Welcome to Christmas at Rose Water Cottage

I cannot believe all that has taken place since my last post.
Where do I even begin?

Okay...so let's see....

I finished the bookmarks for sister-in-law, and her ladies' retreat was a huge success...

My book, Eliza Visits Martha's Vineyard, is off to the publisher, Vineyard Stories, on Martha's Vineyard (we should have a wonderful little hardcover book by next Spring)..

We celebrated Halloween by trick or treating with a little ballerina...

...who has a passion for playing the piano...in a hat...

My son Matthew married his Jenny under the Hunter's moon...

in October...
and words cannot describe what an incredibly beautiful event this was...

and my dear husband saw to it that I acquire the most exquisite confection for the occasion...
(a 1900's edwardian 3 piece ensemble of silk, with hand-embroidered detailing....words fail me...)

We were fortunate to have a long-time friend of our family drive our newlyweds off into the moonlit night. We love you, dear Beverly!

....and then Matthew turned 30 in November. Where did the time go?

Mom and Dad arrived home safely from Africa, after a 4 month stay, just in time for his 82nd birthday.

We adopted the sweetest little kitty girl (my birthday present) and named her Lucy Maud (of course, because we LOVE Anne of Green Gables with a passion!)

Here are a few sweet photos...(Susan's Girl Kitty is her hero:)

She has mastered every adorable pose ...We LOVE her...

This was the ride home, snuggled in my arms, after adopting her from our local Animal Shelter...

It didn't take any time at all for her to know this is HOME.
It was so wonderful to have Susan Branch and some very supportive SB girlfriends (Karen, Patricia, Debs, Rosinda, Laura, Belinda, Jane, Cathy, Georgie, Erin, and even a new GF, Jane Hissey ...author/illustrator of the Old Bear books, which Sophia ADORES) along for the journey.
I wore my "Girlfriends" bracelets with SB and Martha's Vineyard charms...

We tweeted, wildly, back and forth, until we were home with our sweetheart, safe and sound...and even into the next few days...checking in on her progress and how she and little Scout were getting on...

And here they are today...continuing to "warm up" to each other, just a bit more each day...

Whew!  Now that you're all caught up...

...fetch your cup of hot tea, hot cider, or hot coffee (assuming it is chilly/cold/raining/snowing where you live:)...

....come up the flagstone path...

Welcome...
to Christmas at Rose Water Cottage....

It's beginning to look like Christmas.  With fresh pine and cedar garland hanging along the gingerbread trim, I feel as if we live in our very own storybook cottage, nestled somewhere in a storybook wood...

Speaking of storybook cottages...and storybook woods...I read a blog post at Natalie Jo's "Piccalilli Days."  She had visited the real Grandmother's House in New Hampshire, the house that served as the illustrator's inspiration of the 1948 edition of Little Red Riding Hood. In a photo she had taken in the cottage, there was the sweetest shelf holding a display of storybooks. (I imagine they were all versions and editions of the famous story.)

I showed husband the photo, he searched the internet, and it wasn't long until we had our very own, 100 year old storybook shelf for our storybook cottage...

It serves as a perfectly perfect spot for those wonderful old books and some sweet little characters...and a Merry message, by way of old alphabet blocks.

Here is our Little Red, a 1940's Nancy Ann doll, her storybook wood (unpainted trees found at Hobby Lobby, painted by yours truly) alongside the sweet old book.  Eliza has loaned her sweet picnic basket she received as a housewarming gift from cousin city mouse...

Sophia, so intrigued by the story, dressed as Little Red Riding hood (using the Tasha Tudor scarf that had recently arrived by post) and acted out the entire story, over and over and over...
Oh, my dear, what big blue eyes you have!

This book, entitled Prayer for a Child (the same author/illustrator as Little Red Riding Hood), is filled with images of Wendt and Kuhn figurines. I loved this page "Bless the lamplight, bless the fire"...

...as it reminded me of how thankful I am for the blessing of a warm fire and candlelight....

