The Hittys of Rose Cottage are back!

We have finally been able to reinstate Rose Cottage and the Boarding House...it is lovely to have the Hittys out from hibernation, even if the weather is getting much colder.  The Hittys are looking forward to decorating their house for Christmas.

They have been hard at work today, cleaning and setting up their house.

It has been set up very similar to before with just a few changes.

The library is still upstairs and Hitty Annabelle is already been enlisted to tell the little ones stories!

Hitty Madge's art corner has been set up and she is now just waiting for some inspiration.

Hitty Ethel is already hard at work at her trusty sewing machine.

A few of the girls are having a relax and chat after their hard work this morning,

I (Hitty Patience) am of course typing up our memoirs, whilst the NZ girls are about to embark on a game of chess.

Out in the garden, Hitty Joyful has discovered it is a bit too cold now for a short sleeve dress!  Miles is making sure his rabbits are well fed.

In the boarding house kitchen Becassine is sorting and cleaning ready for some baking

The children's room is in need of bedding, but at least there are some toys!

Just love the detail in this house - there are coat hooks in the entrance hall and of course a radiator to keep the chill out.

Hitty Granny Estelle is sitting in the lounge enjoying the peace and quiet.

Hitty Natalie Rose is tidying up the bedroom and putting fresh sheets on the bed.

Getting the house in order.

It has taken us a while, but we have finally got Rose Cottage back in order after the Christmas holidays.  To think we are two weeks into the New Year already and we have only just managed this!

I have my little office area back and although it can bet a little bit lively up here if the children are listening to stories and Hitty Ethel is busy sewing, it is generally not too bad.  Of course Hitty Madge's art studio is also up on this level.

The library is well stocked with lots of interesting books.  Hitty Annabelle is keeping the little ones entertained today.

Hitty Ethel is pleased to get back to her little sewing room and has a few works on the go.

Downstairs is where we all tend to gather during the day.

The boys Miles and Noel are busy playing with their dinosaurs they got fro Christmas, Rufus is watching them.  Becassine has been helping Hitty Phoebe with the arranging of the flowers in vases.  Hitty Rimu and Hitty Moana fancy a game of chess.

The others are enjoying a good ol' chin wag.

Hitty Mary Jean is heading off to the shops to stock up on supplies.  Hitty Leonarda and Hitty Carol Faith look like they might be up to something....

Anka and Piotr are still making eyes at each other!

Hitty Helen Robertson Arrives!

Just as we hoped the travel compartment of our second guest arrived the following day...

We are excited to meet her and can hear a few muffled noises coming from inside.

Hitty Madge carefully cuts open the seal

We pull back the doors

Hi there! Cries a friendly voice.

Hitty Helen R has arrived!  We had been eagerly awaiting her arrival after reading about her journey preparations here...

We welcome Hitty Helen R... and tell her that we have TWO Hitty Helen's staying with us - how funny is that?  

Hitty Madge embraces her.

'Look, I brought my passport!' She tells them.

'You'll need that for when we go to New Zealand'  Hitty Madge tells her.

Come on, I am sure you are parched after your long journey.  First stop Rose Cottage Tea Room, where Hitty Joyful is looking forward to meeting you.

Hitty Joyful is delighted to welcome another Hitty Helen to stay with them.  Hitty Helen M is busy chatting to whom she has discovered is her long lost twin Hitty Michaela - they were amazed to see the resemblance to each other!

Hitty Joyful is very attentive and keeps the teapot full of fresh tea.  

Refreshed from her journey Hitty Helen R, joins the other Hittys in the large living room where they are all gather and spends some time getting to say hello to them all.

They are all very excited about the good times they are going to have together!

Hitty Helen gives out gifts.

The Hittys here at Rose Cottage have become very 'English' in their ways since coming to live her and as such know just how to line up forming an orderly 'queue'  as they wait to greet Hitty Helen and welcome her to their home.

They all want to give her a welcome hug she in turn surprises them with a wonderful gift each.

She thanks Hitty Joyful for the wonderful tea, sandwiches and cakes that awaited her arrival and tells her she feels very sustained now.

Hitty Joyful is delighted Hitty Helen enjoyed them and hopes she has a wonderful holiday with them.

Hitty Natalie Rose is thrilled to get a gift basket as well.

