Thank Goodness for daisies....

Hortensia was much relieved as she tucked a daisy into the buttonhole of Archibold's jacket. Now that Spring was here, it made finding an appropriate flower so much easier. She liked to tuck a flower into his lapel - a sort of way of saying that her love was with him whilst he was out and about on his business.

All gnomes are passionate about flowers, and Archibold was particularly partial to the happy cheerfulness of daisies. Hortensia also felt it was an effective antidote to any possible grumpiness, you see when grumpy, Archibold had a habit of staying grumpy - for rather a while.

Usually it was because of something quite serious, like the time when he had walked into a field to gather some mushrooms and had become stuck in the mud. He had been away so long that Hortensia had become frightened and had called for a search party, Horatio and Lupin had finally found him exhausted and freezing - Archibold had been fiercely grumpy for at least a month, what with a terrible cold, having to endure large amounts of Aunt Mildred's chest balsam and the fact his favourite boots were ruined. So you can see how Hotensia came to value daises - as an especially lucky charm to keep Archibold safe and happy.

Today is a frisky day - the feel of Spring under my feet...

Hortensia though joyous by nature but of late, had been a little morose, not overwhelmingly so but enough to long for warm sunlight on her back and blue skies - Spring had been a long time coming - and when you are a little short and the ground very damp and muddy - for what had seemed a very long and grey winter, the warmth of sunshine and the sight of the green fingers of new leaves unfolding in the light was enough to make a gnome feel downright frisky.

Gnomes when they are frisky move quickly and are even more prone than normal to adorn hedgerows and gardens with whatever they can find that will inspire and uplift. Hortensia had been busy for over an hour arranging some blue bailer twine around a gathering of daffodils to make the scene a Spring delight for any passers by - the fact that most people passing were in articulated trucks didn't bother her in the least - 'Beauty is Needed Everywhere' was one of her favorite mottos. So rather satisfied by what she had done, Hortensia set off home (gathering a few dandelion leaves to add to a tasty omelette) to make lunch for Archibold and herself.