Getting ready for Summer

DeOudeHuize

At the beginning of September - the spring - in South Africa we are getting ready for summer.

This year our garden was in need of topsoil to level the humps and bumps.

My husband - Hennie - did an incredible job.

One of these days the gardens at De Oude Huize will be stunning,  again.

All in a days work 

Our garden is approximately 2000m2

There is a lot of promise everywhere.  

. . . . . . . . . . . .

The piles of topsoil and sand are spread over the grass and levelled.  

Time for coffee and biscuits under the Campanile 

A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness;
it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust

Looking good 

The blossoms is showing everywhere. 

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Soon it will be back to normal.
Beauty surrounds us, but usually we need to be walking in a garden to know it.  

Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?

Thanks for visiting may you all have a wonderful week.  

Love from South Africa 

Sandra 

Thank you for all the wonderful friends whom are sharing this story!!!

at 

A delightsome life; Craft Berry Bush; Crafty Allie; Create with Joy;
 Confessions of a Plate Addict; China on a shoestring; 
Elizabeth & Co; Embracing Change: From my front Porch; Fabulously Creative;

French Country Cottage; Fishtail Cottage; Funky Junk; Have a Daily Cup; 
Ivy and Elephants; Katherines Corner; Knick of Time;  Lavender Garden Cottage; 
Life on Lakeshore; My Romantic Home;  Miss Mustardseed; Revisionary Life; Rooted in thyme; 
Redoux Interiors; The Dedicated House; Rose Garden Malevik; Tilly's Nest ; 
Shabby Art Style Sisters; Savvy Southern style; Sweet Bella Roos; The Shabby Nest;  
The Jenny Evolution; The Brambleberry Cottage; Too Much Time; We Call It Junkin;   

Blue . . . there is no blue without yellow . . .

Blue is everywhere 

Little blue for happiness 

Plates of joy all in blue 

All in blue

Blue patterns all telling their own stories 

Where time stood still

Stories of far far places 

Blue is always there 

Thanks for visiting 

We will be sharing our post with these wonderful bloggers.  

Please make sure that you also pay them a visit. 

Lots of love 

Sandra 

A delightsome life; Elizabeth & Co; From my front Porch; 

French Country Cottage; Fishtail Cottage; 

Ivy and Elephants; Katherines Corner; Lavender Garden Cottage; My Romantic Home; My Simple Country Living; Revisionary Life; The Dedicated House; Tilly's Nest ; Style Sisters; Savvy Southernstyle; Romantic Home; 

The Tablescaper; The Jenny Evolution; Little Red House; 

The Brambleberry Cottage; We Call It Junkin;

De Oude Huize and trains

De Oude Huize and the love for trains started a long time ago.  

Life is a train of moods like a string of beads; and as we pass through them they prove to be many colored lenses, which paint the world their own hue, and each shows us only what lies in its own focus

My father, Gerald Fincham, was, as a youngster, working for the South African railways.  The route he used to work on was known as the Great North Route.  That was the track running from South Africa to Zimbabwe.  He had some good and bad experiences while being and employee of the South African Railways.  

Locomotives nr. 243 and 102 in Mafeking station.
The White Train as it was known with the then Princess Elizabeth and family touring South Africa 

The old bridge built during the Anglo Boer War in South Africa situated about 30km from De Oude Huize Yard.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

 A beautiful bridge just outside our town, Harrismith South Africa 
There is the headlight, shining far down the track, glinting off the steel rails that, like all parallel lines, will meet in infinity, which is after all where this train is going.

Today large sections of the rail tracks in South Africa is in disarray.
Thanks to MarkVee Photographs for this beautiful picture telling it's own story.  

Nobody has a perfect past, but everyone has a clear future. It is up to us to take control and become pioneers of tomorrow. Its never too late to jump off your train and head down a different track.

Hope that all of you will have a wonderful day. 

Love from us to you 

Sandra 

Wonderful surprise gift from a special guest

A gift is always very special this one now forms part of the history of De Oude Huize Yard 

Wendy and Hanchen stayed with us.
They are marketing Nursing as an Occupation in our area.
We have had a wonderful time talking and learning about the life of our guests.    

Little did we know that they will stay at our establishment during a second trip.
It was then that we were presented with this beautiful original painting dating back to 1890.  

Look at the beautiful dafodills . . . so charming in spring 

He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.
Marcus Aurelius

Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. 

Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal. 

  Pamela Vaull Starr 

This wonderful oil painting by Anton Ferreira dated back to 1890
will now form part of the history of De Oude Huize Yard 

The ground we walk on, 

the plants and creatures,

 the clouds above constantly dissolving into new formations - 

each gift of nature possessing its own radiant energy, 

bound together by cosmic harmony. 

 Ruth Bernhard

We will be showing off at:

Ivy and Elephants;  Lavender Garden Cottage;

Time Washed ; Lavender Garden Cottage; Tilly's Nest ; Boogieboard Cottage;  Knick of Time; My Simple Country Living;The Savvy Southernstyle; A delightsome life;  

Harrismith history and fancy Driving

DeOudeHuize

De Oude Huize Yard in Harrismith offer guests who have an interest in Free State history something a bit special... A tour of history, treasures and stories of Harrismith all in the comfort of a vintage car.

