December 6th

Oh, what a busy morning we have had! We went down to Riverland Festivity-house, which we had booked for Anabel's birthday, before 6 o'clock. There were me, Bernard, Barney the cat from Barney's Bakery, Adele and Brita. Barney delivered the most wonderful cake...

... candy canes and some beautifully glazes apples, all Anabel's favorites.

Me and Bernard were in charge of decoration...

... And Brita and Adele took care of all flower arrangements. Anabel loves nature, walking on the woods and picking berries and mushrooms so the decoration was built around that theme. Here in Riverland we are lucky to have non-poison toadstools so they can be used on decoration (and eaten afterwards!) too. Brita had also made a beautiful berry crown for Anabel, she'll love it!

But now I must run, there are still so many things to do! Bernard got Anabel's camera from repairs, and also bought her a lot of film for it, so I am sure we will see many pictures later! Happy December 6th, everyone!

***

Six hours later! We are having the best party ever, and I just wished to share this one picture of the birthday-girl today, Adele took it, and the rest we'll see tomorrow! Happy Birthday, Anabel!

❤❤❤

Anna&Mia

P.S. Greetings from Mia too saying that it is not only Anabel's birthday but also Finland's! Happy Independence Day, Finland, and happy second Advent everyone!

December 5th

This morning I was in my kitchen busily writing my to-do-list when I heard the doorbell.

- It is open, come on in!
- It's me, Bernard!
- Welcome! But it is Saturday, surely you are not working today?
- But I am! I have a big parcel for you, I think this is what you have been waiting for...

- Oh Bernard, could it really be...?

- Please take a seat for a while, I will make you a nice cup of tea but I just have to open...

- Oh yes! It is my new rolling pin and set of gingerbread moulds! This is wonderful, now I can make the gingerbread decoration for Anabel's birthday, I already got the dough, but I was just wondering what to do with it without these, thank you so much Bernard! Let me just hug you!

- Now, now, thank you, just doing my job! That cup of tea would be quite enough, huh?

- Oh yes, coming right up!

- By the way, is that a new uniform, Bernard? I don't think I have seen it on you before?

- But it is, I just got it yesterday! Let me show it to you, it comes with a matching beret, and look, the jacket has been tail-ored, ha, to suit me perfectly!

- I love it!

- But now I must run, thanks for the tea, I'll see you tomorrow at Anabel's birthday?

- Sure, sure, and you'll get to taste my baking tomorrow too. Thank you still once!

- No problem, just being a good Postie! See you tomorrow!

After Bernard left, I tackled my gingerbread dough. And I baked, and baked, and baked... Quite a few trays of gorgeously smelling gingerbread hearts, stars and flowers.

Phew! That rolling was pretty hard work!

- Yes! Remembered to make wholes for strings before baking! 

And while those happy treats were baked and then cooled, I ticked off all things from my to-do-list! The very last thing was to decorate those gingerbread, and it was such fun! I only need to attach those strings tomorrow. Now I am all ready for the bed - and also for Anabel's birthday-party tomorrow! See you there!

❤❤❤

Anna&Mia

December 4th

Hello again!

Do you still remember my yesterday's yarn shopping, and the tip I got from Adele about the new glass pieces Brita has in her shop? I did not waste any more time but went straight to see her. I had planned to buy some new ornaments for Christmas, and that tree I saw at Adele's was lovely. Snowmen and trees are my favorite decoration, so I had my paws crossed there would still be some left... When I got to her shop, she was just putting up some new pieces for sale.

- Lovely to see you, Brita, and the new look you have created to your shop! I came to see you about those Christmas-pieces but I can see there are not that many left?

- They have been a big hit, and that is why I also put these last season's "Fruit of the Month"-collection pieces for sale, many buy Christmas items and something for the spring to come also! 

-That is quite clever, I must say, but wow, your jewelry!

- These are from my new collection too, and you know my motto: "A day without beauty is a day wasted!" so I wear them all the time. They go quite nicely with my new dress&beret, don't you think? 

- Perfectly!

- Would you like to see some my new pieces, these bracelets have been especially popular? 

- Oh, I would love to!

- Here they are, I have four left!

- Oh they are so pretty! Could I see that green one more closely, please, I think that would make a perfect extra for my birthday present for Anabel! And I think Adele would love that pearl-one, I could give that her on Christmas...

-Oh yes, I definitely take this and the pearl-one too! Could you wrap them for me, please, and mark them so I will remember which parcel is which, thank you!

- Sure, just a second, I just got some lovely new wrapping papers too, let me show you!

- I think Anabel would love that green, and Adele could have that elegant white, what you think?
- Perfect as usual, Brita!

- They've done! But hey, did you also wish to see some my Christmas-pieces? Trees and snowmen were your favorites if I remember correct?

- Yes, but I think all green trees and white snowmen are sold already? 

- The small ones are, but I just might be one special piece left which I think you might like... Just wait a minute, please!

- Oh... That one is mine!

***

Did you already guess what I was planning to use that lovely, unique piece for?
Ta-dah:

I love it! And fourth window was also opened today, and a little squirrel it was! What a lovely day, but now I am exhausted, I am off to bed. Good night, see you tomorrow again!

❤❤❤

Anna&Mia

December 3rd

Hello everybody!

Lovely to see you all again, and today I am showing you one of my favorite places in whole Riverland. My story started a few nights ago. I was happily knitting on my favorite spot, in my living room near by the fireplace when...

...every knitter's nightmare happened: I run out of yarn in the middle of my scarf! 

It is a birthday gift to Anabel, and I need to get it finished as soon as possible, her birthday is on 6th! It was too late to run shopping that night, but the very next morning I was on my way early. It was snowing heavily so I put on my thickest and biggest shawl, put the yarn sample to my handbag, and off I went...

