toadstooltales

I left home this morning to be met with a thunderous deluge falling thick and fast, and filling more than half the roadway in front of me. It was wide and long and rather deep. I took my four wheeled motor carriage very slowly through the murky water, and noted the sandbags laid on the left side of the road to soak up the excess. Wasn't working , I noted, and wondered if the nearby hedgerow homes had been flooded overnight.
There was no stopping the rain today, and we shall have more tomorrow. Warmer, but wetter. I have been busying myself today with with planning and organising the accessories for our weekend party.
I will finalise everything tomorrow.
Pendragon has gone to work in Outer Nissrevin for two days, counselling some lost souls to betterness. I miss him greatly when he works away .
I keep busy though, with tidying and refurbishing our precious toadstool home.
i have had lots of calls to day from our weekend guests, checking the arrangements. I still found time to ponder my outfit for our afternoon soire.Two choices predominate, both of them black.
I have a chinese jacket and jacquard skirt, or black linen jacket decorated with pastel embroidered butterflies. Sounds as though it overeggs the lily, but it is tasteful and rather special.
With black palazzo pants, and a shapely top, it may be the talking point of our event.
Dilly Gumm, my cleaning operative comes to call tomorrow to freshen the house for Pendragon's return. I'll let Dilly have a look at my prospective wardrobe and see what she thinks. Dilly is no slave to fashion but has shown herself in the past to have a keen eye for items which come together in harmony to show one's finer features to advantage. Dilly works hard, and takes a pride in her work, no matter how unappealing the task may be. She is currently de- greasing the Willow oven, and that's no small operation. But she sings merrily to make the task go faster, and never pouts resentfully when asked to get her hands dirty.
She talks little of her family these days. I know she trusts me not to mention her private business outside to anyone, but right now I feel she just would rather not go there. It is for some reason too painful.Coming to work seems to give her solace for whatever troubles her, but still behind the eyes a weary sadness hangs heavy.I have grown to admire her tirelss struggle to keep her family afloat financially, and her measured approach to the big problems of the world. Dilly sees everything through practical spectacles, strips away the trimmings and grasps the mettle of a situation.
I enjoy talking to her, and listening to her matter of fact views from the battlements of ordinary life.
We will stop for tea and a scone at 11.00. Always tea and always eleven.
Wally our toadstool cuckoo barely bothers to come out when Dilly comes, as she is so exacting in her time management. I had to tap twice on the
wooden clock face last week before he deemed to emerge and signal the hour. His disgruntled feathery grimace spoke volumes but I matched it with one of my wry "dinnae no' dae that, Wally " looks, and he fairly picked up his step.
Pendragon does not return home till Saturday, so I shall spend Friday evening watching the digital picture box for an hour or two and perhaps press a few vestments along the way.

More tomorrow, dear friends, from Amarantha, the Rainbow Faery, keeper of the finest little toadstool in the West.

There has been a fracas at the Ladies of Mercy Charity Shop. Impossible , I hear you say, surely not among such cultured and refined denizens of Dingley Dell. Unfortunately yes, this afternoon, and after a morning of dedicated labour and happy co-existence.
But.......sometimes, the brownie and the elf don't mix, and tensions explode into one to one conflagrations.
I was positioned at the top of the landing, where my parchment cases are maintained, when the shriek went up from somewhere down in the main shop floor. Two loud voices were heard, graven insults flew back and forward, and others on the landing beside me fled down below to see what had occurred. Ten some minutes later.......silence. I was shocked, not daring to think what might have happenened, and wondering whether to follow suit, and see if any assisstance was required.
Too late for that, for as I tidied up a pile of second hand map- readers, I heard footsteps on the stairway, and two flying harpies appeared beside me on the landing. I was astounded to see whom it was.

