The Mushroom Hunt!

'Good morning Deary Do, time for a spot of mushroom picking, lovely and damp this morning, perfect time for harvesting!' Hortensia stood by the front door well wrapped up against the cold and with two empty baskets, a knapsack stuffed with pairs of gloves, shortbread and a thick rug. 

'All ready, I can smell mushrooms in the air!' Stephanotis was looking jaunty in a new yellow and green stripped jumper (knitted of course by Aunt Mildred) topped off by a matching hat with a large yellow pom pom on top. 

'Archibold is just on his way, he has been up since first light sorting out his collection of seeds and is running a little late.' Hortensia knew that Stephanotis would understand, much as gnomes hate being late, starting and finishing sorting out a seed collection was a forgivable reason to be a little late.

Soon there was a thunder of boots on the stairs and Archibold burst into the hallway 'Everything tickety boo? Right we are, time to be on our way!'

Eleanora and Baby Harriet waved good bye from an upstairs window 'Well My Darling, the house is ours, peace at last!' Baby Harriet gurgled with anticipation, time alone with her precious Aunt was always an unexpected treat.

'First things first, perhaps we should try by the old oak to start, saw a dog with good nose sniffing there last week - sure sign that mushrooms are on the way!' Archibold set off a brisk pace, 'watch where you put your feet, still a bit nippy with the frost, '

Gnomes love gathering mushrooms, the smells of earth and fungi, bark and moss all combined to make an intoxicating and exciting adventure. 'Such a lovely morning, just perfect!' Hortensia was looking up at the trees 'the buds are already forming and the trees waking up, Spring, My Darlings, Spring is in the air!'

So as gentle spring sunshine did indeed warm the air, the three friends carried on their way, happy and excited and looking forward to mushrooms for tea!

The Annual Meeting, humbugs and general excitement ......

'So cold outside, cold enough to freeze a rabbits whiskers!' Archibold huffed and stamped his feet on Aunt Mildred's door mat, 'good thing we are having the meeting here, we'd have frozen to death in the glade!' Almost all the pegs on the coat rack were covered in coats and jackets, mufflers and a wild collection of outside hats, 'Must be the last one here" said Archibold winking at Hortensia as he put on his soft green inside hat, 'best be nippy drinking my tea!'

'Everyone seems to be here' Hortensia whispered to Aunt Mildred 'let's give them a few more minutes to settle and then we can begin!'

Soon a general hush came over the gnomes, probably helped along by the most excellent tea of summer meadow flowers and the moist honest cake that Aunt Mildred had passed around, as a warm up against any lingering effects from the cold.

'Today as you know is the day of our Annual General Meeting' Humperdinck was looking splendid in his best waistcoat embroidered with honeysuckle and wild roses, ' a chance for us all to plan ahead and to look back on the previous year's activities, so it is with great pleasure that I welcome this year's  Daisy King - Archimedes Bonaparte, to open proceedings!'

Poor Archimedes had to be helped to his feet, as the journey from his island home had brought on a bought of stiffness. 'New jar of lineament for you Archie - and I'll rub it in your knees myself!' Aunt Mildred looked fierce and protective, Archimedes smiled gently at her as he cleared his throat, patted his pockets till he found his speech carefully written out in his curly writing, and began to speak.

'My Dear Friends, it is with great pleasure that I open this meeting and welcome you all to the comforts of Mildred and Humperdinck's home. This is when we plan our year ahead; The Midsummer Revels, any expeditions, who is to go to the local garden centres for work experience, building projects and of course, to consider which gardens we wish to maintain.'

'Goes with out saying that we will look after Mrs Partridge's garden' there was a general murmur of agreement as Aunt Mildred continued, 'she is our friend and protector, without her we wouldn't know that we are safe here!'

'Too true My Dear, too true and indeed, I am sure that we all agree on maintaining her garden as a matter of great importance!' Mrs Partridge is most unusual in that she is our only human friend, true a few of the other humans still put out statues of us and welcome us as guardians of their gardens, but we do not know them as friends and are probably best choosing carefully who to help.'

