Category: Dusty Mytes

Spring Cleaning...

3/13/2024

For most, Spring cleaning starts when Spring arrives - but not for all. Brownies approach cleaning a little differently being part of the Old Race. For one thing, Brownies still have a tough time understanding why anyone would want a hearth heated by electricity instead of a good ol’ fashioned flame. “Outies – go figure…” Granny Flare usually will mumble when asked about it.

For another, it’s all in the preparation. A House Brownie will start planning and preparing for Spring cleaning usually about a month before Spring starts (and sometimes sooner)!

A garden Brownie will even start their planning in the Fall of the previous year just so everything is ready when Spring arrives. Gardner, the Garden Brownie, sharpened his shovel and hoe and scrubbed his wheelbarrow before putting them up for the winter just to be ready when the sun came out in the Spring. “No sense waiting until the last minute,” is his motto. “Besides, the sooner I can feel the freshly thawed dirt between my toes is like getting a kiss from Esmeralda,” he told me as he blushed. “But don’t tell her I said that.”

Now this year, Granny Flare had been planning all winter and had finally decided that she needed to branch out and help others who were not so fortunate to have a House Brownie available for the Spring cleaning. The problem was figuring out where her perspective helpers were located now that they did not need to hide from Nemmer.

“It’s a good thing that Nemmer quit bopping the Dusty Mytes,” thought Granny as she decided to go out and look for them. “It’s also good that the Dusty Mytes have gained some control over their forgetful dust. It just won’t do having them blow their dust around and everyone forgetting everything. It could set back cleaning for generations!” Granny shuddered just to think of it!

Granny decided to check with Efem first since they seemed to talk to her more than most others. “I hope she knows where they are since I don’t have that much time before Spring starts,” muttered Granny to herself. As luck would have it, Efem did know where the Dusty Mytes were now hanging out. They have moved into the caves where Hungry (oops – Dree) lived. Since a Dragon seems not be effected by the Dusty Myte forgetful dust, they could be themselves in the caves and if anyone else ventured into their part of the cavern, they would soon forget that they had ever been there.

Soon Granny was in the caves and found where the Dusty Mytes had made their homes. It was neat and tidy. “Those noses do a good job of vak-u-ming up all of the dirt,” she thought as she nodded her head in approval. It did not take Granny long, but soon she and the Dusty Mytes came to an agreement and a business plan quickly worked out. Granny would find the cottages that needed cleaning, make all of the arrangements, and have the inhabitants go for a Spring outing, the Dusty Mytes then would come in and vak-u-m the homes.

It did not take long for the word to get out which meant Granny needed a plan sooner than later to keep everyone busy while her "crews" were cleaning. With that the Spring Fair idea was born. Now, on the first day of Spring, everyone not in the cleaning crews were at the Spring Fair hosted by Efem, while Granny Flare and other House Brownies (with the Dusty Mytes help of course) are busy swishing, sweeping, and cleaning the old dusty winter gloom away.

HAPPY SPRING!

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VMP Arrivals...

5/16/2023

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As Snoop quietly snuck across the street and into the alley beside the council chamber, he could now see clearer through the window. There she was, Granny Flare, and she was doing the cleaning.

At first he thought she was sweeping with her broom, but realized that she was actually holding a Dusty Myte and pointing it towards the floor as it was sucking in the dust.

It was that new style of cleaning she had shown to some of the other house Brownies at her last convention that he had written about. She called it 'vak-u-ming' (whatever that was). "It will never replace the broom," Snoop thought as he continued watching her clean. "There must be a meeting going to happen today," he realized when he also saw the brewing tea pot and cookies. "There sure are a lot of cookies and cups, so it must be for a full council meeting. Maybe even some VMPs (Very Magical Persons) " Snoop muttered to himself.

Since he knew all of the best hiding places to observe the towns people, he soon was sitting comfortably in an old chair outside of the Hicaberry Tea Shop. Here he could sit at one of the best places for a cup of tea and could watch the council chamber too as he hid in the shadows of the eaves. Snoop had long ago set aside a small expense budget for just this purpose because the Tea Shop made him buy something when he just sat on their porch and watched things happening.

"At least the tea is better than what I brew at the Bellwether," Snoop thought while he slowly sipped a little. "I might have to make this cup last a long time since it doesn't appear that anyone has arrived yet but Granny Flare."

