I am so pleased that my girls love reading
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett as much as I did as a child. It has always been one of my favorite books ever since my parents gave me a copy
illustrated by Graham Rust for Christmas in 1988, when I was 10 years old. I still have my treasured and well loved copy today.
.: The Birthday Girl :.
Chiquita's 9th birthday fell on Easter Sunday this year and her Secret Garden themed party tied in perfectly. It was such a special day!
Birthday Hugs and Visiting with Grandpa & Grandma on the phone
.: In the Garden :.
But she was inside the wonderful garden, and she could come through the door under the ivy any time, and she felt as if she had found a world all of her own.
The older boys helped me create a door out of brown paper. We added some watercolor wood grains and then created a Key Hole and Keys using black and purple card stock with my Cricut with the
Sophisticated Cartridge.
I also used the
Sophisticated Cartridge to create the letters for her Birthday Banner placing them on backgrounds cut with
Elegant Edges.
I picked up a strand of Ivy with purple flowers and butterflies at the craft store, as well as a few flower plants to use as decorations as well. It was simple but pretty!
.: The Robin Who Showed the Way :.
"You showed me where the key was yesterday," she said. "You ought to show me the door today; but I don't believe you know!" The robin flew from his swinging spray of ivy on to the top of the wall and he opened his beak and sang a loud, lovely trill, merely to show off - and they are nearly always doing it.
.: Garden Gate Keys :.
It was more than a ring, however; it was an old key which looked as if it had been buried a long time.
.: Nest Building :.
"It's part o' th' springtime, this nest-buildin' is," he said. " I warrant it's been goin' on in th' same way every year since th' world was begun. They've got their way o' thinking an' coin things, an' a body had better not meddle. You can lose a friend in springtime easier than any other season if you're too curious."
.: A Bit of Earth :.
"Might I," quavered Mary, "might I have a bit of earth?" In her eagerness she did not realize how queer the words would sound and that they were not the ones she had meant to sat. Mr Craven looked quite startled. "Earth!" he repeated. "What do you mean?" "To plant seeds in - to make things grow - to see them come alive," Mary faltered.
.: Bird Bingo :.
"What kind of bird is he?" Mary asked. "Doesn't tha' know? He's a robin redbreast, an' they're th' friendliest, curiousest birds alive. They're almost as friendly as dogs - if you know how to get on with 'em. Watch him peck in' about there an' looking' round at us now an again. He knows we're talking' about him."
.: Skipping Rope :.
The skipping-rope was a wonderful thing. She counted and skipped, and skipped and counted, until her cheeks were quite red, and she was more interested than she had ever been since she was born.
.: Searching for Easter Eggs :.
Our Annual Easter Egg Hunt was another fun birthday activity this year! The birthday girl was totally confused when Uncle Brian gave her a hint: "where was the garden key found?" She started looking for signs of where eggs might be buried (the key was discovered buried in dirt in the actual book) while her older brother discovered the stash of eggs behind a dislodged brick (the key was found behind a brick in
the version of the movie my siblings and I watched recently when we were kids). The birthday girl was so excited to find the Golden Egg this year!
.: Birthday Gifts :.
She also received a card and spending money from her out-of-state grandparents and
The Beaver Family from my parents (
we are all Beaver Fans after all!) , and even an Easter Egg filled with candy and more spending money from Uncle Brian & Aunt Meagan!
She also received sweet and thoughtful little gifts from her siblings…
.: Secret Garden Birthday Cake :.
It was such a fun birthday and so special that it happened to fall on Easter Sunday this year!
