Okay, so I have been working irregularly on this for the last ten (?) months and drafting it for two of those. It was great fun renovating this nondescript cottage into a beloved family home for my Appleblossoms. They are so dear and sweet, and I'm very excited to finally be sharing this!
~
It was the end of a long, fulfilling day at the Watermill Bakery. The shelves were almost empty, the sales were over, and the fire in the bread oven was out. The owner, Christopher Appleblossom, dusted off his floury paws on his apron and sighed with the satisfaction of a good day's work.
His wife, Jane was tidying up the last of the day's leftovers.
"All done?" she asked. Christopher nodded and took off his apron, hanging it over its peg. Jane took a basket in hand of the leftover bread; they would take it home and eat it. Neither she or Christopher could abide waste.
Then they went out and Christopher locked the bakery door. It would be so early it would still be dark when Christopher would arrive next morning.
"Thank you for today," Christopher thanked his wife. She works as a ballet teacher in the village most evenings, but helps in the bakery during the day. The bakery has been in Christopher's family since his great-great-grandfather built it when he settled.
On this evening, however, there were no ballet lessons in the school, and Jane was free. They wandered leisurely through the woods, enjoying the sweet birdsong and dappled sunlight. On the way home, they meet their daughter, Jasmine, coming through the woods on her own way home from school with her friend Misty Waters and cousin Saffron Walnut.
"Hi Uncle Chris, Aunty Jane!" Saffron gave them a wave. Jasmine said goodbye to her friends till tomorrow and joined her parents on the path that led to their cottage.
It was a lovely early evening and they chatted about their days as the neared home. Jasmine told her parents about her latest school project and reveled in the news of the upcoming school talent show and a chance to dance. Jasmine was a very keen ballerina, just as her mother was at her age.
Everyone's heart lightened a little as they reached the garden. Home is a wonderful world to the little Appleblossom family.
They went up to it, and Christopher opened the door. The Appleblossoms have lived in their namesake cottage for three generations - not as long as they have ran the bakery, but still a substantial amount of time. Christopher can remember many happy years spent growing up in the cottage.
At times, it may have been a bit of a squish, especially for Chester Appleblossom (Christopher's dad) and his two brothers and three sisters, along with their parents. But it is a very comfortable home for a family of three.
It is always lovely to step inside, no matter how thrilling or tiring your day might have been, or if you had been baking baguettes, serving customers, teaching pirouettes, or learning your times-tables.
The house always smells sweet with the slightest hint of fresh bread. Jane put the leftover buns and pastry in the basket by the bench. They would have it later for dinner. Because they spend their days in the bakery, neither she or Christopher ever feel much like cooking. It suits them just fine.
Here we have a view of the downstairs:
The living room is the favourite spot in the cottage. (and mine too!)
Because the house is quite old fashioned, they don't have a TV like some others in the village, and Jane and Christopher have never made any effort to amend this. They don't even have a radio. The living room is the scene of many happy evenings spent talking, reading, dancing, and piano playing.
One of Christopher's favourite ways to relax in the evening is to sip a cup of hot tea and read the latest paper, checking up on the latest village news.
On the shelf beside him is a plate that belonged to Jane's grandmother: a valuable porcelain.
But not all of the things about the house are hand-me-downs or antiques. Many is their own, including the large collection of books, and of course their family photos.
In a walnut frame above the piano was a picture of Jane when she was younger, in her prima ballerina days. She might live a simple life now, but she was actually very famous.
It was at this show that she met Christopher, just a humble baker's son, watching in the audience with starry eyes (like, it must be said, all the other young males in the theatre). Jane was the subject of much attention and affections, but it was Christopher that she fell in love with.
It is Christopher's favourite photo of his wife, because it always takes him back to that magical evening.
He also enjoys listening to the piano music that Jane and Jasmine made. Jane plays well, and she is also teaching Jasmine too.
At other times, Jasmine will sing or dance and they have a little concert of their own in the living room.
This evening, on her way upstairs, Jasmine stopped to sniff the heavenly scent of wildflowers she had gathered from her latest expedition into the woods.
Her little bedroom is at the top of the ladder.
It is, in every way, the abode of an aspiring ballerina. Can you tell that her favourite colour is pink? ;)
Jasmine has always loved to cosy up by her window overlooking the garden.
The shoe painting above the window was given to her by her grandmother. All the other posters and pictures Jasmine has collected or gleaned from magazines.
She lives, breathes and sleeps ballet. She dreams of following in the footsteps of her mother and being one of the best dancers in Sylvania.
This week, she saved her pocket money and bought The Sylvanian Dancer from the Village Store.
Across the landing is Christopher and Jane's bedroom.
(I really wanted to change the bedspread to something that fitted more with the pink and green theme but I didn't have any suitable material :(
On the left is Jane's side, and a shelf where she keeps books (some from childhood), her purse and a picture of an old friend.
Here is Christopher's side, with a picture of his family.
It also looks as though he has been reading 'The Holiday Summer Annual'. Maybe he is dreaming of his next summer holiday? It can be hard for a baker to get away, but he would be very deserving of a break.
Here is an upstairs view:
Anyway, it was the end of a long day and we will leave the Appleblossoms to rest and enjoy the comforts of their little house.
They hope you have enjoyed your visit! May you find relaxation and comfort in your own home too.
Best wishes!