a drawer full of ?????

Mossy, Good Morning!  I opened the shop.  The cooler hummed, the radio played and even the light bulb that talks could be heard, but no Mossy seemed to stir.  The morning progressed and lovelies were made and just as I thought she must not be here......  I opened a drawer for a snippet of tape and found a snippet of a gnome in its place!  As I drew the drawer open, first to come into view were a pair of pink ballerina slippers tied on red & white tights.  As I continued to pull,a tutu of purple with a plaid jacket of orange was displayed.  Now remember, I warned you of the lack of a match and I had actually underplayed the reality!  I hooted and whooped as the drawer fully opened to reveal the whole picture below.  Still in her mouth was a birthday horn of bright green and on her head a birthday hat of blinking lights.  But the show stopper indeed was her friend of green beside her!  Both still sound asleep, for they must have partyed quite hardy!  Oh, what a sight they presented!  At this point one eye opened and Mossy lifted her hand to motion the drawer to be closed.  Ahhhhhh, Mossy wake up and tell me your tales, but nary a word did she say.  So I sighed and obeyed and carefully closed the drawer on........Miss Mossy her self and the wee tiny frog that matched the matchless, down to the blinking hat on it's head!

A thought suddenly came and I wondered out loud,   WHO'S BIRTHDAY?

a lark of lilacs

Oh how Mossy did frolic today!  Lilacs, Hydrangeas, Freesia, Lemon Leaves, Lisianthus, Tea Leaves, Seeded Eucalyptus and Roses and more.........  She dove into the flowers with an abandon one could only envy.  I heard her splashing beneath the blooms in their water buckets.  Bucket after bucket filled the shop, mixing its' fragrances with an artistry that Chanel could only envy!!!!  As I scooped up a stem of spray roses to process who should I see floating on her back?  I leaned over the bucket and what should I get?  A stream of water straight up from her mouth.   Eeeewwww, I cried while I couldn't help but grin.  Dodging the next stream I reached for the culprit and POOF,  she was gone once again!  Here I am, here I am, she cried from the lemon leaves catch me if you can.  I have work to do Mossy and be about it I must!!  If your not going to help me then please do not hinder. It was as if I had double-dog dared!  She swang from the willow onto the hydrangeas and used them as springs to land on the vases.  She tight-roped walked the rims of the vases and hopped ever higher and higher.  When will these shenanigans stop?  With a customer's entrance I could no longer watch and found silence upon my return.  The afternoon wound to an end.  And ahead of my broom as I swept one last time was always a footprint or two.  Locking the door, I looked up to see the bucket of hypericum berries rocking.  Have fun tonight, Mossy but take extra care!  For the petals you dance on will make lovelies tomorrow.  But as I sit here tonight, I must confide that I wonder and wish I was watching tonight.  The lark and the wonder of a shop full of flowers and the party created there this night!

get up, get up, get up........

with one last thought to ignore, I cracked open one eye to see feet on my pillow this morn.   Mossy chanted at me:  time has put on her reeboks and I ain't talking the walking models, get up, get up, get up!  Well, past the little imp I could see the clock blinking and Mossy was mostly definitely correct, but sleep called abit louder than one wee red-head's rantings.  And just as I snuggled back down into the pillow,
BAM went her hightop into my nose! JEEPERS, MOSSY!
 Have I told you that Mossy has unusually large feet?  The entire package is about 10"tall, but her hat is about 3" of that, her hair is abit unruly an takes up an inch with the rest being proportioned until you reach the FEET! The funny thing is (and I'll pay for this comment) is that what should be the worst feature she considers her best.  Have I told you that Mossy went to New York with me in May(that story we'll save for another day)?  Well, I'm not sure how she did it but when we returned you never know what on her feet she'll display, there's ballet slippers, hiking boots, hightops and low, there's tennis shoes, Dorothy's sparkly red shoes, and Cinderella's glass slippers, and, well you get the picture. Now she's not much on clothes so there's never a match but the shoes are a vision on any a day!
Well needless to say both eyes flew open!  It was then that the imp broke into a dance!  A River Dance worthy of Michael himself was performed while (I swear)I heard bagpipes playing.  Her hightops flew as she twisted and jumped to the rhythm that sprang from the heavens.  By the time she was finished, I'd forgotten my nose and was clapping and swaying myself.  Ahhh, what a grand Irish beginning did this make to my day and so to share I'd have to say.....  A TOP OF THE MORNING TO YOU..and as the road rises up to greet you this morn may you dance a jig worthy of it's glory!

as if on the bow of Titanic......

