http://fairiefabels.com faeries through the ivy hedge Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:50:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 faeries through the ivy hedge The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no faeries through the ivy hedge http://fairiefabels.com/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://fairiefabels.com http://fairiefabels.com/2010/05/lilly-in-the-park/ http://fairiefabels.com/2010/05/lilly-in-the-park/#comments Sun, 02 May 2010 02:26:10 +0000 admin http://fairiefabels.com/?p=2214 http://fairiefabels.com/2010/05/lilly-in-the-park/feed/ 0 http://fairiefabels.com/2010/02/bills-eyes-are-opened-the-hard-way/ http://fairiefabels.com/2010/02/bills-eyes-are-opened-the-hard-way/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:12:56 +0000 admin http://fairiefabels.com/?p=2025 http://fairiefabels.com/2010/02/bills-eyes-are-opened-the-hard-way/feed/ 0 Attack,Beam,Breach,Caterwauling,centaurs,Crazy,Din,Dogs,Fairies,Funny Farm,Gnomes,Heart Attack Bill, lacking fairy blood, was blissfully unaware of the other realms existing just through our ivy hedge, until the day he sensed a calamity, saw a strange icky green laser-like light killing the ivy leaves wherever it touched. Bill, lacking fairy blood, was blissfully unaware of the other realms existing just through our ivy hedge, until the day he sensed a calamity, saw a strange icky green laser-like light killing the ivy leaves wherever it touched. Something in his head screamed danger and he scrambled to collect the dogs and get out. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no http://fairiefabels.com/2010/01/what-lurks-in-the-dark-wood/ http://fairiefabels.com/2010/01/what-lurks-in-the-dark-wood/#comments Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:21:10 +0000 admin http://fairiefabels.com/?p=1988 http://fairiefabels.com/2010/01/what-lurks-in-the-dark-wood/feed/ 0 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/05/namaste/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/05/namaste/#comments Wed, 20 May 2009 00:15:51 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=1104 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/05/namaste/feed/ 0 Arial,faeries,Flowers,garden,Gnomes,growth,Hawthorne trees,ivy hedge,morning,namaste,perennials,renewal Oh, the glorious mornings of Spring! It appears that Queen Orlaith has released her icy grip on the world and has given her blessings for renewal and growth. In my garden, the flower faeries of the spring season are doing a marvelous job of coaxing th... Oh, the glorious mornings of Spring! It appears that Queen Orlaith has released her icy grip on the world and has given her blessings for renewal and growth. In my garden, the flower faeries of the spring season are doing a marvelous job of coaxing the early blossoms  out of the the Hawthorne trees and Laurel bushes. After the flowers came out, I saw faeries tiptoeing all over them changing them from white, to pink. Warren and Odette are lending a helping hand in the new flower garden by planting perennials  and ground covers. I get to sit on the patio feeling the cool morning breeze on my face, drinking my coffee, and feeling generally right with the world. I had closed my eyes and was reflecting on the differences between this year and the last. I knew that it would be nice to have my faerie friends to help me in the garden, but I hadn't given much thought to what it would be like to have the gnomes.  Just as I was thinking about Warren and Odette, a loud crash came from under the Laurels. "Oh, do be watchin' what yer doin' Nam!" I heard Odette's high voice and the scurrying of tiny feet. Sitting bolt upright, I opened my eyes to see a strange gnome standing by a large rock that he had rolled out of the ivy. He stood five times taller than Odette and had large beefy hands that he brought together as he bowed. The rock had rolled into a flower pot at the edge of the lawn causing it to shatter, spilling its dirt out onto the lawn. Odette had a look of chagrin on her face. "I'm sorry Missus, Nam gets carried away with himself, he doesn't know his own strength." She waved at Warren, "Papa, come have a look at the border, we will have to be cleanin' up this dirt now. Nam's had a wee bit of an accident." Without a word, Warren hobbled over and started to shovel the dirt into his Lilliputian sized wheelbarrow. We watched him work for a minute, Nam was helping by throwing large fist fulls of soil into the the ivy behind us. I was looking at Nam with what must have been a puzzled look on my face  when Odette looked up. " Saints preserve me! I clean forgot, you haven't met Nam yet." She waddled over and grabbed the edge of Nam's tunic. "Drop the dirt Nam, come over and meet the Missus. It's her lovely garden we'll be callin' home now." Nam looked over his shoulder and proffered a huge grin, after wiping his hands on his breeches he jumped up on the foot of the lounge and proceeded to do an amazing imitation of a tightrope walker as he edged his way along the seat. When he got closer, he took my hands in his, looked at me closely and said, "Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends whom we choose." Then he jumped down and without another word continued throwing dirt into the ivy. Odette was smiling and shaking her head. "Nam is Warren's cousin on his mother side. He's