A blue greyish lamp post in our garden

DeOudeHuize

There were oil lamps in the streets and candles in the churches and it was reported that the ladies complained of the candle grease "falling on their wearing apparel". 
The Council embarked on a scheme for electric lighting, at an estimated cost of 19000 Pounds. The work was carried out by Messrs Morley and Dawbarn of London and Johannesburg. 
Mrs Caskie, wife of the Mayor of the day, turned on the lights at a banquet in November, 1904. 
Six beautiful street lamps were donated to the town. 
The according to word-of-mouth it was donated by the British Monarchy.
These  stunning street lamp took poll position in front of the Town Hall. 
When we moved to Harrismith there were still 2 lamps standing 

Some years ago we were driving though town and saw four guys rolling this base of a lamp.

The base of the street lamp 

After a couple of minutes Hennie was convinced he could save the old street lamp. 

In the same year the then museum had to be moved. This was a main . . . main job. There was an old ox-wagon that needs to be removed. Under the ox-wagon a lot of broken pieces of a street lamp, was hidden. 

The then committee entrusted the broken bits and pieces to us. We learnt that it was destroyed by a truck. Biebie de Vos - our town historian - helped with a picture of the original street lamp. 
 Hennie started the restoring the lamp.  

In the words of Mother Teresa

If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. 

To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.

Bits and pieces put together 

A couple of years ago this pieces was entrusted to us when it was hit by a truck

"May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out"

JRR Tolkien

A picture of a street lamp in Madison Avenue dated 1924.
This was part of the inspiration 

Bits and pieces 

Hennie started to renovate it as time was available.
He had to make new pieces where pieces were missing.
Painfully he managed to restore it

Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of
creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness. 

More detail of the bottom tulip shape 

Wonderful to see it standing in our garden

Thanks for visiting and may you have a wonderful time
Love from South Africa
Sandra

The Cab that we love

DeOudeHuize 

A couple of years ago we had a fun week 

at De Oude Huize.  

A week of Art, Cars and Culture in Afrikaans it is called Kuns Karre en Kultuur 

We have had great fun in 2007

The Cab standing proud in the garden during the week of fun 

In the end we bought one of the Vintage Vehicles 

A 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster with a straight six engine  and space to stretch out in  

For those of you who would be interested in more technical detail 

Engine capacity I6 3548cc or 216.5cu in or 3.5l 

90 Bruto Horsepower (66.24KW) @ 3300 RPM

Bore: 3.5in or 89mm

Stroke: 3.8in or 95mm

Weight: 3148lbs or 1427.909kg 

Engine location is in the Front 

Drive by rear wheel 

Transmission is 3 manual Vacuum assisted shifting 

The Radiator grille freature a vertical centre bar 

At first we did not know what we will be using it for
But a beauty indeed she is 

Adam Truscott honored her as part of a painting
You can read more about Adam and his family here  

She is in perfect condition and we love to go for a drive at sunset 

We started to take people through town 

Then she became famous for transporting people to special occations
In 2008 she transported our son and his wife to be to their Matric farewell party
The are the couple in the boot of the Chevy 

She has been part of many happy days
The sandstone Church feature here 

Sometime even showing a very sexy leg or smile 

She has been through snow, rain and storm.Hennie, my hubby, featured left.
Myself on the right.
My dad in the middle bottom 

Meeting up with important travelers 

Doing a historic town tour
You can read more about the Town Hall here 

Sometimes she needs a tune or two
Thank you to Luckey and his team that always take good care of her.

  

Sometimes I also hitch a ride 

rThanks for taking a ride in our Chevy 

Sending Lots of  Love
Sandra

Textures in an Alley

DeOudeHuize

I love inspirational quotes. 

They are powerful nuggets of wisdom condensed into one or two lines. 

I get so inspired to take action.

Back then it was nothing like today.

The air was soft, the stars so fine, the promise of every cobbled alley 

so great that I thought I was in a dream.

Jack Kerouac

We took a stroll down an alley and wonder what will we find.  

First we met this old lady. 

She has been built with sandstone but later plastered and then painted. 

Ultimately neglected. 

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. 
I don't believe in circumstances. 
The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for 
the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, 
make them. 
George Bernard Shaw 

An beautiful staircase carved many years ago 

We then explore and found our next treasure 

A small redbrick building with a little gable and an interesting door 

Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee, and do not try to make the universe 
a blind alley 
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Our next stop was as courtyard 

This was a mix and match with no common sense

Not taking an holistic look into account  

The best years of your life are the ones in which you 

decide your problems are your own. 

You do not blame them on your mother, 

the ecology or the president. 

Your relize that you control your own destiny 

Albert Ellis

I hope that you will find charm in all the 
different textures in the alley 

Lots of Love 
Sandra 

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

A Stroll Thru Life; A delightsome life; Craft Berry Bush; Crafty Allie; 

Create with Joy; China on a shoestring; Confessions of a Plate Addict; Elizabeth & Co; 

Embracing Change;  Fishtail Cottage; Funky Junk; Have a Daily Cup; Ivy and Elephants; Katherines Corner; Knick of Time; Life on Lakeshore; My Romantic Home; 

My Salvaged Treasures; Miss Mustardseed; Rooted in thyme; Redoux Interiors; 
The Dedicated House; Shabby Art Style Sisters; Savvy Southern style; Sweet Bella Roos; 
The Shabby Nest; The Jenny Evolution; Too Much Time; 

Treasures in an old country hotel that is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.

DeOudeHuize

Our town, Harrismith, is filled with history and interesting stories.
This story as told by the hosts of De Oude Huize Yard 
Part 2
Please read Part 1 here

Today we would like take you on a nostalgic trip and pay a visit the the almost part of history
that is almost something of the past.

Mr Annandale had a love for antiques and the beautiful old sideboards was part of his collection.

The first sideboard was originally made in Germany and was brought to South Africa by the Von During Family in the latter part of the 19^th century.

Lots of blessing from South Africa 

Sandra