I fell in love with those little figurines...  their faces are so sweet.

Also, on Natalie Jo's blog, she mentioned Woodettes... the cutest set of toys from the 1940's...hard to find... I mean..INCREDIBLY hard to find! So when I found this set on ebay, I snagged it...

...but they were in rough shape.  Someone had their share of fun, though, painting away with the watercolors provided in the set. This is Alice in Wonderland (before the makeover:)

and this is Mary with her Little Lamb (who had apparently lost his head somewhere through the years)...

So I had my work cut out for me...but I was so excited to have a few more characters for my shelf.

And because I love the sweet faces of the Wendt and Kuhn figurines, I decided to apply the same sweet features to these two little girls. This was the result ....

I found a tea set for Alice and a little lamb for Mary. Everyone is happy.

(Thank you sweet kindred, Patty, for the teeny tiny silver candlesticks and the hand made teeny tiny beeswax candles)

Next, came Little Jack Horner...who was also quite a mess...but with a bit of paint and a lot of love, he has turned out to be such a darling boy, sitting on his tiny red stool with his yummy Christmas pie (and a big purple plum on his thumb) ....

I had so much fun painting Mary's straw hat...(I suppose you might have noticed I chose not to paint the characters as shown on the box...we sure love our Peter Rabbit colors;)

Side note....Sophia has watched the painting of these characters and has been so curious. It has been a wonderful way to teach the nursery rhymes and songs, while she falls in love with each "story come to life"... She inspects the plum and the pie and their shoes and their faces... it is all so precious!

She loves our new shelf, with all her friends, and all her favorite books...

She loves that Little Bo Peep has found her sheep...

She reaches up to the book stand to gently touch this tiny bit of forget-me-not sweetness...

The British Garden Flowers book was acquired through Natalie Jo's Etsy shop. This illustration is my most favorite....with that wisp of a blossom to the right of the roses.  The little girl reminds me of Phia, always toting a baby doll.

So, here, in our storybook cottage, nestled in an imaginary storybook wood, I hang fresh pine and cedar garland and inhale the fragrance...

and set a table with pink lustreware atop a turkey red tablecloth as Tasha Tudor, did.

The mantel...which is new to our home but formerly resided in a 1920's home in the area...has a length of crocheted lace woven throughout the garland and twinkle lights, mingling with pink lustreware teacups and a gold open-weave ribbon ... and through the antiqued mirror, you see a glimpse of the storybook shelf...

The bird's nest amongst the garland and lights, sits above Take Joy, on the old piano.  The beeswax candles, crackling as they drip, light the room as they lit Tasha's cottage, with such a soft glow....

They're lit atop the table, as well...

...alongside my most favorite Christmastide storybook, Tasha Tudor's Snow Before Christmas.

Now, Bella with Rose Stockings (handmade by Christine LaFever) would argue that The Doll's Christmas is my favorite...as it has been quite the inspiration for the doll's house extreme makeover and festivities...(more on that subject, at a later date)...

I have been the busy little elf in Santa's workshop, these days, so I am unable to show many of the projects in progress...but this is one I am happy to share...

This evening I completed a precious little felt ornament for our precious little Phia...I couldn't get over how much it looked like her...and my hope is that she'll remember this Christmas, always, as the celebration of the year she found that this is HER Home ... and Tim and I are HER Family ...and that THIS is where Love lives....

...where visions of sugar plums can dance in her head...

****************

When I look through the lace curtains of the front window,  I see a lovely log home....

...and when I look out through the screen door, with its gingerbread trim....I see pine and cedar draped around my little porch...

...and I think...
.. this is the next best thing to a storybook cottage in a storybook wood,
 and I am one happy, thankful, loved Grammy.

Blessings, friends....
...Rabbit Rabbit,  SB girlfriends...
..and may you all have a warm and peaceful Christmastide season.

Goodness and Mercy

We have been aware of the presence of Goodness and Mercy,
but we have finally come face to face...

