"Farmers and village tailors stopped to watch the birds building their nests.They went on woodland walks. They recorded the days when the wildflowers opened. They observed the little tragedies of nature that no one had noticed before....They gathered the first hepaticas, the trailing arbutus that had bled unseen under the boots of their fathers." The Flowering of New England, Van Wyke Brooks.
The hardworking builders eventually persuaded me that he had to go and so I braced myself and watched one of the things that had enticed us into buying this old house, being sawn asunder. It was surprisingly hard. I felt a lump in my chest and managed to suppress the tears that I could feel about to percolate. Reassured with the promise that everything else would be left just as it was. They showed me the drain pipe with George's limbs growing strongly inside. He really had to go. I was promised that there would be no more surgery.
They didn't quite keep their promise and that was when the parcel came, with the pretty crocheted pansy book mark inside the pages of American Bloomsbury. It was a personal copy from a lovely kindred spirit who thoughtfully sent it to me knowing that we have a shared passion for 19c American literature. Perfect timing.
As soon as I had a chance I stole an
Once I'd lost George, I didn't feel the same need to stay close by to protect him. The pressure was on to find things to fill our new kitchen as soon as it's ready because we'll simultaneously loose the old one. So we sourced a nice big strong cooker resisting the allure of an aga because of green issues (I'll explain if anyone is interested.) No more looking at nice pictures and reading reviews. It was time to make decisions.
We managed to find some lovely old furniture very cheaply from an amazing den and a vintage shop a couple of miles away in our current favourite little village. A dressing table...at last and an old pine set of kitchen drawers to keep all our pots and pans, an oak wall cupboard to house mugs and cups and boxes of tea and coffee, a vintage radiator, industrial lampshade and a coffee set. Along with pieces that we brought with us from Oxford and ones gifted by our new neighbours. I think that should sort out our new higgeldy piggeldy kitchen that I romanticised about all those months ago.
Happy days,
debx
internet friends are the best! I'm glad you were able to grab some hours and enter another world. Loved the second hand shop you visited and all the lovely stuff inside :)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Karen. It was so good to have time to do so again.
Deletedebx
Oh, I haven't been keeping up and have missed out on the story of your moving. Very sad about the tree, but hopefully something different will take it's place. Love the idea of your kitchen and the furniture looks fantastic. But, I really really want one of those sheds. Wishing you all the very best in your new home.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was going to get rid of her age for green reasons, but when she looked at it further realised for her old damp cottage, it probably was the best thing she could have, so the much loved age I grew up with has stayed.
So good to hear from you. I know it was hard but now I'm planning our new garden. I know the little shepherd's hut is lovely. But very expensive...
DeleteWe were very tempted to get an Aga but as we don't really have room for two cookers it would mean leaving it on all year round. So we opted for a lovely range cooker that has the best of both worlds and a gas hob which I love cooking on. Two ovens that we can use independently, small for when there's just two or three of us or a bigger one for more. I can't wait for it to arrive. But I'm glad that you could keep yours,if there had been one here already we would have kept it and loved it as you do yours.
debx