What is it? #88 Mummykins' Cloud

Welcome back to another edition of 'What is it?

It is another Guest edition.  The image was provided by my Mum, AKA Mummykins.

She sent me this cloud and asked me what I saw.

What about you?  Beyond an image of condensed water, what do you see this shape as?

DO leave a comment sharing what you think it looks like!

What about last time?

My lovely blog friend Kelly provided the inspiration photo:

Here is what Kelly said it was in her mind:

1. 
2. Kelly7:14 pm

   I love all these answers and can absolutely see them. My first thought was the same as Jabblog and Polyester Princess. A tree! The "trunk" amazed me because it's not a contrail... it's a cloud!

   ReplyDelete

And here's the rest of us:

9 comments:

1. 
   jabblog5:11 pm

   I see a tree with branches reaching to the sky on a summer evening.

   ReplyDelete
2. 
   Bless12:32 am

   That is a beautiful cloud formation! It looks like a ballerina doing a grand jete while holding a floaty lace veil or scarf in her hands as she leaps. :)

   ReplyDelete
3. 
   Kelly2:19 am

   I will wait another day before saying what I saw in the cloud!

   ReplyDelete
4. 
   Polyester Princess3:34 pm

   Like Janice, my first thought was a tree! Whatever it is it is truly stunning! xxx

   ReplyDelete
5. 
   Confuzzled Bev4:40 pm

   That's a gorgeous cloud! It looks like a clock dandelion with the seeds starting to blow away.

   ReplyDelete
6. 
   Ivana Split5:29 pm

   It looks like a ballerina balancing on on one foot and with her hear floating in the form of bubbles or just surrounded by floating bubbles

   ReplyDelete
7. 
   Kezzie10:50 pm

   I guess it is my turn to leave a comment as Kelly is the originator. I saw it as a ballerina or a dancer standing one one leg, doing some sort of arabesque but she is doing it outside and her beautiful longer length dress is billowing in the wind! So, could be a tree covered in glorious bloosom!

   ReplyDelete
8. 
   Kelly7:14 pm

   I love all these answers and can absolutely see them. My first thought was the same as Jabblog and Polyester Princess. A tree! The "trunk" amazed me because it's not a contrail... it's a cloud!

   ReplyDelete
9. 
   Ivana Split9:07 pm

   Just stopping by to wish you a lovely evening.

   ReplyDelete

 So lots of us saw it as a tree, just like Kelly but Ivana, Bless and I also saw it as a ballet-dancer!

Thank you so much to Kelly for sharing her image.

Do join in on this week's challenge and leave a comment to saw WHAT IS IT?

The rainbow dress remix returns!

You know it's Summer when my St Michael's (Marks and Spencer) rainbow Madras-checked dress makes a reapperance!

I haven't really looked at my camera for a while and realised that periodically, I had photographed outfits that I liked, but not done anything with them.

The rainbow dress had featured a few times.

As always, when I wear this dress, I like to restyle it in a new way- wear it in an adapted way, pair it with different garments or accessories etc.

The last time I think  I shared an update was August 2025  (if you want to see it in other remixes, check out this link and scroll down)

The first outfits utlise waistcoats worn over the dress, so the use of the dress itself, is fairly conventional.

The waistcoat was second hand from Vinted and is a nice light item to throw over your clothes.  The hat was a charity shop purchase. Adding a waistcoat is a nice way to not feel too exposed in this strappy dress. I like wearing my gold-sequinned Tom espadrilles  with this dress.

In this outfit, I paired it with a soft cotton button-up waistcoat from Whistles (Sarah Jane cosplay) as it seems to pick out the blue stripes well. Again, it means my shoulders aren't as exposed! I added a handmade brooch (Blogger swap) and wore the dress's waist-tie as a 3 layer headband!

Don't I look hot!!

In the next remix, I decided to try something completely different with the dress.

What if I wore it as a tunic top.

I tucked in the top half and then wore it over my head. I used a stretchy belt to belt it.

Worn with black linen cropped trousers.  The look isn't totally practical- I couldn't do anything totally vigorous in this look!

I felt like wearing my Lunar pumps worked with the colours.

The final idea I had was to wear the dress as a Summer poncho top with a light vest-top underneath, worn off the shoulders.

Does it work or does it just look like I've got a dress on my shoulders??? 

I am wearing the same shoe, trouser, accessory combo as I only tried this look out at home- haven't actually debuted this in public!

Anyway, what do you think?

Also, do you have any ideas for how I wear the dress?

xx

 

What is it? #87 Kelly's Cloud

Welcome to 'What is it?' the interpretative blog challenge!  You see an image I post and you tell me what you think you see or what it represents, beyond the literal!

This week, my lovely blog friend Kelly has provided the image for consideration. It is a beautiful cloud. 

Kelly asked me what I saw in this clouds ape and I said I'd share it in a post. 

So, it's now your turn. Leave a comment saying what you think you see in this cloud beyond the literal. I'll also share what I think and then I'll ask Kelly to reveal what she saw it as when she spotted this cloud! 

