Gwen, Megan and a Surprise Attack

Hello Everyone! This week our good friends Gwen and Megan came to visit. It's been hot so we immediately headed out to the pool to relax with some chatter and cool lemonade! Kirsten and Charlotte talked to Gwen in the shade while Megan and I splashed about in the refreshing water.

"What have you been up to so far this summer?" Kirsten asked Gwen.

"Well, this week I was at an art camp - actually, Megan and I both were," she replied.

"That's so neat!" exclaimed Charlotte, "What did you do?"

"I took a class where we transferred photographs onto sea glass and Megan took a welding class."

"Wow, a welding class?" Kirsten asked. "That sounds . . . interesting. What did she do?"

"I made a tree," Megan told me, overhearing the other girls' conversation.

"A tree?" I asked, envisioning a detailed maple tree with tiny leaves.

"Yes, well, it's not a tree tree, it's like a stick tree, with simple branches. Rather like a tree in winter but without twigs." 

"Ah, I think I understand. Kind of like a jewelry tree," I added.

"I suppose so," she said, somewhat doubtfully.

"Hey, I have an idea, c'mon," I said, getting up.

"What's this grand idea you have, Becca?" Megan asked, also rising.

"Follow me, let's go fill some water balloons and surprise the others!"

"Oooh, I like it!" she grinned, and we crept away.

After filling nearly twenty water balloons (good and tight so that they'd pop right away!), we sneaked back behind our respective sisters with a full supply of ammunition. We could hear them talking.
"That sounds like a great time," Kirsten said, supposedly finishing their former conversation.
"It was!" agreed Gwen; then, looking about, asked, "Where did Rebecca and Megan go?"
"I haven't seen them for a while," Charlotte added. "Maybe they went to find some more food?"

Just then, perfectly timed and perfectly aimed, Megan sent her first balloon flying into the air and smack dab into Gwen! It was beautiful.
"Hey!" shouted Gwen, quite uncharacteristically.
All three of them swung round in shock.

"Becca!" Charlotte cried, as I stepped up to the plate and launched our second balloon, which went sailing through the air and directly onto Kirsten's face!

After that it was mayhem. Complete and utter mayhem. Balloons were flying, sisters were yelling and laughing, and, unbeknownst to us, Charlotte had disappeared in all the action! And then . . .

SPLASH!!! We were soaked by a stealth balloon!
"Oh! Charlotte!" we yelped. "Oh!"

We spun around. Charlotte was laughing with glee and we, seeing the humorous side of her sudden attack, burst out laughing and then bombarded her with questions.

"How did you do that?"  "What just happened?" "Where did you get that balloon?" 

I could hear Kirsten and Gwen laughing behind us as well. 

"Let's clean up and see if we can find some more of that lemonade and watermelon!" I suggested.

And so we did. After picking up the hundreds of tiny water balloon pieces and throwing them away, Megan and I wrapped up in a towel and we all sat around to enjoy the rest of our summer afternoon.

~ Rebecca

A Morning at the Lake

 This last weekend we went to the lake! It was ten degrees cooler there than here at home, but it was still hot, so we went out to enjoy the beautiful sunshine in the morning while it wasn't too warm. We packed a basket of amusements and planned to spend our morning on the dock.

"Oh, listen to that brook! Doesn't it sound simply delicious, girls?" Charlotte exclaimed rapturously.

"I like how jolly they sound, just as if they were laughing at all the world," agreed Becca.

"Oh Becca, not at the world, at least not exactly. That doesn't sound right, somehow." I replied, slightly puzzled by my sister's meaning.  

"Well, I guess what I mean is that "it's a world of laughter," Becca smiled.

"As opposed to "a vale of tears," I suppose," Charlotte said.

"Naturally," rejoined Becca, and we all grinned with delight, for there is nothing quite so inwardly pleasing as referencing something among those who understand without asking. (For those who don't know, we were quoting Rainbow Valley, the 7th book in the Anne of Green Gables series, when Faith Merideth says: "The world isn't a vale of tears, Mrs. Taylor. It's a world of laughter.")

