Wednesday, July 17, 2013

A Sweetheart from West Sussex


On Sunday, my sweet friend, Maria, and her lovely family,
 came to visit all the way from West Sussex, England.


At our first meeting, my dear friend surprised me with a stay
 at a five star luxury hotel, for some serious girlfriend tête-à-tête time,


which included cocktails by the pool, a soothing spa treatment, 
al fresco dining, live jazz, and loads of laughs.


Days later, I joined Maria and family for an excursion
 to Archaneswhile Sunday was spent here, in the village, 
for our annual BBQ lunch, now a family tradition.


Among the usual fired up fare and summery sides, the meal
 always includes my coconut cream pie -her only request!



My only request was that she not bring a thing.
Is that too much to ask for,
 especially after spoiling me with that gorgeous getaway?!

But no... she had to cater to her friend's sweet tooth,
and showed up with an assortment of petite pastries, too pretty to eat,


along with some other precious parcels, 
to be presented in an upcoming post!


What can I say? She's a kind and generous gal.
I love her dearly; she is my soul sister and I will miss her terribly!


In a snap (!)  - her short, but sweet visit came to a close.
Back in Britain, she is revitalized and ready for her English routine.



And so, in between cooking, cleaning and car pooling,
 she can be found ringing up yours truly,
 ready to rampantly reminisce for hours!


Thanks for visiting!

And, to Brenda, at Cozy Little House, 
thanks for the shout out, 'Coach'!

Poppy

All images: www.poppyview.blogspot.com

Sharing at: 
The Inspiration Gallery,
Artsy Corner, Create It Thursday, What's It Wednesday,
Worthwhile Wednesdays, The Art of Home-Making Mondays,
Friendship Friday,  Inspiration Monday, Say G'Day Saturday,
Inspire Me Tuesday, Tea Time Tuesday, Friday's Five Features,
Fresh Cut FridayOpen House Party, Sweet and Simple Fridays,
Tuesdays At Our Home, Brag About It, bebesty.com, Saturday Sparks,
Tweak It Tuesday, Make it Pretty MondayA Return to Loveliness,
Inspire Me Monday, Amaze Me Monday, Memories by the Mile,
 The Sunday ShowcaseMosaic Monday, Seasonal Sundays,
The Creative Home and Garden HopA Favorite Thing,
Anything Blue FridayShow and Tell Friday, Flaunt It Friday, 
Feathered Nest Friday, Home Sweet Home, Be Inspired,
Home and Garden ThursdayWow Us Wednesdays, Home,

65 comments:

  1. What fun! What wonderful memories!!!
    xo Kris

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  2. If I ever get to Greece, I too will bring goodies if I can just walk through your lovely home and see all your pretties in person.

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  3. I agree it sounded like a wonderful visit. I just love all the pictures in the post too.

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  4. What a lovely visit with your friend! She sounds like such a loving and generous person. I hope we get to see some of your coconut cream pie in the future!!

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  5. Just lovely! Brenda sent me over - nice to meet you!!

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  6. What a blessing friendship is! I'm so happy you both had this beautiful time together with lots of memories to treasure. Your pictures, as always, are like something out of a pop-up storybook come to life. Is it that clarity of light in Crete? Or is it just Poppy? !!

    I spent last night exploring every single post under "Our House" label. If any readers haven't tried that you're missing much more beauty and much more Poppy.

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  7. It's so wonderful to have such a good friend who you can share everything with. I'm glad you shared such a nice time together.
    I love coconut in anything. I know your pie is out-of-this-world. I like to make coconut cake for Christmas.. My Mom used to get the whole coconut in the shell and grate it for her cake.. It was scrumptious.
    Have a wonderful day. I enjoy the beautiful colors on your blog.. So invigorating.
    Charlotte

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  8. Pretty pretty! She sounds like a very special friend who knows what you like. Each time I visit your blog, I just fall in love with the colors.

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  9. Sounds like a wonderful time and I am a coconut fan too ;)

    Love that tablecloth! :)

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  10. A good friend is a true treasure.

    I love when you show photos of your beautiful and colourful home, Poppy. The green hutch is a great backdrop for your lovely dishes and the fresh flowers are fabulous.

    -Karen

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  11. Your home is so bright and cheery! I love to visit your posts. You and your dear friend are both very sweet indeed.

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  12. Love that table cloth! This is all so beautiful!
    Brenda

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  13. What is the name of that cute teapot and cup in the last picture? LOVE IT! Would love to know the maker and name to try and find some here in the US.

