Crab Apples and the Long Night of Watching....

'So heavy, must be the best crop we've had for years!' Archibold and Stephanotis were pushing the big barrow back home, full to the brim with shiny golden crab apples. 'Can't wait to taste the jelly' said Archibold 'or the fritters' said a very puffed Stephanotis, who really liked apple fritters best of all the tasty treats that he adored.

Soon they rounded the bend in the track and could see Hortensia and Aunt Mildred bustling about through the open kitchen door.

'Here's your apron Darling, what a magnificent harvest, there will be enough jelly for the whole winter long!'

As the forest resounded to the whack of axes, the gnomes chopped the apples in half ready to be popped into the big cauldron. Then as the delectable sweetness of simmering apples and birch tree sap - with just a hint of rose geranium leaves - wafted through the trees, the gnomes began to sing a song of the joys of harvest and and of having a well stocked larder for the winter ahead.

Aunt Mildred was standing on a stool as she gently stirred the simmering apples, 'soon be ready to strain' she called out.

And with that Archibold and Stephanotis tugged ever more fiercely at the ropes strung between the trees holding up the the big cloth bag made from one of Mrs Partridge's long lost lost handkerchiefs. ' Has to stay high enough to clear the top of the pot even when full of hot apples'  Hortensia called out as Stephanotis leaned precariously from a branch.

Archibold wiggled his eyebrows, always a sign of exasperation, as he pushed the big bowl directly under the bag. 'Just perfect Darling' called out Hortensia, 'Humph' said Archibold but thought better of saying anything more.

Very precariously the gnomes started carrying jugs of hot apple mixture up the ladder to where the big branch leaned out, and handed the jugs to Stephanotis who gently poured them in.

'So brave' murmured Hortensia, 'a truly noble gnome!'

Because there were so many full jugs to carry the gnomes were feeling rather tired by the time the apples began to slowly drip into the bowl below.

'Time for fritters' called out Aunt Mildred just in time to wake everyone up who had begun to doze off. 'Its going to be a long night so best tuck in now!'

So that is how the night of watching began. The gnomes had to watch the apple mixture because as good as their relationships with foxes and badgers and even rabbits were, apple syrup is a rare delicacy and so very tempting to taste!

Mind you, it is hard to stay awake when more than a little bit tired and with a tummy full of soft apple fritters with honey syrup, so who really knows if there might have been any secret early tastings or not.....  it was said that Mrs Badger of Ivy Hollow seemed to take a very long time to clean her whiskers the next morning, but maybe that was for a completely different reason.....

Fun and Games, Pine Cones and Humbugs....

'Humans seem to make things very complicated' said Hortensia as she caught Archibold rolling his eyes as they watched a pair of young humans walk through the woods.

'Courting is supposed to be fun, looks like they have forgotten how to even hold hands!'

'Poor things' said Hortensia as she smiled at Archibold who was looking rather splendid in a new cornflower blue waistcoat that matched his eyes. 'We are so lucky Darling Archie, we have so many precious things that make life wonderful!'

'Right' said Archibold popping a mint humbug into his mouth 'lets go play hide and seek with them, lets give them a day to remember!' and with that he leapt off and hid behind a splendid fir tree.

'Ooo play time' and with that Hortensia straightened her apron and running across the path of the two humans called out 'Boo!' and then 'Lovely day for a walk!'

Archibold started laughing so much he almost forgot to throw a pine cone at Hortensia for her to catch. 'Here' called out Hortensia and threw the pine cone into the air,  'would you like to play catch with us?' She winked at them as their mouths fell open and they slithered to the ground in a messy heap.

'Here, have a humbug, very good for shock' said Archibold as he held out a tiny bag of sticky sweets.

Somehow the young girl found herself holding out her hand as a tiny, weeny mint humbug was thrown into the palm of her hand. 'Its true!' she gasped.

They sat in a daze as Archibold and Hortensia started playing catch with the pine cone. 'Here you are, you have a go....' Slowly they began to throw the cone back and forth to the laughing gnomes, 'Ah' thought Hortensia 'once they can play together then love will blossom!'

Soon the amazed pair found themselves leaning into each other as they gently they fell asleep right there in the middle of the path.

