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Saturday, November 25, 2017

The Sweet Life

This is the sweet life. There is gno doubt that the gnomes understand how to appreciate the simple things in life, and there is gnognome who is better at making life just a bit sweeter everyday than this little lady. It's hard to say just how she does it, but she makes it look so easy. Whether it be casting a friendly smile or trying to get a loved one to laugh, she always seems to be thinking of the gnext thing to do to brighten one's day. Pssst... I'll let you in on little secret. If you ask me, the reason she is able to make it look so easy is that she believes with every ounce of her body that life is too short to do anything other than make the most of it. Every juicy bite she takes out of life gives her the joyfully magnetic personality that everygnome is attracted to. The more she loves the sweet life, the more difficult it is for other gnomes around her to stop from smiling. Life is good, and gno doubt the garden is a sweeter place with this soul to share it with.

The Sweet Life

This is the sweet life. There is gno doubt that the gnomes understand how to appreciate the simple things in life, and there is gnognome who is better at making life just a bit sweeter everyday than this little lady. It's hard to say just how she does it, but she makes it look so easy. Whether it be casting a friendly smile or trying to get a loved one to laugh, she always seems to be thinking of the gnext thing to do to brighten one's day. Pssst... I'll let you in on little secret. If you ask me, the reason she is able to make it look so easy is that she believes with every ounce of her body that life is too short to do anything other than make the most of it. Every juicy bite she takes out of life gives her the joyfully magnetic personality that everygnome is attracted to. The more she loves the sweet life, the more difficult it is for other gnomes around her to stop from smiling. Life is good, and gno doubt the garden is a sweeter place with this soul to share it with.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

A Fine Wine

One look at this lady and you know she is quite wise, and yet with all her wisdom she also knows the best way to enjoy life! Perhaps it's because of this wisdom, but she has been given a very important responsibility. It's her job to collect the best grapes in the vineyard, in order to make the best wines. Because she has been around for a gnumber of seasons, she has a little skip to her walk as she gets to work. She knows exactly what to look for, as many elder gnomes do! Only the sweetest grapes will bring the most joy to those who drink the wine that is made, and her confidence does gnot let her down. With each grape she examines, she is quick to toss out the ones that are sour. Before long, she's surrounded by a pile of sweetness, which brings a smile to her face as she imagines the stories to come. The best wines require a loved one to drink with, and are sure to result in the best stories to share. After all, everygnome knows that gno great story begins with someone eating a salad! Gno doubt the garden is lucky to have such a beautiful and wise soul. Like a fine wine, a soul gets better with age. The best is yet to come!

Lady Leaf

Look at the happy dance this little lady is doing! Those who know her best understand that gnothing makes her as giddy as the idea of collecting leaves. And of course, that's why the have gnicknamed her Lady Leaf. Gnow with the leaves fallen from the trees, it's the perfect time! She hops here and there, collecting as many as she possibly can. You may be wondering why she's so excited about silly old leaves, but I bet you could guess the reason if you tried. After all, every gnome in the garden has a gnack for doing special deeds for their loved ones, and Lady Leaf is gno exception. She's collecting leaves with one goal in mind - she's making the most cuddly, snugly, warm gnest she possibly can for her loved ones to gnuzzle in! There is gnothing better than a good gnuzzle with loved ones. She can't help but smile thinking about it. With another giddy little hop, she gets back to work. After all, there are snuggles waiting for her at home!

Guardian Angel

I’m sure there have been moments in your life where you have felt challenged beyond your control. Sometimes it may seem that your little body is not strong enough to handle the tough tasks it has been given. That’s where this little gnomette comes in. This tiny little guardian has a very big job! And she loves every moment of it! She flutters around looking for just the right person to help, somegnome who needs a word or two of encouragement. The gnomette has now found a beautiful soul in need of her tiny positive thoughts and she doesn’t hesitate to get to work quickly. She whispers so lightly in her new friend’s ear that she is barely audible, but she knows that’s all it takes for a reminder of the spark for life that still grows strong inside. With these tiny little whisperings of love and hope we are reminded that we are stronger than our bodies may seem. Life is good. Life is beautiful, and with this little lady by your side, that’s an easy thing to remember.

