An Open Book

Realization that my granddaughter Jasmin, who spends a lot of time with me, is beginning to 'have an eye' for special things, makes me happy. I've taken her treasure hunting all her life - well she toddled along beside me, whether she knew what loveliness her young eyes beheld I don't really know. Now, a pre-teen, I've noticed she picks up items carefully and looks at them with a smile. She brushes her fingers across the yellow keys of old pianos wishing she could take one home to play, then throws an old feather boa around her shoulders and strikes a roaring twenties pose. She sorts through piles of mother-of-pearl buttons finding the big ones she knows I love, then gently slips on vintage rings and bracelets, hoping to add to her own collection of 'precious jewels'.

At SuzAnna's Antiques - June 2008

Yesterday, she stopped at the dining room table and looked at this old book written by a Romany Gypsy. I'd folded the pages to give it a new dimension.
"That's neat - actually it's really nice Grandma, what a good idea...................I like it".

In the eye of the beholder ~ life is an open book.

PARIS Pink Saturday II

The amazing Jeannie not only stocks a shop of her own in another town, Uniquitiques in Hillsborough, NC, but also brings beauteous French inspired treasures to SuzAnna's Antiques where I snapped these pics. She stocks her booth with irresistible items, the latest being these cowgirl hats with built-in tiaras. Anyone ready for a hoe-down or Texas Two Step, French style!!!?

This is such a pretty chair and I wanted to bring it home but just don't have a spare inch to park it ~ that pink damask seat with a double corded edge had me sighing, I love damask fabric.

A French inspired tiny chandelier ~ pink crystals and perfect for a young girl's bedroom. If only I was a young girl with a pink bedroom!!!!

Here's another of Jeannie's Parisian tags attached to the cutest gift she left for me, a truly feminine garden trowel with a pink foam handle (thank you so much Jeannie - you're always so generous). The two Bridge sets - small scalloped table cloths and napkins in pink and white linen - I did bring home and will use at teatime. Couldn't resist another German glass glitter PARIS sign too.


Hope Pink Saturday is a great day for you.
Be sure to visit Beverly at How Sweet The Sound
our truly fabulous Pink Saturday hostess - she will have a list of links to all the fun pink blogs!

Friday's Favorite Family Foto

A tiny village in the South of France. Two weeks renewing family ties first bound together in England. An American granddaughter and an English-French niece, separated by a pond..............................which is an ocean.

A warm June (2006) evening in Caunes-Minervois. A last evening together for the girls. Who knows how long before they meet again. Thankfully life is full of promises...........and memories.

Today Deborah at Pictures Pots & Pens is hosting Friday's Favorite Family Foto Day. Visit her to see the list of participants and do join in the fun and share some of your family phototgraphs.

Brixham Blogger

This has been a busy week with several new bloggers stopping by. Because they all have interesting stories to tell I just have to introduce you.

Shauna at Quail By Mail lives in the English fishing town of Brixham, across the bay from my hometown of Torquay. In this photo you can just make out Torquay across the blue water. Brixham was also my father's birthplace. I posted lots of pics and a story on the history of the town in my two posts of May 3 (Across the Bay) and May 4 (Back to Brixham). If you would like to learn more about this great little town click on May in my Blog Archive list to the left and scroll back down to these older posts.

Shauna lives in a cottage......now I know I've grabbed your attention, and describes herself as an 'Eco Fashionista'. She operates an ethical fashion label specializing in organic and fairtrade cotton clothing........and everything is made in England. Her designs are lovely and the fabrics beautiful. I think you will enjoy visiting her blog, especially if you are a seamstress and/or love clothes, and who doesn't?

By the way, looks like Shauna also treasure hunts at charity shops..........so next visit home I'll definitely have many reasons to take the ferry across the bay and invite Shauna to meet me for a cup of tea................before we go shopping!

Shauna's really neat cotton shopping tote ~ I love that little quail who decided to go in the opposite direction!

A Cottage Down the Lane...............

.....................that's Water Lane, a short, narrow lane in the little village where I grew up. Perhaps you were thinking I lived in the the center of that bustling seaside town, while actually I was on the outskirts, tucked away in this small village. The post office is inside a little family run newsagent/quick shop grocery store, the few other shops include the proverbial 'chippy' for deep fried golden fish & chips, a larger chain grocery, a chemist (drug store) and hair salon. As a child I could also visit a bakery and a wool/knitting supply shop - every mum kept her knitting needles clicking making Fair Isle patterned jumpers (sweaters), and warm woolly gloves to keep off the damp chill of a British Winter.

The group of thatched cottages in Water Lane are lovely and have stood the test of time. I remember often visiting one that was the home of a friend of my mother. The roses completely covered the walls back then, the perfume on a Summer evening was intoxicating and the lady would cut bunches for us to bring home.
I thought about these romantic cottages today when visiting another new blogger, Melissa at her lovely Sunbonnet Cottage. I don't think she has thatch on her roof, but she has the prettiest golden yellow door to welcome you and obviously has made a warm and loving home for her family ~ hope you stop by to say hello. You will see her pretty interiors and how she is decorating in colors we all love.

