Paisley patterns in the Library

This weekend we’re not going to Devon. It’s how life is right now, but thankfully we have been to Devon many a time, and so instead I’m sharing some photos from a previous visit. This visit was from a visit in 2016, and while MOH and my SIL and her husband went for for a walk over the Moor, I opted for what turned out to be a more sensible trip to Killerton.

The plan was to meet in the pub for lunch, which still happened, though my morning was spent much more relaxed than theirs. I explored the house, spent time reading the books in the library - yes, the actual books, sitting on the actual chairs and actually pretending it was where I lived.

NOT A BAD SETTING

In fact I probably got a little too comfortable, but in my defence it was a great book, and there was no better setting for it. But what about the paisley?

I’ve never really given them much thought, well apart from avoiding them on Liberty fabrics as I grew up, not something I’m sure I’d do now. The origins of the motif, that is instantly recognisable, can be found in the ancient civilisation of Babylon under the rule of kings such as Nebuchadnezzar. Paisley, is of course a small Scottish textile town, and had I had more time I would have read the whole story of its connection with this instantly recognisable design.

I left realising that there’s much, much more to Paisley, and you just thought I was browsing books in the Library didn’t you?

I did finally manage to tear myself away, and I was hooked. There is of course plenty more to see, including a tour around the gardens, which I also love. While in the gardens, the skies grew black, I knew I was too far away from the house to make it back as it started spitting so sheltered under a large tree. The weather quickly passed and off I headed to the pub, only to sit there alone, for longer than I’d like.

They arrived eventually. They’d been caught in the rain, and got soaked through, so had headed back to get changed and then set out to meet me for lunch. The mobile signal is bad in Devon, but they’d not thought to call to change the venue to save their mileage, clearly soggy brains!

The outside loo

It’s been a bit quiet here this week, which is reflecting real life right now but also because I haven’t known quite what to share. I’ve been editing and sorting photos, and reminding myself that I still have my 2016 photo yearbook to complete. But that’s also led to the rediscovery of these photos, and it’s not quite the outside loo you’d expect.

This outside loo is at the National Trust’s Killerton, and is really more of a cabin. It’s a godsend too when you’re part way round the garden, for me, it was handy following the wasp sting and somewhere to try and remove the smell of vinegar.

I wasn’t quite expecting this though. It was rustic, but stylishly so with plenty of modern touches.

The wall tiles, the floor tiles - though I think the grout was a bit overly rustic for me - and as a fan of maps, I thought that was a great touch on the back wall.

The lights had that contemporary feel too, and looking up it was very ‘au naturel’.

So a shed, or cabin, with style. And an outdoor loo with a difference, that’s for sure.

Sculptures that sum up January for me

These sculptures made me smile when I saw them at RHS Rosemoor in the autumn, but they also have a touch of January about them, so let’s have a light-hearted look at how they sum up January for me.

This one has clearly reached at least the 44th of the month, and realises that there’s still at least half the month left…

And there’s a mascara mishap or two happening. And it still amuses me how the plant is growing around the sculpture, adding a modesty covering that couldn’t have been better placed.

Further along our jaunt around the garden this small sculpture caught my eye. I’ve said before I’d happily hibernate in January, though with slightly more clothes on that this statue, and hopefully without the ornithological audience.

Clearly time has moved on for the sculpture below, and it’s obviously the 91st of January, which calls for a celebration…

….The only thing though about the end of January, is the start of February - and well, that’s not usually exactly full of Spring.

Roll on March, I say - and when January gets to me (as it often does) then I’ll remember to dig out this post, as it’d have to be pretty bad for these not to make me smile.