The Kiwi girls, Hitty Rimu and Hitty Moana welcome Hitty Helen.

Hitty Rimu is so excited about the gift and Hitty Moana says thank you to Hitty Helen for her generosity.

The girls are all a twitter, they never expected to receive a gift and are thrilled to bits.

We all gather round.  Cousins Hitty Annabelle and Hitty Ethel open their basket together to reveal paper dolls.

What we shall all have with these.

Fun and practical!  Thank you so much Hitty Helen for your kindness.

A picture of the lovely little paper doll set.

Our Plans for the Year.

Hitty Patience here...I have managed to gather all the Rose Cottage Hittys together to have a meeting about our plans for this New Year.    We have managed to take down all the Christmas decorations - a little earlier than we usually do, but want to get on with things.  We are leaving the lights up for a little longer as they brighten the place up on dull dark and rainy days.  

I have an agenda to work through and asked the girls for suggestions.

They all thought new clothes would be a good idea - of course - but poor Hitty Ethel said that she felt they had enough for now and perhaps underwear was more of the priority as she had heard that some were without - yet all claim to be wearing some!

We are expecting a new arrival at some stage - she booked her passage last year but there have been delays and she will need some underwear and a new dress - so perhaps we can set to achieve that in meantime so it is ready and waiting for her.

Hitty Madge and Hitty Joyful are hoping that they can open up the Hitty Cottage Boarding House and Tea Rooms to visitors this year - after the success of Hitty Mischievous unexpected visit in 2014 (was it really that long ago?!) they are quite excited about having others come to stay.

We were all unanimous in that proposal and will work towards getting a room ready for the Boarding House's first visitor.

Much work has to be done as can be seen in this photo taken last year when Hitty Natalie arrived - bedding is seriously needed!

So if any intrepid and budding travelling Hittys wish to come and visit - our doors are open.

The Rose Cottage Hittys.

The Christmas been and done and a super gift.

Well it seems Christmas has been and gone in a blink of any eye!

The girls here at Rose Cottage were thrilled to get a little book from Christmas from Hitty Robinson and family and thank Esther very very much as her books are always a delight. 

Hitty Madge can't wait to start reading it.

Seems something has made Hitty Mary Jean giggle...the sight of Hitty Michaela running round in her unders....the question is was she getting changed OUT of her Christmas dress or into it?

Hitty Leonarda (the resident Hitty Witch) was rather bemused to change out of customary outfit into a Christmas dress, and even more bemused to be left holding the baby.

Albeit a couple of days late, the Hittys at Rose Cottage would like to wish all their friends a Very Happy and Healthy New Year full of creativity and fun.

Some late Spring Cleaning in Rose Cottage.

Things have conspired against our person during the last couple of months and she has had no time to pay us any attention here in Rose Cottage.  We also ended up in quite a state of disorder thanks to the man of the main house 'putting stuff' in our home!  

As you can see it was time for a clean up for sure!

We work hard, and eventually things are starting to feel a bit more like home again!

I am back to updating our diary while Hitty Rimu chats to me about the kind gift we received from the Quimper Hittys.

She tells me all about the lovely book received.

Hitty Ethel is back at her sewing machine planning some summer dresses for us all.

Hitty Leonarda is resting after a busy morning tidyng

Hitty Moana is tidying up the shelving unit and placing the little shells that Hitty Madge brought back from New Zealand with her on the shelf.

Hitty Mary Jean is tempted to start sampling the wine in the fine Kauri goblets also brought back from New Zealand by Hitty Madge.

Hitty Annabelle is looking after the youngsters.

Hitty Granny Estelle is hopeful she might have a visitor and is about to put her feet up.

In the kitchen Becassine Terese is busy.

Out in the courtyard the boys are playing, Anka is about to go shopping whilst Hitty Scary and Hitty Carol Faith are hoping for a bit of sun.

Mean while in the Rose Cottage Tearooms, Hitty Joyful is busy preparing for the upcoming season of afternoon teas.

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We were delighted to receive a surprise package in the post today.

Completely unexpected and perfect timing for our foray back into all things Hitty.

A delightful card and book and little picture card from the lovely Kjerstin and Quimper Hittys.

Thank you so much for brightening our day.