"The Journey of Bushky Bushybottom" by Jeri Landers

Squirrel Cookies and Acorns to Celebrate Bushky's Return!

The old farmhouse Bakery and Apothecary at Corgyncombe, yesterday was whirling with activity and good smells as squirrel and acorn cookies were popping in and out of the oven. On the art stand made by Seth Tudor, above the cookie sheet, is "The Journey of Bushky Bushybottom" written and illustrated by Jeri Landers.

Bushky the Squirrel goes on an unplanned journey when a very strong wind blows him away from the security of his little dwelling in the tree. Bushky then starts upon his journey to find his way back home. In seeking his home, he comes across some friendly creatures and some not so nice creatures who seem friendly but would actually prefer to eat him!

Included in the book is a CD where Jeri Landers reads "The Journey of Bushky Bushybottom" with unique voices for each of the characters that she created.

Jeri's illustrations are wonderful and her story is exciting! How we enjoyed hearing Jeri tell the story on the CD. I even find myself singing the Bushybottom song when I go into stores and saying, as Bushky's sisters would say, "Bushy, come baaack!" in a voice that Sarah says sounds remarkably like Jeri's squirrel voice!

Drucilla P. Posssom, with several possom youngin's hanging on, discovers Bushky curled up sleeping in an old tree stump. Drucilla has a delightful Scottish brogue! In a nurturing fashion she assists the sleeping Bushky.

At Corgyncombe we have a lot of the same wildlife and flowers that flourish in Hopalong Hollow where Bushky Bushybottom dwells. Above, a Corgyncombe Possum.

Bushky comes across Trudy Webbytoes little family of ducklings in his search for help and home. How adorable the little ducklings are in their old fashioned clothing!

One of the squirrel cookies is standing near a cookie that has special kindred family significance to Jeri, Diane, and Sarah.

Corgyncombe Foxglove

A Duckling in Corgi Creek.

Corgyncombe Foxglove

A Frog lounging in Corgi Creek.

In the photograph above, a Bee at Corgyncombe's favorite apple tree.
In "The Journey of Bushky Bushybottom" a Bee warns Bushky of impending danger!

Busky Bushybottom and his sisters. On this page you can lift the flaps to see a big fold out page that shows the Squirrel family's home in a tree. You will see a roof topped with a carved Squirrel finial sitting on an acorn.

There are many delightful and spendiferous things to see and read in "The Journey of Bushky Bushybottom".
There is a lovely page with a garden with picket, wattle, and stone fences round, packaged garden seeds, vegetables, a bee skep, and many other things that us gardeners find most delightful!
In the front of the book there is a map showing the travels of Bushky Bushybottom.
In the book are 100 woodcarvings done by Hopalong Hollow woodpeckers and beavers to search for and count. There are two pages of clever poems to go with the animal character illustrations that you will also enjoy.

You'll have to read the story to find out about all the experiences Bushky has and how he finally manages to get home. At the end of the story there is a detailed picture of the family celebration inside the Bushky Bushybottom home. Both children and adults will enjoy this story!

In the back of the book you will find the squirrels in a cozy bed covered by a pretty quilt reading a squirrel bedtime story. Incredible woodland Scherenschnitte that Jeri created surrounds this bedtime illustration with the moon smiling down upon all!

Squirrels and acorns cut out of gingerbread dough. The rolling pin is a delightful find that reminds Diane of the big old rolling pin that Samuel Whiskers and his wife Anna Maria the Rats use to roll out a Roly-Poly Pudding in Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Samuel Whiskers".

With the air of circus performers the squirrels at Corgyncombe go from tree to tree. The branches undulate as they near the smokehouse... the finial atop the smokehouse is the squirrels' target. The finial can be seen in the lower right corner of the photograph above.

A flying leap and the squirrel that reminds us of Beatrix Potter's Timmy Tiptoes and Jeri Landers' Bushky Bushybottom proudly perches looking as if he is a continuation of the finial.

But he is not finished as his object is further down.

So off of the finial and down he slides in a squirrel's version of a belly whopper.

There is a bird feeder hanging from the smokehouse where Corgyncombe Squirrels take their meals. Diane's husband said that she must be feeding the birds too much as the squirrels are getting too fat!

If you enjoy watching the squirrels as they go about their daily tasks you will enjoy reading Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes" and Jeri Landers' "The Journey of Bushky Bushybottom". In Tasha Tudor illustrations and Advent Calendars the squirrel is a frequent subject. Jeri's artwork and love of animals remind us of Beatrix Potter and Tasha Tudor!

The squirrel box in the library at Corgyncombe.

