Ever since the move in, Natalie Charcoal fretted over furniture. She wanted her house to be modern, yet cozy. To be city-like and VERY TERI, but also have a clash with the quiet country. For now the only furniture they did have was a connected stove and sink and the bed Heidi gifted them, so Olive and Ginni could have a place to sleep.
The Tuxedo Cat family (and Ginni Golightly) was overjoyed to have their very own place to call home and everyone living there each had their very own space. Lily and Rose were promised to have the second floor all to themselves; the kitchen would be the space where Natalie could read VERY TERI posts and teach herself how to cook. The babies loved being at the tallest floor with two small balconies. Natalie and Mason had been meeting with the Waters (the beavers who were also the village builders) about furniture. Natalie also already met up with the Marshmallow Mouse older sister, Stephanie, and Stella Hopscotch about bed sheets. “I am so excited!” exclaimed Natalie to Mason, “Today Lily and Rose’s mattresses and blankets will be arriving. I can’t wait to see what Stella Hopscotch made!”
Mason looked up from the test papers he was grading and said, “I’m sure it’ll look perfect. Now don’t forget that the dining table and chairs are coming this evening too.”
Mason Tuxedo had always been a serious, straight forward, no nonsense critter. His wife, Natalie, on the other paw was enthusiastic, positive and bubbly. Natalie asked with much excitement, “What do you think it will look like?”
Mason shrugged, “Blue and pink, I guess. Well, we’ll need to start thinking about beds, we can’t keep sleeping on the floor.”
Natalie nodded, “Mason, don’t you worry. I’ll make sure we have beds.”
Mason smiled at his excited wife, “I will go pick it up later along with the table and chairs. I just need to borrow Harlin’s car.”
Soon Mason left to pick up the furniture, while Natalie started reading the Calico Times for spectacular furniture deals. On the 3rd page there was an advertisement from the Toy Shop (the place Harlin worked at), it was selling baby furniture.
Natalie immediately walked all the way to the Toy Shop and asked Harlin for a full list of baby furniture. “When will this one arrive?” asked Natalie, pointing to a teal crib with a slide and ladder.
Harlin replied, “In 1-2 weeks. It’s one of the newest shipments.”
“Can I order it right here and now? It would be some trouble to go all the way to the Hopper Kangaroo’s home and order,” Natalie said.
Harlin answered, “Of course, you want one, correct?”
“Correct, indeed. Thank you.”
Natalie left and walked home again. She hiked up her dress and walked slowly like a proper lady. When she arrived home, Mason showed her the mattresses and dining table. Natalie smiled wide, the ash wood table had already been placed. Even the modern style bench was there too. “I LOVE IT!” she squealed, happily.
Mason commented, “You have a lovely taste in furniture, Natalie. This bench is very modern, plus the ash wood is bright and cheery.”
Back at the Deluxe Village House, Heidi had been cooking lunch for her husband. Harlin recently arrived and now was enjoying a cup of coffee and watching TV. Heidi began, “Harlin, I asked Stella to send some fabrics for me. I want to make Natalie and Mason a quilt for their house. Remember, when they came here they gave me the lovely green patio chairs and table. The fabric arrives today, so you need to pick it up after work.”
Harlin grins at his wife, “Heidi, that is a brilliant idea. Do you got any idea of what the quilt will be like?”
“I noticed all around their house are fancy flower engravings, I was thinking to add some flower designs,” she answered, “Well, lunch is ready now. Come enjoy!”
The next day, Heidi was sitting at the patio with the three fabrics her daughter sent along with a MEMO card written by Stella in her fancy handwriting:
“What are you doing?” Teri asked interrupting her younger sister’s thoughts.
Heidi pointed at the fabrics and stated, “Choosing a fabric for quilting. I was thinking about pink as the base color.”
Teri claimed, “Sis, you know I am not good at this country stuff.”
