Beautiful Scent After the Rain

Dearest Ruby,
        There was a downpour today. The rain fell very heavily but afterwards the garden smelt so good, especially the cut grass.You seem to like the scent of the lemon bush.

 

Here you are holding onto a lemon leaf, thinking to venture onto your garden path.

 

I'm lending you a helping hand.

 

I love the way you like to walk round the lawn in a circle.

 

Then you stop as you always do, at your favourite Cosmos flowers to admire their big petals....

 

That really is very 'pink'

 

 

Nana lets me touch and feel the petals...

 

...before trundling back

....onto the garden path.

 



       
We also took a look at what else is showing in all its glory...

 

Daisies  next to the lemon bush

Antirrhinums

 

Is this a Marigold ? Certainly we seem to have a lot of yellow and white flowers in this season.

 

 

....and here is a strong plant nearly ready to come into flower which may be the same, as it has the same leaf.

 

I expect it will come out in the next few days Ruby. It is right by one of the stepping stones. You love to swing from one stepping stone to another with me holding onto your hands behind you. It makes you laugh out loud.

Until next time Ruby, 

Love and hugs,   Nana x



Baking Day

Dearest Ruby,
        We have had fun in the kitchen today, making cakes for Mummy and Daddy and you to eat later. What a lovely mess we made ! Here you are putting the little paper cases in the baking tray. They are mini in size so that you can eat them easily.

Great concentration !

 



 

All the pretty colours like the flowers in your garden - yellow, pink and green.

 

Nana has put a dollop of coffee cake mixture in each case before putting them in the oven to bake.

 

Out they came onto the cooling rack....

 

Then comes the fun part, decorating them a few at a time.

 

Nana didn't tell me at first that I could eat the tiny pink and white butterflies and yellow flowers. They tasted so sugary sweet but I liked them very much.

 

I made a special heart for Mummy to tell her I love her very much.

 

Nana iced the cakes which was messy and I didn't really like the icing getting on my fingers.

 

All done, and put on a plate to take home with me....

 

and some left over to go in the tin.

 

I hope you enjoy them for your tea Ruby, and sharing them with Mummy and Daddy. I'm sure they will like them and will be so pleased. How busy you have been.



 

Love and hugs,  Nana  x

Picnic Time and Hot Sunshine

Dearest Ruby,
        We have shared a lovely weekend with you, but first, what do you think to this beautiful flower.

 

These are the summer bulbs we planted under the cherry tree earlier in the year. Rich, beautiful and hot colours, set within our pebble circle.

 

Well, the sun has been shining down upon us and so yesterday we went with Mummy and Daddy out for a picnic.

 

 

Grandad took us to Kearsney Abbey, just the other side of Dover. Our idea had been to feed the ducks. Here was our friendly visitor.... and many more like him !

 I thought it would be a fun idea to put up our 'play tent' which Mummy and Grandad helped me with.

 

It created some welcome shade.

...and your 'Princess' dolly likes it too.

 

 

You are walking now and very steady on your feet.

 

When  the day was over, we had a long journey home in the car. You Ruby have had your very first 'sleepover' with Grandad and me. Grandad says 'It was a piece of cake!'

You were so good, ate well, played well and slept well....all 11 1/2 hours through the night. It must have been all that fresh air and exercise.

 

Love and hugs,   Nana x



Sunhat and Crocheted Flowers

Dearest Ruby,

 

A Gift For You !

       

             It has been a while in the making Ruby, crocheting all the flowers to adorn your wonderful sunhat. I wasn't sure if you would like it but I couldn't be happier at how you took to wearing it and how cute it looks !

             The sunhat began life plainly uninteresting....

 

though I liked the yellow ribbon.

 

I gathered together various colours of Cotton DK...

 

 

tools of the trade including a No 3.5mm crochet hook,

 

buttons and thread,

 

and so began the creative process !

 

Every flower is different. I made them up as I went along which was such fun to do. Some have tiny buttons for their centres. Some have picot or shell edging. Whatever took my fancy. I love how they all came together before attaching them around the brim of the hat.

 

Then for the perfect little model....what do you make of it ??

 

Back on the garden path...I love it that it fits!



 

You're more interested in chatting away to me ...

 

and then back to having an explore.

 

 I'm glad you like your sunhat Ruby and maybe you will wear it to keep your face in the shade. Or maybe it will sit idly by and remind us of sunny days and garden play.

 

Certainly the crochet hook is taking a rest once again and the crochet cotton yarns have gone back in their box.

 

 

Love and hugs, Nana x

 



 

Rubys Garden Sign

Dearest Ruby,
        I've been busy with my paintbrushes again ! You were probably too young to realize Ruby, the windy storms and torrential rain of the winter just gone past. Our fences in the garden came down and I salvedged one piece of wood that for a long while stood erect in your garden awaiting the time when I would indeed turn it into something more promising, a sign for your garden.

 

It doesn't look much here does it.

 

However, it has now had a makeover !

 

 

This is it in its very rough state before I varnished it.

To either side of the lettering, which had to be ruby red of course, I painted flowers representing daisies, forget-me-nots and primroses....

 

I love the grain of the wood showing through...

       ...and then this natural nooky hole just above your name here...

 

So, here it stands now in pride of place !

 

 

How do you like it Ruby ?

Just in case anyone is in any doubt as to whose garden this is. ;-)

 

Love and hugs, Nana x