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Where the heck is everybody???

6/30/2020

For those of you who have been following Hungry (and for those of you who are new to the adventure), we thought it best to bring everyone up-to-date on where everyone in the Realm of Wymsy and the Shadows' Realm is at and what are they currently doing...

To start off, we last saw Hewy, Parsley, Cornelia, Efem, and Sprout leaving Parsley's mushroom cottage together to meet with the Sleeping Sisters after receiving a Petal Post invitation.

Spirits were high as Hewy was hoping to see someone he had not heard from in many years and the others were excited as they had never been invited before to meet with the Sleeping Sisters. Even though they had received messages from them several times in the past, now they were being invited into the Hallow Chambers. The only one who was not excited was Sprout - all he had hoped for was dinner. I mean, how does one expect a growing teenager to survive without frequent meals?

Little do they all realize, but this unique meeting could shape the entire future of both the Realm of Wymsy and the Shadows' Realm.

Meanwhile, Nemmer, the Archer of the Elfshot Guild and Cornelia's husband, is off on a mission that Cornelia and Efem started him on. He and The CAT were sent to find Hungry. Currently he is somewhere in the forest continuing to follow the trail but where The CAT is, nobody knows.

While Nemmer (and who knows what The CAT is doing) is searching for Hungry, the inhabitants of The Baron's Mansion in the Realm of Wymsy are also wondering what has become of their dragon friend. They had last seen him going off to play with Meen, the Pyksee.

The Baron wonders what has happen to him for he had been hoping for a new adventure. While Griselda, the Dowager, sees Hungry as a new hope for the future. Fiddlefaddle and Sneefle are there to serve and watch over these residents as Fiddlefaddle is the Baron's BAT man and Sneefle is the Dowager's faithful servant.

So where is Meen? She is off on another mission for Hunter, the King of the Shadows' Realm. Occasionally she is tasked by him to run messages since she likes to spend most of her time running and jumping (if not also playing practical jokes). Normally, a tune is all that fills her head when she is jumping, but this time, she too is wondering where her friend was at and if she was going to maybe bump into him as she delivered her latest message.

So, now that we know where everyone else is, where is the guest of honor? He is currently somewhere in the forest searching for his lost pillow and trying to find his new friend, Sprout. Hungry had first met Sprout outside of the Sugar Plum Bakery but lost him as they were traveling back to Sprout's home on the other side of the forest. If only Sprout had known that the others were looking for his new friend, just maybe they might have found him sooner...

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June 24th is Fairy Day!

6/23/2020

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To celebrate International Fairy (we spell it Faery) Day, I decided to take you on a short tour of my faery garden. Enjoy...

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Father's Day Edition of the Bellwether

6/15/2020

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The Gathering of Great Minds...

6/9/2020

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As Hewy and Sprout continued the journey to meet with Sprout’s mother, Parsley, Hewy tried several times to find out more about the Petal Post. “Are you sure your mother can read these strange markings?” asking again as he looked at the Pedal Post he had been carrying since he met Sprout.

“I told you Hewy, mom gets them all of the time. Once I heard her talking to Cornelia and Efem about how they would look forward to getting one but that was a long time ago. Now when mom gets one it usually means trouble ‘cause she has me running lot of errands for her," Sprout answered.

"I don’t mind though since most of the time it takes me by the Sugarplum Bakery. Have you eaten there? I wished I hadn’t thought about that. I’m getting hungry already.”

Hewy just shook his head from side to side. How could this sapling of a boy eat so much? He had already gulped down a giant muffin! “If I ate like him I would be as big as a Dragon,” thought Hewy. As they continued on the trail, each deep in their thoughts about food, little did they realize that high overhead a bird was watching them.

Soon the Mushroom dwelling of Parsley appeared. As the two entered the home Sprout hollered, “Mom... I brought Hewy home to see you. By the way, what’s for dinner?” Again, Hewy with his usual frown on his lips, just shook his head thinking about growing boys and their stomachs.

“Good day Hewy,” Parsley said ignoring Sprout’s dinner question. “You know Cornelia and Efem don’t you?” she asked turning to introduce them to Hewy.

"Good Day Efem, Cornelia. I am here to see Parsley. I was told she could help me with my problem," said Hewy.

