Snuff said

Shirt - Jumble Sale

Pinafore - Jumble sale

Belt - Charity shop

Shoes - H&M

Listening to - I'm his girl - Friends

I feel I should apologise for the silly blog title, I just couldn't resist. By way of explanation - these photos were taken Saturday when we visited a Snuff Mill. We didn't actually go in it for some reason, but explored the park and empty house nearby. The whole area is National Trust but open to the public and is called Morden Hall Park. It's a pretty place, the white iron work bridges and little ponds in particular. The house in the pictures looks fairly old but is out of use, and looking inside it seems like it was perhaps a hotel, I'm curious about it since it's unusual to find unused buildings on National Trust sites. This outfit is certainly basic, I have been drawn to clean lines and work wear lately which may explain it. I had been after a pinafore type dress for a while after seeing all the great ones Isla wears. Luckily I found this Laura Ashley number in the great jumble sale I went to in Feb. Amusingly the lady who sold it to me said ' You do realise this is a maternity dress?' I said yes I was going to take it up and in, which I have. got to see the potential in clothes that may not seem right straight away. Although it is still a bit loose. The belt I've had for years and recently rediscovered in a Spring clean. I like it when you find forgotten favourites.

Chartwell, c 1946

 

 

 

 

Hat - Uni qlo

Dress - Traid, £4 sale

Belt- Jumble sale, 20p

Bag - jumble sale, 50p

Shoes - H&M plus ribbon laces

Listening to ~ Blossom Dearie ~ Long Daddy Green

Prepare for some history geekery because on Sunday I spent a gloriously sunny day at Chartwell, National trust property and former home of Winston Churchill. According to my Father (who knows such things) it's the second most popular National Trust property. It was crazy busy because they were having a special 1940s day, with home guard demonstrations, all the staff in 1940s clothing, a brass band playing on the lawn and also a flyby from a spitfire. All made even better given we only went there on a whim. Chartwell felt quite different to some of the other national Trust places I've been to. I think because there is so much knowledge and information about the people who lived there, unlike others where not much is said. The house felt very homely and you can tell would be a gorgeous place to live, the views alone are incredible. It was quite an inspiring place really, there is a room full of all the accolades and awards given to Churchill over the course of his life in the 'uniform rooms' and also a mini museum. 

In the museum I found a great quote along the lines of -  "I like pigs; cats look down on you and dogs look up to you but pigs treat you as equals." It said he often sketched a little pig at the end of his letters. It's fascinating getting an insight into such a famous mind. As well as the house, you can visit Churchill's studio (well part of it) which contains some of his paintings, and the rose garden/ grounds. I really enjoyed looking around but it was so hot by the end I just had to flop down on the grass and listen to the brass band. I am so glad I wore this new dress from Traid ,during one of their brilliant £4 sales,(eventually it goes to £2.) I love the feeling of all that fabric, and I am a big fan of denim/ chambray any day.

The Rose garden

Necklace - Gift from when I was about ten

T-shirt - Topshop (very old)

Skirt - Belonged to my grandmother

Bag - Belonged to my other grandmother

Sandals - New Look (again very old)

On Sunday I visited a National Trust Property called Nymans, a  garden and partly ruined house.  Nymans is one of my favourite National Trust places  so far, the gardens were full of bright flowers and plants everywhere you looked. The first image is taken in 'The Temple' and looks down over the grounds. This sort of  landscape always reminds me a little of Jane Austen, I'm not sure why. As well as the garden you can visit a few rooms of the old family house. The house was partly destroyed by fire in 1947 , yet later partially rebuilt and lived in by the last of the family to live there, Anne Messel. The gardens have a pinetum which has samples of many different types of trees, a walled garden - that made me think of the secret garden, and a rose garden. The rose garden was so beautiful, I'm not sure I've ever seen so many different roses in one place. This blog seems to be turning into 'what I wore to visit a national trust garden,' I hope nobody minds.

Rhododendrons

Hat - H&M

Dress - Charity shop, Laura Ashely

Shoes - Charity shop

Bag - Belonged to my Grandmother

On Sunday we took a trip to Sheffield Park Gardens. The gardens are owned by the National Trust and were designed by 'Capability' Brown in the 18th century and extended by it's owner Arthur.G.Soames at the beginning of the 20th century. The whole gardens were full of colourful  rhododendrons everywhere you looked. As well as a couple of giant redwoods and  a lake where you can glimpse part of the Gothic house. The whole place is really beautiful and I fully recommend a visit.