Along the Fairy Berry Trail
My day started with a taste of Florida for breakfast. While down there last week, Sissy treated me to a jar of Key Lime jelly. I've been eating it on whole grain toast with light cream cheese, sprinkled with ground pecans (also from Florida) and it makes me think I am indulging with key lime pie to start my day!
After the tasty breakfast, we went for a walk on the Fairy Berry Trail. Our cottage used to be out in the country, but now our 10 acres are surrounded by a housing development and we are a little island of county land in the center of city property. Hopefully, we won't be annexed into the city…. But we still have our own little slice of country here, and we've used part of it to make a fairy land trail through the woods for Sugarwings.
A while ago, my husband mowed a path through the field, and down the hill into the trees. Sugarwings loves going back there, either walking, or riding the "tractor" ( our riding lawn mower). She calls it the Fairy Berry Trail because it is lined with mulberry trees, so she can snack on berries while she hunts for fairies.
But today the trail was different, and she was surprised to find some new sights along the way.
Hobby Lobby had their garden aisle of goods on clearance, and I helped them clean it all out. I loaded up on all sorts of cheesy, bright plastic flowers and butterflies on stakes to stick in the ground, as well as wind chimes, statuettes, and signs.
Some are tucked away, so the fairy grand baby has to carefully look for them, the others are right in plain sight.
At first, she was pretty quiet, and didn't know what to think. But after finding a few of the surprises, she really enjoyed the hunt.
We set out about 15 little surprises, and its funny how few and far between they seem once I got them out in the woods. It seemed like a lot, when it was $40 worth of stuff filling my shopping cart!
Over time, I can hunt for things at garage sales and add to the collection.
It will be fun for Sugarwings to find new things as I buy them and hide them in the woods.
The area is down in a valley and kind of secluded, so I don't know if the wind chimes will make much music. We are starting a tradition of shaking the branches as we pass underneath the trees that have the chimes in the branches.
At the end of the trail, where the path loops around a tree to turn back, she found her very favorite creature, a frog prince.
I had a feeling she'd like this one. Every time she plays with her magic wands, the rest of the family gets turned into toads.
But being a toad isn't so bad, if it means you get lots of Sugarwing kisses!
I think we'll be spending even more time along the trail now than before. I might move the pieces around every week so she'll keep on having fun finding them all.
And I will also find something for you, that I can have as a giveaway this month. My plan is to share my garage sailing goodness, and add something to the prize pack each week, like I am adding to the fairy trail. All comments, all month are entered, and I'll have some photos of the goodies, as soon as I buy them!
Oh Miss Karla, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…You are the Best Grammie, ever!!! How magical your Fairy Berry Trail is! The pictures of sugarwings are SO Precious! I can just imagine the look on her face each time she discovers something new on your walks down the trail. This reminds me of when I was little, my “Mamaw Dillon” and I would take walks in the woods behind her house, each of us with a bucket in hand, searching for blueberries to make a pie. We ate more berries than we put in our buckets, haha, hardly ever made it home with enough for a pie! What wonderful memories, and what a magical childhood you are providing for little sugarwings! Oh, the memories she will have!
Hope you have a wonderful, magical week!
(((hugs)))
Milli (sashagirl on flickr)
This post was accidently deleted, but I managed to save it, even though 70 some comments were lost! Sorry to have them all gone, but I did get to read them and they are still in my Typepad Stats, so will count toward the monthly drawing.
Karla
What a wonderful idea. Sugarwings just gets cuter and cuter every time I see her! She makes me wish for a granddaughter!
Blessings,
Lorilee
I believe I commented on the fact that I would love to have 10 acres. (you emailed me the part about the briars and poison ivy, no thanks). What fun it is for your sweet granddaughter. i would love to walk the trail too!
I’m so glad this post was recovered as I didn’t see the original one. What a wonderfully magical place you’ve created. I know Sugarwings is blessed to have you as her grandma.
Lorrie
What a magical fairy berry trail! Aren’t grands a godsend? They truly are “….God’s way of compensating us for growing old.”
I love how you you enable all your blog readers to see the world through Sugarwings eyes. Your pictures capture the essence of her wonder!
That is so magical! What a great idea.
what FUN!!!!
I enjoyed walking on the Fairy Berry Trail with Sugerwings. Reminds me of our place in Iowa. She is such a gorgeous and photogenic Fairy. Your pictures really tell her story. I can only image what is going through her mind. Lucky is she to have a grammie who takes such poignant photos. Ellie
that is sooo much fun and oh so sweet!!!!
what a lovely place to walk.
chas
This is SO wonderful on all levels for everyone, thank you for re-sharing(this was my first peek). Happy happies
What gorgeous photos and a wonderful idea. That little girl is just a doll!! Off to look at more from your beautiful blog.
I love love love the Fairy Berry Trail~ and the lovely Miss Sugarwings . . . kissing the Frog Prince. So magical.
Love your Fairy berry trail Love you whole site!! my day isnt complete unless I have checked you out..love you pix & all your info..I`m a fan…. Lorraine
I’m going to have to look out for that Key Lime jelly now! Sounds delicious!
Lisa
Absolutely precious!!! Rachaelxo