A surprise by the pond...continued...

(If you are stopping in for the first time, be sure to scroll down to the previous dates and see how this all came about!)

So, as I was saying...the odd little snail, who was sent to wake me up, wanted me

to lift him up to my painting which hangs in the hallway. I was quite hesitant, because

I intend to sell that painting and don't think snail tracks would add to its value.

Anyway, I did it.

To my complete surprise, he went INTO the painting and told me to follow.

I stood back (as far as I could in such tight quarters) and thrust myself head first.

It worked! Which is a very good thing as I would hate to have had my husband

wake up to a loud thud and find me on the floor with a broken painting on my head!

I'm sure he would just roll his eyes and go back to bed because he has come to

expect the unexpected around here! But, still...

After taking my leap of faith, this is where I landed.

As I got to my feet, I looked around and tried to rub the sleep from my eyes.

I thought surely I must be dreaming!

My eyes adjusted and I could see that my little friend was on the move once again.

We wended our way past the Lamb's Ears and beneath the Wisteria Vine.

It was all very familiar, since this is my own backyard....but it was if I had never

been here before. I'm sure my mouth hung open and my

eyes were as round as the moon.

There were pond-dwellers here and there, enjoying the atmosphere as well.

Tea cups were filled to the brim with invisible tea. It was so delightful, like Earl Grey

only more divine. The tea pot never emptied and I never got too full. Which is a good

thing because I was told that just around the corner of the pond, near the stand of cattails,

there was an array of treats for me to eat.

As I got up close, I could see...these goodies set out for me.

Um.........well...you know....it IS the THOUGHT that counts.

Ah hem...and the worms weren't so bad, but the flies were a

little rough going down. I couldn't believe the wonderful things

my friends had done for me!

I sat on the bench and soaked in all of the magical things around me.

Mr. Mockingbird sang his marvelous songs...which can be annoying when

you're trying to sleep, but this night he could do no wrong!

I must have dozed off, of course you saw it coming, for I woke up in my bed

and wondered if it was all a dream.

But, I can tell you one thing by looking at the pond this morning.

There was SOME kind of magic going on!

There are a bazillion tiny, new frog eggs in the shallows!

With all those helpers next year, just imagine the Mad Moonlit Tea Party we shall have!

A surprise by the pond

As the moon rose into the sky, I drifted off to sleep...not sure of what was to come

or how I would know it was time.

I slept soundly until I felt upon my cheek, the tiniest, whisper of a tickle.

When I opened my eyes, this is what I saw upon my pillow.

He beckoned me to follow him, so I headed toward the door. My anticipation

was so great that I didn't want to wait and follow him to a familiar place...at a

snail's pace! But, to my surprise, he said, "That's not the way. Lift me up to this

painting and come after me right away!"

(Due to technical difficulties, I will continue telling you all about this wondrous

experience as soon as I can....so for now....I must say...."TO BE CONTINUED"

....Didn't you always hate seeing that at the end of a show when you were a kid?)

Dusk is falling...and things are happening out there!

I tried to be so good, but as the sun was setting,

the curiosity overwhelmed me.

Did someone say Tea Party?

I've heard so many wonderful things about a fabulous day of sharing tea and goodies

with lots of interesting people in the most fantastical way.

"I'm so new to this....and so busy...and can never seem to catch the tail I must be chasing."

That's what I said to His Royal Frogness as I knelt by the pond and told him about

how I would love to be a part of it all.

He told me I had at least one very good excuse for not taking part as I had hoped. The

opportunity to display a painting in the Riverside Art Museum doesn't happen

every day. It just so happens to have happened on THIS day!

Then, do you know what he told me? He said I shouldn't fret.

"Something amazing will happen tonight," He whispered.

He has something in store for me since I have given him this kingdom where he can

protect and watch over his kin.

I can hardly wait to see what's going to happen. I hope you'll come back and find out, too!

And, if you haven't been there yet, visit http://afancifultwist.typepad.com/a_fanciful_twist/ . What an inspirational place!

Be sure and stop by my friend Gerushia's place, too. http://gerushiasnewworld.blogspot.com/

Inspirations from the Garden

Well, Here it is...Summer has already begun and I just finished

my list of New Year's resolutions....writing it...not doing it! So, I

think the last resolution should be, not to feel guilty or oppressed

or diminished by the things I have not yet done. Those

thoughts only lead to a kind of paralysis for me. Then, of course,

the guilt and all gets even worse.

So, a little surprise in the front yard gave me a gentle, uplifting

reminder this morning. It's the Easter Lily that I assumed was dead

because it hadn't bloomed this Spring.

All of a sudden while we were away on vacation, it burst

forth in all of its beauty and grace. Upon discovering this,

I was filled with joy to see that it was alive, not scolding it

for being late. The lesson here is...Better Late Than Never.

While it is a virtue to get things done on time, it does not

benefit us to berate ourselves if that doesn't happen.

Sometimes the right time is not necessarily the time we

have set up for ourselves.

So, we must let ourselves bloom when the conditions are

just right, and not kill ourselves in the meantime.

Each new day..each new moment... is a new opportunity to start fresh.