It was then that he noticed the troll. It was Dulbbe, the new King of the Trolls, and standing besides him was Drat. "Where did they come from," he wondered. "They had not been there a minute ago." Listening closely as he leaned over slightly (another reason he had picked this spot), he could just barely hear Dulbbe talking to Drat.

"You were right," Dulbbe said to Drat. "It was uncomfortable besides being dirty too. I don't want to have to use that route again unless we absolutely have too. I mean, I can usually see well in the dark, but not in that pitch black hole you took me through. I don't know how you did it because I could not see my hand in front of my face! And don't tell me what was making that sound when were were walking around down there... I don't even what to know who or what it was," Dulbbe finished with a shudder as he brushed his clothes with his hands.

"Sorry Sire, but you did say you wanted to get here fast," Drat answered (but not before Snoop noticed that the rat had answered with a small smile on his lips). Still smiling, Drat stepped aside and motioned for his King to enter the council chamber first as he followed.

"Interesting," thought Snoop. "I wonder who else will appear." Just as he said that, the coach with Queen Ffion pulled up being pulled by no less than four Nytemares. "She must have been in a hurry," he decided. "This must be important!"

As Snoop continued to sip on his tea, he was able to observe several more arrivals for the meeting. There was Hewy, Hir'aeth the Gooblin King, the Goodie sisters, Awena from the Sleeping Sisters, the Baron and his mother the Dowager, and even Dewin the Wizard. All VMPs indeed! It was the last guest that appeared the made Snoop realize that he had to get into the meeting somehow. It was that young Wish Dragon who had transformed into a Moon Dragon, Drai'ochtluan. "I am glad that he likes to go by 'Dree' for short," Snoop sighed to himself. "I would have to look up the spelling every time I want to write it down."

As Snoop was trying to figure out some means of getting into the council chamber, he did not notice that a Pyksee had been sneaking up behind him until she pulled on his sleeve, making him jump several inches into the air. It was Meen, the new Queen's minion. "Don't do that," he told her. "You made me jump."

Not realizing that Snoop meant it as a bad thing because she liked to jump everywhere, she shrugged his comment off and pulled on his sleeve again. When she thought she had his full attention, she delivered the message she was sent out with. "The Council asks if you would join them in the council chamber. They said they did not want to start without you."

Snoop was flabbergasted... how did they know that is exactly where he wanted to be?

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When your wings are wet...

1/3/2023

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KNOCK... KNOCK... THUMP... On went the pounding to the old wooden door of the only bathroom in the Goodie's cottage. "Will you hurry up!" shouted Goodie4u through the keyhold on the oak door. "You have been in there for hooooouuuurs and we need to get moving if we are to make it to the castle in time!"

Goodiegood knew that she needed to hurry but she continued to stare at herself in the reflection glass. "But I have just washed my wings!" she muttered.

They weren't dry yet and actually as she looked at herself, they were pretty sad looking. One drooped over her shoulder and the other one was still a bit frazzled on the bottom. "What am I going to do?" she thought to herself.

"Oh, what I would give to have a Dusty Myte drop in now. With their long nose for cleaning, they would have my sloppy wet wings dry in a licky split moment," thought Goodiegood as she remembered those helpful friends of the house brownie, Granny Flare.

"I am at least glad I finally found my shoes," Goodiegood murmured to herself. "Even if they were hidden under that pile of Goodie2shues' shoes." As she was still trying to figure out what to do about her wings and hoping to make the situation better, she started to send herself positive thoughts.

As she wiggled her toes, she soon smiled. "The little flower accent really makes my feet look smaller I think. I will have to wear them more often," she decided as she looked down at her now favorite pair of shoes. But as she looked back up she saw in the looking glass her saggy wings were making her look like she had visited the cookie jar one too many times this season.

Discouraged, Goodiegood turned around to open the door for her sister. As soon as she did, Goodie4u's hand popped in holding a bottle. "Try this sister," she told her. "Spray it on your wings and do hurry up!" Goodiegood looked down at the label which read 'Gloss-i-mare Canned Air ' and thought "what do I have to lose" and proceeded to spray it on her wings. Instantly they were dry and so shiny. "Oh, where did you find this miracle worker?" asked Goodiegood to her sister.

"You would be amazed at some of the things the Peddler has in his shop, but don't worry about that now," replied Goodie4u. "We have already missed the Winter Solstice and I am afraid that things are going to get worse if we don't arrive there soon."

