Children's book circa 80s/90s about a sick kid who can't go outside to the beach(park?) so his mom brings the beach/nature indoors to him

[Kelly]

Hello, trying to find a book for my niece, which was a favorite of mine in the early 90s (possibly written in the 80s). The vividly illustrated story revolves around a boy who was supposed to go on a trip to the beach (or a park, maybe?) but is sick and has to stay home, so his mother surprises him by setting up a nature scene in the living room, arranging rocks and potted plants all over the place as if he were in a park. There might even be a pond on the floor (a paddling pool made to look like one? with fish in it?). I believe there is also a scene with a pile of sand he can play in, as if he were on a beach.
If this is familiar to anyone I'd love to know what the title is! This book would be perfect for my niece and all my searches have been in vain so far. Thank you :)
*Note: for reference, I was born in '86, if that's helpful...

[Rainbowheart]

Could it have been a father instead of a mother?

This sounds similar to the books being sought on these threads....

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Kelly]

Rainbowheart wrote: "Could it have been a father instead of a mother?

This sounds similar to the books being sought on these threads....

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

That's very interesting and sounds like it might've been inspired by the one I'm referencing, but I'm 90% sure that The Inside Outing was not my book (wish I could find more visuals to confirm!), and the OP's decription doesn't quite match what I recall.

The OP describes a book with muted colors and line drawings. The book I'm remembering was very colorful, detailed, and immersive. The imagery is what's particularly memorable for me. As an adult I have a tendency to decorate with natural materials, arranging rocks and driftwood alongside potted plants in my home, and I believe that this design preference was hugely inspired by the images from this book I'm vaguely remembering (I have a colorful picture in my mind of rocks/pebbles scattered across carpeting with potted plants of all sizes arranged among them).

Also I'd be shocked to learn that I'm misremembering the detail about a little boy and his mother. It's possible that it was a little girl and her mother, but there was a distinct feeling of loneliness/isolation and being comforted by the magic of imagination and creativity. I don't recall anything about inviting friends over to participate and queuing up, let alone siblings, but there is a small chance that I'm hyperfocused on the isolated feeling at the start of the book and have misremembered a more social ending (but I really don't think so!)

[Rainbowheart]

The Groggs Have a Wonderful Summer was suggested on the above threads, but it's a father, not a mother, and it sounds like the scene is staged outside.

[Capn]

Gramma's Walk on a flier:
Donnie and Gramma, who is in a wheelchair, take an imagined walk to the seashore and smell the salty breeze, walk barefoot on the warm sand, observe animals, and build a sand castle