"If you would like to delve into the history of one of South Africa's hidden gems, then you have to take a trip . . . that will make you click your heels together in joy..."

A tour of history, treasures and stories of Harrismith all in the comfort of a vintage car 

Hennie drives you himself in his mint green 1948 Chevrolet fleetmaster with immaculate 

brown leather bench seats.

The tour stars at the Town Hall which is the third biggest red brick and sand stone building

in South Africa.

There are a lot of war memorials in the gardens, including Deborah Retief Gardens.

As fans of Anglo-Boer War history will almost certainly know. 

Harrismith was a major military base during the Anglo-Boer War. 

A drive to the blockhouse and military cemetery is next on the list.

Along the way, you'll learn about the Norwegians, who were stationed in the area and 

skilled in ship-building - in fact they decided to build a ship and sail home. 

The ship took over two years to complete and was named Homeward Bound. In 1886 she began her journey to Durban.  

And yes they reached the English Channel in 1887 and were entertained by Queen Victory before reaching Norway. 

Then there is the 15km mountain race which is the oldest race in South Africa, it originated in 1922 when Major Belcher returned to Harrismith and Mr Schruby bet him that he could not reach the top in less than 60min.

Harrismith also boast the 3rd oldest golf course in South Africa

You'll see many beautiful old offices and houses on the drive - the oldest built in 1858 -

only 2 years before De Oude Huize Yard - each with its own story to tell. A wonderful little pamphlet with information of all the buildings is available.

Thank you for taking a ride in our vintage Chevy and enjoy the interesting history of Harrismith 

Till next time 

Sandra 

Drab to Brag

Seeing that we are busy, at De Oude Huize to renovating the attic into an additional bedroom. There is a need for some furniture to match the theme of antique golf and lots of books. 

We came across these drab  old wing back chairs.   

I love their shape and size!!! 
See our Attic here

Look at that sexy legs.   This oldie needs a remake. 

This oldie shouted please please take me home!

It was now also time to find the material that will do the trick for these lovely oldies.  It was necessary to give them a new lease on their durability but also change them into two very special and comfortable chairs.  They had a special duty . . .  to be comfortable and to be able to sit and look out the little dormer windows and . . .  read  . . .  and look  . . . .  sip on an old brandy cognac. 

This piece of material could tell a story and we know that great stories happen to those who can tell them!!!  

All the old drab has been removed and the new beginning is taking shape.

Measure and measure

Mary you are a star!
With Mary's help these are now sexy ladies.
They will charm you and keep you comfortable.

Charming!

Thank you for all the wonderful friends whom is sharing this story!!!

Ivy and Elephants;  Time Washed ;  Homemakers on a dime ;  Lavender Garden Cottage;  From my front Porch;  Tilly's Nest ;    Boogieboard Cottage;  
Elizabeth and Co;  Chic on a Shoestring;  Finding Fabulous;    The Trendy Treehouse; Common Ground;  The Busy Bee;  Knick of Time;  

My Simple Country Living;  The Style Sisters; Savvy Southernstyle; The Busy Bhive;  French Country Cottage; Life we Live; Romantic Home;  Redoux Interiors; No Minimalist Here;  Fishtail Cottage; The Shabby Creek Cottage;  Miss Mustardseed;  Love it and List it; Cedar Hill Ranch;  Coastal Charm; Your Creative Timeout;  A delightsome life;


Till next time 
Sandra 

Our "French" courtyard

"You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,

Love like you'll never be hurt,

Sing like there's nobody listening,

And live like it's heaven on earth.” 

William W. Purkey

Our courtyard is a very special place 
A lot of gatherings happenings take place here 

Be curious; be adventurous; live life full-out.
Accept the challenge, and reach for the brass ring.
 Jonathan Lockwood Huie  

Don't Limit Your Challenges... Challenge Your Limits

Embrace your uniqueness.
Time is much too short to be
living someone else's life.
 Kobi Yamada

Share our similarities, celebrate our differences.
 M. Scott Peck

As we grow as unique persons, we learn to respect
the uniqueness of others.
 Robert H. Schuller

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”
Elbert Hubbard 

I will greet his day with love in my heart.  And how will I do this?
Henceforth will I look on all things with love and be born again.
I will love the sun for it warms my bones;
yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit.
I will love the light for it shows me the way;
yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars.
I will welcome happiness as it enlarges my heart;
yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul.
I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due;
yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.
Og Mandino

Your thoughts create your reality.
Your mind is more powerful than you know.
Neale Donald Walsch

A dream you dream alone is only a dream.
A dream you dream together becomes reality.
 John Lennon

Thanks for the wonderful parties we will attend

Primpjunktion

Ivy and Elephants 

Time Washed 

Homemakers on a dime 

Have a daily Cup

Lavender Garden Cottage 
No Minimalist 

My Simple Country Living
Tilly's Nest 

The Busy Bhive 

Creative Crafts

Maleviksrosentradgard
Romantic Home
Savvy Southernstyle 

Boogieboard Cottage
Chic on a Shoestring 
To Much time
Jenniferrizzo

Finding Fabulous

The Brambleberry Cottage 

French Country Cottage 

The Tablescaper

Redoux Interiors 
Elizabeth and Co 
The Shabby Nest
Dawn's Disaster