'What a day for an adventure' said Archibold, he and Hector were checking over the supplies and making sure that they had everything that they needed for both the trip and their stay in the Big City. 'Can never have enough rope' muttered Hector 'perhaps we can carry some across our shoulders once we have the rucksacks on?' Archibold looked slightly wild at the suggestion of yet more to carry.
The rucksacks were full to bursting as it was, and they each had their rolled up hammock, plus assorted frying pans, kettles and extra boots all tied on, as well as personal items stowed in jackets and waistcoats, extra hats strung wherever possible - and then of course, there were the seedlings and even two saplings to be carried by hand - Archibold sounded very firm indeed when he replied, 'Hector, we have to stop, we have enough with us for a six month expedition, if we carry any more we won't be able to move properly!' Hector looked up from where he was busily counting seed packets, and had to agree - 'Right you are Archibold, time to go then is it?'
So that was that, well it would have been for a normal camping or fishing trip, but it took at least two hours to separate out who was carry what, before at last the six gnomes stood in a row all ready to go. Hortensia was a bit worried that if either Hector or Archibold sat down or even worse, tipped over, that they might never be able to get up again, but thought better of saying anything. They really were quite a sight, what with their flashing smiles, stripy socks and boots really being all that could be easily seen amongst all their belongings festooned around them.
Eleanora stood side by side with Hortensia, who of course had Baby Harriet in her arms, as all the Gnomes of the Forest gathered either side of the path in a long line to wave good bye. There was much hugging and waving, passing out of mint humbugs, and then suddenly they were on their way. Archibold looked back at Hortensia, winked and bowed low with his hand on his heart, 'Not long my Darling and I will be back'. Hortensia and Harriet waved back as Hortensia, who had been saying a little prayer to the Great Benevolence to look after them on their adventure, touched her heart and gave a little bow back.
Eleanora and Hortensia watched the little procession and just as they were just about to pass out of view, began to sing. They sang of gentle blessings and adventure, of kindness and of the magic of being in between and in the right place all at once. Most of all they sang of their love for their friends and family, and how they wished them a safe trip and happy times until they came home.
Soon all of the other gnomes joined in - even the trees lifted their leaves and rustled and stirred the air - so as the little band of adventurers started out on the green path through the golden field of wheat, the air all around them was full of harmony.
Tuesday 31 July 2012
Friday 20 July 2012
Packing essentials and a pre supper nap!
'Six twists of new ivy rope, extra hats, extra socks, ten large handkerchiefs, foot balm and chest rub, two weeks supply of humbugs, dried apple rings for emergencies - well, well, nearly there, just so much to pack!' Hortensia had offered to help Archibold and Stephanotis and their friends with their packing. Personal items such as trowels and the odd flute or book of sonnets, were being stowed in their waistcoats, belts and large pockets. This left the bulk of supplies still to be packed, or as Hortensia had taken to saying, 'stuffed' into six, really quite small, rucksacks.
'Quite remarkable really' thought Hortensia, ' the hammocks are the biggest items and they are the easiest to pack'. She was carefully checking the strings on each one and then rolling the brightly coloured, stripped hammocks into tight little rolls to be attached to the top of each rucksack.
The excitement was palpable everywhere, gnomes were dropping by Persimmon Heights with gifts of prize collections of seeds, even with extra hand knitted socks - for with the very common curved-big-toe-problem, sturdy socks were not just a useful gift - but downright essential. 'No more cakes please, this is the very last cake that I am going to accept, any extras will have to be carried by hand'. Hortensia for a moment looked rather cross. Stephanotis had arrived with yet another seedy cake from Aunt Mildred to take as supplies. Hortensia of course, had a great belief in the encouragement that a slice of seedy cake could bring to a difficult situation, 'but still enough is enough' she thought as she packed the sixteenth into Archibold's rucksack.
As it was, each rucksack had a bottle of emergency tonic, (a potent herbal cocktail, dark green and more than a little eye wateringly strong, that Aunt Mildred swore cured nearly everything), dried peppermint leaves and rose petals for pots of tea, a blue stone for keeping in contact and various personal items. For instance Hector had a special hair rinse to try and keep his most unruly curls in relative order, so that he could at least get a comb through them on an occasional basis.
