ButtonWillowCottage

Shall We Walk?

Well this is later than expected.

I do like to invite you for these strolls about mid-season--a good time to look at where we've been and where we are headed on the Chronicles. And, being usually fairly quiet around here, I do tend to get a little chatty when we go for these strolls, but alas, all that is out the window today dear ones. This walk is behind schedule, will be quieter than usual, and will mostly just be a quick explanation. I want to apologize to followers of The Chronicles. Notes of what's been going on around here have been sporadic at best for most of the winter and I do know that that can be frustrating for those that like to check in frequently. But, winter is a time for hibernation for all of us here at ButtonWillow. It's just so cozy you see, that it is hard for me to break away from that serenity. And, the activity level is a little bland, to say the least. Just quiet time, tea, cider, comfort food, fires, games, and cottageschooling. Not much to share, you know? Then, vacation is a winter thing for us. We had a lovely lovely visit with the most famous mouse there is. He was a wonderful host. I did mention while on that visit I came down with a cold. Well, upon our return that cold progressed, and progressed and PROGRESSED. I ended up with both bronchitis and laryngitis. While home remedies via Mrs. Rabbit and all my little helpers did provide comfort, the Doctor had to be visited nonetheless. I am still recuperating and it has been four weeks. While I don't share much with you of a personal nature I will tell you that I have asthma and this has caused complications and extension of this chest cold. So, updates at The Chronicles are not at the forefront of my mind to say the least. So, my apologies as I continue to battle this chest nastiness. I'm coming around, but it is slow going STILL.

So. Enough of this nonsense. I truly believe that this is not what you come here for, and don't want to extend this whining any longer for you. I am fine and Mrs. Rabbit is talking wonderful care of me. I am SO looking forward to some warm breezes and green shoots emerging from the earth. While I do love Autumn and Winter the very very best, Spring is always lovely and like a breath of fresh air. Especially after a long illness. So let's look forward shall we? To birds and green hills, violets and scampering little feet. Walking barefoot in dewey grass, and the whiff of lavender in the air. There is always something to look forward to in each lovely season, and I'm thrilled to be able to try to make it all the more lovely for you.

Well look at that, I was quite chatty after all, wasn't I? You must be good for my health! So, on that note, let me remind you that while on these strolls I do love to hear from you, and love that you are able to share your own little cottages with other readers, so feel free to say hello here, ok? What are you most looking forward to for spring? Sharing these thoughts can help us all feel a little "fresher" as we linger in these last days of winter, so do tell.

Thank you dear ones for this walk, and do visit as often as you like, the gate at ButtonWillow was a wee bit frozen, but, still in all, open!

(Thank you so much for all your dear, sweet good well wishes! How kind of you all to send such warm thoughts my way during my recovery from this winter illness that has been a part of my life for well over a month now. My thoughts are with those of you that have experienced similar respitory ailments during these cold months. But, chin's up, it seems we are all starting to feel a wee bit of warmth of the coming spring (even if it is only in our minds eye) and soon we will all be up and about and complaining of deadheading! I look forward to our next afternoon stroll. Comments are once again quiet here, but do feel free to leave us a little hello in the guestbook whenever you wish. The Chronicles will be up and more "newsy" sooner rather than later.)

Shall We Walk?

Yes, we are aware...Monday.  Laundry. Done, done, done. And, after that we decided it would be the perfect time for a walk in the delicious, early autumnal moonlight. I just love that word-- "Autumnal". Can't you tell? And all of us at ButtonWillow will be so sad to bid it good-bye. Although we celebrated it's arrival quite early at ButtonWillow, in all actuality it truly arrived quite late this year. We are still enjoying the turning of the leaves whilst so many of you are looking out at bare branches. Some, I hear tell, are even enjoying a bit of snow! And, while snow has never been anything that I would associate with Autumn, it is a common reality for many. Why, just think, in some places around this Big Blue Marble we all spin around on, they are lounging in beach chairs with a glass of lemonade enjoying their coming summer season! It is a wonder isn't it? Trips to neighboring cottages have been made so easy via this modern road we can all wander down, and I find it thrilling that we can feel so close to other parts of the world.

