My electronic box decided not to work on Thursday morning,so I have had to have it in diagnostic care for the last 24 hours. The problem is fixed ,thank goodness, as I missed being able to communicate with all my dear friends. I have kept very busy though, in the meantime. The toadstool is shining from top to bottom,as I spent all of Thursday morning spinning round its interiors with dusters,polish,soap and water,and maximum elbow grease. In the afternoon, I went to the Jolly Woodman to amass some more gardening supplies. I had a most enjoyable afternoon,fishing through the dwarf shrubs,the border plants and the hardy perennials. I bought some new brightly coloured pots for my house plants too,and fresh soil and feed. I came home with two patio roses, - one for the front yard,and one for the back - in slightly differing shades of peach. I have been carefully watering and feeding them for the last two days,before transferring them into larger,prettier pots. The garden is awash with flowers generally at the moment.Everything has decided to put on its finest weeds,and dress gaily for the summer days. Watering is my most difficult chore to be honest,as much preparation was already done in the garden,before we planted the summer beds. Pendragon and I share the garden jobs,with him seeming to get the muckiest, sad to say. I swan around telling everything how wonderful it is looking, while he mans secateurs,shears , garden scythe and spade.
Downstairs at the moment,Pendragon is preparing our Saturday repast. He wants me to have a little time off from cooking chores at weekends.I am not sure if this is a mark of kindness,or just a reprieve for his stomach from my simple helpings. I am a good plain cook,with fair knowledge of healthy elven recipes, but Pendragon's father worked in some of the best kitchens of Transatlantia, and passed down to him many tricks of the seasoning trade.
At the end of next week,Pendragon and I are going to visit some of my elven relatives in Granitonda.My niece's little boy, Lucantus, will be celebrating his birthing day. He now has seven elven years, and presents as quite the well-mannered young sprite. He wants to become an astronomer,and spends much of his leisure time,pouring over books about the stars. We have bought him some special binocular glasses with which to stare at the heavens in his thirst for astral knowledge. His elven parents are holding a barbecued lunch party for him,and all the family who can come. It will be a great opportunity to see members of our clan whom we have not seen for a while. Lucantus has a little brother sprite who had two elven years when we saw him last. His name is Marcollino ,and we are told he has grown a lot taller. We are going to stay overnight in a watermill in Granitonda,and will be taking lots of photographs of our stay.
My used parchment selling business has really taken off,and I am dealing with purchases every day at the moment.The Blue Room is so full of merchandise that I think I am going to organise them rather better this weekend. I need more shelving,and am going to look into that this coming week.
On Monday next week I have been invited to attend a special evening back at my former place of work,Dingley Dell Academy. The eldest sprites there are leaving to go on to their next stage of education,so a celebration is in order. I am their special guest,and it will be really fun to see them all again, and join in the fun. Lots of dancing,lots of eating,and maybe a bit of singing,will be the order of the evening. Elven sprites learn from a very early age how to celebrate in fine style,and will all attend in their finest, most fashionable garments. I hope to also see some of my former colleagues who will be in attendance at this occasion.
The rain has decided to fall..I can hear it tap,tapping on the window. The dozens of birds we have had visiting all day ,have fled for shelter to treetops or hedges elsewhere. We were watching them at lunchtime today, scrambling for their share of the goodies hung up for them .Jumping ,leaping around ,pecking each other, crash-banging into the coconut shells from above to knock another bird off.Many of the visitors today have been young birds,looking for fodder to fatten themselves up,and
turn their downy plumage into sleek feathers. From starlings to thrushes,dunnocks to finches, coal tits and robins,we have seen them all this week at some point. They seem to be getting used to my presence pottering in the front garden. At first they would fly off if I appeared. Now they keep feeding if I am around, as long as I am at a safe distance from them. Sometimes they just sit on top of the garden fence till I have gone,and then return to the feeders.
The last few days in Lobelia Drive have been relatively quiet,neighbour wise. The Forlorn Faery has been out a lot,walking her new beast,Daisy.She very kindly offered me a bag of green nuts for my birds this morning,which she had brought back from her holiday away. Mimsey and Jeraboa Dagwort have been on vacation in the Sunny Isles, and the Primpoles have been away visiting one of their sons.Nobby Shilpit and his brood have been seen from time to time, but only a glimpse of one or other of them,disappearing into their toadstool.
Son Oggie the Hood is still keeping a low profile,maybe he is a changed sprite. Any distinctive change of personality would have to be more than skin deep though to alter the neighbourhood perception of young Oggie. Let us hope this peace will last for a while. Although judging by the intrigues of the past few months,nothing ever stays quiet in Lobelia Drive for long.
Peace and Tranquillity to all of you, my fine feathered friends, this mid month weekend. May you all be engaged in health giving pursuits, surrounded by those you love. From Amarantha Willow, Dingley Dell's own Bird of Paradise, the Rainbow Faery.
