Friday 9 March 2018

The iced castle

Once upon a time, there was a princess, who ended up living in the smallest of cottages by mistake.

She was mad about vintage clothes and all manner of lovely things, but the cottage was really tiny, and soon it was at risk of bursting at the seams.

At night, she tossed and turned and often woke up in a sweat. Arguably, this could have been just a symptom of the menopause but, either way, she often lay staring blindly at the ceiling with its twinkling second hand chandelier.

What was she to do? Time and time again, she vowed never to go near the charity shops again. Nor Think Twice! She was quite determined: her decision was made!



But then the weekend arrived and it was as if she was being pulled by a huge magnet, so she had no choice but to put on her shoes and her coat and drag her poor, long-suffering husband along for another hunting spree.

The fearsome devils of second hand shopping clearly had her in their might!


One day - it was bitterly cold, and she had to dig out her € 4 vintage snow boots from Think Twice -  a thought hit her.

If she really was a princess, then what was she doing living in this tiny cottage? Weren't princesses supposed to be living in castles?

Surely, there must be an abandoned castle she could move into!



She and the long-suffering husband took the car and went for a ride. 

Soon after they left their village, they stumbled upon a long avenue of tall, centuries old linden trees. In the distance, a shimmering white building seemed to be beckoning them.



They started walking the cobblestone path in its direction and emerged from the tunnel of trees onto a courtyard flanked by two freshly painted white coach houses which, judging from the scaffolding, were currently being renovated.

Ahead, beyond a grey and white railinged bridge guarded by dazzling white lions and sphinxes, was a three-storeyed mansion fit for a princess.


As she walked into the direction of the stone steps and the four columned portico leading to the entrance, she couldn't help thinking of a lavishly iced cake, its finger-licking layer of white fondant brilliant against the deep blue of the sky.


Close up, she could see that the hand of time had left cracked paintwork and crumbling, pockmarked plaster.


But these flaws only enhanced its enchanting details: the portico's elaborately stuccoed ochre ceiling, the bas-relief panels and the scroll topped columns.

There were the most delightful ornamental door knobs shaped like topsy-turvy helmeted knights, while through a gap in the shutters, an exquisitely tiled border featuring water lilies and dragonflies could be glimpsed.


But the doors were firmly locked, and so were those at the back where a crumbling circular set of stairs led up to shuttered French doors slowly rotting away in their frames.


From the gravelled terrace, a glorious view towards the lake opened up. A gap in the railing, watched over by a pair of haughty sphinxes, revealed a set of steps leading down to the water. 

It wasn't hard to imagine a crinolined lady being rowed from here to the thatched summer house nestling under the trees, for a spot of quiet reading, perhaps.


At this point, it was clear that the princess had to abandon her plans of moving in and transforming one of the salons into a huge walk-in wardrobe.

In order to get the lay of the land, she and the husband decided to negotiate the path of frozen mud around the lake where, through the winter bare trees, the castle kept begging for mercy.

Then, a sudden carpet of snowdrops heralded the coming of Spring.



An abandoned boat, its tacky orange plastic decorated with mosses and graffiti, provided a focal point when the bulk of the castle temporarily disappeared from view.


Some of the trees were dead or dying, waiting to tumble and crumble to dust.


The lake's circuit completed, the castle came into full view again, with the steps leading out to the lake on the left, and one of the courtyard's coach houses on the right.


With heavy hearts, the princess and her husband turned their backs on the castle, and returned to the tiny cottage, where the princess continued to daydream (and lie awake at night!), while cramming her newly found treasures into her already full to bursting wardrobe.

The princess was wearing:

Knitted skirt, acrylic striped jumper, boots, coat and woolly turban: Think Twice
Scarf and orange cardigan peeking out from coat sleeves: charity shopped
Necklace: the great late Blender Vintage Shop 
Brooch: flea market
Opaques: market stall
Fingerless gloves: retail


36 comments:

  1. Oooh! If only the princess had uttered "open Sesame" perhaps those magical doors would have opened!!!

    Love that outfit!! You are warmly and stylishly dressed!

    Happy thrifting ;)

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  2. What a waste of an exquisite castle! It should be yours - but just imagine the heating bills!

    You do look warm and stylish in your smart coat, scarf and boots. Was the sun shining; it looked like a lovely bright day despite the chill.

    I know exactly how you feel about having too much stuff and vowing to keep away from the charity shops. But let's face it Ann, we're addicts!!

