The Lilac Dress

Yet another freezing day. Apparently, this blustery chill wind is coming from Scandinavia. It is to ease tomorrow. My Irish grandchildren arrived just after lunch for a sleepover that I had completely forgotten about. According to their mother, they were very excited and had been looking forward to it all morning. Yet the first thing they did when they got here was to have a big row about the contents of the dressing up box, in particular, a lilac taffeta dress and a toning lace trimmed shawl. Evie said never gets a chance to try the new items first. Delicate negotiations were carried out and Evie got her chance to wear the dress.

She looked very nice in it too but did not agree as Martha had told her it would look horrible on her so she wasn't so sure. Her red sequinned shoes (several sizes too big) don't appear in this picture as we got photo-bombed by Maya.

Here we can see the red shoes peeking out. Martha, ever the stylist, had informed Evie that they "wouldn't go."

An hour or so later and Martha was back in the favoured costume and Evie was happy in her hoodie and fluffy blanket. All are enjoying 'How To Tame Your Dragon'.

Planting A Meadow

Rachael brought the wildflower seed. Together we prepared the ground although she did much more work than me. Well, she is twenty years younger so that's OK. And I had photographs to take. There has to be a record of these events.

Meanwhile, two of my granddaughters and Rachael's twins played dress up on the trampoline.

Sowing the seed. Fingers crossed!

The remainder of the day included a record number of visitors and a visit to my brother at the home place.

A lot of those visitors and some new ones are still around and it sounds like they are having a party. I might join them.

Every Picture: Dressing Up At The Ulster Museum

Looking at these photographs reminded me that it has been far too long since I took the girls to the Ulster Museum. Maybe, when their cousin James is over in April can have a big family day out. I'd love to see what James makes of our museum. I'm sure he'll enjoy the interactive children's room but am not so sure he'll enjoy dressing up as much as Martha and Evie do. We'll see.

This is Martha's favourite outfit, the one that delights her every time she gets to wear it. The skirt has a big hooped petticoat under and she loves to swirl around in it.

Evie tries a hooped petticoat for size. She also loved the painted wooden clogs which were a perfect match for her woolly cardigan.

On this occasion, one of the museum staff (we asked) had taken the blue gingham home for laundering and Miss Martha was a little disappointed. Then she found this pinafore and all her Kate Greenaway fantasies were realised. Sitting on the bench beside the mirror is a wonderful vantage point for a granny to capture great shots of the darling grandchildren posing in those old time costumes and, there is the added advantage of getting a wee rest. Now I've made myself really excited for our next trip to the Museum.

Working Clothes

Now Ben isn't the only one who does a bit of work about this place. Miss Martha gets home from a hard morning at nursery school, eats a bit of lunch, shucks off the school uniform, changes into her work gear and strides out to pick up litter, burn rubbish and feed pigs.