Archibold stood up, 'before we make a list of gardens, can we discuss visiting Hector in the city, a grand expedition to see his balcony cactus garden again, perhaps combined with a wild planting trip along the railway?' Well, that was that, any plans for an agenda had to wait as Stephanotis leapt to his feet, 'put your hands up if you are interested in an expedition?'

'No shoving, plenty of time to be excited, calm down, SIT!' Archibold bellowed in his best fierce voice, usually reserved for telling off rabbits when they ate his flowers, 'Perhaps we can agree on a separate planning meeting for an expedition?'

'Jolly good idea' said Archimedes as he quickly sat down, 'perhaps it is time for a humbug and a little thinking?' and with that the assembled gnomes calmed themselves as they passed around the mint humbugs and began to loudly suck on them and considered what to plan next!

A New Year Greeting with Nettle Tea and Shortbread ......

'Today is the day Darlings!' Eleanor set off first firmly holding onto Baby Harriet as she stepped out into the snowy early dawn, closely followed by Aunt Mildred and Uncle Humperdinck, Hortensia and Archibold, Stephanotis and many of their neighbours and friends from the forest.

To say that they were bundled up against the cold would be true, the little group was barely recognisable what with the snow shoes and mufflers and hats and scarves. 'Very hard to walk with this many clothes on!' Uncle Humperdinck was trying to untie a very long knitted scarf that Aunt Mildred had wound around his neck, head and middle. 'Careful Humperdinck, you'll fall over!' Aunt Mildred's words of warning came just too late as with a wild fling of the end of his scarf Uncle Humperdinck fell over flat on his back in the snow.

Now I don't know how many of you are familiar with trying to stand up with snow shoes on once you fallen over, but poor Uncle Humperdinck was fast making a tricky situation much worse what with his kicking and struggling, shouting and general crossness. ' I told you the scarf was too much, wound it round me so tight I can't balance!' Luckily Eleanora came to the rescue, 'Dear Humperdinck, just keep calm, we will have you up in jiffy. Stop right now now and hold onto my hand.'

'Always the same when Eleanora takes charge' Archibold whispered to Hortensia 'She has such a calming voice'. Truth was Eleanora didn't really know how they were going to help him stand up, but she knew that he was frightened and that keeping him calm would help.

'Right you are, always bring a bit of rope in case' Archibold handed one end of the length of rope he had strung over his shoulder 'Tie it around the tree over there Stephanotis, and I'll attach it to Humperdinck!' So that was that, 'Going to burrow under you with the rope, try to keep still.' Archibold was beginning to worry about Uncle Humperdinck's shivering as what with all the falling about he had loosened many of his clothes and it was very cold. 'Now then, hold steady and we will winch you up!'

Slowly Archibold and Stephanotis heaved on the rope as Aunt Mildred and Hortensia pushed from behind. 'I'm up! I'm up!'What a to do, thank you, thank you!' Uncle Humperdinck did a sort of wild snow shoe dance with relief. 'Here have a humbug immediately, you're looking a bit pale!' Aunt Mildred believed in the power of a mint humbug to restore a gnome to health in even the most desperate of situations.

'Right, time to be on the go, good thing we left a little early, not a moment to loose' and with that Archibold popped Humperdinck's hat back on his head and set off along the path.

Nobody felt like talking much as they made their way as fast as they safely could to Look Out Point. 'Here we are, safe and sound, we will soon be warm!' Archibold and Hortensia lit the fire as the little party settled down in the pine bower that Stephanotis had prepared the day before. 'Time for the kettle to be on and some nettle tea with honey.' Aunt Mildred unpacked her basket and soon everyone was holding a warming cup of tea and a tasty piece of shortbread.

