A boatload of adventure

Justin and I took advantage of the warm weather to explore more of our woods. We found the softest sand that just begged us to play in it.

We built mounds in the sand and thought of all the fun things we could build.

Justin went in search of some sea grass...or would that be wood grass?...whatever it was, he found a nice patch of it and started gathering some to use in our sand building.

It was so thick that he had to tug and tug to get an armload full.

While gathering wood grass, Justin felt something solid in the grass. He dug around until he uncovered a long forgotten sail boat.

I heard Justin hollering for me and went running. I was sure he'd hurt himself or found a snake or something. It turned out to be the or something. He happily showed me the sail on the boat and told me all about how he found it.

We dug it out and were thrilled to discover the boat was still in one piece and seemed to be solid.

We carefully carried the little boat back to where we were building in the sand and sat down to think about what we wanted to do next. It took a little while but we got an idea into our heads and once it was there we knew we had to do it.

We worked on it for a long time, stick by stick, rock by rock, we watched our idea become real.

After building the waterfall, I sat down for a quick rest.

Justin joined me. We never knew building swimming holes was so tiring. But look at what we made.

A little oasis in the sand.

After all this hard work, that swimming pool looks mighty tempting. I might just go for a dip in that refreshing water.

Justin tested the temperature and declared it 'just right'. I thought we were about to go swimming when he spoiled everything by saying, 'let's go get the others and launch the boat'.

So much for swimming.

We retrieved the boat from where we had left it and brought it closer to the swimming hole while the others settled themselves in to watch.

I sure do hope this boat floats. I wouldn't want to lose it to a shipwreck.

Careful, Justin. Let's put it in real slow, make sure it's water tight before we turn it loose.

We ease it into the water and hold our breaths as we wait to see if it will sink or float.

And it floats!

Tillie couldn't watch, she, too, was afraid it might sink.

We all settle in, as comfortable as we can get on sand and rock, and watch the little boat bob in the water. Lizzie thinks we need a small doll to sail in the little boat.

Tillie still isn't convinced the boat won't sink. She says sometimes it takes a few minutes for a boat to sink to the bottom.

We all assure her that the boat is steady and in no danger of sinking.

Lizzie encourages Tillie to look and both girls lean over the edge until they almost topple into the water head first.

Girls.

First they won't look...

 then they can't look close enough.

Row, row, row, your boat...

Henry starts a lively round of singing and we all join in.

Gently down the stream...

Merrily, merrily, merrily...

Life is but a dream.

Our little boat continues to bob in the water as we sing one more round of row, row, row your boat. 

Now all we need is a nice fire and some marshmallows. Or maybe someone to play an instrument for our singing.

Annie thanks us for making her first full day in the pioneer house so much fun.

You're more than welcome, Annie. We all had fun.

Introducing Annie

I found this surprise laying on the big people's couch. No one else was around but there was an envelope close by that looked like someone had opened it. Whatever the envelope is...this is a surprise for me.

I tried and tried to lift it but it wouldn't budge.

 I went for help. I found Tillie sitting in her house. Tillie's house is drafty and only has one wall. If you're not careful you'll tumble right off the edge of the floor. It's not much of a house but Tillie likes it.

I told her about my surprise and she offered to come help me move it to her house. Since I had nowhere to put it, her house was as good a place as any, so I accepted.

We tried to move it but it was stuck. Tillie said we needed 'enforcements.

She went and got the boys and they were happy to be 'enforcements. I told them to be very careful with my surprise. Hook said he could toss it over his shoulder and carry it easy but I reminded him to 'be careful' so the boys lifted my surprise and all of them carried it to Tillie's house.

Hook kept saying it would be easier if he did it by himself but I was afraid he would drop my surprise. Justin said he heard sounds coming from inside my surprise. I wonder what's in there?

The boys worked together to get my surprise over Mount Couch as they called it.

They almost dropped it getting it down Tillie's wall. Thankfully, I was busy looking at the sewing supplies the big people had out on their couch and I missed that scary moment.

When I heard about the boys almost dropping my surprise, I told them to put it down so I could check it. It was okay.

I slowly unrolled it. What could be inside?

It's a...Hitty.

Tillie quickly sent the boys away when she saw that the new Hitty was only wearing her unmentionables.

The new Hitty was happy to get out of that material. She took a big breath of fresh air and looked around Tillie's house. I kinda wondered what she thought of this house that isn't a house but she never said anything.

The new Hitty was a bit woozy from her trip to the pioneer Hitty house. She wobbled and fell over when she tried to stand up.

As she was getting up, I saw that she had S. Sizemore on her back.

She explained that she is a cloth Hitty made by Sue Sizemore.

Tillie quickly found the new Hitty a dress so she wouldn't have to run around in her unmentionables.

The dress was a bit tight on the new Hitty but she said it was much better than running around in her 'all together'.

With the new Hitty dressed, Tillie called the boys back. We all sat down while she told us more about herself.

Her name is Hitty Annie. She got her name because she was an anniversary Hitty. She came through the mail and she is here to stay.

Welcome to the pioneer house, Annie.