I find it hard to believe that people don't use small local shops, I always do. At the end of my street are a row of shops, the owners are always friendly and so helpful, for instance....
At the weekend whilst clearing my pond out of an overflowing Water Lily I noticed the liner needed changing, I went to a local aquarium shop and just as the chap was pricing up for my new liner I was telling him about all the off cuts of lily I had left over when he said.....
lets do a swap.... how great is that, he was happy with 10 water lilies he can resell in his shop and I got a new liner, now you can't do that at your big chain DIY stores.
Anyway, my peonies are flowering at the moment and they are so lovely.. a rich, strong crimson, unfortunately this was planted over twenty years ago and I have no idea of its name.
Veronica Spicata............................ Peony..............................Geum
Today I am linking with:- A Stroll Through Life for a Table Top Tuesday.
Charming beautiful post. Your shopping trip made me smile.
ReplyDeleteHello Deborah:
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you were able to exchange your surplus water lilies for a new pond liner. Now, as you say, try doing that at some out of town, DIY store.
Like you, we think that it is so important to use local shops and services. When in Budapest, where we live for most of the time, all of our food shopping comes from the local market and a small grocer's shop - never from a supermarket. Here in Brighton we use our local neighbourhood shops.
Your flowers in their white container are lovely - simple and very fresh looking.
That's a LOVELY story, and, you're right, it perfetly captures the loveliness of local shops. You just don't get that personal touch from chain stores.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'm a total sucker for peonies. Yours are GORGEOUS!
Sarahx
Fabulous peony, such a rich colour, love it. Mine is a rich carminey pinky red, if that makes sense. When it blooms I shall put a photo on the blog. At the moment it's large poppies that seem to dominate... a purple one that when it goes over changes to a bronzey brown crepe paper-like flower, still beautiful. And the other is bright salmon pink, flowers the size of small dinner plates, in a shadey spot which they brighten up no end.
ReplyDeleteI love local shops and will always use them if I can rather than the big chains.
ReplyDeleteLove your photos, they are always so delightful, especially your handmade little bunches of flowers so sweet!
I stopped by via Marty's link party and fell madly in love with your blog. I started wandering and wandering clicking on each gorgeous photo. It's just wonderful. I became a follower and am happy to say putting you on my blog love so I don't miss not one beautiful post. Your photos look just amazing as does your cottage, wishing to see your living room soon, just gorgeous, tami
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers and a great story. Where we are there are still a lot of Mom & Pop stores (as they are referred to in the States). The hubby and I try to use them as much as possible. We're currently on the hunt for a bench for our wedding anniversary gift (it's iron), we both agreed we'd prefer to wait and get it from our favourite local store... we just have to save the pennies! Lx
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story! I wish we could do that for everything...life would be so much simpler and happier I think.
ReplyDeleteLove your peonies...they've become one of my favorite flowers even though they don't last long around here.
Enjoy your week!
Sarah xo
Great post ... I shop local anytime I can. I've never seen a peoney in that beautiful color! Fantastic! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great story. I always enjoy looking at your photos!
ReplyDeleteI'm just loving your beautiful pictures with your wonderful styling. You're right about how nice it is to shop the old fashioned way. So civilized.
ReplyDeleteThat is a stunner and of course the photos are terrific! Robx
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful floral arrangements. The vignettes are wonderful. Thanks so much for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteAs always, gorgeous photos.
ReplyDeleteAnn-Marie
There's nothing like a bit of old fahioned customer service to counter all the drab stuff that one has to get through theses days to get anything done. He sounds like a great guy to be in touch with.
ReplyDeleteYour flowers are simply divine.
Best Carolyn
That is so wonderful that he did that for you and you are right, you certainly can't do that with big DIY stores. We have a few local shops that are so great and I try and use them first.
ReplyDeleteYour peonies are gorgeous!! That red is so striking and look so crisp with the pretty white tea cups. :)
How stunning the crimson looks against the white! Gorgeous photos :)
ReplyDeleteHello Deborah
ReplyDeleteIt seems that your local shopkeeper has a good old fashioned sense of trade. He saw the opportunity to make a deal you could both profit from.
As for your peonies: they are so beautiful that I think there is the potential for a new swap on the horizon.
Anna
My last post was about a local Florist/gift/home shop that I just love. The service is great, like you said. I like helping local shop owners, too. Love your blog.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous peonies! Love the swap story, that is fantastic. I shop in small local shops when I can, trouble is there are too many charity and pound shops here. I would love to have a greengrocers and deli nearby. Love Linda x
ReplyDeleteI love the peonies. That's cool that the store was willing to trade with you.
ReplyDelete-Zane of ontario honey