They appear tattered and worn on the outside,
but on the inside..their spirits are refreshed by the thought
that they have been sufficiently acknowledged.

Isn't that how it is?
We 'feel' a presence,  just like we 'feel' the wind...
but when we finally see it face to face....
like leaves swirling in mid-air...
we can truly believe!

Goodness..who is nicknamed 'ohma'
because of Grammy's favored saying,...repeated often by Xavier .."ohmagoodness"..
is now known ..
as something God shares with those who seek Him.
Her dearest friend is Mercy...
formerly known as a very southern term ..followed by very many exclamation marks...
is now known for being one of God's greatest gifts!

These two have been around for quite a long time...

working steadily... all these days... in the home of Grammy and Big Daddy.

They scurried silently through the rooms...


...Welcoming children who would call out "Grammy and Big Daddy"...

Xavier, lover of all God's tiniest creatures...
including Chicky Chick...who would go to Heaven, not long after Easter...

and Baby Bun...
wounded beyond repair, who we would lose the following week...

loving them with his tender heart, whilst they were on this earth...


Princess Kyleigh...who would enjoy her very first Tea Party......

..... ever smiling...Colin...

..and "Miracle at Christmastide"... newborn, Sophia...

Around the kitchen, they'd sneak ... smelling eggs that were 'scrandled'...

spying their Dormice friends, John Jacob and Eliza....

 ...passing Scout's favored 'circle of sunshine' she found each morning, in the foyer...

And up the stairs...


into the play room....
watching Xavier as he played with a set of 'lincoln logs'...
enjoyed and cherished so many years ago, by my Matthew, Cale, and Olivia....

and the wooden train set...each piece, a Christmas gift for my mother , who began requesting the set when she became a 'memaw,' and her grandchildren became toddlers...

out the windows, they hopped....

...landing with a bounce, into the blooms of the climbing hydrangea..

...and into the blushing petals of the 'Bride'...

'neath the towering stalks of Xavier and Grammy's Hollyhocks...

...stopping to gaze at the first bloom of Xavier's 'Rainbow' summer cutting garden....

down the drive...
to the pond and the great marshmallow tree...

a little boy claimed as his own....

......Sprinkling their blessings every where they stopped to rest.

How evident are their gifts all around...do you see? Goodness and Mercy are everywhere at once..for that is the nature of these two ..

They are now joined by a new friend, Shirley...

Who shares with Goodness and Mercy, the resource she has found...in Grammy's growing library...

(Thankful to a very talented craftsman, Seth Tudor...
son of our beloved Tasha Tudor....who crafted the wooden art stand)

..and Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy shall follow Grammy and Big Daddy for all the days of their lives...

into their new home,
and into the lives of their children and grandchildren.
Such a gift!
How blessed we are!
And one day, we will all dwell in the house of the Lord!

These are the children...along with the ones who love our children...and the grandchildren ...of Grammy Christie and Husband...worshipping on Easter Sunday...
All of us together, at once. I believe it was a first. God is so Good.

Thank you, in advance, all my dear friends...new and dear...tried and true...
for all of your prayers in these next several...
very hectic...
days ahead.
May God add His richest blessings upon you!

Delightful Designs for Daphne Delphinium Duckling

This little duckling friend of ours, has apparently walked a long road..and stumbled over many a big pebble, up and down many a "fool's mountain" ...and it is evident, as you spy the tiny worn place on her little webbed foot..that she has paddled long and hard to stay afloat...

But she has found a haven here....a home where she is accepted and loved and clothed, as if she had always belonged.  She feels now, as if she had never been anywhere, but here.

Grammy Christie has surprised her with a Spring Catalogue for her perusal...her tiny tired wings flap for joy!

  Grammy decided we must find Tasha Tudor's enchanting miniature Mouse Mills Catalogue, as it has found to be a most excellent resource.

Daphne exclaims, "Grammy, that little duckling looks just like me! Could I ever look so fancy as that?"

