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

Restoring a house in Harrismith

Restoring a house in Harrismith

On a drive through Harrismith, we fell in love with a ruin standing on a large piece of land.

You have to love old buildings and believe in the quote of Arthur Erickson 

“Great buildings that move the spirit have always been rare. In every case they are unique, poetic and products of the heart."

Yes we bought the old lady, with a beautiful view toward Platberg, in October 2000 and moved to our new home 3 months later. You can read more about this here

The biggest question was where do we start.

During the time before moving we visited Trevor Evans, a wonderful architect specializing in old South African buildings.

We left with building plans and lots of information.

Now to give a little detail – we bought a dream to renovate while we do some soul finding.

Our house was built with sun-baked clay, compressed into brick forms and stone.

The foundations are packed sandstone blocks

There is no cement between the layers of mud bricks

The wood work were layered with up to 7 layers of paint, but that is what protected it though the years

Mr Venter, one of the previous owner's, son-in-law standing at the front door.
Hennie using a hot flame to remove paint from the front door 

The ceilings are high and rest on yellowwood beams 

What we learned was that these special house needs to breathe and flex like living things. 

The dry environment, the heat, the cold, extreme as it is, has shaped it, made it strong and preserved it.

When we look back, the cleaning process was the biggest challenge. 

After we had cleaned for 2 months we could start the renovation process. 

We followed the route of don’t over-restore. Keep it simple. 

Our biggest expense was time. 

Frances Mayes words reminded us of where we are: “Where you are is who you are. The further inside you moves, the more your identity is intertwined with it. Never casual, the choice of place is the choice of something you crave.” 

Whitewash was part of the process and we tried and tested many recipes and being an old house we did not want the perfect finish. We opt for Yellows and burnt Sienna for color. 

We did not remove any old mouldings and had some copied to match the originals. 

We had only used, salvaged building materials. 

We learned the hard way that polyfilla is a no-no for a mud built house. This two does not gel. We decided to renovate one room at a time. Life offers you a thousand changes … all you have to do is take one. 

Walls protect the dreamers and unthinkably good things can happen. 

Till next time 

Sandra 

The bathroom is shaping

DeOudeHuize
The hosts of De Oude Huize Yard shares their triumphs and heartaches while renovating their NEST 

When we first encountered the 155-year old house it was extremely dilapidated. 

Today, De Oude Huize Yard offers luxury accommodation in 4 bedrooms that provide a living reminder of the olden days. The large cast-iron baths are opulent to olde-worlde country living and every thing accentuates this grand sense of history. 

We we got permission to add a room it was essential to keep to the olde-world style and as written about it in a previous post describing our hunting trip for the bathroom that we planned to instal. 

You can read more about it here

Just to keep you updated on what is happening I'd like to share some photo's. 

This time I must admit that my hubby, Hennie did all the work. 

My supervision was enough.

An old Victoria cast iron bath that we managed to find in a small town in our country at a bargaining price.  We had it transported via our next door neighbour whom is the proud owner of a transport company.  

Sanding on the outside was essential.  

Falcon feet were essential and lucky we were to found four from the same owner.  

The inside of the bath was "not so nice"  we had to scrub and sand it to remove all the limestone residues had to be removed.    

The sanding and cleaning has been completed and now it was time for Hennie to do his magic.  

A Plascon Latex nr 8 was used for the re-enamel process.
What a time consuming process.
Spray painting was essential for a smooth finish.
There is only a 24 hour window between layers.    

Next up was the sexy Falcon legs.
My apologies for the upside down photo.  

After three days it was time for the outside of the bath.
I have dreamed of a soft "khaki" colour on the outside with a little emblem but
when you live in a small town you have to adapt.
The final decision was white all over.  

The complete project.
Not to shabby if I must say so myself.  

 Do you still remember the old buffet.  

Next on our project list will be the regeneration of it into a double sink bathroom vanity.  

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

Stoep . . . patio . . . terrazza . . . korto . . .

DeOudeHuize

We are born at a given moment,
in a given place and,
like vintage years of wine,
we have the qualities of the year and of the season of which we are born. 

As it is the time for Spring to pay us a visit in South Africa it was time to do something to the stoep server.  

A little Vignette

The question is what is a vignette?  

1.   A small illustration placed at the beginning or end of a book or chapter

2.   A short graceful literary essay or sketch
3.  A photograph, drawing, etc, with edges that are shaded off

But so we still call it a Vignette and the most important thing is to enjoy your life. 

To be happy 

Its all that matters.  

I love history... everything is inspired by history, so that's why I love vintage and antiques.

Thanks for visiting may you all have a wonderful week.  

Love from South Africa 

Sandra 

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;

Sandstone, Stairs and the Attic

We had to rebuilt the stairs to our Attic Room

The sandstone blocks were so heavy and it took some time to built.

The waiting  . . . .  it was worth it.  

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We hope to see you all soon