Valentines Eve at Bramble Downs Common

What was going on in Bramble Downs Common last night?

It looks like all the children were gathered in Oak Hollow with Sybil Squirrel, Myrtle Mole and Frida Frog!  Goodness I can't quite believe Frida is there with all those children!

They had kindly offered to look after all the children while the parent couples went out for an evening cruise on the River boat to celebrate Valentines Day.

With some soft music playing Chive & Cherry Cavy, Bobby & Beatrice Badger along with Howard & Heather Hedgehog enjoy a slow waltz.

Olive and Oleander Otter enjoyed some quiet time together steering the boat.

I wonder how Frida Frog is today?  Recovering from the exuberance of all the children no doubt!

The Panda Quads arrive in Bramble Downs Common

Now we all know Pandas don't exist in the English countryside, so what do we have here?

Connery's wife Sandra had heard that there were some orphaned Pandas needing fostering until they could be reunited with their families in China.  Of course knowing how good Howard and Heather were with children and having heard that they have fostered before, she thought they would be just the right family to take on the Panda Quads.

They are of course delighted to be able to foster them and Howard looks on in concern hoping that they will settle in well at Bramble Downs Common as it will be quite a culture shock for them.  Fortunately though they are young and resilient, and the other children Hazel, Harry, Herbie and Hilda will make them feel very welcome.

Sandra returns home to Connery to tell him all about the successful foster placement.

Howard and Heather welcome the Panda quads, Petal, Petunia, Poppy and Primrose.

I wonder what Frida Frog will think when she sees the new members of the Hedgehog Family?

Sunday afternoon at Bramble Downs Common

Everyone is settling in nicely to Bramble Downs Common.

Mrs Squirrel invites Mrs Badger round for a chat and an afternoon tea which her daughter Sylvia has kindly offered to make them.  Mrs Squirrel welcomes Mrs Badger and asks how she is settling in.  She explains how Oak Hollow is to be the home of the Owl Family when they arrive, but she is allowed to say and look after the place for them.

Noah is busy cleaning the top of the River Boat while Brooke watches on chatting away about various games they could play when he has finished.

Frida Frog is busy telling Olive all about how Mrs Badger has arrived, and of course is still full of talk about the HUGE hedgehog family that she is yet to meet.

New Arrivals

It is with excitement that we announce the arrival of two sweet little six year old girls today, Amy Lynn and Darcy Joann.  They bring there little pets with them, Carly the rabbit and Twinkle the guinea pig.

These girls have been on a journey from The Big Red House and were made by Sandra (Mother Goose)  They are absolutely gorgeous and so beautifully made.  What a talented lady indeed!

Meanwhile in Bramble Downs Common, PC Bobby Badger was thrilled his wife Beatrice has finally arrived.  He has been missing her so much.  He can't wait to show her round his 'Beat'.  

Finally finished the little cloth doll that was started by someone else many years ago.  She has borrowed a barbie dress I made a while back and is sitting waiting on Peggy Sue's bed.  

Peggy Sue is currently undergoing 'surgery' so this will be a surprise for her being so brave.

The houses are going up

 The homes at Bramble Downs Common are gradually being built awaiting the new residents.

Mrs Squirrel and her daughter Sylvia are keeping house in Oak Hollow until the Owl family arrive, it may then be necessary for them to move, but until that time they are able to stay.

Frida Frog is sailing across to tell Olive Otter all about the new arrivals, the Hedgehog family

'There are hundreds of them!' She exclaims.

I do think that Frida may be prone to exaggeration!  There are in fact six members of the Hedgehog family.

Howard and Heather are the proud parents of Hazel, Harry and the twins Herbie and Hilda

They are moving into Hibiscus Farm on Hibiscus Hill.

Looks like Harry has already dashed upstairs to peer out the top window!

PC Bobby Badger is trying to decide where would be best for his Police Public Call Box to be situated.

He is also anxiously awaiting the arrival of his wife, Beatrice.

River boat has arrived

More work is continuing on Bramble Downs Common.

My younger son, reckons it is 'totally insane!' as apparently all these different animals couldn't possibly live together...what does he know?!

The Otter family were thrilled that their river boat arrived today.  It will require some work as it has come to them second hand, but this doesn't bother them in the slightest.

