At an Autumn book signing, Eliza sat alone on her lovely sofa, amongst the books and kits and cards....
Grammy realizes, as she is searching through her purse for a handkersniff, that John Jacob has been hiding there since her visit to Xavier's house. After searching through the boy's toy box, the little mouse had been found, and made his way into Grammy's hand bag. He had missed his friend Eliza, and Xavier said he would have called her if she had had a tiny phone of her very own.
Grammy surprises her sweet mouse with the presence of her dear friend, whom neither have seen in over a year...
Eliza hardly recognizes him.. his fur has turned white and his ears are very pink. She inquires regarding his present condition. It just so happens, that being tucked inside that little boy's pocket, caused the predicament...for the short pants Xavier had been wearing went straightaway to the washing machine...along with John Jacob! What a washing he received! But he is still her dear friend, nonetheless, and they have much to discuss, for many many adventures have taken place.
Now, it is time, in early November, for Eliza to accompany Grammy on a most exciting adventure...a flight on an airplane.
Xavier wants to be sure that Eliza will be able to call her friend, while she is away.
Eliza gives instructions on how to use the tiny phone that Grammy has purchased for them...
It came all the way across the ocean from England.. (if you have acquired the book Eliza Celebrates a Royal Wedding, you may refer to the map, inside, of England)
Eliza tells him he must always use his very best manners when answering and speaking on the telephone.
Grammy and Eliza are awake very early, on the day of the adventure, and travel to the airport.
She is rather anxious about the idea of flying through the air, but Grammy assures her she will be tucked safely inside her satchel, alongside her books and paint sets and sketchpads and paintbrushes...all the familiar things from the art table in the pleasant sunroom...
She asks if Eliza might want to take a peek out the window, to check the weather conditions for flight...
When the surrounding passengers on the plane meet Eliza and are informed of this first experience for one nervous little mouse, they commence telling funny stories and tall tales, and in no time, Eliza is at ease. How wonderful to make new friends.
Grammy has told her of the exciting event they will be attending, as presenters...Art in the Garden, at a school in Florida...and what fun it will be to meet the boys and girls who have been so excited to meet her.
Grammy dons her dress and hat and prepares for the day...
Her sister-in-law, who will be assisting at the event, is prepared for the day, as well...
Arriving at the school, we meet the principal and the art teacher, who welcome us to the beautiful campus and into the lovely garden...
We are introduced to one of the musicians...
...and we then find the perfect spot for our table.... under the beauty berries and in close proximity to the fountain, with its trickling sound, reminding us of our own fountain outside the window of our sunroom studio...
Children come, one class at a time, to our table.
This is Ms. Lowry's class of 1st and 2nd graders...
They were so very excited to see us, and being ever so clever, asked meaningful questions of how a story comes to be. They wrote down my responses and even drew darling pictures of our dear Eliza, their new friend...
Eliza poses for these sweet girls...
It is now time for lunch, and we are famished. A delicious meal is prepared and enjoyed out in the garden. Vases of freshly gathered sunflowers, grace the tables....
The creator and coordinator of the event, my brother Brad Jones....
After lunch, another precious child returns to my station to ask more questions, for she has fallen in love with Eliza...and Grammy...and we love her...
We will come again, to this garden, to these children.
The next morning, we venture out into the garden, once more, to gather cotton for the new and improved mouse making kits, for it is the very softest material for plumping newly stitched mice..
There are such beautiful blossoms on these cotton plants..
This is a freshly picked cotton boll..
We then sampled the fresh cucumbers from the garden...
This Edible Schoolyard has become quite a success, and how exciting is its future.
At my brother's home, in his very own garden, I snap a few photos.
His outdoor shower inside the enchanting secret garden..
and the bright green moss growing amongst the flat rocks..
the gorgeous, fragrant orchid that hangs nearby..
and at last, the roses reaching for the sky...along with the dreams of this brother and sister...
Back at home... in the quiet little sunroom...we assess the cotton and marvel at the stages of its transformation...
Here is the quantity of cotton, picked and processed by the students....
Small amounts will be placed in tiny bags and tied with tiny ribbons and placed in the mouse making kits.
A package is sent to the 1st and 2nd grade class, as they will be creating a classroom abode for their very own Eliza mouse. They have been awaiting the package for several weeks, and it has finally arrived. Mr. Jones presents the package to the class...
How exciting to think of what is inside...what is a kit, exactly...
Ms. Lowry's class is now able to create a mouse for their classroom, and they will begin enjoying their very own adventures. They plan to help Grammy as she creates her book for spring, Goat's Milk and Gardening, in which Eliza will grow peas.
Thank you, to this incredible educator who gives her love and talents to this active, creative, and incredibly clever group of students. I am blessed to know her, and to have the opportunity to engage with these loving children.
Hoping you are blessed, as well, this Christmas season.
Enjoy the warmth of the hearth in your home as the days have become shorter and colder...
Those of you who are friends of Susan Branch and follow her blog, will know how truly inspiring it was to view the sweetest vignette in her "Peter Rabbit Room"...I just could not resist creating my own version here at Rose Water Cottage.
