Hillbillies Update...

Well, almost a month into the Antiques Boutique & we (well I) have been having fun!

Meeting lots of new people - sadly I cannot seem to remember their names! Must be my old age creeping in! Its still very quiet in Baddeck - everyone is saying this is normal & wait for the tourists to come. Hope they're right! But all of the feedback is positive 'great for the town', 'people are always asking where the nearest antiques shop is'... 'beautiful stuff', 'nicely laid out' etc etc (I'm blushing now!) Had a lovely couple in on Friday - she could have been my clone - loved ALL the Victoriana & spent a few bob on vintage linens & a Victorian Teapot & stand - that was gorgeous - what taste we have! Then she talked about how she's doing up an old house (! been there done that - twice) & she's trying to create an English country garden (I'm waiting for my heirloom roses to arrive too...).

Sir Lancelot is pulling the folks in nicely - some want to buy him, some try him on. I did hear footsteps on the stairs one day - & knew someone was approaching - then heard them banging poor Lance with a stick or summat - what a cheek! Anyway he's OK - if getting a tad rusty! He's out most days - think I'll get him a big brolley...

Ian's been hard at work - being eaten alive by the black flies - yeuk! But we have stacks of potatoes in & onions & the good old tractor has helped ENORMOUSLY! diggin holes for the 15 fruit trees & 12 fruit bushes & rows for the seedlings...

We've had our lovely Godin wood stove installed - remember this came from France to the UK then to Canada - all brand spanking new - & to EU code, but not to Canadian code - which meant that the insurance broker wouldn't insure the house if it was 'just installed' so we had to get a certified installer to do the work & he wasn't easy to find. Some would just over quote, one said he'd put the chimney in - but not hook up the stove as it wasn't certified! Anyway we got a great chap to do it - he was excellent, thorough & fair price.

The chimney went up & they put some roof tiles on too as they were in need of changing - then when up on the roof they found that the boards under the rotten tiles also needed replacing! DOH! Then the stove pipe we bought to go with the chimney wasn't suitable as it was single skinned - code here says it needs to be double skinned - so we have spare stove pipe now... well its all done & looks great - we are very pleased with it & it gives off loads of heat with a few logs... apple wood seems best & we have lots of that around here...

We have fabulous birds in the 'back yard' as they call their gardens over here! Golden Oriels, Yellow Finches, red Finches, Grackels with peacock blue heads in certain light, Blue jays & now the gorgeous red throated humming birds - we have feeders with sugar & water in on the front of the house & now on the back deck next to the kitchen window & the cute little guys are no longer shy in coming forward & its delightful to see them whilst washing the pots!!

The girls come next month (my chicks!) & we're almost ready for them - I painted their front door - a 'ruby lips' colour to match our house!

We have lots of moose hoof prints down the meadow & a HUGE POO! which we think is a bear poo - nice!!

The boyz have been swimming daily - they LURVE it! & are knackered... daily!! ACE

Working on the antiques website - hope to get it up there in about a weeks time... feedback would be appreciated http://www.antiques-boutique.com/

It's Erik the Vikings 1st birthday on 28th May - what a fine young puppy he's grown into - cute, cuddly, pretty-boy & big fun! Here he is snoozing on the sofa - his head lost in cushions!! - see that is cute!

Love to all in Blighty - Happy xxth to Anne on 29th May!! Happy 18th to Holly on 1st June & Happy birthday to Abs on the 15th - have a great day.