Shards

DeOudeHuize

Shards of blue and white porcelain salvaged when digging in the garden. 

Of all things broken and lost, porcelain troubles me most

There seems to be more of an immediacy, a deep loss, something personal and dear that has gone, broken, discarded and lost.

Thanks for visiting may you all have a wonderful week. 

Love from South Africa 

Sandra

Wing backs reconstruction

We are now more or less finished with the renovations and have started to upgrade our Guest rooms. Some time ago we featured these chairs and their make over. 

We came across very drab old wing back chairs.

They now make their own statement 

I love their shape and size!!!

Charming!

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.

Thanks for visiting 

Till next time 

Sandra

The Old and the "old" new

We had a lot of sentimental feelings about an old couch.  

It had done it's bit and we had to decide to dispose of it or  . . . . 

give a makeover.  

Over the years we have hold hands, laugh at jokes and snuggle on the couch.

And then the arm sections were lifted and half rounds were added.  

The back section was re-inforced

Time for Mariaan and Mary to do their charm with the inners

And then the outer.  Leather for cover.

Details 

Details 

Think that we will have some more fun on the "old" new couch. 

Lots of blessing from South Africa 

Sandra 

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

A Stroll Thru Life; A delightsome life; Any Girl Can Do It; Craft Berry Bush; Crafty Allie; 

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

Embracing Change;  Fabulous Friday;   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; My Salvaged Treasures; 

Miss Mustardseed; Revisionary Life; Rooted in thyme; Redoux Interiors; The Dedicated House; 

The Charm of Home; Rose Garden Malevik; Tilly's Nest ; Shabby Art Style Sisters; 
Savvy Southern style; Sweet Bella Roos; The Shabby Nest; The Jenny Evolution; 
 Too Much Time;  We Call It Junkin

Cosmos flowers and the Anglo Boer War

DeOudeHuize

In autumn - April and May, our area lights up with a multi-coloured cosmos magic. 

A little fragile flower in marshmallow shades of pinks and white. They fill ditches, stand guard and wave in the wind.

In the years from 1899 to 1902, the cosmos seed came over in the horse feed shipped across from Argentina for the British forces. So wherever you see banked rows of cosmos, you will know that there’s a good chance that a British cavalryman may have passed there.
Photo MarkVeePhotography 

In the years from 1899 to 1902, the cosmos seed came over in the horse feed shipped across from Argentina for the British forces. So wherever you see banked rows of cosmos, you will know that there’s a good chance that a British cavalryman may have passed there.

Now it's been discovered that our cosmos comes in 20 different species, and that their lands of origin include Paraguay, Central America and parts of the southern US.
Photo MarkVeePhotography

Thanks for visiting and please make sure to visit our friends
Lots of love
Sandra

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 

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 

Thornton Bibliothèque suite

We have had a wild time to renovate our attic.  

Read our previous posts here 

and here 

The final countdown . . . . . . 

“Second hand books are wild books,
homeless books;
they have come together in vast flocks of variegated feather,
and have a charm which the domesticated volumes of the library lack.” 
Virginia Woolf

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!
How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book!
When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an
excellent library.” Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice

If you have a garden and a library,
you have everything you need.
Marcus Tullius Cicero

I couldn't live a week without a private library - indeed,
I'd part with all my furniture and squat and sleep on the floor before i'd let go of the books I possess
H P Lovecraft 

Thank you for visiting till next time 

Sandra

Thanks for sharing our 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; 

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 

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