Grammy realizes, as she is searching through her purse for a handkersniff, that John Jacob has been hiding there since her visit to Xavier's house. After searching through the boy's toy box, the little mouse had been found, and made his way into Grammy's hand bag. He had missed his friend Eliza, and Xavier said he would have called her if she had had a tiny phone of her very own.
Grammy surprises her sweet mouse with the presence of her dear friend, whom neither have seen in over a year...
Eliza hardly recognizes him.. his fur has turned white and his ears are very pink. She inquires regarding his present condition. It just so happens, that being tucked inside that little boy's pocket, caused the predicament...for the short pants Xavier had been wearing went straightaway to the washing machine...along with John Jacob! What a washing he received! But he is still her dear friend, nonetheless, and they have much to discuss, for many many adventures have taken place.
Now, it is time, in early November, for Eliza to accompany Grammy on a most exciting adventure...a flight on an airplane.
Xavier wants to be sure that Eliza will be able to call her friend, while she is away.
Eliza gives instructions on how to use the tiny phone that Grammy has purchased for them...
It came all the way across the ocean from England.. (if you have acquired the book Eliza Celebrates a Royal Wedding, you may refer to the map, inside, of England)
Eliza tells him he must always use his very best manners when answering and speaking on the telephone.
Grammy and Eliza are awake very early, on the day of the adventure, and travel to the airport.
She is rather anxious about the idea of flying through the air, but Grammy assures her she will be tucked safely inside her satchel, alongside her books and paint sets and sketchpads and paintbrushes...all the familiar things from the art table in the pleasant sunroom...
She asks if Eliza might want to take a peek out the window, to check the weather conditions for flight...
When the surrounding passengers on the plane meet Eliza and are informed of this first experience for one nervous little mouse, they commence telling funny stories and tall tales, and in no time, Eliza is at ease. How wonderful to make new friends.
Grammy has told her of the exciting event they will be attending, as presenters...Art in the Garden, at a school in Florida...and what fun it will be to meet the boys and girls who have been so excited to meet her.
Grammy dons her dress and hat and prepares for the day...
Her sister-in-law, who will be assisting at the event, is prepared for the day, as well...
Arriving at the school, we meet the principal and the art teacher, who welcome us to the beautiful campus and into the lovely garden...
We are introduced to one of the musicians...
...and we then find the perfect spot for our table.... under the beauty berries and in close proximity to the fountain, with its trickling sound, reminding us of our own fountain outside the window of our sunroom studio...
Children come, one class at a time, to our table.
This is Ms. Lowry's class of 1st and 2nd graders...
They were so very excited to see us, and being ever so clever, asked meaningful questions of how a story comes to be. They wrote down my responses and even drew darling pictures of our dear Eliza, their new friend...
Eliza poses for these sweet girls...
It is now time for lunch, and we are famished. A delicious meal is prepared and enjoyed out in the garden. Vases of freshly gathered sunflowers, grace the tables....
The creator and coordinator of the event, my brother Brad Jones....
After lunch, another precious child returns to my station to ask more questions, for she has fallen in love with Eliza...and Grammy...and we love her...
We will come again, to this garden, to these children.
The next morning, we venture out into the garden, once more, to gather cotton for the new and improved mouse making kits, for it is the very softest material for plumping newly stitched mice..
There are such beautiful blossoms on these cotton plants..
This is a freshly picked cotton boll..
This Edible Schoolyard has become quite a success, and how exciting is its future.
At my brother's home, in his very own garden, I snap a few photos.
His outdoor shower inside the enchanting secret garden..
and the bright green moss growing amongst the flat rocks..
the gorgeous, fragrant orchid that hangs nearby..
and at last, the roses reaching for the sky...along with the dreams of this brother and sister...
Back at home... in the quiet little sunroom...we assess the cotton and marvel at the stages of its transformation...
Here is the quantity of cotton, picked and processed by the students....
Small amounts will be placed in tiny bags and tied with tiny ribbons and placed in the mouse making kits.
A package is sent to the 1st and 2nd grade class, as they will be creating a classroom abode for their very own Eliza mouse. They have been awaiting the package for several weeks, and it has finally arrived. Mr. Jones presents the package to the class...
How exciting to think of what is inside...what is a kit, exactly...
Ms. Lowry's class is now able to create a mouse for their classroom, and they will begin enjoying their very own adventures. They plan to help Grammy as she creates her book for spring, Goat's Milk and Gardening, in which Eliza will grow peas.
Thank you, to this incredible educator who gives her love and talents to this active, creative, and incredibly clever group of students. I am blessed to know her, and to have the opportunity to engage with these loving children.
Hoping you are blessed, as well, this Christmas season.
Enjoy the warmth of the hearth in your home as the days have become shorter and colder...
Those of you who are friends of Susan Branch and follow her blog, will know how truly inspiring it was to view the sweetest vignette in her "Peter Rabbit Room"...I just could not resist creating my own version here at Rose Water Cottage.