As the days grow even colder in our part of the world, my thoughts, like many of yours, turn more toward the kitchen. It is the coziest place to be in the colder months isn't it? That is other than in front of the crackling hearth... We had much success with all the recipes we intended to try anew for this autumn season. The only one we haven't gotten to as of yet is the Autumn Chutney, since for some reason, just the word 'chutney' makes it sound scary and complicated. But, we must press on as Mrs. Rabbit says and give it a go. It's important to continually push ourselves as homemakers isn't it? Always learning something new and refreshing our spirits and outlook. Avoiding those ruts that can make life repetitive and feeling like a chore. A new recipe, some new fragrances for the home, a room cleaned to sparkling, a tiny little inexpensive gift to ourselves that we can place somewhere special in the home and glance at when we need to lift our mood. It's important for ourselves and most especially for those we love to keep our spirits bright and make their time at home (and ours!) everything one would want it to be. Warm, cozy, hopeful, comforting, filled with love...

A place of refuge.

And, so that is what is reflected here at ButtonWillow also. There is time enough for thoughts of worldly concerns, seriousness and trials. We have them here too. We, of course, are not immune any more than all of you. But, we have found that depression and disappointment, along with a sense of adrenalin filled, over-tiring urgency is contagious. It feeds off itself. Some times a break, a deep breath, is what is needed. A quiet, relaxing, refreshing breath. And that is what we try to offer here. We know in our hearts that many of you will leave from here and go back to trials that seem insurmountable and overwhelming. We are so sorry for those that do. But, we sincerely hope that your time at ButtonWillow gives your heart the much needed break it may need from this weary world, and build you up, even in just the smallest way to continue on with a tiny smile in your heart.

So, dear visitors, please remember the gate is ALWAYS open, and you are welcome to refresh and calm your spirits at ButtonWillow any time you wish.

Lauren

Thank you all for walking with me and the lovely conversation.  Your thoughts and kind words are truly humbling.  All of us at ButtonWillow can't thank you enough.  

Shall We Walk?

Mid-summer.

How do you feel in regards to this time of year? At ButtonWillow we find the heat quite taxing. None of us, including those in the Small Dwellings, much relish these languid days of summer. No in fact, from mid-summer on we just see it as a countdown to delicious Autumn. Sad, I think. We tend to pride ourselves on enjoying each season for what it is and what it represents... but sadly we tend to fail at it quite often during these steamy summer months. As I've stated before, we are Autumn and Winter folk around here. However, chin's up and all that, for in a few short weeks we will be at summer's waning, and we can look forward more easily toward the cozy days and nights soon to come.

I thank you all for your kind thoughts, words and awards for ButtonWillow. We are all so happy that you enjoy it. As I stated in a reply to one kind reader, Mr. Mole in particular is quite exultant when it comes to these awards. He proudly displays them on his mantle and spends much time at dinner parties extolling the virtues of the hard work "we" put into the grounds at the cottage. He is indeed a very industrious Mole, but he is getting on and slowing some, and most of his endeavors tend to be toward the personal "money-making" sort. Of course WE all know that dear laborious Mrs. Rabbit is really due most of the credit for ButtonWillow. We all just smile quietly to ourselves and let him enjoy a moment of "patting himself on the back". As I said, he does do a fair share of labor here. And, of course we all quietly give our thanks and credit to Mrs. Rabbit, who of course finds the whole "award thing" silly and quite dispensable. As she would put it; "one is simply doing what one must--and not much more than any one else who cares for a home and garden of their own". Such a dear.

As we move toward these Autumn and Winter months, I hope that you will enjoy the more cottage-centric notes that will be dominating the Chronicles. Naturally during Spring and Summer the bulk of our Chronicles have centered around the grounds and nature. Not that nature in any way disappears in the cooler months, but we all do tend to spend more time indoors don't we? So naturally we will have more to report on in that respect. I am certainly no expert on such things, and constantly learning from both Mrs. Rabbit and more literary sources, so most hints and topics will be shared from them. We do hope you enjoy it.