"Why, of course, you silly girl...but your tender little heart has made you a Fancy little Fraulein, already!"

A lovely, duckling-sized frock is found, and right away,

Grammy gathers her notions. Some are quite old…

The red tomato pin cushion (used by Christie in her 9th grade year in Home Economics Class) lost the tiny red strawberry that hung by a little green string, long ago...and its felt leaves are held on by the tiny pins which came from the Lady's Toilet Pin Box (which Grammy Christie's mother acquired almost 50 years ago, in British-influenced Africa) 

The precious beeswax hedgehog, was purchased recently, along with the Gloriana ribbons (shown above in Elizabethan Green and Delphinium) through a company called 'hedgehoghandworks'. Across the ocean, from England, they came, in a tiny little package. Andrea M'lynn has loved her Blossoms ribbon and Eliza favors the Hydrangea dainty ribbon which keeps her shawl about her shoulders.

Daphne Delphinium Duckling says the Green is such a wonderfully rich shade, but it might be better suited for Christmastide Festivities.

She inquires, "Grammy, haven't you anything in a shade close to number 6?"

 Grammy speculates, "Hmmmm....Do you suppose Summer Foliage will do?"

Daphne Dearest holds the sample card, and agrees that the shade seems 'perfectly perfect' in every way!

Grammy will search for a soft pink silk to coordinate with the lovely shade of green.

Daphne Delphinium Duckling has forgotten that her worn webbed foot will be seen in the photograph.
She discovers, at long last,  she is ever-so-loved in spite of her flaws. All anyone really sees, is one happy, fancy duckling, and Grammy Christie thinks she is quite special!!

May you always feel as fancy and loved as those little creatures who find their way to Grammy Christie's House.

Giddy-Up Little Garden

It is a sunshine-filled, windy beginning to our day....and it feels like Christmas Morning, every morning...wanting to run to the garden to see what package has been opened.
After a large bowlful of my favorite cereal, (known far and wide, as "Grammy's Cereal") and fresh goat's milk from dear friends, I am ready to face the day.

Dew still fresh on the grass, I pull up my wellies, place my hat over my loosely braided hair, and take along the camera...

These days will pass quickly as we proceed to the approaching move.
Thank you for joining me as I document these rich, fragrant days of Spring, at Grammy's House.

I suppose at some point last year, I planted a few petunias...I had forgotten...but they had remembered. They were the softest peachy pink hue...and I can see their little petals yawning, waiting to open soon...

The girls in the hydrangea bed must have had quite a pep talk last night from the Annabelle and the Blushing Bride...for they have picked up their pace and more pretty petals have burst forth..

Xavier declares these to be "the pink ones that my mommy likes!" They will be a vibrant shade!


Make haste little Annabelles...

...they seem to be squinting, in the bright morning sun.
These are some of the sweetest in the garden...it could very well be, that I favor them because of their beautiful name...or because the dearest little children's book, 'A is for Annabelle' by Tasha Tudor, is one of my favorites.

(I recently found this lovely little copy published in 1954...it is perfectly perfect for little hands, as the cover bends easily, and no bothersome dust jacket to negotiate)

(Sweet grandaughter, Baby Sophia, keeps one of her softest of soft pink blankies at Grammy's ...it provides such a feminine little backdrop for this dolly book)

Annabelle's dress, and its soft shade of green, reminds me of the Annabelle Hydrangea's pale green petals.

They are such fragile little girls, requiring daily watering as the heat of the summer wears on them. When I asked my masterful gardener brother what was the best fertilizer for my gardens, he replied, "The water from your sweat, and the shade from your shadow." In other words, be present amongst your growing things...they love to feel your fingers pass over their leaves and hearing your voice praising them for the beauty they produce. Such sage advice...of course, no pun intended...


The Brides continue to Blush, as they open and reveal the palest shade of pink..

Oh!My!Goodness! (or 'ohmagooness' as Xavier translates Grammy's most frequent exclaim) Can you believe this??

