Is it really a year since I wrote anything here??

Oh poor neglected blog! I still love bobbing into blogland but can never steal the time to update mine and am leaning towards a few snippets on Facebook as and when. I'm there as: 'Vintage Pink Gifts and Crafts' but may be back here posting in the future ...

Chester 20.04.1996 - 27.12.2012

After 16 1/2 years we said good bye to our darling cat Chester shortly after Christmas. He was born on my lap and died as I held him. We loved him and he loved us back. I feel such a sense of loss - we all do - though we have been loosing him gradually for a while as old age progressed and he slept virtually round the clock in the latter months.

We were told he wouldn't live to be very old as he was diagnosed with a heart murmur as a kitten. Ironically when he died almost every organ was failing with the exception of his heart! He also went through a lot in his life surviving an awful car accident and a cancerous tumor - he was such a fighter. I'm glad that both my children grew up with him, that he made the move to our new home with us and made friends with the the puppy even snuggling up with him.

He was always there as a part of our family and still is in our thoughts and memories.

I'm sorry to start the New Year with a sad post but I'm sure you'll understand my need to 'talk' about him and remember.

Christmas at home

 The first Christmas in our new home.

Next door to us is a pretty little church so carol services and the nativity have been a lovely and welcome part in this year’s celebrations for us.

Outside in our hedgerow there’s holly and ivy in abundance for garlands and wreaths.

My little shop has been transformed into a dining room that can accommodate all 15 of us (eek)!

Willow the whippet will have his first Christmas though has disgraced himself by unwrapping my nephew presents  (but his face was so repentant I’ve forgiven the naughty little elf).

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas

Love

Louise

x

The Little Christmas Shop

Whilst I'm a long way off opening my shop officially (as the outside looks very unappealing) I just so desperately wanted to open before Christmas so have arranged a 'Christmas Shopping Evening'.
I've had a stall at oodles of events but it's quite a different feeling actually hosting an event ..... will they come? ...... will they like what they see? ..... will they come back?

I am a little apprehensive I have to say as it's all new territory but I shall have the mulled wine simmering, some vintage festive tracks playing and hope all who come will have a lovely night.

New home

This is what my new home looks like in my dreams (by the very talented Lucy Sheeran). In reality it is need of much renovation and currently has an air of impending dereliction.

It was formerly a pub and offers lots of space inside and out. The commercial areas will include a 'Vintage Pink Shop' (formerly the snug) and my stock can be stored in the former front bar. There's also potential for a future tearooms. We have been working our socks off cleaning and clearing out skips full of 'rubbish' not much vintage salvage though I'm afraid :-(

We have had a wonderful chap helping with some of the major garden works - tearing seemingly miles of ivy off the garden wall and cutting the 3ft high grass!

There seems so much to do but every day we make progress. We have had a smart new gate installed (securing the rear of the property) and work has nearly completed on the leaky roof. 

I have begun planting an orchard, something I've always longed for. (Ok it's one solitary apple tree but it's progress!)

The weekends since we arrived have been perfect - dry enough for outdoors jobs and warm enough to sit outside for  'pub lunches' and draining the barrels of bitter and cider left behind (hic!). 

The children have unplugged themselves from PCs and gadgets and have been outdoors so much more and it's been a joy to see them so active playing and exploring our new space with Willow the whippet at their heels. 

This weekend we host a ‘bonfire night housewarming’. One local event is claiming to have the biggest bonfire in Derbyshire … I think we may be rivalling it!

Introducing Willow!

This is Willow the whippet who joins our family on Saturday. 
We moved into our new home on Monday and this little fellow, I'm sure, will create a little extra mayhem among all the chaos. Three sleeps till 'puppy day' xxx