As Sprout went off to the kitchen for something to eat, Hewy told Parsley about his day.

“Today in the village I had something strange happen. A magpie dropped this flower at my feet and then just flew off. I couldn't make heads or tails about what it was until Sprout told me it was a Pedal Post. He says they come from the Sleeping Sisters and that you might be able to read it? Can you? I can't imagine why I would get one but I am curious to know what it might say."

“Yes Hewy, I can read the message and if it is intended for you I will tell you what it says.”

Hewy quickly handed the Post to her as he had been quite nervous that he would never be able to find out more about the message. As Parsley started to read silently to herself, Sprout kept poking his head back in trying to find out what was for dinner. “Sorry Sprout. Dinner will have to wait. Right now all of us will be taking a short trip with Hewy.”

Cornelia was a little startled to hear what Parsley had just said. “What do you mean Parsley? Where are we going?” she asked.

“The Petal Post is indeed for Hewy. The Sleeping Sisters are requesting that he come to them and we are invited as well,” she told the others.

"Now that was strange," thought the surprised Efem. "How could the Sisters know that Hewy would come to Parsley to have his note read?"

Parsley continued, “I have never met one before. I have received the Posts over the years, but have never seen one of the Sisters in person. They are a mysterious guild."

Both Cornelia and Efem agreed. Soon the discussion began on how they would find the Sisters since none of them had ever been invited there before.

It was at this moment there came a loud rap...rap... rapping at the door. While Hewy and the others were all talking about trying to find their way to the Sleeping Sisters, Sprout opened the door to see who was there. It was a large black and white bird – in fact, it was a magpie. Sprout did not know it, but it was the very same bird that had been following them. “Mom, there is a big bird at the door looking at me. What do you want me to do?”

Hearing about a bird, Hewy quickly came out and told the others that it looked like the one that had given him the Petal Post. The bird nodded its head once, then flew to a nearby tree. As it watched the others, it would occasionally bob its head as if it was pointing to something.

“I think it wants us to follow,” Parsley told the others. Nodding its head now up and down, the bird flew to another tree further away and stopped to see if they were indeed following. “What are we waiting for? Grab your belongings folks and let’s see where the bird leads and yes, Sprout you can bring the the cookie jar.”

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The Language of the Flowers...

6/2/2020

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There is always a process (usually not without a little research) that goes into each one of my characters. Awena has been very patient with me while I have been doing this. Part of the process for her has also involved me working in my garden. I think about her as I try to put the last of my plants around my fairy homes while jumping in and out of the rain drops as they fall.

It has been a crazy spring with the cooler weather and summer not having yet arrived; plus with the mandatory isolation -- it has been a time of many changes.

But Awena is finally ready to move forward into the next big stage of her transformation... the mold making process.

So, as she is drying out, I look back at the changes we have made to our yard. Did you know that gardening has been one of the major activities that people have turned too in this time? You could say that through this activity maybe we are rediscovering and reconnecting to our environment.

There are the many things I have to consider when planting in the yard. Will the flowers get enough water? Will they get enough sunlight to grow and flourish? Caring for them creates in me a connection where I can only hope they will bloom and blossom where I have planted them (and talking nicely to the flower fairies that watch over them doesn't hurt either). Did you know there is even a Flower Language?

I have found this form of communication interesting and love how it was very popular in the Victorian age; especially between lovers and friends who wanted to send special messages secretly to each other.

This secret code has always intrigued me which is why I did more research into the Language of Flowers and purchased these cards from Cheralyn Darcey. They are full of special thoughts inspired by the flowers and will be used in some of the messages Awena creates in her petal posts.

Notice that Awena's eyes are closed because she is in a transidental pose, or meditation. She is communing with her flowers even as we speak. Hopefully she will put in a good word for me with the flower fairies... you think?

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The Great Gnome Race Day Event...

5/26/2020

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With the Outies finally sprucing up the yard and finishing some badly needed infrastructure, the garden was looking pretty good indeed. And what better way to celebrate than with a Gnome Race. The King and Queen had decided it could be done with the right timing to keep themselves hidden from the Outies and still have their fun too.

But before the race could happen everyone would have to be notified. The Queen thought how best to do that... why of course, use the Humming Bird Express (HBE). All the HBE messengers had to do was to hum the words "And they're off" and every gnome would know it was race time!!!

