Its been just over a week since we moved and we haven't accomplished much. But thats okay, I guess. We're still up to our necks in boxes, as we haven't unpacked very much. But we have the top half of one wall painted a new colour. The bottom half has wallpaper on it, which requires a steamer to remove it, and when we tried to take off even just a small section, the whole room ended up getting wet and thats sort of put me off it...

(Not a post about DIY...)

At any rate... all the cats are very happy here. Touma and especially Ryoko never really settled into the place in York. Ryoko used to be really quite friendly and demanding of attention, but then she changed after the move from the US and was never the same. But within a couple hours of being in the new place, she was looking for fusses! We see a lot more of her now too, so I feel like I have my Ryoko back. (One theory is its the complete lack of ghosts living in our house versus the 4 or 5 that were apparently in the last place.)

And over the last week, I've at least gotten some pretty solid ideas for how to decorate the bedroom. I'm pretty much going Elf in it. (Not to be confused for going Elf-as-in-my-sister.) Light green for the walls, ghostly curtains, dark woods like cedar or cherry, and elements of stone. What I'm really looking for with the stone is that sort of half-broken age-worn gothic architectural features. Mixed with the greens and the use of wood, I think it'll be very elven. I'm also going to make use of some stencils, I think, although I know it makes people cringe. But what if the stenciled pattern was virtually the same shade as the rest of the wall, except glossy instead of matt? You'd only see it at certain angles... or at night as I plan to use glow-in-the-dark paint as well. Somehow I think climbing ivy patterns that only show up at night will be quite sinister and lovely. Because you know, really, elves are creepy.

Oh... and it rains here. Every day. Constantly. Even when you don't think it looks like its raining, it is. I know this is England and all... and I know we are indeed living in a valley... but still! I don't mind it so much when I'm inside, but I don't like walking in it (too many long walks to and from college classes without my umbrella.)

And now for something completely different...

(Sorry about that. But if I'm to display the true horror that is each and every surface on the inside of my new house, I need to start somewhere. And just in case anyone is interested, each room in the house is available for adoption. All the adoption process requires is a monetary donation and you too can help give a room a better life. Each sponser will recieve via email updated photographs of the work in progress as well as personal letters written by your room. More details to follow.)

There exist certain things in this world that are just undeniably cute. Like what could possibly be cuter than two creamy little kitties smooshed firmly into a tall glass with plushy ice cream sundae fixings? I love the way the one with the whipped cream and cherry on top looks like its drowning (happily) in almond chips.

Well, I don't really know what to say except: Wish me luck in my new home!

We've successfully purchased a house of our very own and will be moving next Thursday! The house itself is hideously decorated on the inside, so for now, here's a cute picture taken from the window at the upstairs landing. And yeah, thats a stream in the shadow of those trees.

Isn't my maneki-neko (Japanese lucky cat) just the best? Round, happy, and cute. Kind of like my cat Olo, except when he puts his paw up like that its usually to bap someone.