I have not one single frock in my closet this shade...but as I step into my garden, I find my wellies  coordinate beautifully with the lovely Spring 'bonnet' of this little miss!

The grapes are swaying in their arbor, begging for their 'keeper' to come and direct a chorus of praise amongst their growing clusters...

The protective prickles are long gone...they are managing quite well, thus far.

Breezes blow...pea-sized fruit is a tiny blur.

This morning in the garden...my heart swells, knowing that God, who created us to tend to His Garden...must be so very pleased. It is His praise and love I feel as His hand brushes over me...causing a desire to please Him as I continue to grow in the shade of His shadow...

Everything is just Ducky

Rain, Rain, go away...we've had too much
for this May day!


We are beginning to feel like Pooh....on that rainy day...

But we shall find other things to do...
Certainly not bending and touching our toes! No, no, no!

Let's go to the flower beds and see what has bloomed after the morning showers...

Our pretty Annabelle!

And what do we have here...

These petals look like the shades of purple and blue in the ribbon worn by Daphne Delphinium Duckling!

(She coaxed Grammy Christie to purchase the silk hand-dyed ribbon, called by her middle name, and it is so lovely about her pretty yellow feathers.)

We shall ask Daphne to share some of her favorite books, so she refers to Tasha Tudor's miniature book, The Bouquet...

Miss Tasha has given a list of books that all should keep in their library...for "they have a good understanding of Bears, Ducklings, Dolls and others of like spirit."

Daphne Delphinium is quite proud of Grammy's library, which continues to expand, and includes some of the books on the list...

The Tale of Two Bad Mice, by another favorite author, Beatrix Potter, tells a wonderfully fantastic story of a little mouse named Tom Thumb...(you simply must acquire this book, for it is quite exciting!)

Daphne Duckling, encourages us all to read fun little tales such as these, even if you are a grown-up...for they keep smiles on our faces.

Look and see if you might have some of these books on your bookshelves,  in your closets, or in boxes in the attic....

And little duckling dearest is hoping Grammy Christie has spied the pretty little frock in the picture at the top of the page..she thinks that would be ever so lovely!

She believes the soft pink of the Blushing Bride hydrangea, would be perfectly perfect!! What do you think? Maybe one of pale green silk, as well?  How tremendous will be Grammy's effort to find such beautiful fabrics and trimmings...

Do you see the little fly perched above, on the fresh green petals?


Please Remember:
We pray today for those who have lost their homes because of the recent floods, tornados, and terrible storms. We ask for God's provision and guidance through these difficult days and months ahead.

Happy Mother's Day...Dorothy Jean Aly Jones

Dearest Readers,

Please indulge this "Grammy" to write a belated tribute, as a daughter.... to her mother....as we realize life spins along faster and faster these days. I want her to know what an extraordinary woman she is, having come from such a humble beginning. But isn't that the beginning of all those who do extraordinary things with their lives?

The daughter of Fred and Effie Aly, Dorothy Jean(my mother), was born in North Georgia and moved to Central Florida as a toddler.

Her daddy built the home they would live in, when Dorothy was a little girl. She recalls dropping a penny in each corner of the foundation of the house...which meant luck, good fortune, blessings, remembrance ....significance of a home being constructed with love, and very little more. The late 1930's and early '40's were difficult years, to say the least.

Dorothy was fortunate to have a loving neighbor woman across the street. Two rocking chairs...a large one for the lady and a small one for little Dorothy...were occupied on endless occasions, for the reading of books. Before she was able to read, the kind lady introduced her to the classic children's books. Heidi, the story of the little girl living in the Swiss Alps, would become one of her favorites. For her seventh birthday, the neighbor gifted her with a tiny crocheted purse....

(As a young mother and missionary to Africa, Dorothy would acquire the Joanna Spyri book in Kitwe, Zambia.)

A sweet little gift, the tiny violet teacup, purchased for 25 cents, would be a Mother's Day Gift for momma, Effie.