Of course everyone would need to be invited and the event would have to be carefully planned. The Gnomes certainly didn't want to catch the Outies watching them. So spreading out the activities and events would certainly be the answer.

Knowing someone who was an expert in organization and construction would be needed for setting up the race and the Queen decided that no gnome was better than Hugo, of the Miners Guild, to be in charge.

Soon preparations were all made and the day of the Race was here.

All of the gnomes were there of course. Those with a birds-eye view watched from their perches...

...while others took advantage of how busy the humming birds were in the delivery of the race results. This resulted in the HBE's high-energy nectar (used to keep their humming voices in top shape) just being too tempting while unguarded not to enjoy with an occasional sip while watching the race.

Five participants had registered and were lined up for the start. The King would start the race and the Queen would be at the finish line to honor the winner. Even the station judges were positioned to make sure that all of the racers stayed on the course and followed what few "rules" there were.

Soon it was time for the race to begin...

The King had made his introductions and then raised his hand. "And they are off !!!"

And off they went!

The rabbit racer held tightly to his hat as he shot out of the starting line, hopping down the trail to take an early lead when he noticed a shadow sailing over him...

It was the frog! What a leap of faith he had taken by jumping that greenery - hoping it would put him out in front of the race! Seeing that the rest of the racers were well behind him, the frog racer thought for sure he would now win this race.

Bearing down upon the frog rider the rabbit and the squirrel racers were soon neck to neck and coming up fast right behind him. They were just making it around the first judge's turn --making it too soon to tell yet who could win.

There it was - the red arrow marking the second turn. As the racers flew past the second judge, the goose racer let out a large "honk" as if signaling to pass. This, of course, the made the squirrel go a little nuts. Which gave the rabbit the lead just by a hare (oops... meant hair) as they were racing down the last leg of the race course.

As they turned the final corner, they were surprised to see the frog racer not hopping to it anymore. He had wore himself out from his last great leap! He was toad-a-ly exhausted. Quickly the rabbit raced past him, followed closely by the squirrel and then the goose (being goosed by his rider), leaving him in the rear. But wait! Where is the racing turtle?

Knowing that he could not outrun the others, he had found a shortcut and was almost at the finish line when the rabbit crossed first. The turtle wasn't there to win... he was there to have a good time and be a part of the shell-ebration!

So off to the shell-ebration they went. And like all great events, hare (here) today and gone tomorrow, or at least for another year.

Isn't it fun to imagine what might be happening in your back yard when you are not there?

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Meanwhile, back at the mushroom...

5/19/2020

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As Hewy and Sprite started their journey to Parsley's mushroom home at the end of the Mushroom Line, Parsley was getting an update on the Dragon sightings that were being reported.

Everyone knows that the Mushroom Line is the most reliable information chain in the Shadows' Realm especially since Parsley was appointed the Telegraph Master. At the moment though the telegraph master was drinking tea and laughing with tears rolling from her eyes. While Parsley was laughing, Efem was getting a little steamed. She was not happy with the apparent lack of progress in finding the Wish Dragon and she wanted answers now!

"Parsley! How can you sit there laughing when we have an emergency building? What could be so funny that you would forget why we are even here?" Efem growled as she scowled at Parsley. As Efem vented, Cornelia continued to sit quietly in the corner of the room, sipping her tea, knowing that something better happen soon or her sister was going to boil over.

Gasping for breath Parsley answered, "The mushrooms are telling me that we are going to have a stranger soon arriving. (Taking another deep breath.) Plus my son will be with him," Parsley slowly replied.

"What's so funny about that?" demanded Efem.

"Oh, nothing. I had just forgotten how frustrated you can get and was enjoying watching you. It was like old times," snickered Parsley. "The mushrooms also just told me that Sprout is talking his ear off about being hungry and I thought that was funny when you think about it..." mused Parsley.

Efem turned to Cornelia to see if she understood and then turned back to Parsley - continuing to looked confused. "What is Parsley talking about?" thought Efem. Then there was a snicker and then finally Cornelia started to laugh out loud too. Which only made Efem a little madder. "What is it that I am missing?" she demanded from them.

"Don't you get it? Hungry?"

