Here goes, my first blog post and the beginning of documenting my life in the stunning Sussex countryside and beyond!
To begin writing about My Little Country Life, I figured home was a good place to start; please step inside and explore our quirky little home.
Little over a year ago my partner Chris and I purchased our first home together a charming Grade II listed cottage.
Set in a typical English village with two pubs, a tea room, convenience store (which is not always very convenient), duck pond, cricket pitch, monthly farmers market and fetes throughout the summer months. The village also hosts an annual hot air balloon festival, and is often a hive of activity. Before we moved here I had often admired the village and all its chocolate-box cottages, never thinking that I would end up living in it.
We moved in mere weeks before my 30th birthday and it was truly the best birthday present ever.
From the moment we first stepped through the door on a cold and wet Saturday in October, we fell in love and it immediately felt like home.
The cottage is packed full of character and history. The a cosy sitting room, has an Inglenook fireplace with an oak bressummer over, bread oven, wood burning stove and a cute stable door (maybe this was why it felt like home to me)!
A gallery kitchen which is an acquired taste for which I have not yet developed, has tulip wood surrounds hand-painted doors and Italian tiled worktops. In its favour however is the Rangemaster cooker.
The first floor landing has exposed ceiling timbers.
Opening the door to the master bedroom which is a beamed vaulted room.
There is a secondary staircase in the master bedroom leading up to a built-in wardrobe and dressing area.
The second bedroom is double aspect with tiny windows at the perfect height for our four legged friends to keep watch from, with exposed wall beams and floorboards.
The garden has been transformed since we moved in. As pretty as it once was it was it was not dog friendly or practical with Chris and I working full time. The fence was falling down, there were three ponds and flower bed upon flower bed, leaving the dogs nowhere to play.
Although we have retained many of the flower beds along with the winding path which runs under the archways covered in roses.
After many bonfires and working until last light frequently we accomplished our goal in April this year. We now have a lovely new post and rail fence and a picket fence at the front of the property, with an extensive area of lawn for the dogs to play in and well-stocked flower beds.
There are always a new flowers starting to bloom among the 28 varieties of roses!
There is a further terrace at the end of the garden with a timber summerhouse, perfect for summer evenings to sit and enjoy a glass of wine.
Aside from Chris and myself the other residents of the cottage are our two Dalmatians, Shiva and Billy Bunter (auntie nephew), both came from a local breeder 9 years apart. These two are great company, entertainment and keep us fit on lots of long walks come rain or shine. We also have two cats (I am still in denial about this).
Welcome to our home, whilst its not big, its cosy and a happy place for which I am proud to call home.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this first post and will visit again. I have lots in store that I am looking forward to sharing with you.