Mottisfont

Today we had a wonderful day out at the National Trust's Mottisfont in Hampshire. Having once been told off for taking photos in a National Trust house I only took photos of the gardens which are wonderful.

The Walled Garden was just beautiful with the scent of roses and lavender. There are so many roses still in bud and when they do flower they will be a spectacular sight.

We walked along the River Test where this swan was having a nice afternoon nap till we woke it up!

This is a graveyard for some of the dogs who have lived here. I think the ivy growing up the wall looks like a hand!

From 3 July to 30 September Mottisfont is hosting a Beatrix Potter exhibition.

A collection of original water colour prints.
Date
3 July 11am - 30 September 4.30pm

Join in with the free activities - face painting, story telling and activities
Date
3 July 12am - 4 July 4.30pm

Peter Rabbit Trail
Can you find Peter Rabbit? Self guided family trail around the grounds.
Date
3 July 11am - 31 July 5pm

Beatrix Potter Time: Seeds of Yesteryear
Come along and make a paper pot planter and sow selected varieties of heritage seeds.
Date
10 July 12pm - 3pm

Beatrix Potter Storytime
Come along and listen to the beautiful tales wrote by one of best loved childrens authors, Beatrix Potter.
Date
Various dates

This is going to be Mr MacGregor's garden.

Oh So Pretty

Short and sweet...

Look what's under the carpet

On Friday I went shopping for the website but as per usual came home with things for myself instead! I bought this vintage enamel bowl and cushions as they go perfectly in my kitchen. I also bought an old metal washstand and some herbs.

I can't decide whether to use this in the kitchen as a herb 'garden' or in a bathroom.

The shop I bought these from has a lovely cafe too.

I have spent much of the weekend painting the bedroom and was delighted to find this hearth underneath the awful carpet. How could anyone cover these pretty tiles with an orange carpet?

More Decorating

We are now in the process of decorating another bedroom. I'm surprised I have managed to live with the dreadful decor for so long (80's terracotta wallpaper with border and a faded orange carpet - yuk!). Down one wall was a fitted wardrobe which despite being very useful I just couldn't live with so that was demolished, then the artexed ceiling was replastered. I stripped off all the paper which revealed walls which also needed replastering. Usually something dictates a colour scheme but this room is a completely blank canvas and it has taken me some time to decide on how I want it to look. My inspiration has been all the lovely pink blossom and blue skies that are around at the moment so the walls will be Farrow and Ball's Dimity with above the plaster coving in Light Blue.

I also want to use this eiderdown which was one of the first I ever bought.

This house has been stripped of most of its original features so we bought a cast iron fireplace to put back into the chimney recess. I am in the process of painting this white at the moment.

Whilst at the salvage yard trying to source Victorian skirting board I spied this linen press which I just had to buy. It needs quite a lot of TLC and as someone has started to paint it but not finished it I will attempt to remove all this to bring the pine back to its original look (as if I didn't have enough to do!). I've been wanting a linen press for ages and the owner let us have it for what he gave for it which was a bit of a bargain. Sadly it won't fit into the room I am decorating.

Hopefully it won't be too long before I can post photos of the finished room.