At first Efem just looked at the two as if they were losing it... then the light came on. The young Wish Dragon's name was Hungry... Finally a small smile did appear as she just shook her head, wondering how she got stuck with a sister like Cornelia and a friend like Parsley. Then as she joined in the joke knowing that she was indeed lucky, and feeling happy, she glowed even brighter.

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Come meet Awena Buttorfleoge

5/12/2020

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I was asked last week what was my favorite part of dollmaking. Was it the painting, the sculpting, the costuming? I had to say no... it wasn't any of those. My favorite part is the inspiration.

It was when I was standing in front of my fireplace (warming myself) that "she" first showed up. She asked "Do you see me?" Well of course I had to reply "Yes" and then the fun began.

She had a sleeping face like in a meditation pose with a flower arrangement on her head. Once I saw her I couldn't unsee her... until I got started sculpting her. Now she no longer shows up in my carpet (*lol).

She shared clues about her name with me pretty early on in our "connection". Though I love some of the more colorful suggestions, I felt there was the option of only two but I just couldn't decide as to which one. It was then when she told me that I did not have to choose as she was both. Her name is Awena Buttorfleoge.

I was to later discover that 'Awena' means 'muse' in Welsh and my Awena is a Seer.

'Buttorfleoge' is an old English word for butterfly. Somehow that seemed to fit as I could see her personality flitting from topic to topic, much like the butterfly flying from spot to spot.

So, what has Awena told me so far? I have learned that she is one of the first Sleeping Sisters. She wasn't always a member of the Sleeping Sister's guild (you will learn more about them in brambles yet to come).

It was a difficult choice for her to make in joining the guild as at the time she thought she had just met the person (more like the troll) she was to be with. But the Fates had another path she was to walk. It is these little twists of inspiration that make the characters come to life for me!

This is where I enjoy the dollmaking - at the beginning of the path. When they first awaken a spark of magic within me. I want to then capture them and bring them to life, helping them to tell their story. So as I keep working through all of their stages of transformation (much like the metamorphosis of a butterfly), they reveal to me a little more about themselves - feeding my inspiration each step of the way.

Look at me... I have wings!!!

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Hewy, Sprout and the Petal Post

5/5/2020

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Hewy pondered about all that he had heard from Nemmer as they had shared a meal at one of the local pubs. "A Dragon on the loose," he mumbled to himself. "It has been a very long time since one of them have been seen." Nemmer had left to continue the search telling Hewy as he departed that if Hewy was still hungry, and if THE CAT showed up, he could eat him if he wished. "UGH! How revolting..." Hewy thought, but since Nemmer was smiling as he said it, decided that he must have just been kidding.

Again, realizing that he still did not have any music for the festival written, Hewy continued wandering around the village for an inspiration. Occasionally he just stopped and listened to youngsters singing or the sounds being made by those still preparing for the celebration. Normally the sounds of each day would inspire his melodies, but for some reason, today it was not.

As he was about to leave the village and see if that elusive inspiration was hiding somewhere else, a large magpie swooped from the sky and landed near his feet. As Hewy looked at the bird, it appeared to be staring back at him! "How strange," Hewy thought. "It is carrying something in it's beak. It looks like a big flower."

The magpie appeared to Hewy to have decided something as it hopped closer to Hewy's feet and dropped the flower before flying away. Picking up the flower, Hewy noticed that it had strange markings on it's petals. "I have never seen that before," he thought. "I wonder what they are for?" Not knowing what to do with it, he decided to take it with him. "Maybe," he decided, "it will help me to find my musical inspiration today since it certainly is hiding."

Again, Hewy started on his way out of the village on one of the many well used pathways, when he saw Sprout carrying one of the biggest muffins he had ever seen. "Good afternoon Sprout. What's with the giant muffin?"

Sprout smiled at Hewy, telling him that for the May Fair the bakers at the Sugar Plum Bakery had made a special muffin just for him. "I just need to eat it before going home to mom," he laughed, "or she won't think I will be hungry for dinner."

Hewy just shook his head, wondering how this young stripling kept so slim with all of the food he ate.

"Oh, I see that you got a Petal Post. My mom gets those too," Sprout said as he broke off a piece of the muffin and stuffed it into his mouth.

"You know what this is?"

