Take one small patch of woodland, add (grand)children and animals, and you have magical times.
You can climb a tree, daydream, read a book, or hide from your brother.
Show a younger cousin how to drive the little green car.
Learn to cooperate and share, take care of one another, yet still have fun.
The little brown rescue hens used to oversee everything. They were always curious, ready to participate.
No matter what the season, there is fun to be had.
Dragons, bears, wolves and fairies hide in and amongst the trees. Hide and seek is a favourite game, especially in summer, when the cow parsley grows to over five foot.
Grandson No 1 can melt into the woodland, he is always impossible to find. Frankie took a little longer to learn the game... She still can't help giggling and giving herself away.
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On hot summer days it is a cool and pleasant place to stroll with Grandpa.
Watched by hens, of course.
Picnics are relaxing, but watch out for those hens, they love trying out new foods. This was Queen Mab Pudding, taken on a picnic which we had right near the big fairy door. The door is always ajar, we quite hoped that Queen Mab of the Fairies would come out and join us.
We were disappointed, but not for long. Speckledy hen, Queen Mab, came along for a look and that was fun, too.
The cats are never far away, though Millie feigns indifference while Sparky works out whether there is anything worth the effort...apparently not.
A little sprinkle of imagination and fairy dust and even the most ordinary bit of woodland can become something which will live long in the memory of our grandchildren.
A self-indulgent post. I am gathering together some of my old photographs so that I can put together an Owl Wood album.
How delightful. When we built our home in the woods our oldest daughter said it would be a grandchild magnet. Except that children didn't come as quickly as she hoped and then when they did they were 500 miles away. We had some delightful times with the oldest who is now 4 at that house but the other two did not get to experience it at all. The two oldest are still 500 miles away and we are lucky if we get them here twice in a year. The one close by comes more often but at 9 months there's many years to wait for explorations outside in the trails that we now enjoy here outside our retirement apartment.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, that is a shame, Marcia. I hope you are able to capture the interest of the little one, begin to weave a few stories around the trails and go on tiny expeditions.
DeleteSo true! Those woods are beautiful, and really magical looking. Makes me miss my grandchildren being small and coming to visit.
ReplyDeleteYou live in a beautiful place, Henny, I imagine you had some amazing and fun times with the little ones!
DeleteGorgeous. Wish I had been there with you
ReplyDeleteOn a good day it is a wonderful place, Linda. We just have too many wet and muddy days!
DeleteIf this is a self-indulgent post, pleassssssssse do more!!!!!!! it is a simply magical post!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh that photo of your beautiful little grand daughter, musing, in the crook of a tree! Actually, both of the photos, of her in the tree! Ohhhhh, please print and frame them! They are too adorable, to be "lost," among others.
It says everything, which a little girl "should" get to experience, in childhood. Happy sighhhhh... But so many, do not have the chance.
And she is complete with an adorable dress/red boots/long soft curls. Oh mercy! :-) You "must" print and frame those pictures. :-)
And may I add, that Granddad is a gorgeous man. No wonder the 2 of you, have such lovely/handsome grandchildren.
When I showed my granddaughter the photographs she was amazed, couldn't remember the occasions, Luna. Those little snaps are some of my favourite magical moments and will definitely be printed and framed. From a very young age, my granddaughter has had very definite views on clothing and puts together some extraordinary outfits. Long-limbed and very slender, she could wear a paper sack and look good, lucky girl.
DeleteI wish all children could have the happy start in life which these two have had.
What a wonderful idea, Elaine. I was a child again as you took us along to Owl Wood. Such fun memories are being made by your grands. It is your woods that inspired me to play in ours more, to discover and dream. Every day I think...What can I do here to delight the grands. Thank you for that. xo
ReplyDeleteThank you, Deb I appreciate your saying that!
DeleteYour grandchildren have the most wonderful times in your woodland, with all the family history of the place and with birds and animals as a bonus. Even more magical times ahead for them!
How magical. Freedom to explore and enjoy the countryside is so important for children. It brings their imagination to life, they learn about wildlife and about sharing with each other. Lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteWe have 5 cats, two of whom are brothers, very like your two cats, though our ginger and white Alfie has more white and less ginger. His black and white brother is very like your Sparky.
Sparky was born feral; she is fine around us and the grandchildren, adores my daughter, but takes to the woods at the first sign of a 'stranger', even my sons and their families trigger this response, although she knows them. She came with the name Sparky, I intended to change it, but when i got to know her, I understood why the rescue place had bestowed it upon her! Millie is also a rescue, a friend found her as a stray, but was unable to keep her. She is a dreamer, if she were human you would think she was taking drugs of some sort. Sweet and adorable, head in the clouds, no threat to Sparky so they get on reasonably well.
DeleteElaine,
ReplyDeleteSelf-indulgent? No! A fun, interesting post. And what enjoyment those grandchildren received! What memories they will retain! You have given (are giving) your grandchildren precious gifts. What is more, your blog posts are gifts to your readers, like me.
THANK YOU!
Thanks, Brett, I am glad you enjoyed it. It really doesn't take much to be able to make a little magic happen for children and, at the very least, they will grow up knowing how to treat a nettle sting!
DeleteElaine,
DeleteOkay, now you have me very curious. We have nettles in abundance, and I know how _I_ treat nettle stings, but how do you teach your grandchildren to treat them?
I assume stinging nettles are about the same on either side of the Big Water...
The traditional way here, is by using a Dock leaf - rub the stings with the veined side of the leaf. There is no real evidence that this really works, but even if it is simply the placebo effect, it works for my grandchildren, as it has worked for countless generations of children. Luckily, Dock leaves and nettles often grow in the same place.
Delete