Happy Easter from Pumpkin Hill!

                                                        Happy Easter from the Residents of Pumpkin Hill!

The dolls at Pumpkin Hill have been busy, in preparation for Easter, and all its celebrations at the hill. Yesterday Felicity and Becky had fun gathering eggs, and dogwood branches to decorate the house. (I know they were probably secretly hoping to find candy in those eggs!)

Armed with baskets, they soon had some branches and lots of eggs gathered together!

On another note, Dottie & Gracie also set out seperately as well, and had great fun sitting in the grass...

Gracie insisted on wearing her Easter bonnet, and her Disney princess dress...she loves pink! She makes a sweet picture with her basket....

Dottie also looked adorable, in her sweet wizard of Oz dress and with her basket as well.

Marigold Finch, flew about sitting in the dogwood tree, waiting for Wren, (Realpuki Soso) to arrive, along with another tiny, Rainy to arrive....

Happy Easter from Pumpkin Hill!

~Lisa

Easter preparations with the Residents of Pumpkin Hill....

*Note to readers: Gracie, our blogging assistant, agreed that she would blog this entry with permission from Miss Ashton during quiet study time at her desk. Since Miss Ashton is quite strict, Gracie needed a note- also promising that she wouldn't go on Facebook....lol!*

Hi Folks...yeah, that's me, Gracie here with my trusty laptop. I'm sorry I haven't blogged for the Residents of Pumpkin Hill for a while now. I've been busy with (grimace) Schoolwork! Miss Ashton has us in different classes, so Dottie & I are in the same class....

Dottie interrupts -"Gracie what are you doing? You're not on Facebook again are you?"
Gracie replied- "No Dottie! You know that Miss Ashton gave me permission during quiet time to do the blog entry for Miss Lisa!"
Dottie- "Oh. What are you doing for your art project?"
Gracie-"Dunno...let me get back to it Dottie..."

Gracie goes back to her computer..."Where was I ?" she said to herself, Dottie answered "Blogging!" Thanks muttered Gracie & began typing again...

The Residents of Pumpkin Hill are getting ready for both Spring and Easter, which is tomorrow....in this I'm helped with the assistance of my tiny assistant, Dixie....

Dixie blogs about the tinies in Pumpkin Hill, who live in the dollhouses all over Miss Lisa's house- and there are alot! Dixie has been busy with Maizie and Minuette Mouse, as we have two new Tinies coming to live here! But more on the new Residents in another entry- back to our preparations for Easter here at the 'Patch.

Felicity set to work cleaning the parlor, and setting out the tea things for tea lessons...polishing the silver, and setting out which tea cookies would look most scrumptous on the antique tea plates. Since Easter is special, she used the tea set from Japan that belonged to Mr,. Chris. Felicity was careful to dust the fireplace, and make sure the Silver chocolate pot shown.

Miss Ashton went outdoors to the front garden to look at the beautiful Spring day, and gather snowball blossoms from the Snowball bush to put about the tea room. She found some buttercups, which are some of her favorite wildflowers, and stopped to see if the buttercups were ready for picking. Filling her basket with flowers, she hurried back to put them in water.

Meanwhile, other residents of Pumpkin Hill joined Miss Ashton in the front garden...they were Miss Lisa's cats, who of course, are black cats. Sweetie Pie & June Bug. Here is Sweetie Pie near the pear tree.  They were enjoying the day as well, and follow Miss Lisa all over the 'Patch when she is outside.

One of the Residents, Miss Annabelle, (reproduction French Fashion doll) she was attending to her correspondence at her desk after Marigold Finch had delivered alot of letters to her. She's a nice lady and I like her...she occasionally lives in the The One Sixth Scale Dollhouse with the other fashion dolls who live there.  Annabelle is such a new resident of the 'Patch, hopefully more will be coming to her later. Marigold Finch delivers the mail for us here at Finch Express, and she is so excited because Wren, her assistant, will finally be arriving....

Marigold was making sure everything was in place to show Wren all about the 'Patch when she arrives...first she visited the deserted greenhouse...Wren loves plants, and the greenhouse will need a little bit of tidying up. Wren is a fairy who will be helping with the sorting of the mail, & Miss Lisa thought Wren and Marigold could use this greenhouse for sorting on sunny days, when the residents have alot of mail....

So Marigold went out into the garden when Miss Ashton did, and also flew to the dogwood tree to see outside, and check the mailbox. She could hardly wait for Wren to come. Miss Lisa took pictures of the lovely dogwood tree, so lovely in preparation for Easter, when we remember how Christ suffered for us & our sins.

Marigold had delivered a bunch of letters to Strawberry Hill, in their hallway, and finished her Thursday deliveries- there would be no mail delivery during Easter & Good Friday.

So that's what is going on here at Pumpkin Hill. There is alot of preparation here for Easter, Miss Lisa is getting good things ready for dinner on Sunday and sending out Easter cards.  We haven't had our Easter egg hunt yet, but am hoping myself that we can before it rains! That's all for now-

                   ~~~~HAPPY EASTER!~~~~

~Gracie

Let's Eat Cake!

"Wow Miss Ashton- that is a delicious cake you made!Thankyou!" said Becky
"Thank you Dear, but I bought the cake!" said Miss Ashton. Becky was digging into the delicous cake.
"Where??" This is just our size!" exclaimed Becky.
"Why, from a little place on Etsy- the seller is Pumpkin Hill Studios and she makes cakes now and then. Very affordable! and such a treat for us dolls!" said Miss Ashton.