They are just thrilled to be back on the water.    Little Brooke has been hanging out the washing.  Mother Olive has spied a friend on the river bank...

Frida Frog arrived on Saturday and is looking to life in Bramble Downs.  She is also going to be frog advisor to Rory, especially now he has his frog pond up and running.

The little Cavy family have moved into their new house and are looking forward to equipping it with all they need to make their house a home.

Things are looking good at Bramble Downs Common

The Gnomes get a house cow and a job for Mrs Squirrel

Sean & Sandra are pleased to see the arrival of Thea the house cow who will provide them with milk.

Mrs Squirrel is delighted to have her first customer

Ronald Rabbit, explains he needs some clothes suitable for him to wear when showing families around the various houses and properties.  After all the young proprietor of Ronald Rabbit Reality really needs to be suited up in something befitting of his profession.

Meanwhile the Otter family are moving in and looking for somewhere on the river or waterways to moor their Canal boat when not out cruising.

Oleander and Olive are proud of their two children Noah and Brooke, who enjoy their river life.

They want to have a good sniff...I mean look around to find the most suitable place.

Families arriving!

The families of Bramble Downs Common are moving in much faster than anticipated!  The news has obviously spread fast and they are all arriving ahead of schedule.

Mrs Sybil Squirrel and her daughter Sylvia are very excited about moving into Sycamore Square.  Mrs Squirrel is looking forward to opening her sewing and repairs business.  Sylvia is hoping to make some friends with the other children who will be living in Bramble Downs.  Sadly Mr Squirrel is absent, having never returned from nut collection several months before.  They live in hope that he is okay, but in the meantime have to get on with their lives and try to make the best of things, hence Mrs Squirrel opening her sewing and clothing repairs shop.

Mrs Myrtle Mole has arrived early with her daughter Minnie, as Professor Mahonia Mole is very busy lecturing at the moment.  They will be moving into Maple Hill.

Mrs Mole is very shy, but likes nothing more than playing the piano while Minnie sings.  I'm sure once the other residents of Bramble Downs Common realise these talents they will be wanting to hear more.  Poor Mrs Mole must master her extreme shyness.

While so much coming and going is happening, with families viewing houses and the area, it was thought that PC Bobby Badger had better move in ahead of his wife Beatrice, who is busy packing their belongings.

PC Badger and his wife will be living in Buckthorn Close.

PC Bobby Badger is an avid gardener and enjoys spending his spare time working on his vegetable and flower gardens or playing chess with Professor Mahonia Mole when he is home.

Bramble Downs Common

Lots of thinking and planning and drawing up charts has been going on... 

When I was young I had a set of books by Jane Pilgrim...Blackberry Farm.  I still have these books...somewhere.  Either buried away in the loft somewhere or stored in boxes with a load of other books.  Sadly I just can't remember where and I am not about to scramble around the loft as have too many other things to do.  However, the stories remain a strong memory and some in particular I remember with fondness.  So I thought I might make my own 'Blackberry Farm' equivalent and have been thinking of families and stories that I can develop.  I blame my little Sylvanian Cavy Family - they started it all really.  I was just going to have them, and in fact it will only be them for a while, but in the meantime I can plan.

I think my little community will be called 'Bramble Downs Common' and at the moment I am thinking along the lines of another five families:

Squirrel, Hedgehog, Mole, Badger and Otter.  I have thought of some story lines, although only an outline so far.

Mr Bobby Badger will be the local policeman and his wife Beatrice is a bit of a busy body, but means well and likes to bake cakes and organise fêtes.  In his spare time Mr Bobby Badger likes to spend time in his garden, and also enjoys a game of chess with Professor Mahonia Mole.  

The squirrel family I am taking the characters very much from the Blackberry Farm story which was one of my favourites where the mother made a dress for her daughter.    So Mrs Squirrel will be a dressmaker, who lives on her own with her daughter as her husband is absent.  The reason for his absence is not known at this stage.

The Cavy family hope to eventually run a boarding house/hotel, as they enjoy having guests.

This will indeed be a long term project as no little families can join me at present, and I have very little materials available to build the various homes they will live in.  But I think it will be fun, and worth working for.

I have to say a big thanks to Vicki of Hittyville Gazette who has indirectly given me the courage to follow through with this project that has been nestled in my mind for a long time.