About Me:I'm a gentle soul, shy but adventurous. I am often struck by wanderlust, and would forget to come home, except I have two fuzzy beasties depending on me (my dogs).... I am vegetarian....I am delighted by simple things, the patterns of frost on my window, a colorful sunset, a delicious cup of cappucino or tea....I am truly amazed by all the magic I continue to find in the world....and thankful for all my wonderful friends and family.
Music:Grateful Dead, Rusted Root, Candlebox, Tool, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, Santana, Brother, Minstrels of Mayhem, Elvendrums, Medieval Babes, Istanpitta, Gaelic Storm, The Gypsy Nomads, Priscilla Hernandez, some heavy metal, classical, blues, bluegrass, world music, show tunes, eclectic really...music is the only thing that keeps me sane sometimes...
Movies:Chocolate, A Knight's Tale, Pan's Labyrinth, Practical Magic, Lord of the Rings, The Dark Crystal, Second Hand Lions
TV:I rarely watch TV, but I did like Northern Exposure when it was on
Books:Runes of Elfland, The Wood Wife, Mists of Avalon, acutally a list of authors would be easier, Brian & Wendy Froud, Ari Berk, Teri Windling, Juliet Marillier, Joseph Campbell, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Charles DeLint, Brothers Grimm (unedited), Jane Yolen, Alice Hoffman, Neil Gaiman, Tolkein, Anne Bishop, Carol Goodman, Katharine Briggs, Tanith Lee, Catherynne M. Valente, Doreen Virtue, Julia Cameron
Likes:Open-minded people, pets, wildlife, being out in Nature, poetry, mythology, folklore, archaeology
Virtues:I'm a good listener, and I keep secrets (So I get to hear a lot of interesting stuff)
Heroes:My parents who adopted me (little did they know they were getting a changeling child), and all the wonderful people who work for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah
This is a sonnet written by Sara Henderson Hay. Most of the sonnets I have read, although I like them, I think of them as somber or solemn, somtimes lovelorn. This one is totally different than any I have read, and even though I don't think the syllables in each line are always traditional, it made me laugh out loud! It is based on the nursery rhyme about the old lady who lived in the shoe, so I just wanted to share:
I Remember Mama
The trouble is, I never felt secure.
There we were, crammed into that wretched shoe,
Ragged and cold and miserably poor,
And Mama never knowing what to do.
Most of the time we lived on watery stew,
She coudn't even bake a loaf of bread,
And every night she'd thrash us black and blue
And send the sniveling lot of us to bed.
I used to lie awake for hours, and plan
The things I'd do, when I became a man...
And this is why I lurk in darkened hallways,
And prowl dim streets and lonely parks, and always
Carry a knife, in case i meet another
Old woman who reminds me of my mother.
I think it's fabulous! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
I met a grumbynunkle while walking through the park yesterday. He stepped out from a hole in the trunk of a tree. He looked like the tree, only he was small, about a foot high. His skin appeared to be bark, and his arms and legs were like gnarled tree roots. He creaked when he walked, the sound of old trees in a wind storm. He stepped out right in front of me saying, "Miss" in a loud grumbly voice.
I was so startled I almost tripped over him. "Miss", he continued, "did you see a sqirrel run up this tree?"
"No", I replied.
He said the squirrel had been stealing nuts from "his" tree. I asked him why that was his tree, and he said because he lived there in the hole at the bottom. When I asked him if he was a gnome or elf, he became quite offended. He said he was a "grumbynunkle", or that's what it sounded like. I don't know if I have spelled it correctly.
Now I ask, has anyone encountered a grumbynunkle before? Or are they specific to my geographical area or park? Any help would be appreciated!