... to Adele's yarn shop! Despite the heavy show she was putting up the most beautiful Christmas lights! Her shop looks amazing now!

Adele is Anabel's sister, and they both are really artistic. Not only yarn selling but also knit designing is Adele's expertise, and I have purchased many of her patterns, for example for this shawl I am wearing. But today I had a special request in mind... But first I have to show you bit more of her shop, it is so beautiful, Christmas lights, and some beautiful silvery decorations... But what is that big bag there?

- Bernard the Postman just delivered my latest wool batch from the Meadow-upon-River spinning mill! All beautiful blues for happy winter knitting. I haven't had time to unpack it yet as I wanted to put up those lights first. But what did you have in mind this time, dear Anna?

- Oh those look beautiful, but I have a special gray shade in mind! Do you remember the dress you made Anabel for her last birthday? I am knitting her a scarf to match and just run out of that yarn a few rows before it's finished! And it is her birthday coming up soon, so...

- Oh I remember that yarn! It has been pretty popular, so let me see if I have any left...I have some grays over here, wait... Oh yes, three balls still, that is the very same batch even!

- Oh, you just made my day! I take them all, thank you so much! And then I would need some needles too, I think number three, they are the blue ones, right?

- Alright, would you need anything else?
- I think that is great this time, thank you so much!
- Lovely, here is your bag, happy knitting!

- Oh but one more thing before I go... Where did you get that beautiful glass-tree you have on your desk?

- I bought it from Brita's Glass Shop, she has a new, Christmas-line there, she just got them all finished yesterday. All were really pretty, and if I were you, I would rush there before they've all gone!

- Thank you, I will visit her soon, that looks just like what I had in mind! I am off to see her next! See you soon again, at Anabel's Birthday party the latest?

And off I went... But that is an another story, my visit at Brita's, so see you soon again!

❤❤❤

Anna&Mia

P.S. When I got home, I opened my calendar, and got a little tree! How happy coincidence as I just bought a... Hush, hush!

December 2nd

Hello again!

Last night I almost could not sleep, my head was spinning with ideas and places and happy persons I wish to show you! I scribbled my new notebook many, many pages before my eyes were finally shut.

Where yo start? Here in Riverland we have so many interesting things... But hey, it is December 2nd today? Oh dear, I have a visitor coming this morning! I ordered a new rug for my bedroom a few months back, and it will be delivered today! We have our own carpet maker here in Riverland, she is no other than Anabel whose pretty polaroid snap I showed you yesterday. I designed the rug myself, let me show you the design I made...

...and here is a snapshot Anabel sent me a while ago, a polaroid of course (taken by one of her helpers), she is giving finishing touches to my carpet there, I love it already!

And here she comes now, with a big parcel... Really exciting this is!

She has her signature carpet-bag with her and the measuring tape around her neck, she looks like a real pro! But now I just can't wait any longer...

... Just what I wished for! Thank you so much, Anabel!

We are now off to have some tea and cake to celebrate my new rug, but before we go... .

...the second window from my calendar: a little present! Just perfect for today!

See you tomorrow!

 ❤❤❤

Anna&Mia

P.S. Anabel wanted to add one more thing: Even I said the carper bag was her signature, the polaroid camera would be even more so! She almost never goes anywhere with it, but today she had to, as it is in repairs! Our beloved Postman Bernard Pig accidentally sat on her camera yesterday while delivering some unusual large parcels, he was having a little break and a cup of tea with Anabel and missed the camera on sofa. It can be fixed though, said Anabel, and postmen insurance covers it all.

December 1st

Hello dear Friends,

Let me introduce you to Anna Mouse! She is a happy little mouse living in a peaceful village called Riverland not far from I live. Anna loves ballet, and... Oh, she is jumping up and down and tugging at my sleeve: She wants to tell it all herself!

Hello everybody! My name is Anna, and I live in a rosy cottage in little town called Riverland. My house is actually called Rosy Cottage, and my address is Anna Mouse, Rosy Cottage, Old Stone Path, Riverland (just in case you wish to send me mail, I love writing and reading letters and cards). My little house is almost covered with roses, well at summer that is, and I wanted to show you one snapshot we took last July. My dear friend Anabel has an old polaroid camera, and she loves taking pictures. 

I am so happy I have that picture to show you as the cottage looks totally different now. It is all covered with snow, and just this morning when I picked up my mail I had to shovel my way to mail box! But it was so worth it, I have been waiting this mail for a month now...

...And that is a big one! We just missed our mailman, Bernard Pig, but I will introduce you to him later! He has been really busy lately, everyone seems to be getting a lot of mail these days. But back to my big, happy envelope! It must be my special...

... Christmas calendar! And just there, in upper left corner near to my paws I saw window number one and opened it, and found cute little silver bells. I am going to share my calendar with you every day! 

And now Mia is trying to say something, wait a moment... Oh yes, the ballet! Some of you may have noticed my outfit, it is a specially made tutu, and I am also wearing ballet shoes. I love ballet, and I was named after a famous Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova, my great-great-great gran mouse loved her! I dance ballet every day, teach it too, and run a little shop called Anna's Paws! It sells ballet shoes, tutus, paw-warmers and all you need for ballet! This tutu I am wearing is my own design too.

This is me at my Boutique! I use only the finest smohairs for my creations which I purchase from Riverlands best (and only) yarn shop which is owned by --- Oh, now Mia says I need to leave something for tomorrow (and other December days) also! I will show you around Riverland, and introduce you to everyone here. We all love Christmas, and it really shows around our little city. So I will see you here tomorrow, welcome to Riverland! 

❤❤❤

Anna&Mia

P.S. Mia is still wishing you tell you, that these pictures can be clicked a bit larger, if you wanted to see my Boutique or anything else closer! Thank you!