Winter Days and Long, Dark Nights

At this time of year here in the Pacific Northwest, we have about 8 hour of (rainy) daylight and 16 hours of darkness. Lots of indoor projects!

As we have read, our little gnomes are very skilled in crafts and building. Gnomes have learned to harness nature's energy to power various tools. They have been using the wind to grind corn and nuts, etc. The swaying breezes in a tall tree are cleverly harvested to drive saw mils for home building and furniture making using a series of pulleys and ropes. Likely all these pulleys, levers, brackets and gears are made inside over the long winters.

Our farmers also spend the off-season working on fixing equipment /Add to wood working, candle making, pottery, tool making. home repair and of course, more beer and they seem to fill in the time. Gnomes  use natural energy. As simplistic as they are ingenious! All is well.

Norman the Gnome Finds a Home!

Norman the Gnome is new to the Olympic Peninsula. He apparently ended up in our friend, Mary's car during a recent trip to Leavenworth, Washington. They just somehow latch onto good people, it seems. A very good omen I'm sure!

Norman needed a home, so with inputs from Mary, I went about constructing Norman's new gnome home out of a large old stump. Mary, husband Bob, and Norman, have selected the perfect spot to place the large gnome home. A little landscaping and positioning and indeed, Norman will have his new home complete.


We will post pictures of the housewarming events here when the big day happens. Norman will surely attract other local gnomes, and maybe a Mrs. Norman! Hard to tell now, but with this large custom home, there are bound to be a lot of new visitors coming to Mary and Bob's garden. Best set out some good bird seed and always a dish of  beer. Too cold for snails now, but I'll bet the beer will be gone in the morning.

New home, nuts and beer.  "Beer nuts." All is very well. Thank you Mary and Bob.

Gnomes Made Me Do It!

Happy New Year to all the “Gnome-ites” out there! A quick reflection of appreciation to all readers of our “No Place Like Gnome” blog and our website, Whimsical Woods.net, (http://www.whimsicalwoods.net). Interest in our log bird houses and gnome homes has grown!

This year I will add more gnome home photos by popular request. Many are looking for garden setting examples using gnome homes, large and small rocks, mounds of dirt and of course, very carefully placed foliage to accent the gnome home. The addition of outdoor ground mounted low voltage 12 DC floods on a timer, just set off a very unique garden focus or front yard attraction. We make the homes from 12” to around 48” high. So, more pictures as well as continued story lines.

The button was a Christmas gift from my daughter in Portland. She found them at: http://shop.cafepress.com/gnomes.

It is all the gnomes’ fault! :-) We welcome your feedback and interests. The story continues. All will be well.

The Sound of Music

Our little gnome friends need very little excuse to have a gathering for just about anything. A new baby, a bountiful harvest, new neighbors, a wedding, or the annual community meeting. With roots from Yugoslavia their music and dance are passed down and to this day, remain the same. Lots of beer, boot slapping, stomping hand clapping and yelling. The women dress up with all sorts of beautiful classic local flowers and berries. The men just show up! There are lots of handmade drums, bells and flutes with perhaps a rare harp or violin. Singing comes after a few beers and all get louder and faster as more beer is consumed. Singing and dance are a favorite gnome pass time. Pass around the beer and be assured all is going to be well.

Gifts and Crafts

Ole Van Sven’s new granddaughter is doing just fine I am told. A new baby in the forest! Many stories to come. As she grows, her mother will teach her how to make clothes, cook, take care of the home and keep all happy. Both parents are experts in various handmade crafts: wood working, pottery, metal working, sewing and helping the small forest animals.

I’ve read that the dividing rod came from gnome folklore as a means to find water underground and other treasures. With these handmade skills, the gnomes make wonderful gifts which they exchange. Some are bakers, pottery makers, blacksmiths and even glass blowers. Gnomes have central community centers where they gather and produce these gifts, tools and crafts. These community locations generate a strong sense of humor and good will. Sharing and gift exchanges are very meaningful experiences for the gnomes.

Peace and happiness follow. All is well.

GNOME CHRISTMAS

I can't be sure, but my research shows that gnomes celebrate Christmas like we do. Nothing handed down about a gnome Santa, but this might be a well-kept secret. I think there must be a related concept. Maybe the clan elder plays a role and passes out gifts to the children. As for adults, this is a time for gathering friends and neighbors which brings out the beer and special berry juices! Not too bad.

Gifts could be nuts, ripe berries, new wooden toys and swing sets, with flutes and drums for sing-along's as part of the feast. So, let's assume gnomes do celebrate Christmas. Coming fron Scandanavia, I'm sure it is very colorful and festive.

All remains well.

Ole An Sven’s New Granddaughter!

I did not know ahead of time, but Ole An Sven’s daughter has been pregnant for the last 12 months and just gave birth to a little girl! Great excitement now in the forest. Visitors from all around are coming to visit and help with the home care and meals. Gnome fathers leave most of the child rearing to the mother and her close friends. He does  make lots of wooden toys, sings songs and tells bedtime stories to the little ones.

I did read that gnome children wet their beds until age 21 and continue to live with their parents until they are 100 years old. Remember, research said they live to be between 275 and 350 years of age. No wonder they’re so smart!

Extra cup of bird seed for the event. I wonder if gnome dads have little cigars they pass around? That would be a real sight to see. A new member of the family, and all is well.