My gorgeously over-the-top amaryllis is in flower now, the first two blooms opened up right after my last post.
It's name is "Red Lion" and it is quite simply magnificent. No other word for it. Magnificent. It's turned out to be a much deeper shade of red than the one I grew two years ago. It really is the most amazing colour, very intense, rich and iridescent in real life.
The blooms are really ginORmous, bigger than my hand span (and I have big hands, inherited from my dad).
I am happy to say I have finally learnt my lesson with these big top-heavy things. As soon as the first flower opened and I saw it leaning perilously to the right, I cut it off and moved it from pot to vase, turning it into a stunning cut flower.
J asked me if it was real, and I forgave him because it honestly doesn't look real. Did I tell you what an amazing red colour it is?? My, it really is something.
So........Red is definitely the colour this week, and not just because of the floral goings on in the Attic.
Something else came into my life last week, something else that is Red.
I am more excited over this second red thing than I can really put into words, it's hard to convey the true levels of my excitability.
I've been giddy to the point of feeling slightly insane, and if you know me in real life, you will no doubt have had these new red things shoved in your face on more than one occasion.
I have not been able to stop looking at them (yes plural, there are two of them, a pair) or showing them to anyone who comes near me.
Have you guessed what they are??
Have you scrolled down impatiently to see a picture of them?
Ok, lets get visual then and have a look....................
.................at my new Red Shoes.
Red Shoes.
RED shoooooooooooooooes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yipppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!
I have wanted New Red Shoes for ever and a day.
They are The Stuff of My Dreams (along with Caravans).
And finally, my dream came true.
Better still, these are not any old red shoes.
No, look, I'll roll my jeans up for you to see.......
These are Red Mary Janes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aren't they delicious?
Aren't they truly scrumptious?
And aren't they very, very, totally and utterly ME????
Gosh, I love♥love♥love♥love♥love♥love♥love♥love♥love♥ my red mary janes, they make my heart sing tralelaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Would you like to know the little story behind these shoes?
Well......I was hopping around in Blogland one day and I came across a blog new to me. A beautiful, calm, and wonderful place called The Quiet Home, written by a lovely lady called Tina. And as is often the case, I found myself irresistibly drawn backwards through her blogs posts, I was really taken by Tina's simple words and pictures. Back I went, through the days of January until I landed on January 11th.
And there they were, the most amazing red shoes, the Shoes Of My Dreams.
And it transpired that although Tina loved these shoes of hers, they were in fact too big for her and therefore hardly worn. And furthermore she was offering them for sale. And they were miraculously My Size. Holy macaroni, I just knew in an instant that they we meant to be mine.
And so it came to be that these beautiful shoes were wrapped in pretty paper and sent from Scotland to Yorkshire, and I became a little like Cinderella. Of course they fit perfectly because I believe they were made for me. It's as if someone drew around my feet and fabricated a pair of shoes to my exact size and shape.
Such a happy story, don't you think??
Deep, contented sigh (I am looking down at my feet now, cos there they are). Red Mary Janes, belonging to me. Marvelous.
Before I go, a couple of things to mention........
1. The sun came out on Friday and I did lots of photographing, yyaaaaayyyy! A blankety ta-dah post will be coming very soon.
2. A few days ago I found the Perfect Pattern for my luxurious alpaca/silk scarf, yyaaaaayyyy! I started hooking it last night and am beside myself with the thrill of it, more coming very soon.
Have a wonderful day my lovelies xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Edit to add :: I just know someone will ask.....the shoes are "Oxygen" shoes, see here.
xxxxxxxxxxx
wow loving the shoes, look very yummy
Posted by: rach | January 30, 2011 at 01:55 PM
The read in the flowers is amazing!!!! I wouldn't get tired of looking at them!!!
And your shoes are OMG!!! fantabulous!!! I agree that they are totally you!!! keep enjoying them as you know and telling us about it!!! have fun today and the rest of the week with your new magic shoes!!
xx
Shanti
Posted by: Shanti | January 30, 2011 at 02:12 PM
Serendipity! what a lucky find, I think those shoes are great, very 'you', and you were obviously meant to be the owner of them! There's nothing like a new shoe buzz, enjoy them and your weekend too x
Posted by: Marie | January 30, 2011 at 02:13 PM
Such a sweet lady you are, happy with the simplest loveliest things. Three cheers for red...I am thriving on your crochet instructions here in India. Now, I just need to find your equivalent of the embroidery world. Any offers? And I may have to swivel your head around to look at this crochet conundrum
http://www.flickr.com/photos/louisebest/5346556354/
I think you might appreciate it's wooly wonders
{*}
Posted by: Louise | January 30, 2011 at 02:20 PM
Red is indeed the best. What a great find. And yeah the sun is here today! enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Posted by: Alice | January 30, 2011 at 02:22 PM
I have the EXACT SAME PAIR, SAME COLOUR!!!!!! I have bought the same make and colour consistently for 4 years (ultra boring, I know, but I'm a gal who likes her comfort) I even bought a purple pair, but they were nowhere as lovely as the red ones. Oh, enjoy!!!!! I LOVE mine to bits, I hope you have many years of red shoe delight!
