Hitty Helen visits Ashridge Estate

It was quite a nice day today so Hitty Madge took Hitty Helen out to Ashridge Estate.  Ashridge Estate has 5000 acres to explore and includes teh largest woodland owned by the National Trust and also one of the largest areas of deciduous trees in England.  Of course this meant that the trees were quite bare!

A few pines which of course are evergreen, but most of the trees are bare.

Looking across to the fields in the distance with some sheep grazing.

Hitty Madge and Hitty Helen did a lot of sitting and contemplating.

Both were wrapped up warm and the temperature fortunately wasn't too cold.

They admired this tree with the blue sky behind it.

The found some interesting fungi.

Ashridge Estate has an open all year Cafe with all food cooked fresh on the premises...the carrot cake is especially delicious and they both agreed wholeheartedly!

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 First Visitor to Rose Cottage Boarding House has Arrived!

The excitement here in Rose Cottage reached a high this morning as the first, yes you heard right, the first of not one, not two, but possibly THREE visitors to Rose Cottage Boarding House arrived.  This was most unexpected.... seems the thought of  visiting us here in England and then travelling with Hitty Madge  to New Zealand is a very popular destination indeed.

So anyway....who was the first to arrive we wondered?

Hitty Mary Jean gets the scissors to help open the travelling box.

Oh wow look!  Our visitor is from the United States of America!  How very exciting!

Lots of white polystyrene peanuts to protect and soften the journey.

Hitty Rimu, Hitty Madge, Hitty Mary Jean and myself, Hitty Patience start trying to clear the way.

First we discover all these amazing little baskets - this was certainly unexpected and very exciting.

We put them aside for now so we can see who is in her special travel pouch.

We are delighted to see she knows how to travel in style.

Untying and lifting the lid and there is Hitty Helen.

We welcome her to England.  She is a little bewildered after her long journey.

To give her a chance to recover before meeting the rest of the Hittys we take her to the Rose Cottage Tea Room where Hitty Joyful has been making her some sandwiches and cakes and of course the ever needed cup of tea.

Enjoying some sustenance, Hitty Helen appreciates a bit of a quiet chat.  She is very pleased to have arrived safely after her long journey.

Busy, busy, busy!

We are all so busy here at Rose Cottage at the moment, preparing for possible arrivals.  Lots of correspondence going back and forth between prospective guests....

Becassine and Hitty Granny Estelle have been busy taking an inventory of stock in the kitchen.

They are taking note of any supplies they may need to get in.

Lots of hard work is needed to get the place into ship shape.

Welcome Home Hitty Anne Challenge

There is a rumour that Hitty Anne might eventually be ready for her journey to the UK and as such there is a Hitty Girls 'Welcome Home Hitty Anne' Challenge going on to make some clothes to welcome her home when she arrives.

Hitty Ethel has been busy sewing and has made some pantaloons and camisole and our person has knitted a dress.

Hitty Michaela kindly models the dress.  I can see her wanting one as well!

Hitty Madge visits Windsor Castle

Hitty Madge had a really lovely day out yesterday - it was cold so she was well wrapped up in her red cloak, but the sky was a glorious blue!

The destination was Windsor Castle

She had hoped to visit the Queen....

She waited patiently at the gates...

But it seems the Queen wasn't to be seen.

Never mind it provided the perfect backdrop.

Hitty Madge had a little friend keeping her company today.

This castle really is quite spectacular.

Lots of other photos, but this is it for now.

A very enjoyable day out.

Rose Cottage Boarding House is open for business.

Following on from the big meeting held here at Rose Cottage a couple of weeks ago with regards the opening of the Rose Cottage Boarding House, Hitty Ethel has been busy at work with preparations.

She has been measuring up beds to work out the sizes needed for bedding.

She has a very good eye and doesn't need a tape measure!

She has been preparing dressers.

Making sure the lounge is in order.

Busy sewing, and sewing....

Meanwhile Hitty Mary Jean has been reading one of Esther Robertson's wonderful books to the Hitty girls.

They have been very much enjoying 'A Visit to Judy Brown's Shop'

Eventually the bedding is made.

The mattress is put on the bed

Sheets, blanket and pillow

Finally a quilt is laid on top. 

Rose Cottage Boarding House is open for business!

Any budding travelling Hittys looking for adventure please get in touch with Hitty Madge for further details and to make arrangements.

(Email address on profile)