An English Day Out

No, I didn't actually get to England yesterday, but I did meet up with Jackie, a new English friend, who recently moved to North Carolina and found me via my blog. We are from the very same Devon town! Even though I'm older than she, we had so much to share about our home town, our childhood, school days, the quirky British folk and customs...................and how much we miss it all! Of course we both chose to marry Americans and moved to this great country, and I doubt either one of us would have it any other way, but you know how it is.........if we're honest with ourselves, there really is no place like home.

Jackie and I decided to meet in Hillsborough, NC, a quaint small town full of historic Southern plantation homes and cottages, and a main street lined with little shops and restaurants. Friends, Susie and Anna, at my local thrifting/vintage shop "SuzAnna's" told me about this wonderful shop named "FETCH" so we spent some time here before enjoying lunch together.

Karan, the shop owner has a great eye - her slip covered vintage furniture, farm tables, architectural windows and doors, lighting and mirrors, are all gorgeous. Tucked among these larger treasures one finds beautiful linens, aprons, framed rose paintings, delicate china, mercury glass, and crystal. The rear of the shop opens onto a small garden laden with wrought iron gates, iron urns, peeling porch posts, vintage garden chairs and tables - all covered with tumbling petunias, verbena and pots of hibiscus.

OK all you lovers of tureens, I know you're out there wishing this one was in your collection! Just look at the roses on the lid. I was sorely tempted but, as it's really old and in perfect condition, the price was a bit beyond my budget............................perhaps it could go on my upcoming Birthday or Christmas wish list though. "DH - you need to read my blog post today - you know how you never can decide what to buy me."

My dream bird cage - large in size but delicately scrolled into a perfect shape, and then suspended from it's own matching scrolled wall hanger - wish list just got longer!

Some of the elegant chandeliers overhead. Gorgeous old shabby door with an oval mirror inserted and reflecting another corner of the shop. This door is huge and has panels at the bottom - would look great just leaning against a wall and reflecting daily life in the cottage.

Pretty boudoir lamps on feminine dressers - the rack in back holds dozens of vintage aprons, candlewick bed covers and linens.

And.................. although I'm saving for my October trip to England, I just had to buy something to bring home. This little antique English chair caught my eye - looks like someone started to refinish it but stopped, and they had enough sense to leave the beautiful painted roses alone thank goodness. And what, you say, does she plan to do with the teeny tiny pink leather ballet slippers? Well who knows - but how could I resist footwear so pretty and dainty - and little KR, (the initials inside) whoever she was, may still be dancing somewhere in much bigger shoes now.

Jackie it was a fun time with you and I hope we can soon get together again to chat more about life "across the pond".

Happy weekend to all my blog friends, there are many new ones this week. Forgive me if it takes a while for me to get back to you - your kind comments are really appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed - thank you so much, and do visit me again soon.