'Nothing for it now, I shall have to tell them that all is ready'. Hortensia gathered up Baby Harriet and set off downstairs for a restorative cup of tea, before calling the others for a farewell supper of wild mushroom stew with cheesy mashed potatoes and a fresh watercress salad.
'Tomorrow is the day of departure Little One, tomorrow Papa goes on a big adventure to the City'. Harriet didn't really understand but she could sense that in her Mother's heart there were feelings of anxiety and of course, love.
For the truth was, that most unusually, Hortensia was worried about Archibold's trip away. She had a feeling that things were very different in the City and that the kindness of Archibold's heart and his unfailing courage and zest for adventure would be challenged by what he would meet on his travels. 'Humans' she thought 'are so very different and have little sense of the interconnectedness of the The Great Benevolence. I must speak to Eleanora after supper, perhaps she can help'. And with that Hortensia gathered Baby Harriet in her arms and sitting down in her rocking chair began to gently sing of the rustle of leaves and flicker of sunlight on a Spring morning, before long they were both sound asleep and enjoying a restorative pre-supper nap!
'Quite remarkable really' thought Hortensia, ' the hammocks are the biggest items and they are the easiest to pack'. She was carefully checking the strings on each one and then rolling the brightly coloured, stripped hammocks into tight little rolls to be attached to the top of each rucksack.
The excitement was palpable everywhere, gnomes were dropping by Persimmon Heights with gifts of prize collections of seeds, even with extra hand knitted socks - for with the very common curved-big-toe-problem, sturdy socks were not just a useful gift - but downright essential. 'No more cakes please, this is the very last cake that I am going to accept, any extras will have to be carried by hand'. Hortensia for a moment looked rather cross. Stephanotis had arrived with yet another seedy cake from Aunt Mildred to take as supplies. Hortensia of course, had a great belief in the encouragement that a slice of seedy cake could bring to a difficult situation, 'but still enough is enough' she thought as she packed the sixteenth into Archibold's rucksack.
As it was, each rucksack had a bottle of emergency tonic, (a potent herbal cocktail, dark green and more than a little eye wateringly strong, that Aunt Mildred swore cured nearly everything), dried peppermint leaves and rose petals for pots of tea, a blue stone for keeping in contact and various personal items. For instance Hector had a special hair rinse to try and keep his most unruly curls in relative order, so that he could at least get a comb through them on an occasional basis.
'Nothing for it now, I shall have to tell them that all is ready'. Hortensia gathered up Baby Harriet and set off downstairs for a restorative cup of tea, before calling the others for a farewell supper of wild mushroom stew with cheesy mashed potatoes and a fresh watercress salad.
'Tomorrow is the day of departure Little One, tomorrow Papa goes on a big adventure to the City'. Harriet didn't really understand but she could sense that in her Mother's heart there were feelings of anxiety and of course, love.
For the truth was, that most unusually, Hortensia was worried about Archibold's trip away. She had a feeling that things were very different in the City and that the kindness of Archibold's heart and his unfailing courage and zest for adventure would be challenged by what he would meet on his travels. 'Humans' she thought 'are so very different and have little sense of the interconnectedness of the The Great Benevolence. I must speak to Eleanora after supper, perhaps she can help'. And with that Hortensia gathered Baby Harriet in her arms and sitting down in her rocking chair began to gently sing of the rustle of leaves and flicker of sunlight on a Spring morning, before long they were both sound asleep and enjoying a restorative pre-supper nap!
Monday 9 July 2012
Beauty, humbugs and peace all around.....
'Dum ta dum, tiddle pom, pom, there's work to be done, fiddle pom pom!', Archibold was feeling rather breathless and tired and rather as though he needed a good sit down and rest. He was carrying, or rather dragging a large sapling of a birch tree behind him as he climbed up the hill, it was great relief that he spotted Eleanora sitting by a stately oak tree at one of his favourite look out spots. 'Oh Eleanora, how fortunate', he huffed as he sat down with a thump on the bank beside her - for as all gnomes know - it is considered very rude to pass by another gnome without stopping to pass the time of day.
