Do you remember the fairy gate we made?  More than two years ago, the crape myrtle suffered wind damage so we kept her shed branches.  They had so much character that we decided to create the Fairy Gate.

And then there was this later in the summer:

And now there is this:

This was taken today, two years after the first photo — E missing her two front teeth and wearing the same shirt as almost two years ago.

Remember, though, that last year I found that a volunteer rose had come up at the base of the fairy gate? 

And here is that rose today:

And again from a different perspective:

While I love the images that show how my daughter has grown, I also am so touched by this rose that grew on her own right next to the fairy gate.  She grew in the middle of a bed of brassicas.  She hasn’t flowered yet, but I think she’s a dog rose or a climbing rose of some kind.  These small miracles keep me going.  How could a climbing rose know to grow right there, where she could stretch happily over some old branches?  I think the fairies planted her. 

Magic is afoot at Curious Farm.