Sweetly Twisted

Most gnomes in the community focus their attention on the abundance of life in the garden, which comes as gno surprise. After all, it's easy to see the beauty in life. This sweetly twisted gnomette, though, is gnot like all the others. She has always liked things a little edgy and is able to see beauty in the completion of the life cycle. Gnaturally, it's her job to tend to the plants and flowers that die in the garden. It's such an important job because all flowers die every year and if somegnome did gnot take care of them, they would gnot be able to return to bloom in the spring. It goes without saying that gnot all gnomes understand her fascination, but that does gnot matter much to her. She understands better than most that the true enchantment of the garden comes from the completion of life's cycle and she is honored to play such an important role in that gnomazing cycle.

Winds of Change

Shhh... Listen. Do you hear the winds of change? I do, and believe me I understand why you might be frightened. After oh so many seasons of making your garden just so, you must now feel like your life is a crumbled mess! Gnot knowing what to believe, there will be a lot of soul searching ahead. Perhaps that's what this little lady is here to help with. She wants to remind you that's what life is always about - soul searching. She makes it seem so simple. Re-examine all that you have been told... dismiss what insults your soul. I'm sure it won't be easy, but this little lady will stay by your side to whisper tiny reminders of encouragement. You are strong. You are brave. You are a special soul. May the winds of change bring you happiness you were not expecting...

PERSONAL GNOTE:
"Re-examine all that you have been told... Dismiss what insults your soul."
- Walt Whitman

Winds of Change

Shhh... Listen. Do you hear the winds of change? I do, and believe me I understand why you might be frightened. After oh so many seasons of making your garden just so, you must now feel like your life is a crumbled mess! Gnot knowing what to believe, there will be a lot of soul searching ahead. Perhaps that's what this little lady is here to help with. She wants to remind you that's what life is always about - soul searching. She makes it seem so simple. Re-examine all that you have been told... dismiss what insults your soul. I'm sure it won't be easy, but this little lady will stay by your side to whisper tiny reminders of encouragement. You are strong. You are brave. You are a special soul. May the winds of change bring you happiness you were not expecting...

PERSONAL GNOTE:
"Re-examine all that you have been told... Dismiss what insults your soul."
- Walt Whitman

Book Worm

Most gnomes live in the garden, each in their tiny little cozy gnooks. Be it in under a mushroom, or in a hollow log, everygnome allows one thing to guide them to finding the location of their home - their gnose. You might have gnoticed by gnow, but everygnome has a big gnose, and for very good reason. The sense of smell is most important to gnomekind. Think about it... the reason most gnomes live in the garden is the variety of smells the outdoors offer. Some like the smell of the moist ground after a rainfall most of all. Some like the smell of the flowers in the garden, while other like the smell of freshly cut grass the best. Gnot this little fella. As luck would have it, he once stumbled into a grand old library and his gnose instantly told him he was home. Oh the smell of grand old books! There was gnothing like it in the entire garden! Gnever before had he felt so cozy, for as you may know, where ever you may find a happy gnose, you will also find a cozy gnome. What about you? What scent tells your gnose that you are home?

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Winter Blossoms

I know what you're thinking. It's the middle of winter and therefore it's time for all the flowers in the garden to take their annual rest and be quiet. It would be pointless to remind this lady of the rules, though, because she is of the mindset that there is no reason to limit the possibilities with each season. So she hops and skips through her little garden, encouraging the plants around her to be joyful and blossom whenever and however they want to do so. Some plants prefer to stay sleepy, while others appreciate her encouragement. No matter what each plant's decision is, it's fine by her, as long as they are happy and bring joy to those around them! Certainly, winters in the garden tend to be less bright and less bold than some of the other seasons, but with her words of acceptance and reassurance, every plant in her corner of the garden feels confident enough to blossom whenever they want. Without a doubt, the garden is a happier place with her in it, and it could use more encouraging souls like her.

Pure and Dear Friend

This Pure soul is a very dear friend, who is always there for everygnome in the garden around her. Those who know her know that she is oh so very community minded, smart and loving. Gno doubt that if somegnome is going through a difficult time, she will bake tasty treats for them, mind their gnomelings or do anything else that might come to mind if there is even the slightest chance it would be helpful. Some even say that she specializes in tiny pick-me-ups, but gnow it's she who deserves a little pick-me-up. With all the challenges that she and her loved ones have recently come across, it's gno wonder she could use a few little extra warm fuzzy thoughts sent her way. Lucky for her, I happen to know for a fact that she is amazing, positive and strong. Gno gnome could handle the challenges with as much grace as she.