    Have a lovely weekend
    xxx

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    1. We should start a self help group! As for the castle, there are plans to restore it and turn it into a location for events. xxx

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  3. Really, they should just let you have the building!

    I just did a major clear out-25 large bags, but it wasn't easy to do.

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    1. I have a huge bag ready for charity, with more to follow. There is hope yet ... xxx

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  4. such a pretty castle!
    i totally wish that you could live in with the long-suffering jos ;-D
    love this post - you´r a great story teller! and i love your warm colored cold weather ensemble. so cozy and chic.
    maybe you should take advice from vix and suzanne and do your own vintage shop???
    much love and hugest hugses! xxxxxx

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    1. Thank you Beate! I have been putting stock aside to sell at flea markets and private sales. It's a start! xxx

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  5. Thanks for such an entertaining read, Ann! What an amazing place! So beautiful and picturesque. I look forward to further updates on the beautiful princess and her fabulous newly found treasures. ;) XXX

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  6. O Ann what a wonderful castle. It's perfekt for the princess and her long-suffering husband :)
    Stunning pictures... I wish you can move in it... with all your amazing vintage clothes. What do you think about Beates idea? ;)
    Huge hug Tina

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    1. Thank you Tina! I have been selling privately and on flea markets. A vintage shop would be lovely, but not viable. Selling online would be too much work. xxx

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  7. What a lovely story Ann.And how gorgeous is that building? I dream of stuff like this too!
    Laurie xx

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    1. Nothing wrong with a bit of (day) dreaming! xxx

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  8. What a beautiful house/castle. Yes shopping magnets need to stop, I'm trying not to buy as we will probably be moving again this year but...

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    1. Poor you, having to move house again. Hope it all goes smoothly! xxx

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  9. What a stunning 'castle' and delightful tale. But like Vronni I'm thinking of the cost of heating.
    I've been having regular clear outs lately, not sure what's come over me! xx.

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    1. We'd probably just heat the walk-in wardrobe ;-) Some early Spring cleaning, perhaps? I'm trying to follow your example, Fiona! xxx

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  10. Such a beautiful building! You look very much at home, so rightfully it should be yours!

    I've enjoyed reading all your previous posts, but will just comment here xxx

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  11. I can just imagine you living there! Think of thaat lovely huge walk-in wardrobe! Lovely post XXX

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    1. Thank you Linda! It will remain a dream, I'm afraid! xxx

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  12. An enchanted story for a magical castle. I bet the princess loves her cosy home though!
    As ever the photos are beautiful and your coat is lovely. I hope you have a great weekend xxx

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    1. Thank you Sally! Of course, I love good old Dove Cottage, I just wish it was a tiny bit bigger ... xxx

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  13. I enjoyed your story, Ann! It was so captivating that I caught myself skipping the beautiful photos (which I looked at separately!) just to keep reading. I kept expecting the Princess moving in the Castle! :)

    Your outfit is such a nice and warm contrast to the icy place. Gorgeous post! <3 <3 <3

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    1. Ooh, thank you Natalia, I'm so glad you enjoyed my story! xxx

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  14. What a lovely fairy tale, and such beautiful pictures!

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  15. What a beautifully written piece, You and Jos were born to live in that beautiful castle.
    I love your cosy outfit and your wonderful snow boots.
    When we moved into Stonecroft it seemed really big to compared to our Victorian terrace, like Koi carp I think we (or rather our collections) have grown to fit our space!! xxx

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    1. Imagine if we moved into that castle. It would soon be filled with all the things we're now leaving behind due to lack of space! xxx

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  16. I think the cottage suits the princess better - all your lovely 20th century homewares might not suit the palace as well!

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    1. You've got a point there, Mim. Will have to look for a more suitable, but bigger, place! xxx

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  17. You're every bit the princess, lovely Anne, even without a big castle! Beautiful photos and a beautiful house. xx

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  18. I can see you living there, you'd look most at home :)
    I used to say that I was born a princess and swapped at birth, it still brings a smile to my Dad's face.
    I wonder who lives there? It would be fabulous to see inside. Imagine Phoebe slinking her way down a sweeping staircase. Perfection!
    Xx

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    1. That's a great story, and I can quite see why it still brings a smile to your Dad's face! The castle is currently empty, but there are restoration plans, and then it will be a venue for parties and conferences ... xxx

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