With that being said, and her wings finally dried, Goodiegood put on her hat and picked up her mixing bowl as she called out to her sisters. "Don't forget the Spoon," and proceeded out the door of the cottage as if she had been the one waiting for them to be ready. Soon they were on the trail to the Shadows' King's castle, hoping they were not too late to do their part in trying to save the Realm.

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Efem finds The CAT... or is it that The CAT chooses Efem???

5/12/2019

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Efem, using her mind-talk, distractedly told the Dusty Mytes "Goodbye!" as they left to go off somewhere. She was getting a little concerned. Her sister, Cornelia, still had not told her whether or not The CAT had shown up at her cottage. “Oh, where could that cat be and what mischief is he getting into this time?” she thought to herself. “I know I shouldn't worry," she continued to tell herself. "He will probably show up when he’s hungry,” this time saying it out loud. When she realized that she was talking to herself, she knew that it was because of The CAT. “Look at what you got me doing now. I don’t normally talk to myself…” Then she giggled and continued, “As long as I don’t answer myself I guess that will be okay.”

Just then she saw something flicker over by the ferns under a tall golden willow tree. It was The CAT. “At least you are not out causing mischief,” she said as she watched him saunter over to her. Efem reached down and scratched him behind the ears. As soon as he started purring she lit up! When Efem was truly happy it was hard to keep all that happiness inside and she began to glow!

Staring at Efem the whole time, The CAT stretched and then sat down - waiting. “I know that look," Efem sighed with a slightly crooked smile.

“You are hungry I bet.” The CAT slightly nodded his head. “Sometimes I think you understand what I am saying, but then you go and do just the opposite. Sometimes you act just like one of those mundane cats, but only I know how special you truly are,” whispered Efem - glowing a little brighter now.

Efem’s tree grove is a special place which is why The CAT liked it here so much.

Efem grew catnip (only the premium kind), ferns to play hide and seek in, and a tree stump with just the right shape for a comfortable cat-bed. He did like looking down on his domain from his bed. Efem touched the stump and magically his favorite cat pillow appeared along with a special crème ala cream bowl of milk. “She is the best pet I ever had,” thought The CAT as he started eating. Soon he was full and contented.

Now this CAT was ornery, stubborn, mischievous, and sometime wickedly playful, but his worst vice was that he liked to listen to gossip. The birds were the best gossipers in the realm and he spent hours sitting in trees listening to the Twitter Line (while also waiting for a meal to get too close). Today’s gossip was too good to hold in though and he decided he had to tell someone. Noticing Efem looking at the young saplings in the grove, he sauntered up to her legs and started rubbing himself against her. Using mind-talk he told her “Hungry soon.” Before Efem realized it was The CAT talking, she answered “I already fed you.” When she realized it was The CAT, she gasped. Never had The CAT spoke to her.

“I’m not talking about being hungry. Hungry the Wish Dragon will be here soon. You can pick me up and pet me now if you would like and I will tell you the gossip about him,” The CAT replied.

To read about Hungry the Wish Dragon, click here.

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Nemmer is found...

5/2/2019

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“Another couple of bends in the trail and I should be finally at Efem’s,” muttered Nemmer, still upset about losing his mask. “At least I did not run into any Dusty Mytes on my way here.” Not that he remembered anyway…

Nemmer soon walked around the last bend of the trail and could see Efem’s tree grove. A little further and soon he spied Efem… and she had Dusty Mytes with her! “Oh no… and me without my mask for protection!” he thought. As he was pondering what to do, Efem saw him on the trail and waved to him to come over.

Not taking his eyes off of the Dusty Mytes, he slowly picked his way over. As he came nearer, the Dusty Mytes slowly rolled closer to Efem, making a trail for him.

“What are you doing with these dangerous creatures?”

“I was so worried about you!" she told him with a look of relief. “When the Dusty Mytes told me that something had happened to you, I was getting concerned and was about to send a message to your wife.”

“I am glad you didn't. The last thing I need is for you to call your sister. You can see I am fine," Nemmer replied as he diligently watched the Dusty Mytes making sure that they did not try anything.

“Oh Nemmer! They just want to apologize to you,” she answered.

“Apologize? To me? What for?” he stammered, surprised and suspicious both at the same time. “What’s their game? Everyone knows that they make you forget things?”