Do join in and leave your suggestion. Specific or vague, man or beast, man made or natural, all suggestions welcomed! 

Do leave a comment telling me what you see. I LOVE to read everyone's interpretations!

What about last time?

Last time, for What is it? I asked you to say what you thought this piece of art was depicting and then I'd reveal what the real title for it is, rather than my usual of telling you what I saw something as.

This piece was entitled "Dancer" so I am guessing the work was supposed to perhaps look like a ballet dance or some sort of contemporary dancer.  I personally saw it as some angelic being!

What did my lovely commenters and participants see it as?

6 comments:

1. 
   Angela7:53 am

   Grandma stretching after a long evening of knitting

   ReplyDelete
2. 
   KirstenM8:17 am

   I think it is someone reaching up for help, or maybe to help someone

   ReplyDelete
3. 
   Bless9:03 am

   Sounds like you've been incredibly busy!
   The sculpture looks like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon.

   ReplyDelete
4. 
   Kelly4:32 pm

   I think it's a stretching kitty. Perhaps a mummified kitty, at that!

   ReplyDelete
5. 
   Confuzzled Bev12:07 pm

   It looks like a horse knitting while a giant cuddles it from the side 🤣 (I'm guessing nowhere close to what it's actually meant to represent!)

   ReplyDelete
6. 
   Ivana Split8:07 am

   To me the sculpture looks like a human being carrying something....two longs objects I cannot identify perhaps tools of some kind.

I LOVE all the interpretations of this. Perhaps more than I actually like the original title!

Thank your for the fun!

Now, do have a look at what you think this week's one represents!

xx

ddsdsds

Style imitating Art: Vogue by the sea

 It's been an absolute age since I have taken part in Style Imitating Art but I saw Salazar's post today and realise what I was wearing could sort of be an interpretation of this poster.

It's an image by illustrator, Helen Dryden for Vogue from July the 1st, 1919.

Anywhere, here's my outfit:

As it's a little loose an interpretation, let me talk you through it.

A nod to the turban is my white floral headband which I tucked my hair into to emulate the turban.

The pink Rene Derhy silk scarf with its pretty florals is a nod to the scarf held by the woman.

My Tatty Devine necklace is the same colours as the shell on the beach. 

Although my top is black and white stripes, it's the same colors as the lady in the picture.

My cute Hokusai inspired earrings, which were a present from my one of my favourite families from school at the end of the year (part of an adorable set of 6!) are a nod to the sea

But so are my sandals from Moshulu (which were deliberately chosen for the photo!) as they emulate the different blues of the waves.

My parasol is a vintage one bought from Vintage-on-Sea for our school production of Treasure Island but it got pretty shredded in the production and I'm not sure if it can be mended or not as it's broken in several places!

Finally, there's my skirt which is the same shade as the sky.  Pity it's not ironed but it's too hot for that!

Head over to 14 Shades of Grey tomorrow to see how everyone else interpreted it!

We've just returned from a week in Northumberland but we only got back last night at midnight as our car had a severe oil issue on the A1 at Newark so we had to call out the AA.  We were towed to Cambridge services within an hour but then had to wait another 4 hours for our next tow home (they operate within areas!).  Very tired, have a headache but glad to be home!

Hope you are well!

xx

Foraged Fluff in Allendale!

Today I suggested we do a walk in Allendale. I've been wanting to do the 36 mile Isaac's Tea Trail which is a circular walk that visits Alston, Allendale, Nenthead and other villages in Northumberland/Cumbria.  It follows the journey of the legendary tea seller, Isaac Golden. You can read more on https://isaacs-tea-trail.co.uk/

I discovered you could get a two hourly bus from my MiL's home to Allen Heads, a pretty village. It was a beautifully scenic bus route. 

We decided to do a stretch from Allen Heads to Allendale as my MiL had an appointment in Allendale at 3.30pm. We arrived at 12.05pm. 

The walk was a bit confusing as we didn't really have a proper OS map and had to join Isaac's trail later in the journey. 

This post is in reverse order. 

At the end, we paid our respects to the Allendaleks and the TARDIS. 

CBC loves Tweedy and Fluff, a cute little animation and we had an idea we could make a little Fluff from foraged items on our walk for Fan Art Friday. 

He is made out of Sheep's wool (found snagged on wire), Thistle flowers, a Dandelion, some stones and a stalk from a plant. 

The walk did get a bit confusing in places but did have some lovely moments. 

We saw some wild orchids. 

And some lovely art work. 

Sadly, no red squirrels. 

 We arrived in Allendale, thankful for our peaceful walk. It wasn't too difficult but I did have some toe blisters! 

We enjoyed some tea and chips in the King's Head pub.

Allendale is a beautiful town and well worth a visit. 

This I know to be true: Natural remedy

 For me, relief and consolation have ALWAYS come from time spent in solitude in God's creation.

My poem for the week's Toy Press word of the week, Cheer, which was a while back, emphasizes this.

CBC's reaction to this was "You should stitch this and put it in a toilet" and "Your poem is saying everything is lovely when it's not. Perhaps it is a bit saccharine.  However, I think he's missing the point. The point I'm making is, it doesn't make everything lovely. But somehow, things don't seem quite as desperate after... What do you think?

