A Day with Grandma Tailbury

The crafting challenge for the past couple of weeks on the sylvanian forum was about grandparents. Unfortunately, I am rather short of grandparents in my collection. One of these lone grandparents is Mrs Tailbury, from the 'family life at home' series. I also own her grandchildren, Tinker and Bouncer. So here we go with the story:

Tinker and Bouncer Tailbury are very good little children. They love to play quietly in their nursery at home, but sometimes they go and stay at Grandma's house.
Tinker and Bouncer like their Grandma's house, especially her living room, where they spend most of their time.

Mrs Tailbury does alot of knitting, so there is always balls of wool for her grandchildren to play with.

"What are you knitting, Grandma?"
"I'm making you a lovely warm scarf so you can be nice and warm in winter."

Sometimes the babies can be a little too inquisitive. Grandma needs to be careful that she doesn't leave any needles or scissors lying around.

Tinker and Bouncer like looking through her bookcase. There are alot of boring books in there: Vintage Fabrics, Cottage Gardens, Cooking at Home and other subjects that don't entertain young children.

But there are some interesting books that the babies like to look at. They can't read just yet, but they love to look at the pictures.

Sometimes, if they are lucky, Grandma will read them story. Or she will tell them stories about her own life. It's funny to think of Grandma as a little girl. The babies can't imagine her being anything but very old.
There's a big thick woolen rug on the floor in front of Grandma's rocking chair, and it provides a comfortable place to sit while Grandma warbles.

"What's this photo, Grandma?" Tinker asked.
"Aaah, that's a photo of me when I was 14 on my pony Merrylegs. The photo was taken at a gymkhana. We were quite the team, my pony and I. I won many ribbons on her." Grandma looked wistful.

"And look here on the bookcase, babies. This is a photo of your father when he was a teenager."

Another favourite part about Grandma's house is her delicious cookies. Yummy!

Once it's bedtime, Grandma takes Tinker and Bouncer by the hands and takes them to there little bedroom along the hall.

Both Tinker and Bouncer adore the room. They love its ducky wallpaper and the soft white carpet. They don't even have carpet in their nursery at home! (You see, Tinker and Bouncer are Mrs Tailbury's only grandchildren, and the truth is that she rather spoils them! When they were born she had the old spare room renovated in anticipation of them coming to stay!)
She hangs up their clothes and helps them into their pajamas. Unfortunately, Bouncer has decided he would rather wear just a nappy!
"Bouncer Tailbury, get back here right this instant!"

 Tinker has a soft night-gown that Grandma made herself, and Bouncer's pajamas look similar to dungarees.
The children have picked out the teddies they want to sleep with tonight, or at least Tinker has. Sorry Bouncer, your pull ducky would be a bit uncomfortable to sleep with!

"Read us a story!" Tinker asked as she put them in their cots and lifted up the side barricade.

"Alright," she dug around in the drawers to find a book, and began to read. "How about one of the 'Tales of Sylvania' ?"

So they lay in their cosy beds and Grandma read about the tales of old. She read about kings and queens, gallant knights and fair maidens. At last as the particular story she was reading from came to an end, she heard the sound of soft snoring coming from Bouncer's bed.

"Good night, my sweet ones," she whispered as she gazed at them, snuggled up beneath the blankies.

 "Sweet dreams, I love you..." she said, forever grateful for her precious grandchildren. Mrs Tailbury switched off the nursery light and slipped out the door, leaving the babies to sleep in peace...

Valentine’s Day

I recently joined the Sylvanian Families Collectors Forum,and this month I decided to have a go at the 3rd challenge: Secret Admirer/Valentine's Day. So here we have a little (or not so little!) story about Valentine's Day in Bluebell Oaks.

Mrs Brightfield woke up early on Valentine's Day, so she could get her children ready for school.
 Her husband, Billy, was the village postman, and he had gotten up even earlier to deliver the villagers their mail. Valentine's was one of his busiest times of the year, with the masses of cards, letters and parcels that sylvanians were sending to their loved ones.

He had left her a note on the kitchen table. It read: Happy Valentine's Day, Bella! I'm afraid I've got a VERY busy day at work, sorry, sugar! See you this evening! Billy xx
Mrs Brightfield sighed. She completely understood Billy's heavy workload, but she still wished that they could spend some time together today.

Daisey and baby Jenny came downstairs, still in their pajamas. Jenny rushed forward to be cuddled and kiss her Mummy good-morning.

They ate breakfast hurriedly.

Then Mrs Brightfield attempted to dress Jenny.

They headed out the door in the usual rush, and went on their way to the Country Tree School first.

"Bye Mum, I love you." Daisey kissed her goodbye.
"Goodbye sweetie, have a great day!" Daisey bounded off to join her friends.

