Pumpkin Hill Academy- Back to school!

Just a few quick photos of the girls of Pumpkin Hill Academy...I created this in photoflexer in Photobucket for the American Girl Playthings forum, for their annual back to school PT event they do this time of year ...that is why Gracie and Dorothy are not in the photos, even though they are part of 'proper school' like Our Dolls calls it...I am also preparing some photos for their current Fall/Autumn contest. I staged this small setting with Miss Ashton and Rebecca and Kit in their school desks...I still need about two more desks for all of the dolls. I am currently on one of the long term projects -- trying to get their school uniforms together. I may end up using Rebecca's uniform, but I like Molly's too, the plaid looks like a regular school uniform, even for Felicity.

Felicity feeds the chickens....

          

                                                          Random photo of the day: Gracie blogs in the tree!
                                                    Random Link of the day: Meet Marigold Finch!


As I stated before in a previous post, I will be doing a random photo and a random link from the blog, please let me know how you like it. I believe for those stumbling across the blog this will encourage you to explore the posts and see the history behind the Residents of Pumpkin Hill, the dolls and their lives here in the 'Patch.

Every morning, before beginning lessons at the Academy with Miss Ashton, all of the girls have their chores to do. Felicity's chore is feeding the chickens. This morning Felicity could only find one chick, which she thought was unusual. She had the feed pail with her full of chicken feed, but no chickens!
'Oh well, I will just feed this one, the others will flock here soon.' she thought, and began to scatter feed for the one lone chick. She didn't think anything of it , as the mother chick will sometimes hide in the wheat field.

Felicity finished feeding the chick who was quite greedy and gobbled up the feed she scattered, and then went to the kitchen. Miss Ashton was baking early in the morning, so lessons would begin when the girls had eaten their breakfast. Felicity hurried, as she was feeling quite hungry.

Felicity came in running...'Oh Miss Ashton, I couldn't find all of the chickens, so I just..........' she stopped at the smell of warm, apple pie on the table......'.....you baked PIE!' Becky was squealing beside Miss Ashton. This was indeed a treat, as it was breakfast, and Miss Ashton told them the pie must cool, but they could have a slice for a snack later.
~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

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

Miss Ashton- you're here!

Becky was surprised when she saw Miss Ashton in the kitchen.

"Miss Ashton- you're back! When did you get back?? The others don't know you're here!" Becky said excitedly.

Miss Ashton put down the colander and hugged Becky. "I'm so glad to see you as well! It's supposed to be a surprise that I'm back! Give me a hug!"
"Miss Ashton, we have missed you so much!" Becky hugged her teacher. "Me too, darling, me tool" Miss Ashton said, smiling.

"We thought you might not come back....but oh, I'm so glad you did! I have loads of stuff to tell you!" cried Becky
Miss Ashton was surprised at this.

"Now what is this nonsense...me not coming back!!? Who told you such a thing? " Becky looked a little guilty."Oh no one, but you were gone so long....and, and we know how much you love to travel so, and see your friends. We thought you might like being there more than here..." Becky had a trembling lip as she stuttered this.

Miss Ashton smiled, and choked back a tear herself. " NONSENSE!" she exclaimed. "Becky Bailey, you & the other young ladies are my family...and so is the academy. And you're my friends as well!  I had a nice little trip it is true, but I missed you all! And I understand one of the new girls is here as well...have you made her comfortable and welcome??"
"Why yes, Dottie is nice. But she won't go without that sock monkey ANYWHERE..." Becky rolled her eyes.
"Well, nevermind about that....aren't you going to ask me what's in my basket I brought in?"

Becky was all curious. " What is in it?? "  Miss Ashton smiled. " Guess." Becky thought a minute. "Cookies!" "No, not cookies"  Becky thought again....." Eggs??" Miss Ashton laughed, " No, ....but you are very very close!"

" Can I peep inside...before the other girls get here? " Becky asked.

"Of course dear....but don't tell! This will be our impromptu lesson ...a fun lesson.."said Miss Ashton

Stay tuned to see more of Miss Ashton's surprise in another episode of Pumpkin Hill. To learn more about Miss Ashton, be sure to click on our labels to the right of the blog page called Residents of Pumpkin Hill.

(Miss Ashton is a 23 inch 2001 My Twinn doll, that has had alot of TLC.Dress and pinafore were by Ebay seller Dollandbabytreasures . (highly recommend, this item was shipped quickly to make this post possible ahead of schedule)

~Lisa