Natural remedy

When my heart is troubled and heavy

And my soul needs a cheer.

I raise my eyes outwards

To behold what is near.

Sunshine, green leaves, stout trees

And birds melodiously singing,

Then my heart fills with gladness

From the blessings nature’s bringing.

Breathing deeply from an hour,

Spent strolling in fresh air.       

Then the anxieties of life seem less final

And much easier to bear.

Bee V Flea

 This week's Toy Press poem prompt was 'Victory'. 

I decided to make a little play on words but didn't know where I was going with it. 

This is where I ended up! 

Bee v. Flea

 

Victor-Bee and Victor-Flea

Decide to fly a race. 

They set off buzzing, full of zeal

Zooming at full pace. 

Assured by his greater size, 

Victor Bee's full of Glee. 

Looks snootily behind him, 

Sneering at the trailing flea. 

But Victor Bee then stubs his knee

On a passing wren. 

He veers off in a gust of wind,

Ne'er gains the lead again. 

And therefore it came to be 

That arrogant Victor Bee, 

Lost the race and Victor Flea, 

Was renamed Victory.

dfdfd

A post from the archives.. 10 cakes i do not like.

 I occasionally like to visit my own blog archive to have a peruse. Today only happened because a new post suddenly made its way into my 'popular posts's sidebar and then I went down a rabbit hole.

Here's post from 10 years ago where  showed what a complete fuss pot I am regarding cake!

Enjoy!

10 Cakes I do not like

I do like this one. Even though I didn't get to try it.

Ha, we often put things we like in blog posts but I thought I'd do the reverse.  My penpal blog-friend Katie asked me in the last but one letter, what cakes I liked and didn't like so I listed them (the dislikes outweighed the likes).  She almost unfriended me. Quote:

"....because otherwise, I'd have to seriously reconsider our friendship Young lady- what on eath is going on with your cake preferences?!  He he I feel like you need a Cakervention (like an intervention involving cake)..."

So, I thought it would be mildly amusing to share the cakes that caused such consternation!  (From what I can remember. I find decisions hard. Annoyingly, one of my boys at school has noticed this and he delights in asking what my favourite blah blah is, to which I say, "Oooh, that's a difficult question," to which he replies, "Is that because you're indecisive, Miss?".  Swine!)

In the interests of balance, I should probably post Cakes I do like on another day. Or maybe not, less entertaining than a rant.

1.  Eccles cake- my Grandpa always used to have these at his house. Uhrgh,these things are seriously rank! Horrid filling, nasty pastry, I'm not sure there's anything nice about them.
2. Coffee and walnut. Coffee is gross- period!
3.  Simnal cake- I loathe the taste of cinammon in cakes and what's more, I really don't like dried fruit. And what's with those large balls on top??? Yes, not keen on marzipan, especially generous-sized balls of it!
4. What the heck, all fruit cakes- wedding, Christmas, birthday...
4.  Carrot cake. Ok, in this case, I will tolerate it. I will eat it, but I don't really like it. That off-white icing on top is always a bit sour, the cake reminds me too much of fruit cake.
5.  Bakewell tarts- in one word- almonds and cherries combined. Shudder. Any cake with GLACE cherries in has my disapproval!
6. Danish pastries- too sickly, too sticky to eat, falls apart as you eat, weird eruptions of jammy/gooey inards....
7.  Banana bread- ahgh, the flavour- mouldy banana- just tastes like socks!!!! Banana-flavoured anything really!!!! I like my bananas yellow with a generous helping of green.You need to use brown bananas for this type of thing so it's inevitable I would not be a fan.
8. Date and walnut cake - dates are nasty!!!!! Need I say more?
9. Gingerbread - to be fair, I think I have a mild allergic reaction to anything with ginger as I get pins and needles in my tongue when I eat anything with ginger in. I like it in savoury-food if I can tolerate the pins and needles, but in sweet- no, no, no...
10.  Coconut cake- never been a fan of coconut- always disliked Bounties. I like coconut milk in savoury foods but not sweet.
I could continue (Baklava, I'm looking at you!) but I am aware how terrible I come across in this!
You can guarantee if it has spices or dried fruit in it, I would rather politely decline.  I apologise profusely if I offend you with my overt shaming of cakes I would rather not share a plate with. It is meant in jest, even if I genuinely wouldn't want to eat these.

In my research of trying to remember which cakes I don't like, I found this very helpful Wikipedia list of cakes with pictures which helped me. Have a look-there's some odd ones there!

In the words of CBC in that I am "incredibly fussy!" about cake- the good thing is, I really will only eat cake I love, thus meaning I won't waste calories on cakes I 'quite like' as I'd rather not eat them, thus it is better for my health.   Thus, I can gorge on chocolate cake whenever I wish, since I have renounced cake on so many other occasions. Hmmm, maybe not?

Over to you, what's your cake hit or miss list?  Better still, post about it and share the link!!
xx

Haha, how fussy am I?!!