*NOTE: I am currently selling my doll cakes on Etsy, and will be listing more as they are completed. Cakes vary depending on amount of materials & detailling needed, and are in scales of 1:4 (14-17 inch dolls such as Ellowyne, Tyler, Gene) & 1:3 scales (17-24 inch dolls such as antique dolls, My Twnn, American Girl, SD & MSD bjd's,) Prices range from $9.99 & up. Please watch my Etsy store for more items listed for your creative doll scenes & settings and dioramas. *

Reading time at Tea with Miss Ashton

It is last afternoon, Becky & Felicity's favorite time with Miss Ashton. This is the time they sit near the cozy fireplace, on cold or chilly evenings, with Miss Ashton  and have tea & cakes, and read their favorite story. With the chilly evenings of spring, and since today it has been raining, they sit in the parlor nook and have tea. Miss Ashton has brought a book that she promised to read to the girls after tea & cakes.

Miss Ashton spoke. "Now girls, let's finish up your tea & cakes- we will begin our storytime if you are ready."

Becky was still not finished with her cake & cookies."Can I eat while you read Miss Ashton?"

"Haven't you finished dear?" Miss Ashton said surprised.

"Becky is a terrible pig! She took the last cupcake!" laughed Felicity. Miss Ashton was very grave suddenly in her demeanor. "Felicity, that is very rude to remark on someone's eating habits at table. Please apologize dear, I know you did not mean it except in jest." Felicity flushed quite red, and stuttered. "I was just joking! Becky always takes too many goodies at tea!" Miss Ashton suddenly was severe. "Felicity" was all she said.

"I'm sorry Becky." Felicity mumbled. Becky came to her friends rescue, feeling badly for Felicity- she was so right. "That's ok Lissie- I did take the last cupcake, and I didn't ask." Miss Ashton beamed. "That's my girls!"
"Now we are going to have our story. Is everyone ready for this one?" Miss Ashton asked

!

And so, Miss Ashton began to read the Tale of Peter Rabbit, while Becky & Felicity finished their tea & cookies quietly.

You may wonder why Miss Ashton was so stern with the girls at just a small threesome, and their manners. Tea & storytime was Miss Ashton's impromptu way of teaching manners and decorum to her pupils, along with manners which she found more and more important. And so, as they listened attentively to the tale of Peter Rabbit, Becky taking more cookies and Felicity smiling conspiratorily at her friend, the afternoon hour passed pleasantly as always on Pumpkin Hill.

~Lisa

Surprise lesson from Miss Ashton....

As Miss Ashton promised Becky, she had a surprise that wasn't eggs, in her basket. Miss Ashton's surprise lessons are so enjoyed by the girls, they squealed with delight when they saw tiny chicks in the basket.
Dottie was the first, and the most shyest of the girls, so she got to hold one of the chicks first. "Hold her gently dear, she won't hurt you. " Dottie was pleased and very gently held the little newly born chick while Felicity looked on.
"Girls, we are going to talk of spring traditions and a little bit of Easter traditions as well today.  So what are traditions or symbols of Easter or Spring that you think of first?" asked Miss Ashton

"

"EGGS!" said Gracie, "..that's how we got these cute little chicks!"

"Very good Grace. Are eggs also a symbol of Easter?" asked Miss Ashton.

Dottie spoke timidly. " Maybe eggs are what we think of at Easter because we gather them to decorate?? and chicks come from eggs??"
Miss Ashton was pleased, & quickly thought that her dearest Penelope was right in her advice in her letter. "Very good Dorothea!! You are correct on eggs are a symbol of Easter, and we do decorate them!"
Dottie was holding the chick, and so was Gracie. Becky & Felicity looked on fascinated. Becky asked" When will we decorate the eggs Miss Ashton?"

Miss Ashton had placed some items on the table. " Well girls, I thought today we would actually hold one of the symbols of Easter, and of spring, in our hands today. I have some easter dye kits so we can dye our eggs soon, maybe in art class after we learn how to gather the eggs, and boil them-- so that will beour spring art lesson. "
All the girls exclaimed- "Goody!"  Becky squealed- "I love decorating easter eggs!"  Miss Ashton smiled. " We have a few more things before the art lesson, but today I thought we would learn how chicks are hatched, "
"Miss Ashton, what are those books?" Felicity inquired.
"They are books on bunnies- another symbol of Easter. One is the tale of Peter Rabbit, and the others are about rabbits and mice as well. Rabbits or bunnies are another important symbol of Easter, so I thought we would have some nice stories about bunnies at reading time."
"We have a bunny, I have to feed him" Gracie said. and rolled her eyes
"No you don't, I feed him more," countered back Becky.
"Now, now girls, we all feed the buny." said Miss Ashton soothingly.

Miss Ashton bustled about the table, and prepared to open the storybook on Peter Rabbit."Now girls, you may hold the chicks while I read, but let's be quiet and we will have a short storytime before our art lesson"...and she began to read the tale of Peter Rabbit first.................................................

Later that evening......................

Miss Ashton wrote to her friend Penelope, in England....

April 5th, 2011

Dearest Penelope-
I hope this finds you and your family well, and in good health. I took your advice to heart, and just had to stop the day to day work and take a moment and thank you for your very sound advice. Dorothea (Dottie, as the girls call her) is beginning to come out of her shell and it such a joy to watch! You were so right to remind me of our schooldays and the teachings of Mademoiselle. Thank you again!
As to the school's progress...it is coming along. My order for the school supplies has arrived, so each young lady has an art supply kit, composition book for writing, writing tablet, and activity booklet as well. Two desks have arrived- they are used, but my school is on such a tight budget and it is so hard in this rural area finishing and refurbishing the schoolhouse which had been boarded up. I look forward to your next letter- Sincerely, Ashton Brown