I've hardly been indoors for the last few weeks. We are having a glorious summer here in England - not too hot, (with just the odd, heatwave-y, 'phew I need to snooze in the summerhouse' kind of day), blue skies with cotton boll clouds, the garden flourishing and more colour than I think I have ever seen there before (all the composting and weeding have been worth it). I spend most of my 'sitting down' time (which is not much!) eating meals or reading on the patio, under the parasol - and from there, the view above is the view that I have during the day…
But at night time, the patio - and the rest of the garden - is plunged into darkness…until now. I pondered what it would be like to add a little light, and finally we purchased two solar powered spotlights as an experiment. They now illuminate 'The Petticoat Girl', a replica of one of the pair of humble painted plaster figures that my Nana displayed, in pride of place, in her parlour in the 1950's. Our little statue has lived here in the garden for over twenty years. (Her 'pair' - a coy little boy - bought by my mother, was stolen from our front garden a while before that...)
I must say that the experiment has been a great success - the lights have transformed the space outside! We are so taken with the effect that I've promptly acquired another pair, which will illuminate a portrait bust on the other side of the courtyard. More of that later when they are installed…but for now - what do you think of the difference? ( Don't fear, though, that Autumn Cottage will turn into 'Glitter City' - restraint in all things illuminatory will be the Autumn Cottage Way! )
In daylight...
....and after dark
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