Evelyn

While coming up the stairs in the thrift store yesterday afternoon, she caught my eye immediately. Dressed in a long bluish green dress, with a long scarf wrapped around her slender shoulders. A red ribbon covering the front part of her dress, like a necklace. What strikes me most is her beautiful face: the sweet smile, sparkle in her eyes and bobbed hair. She must be the same age as my youngest daughter, who is almost eighteen. When I walk closer, pick her up in her golden frame, I see her name is Evelyn.

A long time ago, in 1928, she was printed on a page in the Christmas edition of the Haagsche Post. A popular Dutch weekly magazine. Isn't she just beautiful?! Normally my girls aren't that enthusiastic about my thrift store finds, but the whole family fell in love with Evelyn immediately.

Because Stephanie and Nicola asked me to, and because I am just as much interested in other people's books as they are, I will show you some of the books that were on display on my glass table in last Monday's post. 

Rules and civility by Amor Towles is the only book on the pile I haven't read yet. The black and white cover photo, taken in what looks like the 1930s, appealed to me very much. A beautiful young woman in a long white dress draped languidly across a deck chair. A well groomed man sitting by her side.
The book is about twenty-five year old Katey who meets Tinker Grey, a handsome banker in a 1937s Greenwich Village jazz bar. The encounter with Tinker is the start of a yearlong journey toward the upper echelons of New York society.

I bought Mrs. Whaley and her Charleston Garden second hand on Ebay. It was first published in 1997. Having read about it on a blog, I decided it was the sort of book I might like...and I was right.
In the book eighty-five year old Mrs. Emily Whaley tells about her garden in the town of Charleston in West Virginia (USA). For garden lovers the book is a joy to read. It's full of humour, enthusiasm and a love for life and plants. Unfortunately Mrs. Whaley passed away several years ago. I would have loved to meet her in person and see her garden!

I bought Van de groenteman or The Greengrocer at half price in a book sale. It's from Australian food writer Leanne Kitchen. The book is beautifully designed and photographed. Full of seasonal recipes. There is a chapter on the greengrocer, herbs and leaf vegetables, seasonal produce and fruit. I haven't made one of the recipes yet, so I can't tell you if it is fool proof.....:-).

The Perfect Summer is written by Juliet Nicolson, granddaughter of Vita Sackville-West & Howard Nicolson, who lived at Sissinghurst castle more than fifty years ago and laid out it's amazing garden.
In the book Juliet Nicolson describes the year 1911. King George V has just succeeded his father as king of England/emperor of the British Empire. Juliet looks at class divisions, strikes in the dockyards and a war to come, through the eyes of a débutante, a choirboy, a butler, a trade unionist and queen Mary. It is a fascinating read.

The book Vintage Flowers by Vic Brotherson is a gem. Full of the most beautiful floral displays & vintage crockery. On the back of the book Sophie Dahl wrote 'Vic Brotherson is a floral goddess' and I can only agree with her. It's one of those books I often pick up and have a leaf through. If only to look at the amazing photographs.

Love to hear what's on your table?!

Wish you all a happy weekend and to the Dutch ladies a Happy Queens day.

Love,

Madelief x

Photo 9 to/incl. 12 from Vintage Flowers