“If you were Natalie, what would you want?” questioned Heidi, “Her mattress is pink by the way.”
Teri smiled at her sister, “Pink. I’ll go help deliver the other fabrics back for you.”
Heidi thanked Teri and handed a MEMO card with a note written for Stella. It said:
MEMO cards were always used for writing letters or notes, so Teri already understood what Heidi wanted when she handed the card to her. For the next few weeks, Heidi worked very hard on the quilt. Patching together all the swatches of beautiful fabric. Stella sent plaid, spotted and floral prints, which were all used to make the quilt.
While Heidi worked Natalie bought modern furniture for her home. The girls’ room had already been fully furnished. Mason helped out too, by ordering a study desk for the twins. It was made of the same matching golden oak wood. Along with the desk, he ordered much stationary. A pencil and red pen and Rose chose a pink flower like pencil cup to hold the items. There were also three books on the desk shelf. A dictionary, Seaside Stories and Fairy Tales. Mason originally wanted the Fairy Tale book to be a geography book, but Lily and Rose were able to convince their father.
Instead of buying a geography book, Mason bought a globe. Olive and Ginni would laugh and call the globe a “tilted ball”.
Along with the girls’ room the third floor was almost finished too. There was a bed for Mason and Natalie, made of ash wood too. On top was a bubblegum pink mattress made by Stella Hopscotch and Stephanie Marshmallow. Next to their bed was the newly bought teal crib/slide (where Olive would sleep) and in front of their bed was Ginni’s crib. Knock, knock, someone was at the door. Nataie swung the door open and was surprised to see Heidi and Teri Choch. “Hello, hello!” greeted Heidi.
Teri stated cheerfully, “It’s nice to see you. The house looks wonderful from the outside! The flower engravings are VERY TERI.”
“Thank you! The engravings are even on the roof. I made sure of it,” remarked Natalie, showing the ladies the engravings.
Heidi commented, “Beautiful work indeed!”
“So, what are you two doing here?” inquired Natalie.
Heidi began, “We got some gifts for you! Since last time you bought me the wonderful patio chairs and table. Here. I hope you like it.”
Heidi handed Natalie a beautiful pink quilt that she had hid behind her and her sister, fancy sea green doilies and a country styled clay pot. Teri handed a glass bowl she would put sundaes with and a white two tier plate, where she originally placed finger foods and tempura. Natalie squealed, “Mason, get down here! Oh my gosh, thank you! This quilt is a work of art! The small tiny patching is so delicate and elaborate! These plates and bowls match so well with the plate I bought!”
Mason came down with the electric stairs and gasped. He immediately thanked Choch sisters and started carefully placing the bowls and plates onto their new dining table. Heidi claimed, “The pot is for adding a little bit of the country for your new home. Welcome to the neighborhood!”
“It’s adorable!” Natalie exclaimed, “Thank you!”
“I agree. All these gifts are amazing. Thank you for putting your heart in them,” Mason commented.
Teri stated, “I suggest buying some sundaes and finger foods from the Delicious Restaurant. I don’t like how they changed the plant based tempura with real tempura. I am a rabbit after all.”
The three mothers spent the rest of the day watching Natalie show each part of the house and each special meaning. “The girls’ bedding are blue and pink because those are their favorite colors,” Natalie explained, “Oh and here’s Olive’s crib. Olive was always adventurous, so we got her a crib with a slide and some small stairs. Ginni however is sophisticated and she loved the bed you gave her, so she sleeps on the yellow crib. Here’s Lily and Rose’s room. Originally their bunk beds were vertical and faced the left wall, but to save space it’s now horizontal and facing the window. Luckily the shutters still work like a charm.”
When everyone went home Natalie and Mason stood at the balcony. “Mason?” Natalie whispered.
Mason answered, “Yes, Natalie?”
“I love this house,” she whispered back.
Mason smiles, “I’m glad you like it. I love all the furniture you chose and the house itself too.”
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