Jeri Landers also wrote and illustrated "Hopalong Jack" which we featured in a previous post at the Corgyncombe Courant. Here is the link: "Hopalong Jack " Written and Illustrated by Jeri Landers

Here is a link to: Jeri Landers' web site with "The Journey of Bushky Bushybottom"

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A Valentine Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 9!

"The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Theodosia Bear in her new frock!


Tasha Tudor's Valentine Calendars and delightful dolls inspired Diane and her daughter Sarah to create their own Valentine Calendar to Count the Days Until Valentines Day! Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

A new doll Valentine photograph will appear everyday to Count the Days of Valentines!

This is the 6th year that Diane and her daughter Sarah have made a Calendar to Count The Days of Valentines. This edition of "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also during the 2011 Days of Valentines! "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" Valentine Calendar features the dolls and their animal friends at Corgyncombe as they celebrate the joys and delights of Valentine's Day at this gorgeous wintery time of year!

Tasha Tudor featured one of her lovely dolls, in words and illustration, in her book "A is for Annabelle", a story that goes through the alphabet with Annabelle and her special favorite things. If you enjoy dolls you will love this book as much as The Corgyncombe Courant does!


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Finch Post ~ Corgyncombe Branch

Delivery on The Wing!

Due to the high volume of Valentine mail Finch Post found it necessary to hire extra help that unfortunately was delayed due to the winds, snow, and cold of the '07 Valentine Blizzard. Finch Post is in the process of building a carefully designed Post Office with a huge custom show window to display stamps, cards, and many other talents of the inhabitants of Corgyncombe. Phidelia Finch is the Postmistress, her husband helps out as Post Assistant when Phidelia is taking care of things at home. Mind you, even whilst at home, Phidelia is in charge! Above is their hired help Cock Robin.

Finch Post serves the dolls at Corgyncombe with superb mail delivery service. Diane and Sarah were inspired by Tasha Tudor to have their own doll Post. Tasha Tudor's post was named Sparrow Post, where cards and goodies were delivered to her children. Tasha Tudor featured Sparrow Post in her books "All for Love" and "A Time to Keep".

Diane has been making cards using her own photographs, watercolours, and calligraphy for years for family and friends. Her doll Amelia decided to do the same! The quill pen is one of Phidelia Finch's feathers.

Postmistress Phidelia Finch


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A Valentine Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 8!

"The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Daisy receives a Valentine from little Seth!


Tasha Tudor's Valentine Calendars and delightful dolls inspired Diane and her daughter Sarah to create their own Valentine Calendar to Count the Days Until Valentines Day! Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

A new doll Valentine photograph will appear everyday to Count the Days of Valentines!

This is the 6th year that Diane and her daughter Sarah have made a Calendar to Count The Days of Valentines. This edition of "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also during the 2011 Days of Valentines! "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" Valentine Calendar features the dolls and their animal friends at Corgyncombe as they celebrate the joys and delights of Valentine's Day at this gorgeous wintery time of year!

Tasha Tudor featured one of her lovely dolls, in words and illustration, in her book "A is for Annabelle", a story that goes through the alphabet with Annabelle and her special favorite things. If you enjoy dolls you will love this book as much as The Corgyncombe Courant does!


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A Valentine Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 7!

"The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Amelia's nephew little Seth gives a Valentine to the little girl he admires most!
Come back tomorrow to see who she is!


Tasha Tudor's Valentine Calendars and delightful dolls inspired Diane and her daughter Sarah to create their own Valentine Calendar to Count the Days Until Valentines Day! Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

A new doll Valentine photograph will appear everyday to Count the Days of Valentines!

This is the 6th year that Diane and her daughter Sarah have made a Calendar to Count The Days of Valentines. This edition of "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also during the 2011 Days of Valentines! "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" Valentine Calendar features the dolls and their animal friends at Corgyncombe as they celebrate the joys and delights of Valentine's Day at this gorgeous wintery time of year!

Tasha Tudor featured one of her lovely dolls, in words and illustration, in her book "A is for Annabelle", a story that goes through the alphabet with Annabelle and her special favorite things. If you enjoy dolls you will love this book as much as The Corgyncombe Courant does!


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A Valentine Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 6!

"The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Amelia's nephew little Seth.


Tasha Tudor's Valentine Calendars and delightful dolls inspired Diane and her daughter Sarah to create their own Valentine Calendar to Count the Days Until Valentines Day! Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

A new doll Valentine photograph will appear everyday to Count the Days of Valentines!

This is the 6th year that Diane and her daughter Sarah have made a Calendar to Count The Days of Valentines. This edition of "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also during the 2011 Days of Valentines! "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" Valentine Calendar features the dolls and their animal friends at Corgyncombe as they celebrate the joys and delights of Valentine's Day at this gorgeous wintery time of year!

