Gingerbread Crumbs & Company

Hello! HeLLo! I've been so busy with this and that and haven't had time to check in with you all, but I've missed visiting each of you!
My excuse? Just life, or something like it. I've been so busy with work and the daily ins and outs of running my little cottage that I haven't had time to stop and smell the roses, or the wisteria, or the Jasmin that mysteriously crept up the back side of the bunny run. I used to keep bunnies, did you know that? They are without a doubt the most darling of creatures plus they make my heart sing. I once had a bunn named Mr. Lumpkin, but he was such a regal little fellow that he ended up with the title of "Sir Thadeus Lumpkin the First-the Duke of the Kingdom of Ro'dent." I also had a wacky room mate who happened to be a kindergarten teacher who one day asked if I could bring Mr. Lumpkin for show and tell. "Sure, why not!" After all, he was a very popular little bunn. When the day arrived she introduced him as the Velveteen Rabbit come to life and I could never walk onto the campus without three or four little kids screaming at the top of their lungs, "LOOK!!!! It's Mister Lumpkins mom!!!...The Velveteen Rabbits mom!!!! Hi Misses Lumpkin." He became a huge celebrity...thankfully it never went to his head!



You should see how pretty the vineyard is! The grapes are plumping up beautifully and I'm hoping this year they'll be super sweet, not like two years ago when I was experimenting with my old coffee grinds. I figured they worked great for roses so why not grapes? The fruit was so bitter and nasty that not even the birds or possums would eat them...in fact I thought about ripping the entire vine down, but then decided to leave it as it provides the only shade in my backyard plus I didn't have the heart to destroy it, not when it continued to stretch and grow and wrap it's little tendrils about the arch that it clings to. Passing beneath it feels like passing from my yard into a magical kingdom where anything could happen. There is however, some sort of weird mystery bug that spits on me everytime I sit in the adirondacks. I've searched and searched, but have never figured out what it is. Spitting bugs in the vineyard...sounds enchanting don't you think?

Just like our little birdhouse, Brambleberry Cottage is in need of a new roof. When I first moved here every morning I awoke to the rudest banging noise coming from the roof top. It was the crows! Ripping and tearing then throwing our shingles over the side of the house only to cackle at me as I tried to shew them away with whatever I could find to toss at them. They always seemed to be mocking me, but I became used to them and they to me...now we just ignore each other and go about our merry ways.

Well here's a curious thing...a petticoat swinging in the breeze. Hubby and I were on our way to Mimi's for breakfast and one of the neighbor's was having a yard sale so hubby decided to drive by real slow to see if there was anything interesting. As we passed by I spied this little petticoat hanging from the garage door. "Go back!!! I need that petticoat!!!" You see, mademoiselle has been begging for a petticoat and since she has no legs or pocket book the task fell to me to find the perfect fluffy little article of clothing. When I walked up to it my heart sank for I thought the price tag said $50, but then I noticed it was just 50 cents. I was so thrilled that I gave the neighbor 1 dollar and mademoiselle has been happy ever since. I'm hoping this will keep her out of my closet :0!

There she is with her lovely new petticoat.
Oops! I cut the bottom half of the picture off.

Here's Mademoiselle's bedroom. She does not know it, but her suite is about to get a make over. This poor little room has been affectionately labeled, "The Black Hole." If something doesn't have a home it ends up in the black hole. If laundry hasn't been folded it ends up in the black hole. Let's face it! Everything ends up in the black hole and somethings are never found, but all that's about to change. Next week I'm ripping out the carpet, refinishing the floor, painting, and hubby has the fun job of transforming my closet into a craft station. I think it's going to take about two weeks, but after 14 years of waiting it will be well worth it!

Oh! Here's my little ladies chair that has gone on to live with my sweet twin, Fiffer Lou. This was one of my first attemps at upholstery and while I loved the chair the scale of it was too large for the rest of my furniture...so sad, but what a happy day for Fiffer Lou!

Well, it's 9:15 pm. Past my bedtime so I think I better be going for now, but hopefully I'll be able to catch up with everyone over the next few days.
I hope you have a lovely evening!