My cottage sits on ten acres. Lots of trees, a few fields, and I70 as a border. A bit loud out in the woods this time of year with no leaves to muffle the sound of the traffic. But this time of year is wonderful for exploration, there is no poison ivy and its not over grown yet.
In the summer we keep trails mowed to walk on, and call it the Fairy Berry Trail because it is lined with mulberry trees. But right now, the whole area is open and ready to explore. Sugarwings can run through the "deep dark forest" as she calls it like a woodland sprite and hunt for fairies, dance on fallen logs, and climb fences.
For years we had horses and they grazed the woods, but now they are gone, and the fences are drooping, and wouldn't hold a horse in for long. They were never very good, we were constantly mending them.After we quit keeping horses, I felt like we weren't even using our space. We rarely went out into the woods.
But since Sugarwings has fallen in love with the area, and we mowed the trails for her, it has been a joy to rediscover our land. Even if that is only a small area of it. We don't cross the creek, there is a few more acres back there that we still don't get back to.
There are also a couple of large, unused fields of brome grass. But now we have found a use for some of that too! Our niece is bringing out a group of young couples from her church and starting a community garden!! I'm so excited to see some of our space going to a good use.
It thrills me to see my fairy grand baby grow up with a love of nature and the outdoors. We are hoping to expand the Fairy Berry Trail this summer for her so she will have a large woodland play ground to enjoy. I want to add swings, benches, someday a tree house or little cottage.
Although, are the additions more for me or for her? She's happy with a twig that becomes a magic wand and a short cedar tree that can become a giant birthday cake with one wave of that wand.
Nature brings out magic, in most of us! We just have to be open…it is for Both of you! I am a nature girl, have climbed mountains, glaciers,camped and hiked. I have lived near water, most of my life in Maine.(Penobscot Bay) I couldn’t breathe, when I first moved to Florida.
How fun a giving garden and land to explore; I’m jealous!
Oh how I love this post!! Sugarwings is so lucky, I wish I could come play with both of you!! The woodland is my favorite place to be! I love all forest animals and fairies. I can just imagine what the two of you find! We have woods in the back of our home and the boys always say, “lets go explore”. I love that! I get excited about all kinds of things, like holes in the trees, imagining who lives in them 🙂 So much fun to be found in the woodland!! Beautiful post!
Hugs,
Amy
What a happy child Sugarwings is! You are a very nurturing Grandma. The color is just beginning to creep back into the winter landscape……Hurry Spring!
Wow ten acres! What a lucky little girl to have such a wonderful area to play in:) I have always wanted a tree house. I think there is something so amazing to a child about having a tree house to play in. My husband’s dad built them one in their backyard and it is still there and they all still talk about it all the time:) Your pictures are gorgeous. What a great post!
Living on 10 acres would be heaven! I just have a small yard! Sugarwings is growing so fast!
Blessings,
Lorilee
Karla, how lucky to live on that much land. To a small child its a wonderland, a place to explore. And you with her, how great is that. hugs JoAnn
And there is pure magic in her smile!
What a sweet heart!
And a tire swing. You’ve got to add a tire swing. You could paint it PINK!! Maybe, even sparkle it up! I can just picture a tiny Snow White sort of cottage tucked into the trees. Oh what FUN that would be!! Enjoy the spring. All of you. – Kathy
She is so sweet and adorable! She is looking more like you, too!! She is so lucky to have such a loving and caring grammy as you!
hugs,
Sherry
Oh, definitely build the cottage this year! You will both have so much fun with it. I am 59 and I STILL want a little cottage, but nowhere to have one. Some of us never grow up, eh?
To a little Sugar Winged Pixie its all Magicland !
Love the pics!
Diane
Oh what fun! Sugarwings still has the ability to have fun with every cell off her body and face and I think she is going to look after you!! Do you see it too? In that last photo in her smile I definitely see you Karla. Ah that could be worse!
She is such a fairy child, Karla. I think she is so lucky to have you support that part of her (of course, the acorn doesn’t fall to far from the tree, right?).
Fairy Child Katie is now using this in her internship at a residential treatment center. It is so good to see her put it to good use (and have hopes for a paying job…haha!)
I am sooo excited to get my book. You must be beat!
Suz
sigh…your property is beautiful…with or without leaves. 🙂 Oh how I would love to move away from the city…someday. What a lovely place for your fairy grand baby to grow up in.
The community garden sounds like fun!
What a wonderland to grow up around. Your home is so beautiful. I can’t wait to see it in print.Have a wonderful day.
Jean in virginia
I agree Sugarwings is in her glory; I would be, If I could roam those woods and set up some fairy sites, lots of flowers and inspiration everywhere!
I would love to have that much land, and the community garden, what a great idea! How generous of you, too. Let the additions be for the both of you!
Karla, you have to build a little fairy house for Sugarwings…how cute would that be…
Sweet post Karla! The photos you take of your little Sugarwings are priceless. She is a true fairy living in her Grandma’s woodsy fairyland. XOXO, Jenn
oh my gosh a community garden! How FUN! And you are right…..your woods are magical enough for Sugarwings….but it having swings, and maybe a little table set up out there….and hang a mirror on a tree…..how fun would that be?! Unless of course the sun reflected off it and then…..well…maybe the mirror isn’t such a good idea!
Having a child around gives us a good excuse to be kids, again. I think your ideas are great!
~elaine~
those mushrooms would be perfect there! You were talking about making a fort a little tee pee would sure be cute too.
So very good for the soul….what an enchanting place for such magical memories…You and Sugar Wings are a delightful combination of “wonderful” 🙂
absolutely stunning. Your land, your beautiful fairy grand baby and your love for her. :o) xx
Karla,
I just got my tagbook…it is so charming. I got teary…what an emotional gal I am but it is soo cute!
Hugs and huge thanks,
Suz
Look at her She is growing up so fast. Her hair is getting darker. I have very similar yard and 9 grandkids We will be putting in some fairy trails this year. Isn’t being a g-ma the best thing ever?
what a great use of the woods!! Wow, everytime I see a new picture of SW I realize she is growing up really fast. I think you need to brew a “stay little” potion….
xoxo, Tiffany
What wonderful photos! Remins me of exploring in the woods when I was a child!
It looks magical! You capture the best pictures of Sugarwings, and she always looks nothing short of blissfully happy to be running around enjoying the day!