Hello, my beautiful Heartie family! My heart is filled with so much joy after seeing all the recent teasers that have come out for season 11. I can't believe we are actually getting our little Grant family! I am so ecstatic I can't express it in words!
The snow has finally melted here and the sun has started to make a regular appearance.
With newfound excitement comes new inspiration. I hope you like this quick little story about our favourite little family.
Elizabeth dusted the window sill as she finished up her Spring cleaning. The incandescent songs the thrushes sang every morning during the springtime always brought feelings of motivation and new beginnings. Something about the fresh air, sunshine and calm chirping of the birds sparked a feeling of warmth and rejuvenation that extended from her chest out to her fingertips and all the way to the ends of her feet. The golden rays of sunlight spilled through the cross-windows projecting a familiar mosaic on the living room floor. Elizabeth watched the tiny particles sparkle as the sunlight filtered through the dust she had woken up from its winter slumber.
The sound of her children laughing brought insurmountable joy to Elizabeth's ears. The slightly muted laughs sifted through the walls as the light clunking of little legs could be heard running up the steps of the front door. Before Elizabeth could so much as reach for the doorknob the door burst open and excitement flooded in.
"I found a tadpole!" exclaimed Jack excitedly as he thrust an old jar up to his mother's face. "It even has legs!"
The hapless little tadpole swished around in the jar that was half-filled with murky pond water.
Elizabeth chuckled at how easily amused Jack was by the slimy little creature.
"look at these flowers Mom!" Allie added with a smile of genuine satisfaction
Elizabeth shifted her gaze from Jack's jar to Allie who was taking off her shoes by stepping on the back of her heel.
"Oh, those are beautiful Allie!" Elizabeth responded. Allie skipped over to the kitchen table with a lovely bouquet of wildflowers clutched in her hand.
Elizabeth waited a few seconds for Nathan to come in through the door with the fish they had left to catch. It had become sort of a tradition for Nathan to take the kids fishing by the pond on Fridays. The kids seemed to enjoy it and Elizabeth got some much-needed alone time for a few hours to reorganize for the upcoming week.
"Did you catch any fish for dinner?" Elizabeth asked. Without waiting for a response, she immediately continued, "Where's your father?" she walked towards the kitchen where Allie was filling a small amber glass vase with water.
"We had a good catch today..." Allie responded, "Dad went around the back to clean the fish I think" she continued.
"Oh okay..." Elizabeth said quickly and reached for the brass doorknob of the backdoor. The brass had become so shiny around the sides with the continued use of the knob. Elizabeth liked it because it showed that it was used many times by the people living in the house.
Elizabeth opened the door and stepped out. Nathan was by the water pump cleaning the fish. The silver scales glistened under the drizzling water. He turned his head towards the door and smiled at his lovely wife who still had her hair wrapped in a white linen scarf.
"Hi there! Luck was on our side today" he said with a cheeky smile as he leaned over to kiss Elizabeth on the cheek while keeping his hands above the bucket.
Elizabeth smiled. "What mischief did you get up to while I was gone?" Nathan joshed as he rinsed the last fish.
"Nothing much, I did some cleaning, went over lesson plans and prepared some veggies to have with the fish tonight," she responded.
"Were you out in the sun?" Nathan asked
"No, why?" Elizabeth asked quizzically
"You look a little sunburned" he continued, glancing at Elizabeth's rosy cheeks, "unless you are just blushing at the sight of your husband" he joked.
Elizabeth laughed and playfully slapped him across the shoulder.
"Has Jack showed you his tadpole?" Nathan asked with a hint of laughter in his voice.
"Oh yes, I practically saw the tadpole before I got a chance to see him," Elizabeth joshed.
"I told him we would have to take it back after dinner tonight so don't worry about keeping it alive," Nathan said with a grin as he carried the bucket up the back steps.
Elizabeth smiled in contentment. Sometimes Nathan seemed to know her better than she knew herself. How did he know I was worried about the tadpole? She thought. She just smiled and closed the back door behind her.
Nathan washed and dried his hands and walked over to Elizabeth who was pulling out a skillet for the fish.
