Wednesday 5 October 2011

soggibottom


Here she is. Soggibottom Cottage as you see her.



We have been asked so many times why we called our cottage  "Soggibottom". It makes you smile and laugh right away doesn't it ? Well, maybe, it's an aquired taste, it make's me laugh...

Who in their right mind would call a beautiful, old cottage "Soggibottom" ?
Someone, I would hope who has a good sense of humour............


.... this dear 1668 cottage won our hearts when we first saw her. She needed so much tender loving care. More inside than out. nothing you see about Soggibottom is staged, she is as she is..

After moving in and stripping her bear (pun, not a spelling mistake) of her last inhabitants... it has taken us years of making her ours.  Here, I have to say, sorry, I have been neglectful of our hanging baskets... it is October in England. we have had a strange heatwave....

When we first moved to Devon, we left so many of our friends and family behind. It seemed only right that they should know what we were up to.  The reason for starting our blog.

No nipping around for tea and coffee. Our kids spend hours travelling along the A303, the road to the South West of England to spend time with us.


We spend hours travelling backwards and forwards to them. For all our friends we left behind,
HI GUYS... you know who you are.................
We also know that just because you don't leave a comment, you visit... that is what this is all about.... just being there........



This is the bridge we cross every time we need to go out into the big wide world.
The big wide world is "somewhere" on the other side, You can see it... although there are times that being an island is heaven. There aren't many people that find us down here.
If your trying to find Soggibottom, you need directions. 


Some make it here, there are some who don't know how to get here. You only have to ask.
Hi guys...postcard................ ? ? ?

This little bridge was one of the first crossing places along this route.  The road at one time used to be called Monk's Way. I want to tell you more, but by doing so, it gives our location away completely.  It is however, one of the lowest crossing points in our village. The stream  in the Summer at low tide, is fine,  in Winter or at a high tide, it tends to get a bit wet. It's a tidal stream/river... it was classed as a river a few years ago... I wonder how many river's are able to just cover your toes in the Summer...We love living here.


We have shared our cottage with our beloved pets over the years, I know you all know Amie Soto Blossom.
It makes me smile to add her to this post, because Amie was always a very big part of Soggibottom.  So many that didn't really like dogs, fell in love with her, ... her snoring was just apart of her beloved nature... I joke, she had her own charm.. There could only be one Amie Soto Blossom...
 Just as some still ask me about out very first dog, called Lucky, Amie was intended to be our very last...




There can be only one, Frankie de tabby ...  Frank is still around, he is "my lad", mum's boy....  If you ever  have lunch here at the cottage, watch your legs, he is a very well renowned scrounger at Sunday lunch times...  he is however a bit of a wimp when it comes to visiting the vet or any time a fox is around late at night visiting our very well stocked bird table.


There can only be one Hannah cat.....


One Sneaky and Mew.

One dear Fluffs, my blogging buddy....




I haven't forgotten Fluffs.

Soggibottom is a beautiful cottage, it tends to get wet now and again.. The last time it was flooded, a dyke was build around the stream in the park behind the cottage...
Who ever would have thought that we would spend another Winter with wet feet when a burst water main pipe came up through our kitchen floor..... ..  Soggibottom always has a surprise. but, we love her.

Visiting Soggibottom .... You have to have directions ......
Just let us know....


Time moves on, we are lucky enough that we live in one of the most beautiful parts of England.  Frank is still here, Freya has taken Mew's place by the fire, she has taken over Amie's toy box, Amie wouldn't mind...she has also taken Hannah and Sneaky's place, sitting on the settee. No one has yet taken Fluff's place beside me when I blog... It's open ... We smile a lot... the secret of a happy cottage.

I am sure there is a reason why you have named your blog a certain name... I have tried to explain why we call Soggibottom , Soggibottom... We love Soggibottom, but it's not just about us you know !

We can give you directions :-) you just have to ask ................. We are full for November and December :-)

Thanks Dawn, you are at star ... I won't be able to see your star,  living in this part of the hemisphere, just because I can't see you, doesn't mean your not there... x x x

dawnhaydesigns.blogspot.com/2011/10/whats-your-name.html


Freya Rose Blossom can be found as usual at   The Cat Flap Cavalier


19 comments:

WoolenSails said...

I loved hearing about your start at Soggibottom and the area where you live.

Debbie

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

How I would love to cross that bridge one day and find Soggibottom:)

Tweedles -- that's me said...

You write so beautifully. Just like telling a story. Soggibottom is gorgeous,, and you capture her spirit in the photos.
Your words paint a picture of all the love that lives at Soggibottom and all the love from the past.
All the love shared lives in your heart.
Thank you for sharing more photos of Aime and Fluff and Mew...
memories are important.. and new memories are like rainbow promises painted in the sky
love
tweedles

Polly said...

You are very lucky to live in such a beautiful home with so many gorgeous pets to share it with.

Caroline B said...

No, don't give away your location because it is so beautiful there we just might come and move in while you are out shopping one day!
Lovely to see a full view of the cottage - and to see Amie's smiley face again too!

Janet said...

One day I'll call for directions to your lovely cottage!

Houseelf said...

"Soggibottom" reminds me of the wet nappy days of chuddley knees and Johnson's Baby Powder. How could i not smile?

Lovely to see all your family including Amie. I've have a drawbridge and secret passwords if I lived on an island. LOL

"Houseelf-doings" was meant to be the cosy sort of place where you come to have a chat, grab a cuppa and see what I've made. With my gadding about this year I think the little mushroom house has wheels!

Old Kitty said...

Awwwww beautiful Soggibottom!! What a history and now much loved and lived in and just perfect! Awww look at beautiful Amie and all your angel kitties... aawww!!

Lovely and idyllic and just perfect, thanks for sharing!!

Take care
x

Dawn said...

Oh I love your name, its so sweet and such a gorgeous cottage, thnaks for playing along
Hugs Dawn x x x

Joanna said...

That's a lovely post about the home you have called Soggibottom. I'm happy to see it and meet all of your pet friends that were and are.

Victoria said...

Awwww, that was such a lovely and touching post:) Soggibottom is gorgeous and you are so blessed to live in such a beautiful place.

If Kyran and I ever make it over to England we'll definitely be asking for directions!

Mary Ann Tate said...

Your cottage is lovely as is it's inhabitants:)

Remington said...

I love learning more about my friends! That is so awesome! Thanks for sharing!

Christine said...

Gorgeous slice of earth to live in!
And I enjoy your sense of humour naming it Soggibottom!
Best wishes
Christine

~Laurie~ said...

Hi Michele - it's been a while since I've written to you. I took some time off from blog reading and when I came back - I thought I had noticed Amie Soto Blossom's abscence (from the blog and FB). I'm sorry I missed her passing :(

What a wonderful story - thank you for sharing your special place on earth. One of my dreams is to visit England one day - when that day comes, I will definitely be calling for directions :)

Lynda (Granny K) said...

How lovely! x x x

Sparky said...

Aww lovely :-)

Here's a picture I have of Lucky!

http://sparkybrand.blogspot.com/2011/10/lucky.html

Allie said...

Soggibottom Cottage is in my dreams - truly on my bucket list to come visit. But if I did come you might find it difficult to get rid of me...

Michelle said...

I think it's a great name!