It seems to have taken forever but at last we are moved and (almost) unpacked. I love our little home. It's a long time since we had a place of our own, with our things around us. It was fun unpacking belongings we hadn't seen for two years and of course we often wondered whether we really need it all. But now most things have a place of their own (thanks to Leigh for alphabetising all our CDs and books - which I know he secretly enjoyed!). Best of all I have a large corner of our living space to house all the treasures I have to sell. I now have a very clear idea of what I need to list on my Etsy shop - and it's a lot! I've been itching to get on with it but couldn't really justify it until everything else was sorted out. I did, however, spend yesterday making up little sewing kits - reels of trims and cards of vintage buttons - which I hope to list soon.
We've been getting to know our new area too. I was born in Winchester so I'm a Hampshire girl (or Hampshire Hog as they are affectionately known) at heart and very glad to be back in the county. One of the first things we did was to visit Jane Austen's house in Chawton. I'd seen the sign as you enter Hampshire that says 'Welcome to Jane Austen Country' many many times but somehow had never managed to visit her home. We went on one of the last days of the Indian summer, just before Autumn set in.
The beautiful house where Jane wrote many of her novels.
Flowers outside her window.
The little table where Jane sat in the mornings and created her characters.
I definitely had quilt envy here.
Such a beautiful and peaceful spot - at least until the party of school children arrived!