Next stop was the Forest Nursery. Mrs Hamilton, the nursery shool teacher welcomed Jenny in. The two ladies chatted as Jenny went to play on the see-saw. "Happy Valentine's, Bella.'' Mrs Hamilton said. ''Have you and Billy got any plans?"

Mrs Brightfield shook her head, and explained about his work. "Never mind," Mrs Hamilton sympathised.

Leaving Jenny happily playing at the nursery, Mrs Brightfield continued on her way into the village. She had a few things to pick up at the Village Store.

"Good Morning, Mrs Brighfield!" Cedric Walnut, the owner of the store, greeted her,"What can I do for you on this fine Valentine's morning?"
"Morning Cedric! I just need a few bits and pieces."

She wanted to make a special dinner toninght of Billy's favourite pasta, so she picked up the supplies and also bought a bottle of fancy wine.

 At the check-out, she decided to buy a box of chocolates too.
"Good choices!" Cedric agreed with the Valentine themed goods.

Mrs Brightfield was just leaving the store when she heard Cedric calling her name.

"I'm sorry Mrs Brighfield! I nearly forget these!" He was holding a heart shaped box of chocolates.
"Yesterday, someone bought these chocolates but instructed me to give them to you. They told me not to say who they were." Mrs Brightfield looked at him in suprise. "But Cedric, I must know who they are from so I can thank the person!"
He winked at her. "Aaah, don't worry. I'm sure you'll see the person soon enough!"

Mrs Brightfield was still puzzling over the mysterious chocolates when she walked through the village past the flower stall. There was a massive line and crowd around the stall, so she decided the best thing to do was avoid the crowds altogether.

So she was suprised when she heard Sorrel Cottontail calling out to her. "Bella! Bella wait! I have something for you!"

Sorrel reached down and picked up a bunch of red roses. Mrs Brightfield was confused, so Sorrrel explained.

"I arrived at the stall this morning and found a note. All it said was: 'Hi Sorrel, please give a bunch of red roses to Bella Brightfield. She will probably be passing by later this morning. Thanks.' And attached to it was the payment. So here are your roses. I don't know who they're from but you must take them."

"Well thank you Sorrel! I'm glad you're so honest!" Mrs Brightfield took them and continued home. They were beautiful flowers with a wonderful scent. And the chocolates too. They were tiny little hearts, the prettiest chocolates Mrs Brightfield had ever seen. Still, she couldn't help wondering about the mysterious person all the way home through the woods...

That afternoon, Mrs Brightfield headed out to pick up her children. She went to the Nursery first. Jenny presented her with a Valentines picture she had drawn.

At the Country Tree School, the children had been busy all day making cards.
"It's for you, Mum." Daisey handed her a card.
"Why thank you darling!"

Back at home, she made Daisey and Jenny some afternoon tea. She opened the heart-shaped box and they each had one chocolate. It was the creamiest, yummiest chocolate Mrs Brightfield or either of her daughters had ever eaten!

Mrs Brightfield began preparing dinner, all the time watching the clock. She hoped Billy would make it home before dinner.

Daisey and Jenny had gone outside to play and she was just chopping the veggies when the door swung open and there was Billy standing there smiling at her.

"Hello Bella! Have you had a nice day?"

 So she told him about het trip to the village and the lovely chocolates and roses that had been given to her by some mysterious person. "I just don't know who it could be... They're so kind!" She looked over and saw Billy smiling. "What, Billy? What's funny?"
"Nothing, sugar, nothing!"

They ate dinner and headed out to the back garden that bordered the woods. Bella and Billy sat on the bench together and watched Daisey and Jenny playing with the fountain.

Suddenly, Bella felt Billy slip an envelope into her hand.

She opened it, and inside was a pretty card. It read: For Bella, my precious wife and Valentine. I hope you liked your chocolates and roses. I love you to the moon and back. xxx

"But Billy!" she gasped, "So it was you! Thank you so much!"

"Daddy told us," Daisey said,"But we weren't allowed to say anything!"
"I thought you deserved something special  for Valentine's day." Billy said.

Bella smiled. "But I already have something more special than any chocolates and flowers! I have you guys!" She hugged Billy, Daisey and Jenny close.

"Nothing can be more precious than having each other." She whispered to Billy...

For this challenge, I made the gifts that Billy sent to Bella. After some thought, I made the chocolate box out of just cardeboard, some cling wrap, and a tiny rubber band. I made the chocolates out of modelling dough.

The roses, too, were made of modelling dough and green paper clips.

I also made some of the flowers in the Cottontail's Flower Stall.

And I made the drawing and cards that Jenny, Daisey and Billy gave her.

Happy Valentines Day! I hope you have a wonderful day with your loved ones!