It was Mrs Buckley who first came up with the name for the new house. When she suggested it to me, I was slightly hesitant, because it's quite a mouthful. But I think the name is fitting; it matches the pretty blue colour of the roof and ties in also with how the house was forgotten about for years.
So welcome to Forget-Me-Not Cottage!
"Hello there!" Heath was just having a game of soccer with the children but he will be happy to show you inside!
The Buckleys have cleaned up the old abandoned house alot since they bought it, and now it feels much more homely. "Please come in."
The first room you enter upon arrival is the living room. Meadow and Heath did the wallpapering themselves to save cost.
Here in the corner is a painting that Meadow bought when she was at the Summer Market a few months ago. She thought she would splash out a little because it would look perfect in their living room, and she wanted to help support the artist-a young rabbit she had never met before, by the name of Briar Wildwood.
Now that she is in her new home, Meadow finally has the kitchen she always wanted. It is so large and spacious compared to the one in their old house!
Originally, I was unsure about using this wallpaper in the kitchen. The rest of the house was already decorated in floral paper, and I didn't want to go too florally. But I actually really love this wallpaper; I think it blends so well with the house's colours and creamy paint.
Today Meadow is going to make a pavlova as a special treat for dessert. It is simple and inexpensive recipe, consisting of mainly egg whites and caster sugar, and whipped cream to serve, but it feeds her large family.
Here we have a downstairs view:
Their beds aren't usually this tidy, but their mother made them make them in preparation for the visit.
"People will be looking at our house," she told them, "I don't want them to think we live like wild animals!"
Across from the children's bunks is where Meadow and Heath sleep.
Meadow loves sleeping right by the balcony. She has always dreamed of living in a house with a balcony, and it was one of the features that attracted her to this house.
But of course, the main thing she loved was the nursery. In their old home, the babies were having to use the attic as a nursery. But now, they have a whole room to themselves.
Meadow decided the nursery walls were abit plain so she decided to try her hand at painting the pictures that were already carved on the walls to make them stand out more.
She is grateful for the nursery more than ever right now. That's because there has been an unexpected new addition to the family since they moved in. There she is, lying in her crib by her big sister Rose. She was supposed to be having her afternoon nap, but young Lavender Fern Buckley is proving to be a very uncooperative sleeper.
All Meadow's other five children were quite well-behaved and peaceful babies, but Lavender is something else entirely. Every since she was born, she's had that naughty glint in her eye that makes Meadow wonder what her youngest will be like in a few years. Something tells her she is going to be a handful-she already is!
Somehow though, she uses her cuteness to make up for all the long nights and stubborn behaviour she exhibits.
"Coo," she said innocently as her photo was taken.
At least having the nursery is a bit of a relief to Meadow. The babies can play happily by themselves for hours.
Oscar loves the blocks. He is going to build the biggest tower!
On the other side of the room is the shelf where Meadow likes to store all the baby things. Blankets, milk powder, toys, bottles-somehow the nursery never seems to be tidy!
Sometimes she likes to go out on the balcony to have some fresh air and enjoy the views of their somewhat still slightly overgrown garden.
"Mummy!"
Oscar loves his little balcony too.
An upstairs view:
Another benefit of Forget-Me-Not Cottage is its big garden. The children spend lots of time playing out there. Mr Buckley took the opportunity to start their own vegetable garden and he is loving teaching his children about growing, tending, and harvesting plants.
Heath kept a small garden as a boy but when he married Meadow and became a father other things took over in his life and he had little time to spare for hobbies. Just last week, though, they harvested their first pumpkin and Meadow made a delicious pumpkin pie following her friend Velvette Honeyfur's recipe, and the radishes look as though they are about ready. Heath believes it is never too late to rekindle green thumbs.
He thinks next Spring they will expand the veggie garden and perhaps he will even plant a few fruit trees too. He is sure Bob Blackberry will be able to offer him some advice.
Everyone smile!
Thanks for reading!