The library

Samantha’s day started with a stop at the library. Situated in a mulberry tree, it rose above the forest floor twelve full stories high. A twisting, spiraling staircase filled the entire chamber, with each floor branching off at each tree limb. Hollowed out briefly, bookcases filled each alcove, with desks, tables and chairs placed about by windows and hallways for readers and researchers alike. As she arrived in the vestibule and hung her cloak on a hook she took out her list and noticed Dimity flitting about levels above, shelving books.

“Samantha!” she exclaimed, coming to a brief halt on the windowsill beside her. “How are you today? What can I help you with?” Dimity fluffed and settled her feathers down and hopped down onto the floor. Taking a stack of books out of the satchel on her back, she set them down on the great oak desk that filled the entrance hall. Samantha handed her the list. “I was hoping to get these delivered before the Big Storm rolls in next week.” Dimity gave the list a brief perusal before looking back at Samantha. “Oh, of course, no problem!” she reached into a cubby built into the desk for a book basket. “If you can wait a few minutes, I can get them for you now?” Samantha shook her head regretfully. “Unfortunately, I don’t have time today. I’m due down at the nursery this morning to help with the Spring Cleaning.” Dimity put the basket back and instead rung a little bell hanging from a hook set into the wall behind the desk. “That’s alright” she said, “I can have Archimedes deliver them to you.” As she spoke, a little brown and cream sparrow zoomed into the vestibule, and landed atop the giant desk. “Yes ma’am, at your service ma’am!” he chirped. His bright black eyes took in the two ladies and sparkled with curiosity. “Do you have a delivery for me to make Miss D?” he asked brightly. Samantha smothered a laugh as Dimity sighed slightly. Archimedes was very fond of flying just as fast as he could, as often as he could, and gave no never-mind to things like protocol- or scratched desks.

Milo’s Wine Cellar

Milo is the proprietor of the wine cellar- a real cellar deep under the roots of the village oak tree. A wooden staircase winds its way underneath the cheese shop at ground level, opening into the wine cellar below. A medium size space with rounded walls lined in wooden casks, shelves, urns and bottles, surmounted at the back of the room by an oak bar surrounded by chairs.

“Ladies- what can I get for you this fine morning?” Milo turned from arranging bottles on a small shelf by the bar and wiped his paws on his spotless apron. Cecily and Aubry set about unwinding themselves from their scarves while Cally dug out her shopping list. “I’m in need of a bottle of white spirits, Milo- something suitable for making lavender and rose water?” Milo’s eyebrows shot up to his brow in surprise, then he smiled briefly and pulled a good sized clear bottle from the shelves. ”And for you Cecily?” he asked- although he had a pretty good idea of what was to come next. “I’m running low on vanilla flavoring Milo. But this time I wanted to try something a little bit more…flavorful?” Cecily looked at him hopefully. He thought for a bit, then reached around the bar and handed her a small dark brown bottle of plain rum. “This ought to do the job nicely” he told her, then turned to Aubry, who had been folding her wraps over her arm and pacing around the shop while he helped her friends. “What can I get for you today, Aubry?” he swiped at his nose in an attempt to hide the grin breaking out as he noticed her fingering a flask of almond essence. “Have you any more of that lovely blackberry cordial Milo?” she asked wistfully. He looked up in surprise, then moved into the back to check. “Let me see Aubry- I’ll be just a second.” While back there he pulled out a tiny bottle of the almond essence and tucked it into a small basket with the cordial.

“That popular was it?” Milo said as he came back into the room. Aubry had just taken a few bottles at the Fall Festival. “No” she said mournfully, “well, I suppose yes- with the mice it would seem.” Everyone exclaimed in dismay and regret. “Oh no” Cally gasped. ”Not mice! How bad is it?” she shuddered as she imagined Aubry’s Inn overrun with the pests. “Oh, not too bad I think, I’ve only just noticed, and the cats haven’t told me of anything out of the ordinary. I’m thinking a good cleaning will take care of it. I just wish they hadn’t gotten to the cordials before I’d had a chance to sample them!” she grinned, then sighed dramatically. Everyone laughed, then it was time to wrap their purchases up in baskets and bags, wind up in scarves and wraps, and thank Milo for his time and patience and head out into the snow again. “No, no- thank you ladies!” Milo said heartily. He took the broom out as they all headed up the stairs. “Come again anytime!” he called, then began sweeping up the bits of debris that had come inside with them. Not a bad days work, he reflected. He put away the broom and locked up his money box. Not bad at all!

A Winter’s Tale

Wasn’t that fun? I had a wonderful time writing those stories, and it was really good practice for me. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a tale to tell- next I want to do a dialogue scene. But for today I thought I check in and give you all an update on what I’ve been up to lately, besides writing children’s stories…

This month I decided to try a new pattern making technique- taking a pattern from an existing garment. How does it look?