“Well, I don’t know exactly what happened on your way here, but, from what I can understand is that YOU attacked them. The poor little dears had to defend themselves and in the scuffle you lost your mask.”

“So they took my mask! I will get them for that!” growled Nemmer.

He was madder now than he was when he realized his mask was gone. For now he knew that it was the Dusty Myte’s who took it. Before he could reach out and start grabbing Dusty Mytes, Efem spoke in her mother’s voice. "Now Nemmer stop that and behave!" When she used that voice it could stop any disobedient child in mid-step to listen up and behave - Nemmer froze.

“Now you will listen and be quiet. They came to apologize for dusting you but you did attack them first. And secondly, they are returning your mask that YOU dropped," she told him as she handed him his mask. Nemmer did not know what to say and for a moment stood staring at the Dusty Mytes, his mask, and then to Efem.

“You are telling me that they dusted me and made me forget because I attacked them? They were waiting to ambush me…” Efem shook her head no. “You startled them when you came upon them and they defended themselves. They were not even looking for you.”

After a long pause and in a tiny little voice, Nemmer muttered that he was sorry. “What was that? I didn’t quite hear what you said,” Efem glared at him. “I am sorry for attacking the Dusty Mytes and I won’t do it again if they leave me alone,” he repeated.

Efem concentrated for a second to hear the Dusty Mytes answer. “They tell me they will honor the peace between you and them if you quit picking them up and bopping them on the head. Now that you have your mask back, tell me why you were coming here in the first place.”

“I don’t remember,” Nemmer started to tell her... then a smile spread across his face. “Just kidding. Your sister sent me here and I wish I could forget why. Have you seen The Cat?"

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Where did you find that???

4/30/2019

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"Oh, thank you for the shade Maple," Efem told the towering tree as she sat down. There was nothing better than a nice lazy afternoon communing with her tree friends. Efem, being a tree mother, loved to share her "wisdom" with the other trees as they watched the new saplings sprout in the grove. “Little Willow over there looks like she will grow to be a great golden willow from the looks of that crown of shiny new leaf buds,” she told the other trees.

As she was about to say something more, she heard a rustling noise coming from behind her. Quickly she started to raise her arms into the air so she could turn into a tree if needed, but hesitated when something pink out of the corner of her eye appeared. Before she was able to change, a shimmering glow flashed and she was suddenly surrounded by Dusty Mytes.

Efem, had a special gift of being able to communicate with them because of her dryad root connect to the earth. She could talk to all of plants and animals, not through words exactly, more like pictures and feelings.

At first she wasn't thrilled at being surprised when the Dusty Mytes appeared, but now she was becoming confused. They were feeling sorry about something and wanted her help - which they had never asked before.

It took her a minute to finally understand, but it appeared that something had happened to Nemmer and they were sorry.

As she was trying to figure how to image a question back to the Dusty Mytes about what had happened, another Dusty Myte appeared with Nemmer’s mask.

“Oh no… Nemmer never goes anywhere without his mask…”

“Oh Nemmer, what has happened? Where are you?”…

Where did that blasted mask go?” Nemmer muttered not for the last time as he continued his journey through the woods to Efem’s place. “When I get to Efem’s grove, maybe she can get the trees to help me find my mask,” he thought. “I normally don’t just lose things, so it still makes me wonder how I lost my mask. I’m sure those blasted Dusty Mytes had something to do with it.”

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Nemmer is out looking again...

4/11/2019

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Nemmer, the Archer of the Elfshot Guild, was sent on an errand by his wife to find some apples. He needed them so he could finally re-qualify to be an appleshot archer. Being re-qualified was for himself, but he also knew that the "wifie" likes the extra gold sheckles that would come from the Guild with the re-qualification.

She had also told him that Efem would be able to get him the apples, so Nemmer was off to find her. Efem, being a tree nymph, was friends to another nymph who lived in an apple tree and was willing to trade a few apples.

As he was walking through the forest, singing his favorite song, he kept his eyes open for those annoying Dusty Mytes…

(sung to the tune of ‘Little Bunny Foo Foo’)

Great Archer Nemmer,
walking through the forest,
scooping up the Dusty Mytes
and boppin’ ‘em on the head.

Down came the good fairy and she said,

Great Archer Nemmer,
I don’t want to see you
scooping up the Dusty Mytes
and boppin’ ‘em on the head.
I’ll give you three chances,
and if you don’t behave
I’ll turn you into a …

As he was singing, Nemmer realized he was starting to forget the next words of the song. “How could I forget my favorite song?” he started to wonder when he suddenly realized that there must be Dusty Mytes in the area.