When Dorothy was in 5th grade, her beau...Edward Cedarholm...presented her with a lovely "handkersniff". His mother, of scandanvian descent, painted the exquisitely detailed image...

Young momma Effie, made sure to teach her children the stories of the Bible. The book 'Bible Pictures, and what they teach us' was a well-loved book of Dorothy and her little brother Neil. The book is now coverless, with only the spine remaining, but the pictures ...each one, a work of art....are as beautiful as they were at publication.

Young Dorothy would grow to be a lovely young woman, attain the nickname "Dottie" and catch the eye of a tall, blue-eyed young man from Kentucky, in 1953. In January of 1954, William H. Jones, Jr. made his way from Newfoundland (where he had been stationed for 7 months) to Kentucky, and on to Orlando, Florida, within 24 hours. He did not see his beautiful bride-to-be until the moment she walked down the aisle...her veil having been lifted, before she entered the sanctuary, by a dear, wise, friend who simply said..."so he may see your face"….

This wedding photo sits atop the veil, Dottie fashioned herself. (There is a great similarity between the wedding dress of this young bride, and the enchanting wedding dress worn by a princess bride, Kate.)

The receipt for the purchase of gold wedding bands...

Children were born to this union, but not until college and seminary had been completed. Dorothy had felt called, since childhood, to missions. Bill, had a calling to the ministry, and pastored several churches. Together, they were led to the mission field and began to prepare for the journey to Africa in 1964. Three young children sit with them for the photo which would appear on their passports. ...Lynn, age 4 1/2, Christie, age 2 1/2, and Bradley, age 1 year.

The baby gown was worn by Dottie's young sister (20 years her junior), her oldest daughter, Lynn, and her second daughter, Christie...the tiny pink beaded bracelet wrapped Christie's arm as a newborn.

Silver baby spoons have been passed down through the generations, being used by Christie's children and grandchildren.

A photo of Dottie....with two women enjoying her visit to their village...

Husband Bill, had purchased the pearl choker for Dottie, before their passage to Africa...she is wearing it in the photo above.

A letter home...

Dottie had to measure her words carefully, in all communications, even the words she used to describe seemingly routine family updates..it was a difficult time in those days of recent upheaval of their government.

This photo of Dottie, along with Christie and Bradley, shows the ladies Dottie worked with, and their children. Christie remembers the little girl in the pink gingham dress, wearing green socks with her sandals...she recollects their innocent friendship...each trying to teach the other their language...

Dottie purchased a carved ivory necklace for her mother Effie and her mother-in-law Leva Jones. This is the one passed down from Effie. The carved ivory elephant statuette and elephant hair bracelet were brought back as mementos. The black Waldybag was purchased on a stopover in London, as the family traveled home. This being the same style the Queen carried...

Even as a 4 year old, Christie loved purses, and has recollection of this wonderful purchase...the cubby shelving the purse was drawn from...

These were the 60's...the era of Jackie Kennedy....Princess Grace Kelly.....elegant role models for the young women of our country...and Dottie followed suit...

Their work in the mission field was shortened by a difficult birth of their fourth child, Stanley, and it would be necessary to travel back to the States for further medical procedures.

Once again, a photo was necessary for passports...this one, though reveals a weary mother of four, maintaining her posture and smile...such incredible strength to be 30 years of age...

The story does not stop here....fast forward to 2010....Bill and Dottie answer the call, once more, to travel to Africa.  This trip would last four months...working to rebuild an eye clinic, post-war, and helping novice pastors start churches in the villages desperate for God's word.  They left young men and women, who would continue to think fondly of them...even referring to them as Mama and Papa...and who would claim brotherhood/sisterhood to the four Jones siblings (whom they never met... in person).

What a reunion it will be, one day, on the shores of eternity, to come face to face with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

After 57 years of marriage...Dorothy is still in love with the tall blue-eyed fellow from Kentucky…

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My mother has told me many many times...we remember the women in our family by their first names...as last names will always differ....given names will always remain....