Mula Nimbletink , our most refined elven assistant, was one protagonist.
The other, Gamborina Stampblast was maybe of a more exciteable nature.
Poised together, straight in front of me, they stood like two stags waiting to attack. They did not wait long. The bellowing and insulting started forthwith. It was not clear exactly what had started it, but both felt the other to be in the wrong, and attacking the other's dignity. One suggested the other to be of commoner stock, while the other retaliated with accusations of pomposity, snootiness and treating others as being of lower sensibilities.
I was both shocked and transfixed by the animal nature of their confrontation. They seemed only seconds away from physical assault.
I was worried for both of them, and thought that I should attempt some cursory intervention without offending either.

I heard my voice emerge from somewhere, squeakily bidding them to cease or at least refrain from the altercation becoming more vicious. They drew themselves to a halt at the sound of my appeal ,stared at me as though I were some strange apparition, for five whole seconds, then looked back at each other , and started again.
I was at a complete loss.
I did not have to think of what to do next, as Nias, our leader appeared at the top of the stairway, pointed a scrawny finger towards the upstairs annexe, and they headed off with her to discuss their personal grievances about the other.
I just stood for a few minutes more, and wondered if I had really witnessed such a ridiculous melee.
I had.
I don't know what Nias said to them, but they emerged sometime later, heads bowed and looking sheepish, and resumed their various duties.
I don't think the matter is solved,though, for I observed at various junctures in the afternoon, scurulous looks passing between them and ominous poking of elbows when they had to pass each other.
I hope our esteemed customers observed nothing. But know that little passes the good folk of Dingley Dell. We will make the pages of The Daily Scandal yet !
Talking of that fine rag, I must remember to get Portamus Cumberpatch on the woodland phone tomorrow , and arrange a time to discuss my Xmas column with him. My original assignments for him were only contracted till August, but he has indicated that he would like me to do several to finish the year, and discuss further opportunities for Amarantha's ramblings to grace the leisure section in the New Year.
The next few weeks are going to be busy and after today's horrific outburst, not going to pass without incident, so it seems.
Tomorrow I journey to Brigantia to fetch some items for our Family and Friends lunch.
Sunday looks to be a fun day, and I am very much looking forward to meeting up with those I love.
Stay close to those you love, my friends, and if arguments take their toll, remember that tomorrow is another day, and that grievances tend to float away in the wind if people resolve to get beyond them.

Much Love to you all,from Amarantha Willow, mistress of number five Lobelia Drive, fifth toadstool from the left.

I had to set out early today to post my early parchment orders. It was lonely in the toadstool without the usual chirping cheerfulness of Pendragon. His cup of acorn tea and slice of rye toast were missing, as was his odd singing or whistling in the bathroom. He was working overnight in the Metropolis Hospital . I busy myself with tasks when he is away, tidying or cleaning, planning or making . It can be quite a productive solitude ,it is really only the mornings that I feel a little by myself. Pendi and I are not often apart, thankfully.
Afterwards I headed off to pass out some late invitations to colleagues at Dingley Dell Academy. Sadly those we sent out four weeks ago seem to have been caught up in the dreaded Mail Stoppage of October 2009. Some replies have arrived, others have not been replied to yet. We are checking with everyone and asking them to use their e-box to let us know if they will be there. It is sorting itself out now, so I am starting to relax about it.
There are still many things to be done to prepare for this merry event on Sunday. Some flowers, some favours, some sweets for the imps are all on my list of things to do.
I don't know what to wear. I don't want to wear my fabulous betrothal gown, as it is too ornate. My wardrobe has many items in it which would be suitable for a smart, casual event. I just need to work out how I want to look.
Tomorrow I spend the morning in the Dingley High Street All- New Ladies of Mercy Charity Shop. I spend Wednesday Morning and Thursday Afternoon there usually, but sometimes more often when special events are coming up. I take care of their used parchment section, as they feel I have the knowledge and expertise. I also do their window adornment for Special Days and Events. It can be fun ; I have decorated for the Faery Fair, for All Souls Eve, and now I am preparing my display for Christmas.
I will tell you more as I go along.

I love the Winter Solstice, and all the celebrations it involves. I have just started to collect my gift items for friends and family, and will advance in earnest when the family party is over.