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    1. Hi there,

      There is no name printed on any of the pieces. I also have a larger stove-top teapot, although I've never used it to boil water, just decorative, for now. They were gifts from my mom from a kitchen store in Toronto called 'Kitchens Plus'.

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  14. How sweet of her to come with the treats. Always fun to reconnect with a good friend.

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  15. The sweets look delicious! What a thoughtful gesture - and what a generous friend! They may have been too pretty to eat, but I hope you did anyway! The good stuff is meant to be enjoyed!! Have a beautiful day!

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  16. Looks delicious and what a fun visit..

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  17. This was a lovely post -- your friendship sounds wonderful and special - what a gift! And the photos to go along with the story were so cheery!

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  18. Poppy, sounds like a delightful visit! And wow, her pastries are so beautiful. I always like your posts because they make me happy.

    Marie Angelique

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  19. What a lovely friendship you have with your friend from England! A friendship like yours is truly a blessing and it sounds like you had a marvelous time together. Those pastries look so good and I agree, almost too pretty to eat! Your post is always upbeat and happy and it's a pleasure to have you join me at my HOME. BTW, I was born in NB and grew up mostly on PEI. So, I'm a Maritime girl. Enjoy your weekend.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  20. What a visit and what a friend! There's nothing like true soulmate girlfriends, is there? Glad you had such a wonderful visit.

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  21. Oh my Poppy, what a fabulous time you two must've had!! I loved seeing all your happy photos of the teapot, mug, flowers and treats. Your hutch is just brimming with wonderful things.

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  22. Sounds like a wonderful visit and the photos are beautiful!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  23. Precious friendship and such a pleasing, pretty and perfectly appointed Hutch.
    I always feel refreshed and renewed after my visit with you! Did that rhyme?!!
    Happy Hugs to you Dear Poppy!!
    xx-
    Jemma

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  24. There is nothing like the bond between 2 women - our souls connect for a lifetime............
    What a beautiful post - with beautiful images too :)
    XOXO

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  25. It's always a delight visiting you Poppy! Your friend Maria sounds like a kind and generous soul. How lucky you are to have her in your life.

    Big Hugs,
    Susan and Bentley

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  26. Loving all this colour....you have such a pretty home!

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  27. A lovely time with a dear friend....sounds heavenly, Poppy!

    Thanks so much for joining in this week.

    xo
    Claudia

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  28. How sweet to have a friend like Maria. It's always fun fun fun to have a girl's day out.
    Thank you for sharing those delicate yet scrumptious dainty cakes.

    I love looking at your colourful kitchen.

    Hope you have a good week my dear friend.

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  29. What pretty things and what a sweet friend you have. so happy to have found you through a Favorite Thing. xo Laura

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  30. What a beautiful post. Your whole blog is so pretty. You have such beautiful things! This sounds like a nice visit with your friend. I'm a new follower from Seasonal Sundays. :)

    Jennifer
    http://thistlebearhome.blogspot.com

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  31. Poppy, what a fun visit with your friend. The hotel, spa and the visit sounds delightful.You have a lovely home, full of cheery items. The sweets look delicious. Lovely post!

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  32. Oh what a lovely time you had and such memories to savor for some time to come. Those little delicacies are lovely and you have them so well displayed.

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  33. Wat a wonderful friend. Love your photo's

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  34. Your friend is a treasure! I'm sure you're wonderful too, as friendship works both aways. Your dishes are gorgeous, so full of color and so summery. I love your post! Big hugs,
    FABBY

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  35. What cheery and pretty photo's you have shown us. It looks like you had a lovely visit.

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  36. Thank you for your visit, for your lovely comment and you following me, I sure appreciate it! I am also your newest follower! Big hugs,
    FABBY

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  37. Wonderful mosaic photography and delightful photos ~ lovely! ~ Happy Week to you ^_^

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  38. I am so excited to have found your blog. I visited Greece a few years ago and want to return again soon. I can't help but smile looking at your colorful tea sets! I am a new follower and I look forward to following along in your adventures in Crete!
    Khammany

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  39. Those little pastries look so delish! What a lovely friend and sounds like she really went out of her way so that you would have a lovely visit with her!

    LOL! I thought you found cups that said Poppy View on the inside until I realized you were watermarking your photos!

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  40. Now you have just described the sweetest of friendships. Lovely photos!

