Friday 17 October 2014

Preparations and presents!

Eleanora was sitting resting under a holly tree to escape the drizzle and nibbling on a fresh crab apple. She had filled the basket on her back up to the brim with the tasty, crisp yellow delights 'what a delicious present they will be for Hortensia and Archibold'. She smiled contentedly as she thought of the wonderful possibilities, 'baked apples with honey, apple fritters, apple cake, oh my what treats ahead!'

She had been wondering what to bring as a present, but after long experience she had come to trust that whatever she found along her way, was what was meant to be - and was far better than anything she could have thought of before!

'Best be on my way, want to catch little Harriet before her bed time' and with that Eleanora deftly swung her basket up onto her back, and set off gently picking her way through the tree roots and rustling leaves.

Several blackbirds who had agreed to be look outs, but had fallen into arguing about the best place to perch, suddenly realised who was walking along the almost hidden path beneath them. With great squawks they flapped into flight and rushed away to tell the forest gnomes the Eleanora had been sighted and was only about an hours walk away.

'Well thats that then' said Archibold as he slapped his bread dough on the kitchen table, 'time to set the table and put the rolls in the oven'. Hortensia was busy thanking the blackbirds with a gift of some oatmeal rolled in an oak leaf 'make sure you take some home, its a treat for everyone!' The blackbirds eyed her sideways on and squawked 'thank you' before flapping off home.

'Such good friends to us' said Hortensia 'you can always rely on a blackbird to be honourable!' and with that the put on her best apron and set to helping Archibold clear away the left over flour from his bread making.

Baby Harriet was humming a little tune to herself as she gazed out the window, she wanted to be the first to see her beloved Great Aunt. 'Look how happy she is Archie and so pretty too!' Hortensia blew Harriet a kiss and Archibold thought to himself, that he was the luckiest gnome alive!