I had a dream ...... of sitting on a bench under a tree and playing my guitar

Yeah, just had my first guitar lesson in my shop! Said I would take up guitar lessons again, once i'd moved here, and it is already almost three years into my down shifting experience in Nottingham Road!  But better late than never as they say .....

The last two days we have had temperatures of around 28 degrees (35 in Pietermaritzburg) and we are just starting our Spring season. But in typical Nottingham Road style, today it is misty, rainy and freezing!

Knowing that the stunning weather will be back, its time to start planning those alfresco lunches. We have just got in some lovely benches, perfect to put under a tree in the garden whilst you wait for your meat to cook on the coals. We are also waiting for a consignment with some lovely long tables as well as ball & claw patio suites ready to be given a make over. Watch this space!

Click onto www.simplysam.co.za and browse all those lovely items your thinking of putting in your Home & Garden.

A rocking horse has a very special charm

I acquired a beautiful hand made rocking horse recently, which is for sale in my shop, and I have to say that there is just something so magical about a rocking horse, it just has a very special charm. Can you imagine the wide eyes of the child who is going to be presented with this beautiful gift? But why am I saying child? This would put a twinkle in even a 'big child's' eye - I'm thinking adult - surely they would love this just as much as any child! Link: http://www.simplysam.co.za/2614-papier-mache_2

Vintage Wedding? - "I do"

Nottingham Road has to be one of the most romantic places to host a vintage wedding, what with some of the most beautiful and historical venues to choose from with breath taking views and gorgeous scenery to use as a backdrop to beautiful wedding photos.

At a recent sale I happened upon the most gorgeous little Victorian Coat & Cap which I could just imagine being worn over a new pair of cotton & lace bloomers to dress the little flower girl or paige boy at a vintage wedding. I also came across a pure wool overcoat which would probably fit about a three year old. My mind was doing overtime when I spotted a child's vintage sailors outfit complete with little hat, trousers and sailor top. Though is has slight staining a child would look an absolute treat with genuine 'Shirley Temple' wringlets! To finish off the scene in my head I thought of the vintage silk and lace wedding dressing, circa 1920's, hanging in my shop and the black Tuxedo ......
http://www.simplysam.co.za/Vintage-silk-and-lace-wedding-dress

Crab Apple Chapel is one of the Natal Midlands best kept secrets in the Dargle Valley, surrounded by the natural forests and farmlands. Owned and built by Helen & Barend Booysen, (Tel: +27 (0)33 234-4235 Mobile: +27 (0)82 337-2025) the Crab Apple Chapel was built in 1992 for their local community and is available for your wedding. It seats up to 170 on church pews and the cost is minimal, but book well in advance as this has to be one of the most popular chapels. The 5km dirt road would need some careful planning if you are booking during the rainy season, so bare this in mind.

A heart full of love ....

I have just had a delivery of the most gorgeous little Nguni key ring hearts which will make you always want to remember where your keys are, with your little heart of course!
These come in a range of colours from natural to lime green and blood red and are locally hand-made here in the Natal Midlands. To make them especially African, we also have a black heart made from Ostrich leather.
So if you're looking for a little gift for someone special call into Simply Sam Antique Brocante & Gifts or visit us at http://www.simplysam.co.za/

What can you expect to find at the Country Courtyard, Nottingham Road?

Simply Sam Antique Brocante & Gifts began as a tiny little shop in Fort Nottingham in 2007, progressing to Nottingham Road in 2008 to a much bigger open plan shed which has allowed us to stock bigger pieces of furniture and some stunning gift items. The ambiance is both inspiring and refreshing as besides antiques and vintage pieces, we also stock new interior items, all of which are available over our website http://www.simplysam.co.za/ , so if you are looking for a special gift for someone, you can order it over our website and we will gift wrap and send, together with a little card, to a person of your choice.
The whole experience of shopping at the Country Courtyard Centre, situated around a stone and wrought iron oblisk in a French style Courtyard, is intimate and relaxed where one can enjoy a lunch at the infamous Cafe Bloom with their mismatch of crockery and welcoming environment. Sally Pereira's Country Company sells a whole array of glam and simple interior and gift items as well as a stunning range of adult and children's clothing, you certainly won't want to go away empty handed! For directions and enquiries telephone Sam on 033 2666940. We are situated on the R130 Nottingham Road (next door to the police station). Our opening hours are 10-4pm from Wed to Mon, closed Tuesdays. Our website http://www.simplysam.co.za/ is open 24 hours a day!

Temperatures Drop

Wow it was freezing here today, and that was after souring temperatures yesterday where in Martizburg it was 31 degrees and we didn't do too badly with our heat here either. But today! We were really hoping for snow, but got a bit of rain instead. I made a nice log fire and packed out some of our new items which included a couple of Suzi Cooper Tea sets, which are really lovely, and some EP Retro Tea sets, a couple I quite fancy myself!

Timbeeeeeer

It is a stunning day here in Fort Nottingham. Jasmine scents the air, I feel the warmth of the sun on my back and i'm assured that life is really good here in sunny South Africa with the beauty of all that abounds. Today i'm having trees felled at home. Even our little guest cottage was starting to feel the arthritis in its bones from the lack of sun created by dozens of trees that had created their own little forest around it. The smell of the Deodar is just something else. Deodar trees are a type of fir tree and are known for the natural oil which protects the wood. For those against the felling of trees, you'll be pleased to know that all of this wood is going to have a second life as roof beams and furniture which will make its way into Simply Sam Antique Brocante & Gifts. So if you are looking for an alfresco table for those summer lunches on the horizon, let me know.

I have to say that is it amazing to watch these majestic trees fall so swiftly. Just seconds of noise and they're down! We've been told our children can start up a temporary business at the market with the sawdust, as people love to sprinkle this on their veggie patch to stop the snails. So look out for us at the Karkloof market!

The best part of all this for me is that slowly our view is starting to come back into our garden. We live in the most stunning nature reserve and at the bottom of the property my neighbour stables and breeds horses, which we can now actually see as the hills spread towards the horizon. I mean, isn't that why we move to beautiful places like this ..............