The blog post finally came in. So like faerie folk--don't like to be classified. Those holes and knots in trees are just transfixing, aren't they? It's a wonder I don't have a car accident as my eyes are drawn to every one I see as I drive by. Mr. Grumbly sounds distinctly like the kind of creatures Johnny Gruelle, who was the original 1918 author of the Raggedy Ann books as well as a pioneer in writing American fairy stories, wrote about. I truly believe he was a genuine Faerie Seer and not just inventing it all. I have researched his background and found true faery theory in his stories.
I never encountered a grumbynunkle but in Denmark we have spirits living in Elder trees. I think they look like your grumbynunkle, and some say they can turn them self into a beatyfull young women.
From reading Ted Andrews, I would think Grumby would be a tree spirit or tree faun (male dryad). Sometimes the dryads can leave their trees for a bit, as they get older. You might leave something interesting, a gift, for Grumby at the base of his tree! Maybe nuts from another tree or a little cup of hazelnut cappucino.
A sure sign that Spring is here in my area are gnome sightings in the gardens around town. My mom has many gnome friends. so this poem was written for her.
My Vernal Equinox celebration on Thursday was solitary, peaceful and sublime. The river was flooded halfway up my driveway, swollen and careening along, obviously mission-bound. I love that gurgling and swishing sound and the smell of churning mud. The nearly full moon rising behind the silhouetted trees revealed one small section of shimmering river. The background was indigo sky fading to darkness. Occasionally I glimpsed a flash of silver in the illuminated area where a fish would leap exuberantly and land with a splash in the darkness beyond.
I sat on my porch with my djembe and drummed for hours. I drummed to the rising moon and the rising river. The cool breeze circled 'round and joined in, carrying my rhythms farther along, ethereal ripples, offerings to my gods and to the fae. Chirping birds gathered in the surrounding trees. A sparrow even landed on my porch railing and stayed for awhile, cocking his head at me. (Maybe it wasn't so solitary after all?)
It was a wondrous and magical experience. And all too soon I was forced to go inside because I was barefoot as usual, and my toes were turning blue!
Today I will be celebrating Easter with my parents and cousins. Easter dinner, lots of laughter, joking, children running around, the works!
I am thankful for all, for friends, family, solitude, joy, sorrow, whatever comes my way, knowing that the world will take care of me. And I wish for all of you the same blessings and peace. And thank you all for your friendship :o)
TO THE MORGENS is indeed an Invocation. I've been trying and trying to get your new blog to post, but it won't. Frustrating! I want to read about this little fellow!
I know I have run into you before on the Net, looking for comrades of faery! I remember the name. You mentioned NORTHERN LIGHTS. When I was in my teens, I saw the younger John Cullum on the stage in the role of HAMLET. An unforgettable experience after 42 yrs! Come visit my Blog!
Lady Trillium
My heart beats warmly at hearing from you again, sweet Ailynari! I sent you a message, but I just wanted to take the time here to send you Warm Embraces and Bright Faerie Blassings. Say hello to the Indiana fae for me!
Thank you and It's true we need to be reminded sometime of which things are Important! Life is too short and too Preious to waste even a moment of it! your Parents 54 th wow that's wonderful!
I just couldn't think of right words to describe what i felt about your poem!!Appreciated it very much even with the 'mood' of it.Glad i made you laugh!!My first painting is still in hiding,but am doing okay on a smaller practice one,have issues with it but am learning in process!!
:)
No one would be more delighted than I to discover he had a faerie whispering poems in his ear! I only wish she would hang around more often! Thanks Ailynari: you are a dear!
The blog post finally came in. So like faerie folk--don't like to be classified. Those holes and knots in trees are just transfixing, aren't they? It's a wonder I don't have a car accident as my eyes are drawn to every one I see as I drive by. Mr. Grumbly sounds distinctly like the kind of creatures Johnny Gruelle, who was the original 1918 author of the Raggedy Ann books as well as a pioneer in writing American fairy stories, wrote about. I truly believe he was a genuine Faerie Seer and not just inventing it all. I have researched his background and found true faery theory in his stories.
Merrie_Fae_Tresses02:26 PM CST