Tasha Tudor featured one of her lovely dolls, in words and illustration, in her book "A is for Annabelle", a story that goes through the alphabet with Annabelle and her special favorite things. If you enjoy dolls you will love this book as much as The Corgyncombe Courant does!


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A Valentine Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 5!

"The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Tillie Tinkham, the seamstress mouse for the dolls at Corgyncombe, made a Catnip Mouse for Amelia's kitty!
In "A Time to Keep", Tasha Tudor illustrated the kitty receiving a catnip mouse for Valentine's Day.
A catnip mouse can also be seen in the 1975 version of "The Night Before Christmas" illustrated by Tasha Tudor.


Tasha Tudor's Valentine Calendars and delightful dolls inspired Diane and her daughter Sarah to create their own Valentine Calendar to Count the Days Until Valentines Day! Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

A new doll Valentine photograph will appear everyday to Count the Days of Valentines!

This is the 6th year that Diane and her daughter Sarah have made a Calendar to Count The Days of Valentines. This edition of "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also during the 2011 Days of Valentines! "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" Valentine Calendar features the dolls and their animal friends at Corgyncombe as they celebrate the joys and delights of Valentine's Day at this gorgeous wintery time of year!

Tasha Tudor featured one of her lovely dolls, in words and illustration, in her book "A is for Annabelle", a story that goes through the alphabet with Annabelle and her special favorite things. If you enjoy dolls you will love this book as much as The Corgyncombe Courant does!


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Vapo Rose-o-lene ~ Days of Valentines

Rose Fragrance in the Air at Corgyncombe Apothecary!

For Valentine's Day the Vapo Cresolene lamp becomes a Vapo Rose-o-lene lamp. Beside the lamp are heart shaped petals. Roses smell more pleasant than Vapo Cresolene!

Vapo Cresolene was an old time vapor inhalant treatment for colds, used at night. It was put in a little dish above the Vapo Cresolene lamp which was fueled by kerosene. Vapo Cresolene was never to be taken internally!

On top of the cupboard is handmade goat's milk soap and a jar of honey with a note attached to the back saying "Diane, May Your Marriage Be as Sweet as the Contents of this Jar" signed Paul Sutton at the old apothecary. Phidelia Finch's eggs are in a little bowl, there are test tubes and nutmeg in a jar, scented geranium leaves in another jar, and a Vapo-Cresolene Lamp. The cupboard, a recent delightful find and curiosity, has big wrought iron handles on the sides for carrying and vertical divisions, inside.

Tasha Tudor illustrated a splendid apothecary display in "Corgiville Christmas".

Diane's ancestors had an interest in herbal extractions! On the 1658 inventory of Diane's 10th great grandfather Ensign William Beamsley's estate was listed "one still for herbes in ye sellar". His home was in Boston on his land between Salutation Alley and Hanover Avenue, and "from Hanover Street thru to the bay". "Salutation Alley was originally only five and one half feet wide." Source for Beamsley information: "Fifty Great Migration Colonists to New England and Their Origins" by John Brooks Threlfall.

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A Valentine Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 4!

"The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Tasha Corgi with a heart covered snapper filled with treats!
In "A Time to Keep", Tasha Tudor illustrated the Corgyn receiving snappers for Valentine's Day.
In "Tasha Tudor's Old-Fashioned Gifts" by Tasha Tudor and Linda Allen, there are instructions for making snappers.


Tasha Tudor's Valentine Calendars and delightful dolls inspired Diane and her daughter Sarah to create their own Valentine Calendar to Count the Days Until Valentines Day! Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

A new doll Valentine photograph will appear everyday to Count the Days of Valentines!

This is the 6th year that Diane and her daughter Sarah have made a Calendar to Count The Days of Valentines. This edition of "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also during the 2011 Days of Valentines! "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" Valentine Calendar features the dolls and their animal friends at Corgyncombe as they celebrate the joys and delights of Valentine's Day at this gorgeous wintery time of year!

Tasha Tudor featured one of her lovely dolls, in words and illustration, in her book "A is for Annabelle", a story that goes through the alphabet with Annabelle and her special favorite things. If you enjoy dolls you will love this book as much as The Corgyncombe Courant does!


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A Valentine Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 3!

"The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Elizabeth made a little woven heart!


Tasha Tudor's Valentine Calendars and delightful dolls inspired Diane and her daughter Sarah to create their own Valentine Calendar to Count the Days Until Valentines Day! Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

A new doll Valentine photograph will appear everyday to Count the Days of Valentines!

This is the 6th year that Diane and her daughter Sarah have made a Calendar to Count The Days of Valentines. This edition of "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also during the 2011 Days of Valentines! "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" Valentine Calendar features the dolls and their animal friends at Corgyncombe as they celebrate the joys and delights of Valentine's Day at this gorgeous wintery time of year!

