Orangerie or Conservatory Dream

Our son got married to a dream girl in October 2013. 

 While they were running around trying to book a venue for the reception in Harrismith,

 it dawn on us that there is not much to choose from. 

 All are big venues and their dream wedding - only 75 guests.

They had their wedding in a little clearing next to a waterfall at the foot of Platberg Mountain
The set-up for the church ceremony

The little waterful.  She is such a wonderful girl, the sparkle in our son's eyes. 

No frills and no curls - beautiful 

This was when our latest dream project was born. 

 We want to add a small hall to our establishment, but not just any hall.

Decisions . . . decisions 

Where we plan to built the venue hall used to be our grow house for the Lisianthus cut flowers that we grow. 

So we thought what about an Orangery or Orangerie or a Conservatory. 

First we had to find the difference. 

An Orangerie was a building in the grounds of fashionable residences from the 17th to the 19th centuries and given a classic architectural form. The name reflects the original use of the building as a place where citrus trees were often wintered in tubs under cover, surviving through harsh frosts

A Conservatory is a room having glass roof and walls, typically attached to a house on only one side, used as a greenhouse or a sunroom. Conservatories originated in the 16th century when wealthy landowners sought to cultivate citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges that began to appear on their dinner tables brought by traders from warmer regions.

We are already looking out for the right mood!!! 

The above five images are borrowed

Please we are open for advise and if you could come up for our little venue please let us know.
Lots of love
Sandra 

We have to send invitations to this party

Ivy and Elephants; Time Washed ; Homemakers on a dime ; Lavender Garden Cottage; 

From my front Porch; Tilly's Nest ; Boogieboard Cottage; Elizabeth and Co; 

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; 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; The Tablescaper;  The Jenny Evolution 

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 

Our Attic and the history of our towns golf course

De Oude Huize Attic

is our current project.  

A writer can write in an attic, or on top of a bus. 

Or with a sharp stick in some wet cement. 

- Paul Muni - 

Where do we start?  

The only access to the attic was via a ladder and a small door.
I am not fond of heights.
Once again Hennie had a plan!!!

We will start with a proper door!

Halve way 

The new door is now in place but how to get there!!!

Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat 

down the door!

-Kyle Chandler- 

A walkway will be the answer!
I am so fortunate to be married to a engineer that can make
everything

If I may say so - it came out perfect.
Hennie and his two helpers completed the job

After an inspection, Hennie decided that the dormer in the roof
will be the next step..... 

Every one has to make haste . . .
we are now in the rainy season 

Once again Hennie made the dormer on the ground and then hoisted it into place 

The view is still magnificient

First dormer is in position I just love it
Nest week will be the fitting of the second window. 

The past is an old chair in the attic,
the present an ominous ticking sound,
and the future is anybody's guess.
-James Thurber-

The attic will soon be turned into an extra room for our 

Bed and Breakfast. 

Over the  years we have collected a lot of old books 

and pictures of our town's golf course.  

The scenic 18-hole golf course, arguably the third oldest in 

South Africa (after the Royal Cape and George Golf Clubs) 

was founded in 1887.

Love to frame this one

This once could be used as wallpaper

Another wallpaper 

In a frame 

A Bogey!

Thanks for visiting 

Blessings to all 
Till next time
Sandra 

We will have a wonderful time while visiting the 
following parties

Primpjunktion

Ivy and Elephants 

Time Washed 

Homemakers on a dime 

Twiggstudios

Have a daily Cup

Lavender Garden Cottage 
No Minimalist 

My Simple Country Living
DIYhshp

Handy Crafty Woman 

Tilly's Nest 
The Busy Bhive 

Creative Crafts

Maleviksrosentradgard
Romantic Home
Savvy Southernstyle 

Boogieboard Cottage
 Shades of Amber 
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Life in Balance 
Faith, Grace and Crafts
Common Ground 
Raising Homemakers
Chic on a Shoestring 
To Much time

Jenniferrizzo

Finding Fabulous

The Brambleberry Cottage 

French Country Cottage 

The Tablescaper

Redoux Interiors 

Sunny Simple Life 
The Style Sisters
Dawn Disaster

Renovating De Oude Huize from 2000

The front door had six layers of paint that needs to be removed. 

My husband, Hennie, used every known way to strip the paint.  

Eventually it was heated with a blow torch and then scraped of.  

This restoring process took months.  Eventually all the doors, window frames and all wood was now exposed.  Beautiful Oregon pine and Yellow wood now graces our house.   

You can now follow the renovation process and the improvements that happened at De Oude Huize

Handpainted wallpaper found behind an old ceiling 

Old window that was found during renovations.

The bath before re-enamaling