Flying Frogs.......a bit of a distraction

So we had some much needed rain for the garden, which did mean it was too soggy to go weeding or planting, so my lovely other half decided to clear out the shed - in miniature days, his workshop.  He presented me with a battered cardboard box.


Inside the box was a flying frog and a flying horse - both of which had 'flown' very happily in our conservatory in Cormwall some twenty years ago, then later for a few years at our home in Buckinghamshire. Age and yet another move had meant that the frog had lost a wing and the horse was very dilapidated to say the least - so the question was, should he dig out his tools again and me, my paints...or dump them?  Yep, we were both in need of a distraction in our lockdown days!

We both enjoyed getting back to our respective craft skills and they fly again! Flying high the cracks and fillers and dodgy paintwork, which is close but not perfect, to the original remind us of lots of happy days and little children on grown-up shoulders twirling them about.

Exochorda, The Bride also reminds me of our happy days in the far west, which is where we first saw it.  It's a really lovely, early flowering shrub and I love it.  It took me years to find one but it's been very happy here in Oxfordshire and cheers us up when it flowers in early April.

Another thing reminding me of very happy days, was reading my friend Celia's latest blog...www.ktminiatures.blogspot.com/  in which she goes back though her archives. She reprises projects we made together for magazines or our workshops.
We loved every minute and are proud of our work.  Do take a look.  The one I think we loved the most, and put our hearts and souls into, was our W.W.1 Bunker which you can view as a video - it's in the R.H. column on this blog. It was sold to raise funds for The Red Cross and I believe is now in a museum in France.



Just a couple more pics. from the garden....

Thank you for looking - stay stafe.
Robin x

Happy Easter......Let There Be Rainbows

I'd like to wish you all a Happy Easter, however you may be marking it.  It occurs to me that at this time when we remember the ultimate sacrifice of Christ we are seeing the great sacrifices of so many thousands of wonderful people across the world for the rest of us so that we may stay healthy and safe.  We owe it to them to do our best as well.


Apparently all around our town and many, many others in U.K. children in particular have been making rainbows to go in windows so that passers by can be cheered up by a positive, hopeful sign.  I think it's a wonderful idea and wish we could see them all - but it's important to take the message to stay at home seriously, so we do.
I understand teddy bears are beginning to join the rainbows, and as we all know they are happy creatures.

Our young Granddaughter and her Mum made this super rainbow together - isn't it lovely.

When I was a little girl our Mother would take us on a once a year walk to The Grove a local wood on a big estate, open to all families only on Good Friday.  We went there - such a very special treat - to pick the primroses that grew thickly in the mossy undergrowth beneath the trees. We picked as many as we could carry to give to our Mothers and Grandmothers for Easter.  I'm guessing that the tradition harked back to the days of youngsters being in service at the grand house, when they were allowed to pick the flowers to take home to their Mothers for Easter.

Today everyone gives flowers to those they love - still a loving and welcome gesture of affection.

We can't give flowers to all those safe-guarding us but it is Thursday so we shall be back on our doorsteps this evening to join the clapping to show our appreciation.

Thank you for looking
Robin x

Poetry Please

Many people are suggesting lovely, clever, cheery or interesting things we can be doing to while away the time while we are stuck at home.  To be honest I'm not a great keep-fit enthusiast at the best of times so I'm avoiding the work-out each morning.

Writing down our 'life histories' and those of our parents for the next generation is a good one, as is a massive clear-out of cupboards......I must get around to that one......
Inventing new recipes is a must as we trawl the bottom of our freezers and the back of food cupboards.  The most inventive I've heard recently was a layer of left-over mashed potato on half a frozen Margherita pizza.  Yummy apparently........
Of course as enthusiasts we can all finish off those miniature projects or start new ones.

Inspired by one friend, three of us have exchanged our favourite poems, which was just brilliant. It also brought to mind particular memories or annecdotes which we all enjoyed as well as the poems.
This was mine:

WARNING  by Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman
I shall wear purple
With a red hat that doesn't go,  and
 doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on
 brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say
we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement
 when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops
 and press alarm bells

And run my stick along public
 railings
And make up for the sobriety
 of my youth................................

There are several more verses, so I'll let you Google for the whole poem. I've always thought this was very inspiring and made me determined to grow old as disgracefully as possible!!! I've got a red coat and purple hat - do you think that counts?

I've loved the poem for years, but it also reminded me of a great friend in U.S.A. who passed on to me several commissions from 1/24th scale collectors like her who were also members of The Red Hat Society.  I must admit I had to do some research as I'd never heard of the international society which, inspired by the poem, was founded to encourage social interaction between ladies 'of a certain age' for friendship and laughter.  Google it do, some brilliant pictures!
Anyway the upshot was that in late 1990s I made lots of mini Red Hat ladies which was huge fun.  Sadly before my digital camera or computer so no decent pictures to look back on.

So - maybe you and a few of your friends would enjoy swapping poems  - or even share one on your blog.

But tonight I shall be on my doorstep with many, many others clapping and cheering for our wonderful N.H.S. staff. A tiny way to express our thanks for all they are doing for us.

Thank you for looking
Robin x