I spent the morning finding Pendragon's birthing day gift and a couple of meaningful cards.I always buy two cards as no one card ever says everything I want to. One generally has the unique message and the other usually the picture on the front which will mean something to both of us. There is a charming craft makers' studio,The Harbour Bell ,in the lane nearest to the Buttercup Bistro,which stocks very varied works of art .I found a special card there,with two elven figures holding each other tight, and one word written beneath them - "sharing ".It just sums up our life together,and signifies his nature so much. The artist had painted the card and it was one of a kind. The other card I found said " some people think the world of someone ,others think that person is their world". That is the way I feel about Pendragon - he is my world.
The mood of celebration on the sunnier days continues in Lobelia Drive. The Dagworts at no. 10 jogged past our toadstool at ten this morning- he in a sweaty grey jogging robe and she in a sweaty pink jogging vest and pants. Enthusiasm was clear,if jogging skills slightly hindered by Mimsey's bulk and Jeraboa's laziness. It's a wonder she wasn't carrying him on her back by that point, his efforts were so lacking in any speed or endeavour.She's a game bird,old Mimsey, and I daresay she feels these weekend physical jerks are bringing them closer together. I hope she is right, although I don't think she should wear Jeraboa out until he has fixed the hole in the fence.
The Primpoles were up with the first starlings,welcoming members of the Primpole Clan in for the day,to join them for a barbecue and to listen to the Dingley Dell Community Radio sports commentary. Their two sons,Boneyback and Abstemio Primpole, are tall by Primpole standards with stout arms ,honed by lifting huge tankards of mead,on a regular basis. They had elven girls in tow today, blooming and busty, with merry smiles and filmy blousons,loosely draped from one shoulder,and seemingly hanging by willpower. They all took up position in the Primpoles' back garden,stocking up on regular infusions of ale and meat pasties , and squealed and shouted the afternoon away,in tandem with Dreelie Firethorn's scintillating radio repartee. The Dingley Dell CLog Hurling Finals were being broadcast and each time a clog was thrown,the whole Primpole party yelled their congratulations ,then giggled at the ostentation of it all. I was working hard in the back garden, - weeding,planting,watering and drinking the cups of acorn tea Pendragon kept bringing ,and it was hard not to be amused at some of their goings-on. Weedy was knocking back the tankards,and I think he was reaching the point of not even bothering what was in them. His constant rantings from the other side of the backyard fence were rapidly becoming slurred with every swallow. Even Severity seemed less severe than usual,occasionally stopping her rant to circle Weedy provocatively ,and kick up her legs and her sun skirt, in an enticing bid for attention. I saw all this from the Blue Room window,as I went to get my sun hat. I have to say that by now,Weedy was in no condition to respond anyway,and any overtures being made for a little afternoon flirting ,were completely falling on stoney ground. He kept raising his tankard with a "heyyyyy,hooooo,hoyyyyyy,woaaaaaaa" ,slobbering down another slobber, and veering ever so slightly closer to the paving stones with every move. They seemed happy in their own merrymaking,so I returned to my own garden funfest,and got lots of useful jobs done by the time the cuckoo called four. It was very warm,and everything looked so beautiful. My tiny plants are growing well,the colours grow richer every day,and cutting back my wandering ivy a little,will really help to allow other shrubs to spread out. Pendragon made our evening repast, a sumptuous miscellany of peppers on a bed of creamy parsnip vermicelli. He is quite the Masterchef,with no seeming limit to his abilities to make new and more scrumptious delicacies. I have planned a special meal for him tomorrow. It may not rival his expertise, but it will press all his buttons in terms of love and effort.
May you all be making merry in your sunny back gardens this weekend ,my sweet friends. Just remember,take care, as you don't know who may be watching. It might even be me, Amarantha Willow, the Rainbow Faery.