December 14th - Wrapped With Love

The Bouquet skunks have finished their Christmas shopping!  Today, Rosemary and her daughter Jasmine spent a lovely afternoon wrapping presents for their friends and family.

Jasmine was even entrusted with wrapping a very special and delicate plate for her grandmother. 

Rosemary was slightly nervous about this, but she needn't have worried.  Jasmine was very careful, and Grandma Stripe is sure to receive her beautiful gift intact!

December 10th - In A Tangle!

The Bouquet family are very excited to have their new apartment in time to decorate for Christmas!  Today, Mr Bouquet brought some new lights home to hang outside, but oh dear, he got himself in a terrible tangle!

At least it happened before he started to climb the ladder up the side of the building!

"Don't worry Daddy, I'll help get you out!" said Jasmine.

"BWAHAHAHAA!" Aniseed was less helpful, being overcome with fits of laughter as Stilton only succeeded in getting himself even more tangled... 

And who is that, peeking around the corner?  Rosemary looks as though she was having a quiet giggle as well!

December 9th - Checking It Twice

Like many Sylvanian children at this time of year, Aniseed Bouquet dreams of what might be in his stocking on Christmas morning.  This morning, while his sister still slept, Aniseed got up early and wrote a wish-list...

December 7th - Under the Mistletoe

Today, Mr Stilton Bouquet surprised his wife with a sprig of mistletoe hung up in their new kitchen!

"Oh, you are such a romantic, my dear!"  Rosemary said with a blush.

December 6th - Christmas Concerns...

Aaaughh!  I am running so far behind with this calendar!  I put it down to a combination of being very busy with real-life things, and not having a huge variety of Sylvanians of my own to use in scenes.  I felt like I couldn't use the Beavers and Christopher Appleblossom every day, especially as Christopher is a single squirrel, and Caitlyn wants to use the Beavers in some of her photos too.  But I didn't want to use my Bouquet skunks for any Christmas photos until they were properly moved into their new home, so I really wanted to post that story first!  Anyway, now the Bouquets have settled in nicely, and I am determined to catch up with the advent calendar over the next few days!

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Jasmine Bouquet had some concerns about moving to Town.  Back in her old school in the countryside, Jasmine was quite the social butterfly, with lots of friends she had now had to leave behind.  She was also worried about living in a small apartment, having been used to quite a large home in the country.

Now that she and her family had moved in though, Jasmine was getting quite excited about their new home.  She liked the cute (although in her view pokey) little apartment, and she liked the close proximity of a large number of new and interesting shops and restaurants.  Also, she had written letters to some of her old friends, and they had written back - Jasmine quite liked the idea of having a penpal or two, and was starting to look forward to making new friends as well.

But there was just one thing still bothering her...

"Mama?" she ventured one night, as their mother had just tucked her and Aniseed into their beds.
"Yes, little flower?"  answered her mother.

"Now that we have moved... will the Northern Mouse know where we live?"
Aniseed didn't say anything, but Rosemary noticed that he had become very still, and she realised he was keen to know the answer to this, too.

"Oh, of course he will, Jasmine!" Rosemary explained kindly.  "The Northern Mouse is very clever you know, and knows just where to make all his deliveries!  Besides, I have heard that there is a whole department of his reindeer helpers that is especially tasked with making sure all the children's addresses are correct,"  she added importantly.

"Really, truly, mama?"  Jasmine asked, her face brightening.
"Really, truly," said her mother.  "Now, off to sleep you two."

Now Jasmine could sleep soundly, and she was finally ready to call this new apartment her home.

The Bouquets Move In

This is Part Two of the story of the Bouquet skunk family's arrival in their new home.  To see the first part, go here.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *


"Oh Stilton, the wallpaper looks lovely," Rosemary exclaimed happily.
"I knew it would," her husband replied.  "You have very good taste, my dear."

Meanwhile, the children had ventured into the next room, which turned out to be the bedroom.

"Bunk beds!" yelled Aniseed.  "Bags the top one!"
Stilton, following them in, laughed.  "I think your mum might have put Jasmine's bedding on the top one, Aniseed," he said.

"I don't mind having the bottom bunk," Jasmine said.  "We can change the sheets over later."  She looked over at the couch in the room.  "Is that a fold-out sofa bed for you and Mama?"
Stilton eyed his daughter warily.
"I know it's a small apartment, Jas," he began nervously.  "I know you're used to a bigger house, but I'm sure you'll get used to this one in no time, and there are lots of things about living in Town that I know you're going to love..."

