From the time the pretty, black Victorian Post Box arrived...

and was set in its place by the fence, Miss Eliza has been troubled.

Then, husband purchased a post box, that proved a suitable nesting facility for a dear squirrel friend or resident woodpecker, or simply as a refuge when the nights grow chilly....
Nestled in the large Hackberry Tree by Peter Rabbit's Porch, is an ancient, cast iron post box, repurposed, after its unfortunate separation from its post (A postman failed in his awareness of what was behind, as he put his vehicle in reverse) New purpose, indeed...

...and yet, Eliza grew more troubled.
Husband began to think and think...
What could be worrying our dear girl...

After a while, signs of Autumn began to appear...
and Eliza's thoughts became preoccupied with the anticipation of a new season at Rose Water Cottage.
The beautiful Tulip Poplar's leaves have begun to change colors and drop from their limbs...

Grammy placed a pitcher (that belonged to her daddy's mother) of dried golden yarrow to complete an Autumnal Tablescape...
reminding Eliza of how beautiful it was to watch the Yarrow bloom in grand profusion at the Brick House in the Country last Spring...

She sees the lovely, freshly dried hydrangeas atop the corner cabinet...

...picked fresh from her friend Mary's garden (Gentility of Heritage Stitchery) following a lovely luncheon. Grammy is most anxious for her beeswax candles to arrive from the quaint little shop in Old Salem, NC...for they have such wonderful tall tapers.

And then, much to Miss Eliza's dismay, another package arrived...another post box had been purchased, but it was husband's gift to Grammy......

....and she squealed with delight, for it is old-fashioned, and creamy white, and made of cast iron...bearing a rose!
"How perfectly perfect," she exclaimed.
And it suddenly became apparent to Husband, what might be troubling the tiny mouse...and he commenced to a search.

Dear Mrs. Rabbit, close friend of Eliza...excited that they now wear matching shawls...consoles Eliza by inviting her to tea on her tiny quilt atop the tiny table. She is to bring her prettiest little tea cup.... and share Tasha Tudor's tiniest thumb cookies.
What a grand idea, as Eliza now has an occasion to choose one from her dainty new set, acquired from Grammy's mum, as a cottage warming gift...

She makes her way to the tea party ...hopeful that a bit of chamomile tea will soothe her troubled tummy.
Mrs. Rabbit is such a dear friend and has a way of cheering up her tiny kindred....

They gaze around the cottage and take note of the autumnal changes...
The quote for the day...

The girls agree that this is a lovely, shared sentiment.

They know the sweet chalkboard in the kitchen reminds Grammy of the tongue twisting that occurs when she tries to say mums and pumpkins too fast, and too many times, in a row...it always seems to come out ....

The little friends discuss the sunroom, and its changes, and Grammy's extensive hours spent there....

*Shhhhh readers....whisper tones...they don't realize this is where the enchantment is documented and illustrated...as it is such a delightful room. The dappled rays of light bounce around on the paper, as Grammy dips her tiny brush into the vivid watercolors...adding more and more water, until the colors are soft, and ready to be washed across the page...

On the settee behind Grammy's work table sets the sweet suitcase, holding the storybook pages that have been illustrated and the ones waiting for inspiration...along with the softest handkersniff, loved very much by one very special little boy...

Therefore, readers....keep this our little secret...for now....*

The girls realize there have been a number of arrivals...friends of Beatrix Potter's Mrs. Tiggy Winkle. When Grammy sent invitation for her to come and assist with laundering duties, the prickly little Mrs. asked if some of her closest friends could come along to the cottage, as well... and, of course, the invitation was extended...

She makes sure her iron has heated sufficiently...no scorching permitted on her watch!

And there is her dearest, most frequent customer...

...and he is already hopping through the chocolate mint in the garden window...."Tsk..Tsk...He will be needing that jacket laundered in no time..." fusses Mrs Tiggy Winkle...

This is what happened when he refused to come in from the rain the other night....soaking wet and shivering...goodness gracious...what WILL we do with that little rascal...

Now that his mum and sweet little sisters are here, surely he will behave and mind his gentlemanly manners...

While Eliza is pouring out her little heart to her dearest Rabbit friend...she reveals that she heard the tapping of a hammer on Husband's day off. The squirrels were so thoroughly excited, their squeaks of approval could be heard through the rafters, down the vents, to Eliza's little cottage door in the kitchen.

Another POST BOX ...and this one became a snack station, filled with peanuts, affixed to the fence below the Hackberry Tree. Eliza was beside herself...

When it is filled with peanuts, a stick props open the front of the box, allowing the furry friends to reach and retrieve a crunchy snack.

Eliza and Mrs. Rabbit concluded their visit with hugs and reassurances of their friendship...Eliza's worries would be kept in closest confidence.

Only a day passed and a knock was heard on the front door...as the post man pulled away, Eliza heard Grammy opening the front door. She placed the handful of letters upon Husbands chair, along with a small package.

Eliza sighed...it would be a while until the parcel was opened...

She awoke from her afternoon nap to hear paper being torn, popping of bubble wrap, and rattling of some sort.

Grammy squealed and husband grinned, and before Eliza could catch a breath, she was scooped up into gentle hands, scented with the soft fragrance of rosewater...and transported to the living room...

"SURPRISE dear Eliza.... You have a Post Box of your very own!"