The Charity shop is very plush and modern, with donated bargains of vestments, hose, hats, outerwear, woolly knits, toys, parchments, pottery and much more besides to rummage through.We are always busy.
I sometimes have to renew the parchment shelves several times in a morning. The shop is under the command of Nias Thinshanks, a very smart and effective manager, of middle years . She is sweet to us all, and just wants everyone to enjoy themselves in the workplace.
We drink copious amounts of acorn tea while we labour, and laugh at every funny event that comes to pass. Helpers of all ages give their help during the week, some from the old shop, and others like myself have newly entered the fold.

This afternoon I need to finish my winter planting. Some dozen or so plants are still sitting below our front windowsill ,waiting to be planted. We have had some rather serious wind storms in the last three weeks, but everything planted seems to have dug its tiny plant heels in and survived the worst.
Pendi wants a celery quiche for tea, so I must make preparations fairly soon. An hour to mix, an hour to bake and an hour to rest on my laurels looking at my fabulous workmanship.

Best wishes to you all my dear friends, may all your fine flans rise to perfection.
More on the morrow of the Fearless Faery's ploys, and our antics with other people's cast-offs.
Much Love to you all, from the Rainbow Faery, mistress of number 5 Lobelia Drive.

The grey days of November are screaming heavy woollens and earmuffs to all here in Dingley Dell. We have been getting colder for some time now, and I have had the odd irreverent sniffle to fend off. Pendragon remains his old healthy self, leaving home in the morning with heavy tabard, grey woolly hat and leather mittens to steel himself against the winter climes. I remain in our oaken four poster for an extra half hour before I plod my way to the newly refurbished bathroom for a 15 minute soak.
The trees are still looking beautiful,with orange ,yellow, red and golden hue.
But the temperatures tell a different tale, that Autumn has sung its last ripe song and Winter Chill is marching on to nip our noses and redden our cheeks.
I remain busy with my used parchment business, am settling even further into part time chores with the Charity Shop, and married life to Pendi keeps me ever busy maintaining the svelte little home we like to call Flowerpot Cottage.
We have laid a new pathway in our front yard, pink and blue stone ,and filled buckets and pots with violas, pansies, primroses,and herbs, with our stout little dwarf shrub ,the rosy berried berberis, taking centre stage among the blooms.
Our gardens front and back continue to be populated with gnomes and fairies, garden folk and forest animals, helping in their own way to keep away the pests and provide some extra colour and homespun charm to our land of mellow fruitfulness. Around the back we are still sorting out plants and pots, earth and debris, to clear the garden for Winter, leaving it ready for the first flush of Spring. Mandolini and the Backyard Boys have weathered storm and deluge recently to protect our backyard patch from succumbing to dampness and mould.
The slugs have gone for the year, for which Pendi is grateful. He unleashed several successful strategies in his fight against their munching ways. They quietly staggered to their inebriated demise with several carefully laid beer traps. The Black Froth of the Guiness Berry proved to be particularly overwhelming for their slimy wanton attacks.

We party with family and friends on Sunday, a further celebration of our marriage vows. We very much look forward to the carousing and general jubilation this will incite.

I have warm turnip pasties and a celeriac broth to heat for Pendragon's supper ; not the most celestial of meals, but one certain to stimulate his immune system, and add greated strength to his mineral deposits.

I am visiting Brigantia tomorrow, to buy some simple favours to tempt my guests on Sunday , find something lovely to wear, and maybe make some parchment purchases for my business stock. Busy days my friends, but sure to keep me from peering at neighbours' nonsense, or from trying to advance their lives.
The Fearless Faery has been holidaying in Sunny Climes, and the Shilpits seem to be trying to make their way down a theatrical road. The Primpoles on our right have been "primpoling" their garden with a few red azaleas and some greenery. Never ones to forget to be thrifty, the Primpoles, but sadly it will take more than a little frothy fern to detract from their scraped and scanty lawn , rent asunder by the vagaries of their errant wildebeests.

More tomorrow,- you definitely need to know more, my dear friends, about Dingley Dell's finest .
Love and crab apple dumplings to you all,

From Amarantha Willow, the Rainbow Faery,