Meditations from the bottom of the garden

The playhouse in the boggy corner of our garden is looking a little worse for wear. Clearly plywood and larch lap are not materials that were designed to last forever, but I find it's demise somewhat depressing.

It seems to signify somehow that the children are no longer little ones. A fact borne out by them really being too big to clamber up the ladder inside onto the mezzanine floor.

Mezzanine - that makes it sound rather grand, which couldn't be further from the truth. Honestly, it is nothing much more than a slightly neglected home to the detritus of summers past - sandpit toys, diggers and dump trucks, plastic bowling pins and balls of all different shapes and sizes. From those summers where the back garden was an exciting place to be with much potential for play and adventure.

And I'm feeling nostalgic at the thought that this summer will probably be different. Even the smaller child's domain extends far far beyond the confines of our fence-line. The apparatus for happy hours spent just outside the back door, seem to have become an anachronism.

Yesterday, I sat down outside to make a little tribute to the world beyond the back garden. A wired mobile of driftwood, collected up  on a faraway trip. And then the small garden miracle arrived in the form of a child who emerged from the house wanting to help and insisting that it be hung for us all to enjoy from the eaves of the old playhouse.

I realize it's not quite David Nash. But a reminder that the wide world outside our own back gardens and the people to be found in it are a gift to be savoured long after we return home. 

Comments

[Sue]

I like that a whole lot better than the David Nashes.

[Kirsten]

So pretty, Ali!
I've been thinking of similar things as we need to replace some backyard toys and I realize they are really too big for them all.

[Dragonfly]

Oh, I love it. I have something similar hanging in the bathroom of all places.

Over the last year I have lost all the remaining detritus of childhood garden play - swing, dreaded goal posts - but am looking it as a way of reclaiming the garden for my own enjoyment. Selfish? Maybe. Flowery? Definitely!

[Rebecca]

What a beautiful post Ali, I understand your feelings so very well, my home and garden are littered with toys that will very likely never be played with again yet none of us are quite ready to part with them.

Your driftwood mobile is a perfect tribute and reminder of how important it is to our time whenever we can.

[Emma]

I loved this post. So much.

[Amanda]

What a lovely mobile. Our play house was plastic, and got taken to the tip today. You can't make anything pretty with faded green, yellow and red moulded plastic!
We have had to promise Mr 4 a replacement, but I'm thinking a summer house type thing so the bigger girls can get through the door too.

[Thrifty Household]

What a wonderful mobile...! Recycled too- what could be better (some more sun so that you sit outside & enjoy it even more!?)

[Julie]

I've also found it poignant to see our garden loosing it's clutter of childhood things - our sandpit has been emptied, the wood re-used elsewhere and the sand donated to the chickens for a dust bath and the wooden playhouse has far too many undisturbed spider webs these days.

And I do love your closing sentiment Ali.

[Alice]

Hi Ali, I just found your blog. I know exactly how you feel, but from the child's point of view I guess. I remember hours of fun running in and out of our playhouse, making camps inside using tonnes of old cushions and sleeping bags, eating makeshift picnics and colouring at mini table and chairs. It was so upsetting to see it go to another family, but I try to remember it's the memories that count, not the objects and I'm sure the new family loved it just as much as we did. Alice :)

[dottycookie]

We just passed our playhouse along to a very small girl kin the village, and that has helped with the transition. My girls said they'd never play in it again and would rather have the sapce - and they are planning a little patio with a fire pit where they can satisfy their pyromaniac interests. The promise of £50 towards riding lessons helped. And d'you know what? I wasn't as sad as I thought I would be when I came back one day and it was gone.

Now, I am not feeling nearly so laidback about the prospect of TallSmall's tenth birthday tomorrow. In fact I am positively tearful :-(

[Louise]

We sold our log cabin playhouse last week - both boys are now nigh on 6' teenagers! - but it was a little sad losing it. However, the space we've gained is also exciting. Time to move on. Lovely mobile - simple but eye-catching.

[driftwood]

I think I need to make a tribute to the world outside the back garden too. the gift of the people in it has made my life a much richer place x

[Kitty]

I think that's very beautiful. And so are your words. x

[mrsthomasinatittlemouse]

There is an inescapable wistfulness about the passing of childhood and I find it isn't a gradual wistfulness either. One goes along quite happily and then something out of the blue, and often quite insignificant in itself, hits you over the head with the realisation that things are not the same as they were and won't be again and one gets hit with a great tidal wave of wanting to hang on to what has been. If it's any consolation I've found things going on getting better and better, moving into what are sometimes regarded as the dreaded teenage years. You have lots of fun and excitement ahead as your boys get older, Ali, so hold on to your hat! I love your natural mobile - ephemeral art has something very compelling about it although your piece looks nicely weatherproof. Hope to see you on Thursday. E x

[Catherine]

Its a lovely tribute to family happiness and family memories. One day you will have grandchildren and long before that you will have visiting children who will love to play in the house

[The Coffee Lady]

Oh, you are good at this.

[lucylocket]

Oh I don't like thinking about the children growing up and moving on - I try to pretend it isn't really happening!

[UK lass in US]

Oh, good: I thought that I might be the only one that gets mopey about stuff like that. Our slide / swing set rusted through a few weeks back (bloomin' salty sea air...) and the realisation that they are getting too old for it anyway hit home.

[Annie @ knitsofacto]

Such a wistful post, and a truly lovely one. I have found that though the boundaries of their world seem to widen exponentially as they grow home never ceases to be at it's centre.

[Kate]

We turned our old playhouse into a rather fabulous Farrow and Ball adorned rabbit house, but now that Coco and Trixie have departed to a better place (the warren in the sky) I have my eyes on the space for a hot tub where I hope my teenagers will be happy to join me for fun in the garden all over again...