always been a wee bit different. Had a bit of the wanderlust a ways back and ended up on a mountain in Tibet with them monks. Guess he felt it was in keepin' with his given name, Namaste. The air must of done him good, he's as big as a mountain himself now! Not much for talkin' though. I hope you'll be wantin' another helpin' hand." She looked up at me with a plea in her eyes. He's good with the heavy stuff!" I looked over at Warren and Nam, they were sitting on the ground teasing a snail that had crawled out from under an ivy leaf. Well, Nam was sitting on the ground, Warren was using Nam's leg as a chair. "Oh, I don't see that it will be a problem, I kind of like him, even if he is a bit larger than your average gnome. I don't think the dogs will be chasing him around!" Odette jumped up and down, clapping her hands like a little girl, "Thank you Missus! It will be such fun havin' him here!" She ran off to tell the others the good news. Just as the gnomes were retreating back under the Laurel's, Arial made a sparkling entrance into the backyard through the ivy hedge. I looked around,"Hey! were have you been latley? The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no 5:50 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/05/real-men-dont-see-fairies/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/05/real-men-dont-see-fairies/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 20:56:11 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=1069 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/05/real-men-dont-see-fairies/feed/ 1 believe,Black Cats,Faerie Vision,fairy world,Gnomes,Imagination,ivy hedge,portal,pumkin house,Spring Festival I'm Bill, you know the one that thinks it's all about the food? Maybe that is true, but it isn't my fault, after all, men since before cavemen have been the hunter gatherers. That was our main job. Find food. So, you see, because I'm a guy, I'm Bill, you know the one that thinks it's all about the food? Maybe that is true, but it isn't my fault, after all, men since before cavemen have been the hunter gatherers. That was our main job. Find food. So, you see, because I'm a guy, I was naturally born with it. Besides, my mother told me to eat so I could get big and tall. I did, and now I'm big and tall enough to take on any ol' woolly mammoth that comes along. Not by myself, of course, but with my other hunter gatherer buddies. Just kidding about the woolly mammoth. I know they are extinct. But an elephant...how about an elephant? Gee, now I'm hungry. I think I'll go make a sandwich. The other day my wife showed me her journal pages. I said, "You are making this up, aren't you?" She said, "No." "What do you mean--no? Do you really believe there is a portal in the ivy hedge where fairies come into this world?" I looked at her like I thought she might be going bonkers. After all, fairies, who in their right mind, believes in fairies? I knew she liked fairies because we have porcelain figurines all around the house of pretty girls with wings. Decorations she calls them. Just decorations.  I wondered if that is what she was talking about, those little statues. Now she was looking at me like I was the one that was cracked. "Bill," she said, "You've been to their world. You've met Arial and her mother. You saw me transformed from a cat." "No I didn't. How can you say those things? I haven't been to any faerie world and you certainly haven't been any gol darn cat! If something like that had happened, I would remember it. A cat, boy have you got some imagination." She almost shouted, "Don't you remember the Spring festival? And how about the gnomes living under our sink?" "Under our sink?" "Yes, I'll show you." With that she flung open the cabinet doors and said, "There is their pumpkin house. Odette will you come out?" I guess the imaginary thing she called Odette said no, because I didn't see any gnomes or pumpkin house either. All I saw was the trash can, cleanser, a box of scrubbing pads, and some air freshener. To be fair the box of scrubbing pads was kind of pumpkin orange. "What?" my wife asked, leaning her head toward the open doors. I didn't know what she was doing, but it looked like she was talking to somebody. This could be worse than I imagined. Right now I started making plans for taking care of stuff while she was locked away in some looney bin. I don't know much about nut houses, having never been to one before. Should I pack some clothes or do they provide those at the home? How about a bathrobe, and slippers? I don't even know who to call. Do I dial 911 and say my wife is out of her ever lovin' mind? " "Of course, that explains it. Thank you Odette." She turned to me, slipped her hand around my arm and twined our fingers. She smiled at me lovingly and moved to lead me out of the kitchen.  "Let's sit in the other room." She wasn't mad anymore, but this was too good to be true , this sweet act she was playing at. It was almost as scary. I was suspiciously sure she was nuts, but I was willing to hear her out. I'm nothing if not reasonable. "Bill, honey, the reason you can't remember seeing the fairies and couldn't see the gnomes is because you haven't developed your fairy vision. " "Huh?" "Oh, don't feel bad, there are only a few of us who have it, and none are men." Thank goodness this mental illness only strikes women. Just because she now has bats-in-her-bellfry doesn't mean I'm going to get it too. I didn't say that though, I just said, "Whew." She ignored that sigh of relief from me and went on. "Fairies are magical you know. When you are close to them you see them, and can talk to them. If you get further than ten feet away you can't see them anymore and the memory of them fades away like a dream. Do you understand? Bill, have you had any odd dreams lately?" I didn't want to admit it, but there was something in what she said. