The café is a tie and it's hard to get away for even one night. With a month gone since mum past I decided to pack the car up with a few things and the kids and head up north for a little road trip to visit my brother and sister; leaving Ian behind to keep the café running.
It was a big decision to go on my own, but I'm so glad I did. Now that I know I can do it, I'll try and do it a bit more often.
It's been a crazy busy few weeks at the café and today we felt like 'running to the hills'. So we did... we took Hugo on a little hike to Mount Holdsworth. The light was beautiful and the smell of the forest was intoxicating. The river was fresh after a day of rain and was revitalising.
Something that hasn't been successful at the cafe has been my table plants. Diners pick at them, pull leaves off and worst of all they have been watering my succulents which has caused them to rot! This is my last attempt.....if these don't survive I will call defeat!
My friend Jan from Lavender Abbey bought in some of her gorgeous locally grown lavender buds into the cafe for me this afternoon, along with a recipe for lavender hot chocolate.
First you need to infuse the lavender buds in the milk
Once infused the lavender is stained and then you can add the chocolate
A dollop of cream and enjoy a decadent treat with a delicious hint of delicate lavender.
My baby girl turns seven on Tuesday!
We had her party yesterday at our cafe ~ Cuckoo Cafe.
She invited all the girls in her class, so that was a total of 15 girls.
She wanted a 'fox' themed party, but it was mixed with foxes, blossom, woodland and vintage tea parties.
Sadie dressed up in her fox outfit and all the girls had fun making their own hand stitched fox key ring upstairs in the Makery.
She has some of the cutest friends (and loudest), it was good fun.
For her birthday table we had freshly picked blossom,
Real birds nests
Each party hat was decorated uniquely ~ which they got to take home afterwards
jelly and fairy mushrooms served in vintage tea cups
Retro cream bottles (the real thing, not reproductions)
Her cake was simple but pretty.
A perfect day, with family celebrations to look forward to on Tuesday.
Thought I would update you on how the cafe has been working out for us. It's hard to believe we are into our seventh month already. Three months ago I decided to resign from my library job and now I'm working with Ian during the day. You dont' get the chance to own your own cafe every day, so we thought if we were going to do it properly I had to be more involved. I'm loving it, it's been great working with Ian everyday, bouncing ideas off each other in how to improve things and perfecting our coffee making.
Going into it we wanted to put our own mark on the place immediately, but it didn't take us long to realise that it's a gradual progress that takes time and money, but we are definitely moving ahead with a solid following.
So far we have introduced a new logo designed by our friend Geoff Francis. Ian wants to introduce a good selection of gluten free cakes, cupcakes and pizza bases. We also want to try and promote a 'green' image where we try to use as much biodegradable products as possible.
I have started up 'The Makery', a place where I host craft sessions for birthday parties and school holiday programmes for children. I'm now thinking how I can do something similar for adults. Crafts and cafes seem to go hand in hand.
My Makers at Home group has also hosted a handmade goods ~ music ~ local art and food night a few weeks ago. The place was lit up with tea lights and we had a brazier burning out in the courtyard. It was a wonderful evening. It turned into a real community event.
Life hasn't changed too much for the children. We try to have a meal at the cafe together once a week which they look forward to. Charlie and Sadie love decorating the 'specials' blackboard for me with their quirky little drawings.
Thanks to those who have already popped in to say hello, it's lovely meeting you.
Follow us on Facebook if you would like to keep updated.
~ our new signs ~
~ Ian at the coffee machine ~
~ Ian's G.F chocolate and salted caramel cupcakes ~
~ Cuckoo's marinated olives served in a vintage tea cup ~
~ me setting up the Makery for a craft afternoon ~
~ Makers At Home event ~
~ Pear and almond tart ~
~ The Makery in full swing ~
A collection of random images that I have collected over the past week.
Hugo modelling an outfit I have put together as a gift for a fellow baby friend.
My cousin sent me this photograph of me as a child. I've never seen it before and I'm not sure where it was taken, but I'm loving my outfit!
We are enjoying some beautiful frosty starts to the morning.
Hugo loves reading this book....even by himself.
Slowly making positive changes at the cafe.
A stormy weekend caused a power cut. Very exciting!
My lovely friends have been helping me out with some potted succulents and herbs for the cafe tables.
Some cleaned out their kitchen cupboards and donated unused teapots, others kept and eye out at the thrift shops, my mother-in-law gave me succulents from her garden, and another friend potted them up for me.
Don't they look wonderful! I'm feeling very loved.
I'm sure you can imagine why it's been quiet here on Heart Felt. We have been in the cafe and trading for a month now. We knew it was going to be hard work but we are really enjoying it. The best part has been making small gradual changes to make the place 'our own'. It's been hard not being able to do everything now, but we make small goals each week and slowly we have been getting there. The local support has been huge and we appreciate their patronage, especially when they keep coming back!
I'm still working part time at the library, so there's only small things I can personally contribute to the running of the cafe. I have been updating our Facebook page regularly, changing the fresh flowers and generally making the place look nice and interesting. The cafe is eclectic with a mix of vintage and retro and slowly adding bits of handmade pieces. It's been fun looking for bits n pieces from the thrift shops too, things like tea cups, cutlery, prints and furniture. We have a new logo in the pipeline, can't wait to see the new signs up ~ can't wait to show you!
The major change we have made has been the front courtyard. We had a pretty frontage, but people would rarely sit out there, they would nearly always head for the back courtyard. But the best advertisement is seeing people sitting out the front watching the world go by while eating and drinking. So we decided to take the fence and garden garden out and open it up. It worked, the first day we had the seating out we had all the tables filled.
The children love coming to the cafe and we want them to feel comfortable when they visit. Usually I find a little job to do and the children draw on the blackboard or play out the back. The novelty certainly hasn't worn off yet.
Work in progress is the new menu ~ we are mainly pizza, but want to offer weekly specials using locally sourced produce and also extend the lunch menu.
You have to have a thick skin I have realised being in this business. The saying 'you can't please everybody' has been used a few times. Sometimes they may not get what you are trying to do or they don't have patience while we try to find our feet and smooth out teething problems ~ but that all seems to go by the wayside when you are overwhelmed by the wonderful comments and encouragement.
So that's us at the moment. If you live near by come in and say hello. Jx
Thank-you for all your encouraging messages regarding the cafe.
We have taken over the cafes Facebook page so here is where you can find us.
Smallest visiting Daddy at the cafe on his break....
Knows exactly what all of that is all about.
This is our story of growing up in New Zealand
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