order all my materials which is quite exciting . I am so looking forward seeing to all the plants and flowers that I will work with over there. I am also holding a workshop. Creating  with alike minded group will be such a lovely way to meet the people of Nashville............you never know Dolly Parton may just come along. and join us......!!

New York, New York!

Another late night, this time because I have been packing. Tomorrow morning I fly to New York as I will be filming a short segment on the Rachel Ray cooking show on Tuesday and then flying home again straight afterwards! About 20 hours of flying time for a 10 minute segment seems like total madness......... but one thing leads to another!

I am looking forward to accompanying Sarah on her big solo debut in Tenessee in February. She is working day and night on perfecting every detail of her presentation and workshop; I'm so excited that I will be there with her. Be sure to check the blog in mid February for our Tenessee diary!

Right now I'm wondering how to make the best of the few spare hours that I will have in New York - i guess it has to be shopping and a return visit to my favourite New York deli for a gigantic slab of fantastic cheesecake!

At last, I am finally sitting here logged into our blog, I have been trying all week to do this. It's funny just how many things can get in the way of a ten minute job, that is actually very enjoyable.... a wakeful toddler, a lunch to cook for a client that 'has to be done by tomorrow', a pile of bills needing attention, a heap of ironing that needs to be cleared off the dining room table before its possible to physically get to the laptop and finally it does help to remember the password to log in!
A very cold, grey and miserable morning turned into a gloriously sunny afternoon - perfect for a walk by the Thames. We saw the ducks (and we could have fed them too if we hadn't left the bread by the front door) we saw the rowers out in force (it's always tempting to rearrange all those pairs of shoes that get left on the jetty by rowers out in their boats!)  we saw many of the dogs that we know well from our regular outings and we played Pooh sticks (the hungry ducks followed us and were disappointed a second time when they discovered we still didnt have bread, but that it was sticks that we were throwing into the water.)
We then headed home for some warming nourishment. My 2 year old ordered 'a cup a tea' and 'toast and mite' which translates into hot chocolate and marmite toast! (I'm not sure where she has learnt about the tea as no tea is drunk in this house!)

Food for the soul.......

I had the injection I needed today..........a visit to my supplier!
What bliss to walk into the cold store at Duo and see all the colours.... an array of stunning blooms , knowing not what to choose! Tempted by lillies , lilac , tulips, roses......oh gosh..........heaven. In the end a beautiful pink  lilly, a deep red rose and a pink rose with a deeper underside ...........plus of course the sublime wrap of paper-white......... who could resist!
Now to work,  creating, constructing and of course enjoying who could wish for more. Total bliss.

Thumbing through old magazines.

When its as wet and grey as today I suggest the only sensible thing to do is to make yourself the biggest mug of spiced hot chocolate and curl up with a pile of magazines. In my case all floristry or garden orientated of course! I take my mind off into fields of lavender, clouds of sweet-peas and drifts of snowdrops. Looking at constructions , toying with  magnolia twigs or maybe birch.............planning, dreaming and reliving the fragrance of a host of roses. As the chocolate warms my tummy, my soul is ignited by the images I gaze at and I am now ready to go forth and face an enormous heap of ironing.......... maybe

watching the plump green spikes............

Watching the plump green spikes appear outside the kitchen window gives me hope in this cold , mostly grey month of January.
 To lure me right into spring mode a jug of narcissi sits so brightly on my kitchen table. They have traveled from the Scilly Isles where many acres are full of daffodils and narcissi ready  for gathering and then outward bound in all directions to grace our homes. We are in waiting I feel, watching the trees, studying their  shape and slowly but slowly they too begin to fill out as buds get ready to burst open and all that has slept through the winter gradually comes to life. We have so much to look forward to!

Winter warmers...

January seems to be getting bleaker and colder every day in Oxfordshire. Mind you the sun did shine for 10 minutes this afternoon.... just long enough to get 2 pairs of wellies on, 2 scarves, 2 hats, 4 gloves and 3 coats (one for the dog too) then by the time we reached the garden gate it was gone again. So we 'did' a very quick 5 minutes of very fresh air and then rushed back inside to continue with our cooking, playing with our new Christmas train and sleeping on the sofa (the dog again.) Even after such a very brisk walk we deserved something warming, so we treated ourselves to very nice hot chocolate and marshmallows!

Here are a few ideas of very quick and always well received warming drinks...
1. Heat equal quantities of apple and cranberry juice with a few strips of orange zest, a cinnamon stick, a few cloves, a piece of vanilla pod if you have one and sugar to taste. Leave for about 15 mins to infuse. Reheat and strain before drinking.
2. Pep up your hot chocolate with a generous glug of Baileys cream liqueur!
3. For a very indulgent, but non alcoholic, hot chocolate add a cinnamon stick and some squares of dark  chocolate to the milk when you heat it, finish with a trickle of double cream. Using a stick blender give all the ingredients a quick whizz and the result will be thick, unctuous and delicious! (remove the cinnamon stick before blending!)

Keep warm!

Twelfth Night

Just one more day until the tree must be 'undecorated' and all signs of Christmas must be stowed away until next year. In my case that's a quick job as my tree is 6 inches high, pre-decorated and in 6 years has never shed a single pine needle..... so it will be wrapped in tissue paper, put back in its shoe box and go back to the freezing loft. For Sarah this will no doubt be a much bigger job as her home will have been beautifully embellished and filled with a wonderfully festive floral scent for the Christmas season with door wreaths, garlands and a perfect tree. She will shudder when she learns about my plastic tree.

However, what I lack in the decorative department I make up for in my store cupboard and fridge at Christmas time! We both cooked big and fantastic Christmas dinners this year for large family gatherings. My daughter, Lucy, now just two was very happy with her turkey and trimmings, but it was the ice cream in much larger than normal proportions that was the winner. My fridge is now back to normal - no need to prop a chair against the door to make sure it doesn't burst open.

We both love Christmas and are always sad to say goodbye to festive food and flowers for another year, but this year  we are both excited about all our plans and what TasteBud has in store for us and for you... watch this space!

New Year Resolutions................

"Oh no" we hear you say...............more hard to keep resolutions!
We do not actually believe too much in resolutions, just too hard to keep but their are ways to make gloomy January a little brighter. Treat yourself to  a tiny bunch of daffodils, possibly for only £1.00 if you are lucky. No doubt they will be from the Isles of Scilly where soon the landscape will be aglow with fields and fields of them. Put your bunch in a simple jug with some bare twigs snipped from the garden and watch them open in the warmth of your home. They will make you smile we are certain and remind you that Spring is now just around the corner.
As for eating , well tummies rounder than usual vegetables are a great way to make you feel more than righteous! Try making a cosy root vegetable soup or something spicy with lentils, warming and filling without too many calories..................the making is a pleasurable experience, maybe creating more from less might be a good philosophy to start the year. This does not mean deprivation , just keep things simple , like the bunch of daffodils. Try it and enjoy !!