'Why Archibold My Dear - you look all of a bother, perhaps a humbug might help?' Eleanora offered him a sticky mint humbug from a bag in her pocket. 'I think that perhaps poor Mildred must not be quite herself at the moment, this last batch of humbugs, though excellent to taste, are so very, very sticky'. Archibold mumbled agreement as he made loud sucking noises.
Humbugs were a staple of the gnomes diet and however sticky this one certainly was - he was already feeling much better. "I think she is still adjusting to humans being a part of her life on a daily basis, that and having to replant her mint garden so that it didn't look so obviously cultivated, well it has all taken its toll on her usual good humour.' Archibold rolled his eyes and nodded vigorously in agreement, he was rather relieved not to have to reply owing to the extreme stickiness of his humbug. Aunt Mildred had even taken to waving her stick in public and was known to be in a generally very bad mood indeed.
The two gnomes sat companionably as they looked out at the fields below. Full of gently waving heads of golden wheat dotted with trees in full glorious leaf - it was indeed a most wonderful sight. 'Look My Dear, just look at how beautiful the path is, so green against the gold', Archibold smiled with delight, for it was true - the path had been trodden into a vivid green by the feet of all the different gnomes, humans and animals as they had all walked along its welcoming way by the edge of the meadow.
'Feeling much better now' he burped (humbugs have a habit of helping with digestion), must go, have to deliver this sapling before dusk so Hector can demonstrate tree planting'. And with that, Archibold practically bounced away as he was feeling so much better.
Eleanora smiled and waved him on his way. 'Perhaps I will sit just a while longer, so good to feel the great peace all around, so undervalued and yet so essential for the lifting of ones heart'. She closed her eyes and and from her heart, began to gently hum a little song to herself and to the beauty of the golden twilight all around.
Below is a story from two weeks ago that I accidentally deleted!
Posted: 19 Jun 2012 09:56 AM PDT
So happy to say that this episode, 'Wild strawberries and other delights....' of Horensia's blog, read by Alice is on YouTube:
'Hortensiagnomus9' is where I post the blogs.... 'So busy, just so busy' thought Hortensia. She was picking wild strawberries with Baby Harriet, who was helping by eating as many of the little crimson, jewel-like berries as she could safely stuff into her mouth at any one time. 'Do take care Harriet, too many can lead to a funny rash, best leave the rest for jam and dinner!' Harriet burped loudly and decided to gaze at the leaves fluttering in the breeze. 'Such amazing greens this summer' thought Hortensia, 'all that rain has been so good for the trees, I don't think that I remember the trees being so full of leaves for many a season '. She sat down next to Harriet for a good listen. The trees made different sounds in the breeze, some seemed to roar, some made a fluttering rustle, some tossed their leaves in the air with great freedom - so many rhythms and layers of sound and all in glorious, vivid greens lit up by golden sunlight - 'how very lucky we are Darling - a real treasure of a day!' Sometimes some of the humans out on their walks, saw the wild strawberries too, mostly they just took a few, but Hortensia was up early to gather a good crop just in case. 'Next stop is the elderflower bush, fritters for tea Darling - Aunt Mildred's favourite!" Early Summer was a busy time for the gnomes, such an abundance of delights and the beginnings of gathering for the Autumn and Winter ahead. Mostly though, it was the wonderful variety of greens for salads and fresh teas that was causing much excitement - that and the wild garlic! Aunt Mildred was getting ready to make her most important staple of gnome life - her mint humbugs! There is hardly a day that goes by without a gnome needing to have a little sit down and a think whilst sucking on a mint humbug, they could be relied upon in an emergency and were essential for all celebrations. The recipe was a secret of course, though in the past, some of the younger gnomes had tried crawling up the bank under her kitchen window - to catch Aunt Mildred in the act of making her very desirable sweets - and to glean the success of her recipe. Aunt Mildred however, was vigilant about the possibility of such naughtiness, and the young gnomes were always caught in the act and sent scampering away with threats of no tea and NO Humbugs! 'How I love summer' thought Hortensia, and with that she and Harriet set off home for a spot of lunch and a wee nap! She was looking foreword to when Archibold and the others returned from their escapade and training day with Archimedes on his island home - and of course - to hearing about all of their wonderful adventures! |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)