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no 5:29 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/what-a-way-to-make-an-entrance/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/what-a-way-to-make-an-entrance/#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:25:53 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=974 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/what-a-way-to-make-an-entrance/feed/ 0 Arial Hollyberry,backyard,Black Cats,charms,chihuahuas,Daily Life,Dogs,eyes,Fairie Stories,Fairies,garden,Gnomes I didn't know if Bill wanted to laugh or cry. One thing was perfectly clear, he wasn't at all happy about having his wife turned into a cat. He sat down on the porch step and stared at me. Arial and Cythia had each taken a protective position, I didn't know if Bill wanted to laugh or cry. One thing was perfectly clear, he wasn't at all happy about having his wife turned into a cat. He sat down on the porch step and stared at me. Arial and Cythia had each taken a protective position, hovering a few inches off the ground on either side of me. I have noticed that when situations get tense, the faeries will hum softly. It has a calming effect, like the time my little Chihuahua, Edie, got plopped on the head with cold wet snow.  She will always let us know when she is not happy, and by the sounds of her wild screaming that day, she wasn't happy! The faeries paralleled her every move, humming a gentle lullaby, until she stopped. Then of course she looked at us like nothing out of the ordinary had just happened. Arial and Cythia were humming like that now, but this time it was for Bill. When the shock began to wear off, and the two faeries were satisfied that he was calmer, they left my side. Arial went to perch on Bill's shoulder and Cythia proceeded to braid the strands of hair that she had pulled out of my head prior to my feline transformation. Arial repositioned herself on Bill's shoulder, leaning forward to observe Cythia's work. She scratched her head, "Potions are tricky things." Since Bill hadn't been home to witness my metamorphosis, Arial had to do a little explaining. "Unless you know the exact magical strength of the creature you are going to change into, it is hard to gauge the length of time before the potion wears off. Obviously Mrs. Shunners cat wasn't just a cat, or, the shape shifter had placed charms on it." "She won't stay like that will she? We have dogs, and gnomes!" Bill edged a little closer and held out his hand to me. "Please forgive me sweetheart, I had no idea you were a, he gulped, cat." I knew that I would have to make him dinner tonight, but right now I decided to play the cat role to the hilt. I turned my back and proceeded to lick my paws, glancing around to give him a detached look of disdain. "Tonight, you get tuna!" Meooow. Cythia finished the braid and wove it into the fur on the top of my head. She moved back  waving her wand over me and chanted. Pink sparkles fell from the tip and disappeared into the thick black fur. "That should do it! Her natural DNA will recognize the strands of hair and the transition back to her former human self will begin." We waited. When nothing happened, I started to get nervous and began pacing around in circles. "I can't stay this way, I can't stay this way!" Meeeeoow, meeeeoow! Bill stifled a shudder and gently rubbed my fur. "Ah honey! Thanks for that show of support, I forgive you, you don't have to eat tuna tonight!" Meow, Meoow. All of a sudden I felt a tingling, it started at the tip of my tail and worked it's way up my spine and out the tips of my ears. My eyes opened wide and I stood very still, waiting. Everyone else must have known that something was about to happen because they all took several steps away from me. For a split second, I felt as if the whole world was collapsing in on me. Everything compressed, then in a sudden explosion of sparkling pink light I materialized, and from the relieved smiles on their faces, looking quite myself. At first no one spoke, then, everyone was speaking at the same time. "Well done!"  "Welcome back." "I thought you would stay that way forever!" "What did it feel like?" "What's for dinner?" (that's my hubby, it's all about the food!). Faeries were buzzing around my head, Bill was hugging me. I think Warren and Odette even got in on the welcoming committee, of course, the dogs were barking madly. I let their relief wash over me, happy to be myself again, aside from a slight buzz in my head, I felt rather good. When the celebration had subsided, and Bill couldn't hug me any tighter, I extricated myself from his arms and stood back to look him in the eyes. With hands on hips, and with a mock tone of indignation in my voice, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no 6:45 