Joy in the Ordinary block 5...and hats...

 

I enjoy watching and re-watching the Miss Marple movies with Geraldine McEwan more than any other version...but I think some of you may have preferred Joan Hickson or Julie McKenzie instead? It really doesn't matter, but I would be interested to know your favourite.

In Murder at the Vicarage, the vicar's wife Griselda loves hats, and has many beautiful ones to choose from. 

In fact, in every Marple movie (they were set in the 1950's) all women wore a hat. 

I have often pondered with Blossom our combined love of these movies, and how we never, ever, tire of them...and you know, it's all about the little English villages, the flower fronted cottages, the afternoon cups of tea and scones or cake, hats and dresses, and the homes. We are very much drawn to the very simple, ordinary life which is portrayed by everyday people in many of these movies.

My Nana wore hats, though we rarely took photos 'back in the day' as we did not have a camera, but I do have this one from the mid 1950's of her and Pop. 

And this is a photo of my mum, aged 19 (1960) at a family wedding, and me at that same wedding a little later when mum took off her hat and placed it on me. (((my favourite pics to remember her by)))

Blossom loves hats, and has one of those heads that really suits them! Here's an old photo of her (aged 20) from 2014 when we tried on all sorts of dress-up hats one day at Spotlight. 

And this trend carried on with her daughters Cully May and Rafaella, who also like trying on headwear at Spotlight! This is a photo from 2019...

Now all this hat stuff today was to explain why there's a hat in this month's free pattern for my Joy in the Ordinary BOM! 

I was thinking about Griselda's hats when I watched Murder at the Vicarage for the umpteenth time last month, and well, it inspired me. Hope you like it. Thought I'd add the phrase too, as it has always been my intention to have it displayed somewhere on this small quilt before we finished it. 

Do you wear hats?? Do you have childhood memories of hat wearing women? I only wear one for gardening these days, but to slip back into the 1950's would be such a treat if I could wear those lovely dresses and a pretty hat like Griselda's.

Use the link below to download the free pattern.

DOWNLOAD Block 5

If you missed the previous four blocks you will find them HERE

Now I'd best be away and water my garden. Barefoot. It's a wonderful thing to walk in the grass, don't you think? God bless and have a wonderful first week of May!

hugs

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Blossom, me, and many hats...

This is Blossom's 3-day weekend.

It only happens once a month, so she makes the most of it! 

We'd already planned to spend Friday together, but as we sat opposite at the breakfast table this morning, freshly brewed coffees in hand, we still hadn't decided exactly 'where' to spend our day.

Spying the latest Spotlight catalogues which had arrived in the mail the day before, we both began flicking through those enticing homeware and craft laden pages...and a plan formed. 

We had a destination. 

We needed to get ready for a girls day out!

Cheekily we both sent surprise bathroom 'selfies' to each other on our phones...

...and that dictated the tone for the day!

Now, truth is, we went to Spotlight for sheets, shot cotton, and a few threads - but as we wandered the aisles we discovered our own little fantasy world, and out came the iPhones again!

Have I ever told you we are a family of crazies??

I love that we can laugh at ourselves without the hang-up of worrying what we look like to others.

I love that my best female friend is my daughter.

I love that I am hers too.

After filling a few bags with goodies at Spotlight we crossed the road and went for a wander through Freedom Furniture; and out came the phones again!

Can you believe we only had one coffee all day?

Not even chocolate. Or lollies. Or cake even!

We were on a natural high.

My princess certainly gave the laugh muscles a workout in her mum, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Is stress bringing your mood down and squeezing the joy out of you?

Call your best friend. Plan a day out and really do it.

Laugh at yourself, laugh with each other, and don't take life so seriously.

The best days are to be had when you let go of your worries and just grab what's right before you with all the love and laughter you can muster. 

After a while there's a shift in your attitude and the eyes of your heart expand with joy.

Rather cool, yeh?

Have a happy day!

hugs