'Were just in time, look!' Eleanora pointed out across at the field as the edge of the sky turned a most beautiful rose pink 'it is going to be a wonderful day!' The gnomes sat in silence as the morning sky lit with radiant rose and gold, 'best sign you can have for the year ahead,' Archibold smiled at Baby Harriet ' a new year in your life Darling and the beginning of wonderful adventures for us all!'

So that was how it came to be that the gnomes honoured their age old tradition of a dawn greeting of the New Year - accompanied with tea and shortbread of course!

The Welcome Basket and other Surprises!

'I don't know when I have enjoyed a nap so much' Eleanora's smiling eyes twinkled at Baby Harriet as they lay snuggled together under the new silk eiderdown, 'this bed is just too conformable, I don't think that I can possibly get up yet!'

Baby Harriet however, had other ideas! Now that her Aunt was awake, she quickly slithered out from under the covers and set off crawling at great speed. 'Oops-a-daisy, better follow and make sure she is safe!' thought Aunt Eleanora ' amazing how quickly a baby can can make one get up and about!'

Baby Harriet crawled onto to the landing by the wooden chest where Hortensia kept the extra blankets and gently feeling under the chest, pulled out a little basket that her Mother had given her.

Eleanora sat down carefully on the floor next to her as Harriet held out the basket. ' For me? Why Harriet how very kind of you, what a special looking present!' Harriet blinked her beautiful violet eyes and stared curiously as her Aunt gently peered into the basket and began to lift the soft covering of swan's down. 'Oh Harriet, how wonderful! Why Darling what a precious basket of treasures.'

For there, nestled in the basket, was Harriet's treasure trove of precious things; little coloured stones, a small shell, a pine cone, several feathers, a button and in pride of place in the middle, a lost tag from a dog's collar with the name 'Star' engraved on it.  'Why Harriet what treasures you have found, they all have a story to tell, what a special girl you are to see and find such beautiful things, and how very kind of you to want to give them to me.'

Harriet crawled up onto her Aunt's lap and started to poke the feathers in Eleanora's long white hair - something she had been looking forward to doing for rather a long time -  the sight of which, as you can imagine, gave Archibold a bit of a shock as came up the stairs with a tray and a lovely pot of peppermint tea.

'We thought you might need a pick you up after your long journey and a rest, but I can see that Harriet has already taken matters into her own hands!' He winked at his daughter 'Your Mother is wanting you Darling, why don't you let Eleanora carry the basket downstairs and then we can all share in your discoveries?'

So that was how it came to be that one of the very best welcome parties that anyone has ever known started, with Eleanora sitting in the rocking chair by the fire with baby Harriet on her knee, showing all their guests Harriet's basket of treasures and with Eleanora telling wild and miraculous tales.

As dusk fell and the wind began to howl outside, Hortensia and Archibold smiled at each other, a secret smile that said how glad they were that everyone in the Forest was safe and snug and warm, and of course most important of all, very, very happy!

The Welcome party - tea and delights!

Eleanora could hear the distant singing as she wound her way along the edge of the field, keeping close to the hedge as she went - just in case she came across any late blackberries or other treats. 'So wonderful to be here at last, and what a day it is too!' Indeed it was a wonderful day, one of those Autumn days we all rejoice in when the sky is a radiant blue and the air clear and fresh!

At the very edge of the long field where the forest began stood a welcome party of gnomes, well, some of the gnomes, because quite a few couldn't resist the opportunity to climb up into the trees to keep a look out for Eleanora and to enjoy the view! 'Why don't we sing 'Bluebells in the Glade' Archie? It is one of her favourites and such a lovely tune too.' Hortensia began to sing Eleanora's favourite song and soon the forest began to echo to the sweet harmonies and the accompanying birdsong.

Eleanora, who had been feeling a little emotional as neared the end of her long journey, suddenly found that she had tears in her eyes, ' Always does my heart good to hear their voices, so kind, so very kind!' Soon she had reached the edge of the forest and as her feet touched the earth of their forest haven, she stood still to let the gnomes gather around her in a circle.