"Let me give you a proper 'hello' now that I don't have fish all over me," Nathan said as he walked up behind her and gave her a hug and a quick kiss on her head. He gently ran his hand up and down her back before grabbing a knife to help chop the veggies.
Jack was sitting on the floor resting his chin on the coffee table as he watched the tadpole restlessly swim around in the jar. Their little calico cat Daisy was balancing gingerly on the back of the satee as she eyed the shadows of tree branches dancing on the wood floor that was scuffed and stained by its inhabitants. Allie lay horizontally on the satee and flipped through the pages of her book. "Pride and Prejudice" had quickly become one of her favourites by Jane Austen.
Elizabeth laid the fish skin down on the dark cast iron skillet. The sizzle of the moisture danced off the hot pan and created a melodious hum with the chirping of the birds and the general rustle and bustle around the house as Nathan set the table. No symphony in the world could beat the masterpiece created by the mere existence of the ones we love, Elizabeth thought. She smiled and continued her task.
After dinner, Elizabeth reached into the oven and pulled out a blueberry custard tart. Allie and Jack gasped in unison. Nathan laughed at the pure excitement of their kids. He watched as Elizabeth lowered the tasty treat to Jack's level so he could take a look. Allie had already gone to the cabinet beside the sink and pulled out a stack of small white plates with tiny blue forget-me-nots painted all over the edges. She gently placed the stack in the middle of the round kitchen table and pulled some cutlery out of the drawer.
With everyone sitting around the table, Elizabeth daintily cut four triangle slices and put them on the little dessert plates. The little blue flowers on the plates, the white lace table cloth, the wildflowers Allie had picked and the blueberries on top of the tart matched so harmoniously.
"Try not to drop the blueberries on the tablecloth because it will stain" Elizabeth kindly reminded
Nathan had placed Jack's plate in front of him and folded up the tablecloth on his side.
Elizabeth laughed, "No trust I see,"
"I'm just saving you a load of laundry" Nathan replied calmly
Elizabeth smiled and sat down in her seat. She glanced over at the jar on the coffee table and watched the tadpole float about in circles.
"You should probably take your slimy buddy back to his home," Elizabeth began glancing over at Jack who had just taken a bite of pie and managed to get half of it on his face.
"Dad said I could have him for a playdate and take him back to his family after dinner," Jack replied through a mouthful.
"Swallow your food before you talk next time okay," Nathan said gently as he lovingly ruffled Jack's hair, "We don't want you choking" he continued
Elizabeth laughed and glanced over at Nathan. Nathan looked over at her and raised his eyebrows.
"Did I say something wrong?" he asked
"No no, I was just thinking I have no reason to worry because you seem to know what you are doing," She said with a smirk
"What can I say, we are naturals," he replied "Jack and I talked man to man and agreed that the tadpole had his own family to get back to,"
Elizabeth smiled and took a bite of her tart.
After dessert, the dishes had been cleared and put away. Elizabeth took the scarf off her head and brushed her fingers through her hair as she walked over to the living room where Jack was preparing to take his slimy buddy back to its family as they had agreed. Nathan finished putting on his shoes and leaned down to grab the little pair of sandals that were beside his.
"Come on bud, put your shoes on," He said
"Coming!" Jack jumped up and ran to the door where Nathan helped him with his shoes.
As her two boys headed out the door, a jar in one hand and Nathans's hand in the other, Jack walked precariously down the front steps.
"See you in a bit mom!" Nathan said looking back at Elizabeth and then down at Jack.
"See you mom!" Jack repeated.
Nathan smiled as he headed down to the pond with his son.
"See you boys!" Elizabeth said, you could hear a smile in her tone.
She walked back inside where Allie had just come down the stairs and was running her hand along Daisy's back all the way to the tip of her tail.
Elizabeth couldn't help but be filled with joy. Spring was in the air, the sun was shinning, her family was happy and healthy, the tadpole was going back to its family, what more could a woman ask for?
I hope you guys like this little story, I am so excited for season 11, hope this glimpse into our beloved Grant family will tide you over until April 7th!