Spring sunshine and mending hats.........

One fine Spring morning, Hortensia decided to sit in her rocking chair by the open kitchen door with a large basket full of hats, her sewing basket, her precious box of extra ribbons, and her wool bag - all arranged about her.

Hortensia was involved in a very important job - inspecting and mending her family's hats. Now that Spring sunshine was a possibility, sorting out and mending hats seemed a necessity. You would be surprised at how much needs to be done to keep a hat in tip top condition. Of course most humans think that gnomes just wear pointy hats, but, as we well know, gnomes wear hats of all shapes and sizes and made from all kinds of useful and practical materials.

'First' thought Hortensia 'I'll tackle Archibold's fishing hat, it gets the most wear and tear and is really beginning to look a disgrace.' She had carefully unearthed Archibold's favourite hat from his basket of fishing tackle, 'best he doesn't know that I've got it yet' she thought as she carefully began to darn a large hole where the hat been snagged on a branch. Archibold hated his hat being mended, he liked things being just the way they were and been known to complain vigorously about enforced changes to his favourite hat.

In fact when he saw his mended hat later that afternoon, he was quite cross, 'I'd liked my hat the way it was, I liked the feeling of fresh air on my hair, Hortensia I wish you wouldn't mend my fishing hat.' Hortensia just smiled, she knew that when it was wet and windy and he was out in his boat, that he would be very grateful not to have a large hole where the rain could soak his hair. Archibold stomped about a bit, but soon forgot all about his hat once it was back on his head and he was sitting eating a big bowl of onion soup for lunch.

Hortensia had also mended his best hat, which she had left out for him to admire. 'See Archie, I've put new feathers in the brim and given you a new ribbon and silk lining'.' Archibold was very impressed, 'Hortensia, that's the best it has ever looked, and it's much more comfy now,' He strutted about a bit looking important, holding his head up so that the purple ribbon shone and the feathers looked most impressive. After all, best hats were for High Days and Holidays, so wearing a hat of character could certainly boost a gnome's confidence when out and about or dancing a reel.

Hortensia was particularly proud of the silk lining and ribbon, she had found the silk handkerchief wet and abandoned by a careless human by the side of a picnic table. 'What to do?' she had thought,  'it would make such a good eiderdown cover, but no one would see it, I shall save it and use it for mending hats!' Now that she saw the results of her handiwork, she knew that she had made the very best decision!

The Sweet Air of Spring........

'With a hop and a skip and a jump we go, with a hop and a skip and a jump we go, tum tum tiddly pom, tum tum tiddly pom with a hop and a skip and a jump we go!' Hortensia was singing one of her favourite songs for the first time in what felt like ages. Things were becoming a little easier at Fir Tree Cottage now that Hortensia could hop about a bit, her toe was mending fast, and though both Archibold and Hortensia were grateful for the miraculous healing benefits of Aunt Mildred's foot balm - as Archibold kept on saying - 'I can't wait for that terrible smell to go away!'

In fact just today Hortensia had been up early and was gently pottering about in what she called her garden. 'Just seeing how things are Dear' she smiled at Archibold's worried face 'I'm feeling much better now I know that some of the primroses are on their way!'

Gnomes adore Spring time and Hortensia longed for the brave cheerfulness of the first snowdrops and the creamy yellow of the gentle primroses. 'The frost and ice hasn't done any damage Darling, such good leaf cover that they are all safe and ready.' Hortensia sat down in her rocking chair by the front door, Archibold had very kindly brought it out so that she could sit in the morning sunshine. 'What do you think about a trip my Dear? It's been ages since we have been to see Eleanora, or even perhaps to see the sea?' Archibold smiled, there is nothing that stirs the heart of a gnome more than the thought of an adventure, 'My Dear Darling - simply a splendid idea!'

'SNOW DROPS, SNOW DROPS and VIOLETS.' Poor Stephanotis was quite red in the face what with the effort of shouting his good news as he passed every gnome dwelling and running at a fast trot at the same time. 'Snow drops AND Violets, you have to come and see....you must come.'

Well that was that, Hortensia stood up and firmly announced that, with the help of her walking stick and Archibold's arm, today was the day for her first walk since she had broken her toe! Archibold rushed to get their hats and a scarf and gloves for each of them, and arm in arm they set of to view the new arrivals.

After a little while, Hortensia felt a bit tired and so as she sat resting on a convenient hummock, she suddenly lifted her head with an incredulous smile. 'Oooh Archie, I can smell them....the scent of Spring, Darling we must go at once!' And with that they were off again and soon indeed they were joining other gnomes - all standing gazing up at the beauty of the white and green snowdrops and breathing in the sweet air of Spring!