Having to swallow before he could answer Hewy's question, Sprout continued, "It's a Petal Post from the Sleeping Sisters. Mom, Efem, and Cornelia talk about them all of the time. Must be about something important cause that seems to be the only time a petal post shows up."

Now Hewy was really intrigued. Could it be a note from Awena? She did leave to become a Sleeping Sister after all. "Do you think your mother can read the strange markings?" Sprout only nodded because he had another large chunk of muffin already in his mouth.

And with a nod, Hewy decided that today's music writing would have wait. He had to know what the Petal Post said and if the message was truly for him. "Will you take me to your mother?" he asked Sprout.

"Sure. I should be able to have the muffin gone long before we get there and if we start now, we could be in time for dinner!" Sprout replied as he started to eat another piece of the rapidly shrinking muffin.

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Ten for a bird, you must not miss...

4/28/2020

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The sun was up and it was a beautiful day. As Hewy was strolling through the countryside, he noticed the small signs that indicated the locals were preparing for the day which falls midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Soon it will be May 1st and Beltane celebrations would begin, not just in the Shadows' Realm but also for the townsfolk in the Village on the Wall.

The celebration honors spring at its peak and the coming summer but also gives everyone a terrific reason to be outside after the long winter months. Singing, dancing, and Maypoles will be everywhere. Then, of course, there will be the big bonfire when it starts to get dark where stories and more singing occurs.

"And I don't have any new music written still," he mused to himself. "What good is a master musician without a song?" This was not the first time he told himself this and it probably won't be the last. Seeing a tree stump, Hewy decided to sit for a while and work on the latest tune that was stumbling through his head. He used the word 'stumbling' because the tune was still jumping from here to there and usually falling flat.

As he worked on the tune, he pulled out his drumsticks and started tapping them on the stump. A magpie bird that had been sitting in a tree looked down on him when he started thumping on the stump, but realizing he did not have any food to share, promptly began to ignore him.

Lost in his creative thoughts, Hewy did not notice the even larger blue bird approaching up behind him. "Ahem... Hi Hewy," the blue bird said as it cleared his throat to get Hewy's attention. Startled, Hewy turned and finally noticed Nemmer watching him tap on the tree. "Oh, hi Nemmer. What brings you out this fine day?"

"I hate to disturb you Hewy, but have you happened to see anything peculiar or hear of any rumors of something strange being seen in the forest lately?" asked Nemmer. (If you remember, when we last saw Nemmer he was still searching for the Wish Dragon, Hungry.)

"No I haven't heard of nor seen anything out of the ordinary recently," replied Hewy, "other than your CAT." Nemmer replied as he stomped his foot, "It's not my CAT! If it wasn't for the stupid Petal Post from the Sleeping Sisters, I could be back at my cottage practicing my archery instead of looking for Hungry."

Petal Post and Sleeping Sisters - now that sounded like an interesting story Hewy thought. "You're hungry? I will help you find something to eat while you tell me all about it," Hewy offered Nemmer. Now Nemmer was one to never turn down a meal when offered even though he knew that Hewy had misunderstood him. But he was really too hungry to care.

"It's a deal. Put away those drumsticks of yours and lets go see if we find some real ones to eat," Nemmer answered hungrily.

As they walked off to find lunch, Nemmer could hear Hewy humming a song. "What's that your humming," he asked.

"Oh, it's a little something that I heard the other day and seeing you reminded me of the little tune. It goes something like this."

One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret,
Never to be told.
Eight for a wish,
Nine for a kiss,
Ten for a bird,
You must not miss.

Nemmer started chuckling causing Hewy to ask what was so funny. "Well, of course I have to be the tenth bird that you shouldn't miss!" replied Nemmer. "There seems to be a prophecy hidden in your song, Hewy. What do you think?"

As Hewy and Nemmer walked off discussing the hidden meaning to the song, the magpie that had been sitting in the tree flew off to report to the Sleeping Sisters.

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<<Previous

Where the heck is everybody???

June 24th is Fairy Day!

Father's Day Edition of the Bellwether

The Gathering of Great Minds...

The Language of the Flowers...

The Great Gnome Race Day Event...

Meanwhile, back at the mushroom...

Come meet Awena Buttorfleoge

Hewy, Sprout and the Petal Post

Ten for a bird, you must not miss...

Greetings

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