'Ah well, Hortie, that was fun, they'll be much better off now!'

Hortensia smiled as she and Archibold began a little, special song all about tenderness and kindness, playfulness and gentleness. 'Soon they'll wake up and it all will be a dream....'

' 'Except' said Archibold 'they'll know that they're in love!' and with that the laughing gnomes ran off home for elderberry tea and a scone or two or perhaps even three!

Pancakes and Gratefulness!

"You know Archibold, there is very little that matters as much as this" Hortensia snuggled deeper into Archibold's waistcoat and thought how handsome he looked with his deep blue eyes and soft white beard, " We may be older but so is our love!"

"Humph" answered Archibold, "That's quite enough of that!" but he gave her a big squeeze as he held her securely in his arms.

They had woken up early on a late summer's morning to see the beauty of the early dawn lift the sky from pale blues into gold and apricot. "We are so lucky really, still to live here and be guardians of the wood" thought Hortensia, but ever being a practical gnome, she remembered that she had promised to make myrtle pancakes with honey for breakfast!

"Oh my goodness Archibold, everyone will be arriving for our breakfast party and I won't have got the pancake batter ready!" and with that she lept up, straightened her apron and cajoled Archibold into rushing home!

There in the cool of the early morning Archibold had set out benches and tables, Hortensia's oven was lit ready for her to set her skillet on the hob. "My oh My Archibold, quick boil the kettle for tea, I can hear voices!"

There was an abundant selection of teas: rose hip, nettle top, mints of various varieties, lavender, blackberry leaf and fresh Dandelion leaf, Archibold was in charge of the teapots and of course the tables were set with cups and saucers all ready for their guests.

On the side table were set out a huge pyramid of fluffy scones, apple cake and blackberry pie. Gnomes believe in generosity and never want a guest to leave unless they are happily full. Each table had several jugs of fresh elder flower cordial and as a centre piece, a bowl of this years precious mint humbugs. For as you know, a good humbug can help resolve the riskiest of situations or problems, and revitalise body and spirit whatever the weather.

Soon the gnomes had gathered in the glade and Hortensia was banging her spoon on an old saucepan, "Pancakes are ready, take your places!" and an orderly queue formed of very hungry gnomes."Three each for starters and more if you fancy them"

Soon the air was filled with the sound of soft murmurs from the contented gnomes and perhaps, the occasional burp. Archibold stood up, " today, Hortensia and I are celebrating having been together for a hundred and thirty nine years and we wanted to thank you our friends and family, for all the joy that you bring into our lives!"

Well, with that there was great cheering and hat tossing and of course soon a most wonderful song was echoing through the tall trees. The gnomes sang of the delights of summer, of the comfort of friendship, and most of all, of their gratefulness for their beloved wood and each other.

Post from afar and the mint humbug crisis.......

Of course they had received an occasional message every month or so, usually by bird post and Hortensia had even taken the precaution of having a basket of grain ready by the front door, just in case she had to pay extra postage because of stormy weather.

'Fancy asking a goose to deliver your message, just shows how far north they are to be talking with the geese! Not long now and they'll soon be sitting by the fire telling us all about their great escapade!'

Archibold grinned at Hortensia, 'always does to heed the call of the wild, where we would we be without an adventure to look forward to or to remember?' Hortensia smiled back at him, 'I really must make time for a moonlit walk' she thought to herself 'its been a while since we went out and danced in the moonlight on a frosty night and Archie does love a frolic!'

They continued sweeping and dusting and Archibold stacked fresh logs in the basket by the fireplace, 'looks they've never been away....a good thing too as I don't think that its long now till their return'.

'Oh Archie' said Hortensia 'I have missed them, I am very glad that they are having such a wonderful time but I do long to have them home again'.

For Aunt Mildred and Uncle Humperdinck had been away for a whole circle of seasons and the little dwellers in the forest longed for their safe return and for Aunt Mildred to make a new supply of mint humbugs. Humbugs had had to be rationed, as even though Aunt Mildred had make lots extra before she left, she had refused to tell anyone, not even Hortensia, the special recipe - and now there weren't very many left and winter was almost upon them - when the necessity for mint humbugs was essential for good humour and to ward off colds.