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/easter-means-digging-in-the-garden/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/easter-means-digging-in-the-garden/#comments Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:22:58 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=926 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/easter-means-digging-in-the-garden/feed/ 0 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/03/dusk-to-dawn/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/03/dusk-to-dawn/#comments Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:24:59 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=768 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/03/dusk-to-dawn/feed/ 0 Arial,backyard,Beam of Light,Daily Life,Dawn,Dusk,Elvish,Emerald Guard,faerie realm,faeries,Fantasy,Frost The night was starting to bow to the birth of a new day in the faerie realm, but as we stepped through the portal into the mortal world, the light in the sky was the light of sunset. Dusk and dawn, yin and yang, The night was starting to bow to the birth of a new day in the faerie realm, but as we stepped through the portal into the mortal world, the light in the sky was the light of sunset. Dusk and dawn, yin and yang, I was beginning to see how intertwined our world was with the transcendental world of the Fae. One world can't exist alone, each dependent on the existence of the other. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no http://fairiefabels.com/2009/03/the-old-oak-grove/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/03/the-old-oak-grove/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:02:38 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=698 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/03/the-old-oak-grove/feed/ 1 backyard,banshee,celebration,Dryads,Faerie stories,Fairie Stories,Fairies,garden,Gnomes,Imagination,ivy hedge,Midnight The setting sun sent a riot of pink and orange streaking through the high thin clouds which cast the  backyard into deep purple shadows. Arial and I were in the kitchen putting finishing touches on the refreshments for tonight's celebration. The setting sun sent a riot of pink and orange streaking through the high thin clouds which cast the  backyard into deep purple shadows. Arial and I were in the kitchen putting finishing touches on the refreshments for tonight's celebration. When all the crystal bowls were stacked high with berries and sweet breads, and the gravy boats filled to the rims with milk and honey, Arial pointed  her wand at the platters and they rose into the air and vanished in a flash of light. Arial turned to me with a radiant smile, "I must go and attend to our guests. We will be back for you when the last of the light has left the sky." Then she winked out, but not before she swooshed a cascading spray of pink and green sparkles all over me. I covered my eyes. "Hey!" Arial giggled, and was gone. I tied up my hair  with purple and yellow streamers and found a sparkly blue shawl to throw over my shoulders. Bill wore his best panama hat with the exotic feathers in the band. I checked with Warren and Odette to see if they were ready and was delighted to see Warren in a tiny black and green tartan kilt and a white shirt with puffy sleeves, he was carrying a staff made of  willow, and the toes of his shoes curled at the tips. He kept stopping every few steps to tug at his stockings which kept slipping down below his knees. "Warren! you look very stylish." I noticed Odette grabbing at his hand every time he started to pry at his tight collar. " And Odette, you are a vision in your pink skirts." "I had a time of it with Warren here Missus, he's not used to dressin up, but I told him I didnt' want him goin and embarasin us all. Oh Warren! stop yer fidgetin" Bill held the door open for us when we heard drums beating out a slow, steady rhythm. We stepped out into the cool night air and were greeted by four faeries who flanked us. The faerie to my right held up her wand and waved it at the ivy hedge. The vines began to roll back, twisting and twinning around until a large archway formed. A path, lighted on either side by glowing silver and crystal orbs, led down the hill to the left and into a grove of old oak trees. We stepped through the opening and started off down the path with our escorts on either side. There was a furious rustling behind us. I jerked around, expecting to see Mrs. Shunner streaking up,  like a crazed screaming banshee.  When I looked, there was no one there, and the hedge had filled in, leaving no trace of our passing  from the mortal world. I linked my arm in Bill's and took a deep breath as we continued toward the trees. The narrow path opened to a small glade, completely surrounded by live oak trees. In addition to the Spanish Moss (imagine  Spanish Moss in these northern climes), the trees were strung with streamers of pink, blue, and white. Small twinkling lights hung in the branches. I glanced around, "Bill, look over there." I pointed straight ahead of us. Lights weren't the only thing hanging from the branches. Tall thin creatures with long stringy fingers were draped over the bottom limbs. They had pointed faces with large glowing green eyes. I pulled at the skirts of the faerie that had opened the portal. "What are those!" She smiled and said, "Those are Dryads, they live in the oak trees to protect this special grove." We were shown pillows placed at the bottom of the