Monday, November 13, 2017

Book Worm

Most gnomes live in the garden, each in their tiny little cozy gnooks. Be it in under a mushroom, or in a hollow log, everygnome allows one thing to guide them to finding the location of their home - their gnose. You might have gnoticed by gnow, but everygnome has a big gnose, and for very good reason. The sense of smell is most important to gnomekind. Think about it... the reason most gnomes live in the garden is the variety of smells the outdoors offer. Some like the smell of the moist ground after a rainfall most of all. Some like the smell of the flowers in the garden, while other like the smell of freshly cut grass the best. Gnot this little fella. As luck would have it, he once stumbled into a grand old library and his gnose instantly told him he was home. Oh the smell of grand old books! There was gnothing like it in the entire garden! Gnever before had he felt so cozy, for as you may know, where ever you may find a happy gnose, you will also find a cozy gnome. What about you? What scent tells your gnose that you are home?

Heart of Gold

With all the holiday festivities going on, this simple soul looks a bit out of place, but don't let that fool you. Though he may look plain to you and me, he is anything but. In fact, this little fella has a true heart of gold, bigger than any I've ever seen. He is always on the look out for ways to help others in the garden. Whether it be helping an old snail cross the ant lanes or helping the local ladybugs pass out flowers. It does not matter whether the task is large or small. He may gnot change the world by helping a single soul, but for that soul the world may gnever be the same. In the end, isn't that what really matters? Thank you tiny soul - May life treat you as well as you treat the others around you.

PERSONAL GNOTE:
“As one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person.”
~ Paul Shane Spear

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Family Smiles

Sometimes the love you have for a special gnomeone goes without saying. Those who are closest to you often know how you feel regardless of how often they may or may gnot hear the words. It's always gnice to know that there are those gnomes in your life who will always be there for you. That's the way I feel about those kindred spirits who have become my family, and so I have sent this tiny gnome. She will remind you of how special you are to me. Do gnot worry - she will gnot get in your way or eat too much of your food. She will also be on her best behavior, as quiet as a mouse and won't make a mess. She will, however, be sure to bring a smile to your face. It's her job and she's quite good at it.

A Good Hat

This little lady knows the secret to having a cheerful day, and to be honest, she could use more and more of those right now. It has been a bit gloomy recently in her corner of the garden. It seems that even though she always tends to her flowers and tries to help other gnomes any way she can, always making the garden a prettier place, things just haven't quite turned out the way she planned. Sometimes it's easy to forget that even if a gnome can envision a perfect little corner in the garden, the flowers may have a mind of their own. With a tiny little sigh, she decides that it is about time to turn this gloom into some sunshine. And with that, she grabs her best hat and goes for a walk in the sun. All it takes to put a smile on your face is a good hat and a warm sunny day. In the very least, it's enough to remind you that though your garden may have not turned out like you had hoped, the flowers have something even better in mind.

Keeper of the Books

Look up the word "librarian" in any Gnomish dictionary and you'd find the most helpful souls in the garden. This beautiful, smart and spicy lady is gno exception. I love that whenever she meets somegnome who expresses a gneed, she's quick to jump to her feet and sets towards finding helpful information for them. But she's gnot more than just a librarian, she's the Keeper of the Books. In order to obtain such an honored responsibility, it takes both a deep level of kindness and expert knowledge of how to solve problems or find good resources. Of course, every ounce of her body is filled with these prerequisites, and so much more... like the love of music, food, art and good company. Whether you're looking for a wonderful adventure of bravery, laughter, suspense or love, she'll help you find it! I love seeing the spark in her eye as she helps gnomes find far away lands, solve problems and have exciting grand adventures, without ever having to leave the comfort of their cozy gnooks. She may be quite the book worm at the core, but there is gnothing that excites this little lady more than the idea of sharing the magic that flows from a good book and into her heart. And with a heart as big as hers, she's just bursting to share it with those lucky enough to know her. Like any good librarian, this Keeper of the Books knows exactly where to find the most joy in the garden, but something tells me the joy follows her wherever she may go. Gno doubt the garden, and my life, is a more magical place with her in it.

Paw Prints

Have you ever met somegnome with a huge beautiful heart who sees the value in everygnome around her yet gneeds to be reminded of the beauty she has inside? There has gnever been a heart bigger than this beautiful lady, though she may be surprised to know. Her heart is so big that she opens it to everygnome right away, and is full of energy, love and light. She's real and un-apologetically herself yet doesn't realize just how amazing that is. Her soul is fierce - she will fight hard for who she loves and what she believes. She has a soft spot in her heart for animals and is rescuing a set of paws at every chance she gets, even if it leaves paw prints all over her. She is quick to help the wounded but simply forgets to see just how valuable she is, and deserves to be healed herself. Gno doubt the garden is a better place because she is in it, and if there ever was a soul who deserves great things in her life, it would be she. Ask anygnome lucky enough to know her, and they will tell you that she has left her own paw prints on their hearts.

