Tag Archives: days out

Hidden Giants, Jungles & Birds!

Posted on by Abi

The summer seems to have flown by this year and I barely had time to notice it. Thankfully we did manage to squeeze in a short holiday to Cornwall. I have always loved this area since I was a child. One of my favourite places to visit is the Lost Garden’s Of Heligan, it has a fantastic history and even more fantastic plants. I’m not sure the photos completely do it justice but I really wanted to try and show you the amazing scenes.

Here is a living sculture called the Sleeping Lady. There is also a Giant’s head that seems to be emerging from the ground.

There are many different areas to explore but I am particularly partial to the jungle. It’s set in a valley with lots of tropical plants. It definitely has an ancient feel to it, I wouldn’t have been completely surprised if a lizard had crossed my path, or better yet a dinosaur!

We even made friends with this young Robin, although I suspect he was after our sandwiches really. The birds in particular seem very used to people, which allows for unusual closeness. We even spied a Nuthatch!

 

I was rather envious of their vegetable gardens, they were growing everything from Pumpkins to Pineapples. It reminded me of Mr McGregors garden in Peter Rabbit, big piles of terracotta pots everywhere and plenty of vegetables to munch.

I never leave Heligan without buying some of their honey produced by their very own bees. It’s absolutely delicious, but with such varieties of flowers it’s easy to see why they have such happy insects. If you ever find yourself in this area of Cornwall (it’s near to St. Austell) be sure to check it out.

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A Walk Along A Beach

Posted on by Abi

Some of my older blog friends may remember a post I wrote about the tranquility of walking through the countryside and really taking notice of your surroundings. Well this post bares a similar message but a different location.

I am lucky enough to have family in West Sussex, the beaches are pebbly, the sea is thick with seaweed and salt but the surroundings are beautiful and ever so relaxing.

Sometimes the British seaside can look a little tired and washed out. It’s heyday is probably behind it and many buildings stand in exactly the same condition as they did 30 years ago, but older and more worn. But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

There’s something very romantic about the salt battered beachhuts that line the coast. They come in many varying colours and sizes, they really feel like a nod to the past. I absolutely adore beachhuts. They have featured in our work in the past and will again in the future 🙂

The colourful fishcrates all stacked remind me of fishing as a child with my Father, I always threw my catches back (as I’m not much of a seafood fan) but the memories are very fond.

Watching boats bobbing around is probably one of the most calming scenes you can ever see. There’s usually a chorus of seagull calls in the background.

The low tide breakwaters all mossy and covered in limpets, climbing over them to reach the next stretch of beach brings back memories of collecting shells with my brother.

Do you have a special place you go to relax?

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The Elegance Of Chandeliers

Posted on by Abi

I absolutely adore Chandeliers, the way they hang from the ceiling, the way they glint as light hits them, the way they can ooze elegance into a room which previously had none. The larger and grander the better, at least that’s true when I see them hanging in country houses etc. Of course most of us aren’t lucky enough to own a home worthy of a handmade or antique beauty, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still appreciate them. One of my favourite places to visit and see Chandeliers is Venice. But I am not talking about the crowded squares of San Marco or the usual tourist routes. To really appreciate Venice you have to walk away from your guide books and explore the hidden areas, the shops that only locals frequent. There are many antique/junk shops hiding down small alleys.

In one shop I saw the largest Chandelier I have ever seen, of course it’s hard to depict scale in a photo, but believe me it was huge!

In another shop stood a large workbench with glass drops set out ready to mend broken chandeliers. The street was very dark, which made it hard to take photos, but the shop plus street was like looking into a past that most of us have forgotten, the real artists Venice.

Of course you can buy chandeliers in any country in the world. Modern ones are usually wired for electric lights, which means they can be used daily. Have any of you purchased a bit of grandure and hung a chandelier in your home?

In London there is a beautiful tea room called Le Chandelier which aside from wonderful food also sells beautiful chandeliers.

Or perhaps scour the antique shops near you and buy up antique chandelier drops, I have seen these made into beautiful Christmas decorations, or pendants to hang in a window, the possibilities are endless. We have made some of our favourites into jewellery here.

LittleYayas

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