One blustery, cool afternoon last week when we were feeling cooped-up and stir-crazy, we ventured outside to explore. It wasn’t long before we were carrying buckets around, gathering supplies from under trees, in the outlying woods, and behind the play fort. I thought it might be as good as time as any to build a fairy house.
I’d been curious about these little dwellings ever since I read about making them in this book. It couldn’t be that difficult. The wind was quite a barrier to work against, but that just made it more of a fun challenge.
Soon the cat joined in to help, walking alongside us as we bent over and scooped up thin twigs to act as the roof. We put up some stick beams and walled the shanty in with spruce boughs, then gently laid the sticks across the top. The decorating began — and we furnished the little abode with rocks for chairs, bark for tables and beds, and acorn caps for dinnerware. Rainey sneaked away and plucked off all of the begonias from a potted porch plant. She ran over with bright red blooms in her tiny hands — I couldn’t help but to refrain from scolding, but instead let her add it as her contribution to the little hut (after all, the begonias are on their last, last leg of the season).
As we worked, it began to remind me of the countless grass-hut homes I’d make for Barbie and her pals, as well as the rock-and-scrap-wood shelters I’d construct for injured butterflies or confused caterpillars. Before long, I realized I was the only one still working on this tiny menagerie — guess I got a little carried away and nostalgic as I played in the dirt!
The kids and I had an afterthought to craft some “leaf ladies” to inhabit the house for the remainder of autumn. Oh, how many ways wooden clothespins can be used!
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