Maybe I am stretching your imagination a little to allow today's title. Yet this tiny scarf reminds me of the delicate dessert. The colours yes, two shades of deep cream edged with purple, the texture of the silk, satiny smooth like a well cooked Creme and the purple bringing back memories of fields of lavender in the south of France or nearer home, my own back garden as I stripped the sweet smelling heads to make the annual dried lavender sachets.
But my small scarf is not French or English. It is Italian by the talented Enrico Coveri who died too young at 38 years with lung cancer. He certainly knew how to throw a party and will be remembered for his extravagant Masked Ball at the Palazzo Moretti. Can you imagine five hundred guests at a sit down dinner in one of the finest houses on the Grand Canal in Venice with each guest presented with a gift of mask and cape? When I next return from hospital after my eye injections wearing my very different mask and protective plastic raincape for COVID safety, I shall pretend I am off to a Grand Ball! Enrico was of course a fashion designer. Le Figaro wrote "Sequins are to Coveri what chains are to Chanel". The restrictions of lockdown are chains enough; let's go for sparkles. All fashion houses inevitably turn out perfumes and it is no surprise that Coveri's first perfume was Paillettes.....sequins. The name still goes on under the guidance of his family, sister and nephew, in fashion and perfumery for different age groups. There are even different versions of his original Paillettes. I think they are a little more sophisticated with greater complexity of olfactory notes than the simple essential lavender oil which now comes back into my blog.
I had a little accident this week. Yes, they often happen within the home. I was filling my hot water bottle, was careless for a moment and scalded myself down one arm with boiling water. Fortunately, I had a basin of cold water in the sink, plunged my arm into it immediately and then poured half a bottle of my precious lavender essence on the burn. I keep this in my kitchen for such emergencies. I read years ago about some chemist working in Paris who did this in desperation and came away unscathed. It certainly soothed the pain, but let's say I am glad I am not going to a Ball this week. Yet, knowing me, I probably have more than one pair of long satin evening gloves tucked away in a drawer to cover the scars!
Maybe I will not make lavender Creme Brûlée right now. It involves a Bain Marie of hot water and just imagine the damage I could do with a blow torch!
Busy Bee, Scarf Face!
Series 2, Blog 21.
Oh, my, Hazell. I hope your arm is feeling better. I never heard of using lavender oil before. I usually break off a tiny piece from my aloe plant. I do have a small lavender bush outside the kitchen window, though. And lavender Creme Brûlée! Heavenly.
How wonderful that the daughters of my oldest school friend, now in a nursing home, are reading my blog and thereby passing my tales on to their mother. If you only knew what energetic sportswomen we were in our youth! Ruth Simmons and Hazel Robertson were pretty fast. Remind your mum she wasn’t always in that wheelchair. I think she was chosen for the relay team for Central Scotland and I represented them in the high jump and hockey. Sport now is making it up my many flights of stairs! Pam, your note makes me happy to know the blog helps cheer someone. You must be missing your important work in Africa.
Hazel This is Pam, Ruth Williams (nee Simmons) daughter, Heather and I have been enjoying your Blog, I have printed out some of the blogs for Mum to read, she has such happy memories of you both when you were growing up together. She asked me to get in touch and send you her love. She was so grateful for your letter, I am sure she will reply in good time! You are an inspiration to us, Much love xx
So sorry to hear about your burns, Hazel, and I'm glad you're already on the mend. Lavender is such a cheery scent, and I have a bottle of French lavender-scented lotion right next to me that I use through the day as a pick-me-up. That, and your lovely blog!
Lavender is a wonderful remedy for so many different things. And I am most certain that you have those gloves. No more carrying scolding water:) cheers from Connecticut. Sylvia