"It is small," Jasmine said quietly.  She looked around at the patterned wallpaper, the new bunk beds, and finally her father, and she smiled.  "But it's pretty.  I think it's going to be just fine.  Can we go and see upstairs now?"
Stilton relaxed a little.  "Of course - the stairs are back out in the entry."

They found Rosemary upstairs, inspecting the new stove and oven.

"Um... Mum?  Are we going to get a table?"  Aniseed asked, confused.

Rosemary smiled.  "Of course we are dear, but it won't be in here.  We are going to have a lovely rooftop courtyard for our meal area.  It will be great for having visitors and parties."  She glanced over at Jasmine, who looked interested at this, then at Stilton, who smiled reassuringly at her.  They had been a little worried about Jasmine's reaction to the move.  She had been sad to leave her old school in the countryside, and had left many friends behind.  Aniseed was another matter - nothing much fazed him, and he was excited to start at their new school, which was known for its excellent science program.

"Ooo, I like the bathroom!" Jasmine exclaimed.  "We've got a shower!  We only had a bath in our old house."

"So, family, what do we all think of the new house?  Will it do?" asked Stilton, when all the exploring was done.

"Well I'm very happy with how it has turned out," said Rosemary.  "Obviously there is a bit of work still to be done to get the courtyard up and running, but I think it is going to be a lovely place to live."  She looked expectantly at the children.
Aniseed shrugged.  "Yeah, it's cool," he said.  "The view is awesome."
"I like it too," said Jasmine softly.  "It's... very different.  Not like our old home.  But it's little and cute - it's nice in its own way."

Stilton and Rosemary were thrilled.  They just knew that this was going to be the beginning of a wonderful new life.

The Bouquets Arrive

It was a fine sunny morning in Sylvania.  In Town, the shops were just opening, the children had all just gone off to school, and the workers were getting organised for the day.

But there was one family whose day had begun much earlier, and who stepped into Plum Street rather more nervously than the other people around them did.

The Bouquet family of skunks had just arrived from the countryside.  They were not strangers to Town - Stilton had grown up in the city, and had moved to the countryside after meeting Rosemary there on a holiday when they were younger.  

Since then, they had visited Town often, even after their children were born.  Aniseed and Jasmine associated Town with Christmas shopping, haircuts, and visiting Daddy's old friends.

This time, though, was different.  This time they were here to stay.  It had always been the plan - to start their married lives in the sleepy country town where Rosemary had grown up, to begin raising their children there, surrounded by fresh air and green things growing.  Then, when the children were a little older, to move the family to Town and start their own business.

Now, here they were, and about to step into their new apartment for the first time!  Actually, Stilton and Rosemary had both been there before, but that had been whilst it was still being built.  Now they would get to see the place with all the flooring finished, and with the wallpapers Rosemary had chosen - she so hoped they would look as nice as they had in her mind!

When they arrived, Aniseed's eyes widened.  "Whoah," he said softly.  "It's a tall building!"

"It's not all for us, is it, Mama?" seven-year-old Jasmine asked in wonder.

"Don't be silly Jas," her brother answered scornfully, with all the authority of his nine years.  "It's an apartment building, remember?  Lots of little houses, stacked up like blocks.  And we get to be in the one at the very top!" he finished excitedly.

Their parents laughed.  "Aniseed is right, Jasmine," her father said kindly, as they took the lift up to their floor.  "And our apartment will actually be a bit smaller than what you're used to.  But you'll see, we will make it work."

Then he opened the door, and they all looked around...

Skunks!

This week I was very excited to find a parcel at my front door - it was our order from Sylvanian Storekeepers!  It arrived much more quickly than I thought it would, so that was a lovely surprise.

So I am now pleased to announce the arrival of the Bouquet family of skunks!

Look How Cute They Are!

I have decided that three of them will keep their official names:  father Stilton, mother Rosemary and daughter Jasmine.  I was less keen on the son's official name (Sage), only because to me it sounds more like a girl's name!  So his name shall be Aniseed (which Husband suggested, and I think it suits the little skunk very well).

You will not yet find the Bouquets' biographies on my Meet the Families page, as I don't quite have a handle on all their personalities just yet.  I hope to add them very soon.  I have however decided that the skunks are going to live in Town.  I shall have to make Stilton some fancy satin pants to wear to evening parties and special occasions (creatures tend to dress up a bit more in Town)!  Rosemary is happy with her dress, as she grew up in the country and is quite keen on the village style of clothing.

Now I just have to figure out where they are going to live...