All photos taken last October when I returned to walk down Water Lane once more.

Secret Doors & New Friends

You know how we search for vintage places to shop, always ready to open the door, cross the threshold, peek round the corner in search of a treasure to bring home or give as a gift..........

Street in Arles, Provence - June 2006

Here's a new blogger who has her very own shop in Pennsylvania.

Verna at The Cottonwood House knows how we love peeling paint ~ she even does peeling paint!

Les Baux de Provence ~ June 2006

Blue gate ~ Torquay, UK ~ October 2007

Some doors we can't enter to view the mysteries they hide, but I'm certain Verna's will be open for business. Do stop by and visit ~ you'll met Sondra too!

Edited: Today you can also meet Carmela and see Sweet Pea's Boutique

at The Cottonwood House too!

Seaside Pavilion

pa-vil-ion ~ noun
1. ornate tent
2. a. A light, sometimes ornamental roofed structure used for
amusement or shelter, as at parks or fairs: a picnic
pavilion.
b. A usually temporary structure erected at a fair or show
for use by an exhibitor: the French pavilion at the World's
Fair.
c. A large structure housing sports or entertainment
facilities; an arena.
3. A large structure or another building connected to a
larger building; an annex.
4. One of a group of related buildings forming a complex, as of a hospital.

(Middle English pavilon, from old French pavillon, from Latin papilio)

Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in its intended use. A pavilion built to take advantage of a view is referred to as a gazebo.

******

Growing up in a beautiful seaside town on the south coast of England included many visits to the Pavilion - a now listed historic building classified under 2.c in the above description. Built in 1912, it's one of the few remaining examples of Victorian seaside architecture and combines a mix of Classical and Art Nouveau styles to create a splendid triumph of decorative frivolity.

On the cover of the official 1965 Torquay brochure looking down toward the harbour you can just see one of the Pavilion's green copper domes between the trees (beyond the sunbrellas).

Photo below from the same year - the Pavilion's gardens and promenade front the harbour providing sunny spots for relaxation in a deck chair. When I moved to the USA in 1962 those three monstrous blocks of flats had not been built, see the vintage sepia photo below. The stunning views across the bay from their windows command high prices!

Below, the Pavilion in December 1912 just a few months after opening.

In its heyday as a theatre with a stage, balconies, lounges and a cafe, an elegant atmosphere prevailed and the town founded a municipal orchestra with classical concerts and a Winter Orchestral Season was held. During the Christmas season the annual pantomime ran for several weeks, a special treat for the children. My favorite was Jack and the Beanstalk. Could this be the reason for my joy in raising large pots of climbing beans each Summer!

Another reason for my affinity toward this lovely building is that my mother worked here for many years during the 1960's. She was the manager of the theatre box office and her offices were on the right of the above photo, the windows where the couple is standing.

Later, following construction of a new modern theatre complex nearby and where my mother next worked, the Pavilion became the 'poor relation' turning into a bingo hall and then a faux 'ice skating rink' utilizing Glice, a Belgian invention manufactured in France.

The new larger capacity theater did bring top entertainers to town and my mother met many 'stars' including The Beatles, and shared many stories about the not so nice side of those in the entertainment business!

Below, view showing Tor Bay, Torquay harbour and Princess Gardens in 1914 with the Pavilion on the left.

Fountain in the Princess Gardens at the Pavilion - October 2007

Above, same fountain and gardens circa 1930's.

The Pavilion is built on a site formed partly from land reclaimed from the sea, on a concrete 'raft' weighing 1000 tons. The white facing tiles covering the exterior are Royal Doulton's carrara enamelled stoneware which, if replaced today, would cost almost $200 each! Scheduled for demolition (horrors!!!) in the early 1970's, the Pavilion was saved by energetic efforts of a group named Friends of the Pavilion ~ it was then listed as a building of special architectural and historic interest, thank goodness, and cannot be demolished.

The Pavilion is now what else but a 'shopping centre'. After extensive restoration work which fortunately respects its elegant past, it reopened in 1987.

Interior shots of the original beautiful ceilings and walls - October 2007

When officially opened in 1912 the Torquay Pavilion was touted as a 'Palace of Pleasure' to attract more visitors to the resort and to create a venue in which to hear music, see plays and meet friends. Its graceful proportions continue to evoke ideals of a gentler era. Each time I visit my home I always make it a point to stop at the Pavilion to reminisce and relive some of the wonderful childhood moments spent there,

I hope you enjoyed another visit to a special place in my hometown.

Who knows where we'll go next time - funny how a town is always so interesting after you leave!