Worm Wrangler

You wouldn't know it by looking at him now, but this brave soul was once afraid of worms! You heard me. Worms. He wasn't just afraid of the slimy sly creatures, they terrified the wiggles right out of him. For a while it seemed as though all hope was lost. After all, how would a gnome get anything at all done in the garden if he was afraid of worms? Worms, of all things?! There is not a garden out there without worms! I'm not sure what happened, perhaps he would be willing to tell you the story, but one day he decided that he was not going to let his fear run his life. He puffed up his tiny body with as much courage as he could muster and went out to face his worm. Much to his surprise, it turned out that he had a wonderful talent for capturing and taming the beasts. Who would have thought that the very thing that scared him as a gnomeling would end up being his life calling? Go figure. I can't help but tip my hat at that.

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Remembering GNan

Just look at this little lady! Every ounce of her soul holds a special meaning and it's gno wonder she is so special! After all, it takes a special soul to have the role she has been granted. It's her job to not only look after the elder souls who have grown to be forgetful and can gno longer take care of themselves, but to look after their loved ones too. Her pink is for love that loved ones have for one another. Her purple is for courage to stay strong. Her blue is for the sadness they may feel in watching their loved ones slowly change. Her yellow is for hope for a cure so that others may gnot gneed to walk the same path. The silver teardrop on her face is for all the tears cried. Her butterfly is for all those magical moments which can be as simple as a smile or a big as a comforting hug. And finally, her heart of gold because it takes a big heart to handle all of that with grace and with love. So with such a great responsibility, this lady flutters from loved one to loved one, collecting all the tears they have cried and whispering tiny reminders that they are strong and and they are loved, even if it's difficult to remember at times. With every tear collected, a memory is restored. Take my GNan, for example... She was such an independent lady and always put her family above all else. She put the magic into the Christmas season with treating every single loved one to a special meal and thoughtful gift. Gno doubt it took all year to save up for each holiday memory, but the results were magic. Gnan had 3 children of her own, 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren and somehow she still managed to gnever forgot a birthday! The garden was a more magical place with GNan in it, and her memory, along with the memory of others with a similar fate, are captured by this fluttering soul. And because of that, our loved ones are gnever forgotten. We can think back on them with a great big smile and a warm feeling in our hearts.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Warms the Soul

When the season turns frigid like it is sure to do every year, there are certain things that are easy to remember. It's easy to remember to wear your warm winter boots because if you don't, your toes will go gnumb. It's easy to remember to eat warm bowls of soup because it fills your tummy with good feelings. It's easy to remember to appreciate the sparkling diamonds in the freshly fallen snow when you're sitting inside gnext to a warm crackling fire. If there is one thing that is gnot easy to remember, it's telling your friends how much you appreciate them. And with that, let me take a moment to tell you what you surely don't hear often enough. Your friendship warms the soul and I'm so thankful for it.

All the Small Things

If there is one thing everygnome understands, it's that the physics of karma work like this: small acts of kindness lead to great rewards. Don't ask me to explain how, but if you just take a moment to watch this little lady, it won't be long before it all makes sense. It seems that everywhere she turns, she is coming up with new ways to bring a smile to somegnome's face. And by the way she helps those who are less fortunate, it's obvious that this little gnomette is rich on life. She just radiates happiness and I can't help but believe that it must be contagious. Those whose lives she has touched know that they were blessed by her kindness. As for me, I know she makes the garden all the more vibrant. Thank you, little lady. Thank you for all the small things you do.

Roots of Friendship

Some friendships are instant. One might find it easy to get lost among the herds of banana slugs or feel insignificant surrounded by a majestic redwood forest. A gnome can get easily lose track of time when the fog rolls in and makes everything misty and magical, but when you meet a kindred spirit among the chaos, even on the first day, you just know you've found a life-long friend. Friendships like that last a life time - even many seasons later when two souls part ways and tend to their own gardens, they each know that the other is there for them. When they have the opportunity to catch up, it's as though gno time has passed. That's the way it is when the roots of a friendship go deep. It takes a special soul to establish such a connection. She has to be wonderful, kind and such a thoughtful friend who would be there for her loved ones gno matter what. She gneeds to know what's important in life - gnature, capturing memories, spending time with loved ones, and of course that magic truly does exist. Well if that's what it takes then it's gno wonder that this soul fits the part. She has a heart of gold and it is so big. I just love her.