At the Beauty Shop

When I was growing up, a place where you got your hair cut was called a Beauty Parlor and the women who worked there were known as Beauticians.  Today we refer to them as Styling Salons, Stylists and Technicians. The dictionary defines "salon" as: a large room, such as a drawing room, used for receiving and entertaining guests. I think that is an apt description as visiting a Styling Salon can be especially engrossing.

This is Groomhilda, an animal beautician.  She combs and cuts the tangles from the little critters' hair.  As she cleans and fluffs them, the animals tell her all the current gossip.  The bunnies keep up on the latest  buzz. Groomhilda is very environmental.  She saves the fur, spins it into yarn and knits sweaters for her coatless friends. 

In the deep, dark woods

In the mysterious deep forests a stalwart elf stands guard.  He is the caretaker of the woods and woodland creatures.  His name is Forester.  It is his job to clear off dead leaves so the small trees can grow up tall like their parents.  He helps the squirrels gather pine cones to take to their homes and stops the birds from quarreling.  He loves the forest because it is home to so many animals and he works hard to keep it healthy.  When it is windy, Forester enjoys watching the trees sway back and forth. "Hold on tightly!" he shouts to the little critters who live in them.

 

When the lights go out

Hello Addie, Emmy and Colt, Olive and Zeke, and all of Jenny's kids,

Today as most of the U.S. is gripped in a frozen blanket of winter we are reminded that sometimes the power goes out.  There are no more video games, no TV, no lights.  It becomes very quiet.  This is when our good buddy, Edison shows up.  He illuminates the darkness lighting candles and oil lamps and even flashlights. Edison reminds us to enjoy the quiet. Get out a board game to play with your family.  Put together a puzzle. Build a fort out of blankets. Snuggle.

Edison looks like he's made of wax, but he's just blending in. I love the soft candlelight that surrounds him. His quizzical look and tiny pipe amuse me.

A crisp, clear morning

The perfect kind of morning to see Dawn in the unclouded sky. Dawn is lightening fast.  He darts from star to star snatching them and putting them neatly in his satchel. It is his job to put the stars and moon away when the sun comes up.  Even though it's a lot of work, he does it every day.  Sometimes, perhaps because he's distracted or maybe he's a bit too tired,  he misses a few and they can still be seen in the morning light.

The smell of cookies

In my house, cookies come in a box, because to tell you the truth, I can't bake at all.  So, when Cookie comes to visit I am very excited!  This little elf is the best chef.  She makes the most delicious tarts, pies, cookies and cakes.  I love her a lot, but not because she is such a good cook, it's that she reminds me of my Grandmother who was warm, comfortable, extremely forgiving and she could cook anything.  This wonderful elf always makes it feel like home.

 

When it rains

Today, I want to introduce you to my good friend, Brook.  We see a lot of him around here because it rains so much. Brook guides all the rainwater into rivulets and streams and helps it reach the sea.  This keeps the water in a channel so it won't overrun the ground and assures that it is fresh and plentiful.  The fish and frogs appreciate this.

 

24 Stories for Christmas

I have 24 elves in my closet.  Everybody in there has told me about himself, what he does, how he helps.  I want to share their stories with you. For the next 24 days, I will show a picture of an elf and explain what they do to assist us, Mother Nature, and all her little creatures.

This is Archie.  He is an architect who designs and builds birdhouses.  
Sometimes, birds don't have time to make a nest and Archie helps them out.  The birds bring grasses and twigs inside the snug home to make a cozy roost for their babies. They are warm and protected because of Archie's know-how.

Here are some examples of houses Archie has built for his feathered friends.