The green tunic is the one I made- and yes, it’s very large, inside out and only basted together, but I’m very happy with it! It fits! I’m enjoying the process and learning a lot as I go through the steps. And all my thrifted sewing books are coming in very handy- I’ve already looked up assembling sleeves, plackets, cuffs, collars and seam finishes (although that’s getting ahead of myself- it’s not at that stage yet!) Very exciting…

There is new life again out in the garden- I gave it a good cleaning last week. Sweeping and dead-heading and a good feed brought most of the plants back to life. I’ve discovered liquid seaweed fertilizer, and I must say it’s easier and gives better results than the powdered stuff I was using. Almost everyone out there needs a new, bigger pot this year, so I’ll be making a trip to the garden shop soon…

The kitty grass had to come out- kitties love it, but their stomachs do not! Ahem. The Buddleia is not really doing it for me (they have no smell! And the hummers didn’t much care for it anyway), so I’ve decided it must come out. The red rose turned out to be a Hybrid Tea- which means there is only ever one single bloom on the thing at a time, so he’s coming out too. After I made that decision I took a good look at what else was going on out there and made an actual plan for this spring. Can’t wait til it warms up so we can buy some new plants!

Speaking of…yes, we brought home some new herbs- but I’m keeping them in the kitchen this time, they’re so pretty! Apple Mint, Tarragon and Lemon Thyme. Yummy- I put a pinch of tender thyme tops in my tea last night…Mmm….delicious!

So that’s the month so far- lots of sewing, a little gardening, and a new pasttime, writing! I’ll have a new chapter up this Friday, thanks for staying tuned! Now if I could just get those Faeries out of my ink pot…

Aubry the Innkeeper

Aubry walked into the Inn’s kitchen and sat down at her desk under the window to make the weekly shopping list. It was Wednesday, the middle of the week, and all the guests had left but one. She had set the little maid to airing the rooms and let Cook know that dinner would be light today, just the maid, herself and the last guest, since Aubry would be in town all day doing the shopping. Taking out a pencil nub and a fresh sheet of thick paper, she set to work.

Flour, salt and sugar- although they liked to use their own honey from the beehives out in the garden, it was close to the end of winter, and their stock was low. Plenty of root vegetables; carrots, potatoes, turnips, yams, beets, and parsnips for certain. She would keep an eye out for anything new that might be in for Cooks’ wonderful meals of stews, bakes, mashes and salads. Salads! That’s right, Cook had asked for some greens to round out the lettuces and herb tops she used in her lunch offerings. Aubry took out her master list while she mentally reviewed the pantry. Another bag of dried beans perhaps, and some rolled oats for the morning porridge. The rice was holding out, and the lentils were fine, so she looked over the rest of the supplies.

Dried herbs for the floors- she liked to strew the straw floor in the dining room with herbs to discourage uninvited “guests”, and it made the close winter air fresh and clean smelling. More chamomile soap – she still had plenty of the rosemary. A length of linen to make a new table runner perhaps, and some new mugs to replace the ones that were broken at the WinterTide Feast. She shook her head in consternation- she ran a nice establishment, not some rowdy Pub! Mayhap this year she should think of taking bookings for the meal, instead of allowing the room to be overrun with revelers.

Aubry went to the cellar to check the wine stock and discovered that the cider was running low; she would have to arrange for delivery of two more barrels, and the mice had opened the cork on some of the bottles. Hmm...It would seem they had a preference for the blackberry cordials! She sighed softly to herself then gathered them up and took them to Cook. Maybe she could save them. She added two bottles of cordial to her list and went to fetch her purse, shawl, market basket and, after checking outside, her galoshes. Brrr! This was going to be a cold and wet trip!

The Tailor’s Shop

With the midday meal taken care of, and the dishes and napkin safely returned to the teashop, Cecily set out to finish her shopping. She stopped by the cobbler’s stall to pick out a pair of soft leather boots- now that the cold weather had set in, her feet were always blue and she needed something soft and warm to wear while she went about her duties at the shop. While she was there she found a pretty little pair of grey slippers that would go perfectly with Analise’s new winter coat. She danced a little jig while the cobbler’s assistant wrapped her packages in green paper and tied them up with string. Cecily thanked them both as she made her way out of the stall, and turned towards the tailor’s shop at the edge of the faire.
The tailor’s shop was Cecily’s favorite stop of the day. Full of colour and texture, the walls were lined with hooks holding garments, and shelves full of folded trousers and shirts filled the interior. There were hip length tunics of cotton and linen, twill pants, corduroy trousers, and shirts of silk, voile and flannel. There were even some vests of felt and hand woven tapestry hung by the door. Near the back were the coats and cloaks of woven and boiled wool, all in lovely jewel toned reds and greens and blues and browns, with a few mysterious looking black ones peeping out from the rack. There were heavy twill and linen skirts, some with embroidery borders running around the bottom edges, and aprons made of the finest linen were folded into a chest by the front. Hob even had a few pieces of silk velvet clothing- vests, trousers and a funny little tri-cornered hat made up of different colours. Cecily sighed over the silk festival dresses for a few moments before picking out some good, sturdy green and brown fustian skirts, a nice handkerchief weight linen tunic of light lavender, and a wonderful cloak full of pockets in a beautiful shade of chocolate brown, with a border of cocoa and cream embroidery.
Now her shopping basket was full to the brim, and the sun was slanting down through the trees as the afternoon turned towards evening. It was time to head home. It had been a wonderful day full of treasures and delights, and Cecily was glad she had come to the Winter Faire!