'Best sound the alarm' said Archibold as he put on his hard hat (a bottle top with a bit of cushioning underneath and a chin strap to hold it securely in place) 'no one will want to miss out!'
Hortensia climbed up to the top of the tree house and blew into her trumpet, 'Trumph too toooo, Trumph too tooooooo' Now all gnomes instantly know the signal for a grand foraging expedition and soon the gentle plop of acorns landing in the leaves was drowned out by excited calls and rushing feet.
'I've brought my deepest basket' said Aunt Mildred as she puffed along the path, truth to tell it was hard to even see her at all as her basket was so tall and deep and Aunt Mildred was a little little even for a gnome. 'There My Dear, I'll carry it for you, that way you can collect even more' Uncle Humperdinck knew how competitive Aunt Mildred was when out foraging 'don't want to miss out on supplies!'
He had been a bit worried about her lately, she had even refused a fresh mushroom and parsley omelette for tea - one of her absolute favourites - and had then fallen asleep in her chair muttering anxiously.
Aunt Mildred was anxious for she had a secret. Every since she had been a young gnome she had dreamt of going free, of leaving the forest where they were all lived secure and happy and to wander free without a plan to see the world beyond.
'Not that I can tell anyone not even my Humperdinck' she thought 'perhaps I will leave a letter and just go one fine morning and set out and see where I end up? Today though is Acorn Dropping Day" and with that she rushed to her favourite oak tree to gather up as many acorns as she could.
'Remember to leave some for our friends and neighbours' shouted Archibold 'going to be a fierce winter and we all need supplies.' The birds chirped their thanks and looked on in amazement as the gnomes busily filled their baskets.
Aunt Mildred found herself edging closer along the path to where the forest met the field, Uncle Humperdinck followed her and beginning to understand what was troubling her, asked a special question. 'Why don't we go one day My Dear? Just you and me on an adventure, just see where our feet take us, or even plan a visit to the sea?'
Aunt Mildred looked into Humperdinck's very blue eyes 'Oh Humperdinck, how did you know? I keep feeling the call of new sights and not know quite what to do about it'
'I have been thinking why you might have been troubled and today when I saw you gazing out over the field I just knew, we have been together for so long here in the forest and now is the time for our own adventure, just like these acorns can grow into a tree so can out dreams come true!'
So that was how it came to be that Aunt Mildred and Humperdinck came home and started to pack their baskets for a unexpected trip into the unknown!
Meanwhile of course everyone else was storing acorns and rushing home to warm up with peppermint tea and a scone or two or three!