Tasha Tudor featured one of her lovely dolls, in words and illustration, in her book "A is for Annabelle", a story that goes through the alphabet with Annabelle and her special favorite things. If you enjoy dolls you will love this book as much as The Corgyncombe Courant does!


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Staying Warm and Cozy on a Blustery Groundhog Day!

How Foolish to Pursue One's Own Shadow!

Corgyncombe Carrie was named after Diane's great grandmother who was born on Groundhog Day. Yesterday Groundhog Corgyncombe Carrie could not be coaxed out of the warm and cozy kitchen and apothecary at Corgyncombe Cottage. 'Twas so cold, snowy and blustery that Corgyncombe Carrie thought "How foolish to pursue one's own shadow!" She knew it really didn't matter anyway as at Corgyncombe spring is far away and the winters are long and hard and snowbanks have been known to linger until May. Shoveling has to be kept up at the Corg'ery to keep the corgyn from walking right over the fence. The shoveled paths look like bobsled runs and the corgyn totally disappear as they race round at top speed!

On top of the cupboard is handmade goat's milk soap and a jar of honey with a note attached to the back saying "Diane, May Your Marriage Be as Sweet as the Contents of this Jar" signed Paul Sutton at the old apothecary. Phidelia Finch's eggs are in a little bowl, there are test tubes and nutmeg in a jar, scented geranium leaves in another jar, and a Vapo-Cresolene Lamp. The cupboard, a recent delightful find and curiosity, has big wrought iron handles on the sides for carrying and vertical divisions, inside.

Heart shaped raspberry jam filled cookies are at the ready for enjoying at tea during the Corgyncombe "Days of Valentines". Diane made heart shaped thumb cookies filled with raspberry jam using the receipt "Linda de Christopher's Thumb Cookies" in "The Tasha Tudor Cookbook".

On the stove tonight is Pea Soup made from the receipt from "The Tasha Tudor Cookbook"! Mmmm, smells so good!

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A Valentine Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 2!

"The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Little Corgyncombe Groundhog dressed in an apron holding a Valentine says
"At least two months more of winter... maybe more!"


Tasha Tudor's Valentine Calendars and delightful dolls inspired Diane and her daughter Sarah to create their own Valentine Calendar to Count the Days Until Valentines Day! Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

A new doll Valentine photograph will appear everyday to Count the Days of Valentines!

This is the 6th year that Diane and her daughter Sarah have made a Calendar to Count The Days of Valentines. This edition of "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also during the 2011 Days of Valentines! "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" Valentine Calendar features the dolls and their animal friends at Corgyncombe as they celebrate the joys and delights of Valentine's Day at this gorgeous wintery time of year!

Tasha Tudor featured one of her lovely dolls, in words and illustration, in her book "A is for Annabelle", a story that goes through the alphabet with Annabelle and her special favorite things. If you enjoy dolls you will love this book as much as The Corgyncombe Courant does!


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Daisy and Diane Make Valentine Cookies

Heart Shaped Cookies Filled with Jam for Tea!

Darling and Domestic Daisy mixes up the receipt from "The Tasha Tudor Cookbook" to make "Linda de Christopher's Thumb Cookies". She uses Postmistress Phidelia Finch's eggs in the receipt. Daisy's Cousin Seth made the rolling pin just for her.

Daisy has made heart shaped thumb cookies and filled them with raspberry jam. The cookie sheet was a gift to Daisy from her Cousin Shepard. Shepard and Seth love to make special things that Daisy can use to make delicious things for them!

Daisy bakes the heart cookies in her little stove that has the name Daisy on it.

Diane made heart shaped thumb cookies filled with raspberry jam using the receipt "Linda de Christopher's Thumb Cookies" in "The Tasha Tudor Cookbook".
So delicious and pretty, too!

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A Valentine Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 1!

"The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Little Darling & Domestic Daisy made heart cookies filled with jam in her Auntie Amelia's kitchen!

Tasha Tudor's Valentine Calendars and delightful dolls inspired Diane and her daughter Sarah to create their own Valentine Calendar to Count the Days Until Valentines Day! Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

A new doll Valentine photograph will appear everyday to Count the Days of Valentines!

This is the 6th year that Diane and her daughter Sarah have made a Calendar to Count The Days of Valentines. This edition of "The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also during the 2011 Days of Valentines!

"The Days of Valentines: Amelia's Favorite Things" Valentine Calendar features the dolls and their animal friends at Corgyncombe as they celebrate the joys and delights of Valentine's Day at this gorgeous wintery time of year!

Tasha Tudor featured one of her lovely dolls, in words and illustration, in her book "A is for Annabelle", a story that goes through the alphabet with Annabelle and her special favorite things. If you enjoy dolls you will love this book as much as The Corgyncombe Courant does!

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