'Hold steady' said Archibold 'they'll be here before we know it and then what marvellous stories there will be with fresh humbugs all around and no need for rationing!'

And with that they set off home to have a tasty cup of nettle tea and a flapjack slice, collecting baby Harriet from the rabbit nursery on the way and singing songs of bluebells and springtime.

Acorns and Dreams of the Unknown .......

'Its acorn dropping day' shouted Horensia, I can hear them falling all over the forest!'

'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!

Today's the day!

I am so sorry for the long delay in writing Hortensia's Dairy, I was unwell for a while but am delighted to now be able to continue with writing about her wonderful family and their adventures...
Alice 

"Today is the first day day for sure Archie!" Hortensia was standing under a large clump of snowdrops breathing in ecstatically  "I can smell Spring!" Archie smiled and patted his waistcoat with delight, "it is true, no question about it, I can feel the earth stirring under my feet!"

Hortensia sighed with the happiness of being able to smell snowdrops again, "nothing like the scent of a young snowdrop, gentle and soft and so sweet, Oh Archie we are lucky to live where we do!" They carried on with their morning walk, busy noticing new buds and listening to the news carried on the breeze as the birds chirped and sang all around.

Eventually they stopped at the edge of the wood and sat on their favourite log to feel the warmth of the spring sunshine on their faces. " Soon be time for picnics" said Archie "and the The Summer Revels will need planning and as for Mrs Busgrove's new vegetable patch, well we will have to decide whether to continue or not, so much to do now that Spring is on its way!"

Hortensia smiled, "Dearest Archibold, what would we do with out you thinking and planning? Simply so exciting to think of all the planting and pruning ahead of us, and isn't this the summer that we promised to visit our friends in the Far North?"

" So it is My Dear, so it is and that is quite something to think about, several weeks we will have to be gone and many are the duties that we will have to ask others to take on for us whilst we are away, but when I think of the golden summer light and of the great trees roaring in the wind, why I know we simply have to go!"

Hortensia shut her eyes and remembered the sound of the wind and of the green of the moss, suddenly she opened them wide "why Archie, we mustn't forget the mushrooms, such mushrooms as I had never tasted before, why we have to go, if only to be able to bring some home to dry for winter!'

Archie smiled with relief, he longed to be free and on a wander, "perhaps July My Dear, perhaps July might be a good month?"

So as they munched on their rather wrinkly crab apples and shared a flap jack between them, they started discussing their plans for their next great escapade!

Wild winds and Bluebells ......

'It's true' said Aunt Mildred 'you can feel the trees waking up, look at the way they are tossing their leaves in the wind!'

'I don't know about you Mildred, but I can't wait any longer, I am going up now!' And with that Uncle Humperdinck bounded away and started climbing up the ivy staircase on the old oak tree, the one that stood in the big field at the edge of the forest.

Aunt Mildred laughed, she had fallen on love with Uncle Humperdinck and his tree climbing skills many years before, 'mind how you go, bit of a gale blowing'. Uncle Humperdinck laughed, 'all the better for that - nothing like a good ride in a wild tree!'

Free Gnomes (that is gnomes who can live as they like and don't have to stay in human gardens) love nothing better then riding out a storm or a wild wind by sitting high up in a big tree. They love  feeling the freedom to sing as loud as they like as the wind roars all around and tosses the leaves and branches.

Sometimes, nimble as he was, Uncle Humperdinck had had to tie himself onto a branch with his scarf and wrap his beard inside his waistcoat, particularly if he was trying to unwrap a mint humbug or snaffle a flapjack. For as he was prone to saying, 'never does to let the mind wander when sitting on a high branch!'

Aunt Mildred pulled her hat over her ears and tucked the ends of her shawl into the band of her skirt. 'Best be on my way if I am going to check on the bluebells.' She hurried off along the path and arrived at the dell just as dusk began to fall.

'Oh my, it does my heart such good to see them!' She stood and being just the right height, sniffed the delicate scent and marvelled at how even the air around her seemed to be filled with a brilliant blue light. 'Perhaps a little sit down might be lovely'.

Soon however Aunt Mildred found herself lying down on the softest bright green moss and gazing up into the nodding heads of the bluebells. 'Just heavenly,' she thought as she gently drifted off into the happiest of dozes.