by June
One spring, when the girls were about four, we were out for a walk in the woods. As we squished along in our boots, I said it was mud season now and soon it would be bug season. Blossom piped up and asked, "When is it gonna be fairy season?"
As it turns out, in our woods, it is always fairy season. And, thanks to Grandpa Hickory and his whimsy, it is not hard to imagine why our fascination has such deep roots: He builds fairy houses out of tree stumps. His granddaughters weren't very old before he had given them their own hickory-handled hammers so they could help too.
Blossom and Fern, then age 4, helping Grandpa Hickory
with a fairy stump house
We used to live in a pine forest, and as the trees came down in the big winter storms, Grandpa Hickory reclaimed the stumps for the fairies.
We're always sad to lose a tree. It was especially hard to hear that the 80-foot pin oak had died in Grandpa Hickory's back yard. Years ago, we had our last family reunion with his family under that tree. To ease the loss, he's built a mansion big enough for a fairy family reunion. We haven't yet made it home for a visit to Missouri so that Fern and Blossom can enjoy this gift from their grandfather, but we are told it stands taller than they do.
The girls can't wait to see the new fairy house...and the very special grandfather whose imagination soars with theirs.
15 comments:
i love it! i love building fairy houses on mackworth island! great pic from when they were 4! hope you all get to go see that mansion soon!
How wonderful that grandpa makes fairy homes from tree stumps. That makes him just that much more special to all of you. So creative. I'm really appreciating the little fairy peeking out from behind the curtain.
Oh this is so sweet. I love the picture of a little one peeping out! And to have one taller than your girls will be great. I love everything about this post from the cool fairy houses to your girls helping build them. Very cool!
:)Lisa
These are SO COOL! And even more special that they have a part in them. I want to be young, just for a short while, and just enjoy living in that world of 'youngness'.
Wow! Those are truly works of art June! How special to have a Grandpa that can work such magic!
That is awesome! We are going to have to build some fairy houses too.
Oh my word! How sweet is that! Oh, to be a child again - to believe in fairies and Santa and have all be right in the world. Thank you, June, for sharing such a sweet story. And a big hug to Grandpa Hickory for making an almost 40-year old feel 6 again.
So sweet and creative! And what wonderful memories the girls will have! My Moira would love to make these.
That "PAW" .. is quite the character...
Love from the Ozarks....
That is wonderful. I love it. Now I want one with a little elf face peeking out.
Absolutely wonderful post; your girls are so lucky to have such a grandpa! Speaking of fairies, you might want to plant a fairy garden. On Jim Long's Garden Talk blog he had a blog entry this past spring about fairy gardens that was wonderful: http://jimlongsgardentalk.blogspot.com/2009/06/fairy-hats-fairy-corners.html#links. I plan to plant a fairy garden myself this coming spring!
Those fairy houses are just amazing and wonderful and magical. You and your dad are such creative folks. Thanks for sharing your blog as always.
What a great idea for tree stumps.
Blessings
Diane
That is the "WOWZER" of the week! I love them and have never seen such darling fairy homes..way.to.go!
Love this June!!
Post a Comment