Skip to main content

Greenhouses

Recently Josie and I had a discussion about what special power we would have if we were super heroes. We both agreed that to be able to travel through time would be ideal. If I were to travel back in time and were only allowed one turn in the Delorean, then I would go back to the 1970s and spend an afternoon at my Grandparents where I spent so many happy times as a child. I often see their house and gardens in my dreams and I was especially fond of my Grandpa's greenhouse. I loved the way it smelt of tomato plants and was gloriously warm. It was filled with terracotta pots and red geraniums, there was even a door half way down which led to the second greenhouse and the wonderful water tank surrounded by a myriad of coloured watering cans which invariably had a surprise toad or frog hiding nearby. It was the most spectacular greenhouse, set against an enormous white brick wall of the garage workshop next door and ran almost the length of their garden. In my imagination, it was enormous and easily matched the greenhouses we saw at Quex Park today.


My Grandpa's greenhouse was very similar to this lean to style, made of wood, brick and glass.





We went to Quex Park today for the Vintage Fair which was the most bizarre mix of vintage clothing, kitchenalia and jewellery against the backdrop of gigantic Victorian glass cabinets filled with stuffed animals, hunted and collected by Major Percy Horace Gordon Powell-Cotton. 



As a pioneer of diorama, he created naturalistic environments for his natural history specimens which he displayed alongside his mass of guns and other weapons.


Vintage 1960s curtain fabric and crockery set against the Serengeti


Could we really expect Charlie to go in a vintage caravan filled with real cakes and not at least try to eat them?


And the gardens were beautiful and the weather was glorious.


Dedicated to my lovely friend who was at work and not at Quex Park

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Ridgeway Cottage Anyhow - How to add social media buttons to your blog

I know not everyone is excited by learning code and techie stuff but in my quest for website geekiness, this post is just one step closer. For all my lovely friends and family who do not care one hoot about what goes on behind the scenes of Ridgeway Cottage, here are some lovely photos of October life. (Those who do want to know about the buttons, social media and coding, please read on.) Social Media Buttons Anyhow You will need. Your blog open in layout  The URL of your social media places you want to link to Some lovely pictures of social media icons that you would like to use as your buttons A photobucket account which you can easily open here A small understanding of how the coding works  A rather large smattering of patience unless you are super clever at all techie stuff   What social media icons are you going to use? You can find some very lovely ones by searching on the internet or there are some here, here ,  or here . I liked these...

Granny square Christmas

When I was younger I fell in love with the granny square blanket my Nan had made. It was in her tiny little Welsh cottage near the mountains and was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. So many colours and combinations of colours, it was just truly amazing. I'm not sure if it's the happy childhood memories or my ever increasing passion for crocheting, but granny squares (and doilies) are something I could fill me life with. Even more delightful are the variations on granny squares. Star burst blanket, which used to be my favourite, but I have recently had a go at African flowers. They are quick and easy to make and so very pretty. Thanks to the brilliant free pattern that I found here , I have managed to make a little crochet Christmas stocking made out of 16 1/2 motifs. I am happy with the how the little Christmas stocking turned out and am now rather fond of African flowers, star burst and granny squares, well actually, all...

The Pink Ladies

As we sat in our classroom inspired horseshoe, designed to encourage conversation, there was a slightly uneasy silence. Those of us who knew each other, stole furtive glances, others returned our smiles politely although they were not privy to the planning and discussion that had occurred in preparation for the evening. The time had slowed, 8pm seemed an age away. The silence was intermittently interspersed with brief attemps at small talk and the rants of a drunk outside on the city streets. The commanding presence of our WI advisor Dorothy, had the air of an experienced headmistress or well respected senior relative which in the event of such formalities made me feel foolish in my .....excitement. Some of us stifled giggles as advice was provided on the process, as we had already made the majority of our formal decisions but it was with noticeable nerves, that I raised my hand to the question of who wished to be President.   So that's it, another new chapter has open...