Holly-Hockets

We returned from vacation to a PROFUSION of plants!! The garden and flowers must have kicked it into high gear while we were gone...because I truly think if we'd been gone much longer the house would have been hidden in tomato plants by the time we returned... (keep in mind that the fence is six feet tall...and so are the sunflowers...!)


Reagan's lone little pumpkin seedling that we planted in the window in a cup not that long ago...has turned into a giant plant with 15 foot runners in all directions...Reagi says she thinks it is trying to grow around the sandbox and then eat it...lol! Thank heavens we only planted ONE....



The hollyhock plants are GIGANTIC...I've never seen anything like them, they are quite literally 9 feet tall and loaded with blooms...the perfect thing for making some hollyhock dolls! I can remember making hollyhock dolls in my grandmothers yard--she always had hollyhocks and she never minded how many blossoms we plucked off to use for our dolls--such good memories:)




If it has been awhile since you last made a hollyhock doll...we've included a little tutorial for you...and if you'd like, you can call them the new "modern" name that Reagi calls them (I think she's got them confused with "Polly-Pockets")...just call them "Holly-Hockets":)
First, gather your supplies---get lots of colors and lots of FULL blossoms, some partially opened blossoms, and some un-opened buds~and don't forget the toothpicks--otherwise you'll have a hard time sticking your doll together:)


You are first going to make your skirt...pick the colors you want and put a toothpick up through the middle of a full blossom (this is your underskirt)...you can keep layering on as many "skirts" as you want, but we usually draw the line at about two or three...if you need to stick another toothpick down from the top so you have something to attach the body to~


Now pick the color of the "bodice" of your dress (and the body)...you use a partially opened blossom for this part...stick it on upside down, using more toothpicks if you need to--make sure you have a little bit of toothpick sticking up from the top to attach your head~

Time for the head! Use an unopened blossom for the head...you can put it on upside down or right side up--your preference:) Then you can add some sort of smashing headwear...a frilly hat made from a partially opened bloom...or pull a blossom apart and use the petals, add leaves...berries...the sky is the limit. Taylor and Reagan spent several minutes deciding WHAT would be the most dashing hat..


You can add toothpicks for arms....and VOILA! Your own HOLLY-HOCKET! Now make several and invite them all to a tea-party....


The girls decided the dolls needed houses...and the garden needed a fairy, so this doll ended up with wings...so cute:)






I am (as always) amazed by children's imagination and creativity...I love seeing what they come up with when given just a few supplies and the freedom to do what they want...



Hours of play later...we decided that this was indeed a "good day in the garden"...hopefully it inspires you to go have your own holly-hocket tea-party...

BAD blogger.....

I have been SO remiss in my blogging duties...I must apologize! We've been so busy...and traveling all over the countryside visiting people we love and having a great time....

We just got back from our trip to Utah and it was wonderful...we absolutely love it here in Oregon, the only bad part is that ALL of our families on both sides are back in Utah and we do miss them so. Reagan and Taylor frequently want to know why we don't live by GRANDMA???;)

I have so many things to blog...pictures to share...stories to catch up on....so I'll try and blog one thing a day until I run out of things...sound like a plan?

We visited my side of the family out in Eastern Utah...I grew up near Vernal, Utah, near Dinosaur National Monument. One of the days we were there, we took all the kids and went for a fun visit to the museum and dinosaur gardens, then a picnic in the park. Proving that no trip with us is without humor...the pictures we took just strike me funny....

For instance...Taylor is being eaten by a Utah-Raptor (velociraptor for those fans of Jurassic Park) in the above picture. Do you think she would look quite that happy over the prospect of having her head chomped on?

we didn't think so either...which is why we had to retake that shot

MUCH more appropriate...

Anyway...the rest of the my family got into the spirit of things and just joined right in with all these dinosaurs in the gardens...Kassie (my younger sis) and this friendly looking fellow both look like they are highly interested in SOMETHING....actully maybe it's a GIRL-dinosaur and they just saw a cute boy walk by....who knows?






Howard and Carter...and this enormous scary "whatever kind of dino he is" all look like they are patiently waiting for a good moment to cross the street together...he he...


but my favorite pic has to be my cute mama...you can't tell she's been a fabulous school teacher of young kids all her life can you? If you are going to pose like a dinosaur...really get INTO it...and she does! Let it NOT be said that our family is afraid of whimsy...I Love you Mom:)


The kids had a ball...if you are ever near Dinosaurland in Utah...do plan to stop and see the gardens and museum, they are very fun:)