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THOUGHTS of HOUDINI

Monthly Archives: April 2012

DOES THIS DRESSER SPEAK WELSH?

29 Sunday Apr 2012

Posted by Houdini in House & Home, Simple Pleasures

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

crockery, display, Home, House, kitchen, plates, welsh dresser

I’ve recently bought the last piece of furniture that we need for this house. I say last, because technically we have everything we need now. (Although, maybe a new lounge sofa would be quite nice!?)

Anyhow, I bought a dresser for the kitchen – from eBay too, so we got it for a bargain price. It’s something that I’ve wanted for a little while now, especially with already having all the crockery to go on it – and I believe it finishes the kitchen off perfectly! Want to see?

What is it about a dresser that makes a house a home!? Maybe it’s because part of its history is based around being a present for newly-weds to show off their wedding gifts…and in eventually showing off the home’s finest wares. Either way, I absolutely love it – especially as this one was made from antique reclaimed wood which is full of character and imperfections – which adds completely to it’s unique charm. Little nicks, patterns, indentations and grains have all become part of its story and now journey to our kitchen – and our home. Let’s call it comfort furniture!

I have no idea of the nationality of this dresser – we tend to say ‘Welsh dresser’ regardless of whether it has any connection to Wales or not! I did some research on the internet and came up with the following information:

Dressers were made all over England, Scotland and Wales from the late seventeenth through the nineteenth century. But the term dresser has become synonymous with Wales, probably because of the large number of high quality examples that have come out of there. Welsh craftsmen were known for their skill and individuality, and dressers from Wales tend to have an abundance of decoration and added features like scalloped cornices and pierced aprons, while English dressers are, as a rule, plainer.

Since Wales was a poor country, most of its people were engaged in farming. Welsh farmhouses consisted of one room, serving as kitchen/parlor/dining room, with a loft for sleeping above. As space was at a premium, dressers were made to hold everything needed for both food preparation and service. Hence Welsh dressers are almost uniformly ‘high’ dressers. They have a base with cupboards or shelves for storage of mixing bowls and serving platters, and a superstructure of either wide or narrow shelves to display the family’s best pewter and crockery.

Even late in the twentieth century a dresser was an essential part of a young girl’s dowry in Wales. She would put it in the parlor or kitchen, filling the top shelf with glassware, the next shelf with a tea set backed by large willow ware plates and every hook with as many lusterware jugs as her budget would allow. The top of the dresser base would hold bits of brass, her favorite Staffordshire figures, and all manner of family treasures.

There – it’s official, a house is not a home without a dresser!

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BIG BROTHER

23 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by Houdini in Cats

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

big brother, eyes, kitten, watching

Do you ever get the impression that somebody’s watching you!!!???

I’m sure it’s just all in my imagination! ;-)

IGUANAS & SPIDERS & SNAKES…OH MY!

16 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by Houdini in Day Trips

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

animals, birds of prey, fish, mammals, nephew, Ponderosa, reindeer, reptiles, snakes, West Yorkshire, wildlife

My beau’s nephew, Dan, came to visit on Friday for a couple of days – as it was still the Easter holidays. We had promised him a belated birthday treat – which included pizza, popcorn and a DVD of his choice. We also took him to Ponderosa – an animal farm in West Yorkshire – as he is currently wanting to work with animals after leaving college and so we thought he’d thoroughly enjoy this experience.

They have all sorts of rare breed animals there, as well as birds, birds of prey, fish, insects, large and small mammals – and reptiles! Of course, I took my camera and ended up with some great close-up shots for our nephew to keep as memories of his visit too.

I have been several times over the years – and have watched the farm grow from a small holding, originally set up for children and adults with disabilities – to what it is today; an established visitor centre which provides care for many different animals and work placements for adults with special needs. It really is a lovely afternoon out – and our nephew thoroughly enjoyed himself, sharing his knowledge and telling us all about the different animals he encountered throughout his visit.

He particularly loves horses and dreams of working with them one day – and so was really pleased to have the chance to stroke and have his photograph taken with one.

My own favourites included a parrot who copied everything you said (as well as repetitively asking you for a kiss!) I also loved the reindeers who continued to make the most beautiful sounds as we talked to them. I’m not a fan of snakes or spiders – so I stayed well clear of those!

