At last, I’ve found time to sit down to write and update you all on our move. We’ve been pedal to the metal checking items off the list, like picking up my Biometrics Residence Permit, applying for a National Insurance Number, overseeing a kitchen extension and renovation, and learning to drive and gathering some independence here.

The dogs have been adjusting well. We’re currently staying at my in-laws’ home while we wait on the shipping container with our belongings to be delivered. They have a good bit of land and several alpacas, and the dogs absolutely love sprinting through the yard, investigating the alpacas, and chasing the pheasants.

This past week, there was a beautiful break in the rainy weather we’ve been having, so Martin and I took time to explore the land out at the cottage. So much has changed since I last saw the house. I flew to England in September, once we knew we’d be needing to move over full time, in order to do some real house hunting. It certainly helped me envision what our lives would look like living here.

I only visited the cottage twice before giving the go-ahead to purchase. It was filled with the previous owners’ belongings and needed some work to give it a little face lift. After we got possession of the property, Martin kept me updated on the progress of the work here, since he had flown from the U.S. to England several times in the meantime for racing engagements.

But the photos he sent during those visits could never do it justice. With some basic structural work, detailing on the windows, a fresh coat of paint, and a lot of scrubbing, the house looks shiny and new! Seeing this home completely bare now has helped me visualize where our furniture will go and how each room will be used. It now feels like ours.

We are doing a small extension in the kitchen area and have completely gutted that whole wing of the downstairs, moving a door, installing huge French doors and a window, displacing a bathroom entrance, and replacing the flooring and all the cabinetry. We’re even putting up a dividing wall to create a mud room (2 huge dogs + 4 acres of land = MUD). It’s a huge project right now, but my hope is it will be done just before our shipping container is delivered to the house.

While I’d gotten a good idea on the progress of the inside of the house, with the rain, we hadn’t had a chance to really check on the status of the front garden, the back garden, the stable block, and the 4 acres of paddock. Friday was the perfect day to get outside and explore!

Out front, we noticed the winter months cleared out the leaves from the trees, and because the brush was cleaned away, we discovered the huge holly tree at the front of the property! That was a sweet surprise to see the cottage’s namesake.

One of my favorite features of the house is the iron gate leading from the street to the front door. Its scrolls remind me of a fairy tale and is the perfect entrance to this beautiful home. Out front is also a plaque with our cottage name (photo to come later with our house number blurred out). It has seen better days, but once the construction is done at the house, I’ll have a day where I sand down the sign and paint it to restore it to its former glory.

Through the back door, we are fortunate to have acres and acres of land at our fingertips. While our land is a relatively narrow piece of property, we adjoin a farmer’s land and it gives the feeling that our property extends much further than it truly does. Walking our field, you truly get that quintessential English countryside experience. To the side, we’re bordered by a creek; on the other side, a public walking path; and to the back, a sheep farm. While there were many reasons to love Holly Tree Cottage, its selling point was the land.

Easily, the number one question I’ve been asked since the move is, “How do you like the weather?” And to be honest, despite the rain, it’s not that bad! The temperature is very moderate compared to the weather I’m used to in Indiana winters, but I also find that if you’re equipped with the right clothing, you can handle most weather with ease. Which is why I have to make this very public plea to Vineyard Vines to open a store in the United Kingdom.

I have been wearing this past winter’s collection of Vineyard Vines almost non-stop since arriving in the UK, and it has kept me warm and dry and happy. It is the most durable, comfortable, and stylish clothing I own, and it fits perfectly in the English countryside setting. They have somehow mastered the balance between form and function and it’s truly a shame they don’t ship here because I know the brand would be a success. (VV, call me. We’ll set this up.)

That’s all for now! Time to rest up and get to packing tomorrow before our big anniversary trip next week (Yes, our anniversary was January 16. Yes, we’re just celebrating it now.) Thanks for stopping by Holly Tree Cottage!

Sweater, vest (similar), and jeans all by Vineyard Vines. Boots by Hunter. Coat by Barbour, similar. Earrings by Kate Spade, similar.