On a favored quilt, she stitched the names of the women, forming a list from my great great grandmother down to my daughter....along with my daughter Olivia's baby bracelet and baby ring in the center of her initial "O"...

such a loving tribute....it will continue to be cherished through the years. 

I love you, Mother!

Your darling,

Christie

Preparing for a move...

....it's never fun...weeding out things...has begun. 

A Big House, we've lived in, a Cottage we're buying. Where did all this come from?  Downsizing?...I'm trying!

3 weeks till we're moving, so daylight is wasting...to pack it all up, is surely exhausting!

News spreads to the Dormice...John Jacob is ready.

Eliza says, "John, will you pack and be tidy?"

"All of our things are precious possessions, made with great care and lots of affection."

Christmas wrappings are rounded up...

Dishes to disburse...

Teacups to be tucked away...

Like a bunny, I must hop!

For on I go to every room... and more and more I find....

shelves of Spring and Easter things...

books and books, galore!

In every single little nook...

I'm finding more and more..

...oh, my word, will you just look!

my books, I love to hoard!

So...

          Teacups and books... are all I shall be packing,

           If more than that is needed, I will not have a care!

          For in my nest, with tea and story, nothing will be lacking.

           The world may go on in a hurry, I shan't be with them there.

         A cozy cottage...with cushions fluffed and plenty,

          Will comfort tired bodies, and never leave us weary.

         The fireplace a-glow and dancing, what could be more enchanting?

          We'll drink tea for hours, 'til our eyes become bleary.

         We'll nod off to dream...dreams that are lovely,

          waking as moonbeams lay soft on the floor.

         Our prayers we will offer...prayers that are humbling,

          thanking our Maker that less shall be more!

                                      

Christie "Grammy" Ray

                                      

May 2011

An Early Afternoon Walk

The Little Land

 A Child's Garden of Verses

Robert Louis Stevenson
Florence Edith Storer illustrator

When at home alone I sit

And am very tired of it, 

I have just to shut my eyes 

To go sailing through the skies-

To go sailing far away to the pleasant Land of Play;

To the fairy land afar

Where the Little People are;

Where the clover-tops are trees,

And the rain-pools are the seas,

And the leaves like little ships

Sail about on tiny trips;

And above the daisy tree

Through the grasses,

High o'erhead the Bumble Bee

Hums and passes.

In that forest to and fro

I can wander, I can go;

See the spider and the fly,

And the ants go marching by

Carrying parcels with their feet

Down the green and grassy street.

I can in the sorrel sit

Where the ladybird alit.

I can climb the jointed grass;

And on high

See the greater swallows pass

In the sky,

And the round sun rolling by 

Heeding no such things as I.

Through that forest I can pass

Till, as in a looking-glass,

Humming fly and daisy tree

And my tiny self I see,

Painted very clear and neat

On the rain-pool at my feet.

Should a leaflet come to land

Drifting near to where I stand,

Straight I'll board that tiny boat,

Round the rain-pool sea to float.

Little thoughtful creatures sit 

On the grassy coasts of it;

Little things with lovely eyes

See me sailing with surprise.

Some are clad in armour green-

(These have sure to battle been:)-

Some are pied with ev'ry hue,

Black and crimson, gold and blue;

Some have wings and swift are gone;-

But they all look kindly on.

When my eyes I once again

Open, and see all things plain:

High bare walls, great bare floor;

Great big knobs on drawer and door;

Great big people perched on chairs,

Stitching tucks and mending tears,

Each a hill that I could climb,

And talking nonsense all the time--

O dear me,

That I could be

A sailor on the rain-pool sea,

A climber in the clover tree,

And just come back, a sleepy-head,

Late at night to go to bed.

It is not quite the middle of May, but it feels very much like Summer, already.  A quick-paced walk to the mailbox will give me a good dose of sunshine and jumpstart an afternoon of laundry.  I simply cannot miss an opportunity to document the progression of Spring...first sightings of favorite things...