If you’re ever in the area it’s worth a visit – and you can find out more about the place HERE

TITANIC

14 Saturday Apr 2012

Posted by Houdini in History

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

100 years, boat, centenary, Titanic, tragedy

I remember first studying the Titanic at primary school. I would have been about 10 and I remember being mesmerised by this tragic story – an interest that has remained with me ever since. I remember asking for a book for Christmas which was all about the ship – newly written with colour photographs after it’s location had been found after years and years of searching. I still have this book today.

I use to wonder why this particular piece of history held so much interest and importance to my life – that sometimes I use to think that maybe I had some connection with this boat in a previous life. Of course friends have always laughed at me with innuendo’s such as “Trust you to have gone down on the Titanic!” ;-)

Regardless, 100 years ago tonight, this titanic vessel made contact with an iceberg which ultimately led to its demise. I wanted to acknowledge this in some way.

RIP Titanic and to all of those people who lost their lives exactly 100 years ago.

BEST BUTTER

10 Tuesday Apr 2012

Posted by Houdini in House & Home, What's New?

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

1900s, 3 quart, butter, churn, dazey, glass, London, metal

At exactly the same time we moved in this house, we noticed a local derelict mill (less than a mile away) had been turned into a cafe – and was about to open its doors. We’ve been there several times since for a cooked breakfast – but mostly for coffee and cake as we’re passing. But, what I particularly like about this place is that it has it’s own adjoining ‘antiques’ centre, which you can only access through the cafe itself. Here you’ll find a mixture of modern and old goods for sale – everything from clothes to furniture to homeware; most of which are at affordable prices too. I snapped these pictures on my phone of things for sale during my latest visit.

I have bought several things from them over time – but have always had my eye on one item in particular. This item had appeared on their publicity leaflets and has always been ‘not for sale’ despite mine and other people’s requests to buy it; but yesterday I noticed, to my delight, that a price tag had indeed finally been fixed. Of course I bought it – and I am now owner of this antique butter Dazey churn. It sits proudly on my kitchen window sill.

What do you think? In case you were interested, I found several informative websites online about the history of butter churning – including this one HERE which talks about the invention of these glass butter churns in the early 1900s.

IN THE WARM ROOM

07 Saturday Apr 2012

Posted by Houdini in House & Home

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

blogging, garden room, laura ashley, night-shift, relaxing, sofa, velux, window

My beau is currently working a string of night-shifts and therefore sleeping throughout the day – so I have found myself sitting in the garden room a lot – especially as it is the furthest room from the bedroom. Here I sit, out of ear-shot, feet up on the sofa, looking at your blogs and endlessly surfing the web, following one link to another…to another…to another…often aimlessly. Even so, I love it and it is my idea of pure indulgence (especially avec chocolate!)

I have a view of the garden and Misty-Blue is sitting alongside me; sometimes purring, but mostly playing and biting! We had some recent problems with the central heating system and the garden room radiator decided to stop working all together! Within these recent winter moments it has been unbearably cold. However, it is now fixed (after the plumber turned it upside down and round about) and despite revealing an unsightly and unpainted side (I really must get onto that!) it now is possibly the warmest room in the house! It also has two velux windows within its slopping ceiling too – so the room is always well lit – especially in the summer when we get the sun on the back for most of the day.

So here I sit…enjoying the view and the silence. Heaven. I may be here for some time…

HOW TYPICALLY BRITISH!

04 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by Houdini in Weather

≈ 18 Comments

Tags

garden, plants, Snow, spring, sunshine, weather, weight, winter

From an unusual late March heatwave…

…to a snowy April beginning!

Can you even believe that these two photographs were taken literally days apart!?!

That’s British weather for you! I awoke this morning to a winter wonderland which brings a mixture of emotions; on one hand the knowledge that we’re snowed in, the car won’t move and I can’t get to work is slightly pleasurable as it’s reminiscent of those rare but wonderful days of my youth when the weather meant that you couldn’t get to school or that the building simply had to close!! But on the other hand, it also brings sadness in the damage that last night’s wind and snowfall has done to the blossoming spring garden.

I had only commented days ago to my beau how beautiful the garden was starting to look – with blossoming plants, flowers and trees – spring fresh, new and simply beautiful. Today, some of these plants are looking very sorry for themselves; arched and downtrodden from the weight of the snow, some are simply refusing, or just plain unable, to resurrect their former glory with their stems now bent, broken or heavy.

Some plants simply require canes, garden string and a bit of TLC – whilst others look like they won’t ever recover. I know nature will surprise me and the garden will recover in its own way, but for now the spring magic has disappeared and snow is all around.

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