she rode, leaning forward, arms extended. eyes closed.......only one thing missing, Leonardo!!!!  At one point I watched her lean forward on one foot and then......  Did she dive forward or did she slip?  I wondered but not for long as I watched her swim with a small school of fish and leap out of the water off to the right.  I was in my own dream as the lake cast her spell over all in its sight with the night.  The bats swirled and dipped above and lights twinkled from campsites around.  Laughter, sweet and joyful floated on the breeze as the last unofficial day of summer seemed to tenderly slip away.......  Dusk darkened and with it the water.  Too soon came the time to take the canoe in, too soon, too soon, too soon......  Over & over seemed the refrain did repeat in my mind as we loaded the canoe on its rack.  It was summer slipping away.....  As I stood and looked back, she rode regally in on top of a turtle so green!  She thanked him quite grandly and courtsyed for him as he nodded a quick reply back.  My, my, my Mossy I laughed right out loud who could mourn with you in my sight?  Will you hurry it up?  You cut it quite close for the truck was loaded for home.  So Labor Day came and Labor Day went and all one truly could say:  Twas a day of delight and fairies so fair, as they played on the shores of the lake and none could think other of a day with such gems but to grin of an exit so grand!

Ugly what?

From the corner of my eye the pages of my recipe book (or aka,black hole)  began to flip, first left then right.  Mossy?   I lowered the speed of the mixer in which to better hear her reply.  None came.  Mossy, I don't know how many cups of powdered sugar to add since you've decided to explore.  I am trying to finish my Ugly Cake.  WHAT DID YOU SAY?, was her screechy little reply as she came fully into view.  This is when it was my turn to cry, WHAT?  For you see, she stood on one foot, atop an egg within the carton, as if meditating arms fully extended to the side.    Shaking my head, (as if that could straighten out what was within) I leaned slowly and carefully forward.  I think, I must be trying to encourage the same type movement in the wee one for she wasssss STANDING on one of my eggs!  Mossy, I NEED my recipe card for UGLY CAKE, NOW!  The timer had long since rung and the cake awaited her sugar.......  Well  fiddle dee dee and blow it our your egg she cried as she jumped (like hopscotch) from egg to egg and landed on the edge of the stovetop.  And then came an (extremely crisp)  find it yourself!  And find it I did as this very delectable cake gained her sugar and was finally completed, baked and cooled.  Never, I tell Mossy who's presence I sense but do not see, judge a book by it's cover, or cake in this instance.  Let's just say that this cake has earned it's name in every sense of the word.  But let's also say it tis a cake very worthy in taste of a very enticing, gotta-try it, melt-in-your-mouth title! 

By the way.......the lower left corner not pictured has a rather gnome-size piece I discovered missing...haha...really, Mossy.....blow it out my egg????

in the beginning............

I bent to unlock the door, noticing that the closed sign was now turned to open and whoosh!  The sign began to spin amongst the rosemary like a water spout-up, up, up the petals flew.  It spun faster and faster and faster until I could no longer detect the words and then I heard her hoot!  And then I saw her, squinting, she was brought into focus, on top of the sign, a circle of curls standing straight out from her head as her eyes were closed in delight.  Mossy had hitched a ride to work and work (believe me) is never the same with Mossy!

I inhaled deeply as I chuckled over the show and opened the door to heaven (or at least the way heaven MUST be going to smell).   The first few moments of entering Garden Style are a delight to the senses!  Purple stock, regal snapdragons, hydrangeas so large it takes two hands to fully hold them, pinks, and corals, and blues, and greens, in shapes and shades that defy one's imagination.  Here's where I met her, I am thinking.    Here's where her story begins.........  but then the phone is ringing and answer I must.  Someone needs a flower to give, a day to brighten.  The beginning will have to hold for the day has begun.  Mossy and I have some lovelies to create and fairy dust to scatter........

mischief and mayhem......

come on Mossy, please open the door..........  pretty please?  the glass screen door stood firmly fastened behind me......  I'M BAREFOOT!  bells (the sound from her laughter) rose and fell on the sweet summer breeze, but no latch moved.  Oh for goodness sakes, I exclaimed as I gingerly made my way to the garage entrance.  Mossy's demeanor, thoughtful and kind, had poofed just as effectively as she does from sight.  such behavior is unnecessary, I stated quite sternly.....more bells......  a flash of light caught my eye as abit of red flew off the back porch.  What? What should I see but Mossy sitting on the back of a cardinal with a wink of the eye and the flip of a curl she soared up over the roof and out of sight!  I ran to the front, unhooked the latch, and out the front to catch such another glimpse.  It was not to be, but I waited awhile.  The concrete was warm, as I stretched out to wait and alone I wasn't exactly.  The cicidas sang their songs as the dragonflies dove and the doves cooed in response to it all.  The evening stilled while the symphony played on and I watched for abit of red.  with a nod to the musicians, I gave up the search and headed for responsibilites waiting.  Approaching the door, I........ WHAT?  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  MOSSY OPEN THIS DOOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!