Posted by: Emily@theNest | January 30, 2011 at 02:23 PM
I love your shoes. I've had some red shoes an dI loved them so much. they were woven leather with pointed toes and tiny heels. I love the style of your red shoes, in France we call them "babies". My favorite pair are black babies without even the tiny heels. when there isn't the strap that goes over the foot they are "ballerines" and if they are high heels they are "escarpins". My daughter always recognizes the sort of shoes I'm likely to like and buy( I must be a shoe addict...because I'm too fat to be a fashion victim ? not because I'm a Carrie Bradshaw )
Hopefully your red shoes brighten your days during the long winter up In the North of England.
Friendly yours,
Nicole
Posted by: orangecannelle | January 30, 2011 at 02:32 PM
OMG.....Love your new red shoes & the story behind them is even better! I just LOVE stories like that!! Enjoy your new shoes & I can't wait to see your ta-da post & your new hooky goodness!
Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2011 at 02:34 PM
We know the shoes are beyond CUTE, but are they comfy? I am on the hunt for cute, COMFORTABLE shoes. Your amaryllis is stunning...Enjoy!
Posted by: debbie | January 30, 2011 at 02:34 PM
Can you share the brand? I love your shoes so much!! Great story too'
Posted by: SamanthaLiz | January 30, 2011 at 02:43 PM
I can remember Tina buying these shoes! They look perfect on you. I also like your Cath Kidston apron that I can see. I ordered the same apron from the CK website, in fact I ordered two, one for my daughter, but they were way too long for us, almost full length! so I sent them back. I remebered you are taller than me - in fact most people are, even some children!!!
The amaryllis is also looking lovely, what a good idea to cut it and put it in a vase.... genious!
Posted by: Jayne | January 30, 2011 at 02:45 PM
Love the shoes! Thanks for sharing the link to the Oxygen website, all their shoes look lovely and also very affordable but sadly (or perhaps fortunately!) all the styles I look at seem to be out of stock.
Posted by: anne@andamento | January 30, 2011 at 02:55 PM
I love Tina's red shoes, too. My daughter gave me "ruby slippers" for my birthday. They are made by KLOGS. I wear them to school and the kids say, "You have ruby slippers!" I click my heels three times and open my eyes and say, "Hey! What are you guys doing at my house?" Some days, I really wish they worked! Red shoes = a must! Your shoes and flowers are wonderful!
Posted by: Pom Pom | January 30, 2011 at 03:00 PM
Lovely shoes!! I like mary janes, Gabi had a pair of patent leather red ones when she was a toddler and they too were Magnificent. I still have them.
Posted by: Gail | January 30, 2011 at 03:05 PM
love the shoes
Posted by: Wendy | January 30, 2011 at 03:08 PM
Pity you have to cut the amaryllis to enjoy it as I guess it won't last as long, but it looks stunning. The shoes are cute and look very comfy.
Posted by: Puppet Lady | January 30, 2011 at 03:15 PM
These shoes are made for walking,living,dancing,hopping,running! Great! I am happy for you! Ariadne from Greece!
Posted by: Ariadne | January 30, 2011 at 03:23 PM
Red IS my favourite colour. Love the flower but more so the shoes. x
Posted by: Hazel | January 30, 2011 at 03:24 PM
I love the shoes!! Red is veerryy you. I had some green Mary Janes that I thought were jolly and colourful and truly yummy. Even better I found them for a couple of pounds in a charity shop. Unfortunately not everyone appreciated them and it was made clear to me by more than one person that they were rather childish but then again that's just like me isn't it? Needless to say I never looked at them again and they soon found themselves back in the charity shop. I wish I had your gumption
Love and stuff xxx
Posted by: Gill | January 30, 2011 at 03:25 PM
Your flowers are absolutely amazing, I love that they are oversized, and those shoes, wow, gorgeous.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 30, 2011 at 03:25 PM
Such a happy happy post today!
I love your red shoes. they are perfect for you, and were meant to be!
I have a white amaryllis coming sometime in my future. It's being a little slow to go this year!
Have a fantabulous week!
Posted by: claudia w | January 30, 2011 at 03:52 PM
your new red shoes are super adorable !!!
Posted by: Rachel | January 30, 2011 at 03:53 PM
I adore red and I love red shoes, they just go with anything. Yours are stunning!
I bought someone a book called "Apples for Jam" because on the front cover were the cutest red shoes.
Posted by: maypole | January 30, 2011 at 03:54 PM
Forgot to add..... what a great story about the shoes LOL! makes them all the more special.
Posted by: maypole | January 30, 2011 at 03:59 PM
Gah! - now I'm even more jealous - Rubyshoesday in Hebden Bridge had Oxygen boots in this exact same red and I put off buying them and when I did go back they had sold out - I didn't know Oxygen did shoes in the same colour too! - now I'm going to have to search the web and I am determined to have some!!
Posted by: Violetsrose | January 30, 2011 at 04:01 PM