largest oak then allowed to take our seats. When we were seated, all kinds of magical creatures began to appear in the glade. Pixies, unicorns, a couple of dwarfs, and the dryads joined the group of faeries to celebrate the Spring Equinox. A sudden hush fell over the group and we all looked skyward. A Light appeared in the sky and grew larger as it descended, landing in the middle of the circle. Then, in a flash of sparkling pink light, Arial appeared. The drums that we had heard earlier started again, Arial walked around the group, smiling and placing her hand on each creature's head as they bowed before her. She turned to the east, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no http://fairiefabels.com/2009/03/gnomes-in-my-pockets/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/03/gnomes-in-my-pockets/#comments Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:54:03 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=616 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/03/gnomes-in-my-pockets/feed/ 0 Arial Hollyberry,chihuahuas,faerie realm,Faerie stories,Fairie Stories,Fairies,Fantasy,Gnomes,walking,Writing Bill came home not long after my confrontation with Mrs. Shunner. He found me sitting on the back step with my chin resting in my hands, staring at the ivy hedge. Arial was on my shoulder braiding my hair as usual. When Bill walked up, Bill came home not long after my confrontation with Mrs. Shunner. He found me sitting on the back step with my chin resting in my hands, staring at the ivy hedge. Arial was on my shoulder braiding my hair as usual. When Bill walked up, Arial darted over to him, circled his head a few times, and laughed as she poked him in the cheek, then flew back. He sat down next to me, smiling and rubbing his cheek, then pretended to grab Arial, who giggled, flipped her wings once, and popped out of sight."Everything ok?" Bill is a very good listener. I let out all of my frustration, "I caught Mrs Shunner trying to come into the backyard a while ago, she had her hand on the gate. You should have seen her face, she was mortified. When I ask her where she was going, she made up some unconvincing story about her cat getting into the yard, but you know, I think she was just snooping. I don't know what I'm going to do, I can't have the neighbors being suspicious." He put his arm around me. "It's a nice day, why don't we go for a walk?" What a good idea! A little fresh air, some exercise, what a great idea. A stroll through the park would be just the ticket for reducing  stress. I ran in to put on my walking shoes. While I was lacing up the last shoe, my gnome friends, Warren and Odette scurried up to me. "Where you goin', can we come?" Their question was asked in unison, and a vision of Chihuahua's, one in each of  Bill's robe pockets popped into my head. "Do you mind riding in my coat pockets?" Just looking at their smiling, up-turned faces  and shinning eyes made it very difficult to say no. They jumped up and down with excitement, and when I had my coat on I held open the pockets for them. Odette jumped in first, not quite a swan dive, but not bad for a 6 inch tall gnome. She disappeared down in the bottom of the pocket, squirmed around until she was top up then stuck her head out so she could see. Warren was next, but he took  a more dignified approach. He asked me if I would hold out my hand so that he could stand on it and be placed gently in my pocket. Of course, I didn't mind. With gnomes in my pockets, I joined Bill who was waiting patiently on the back porch, humming to himself. Bill tells me that he has songs in his head all the time and we joke about the fact that he never knows all the words to any of them. Over the years we have come to call his singing thing,  KBIL--all of the songs, all of the time, some of the rhythm, and some of the rhyme. Depending on the song, sometimes it gets really funny. We walked in silence for a few minutes, until we were well down the street. Then Bill noticed my pockets moving. "What's that!" At that moment, Warren and Odette both stuck their heads out and grabbed on to the edges of my pocket to keep from slipping back down. "Hello sir!" It was uncanny how they would say things in unison.They had great big smiles on their faces as they looked around, obviously excited to be seeing more of their adopted world. I looked from them, to Bill and then back to them and quickly clapped my hands over their heads to keep anyone else from seeing them. With a chagrined look on my face I explained how they wanted to come with us, and how I didn't have the heart to say no. Bill took the little hand that Warren proffered and gave it a shake. "Just make sure that nobody sees you, okay?" We were off again, walking down the street chatting about work and the weather and different plants by the side of the path. The gnomes bobbed up and down with my steps, their pointed red and green hats turning back and forth as they made mention of this plant or that rock. It was nice to leave some of the stress behind for a while. On the way back we passed a hill, I noticed a single yellow crocus and pointed to it. "Hey look, the first spring bulb!" At first glance, it was a simple yellow crocus coming up out of the dirt, but when I looked closer I saw a tiny faerie pulling at the petals with both hands. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no