Just then, we came to a charming bridge that crossed the "jolly brook," all covered with little mosses and peeling bark - simply perfect! 

"Oh look!" I said, pointing off to the left, "you can see the lake from here!" 

"Oh boy, it looks fantastic!" Charlotte said.

"Splendiferous!" Becca added.

I looked quizzically at her, "Becca, is that a word?"

She laughed, "That depends on your definition of 'word.' And here we are at the dock!"

And so we were. We walked out and admired the sparkling lake, now clouded over due to the slight breeze blowing over the water.

Becca set her basket down, "Oooh, we should go for a swim!"

"That sounds like fun - but not now, it's not quite hot enough." Charlotte said.

"I'll bet it's beautiful out here at night when the lanterns are lit." I said.

"Yes," Charlotte agreed, dreamily, "imagine floating on the lake at night surrounded by white fairy-lights with only the sounds of crickets and the water lapping the shore."

"I don't think the water really laps the shore around here, it's too marshy," observed Becca.

And with that practical yet very "Becca-ey" thought, we sat down. I retrieved my doll Kirsti and her book, Becca took up her knitting, and Charlotte began to read Swallows and Amazons.

"How perfect that you're reading that book here, on the lake!" Becca commented.

"Isn't it?" Charlotte smiled, "I always like to read books in the setting in which they are, well, set. It makes them even more alive to me!"

After that occurred a time of near silence in which we each enjoyed ourselves - and the lake - in our own way, broken only by occasional comments from Charlotte about the characters in her book and therefore rejoinders by Becca, who has read the series several times. 

"Well," sighed Becca, always the least willing of the group to sit for long, "I think I'll take a break from knitting. Here, Charlotte, why don't I take your picture in front of the lake." 

"Just let me finish this chapter," Charlotte agreed.

While they took pictures and fiddled with the camera settings (always a mystery to me), I finished Meet Kirsten, desperately trying to keep from crying when Marta died. Thankfully they were quite caught up in their photography, so neither noticed when I quickly wiped my eyes.

We had the loveliest time relaxing out there, and even went swimming later in the day!

Until next time!

~ Kirsten

Summer Evenings

Hello! Sorry we've been so long, but we're back now! We were recently fortunate to aquire some lovely dollies of our own - older Pleasant Company ones with sweet faces. Becca got Samantha, Kirsten got Kirsten (but she calls her Kirsti like in Number The Stars), and I got Addy - I love her thrilling story!

Today Becca and I went out in the evening to play with our dolls and enjoy the beautiful sunshine sparkling through the birch trees.

"Let's sit in this gorgeous spot," Becca suggested.
"It's perfect!" I exclaimed, revelling in the fairyland atmosphere as we sat down in "a radiance of sifted sunlight streaming through a birch tree." (Anne of Avonlea)
"Now, now Samantha, sit up straight! Grandmary would be very disappointed in your posture," Becca did her best to get Samantha to behave properly, but she really is a rambunctious girl - rather like Becca, come to think of it!

"I guess she'll just have to stand," Becca said, lifting Samantha from the grass.

"My Addy is a fairly obedient girl, but her hair is a bit mussed," I mused aloud.

"So is Samantha's, but I wonder that the poor girl can see with those bangs!" laughed Becca, "I can't seem to brush them out of her eyes."

"Some water might help," I suggested, raising Addy to look into her pretty little eyes.

"What color are her eyes?" Becca asked, "Sam's are brown." 

"I think they're brown." I peered onto her face, "but I can't tell for certain. They're dark, that's for certain." 

"I like her tiny earrings," commented Becca, "Hey, just like you! You're both the only girls with earrings."

"That's true. I'd like some little gold hoops like those."

And so our chatter continued: discussing tiny clothing, faces, and stories. It was a beautiful evening - there's nothing quite like wearing summery dresses and braids while sitting in the grass in the shade of sparkling birch trees and playing with the sweetest dolls. 

Until next time!