"There must be more than one if they can make me forget my song. Grrrr… I will put a stop to that!” Ducking behind a large bush, he quickly put on his mask to protect him from the Dusty Mytes' "Forgetfulness", and began his search for the little critters.

Flitting from bush to tree to rock, he finally spies them. “Terrific! I found three of them together. This must be my lucky day!”

Quietly sneaking up to the Dusty Mytes and reaching down to scoop them up, the string holding his mask comes untied and the mask falls off. The Dusty Mytes, hearing the mask hit the ground, suddenly realize that he is upon them. With Nemmer's protective mask gone, they quickly douse him in forgetful dust - blowing it out of their long trunk-like noses.

Sometime later, Nemmer finds himself walking down the forest trail, humming his song, trying to remember why was he going to Efem’s house. “Oh well, it will come to me when I get there.”

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What is a Dusty Myte?

2/17/2019

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When I can't see something but I "feel" that it is there, a personal fear is created. By that definition, then maybe I should fear the Dusty Mytes since I can't see them. Now Nemmer, having run into these annoying creatures, knew there was nothing truly to fear from them. They are more like pesky little gossamer flocculent (look it up - it means fluffy) things than anything else. If it wasn't for their particular ability to make us forget where we placed our keys and leaving long trails of dust behind to be dusted away; Nemmer wouldn't have an issue with them.

So once again Nemmer shot me with his arrow of "seeing" (elfshot) and showed me that they weren't evil looking... just nettlesome. And of course, being so sweet and fluffy looking, I had to touch one. By which action, I then made it real... real enough that I can show you how to make your own annoying but sweet looking Dusty Myte.

To visit the tutorial - click here or on the Dusty Myte.

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A Rash of Forgetfulness?

2/10/2019

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Lately, there has been a rash of forgetfulness in the Shadows' Realm so much now that Nemmer was on-the-job. “Now where could those Dusty Mytes be hiding?" Nemmer mutters to himself as he pokes his head through some bushes. He is pondering this question so hard that he does not notice Meen running from mushroom to mushroom trying to sneak up on him from behind.

”Whatcha doing Nemmer?” Meen asks as she jumps out from behind a giant mushroom and lands right in front of him.

"I spooked ya - didn't I?" Meen giggles. Laughing so hard she had to wipe a tear from her eye. "Whatcha looking for?" As Meen started to take a breath so she could continue to ask more annoying unending questions, Nemmer quickly responds. “Good day Meen. Are you on an errand for the Shadows’ King or just out to play?”

This question worked, as Meen closed her mouth and appeared to be thinking about something. “Now that you mention it, I was supposed to do something… but I can’t remember what it is. Isn’t that funny? How can I do it if I don’t remember it. ”

“Sounds like you have been around a Dusty Myte," answers Nemmer.

"Now think hard… The Shadow King told you to do something… he normally sends you on errands to tell someone about something that’s important. What is new and important that you can think of?”

“I can’t think of anything new. Let’s see, Hungry and I were playing and then we saw Scarlet. Then the King found us and we saw the Nytemares and then Hunter sent Hungry to school… I can’t think of anything important in all of that. Sorry Nemmer, I can’t remember.”

“What does having to be hungry got to do with going to school?” asks Nemmer.

“What are you talking about? The King sent Hungry the baby Wish Dragon to school.” Meen’s eyes suddenly light up, “I remember now! I was to tell everyone that if they see a Dragon in the Shadows’ Realm that it is Hungry on his way to school. Thanks Nemmer." Jumping onto a mushroom, Meen starts to hop away. "I got to get going and spread the word about Hungry."

"That little pykse left before I could ask where she has been," grumbles Nemmer. "Probably forgot that too. Drat... I will just have to keep looking for those pesky Dusty Mytes. They could be anywhere... Imagine a wish dragon back in the kingdom, that is a sight I won't want to forget to see."

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My Brambles

Spring Cleaning...

VMP Arrivals...

When your wings are wet...

Efem finds The CAT... or is it that The CAT chooses Efem???

Nemmer is found...

Where did you find that???

Nemmer is out looking again...

What is a Dusty Myte?

A Rash of Forgetfulness?

Greetings

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