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

Healthy Heart

I’m sure there have been moments in your life where you have felt challenged beyond your control. Sometimes it may seem that everything around you seems to be going down a path you did gnot choose, and you start to wonder if you are strong enough to handle the tough tasks the garden has handed you. That’s where this little gnomette comes in. This tiny little accountability partner has a very big job! And she loves every moment of it! She jumps around looking for just the right person to help, somegnome who gneeds 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 of energy that still grows strong inside. With these tiny little whisperings of love and hope we are reminded that we are strong. We are healthy. We are able to take control over something in our chaotic lives. Life is good. You are beautiful, and with this little lady by your side, that’s an easy thing to remember.

Lil' Punkin

Let me tell you a story of a sweet pie gnamed Punkin. Punkin was born in the corner of the pumpkin patch and spent much of her time shying away from the bigger pumpkins around her. It seemed to him that he would gnever be quite that big. It seemed to him that gno matter how hard he tried to grow just as fast as he possibly could, it was taking forever to happen. There were stalks he could gnot reach. There were streams he could not jump over. There were pebbles too big to lift. Every day as the sun was setting, he would look across the pumpkin patch and dream of the day that a child would choose him over one of the bigger grander pumpkins, but every day would end with watching those children skip away in joyous laughter with big round pumpkins in their hands. So sad was the lil' Punkin that he hid behind a big leaf and tried to go to sleep. Then one particularly crisp Autumn morning he was woken by the sound of a tiny giggle. When he opened his eyes, he was staring right into the eyes of the tiniest child you ever did see. She was barely able to walk but that hadn't held her back from finding the most perfect pumpkin in the entire patch. The young toddler did gnot have any interest in the bigger pumpkins. They were much too heavy for her to hold, let alone carry. She wanted one that fit in the palm of her tiny hands. Besides, she was more interested in snuggling with her pumpkin than in carving it. She had taken her time, much more than her parents had thought to spend, but it was well worth the wait. For now she has found the most perfect pumpkin in the entire patch - perfect for her. "Mommy, I think I will gname him Punkin. Is that a good gname?" Indeed it was.

Pumpkins Great and Small

Once upon a garden there lived a Tutor and his Student. Some say that the Tutor was a father and the Student was his son wanting to be like Daddy when he grew up. Some say the Tutor and Student were sisters and the youngest wanted to be just like her Sissy. Gnognome really knows for sure where the Gnomish Legend comes from but it is one that is repeated by campfire and passed down from Elders to Gnomelings every time the Autumn season appears. As Legend has it, the Tutor was tall and wise and the Student was smaller and eager to learn as much as gnomingly possible. As you can imagine, there were some times when the Tutor was able to accomplish something great that the Student simply could gnot. It was then that the Student became very sad indeed for he did gnot think he could do great things like his Tutor. Alas, the Tutor sat gnext to his small friend and explained that all acts of greatness start with one small step. Pumpkins Great and Small all have the same beginnings. The Tutor explained that all the Student gneeded to do to become great was to take a small step in that direction. Then another. And another. Soon he, too, would be so big in a garden that expects him to be so small. And so the Student stood up as tall and proud as he could. Legend has it he grew an entire centimeter that day! Such wisdom from both of these souls - Pumpkins Great and Small.

Protectors of the Pumpkin Patch

Gnever before has the gnome community gneeded brave souls so much. Last year, after tending to their beloved pumpkins all season long, somegnome snuck into the pumpkin patch after dark and decorated all of the orange vegetables with scary faces. Gno gnome knows who it was, but it was certainly gnot done to the traditional high Gnomish standards of having wonderfully happy and funny jack-o-lanterns. The gnome community gathered to decide on a plan. This year they will gnot let their lovely pumpkins be used to scare the young ones. After all, gnomes are VERY proud of their pumpkin patch, and every jack-o-lantern must meet everygnome's high expectations. Only smiles and laughter will suffice. This year the gnome community has elected these to brave souls to protect the pumpkin patch. Together they will be brave. Together they will stand by the pumpkins. Together they will carve the pumpkins long before anygnome has a chance to get to them. Call it quality assurance, but I'd like to think it's yet another example of how even the gnomes in the pumpkin patch go out of their way to make sure the garden is as inspiring as it can be.

ARRRGGGHHH!!!!

At first glance, you might be surprised that this little fella loves baseball, but he can't help it. From the moment he saw the Pirates, they became his team! This season has been especially exciting for him and his fellow Pirates fans as this is their first winning season since even the elders can remember. Oh, well, ok... It hasn't been quite that long, but still. You get the point. They actually have a great shot at making the playoffs, which has this wee fella jumping up and down (on one leg, of course) with excitement. Trust me, that's quite a site. You can't help but smile. As the season continues, I'm sure you'll hear him yelling is "ARRRGGGHHH!!!!" in support of his team, and if you ever hear him yell "RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER!!" then you know that means the Pirates have won. As they should.

Dragon Spirit

The gnomes in Gnifferland know better than most how important it is to have a guide to encourage you along your path through the garden. Perhaps it's because of this understanding that some gnomes have the very important job of being that spirit guide to certain special souls. You may have heard of such things. They're often referred to as totems. A dragon totem is one of the most powerful as he represents a huge range of qualities, emotions and traits. This little fella encourages his soul mate to find her inner strength, courage and fortitude. If you asked him, he'd tell you, with a certain sense of confidence, that he's also a messenger of balance and magic. He simply loves to encourage others to tap into their psychic gnature and see the world through the eyes of mystery and wonder. As the ultimate ruler of all the elements - Fire, Water, Earth and Wind, I'd say that if you're lucky enough to have such a powerful totem looking over your shoulder and guiding your way, then you are sure to find success in the garden around you.