~ Charlotte

Dresses and Blossoms

 Hello everyone!

It is finally beautiful spring here so we three slipped into our delicious spring dresses and ran down to the garden to take some photos while the blooms are still out! Becca likes the bright yellow forsythias best, and Charlotte prefers the bold pink blossoms, but my favorites are the delicate white ones.

"My heart is fresh and fearless, and overbrimmed with spring."

- Sara Teasdale, May Night

I hope you all have a lovely Easter!
~ Kirsten

Becca at the Grand Canyon!

Hi Everyone!! *waves*

I (Becca) got to go hike at the Grand Canyon this last week! Kirsten and Charlotte don't care much for strenuous activity in heat, so they declined to come, but I didn't mind - it was great fun and so beautiful! 

The first hike I went on went down into the Canyon, which was amazing! I didn't go all the way down to the Colorado River because I would've had to spend the night, but it was still super cool! 

As you can see, it was quite sunny, but it actually wasn't too hot! Just about right for hiking. :)

At some places it was super windy, which was quite refreshing. I sat on this ledge for a while, enjoying the cool relief and admiring the stunning view! 

I was grateful for my bandana cause it kept all those funny little hairs from getting into my eyes! My bangs went everywhere, though!

The second hike I went on was actually in Sedona, which is a little ways from the Grand Canyon. This hike had a lot more plants and green-ness, which was really pretty! There was a little river that kept popping up here and there throughout the hike. 

I ate my lunch at a nice green spot on some cool rocks. This was one of the only places where I wasn't surrounded by orange on all sides!

I had a splendiferous time and hope you enjoyed my photos!

~ Rebecca

A Cold, Blue Morning

It snowed just gorgeously here a few weeks ago! It was so beautiful out that Becca and I went out and she took some photos in the cold, blue morning. 

"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently?" 

-Through the Looking Glass

~ Charlotte

Snow Day at the Cabin

While we were relaxing at the cabin, it snowed just beautifully during the night! We went out right away after breakfast to sled and explore.

"Wow," I said, pulling the sled and looking about me,

"This is beautiful," breathed Charlotte.

"It really is a winter wonderland!" Kirsten exclaimed.

"Okay," I said, pointing the sled downhill, "hop on!"

Kirsten sat down behind me and I picked up the rope to head on down. However, there was one slight problem.

"Hm, we don't seem to be moving," Kirsten observed.

"Yes, how queer," I added, "Charlotte, would you give us a push?"

"Sure!" she agreed, but just as she gave Kirsten a shove, what did she do but jump on back as well!

"And away we go!" Charlotte cried.

We went flying down the hill, all three of us clinging to each other for dear life and laughing as the snow blinded flew in our faces. It was grand fun, and when we reached the bottom we all fell off and lay breathless in the snow. 

"Yipee, I'm going again!" Charlotte announced, picking up the rope. "Who wants to come with me?"

"Would you look at that?" I murmured to Kirsten. "That's our proper, fashionable sister!"
"Oh hush," Kirsten said, "I guess she knows a good time when she sees one!"
"I know," I laughed, "but aren't you just a wee bit surprised at her enthusiasm?"
"Well, maybe a little," she admittted, "C'mon, let's make a snowman while our "fashionable sister" flies around."

"Okey dokey," I said, and began rolling snowballs.

"Here's the head!" I plopped it on top of Kirsten's little snowman.
"He's a little small," Kirsten said critically, "but little ones are a lot easier to make."

"That's true," I said, "Let's go find some arms."

"Hey, nice snowman!" Charlotte said.

"Thanks! How's the sledding?" I asked.

"Thrilling!" she replied gleefully. 

"Here are some sticks for arms," Kirsten handed me one and stuck one in her side.
"Ta-da!" I said, "He looks pretty good!"

"Well, you two want to go on a walk through there?" Charlotte asked.
"Sure! It looks beautiful!" Kirsten agreed.
"Let's do it!" I cried.

It really was gorgeous and we had a marvelous day!
~ Rebecca