The first glimpse of Crimson Clover....(as pictured in the story book illustration above)

Being raised in Florida...our nicely manicured lawns contained St. Augustine grass....so thick it could be quite uncomfortable to walk barefoot. In the early years...our lawns, which I suppose should be referred to as "yards," since not much manicuring was attempted in those days, contained sand spurs...that would stick in your feet if you dared to venture outside shoeless.  Moving to Tennessee twenty some years ago...I found the grass is like walking on soft carpet.
I am still in much wonderment over the pretty things growing wild in the field next to our property, as they are all native to this state, but still somewhat foreign (and delightful) to me.


The sight of May Daisies....we could call this month "Daisy May"...I always look forward to its arrival... and its daisies...(can't you just spy the little people under the Daisy Tree)

A wild little rose? I have never noticed this before....(these remind me of Tasha Tudor's illustrations)

Checking in at the grape arbor...I am fascinated by the stages...this one I did not know about....seems quite peculiar. Do the tiny prickles protect the tiny grapes?

I love the little tendrils ...curling their way around...


The mother branch is massive in comparison to the fresh new spring-y green vines...

My brother in Florida, just harvested his beautiful pumpkin last month! Pumpkins in April?  I thank him,
each time we speak on the phone, for encouraging me as a gardener...a grower of things. I promise him that one day I will venture into establishing a vegetable garden.  One growing thing at a time, my dears!

I hurry back inside, wishing I could linger awhile longer....Springtime allergies have won the battle! I will suffer through...

Enjoy your Spring, whatever part of the country you live in.  Each stage is beautiful, even when your daffodils are peeking out from fresh fallen snow...somewhere else, they have already come and gone.

Happy May!

A Visit to 'City Mouse'

Mistress Grammy and her Husband must make a trip to the city, for they must tend to a matter...
It happens to be the home where cousin "City Mouse" resides...and it is her mistress whom they shall visit.

Treats are prepared...Teapot shaped Vanilla Scones and a jar of homemade Lemon Curd (Grammy has never made lemon curd, but a most delectable recipe was found on "Our Scented Cottage.")

The mistress has spent many hours, tending to matters for Grammy and Husband, and she especially loves nice little surprises!

Eliza has received a "new" car, and she "believes" she can drive all the way to the city to visit her cousin.

Grammy tells her to turn off the puttering little engine ...Eliza simply does not understand.
Grammy explains, "City Mouse lives oh, so far away...and you are such a tiny little mouse....with such a tiny little car! I am afraid you must stay home, whilst we're away. We will surely relay to cousin your most sincere regrets."
So Eliza, being a very good little Dormouse, went straightaway to park the car and make her way back to her cottage. She found a cozy little pillow, fashioned from a very old quilt, on the daybed procured by Mistress Grammy...and nestled down for the evening, with John Jacob, keeping a watchful eye over the keeping room, until Mistress and Husband return.

Mistress Grammy and Husband drive for a very long time, 'til at last, they have arrived! Upon their entrance, following a pleasant greeting from the Mistress of the Home, City Mouse squeaks "Hello!"
Mistress Grammy's eyes follow the little squeak until she comes upon the tiny residence 'neath the table by the window....

"Hello, dear mouse! How clever you are to find such a delightfully inviting door to your cottage! Might we come a little closer?"
Squeaking can be heard....very tiny, little girl squeaks...

"How lovely you look in your tiny shawl and kerchief! We are so glad you are enjoying its warmth on this unusually chilly day!"
Nods and squeaks are seen and heard...

"Country Mouse Eliza sends her warmest regards and regrets she was unable to travel this very far distance, but how nice it was to see you, and we will send your 'hello' to her and John Jacob."

How very pleasant was the evening, and how very late 'twas the arrival home. Much too late for little Dormice to be running about...must be tucked in bed ....dreaming sweet little dreams....shhhhh....good night....