We have also decided that when we take these afternoon strolls it would only be well and proper to have a two-sided conversation. While we have all agreed that we will never be able to always have comments open here (it does so agree with the nature of ButtonWillow to keep things a bit quiet, and I have mentioned my own personal busy schedule what with the cottage, grounds and Cottage Schooling) we thought it would be nice during these walks of ours to at least open the dialogue a wee bit. Not to mention the fact that when you leave your sweet notes you leave behind delicious directions to your own cottages and gardens and it's only fair that you are able to do so more publicly shall we say, once in awhile. So if you have anything to say in reply, whether it be about your own dissatisfaction with the summer heat, a cottage question or hint for myself or Mrs. Rabbit, or even just another sweet commendation that we can all pass on over to Mr. Mole (wink), please feel free to leave them here at this note. We may not get back to you all, but we will do our best to answer your questions or requests in the best and most efficient way we can.

Thank you all again dear ones for visiting us here at ButtonWillow, we enjoy creating a place that you all can enjoy. Do remember the gate is always open, wont you?

Oh, dear me, I almost forgot! Mr. Mole was quite adamant that I tell you all that on the occasion of this afternoon stroll we have reached the "100 mark" at The Chronicles. Sigh... the things he feels are important...the dear.

Thank you all so much for saying "hello"! It was so sweet to read all your lovely comments and hear your own little stories and thoughts. I look forward to our next little afternoon stroll when we can talk again.

Shall We Walk?

Hello dear ButtonWillow visitors!  Isn't it a glorious spring day?  It's so good to be able to get out and just take a walk, drinking in all that this beautiful earth has to offer.  Spring is such a perfect time for a stroll, not too hot and so much "natural commotion" about that we can enjoy and appreciate.  Did you notice how active the bees have been here at ButtonWillow?  It was nice to see so many of them about, they are having troubles, poor dears.  It would be so good for all of us to plant some extra flowers just for them, wouldn't it?
It's been quite some time since I've had the chance to talk directly with you.  Life is busy around the cottage, you see...as it is for all of you, I'm sure.  But, I did want to check in and say hello and to thank you for all your sweet words about ButtonWillow.  Many of you are aware that there is a "Guest Book" at ButtonWillow, and it is nice to go in and see who has been tiptoeing around the grounds whilst I had my head buried in the weeds or was deep in conversation with someone from the Small Dwellings (there always seems to be some sort of "crisis"-- at least according to Mrs. Rabbit).   Mrs. Mouse even tells me that she has peeked around a rock a time or two and seen a wee one or two skipping about!  Oh, it is lovely to know that children are about the grounds!  We are a homeschooling cottage here, and much of what I do at ButtonWillow is created for my daughter, so  I do hope that you feel free to bring your young ones with you when you visit.  And I must say, the ones that have been here have been so well-behaved!  Walking ever so carefully amongst the blooms, making sure not to step too heavily (which the Small Dwellers so appreciate). 
I hope that you are all adjusting to this journal without comments, it is a confusing "change" from the norm isn't it?  But, it is working splendidly for us here at ButtonWillow, so I hope it remains agreeable for you.  Life is so very, very full, and this is a lovely way to share some beauty, and yet, still get everything done that needs to be done.  Oh!  And regarding "getting things done", it's been beautiful to be able to take some precious free moments (usually in the dark and quiet hours) and peek in on a few of you here and there.  What lovely gardens and cottages all of you have!  I do know that it takes so much work to create such havens, and I salute you all.   Taking care of hearth and home is a glorious and fulfilling venture, wouldn't you agree?
And, on that note, I'm sorry to say that our little stroll has to come to an end.  Mrs. Rabbit was just needling me that the pantry needs some "serious work", as she put it, and I must see to it straight away. 
If you ask me, I think she spends far too much time inspecting my cupboards and gardens when she should really be out in the Small Dwellings hopping about...  Ah well, she is a dear, and she keeps me on my toes, and for that I'm grateful (and my flowerbeds are tidy as can be!). 
'Til next time dearies, remember, the gate is always open.