'Welcome Eleanora, welcome to our hearts and our homes!' and with that they all began to throw their hats in the air and to sing again in earnest. Soon however, the need for a restorative cup of nettle tea and the knowledge of the wonders of Hortensia's tea time treats ,all ready and set out on her kitchen table, encouraged Archibold to be very bossy! 'Time to be on our way now, best be busy, time for tea!' He hurriedly picked up Eleanora's baskets and started to lead the way back to Persimmon Heights.

So that was that, for nothing much can be said or discussed when enjoying the delights of a really tasty tea. True, there were a few comments such as 'mmmmmm' and ' perhaps another crumpet would be nice' but overall the contented gnomes just sat down and enjoyed themselves.

Eleanora was feeling particularly happy for as she sat gazing at her beloved great niece, Baby Harriet, as she nestled on her lap, she could see what wonderful times they were going to have together, 'what a Darling you are my Poppet, how lucky I am to be here with you all, what happy times we shall have!'

Of course Baby Harriet gurgled back with joy for she too adored Eleanora. 'We are the lucky ones to have you here staying with us' said Archibold proudly 'which means that perhaps after a short nap and time to unpack and settle in, that it is time to celebrate!' Archibold winked at Hortensia as he collected up Eleanora's baskets and knapsack and led the way up the windy stairs to the specially decorated guest bedroom.

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!

Silk quilts and preparations!

'Well might as well use what we have!' Hortensia was putting the final stitches in the hem of the quilt she had made out of some of Mrs Partridge's donated silk scarf. 'So soft and smooth Archie, and so pretty!'

'Looks lovely my Dear, very cheerful too with the rose in the middle!' Archibold was tightening the rope around the bed frame under the mattress in the spare bedroom, 'don't want her to sink into a hollow in the middle and not be able to get out!'

Hortensia carefully folded the quilt, and between them they started vigorously shaking the mattress, 'best swan's down and silk, Oh Archie how lovely it's going to be!'

Gnomes pride themselves on their hospitality and along with tasty dinners, Hortensia and Archibold were renowned for the comfort of their home. 'Best be off to scout out some fresh nettles and blackberries for supper' and with that Archibold put on his green outdoor hat, kissed baby Harriet, popped his empty sack over his shoulder and waved goodbye as he ran out the front door.

'Nettle soup for tea my Darling, tasty dasty Precious and Auntie Eleanora's favourite!' Baby Harriet gurgled back, she was very excited about her Auntie Eleanora coming to stay. In fact she was making her own special preparations to welcome her and seeing that Hortensia was busy dusting, she took off advantage of the moment and crawled at considerable speed to the wooden storage chest in the hall.

Hortensia of course noticed and as she said to Archibold later, ' I could hardly breathe when I saw what she was doing, so quick she was too'. Week after week, Baby Harriet had been hiding treasures under the chest ready for when her Auntie would come to stay. 'I never even saw her pick things up Archie, but there they were, little bits of coloured glass, different coloured stones, a few feathers…I found a basket for her and she spent ages arranging them all!'

Baby Harriet had been thrilled at the basket, she had been taking Eleanora's advice to heart and had been noticing all the beautiful things around her and collected some of them as a gift for her. She had carefully arranged them all together in the basket humming a little song as she played.

'Sometimes I wonder Archie, she seems to be in a world of her own and hardly a baby at all!' Hortensia   was stringing up mushrooms to dry above the stove to make stews during the winter months, 'My Dear you worry too much, she just is who she is and lovely with it!' He smiled at Hortensia ' no need to fret, Eleanora is watching over her!'

They sat down for a cup of tea, 'no cake Archie we are having such a big supper later' Hortensia smiled as she popped a flapjack on his saucer, 'as everythings ready, I think I am going to put my feet up for wee nap!'

Of course, you know what happened, they all fell asleep  - till Stephanotis banged on the door to say Eleanora had been sighted coming over the big field!