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  41. What fun! Enjoyed your story and really enjoyed seeing all the colorful kitchen ware. Lovely!

    Linda at The French Hens Nest

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  42. I would love to try your coconut cream pie. It is a favorite of mine, too! Beautiful images of a fantastic visit.

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  43. Oh, Poppy, those look yummy! Love the green hutch with all the great dishware, too.

    I'm visiting you from Cindy's "Dwellings" party. Please drop by for a visit, too. Thanks, Helen

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  44. Such fun bright photos Poppy! I loved listening to your sweet story through your pictures~delightful!
    Jenna

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  45. beautiful. Makes me want to go shopping
    Janice

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  46. Those do look too pretty to eat!

    Allison

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  47. Now THAT was a girlfriend visit to remember!

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  48. What a colorful post!! I love it and so glad that you had a great friend visit! Stopping by from Mosaic Monday today. CHeers!!

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  49. Poppy, it is such a blessing to have a dear friend, so giving - so delighted you had a marvelous time and delighted you shared with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  50. How wonderful! everything is just lovely!!

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  51. Poppy,
    I love your story and your photo's. That is truly Memories by the MILE ;-)
    What a sweet friend. Thank you for sharing at Memories by the Mile. I love you china!
    Be sure and check back for Friday's features.
    Hugs,
    Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile

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  52. Good Evening Poppy, What a wonderful time you had with your lovely friend, it must have been wonderful for you to both catch up with each other.
    The sweet treats your friend brought for you look beautiful. I used to visit a bakery in Kiti, Larnaca which made delicious cakes, just like the one's your friend brought for you.....oh I can taste them now.... I am terrible, I have such a sweet tooth.
    I hope you have managed to settle down to life again and that you do not miss your friend too much.
    Best Wishes to you,
    Daphne

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  53. Thanks for posting these sumptuous photos - such beautiful light, as another reader already commented - and this sweet message about friendship. The escape to a hotel idea is a fabulous one!

    We hope you'll pull up a deckchair, link up your creative home and garden posts and enjoy the sunshine with us every weekend at http://mumtopia.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-creative-home-and-garden-hop-2.html

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  54. How nice!!! Those treat look YUMMY. Thanks so much for sharing at Amaze Me Monday...
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  55. I love the little saucers that have the cute little flowers with pink rims and the cups with the blue trim. Can you tell me the name of the pattern and/or maker? Thanks.
    Yvonne

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    1. Hi Yvonne,

      The name stamped on the bottom of each saucer is 'CHURCHILL' and they were made in Staffordshire, England.

      Poppy

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  56. What a sweet friend ship! It is so wonderful to have some you can spoil and they spoil you back! :) LOVE all of your pretty pretty florals!!!!

    Thank you for sharing and linking up for Fresh-Cut Friday!
    ~Liz

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  57. This is a really special friend and one you will always enjoy! The home you have created is beautiful and I love how you have photographed it! This is a beautiful posting and thanks for sharing with us!

    Pam

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  58. Sounds like you two have a very special friendship Poppy. The spa treat must have been heavenly and the sweets are perfect to have with a cup of tea.
    Judith

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  59. Poppy, thank you for sharing your delightful post with us at Tea Time. A special friend is a blessing and hard to find. Those pastries look mouth-watering!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  60. Wow, what a wonderful time you must have had! Thank you for sharing your lovely display of pastries and pretties on the Art of Home-Making Mondays :) Your friend sounds like a gem!

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  61. What paint colour is that charming china dresser, please...Love your blog.

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    1. Hi there,

      Thanks so much for all your sweet comments! I hope you have come back to read this, as I don't have an email or website for you.

      Unfortunately, we had the dresser spray painted by a professional who mixed a few of his own pigments together to match a piece of fabric I had with this particular green appearing in the leaves of the floral design, so I don't have a brand name colour for you, but I guess you could say it's a soft, rich olive-y green. I did some searching around for you and found this colour: http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/stemgreen, to be the closest match! Remember, colours can look quite different in various light. For example, if you take a look at this post of mine: http://poppyview.blogspot.gr/2013/05/a-spot-of-tea.html, you'll notice that here, the hue of the dresser is warmer, and that's probably because I snapped the photos a little later on in the day, when the light is not as bright or harsh. Hope I've helped, and good luck with finding your perfect shade! Thanks again, for visiting and hope to see you again, soon!

      Poppy

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Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate hearing from all of you! Have a great day!