First Day Out with Nana and Grandad - Moving Day!

Dearest Ruby,

          Mummy and Daddy, with their friends, are busy preparing your new home, so we have been out for the day, Grandad, you and me.

 Guess what we came upon, an area of grassland full of daisies.

 

 

 Grandad took us to Fowlmead Country Park.

First things first; drinks and snacks were called for.

 

 

 Then, straight to the play area

 

 

before setting off on a circular walk.

 

 

That's when we sat amongst the daisies !

 

 

One for the road !

 

 

Looking out for wildlife, we saw a blue butterfly land near a cluster of Scarlet Pimpernel. Then we came upon a pond and saw goldfish and a dragonfly, but they were all too distant and quick for you to spot.

On a path bordering the park, we looked across to the sea - what a wonderful view.

 



 

Then a leisurely stop down by the lake. It was so peaceful and quiet.

 

Back to the car and a short ride away, Grandad took us to Eastry picnic site, for us to eat our lunch.

 

        Surprisingly, in spite of all that fresh air, you didn't sleep at all on our journey home. Too much stimulation perhaps.

Love and hugs Nana x

Fairies at the bottom of the garden !

Dearest Ruby,
         This day is of great significance to you as you are moving into your new home in Providence Street. I read from Psalm 37:29, 'The good get planted on good land and put down healthy roots.'....

         'Bloom where you are planted', I've always loved that saying, and Grandad and I will still be just around the corner delighting to see the joy you bring to your new neighbours, sharing the love of Jesus with your infectious smile.
         Anyway, guess what I have found ??? I do believe a fairy or maybe a little family of fairies have taken up residence down by the rock garden.

Can you see? Come look closer...

 
       I can't say I have 'seen' a fairy but there nestling between the alpine plants is a purple house with a blue front door and a lantern standing tall outside. I wondered whether to see if anyone was at home, but chose to watch from a distance. As far as I know, only little children can see fairies. I just know they are there because at the foot of the 'Ruby' rose, is a washing line with clothes hanging out to dry.

 

 

How tiny are these little pair of sparkly trousers !

 

 

         I imagine Ruby, you will find, that when you least expect it you may catch sight of a fairy darting about out of the corner of your eye, just like we saw the Bumble Bee the other day, alighting onto a flower. Incidently, there are two bees buzzing around this windmill in a flower pot, as it's catching the breeze at the foot of the willow now producing a leafy canopy, with a backdrop of wild pink geraniums.

 



 

 

Love and hugs, Nana x 

       

 

 

 

Weeds and Bees and a few surprises!

Dearest Ruby,
        The garden is looking beautiful, very cottagey. Come, let's take a walk around ....

 

 

        I can't believe how this foxglove has grown. It now reaches 5' 11'' and stands taller than any of the others. It will be a competition to see which of the Foxglove or one of the Sunflowers grow to the highest height. I planted out a couple of precious sunflower seedlings today. Umm, he has a lot of catching-up to do !

 

 

 

        If you look very hard Ruby, you can see we have attracted a Bumble Bee into our patch. Perhaps he likes the bright colours of the Snapdragons. I watched it fly inquisitively from one flower-head to another.

 



 

 

           Well, here we are nearly in June when I generally think of Roses coming into bloom. These are beautiful though don't you think, the first of your 'Ruby Rambler'. There are plenty of buds on other stems.

  
          I'm loving the foliage of the Cosmos that will flower at length later on through the summer months. The sunlight shows off its green leaves at their best and the seed-head below promises us glorious floral beauty, .... we hope !!

           I can see Ruby, I am going to have to go out next week and do some necessary weeding. What's this I see, but potatoes growing up where you least expect them to! Obviously a remnant from your garden's previous history of being a vegetable patch.

 

           I have kept the buttercups, along by the fence, as I so love the bright yellow. What an abundance of colour. We used to pick a buttercup and hold it up under our chin, and if the yellow shone and lit up our skin, it meant we loved butter!!

 

 

          I do think I have cultivated a weed here though. It is just beginning to produce little purple flowers, not altogether attractive. Should we need space for anything else, this can find its way onto the compost.

 





 

Lots to do!

Love and hugs, Nana x

 

 

        



'Arty' Afternoon

Dearest Ruby,
        We have had such fun today, of a different kind. You've been to see me and we've had time together to play. I have discovered 'free printables' on the computer and found the perfect picture to keep us entertained.

 

First though we had to walk into town to buy all the things we needed for an 'arty' afternoon. This included a tub of chunky wax crayons, shapes for sponge printing and paint of course.

 

So, here we are making a start. You did understand the crayons weren't to go in your mouth, but as you can see you tested them out with a more 'jabbing' movement.

 

However, with a few jabs and accidental scribbles, added to the scribbles I tried to show you, you can be very proud of your effort.

We also had a go at sponge painting, to give kisses for Mummy and Daddy or to say 'I Love My Garden !' ??

You are learning how to press down as hard as you can.

 

Time for some hand printing. 'Ooh, I'm not sure I like the feel of this yellow goo all over my hand'

 

 

'Umm, not so bad, now I'm getting used to it.'

 

'How do you like this, my first ever hand-print?

Nana says it was going to be a Sunflower picture for Mummy but I need a bit more practice to get the hang of it. Then I would like to do more, so we can have more petals!'

 

Ruby, I think you have done very well and Mummy is going to love to see your art work. Perhaps she will put it up on your fridge in the kitchen.

 

Love and hugs, Nana x

 

Colours, pink and purple

Dearest Ruby,
       It's so hot today and when I see different plants emerging into flower, I am encouraged to think we are coming into the summer months. Watering begins in earnest or very quickly some plants can wilt and die especially those in pots. I am remembering to take care of the hanging basket in this way. See how it is flourishing.

Very pink. You might be mistaken for thinking that is one of my favourite colours !

          The Snapdragons are joining in the merriment. If you gently squeeze the neck of the flower head, it opens and shuts, hence the name. When I was a child, I used to chatter away to my hearts content !

 

 

          Towering above them though, approaching full display, are the foxgloves rising tall. Soon they will steal the show in all their glory.

 

Look at the height of this magnificent one.

 

 

I've been surprised by the different colours appearing.

Below is the more usual purple I associate with Foxgloves...

 

then we have a white and a paler pink...

 

and a lemon one is about to flower.

 

Surprises, I love surprises.

 

What's this? -  a bright orange Marigold to welcome in the day !

 

 

 

Love and hugs, Nana x

 

 



Trip down Memory Lane.

Dearest Ruby,  
        I have been up in the loft today. What started off as a small task of putting away a few bits and pieces, became a trip down memory lane. I got distracted looking at the photograph albums. I never did find what I was looking for but see here a couple of Mummy when she was little like you.

 

Grandpa with Emily.

 

 

 

Emily December 17th 1985

 

 

Here she is with big sister Rachel. (May 1986)

 

Summer 1986

 

 I know it hasn't got a lot to do directly with your garden but you Ruby look so like your Mummy in these pictures I thought you would like to see them. She could be you !

 

Ah, but what did I find here Ruby ?

Mummy had her very own Wild Flower garden  when we lived in Galleywood, probably taken in the summer of 1987.

 

 

And, here is a favourite of mine I just would love to include, of Mummy praising Jesus as she dances round the living room.

 

 

 

Love and hugs, Nana x