Springtime in Riversdale

Springtime in Riversdale

LongBeard was sitting on his favourite red and white toadstool, smoking his herbacco pipe.

He loved these beautiful Spring days where every day there were new leaves, flowers, baby animals and insects. The air was scented and the peach blossoms were clearly visible through the oak branches that were only just starting to sprout their light green leaves.

LongBeard enjoyed the peace and beauty of the country side. Little gnomes were popping out of the ground and splashing about in the clear stream. Lady gnomes were sitting on toadstools of various sizes and colours, brushing their long hair. Their thick tresses had kept them warm during winter, and now they were letting the combed out fluff drift away on the breeze. In its place silky new hair had started growing. Some had light green hair and some had pale pink hair. These colours blended into the environment so that it was quite hard to spot the ladies amongst the flowers.

The starlings were swooping down to catch the discarded hair. They used it to line their nests before laying their eggs, as gnome hair is very soft and silky, and highly sought after for nest building. Once the eggs hatch, it provides warmth and comfort for the newly born chicks. This connection between nature and gnomes is mutually beneficial and has been there for as long as they can remember.

LongBeard decided that it was time to comb out his winter beard too. He removed the grey hair and was left with a long brown beard, the same colour as the branches and tree trunks around him. He put his grey and white winter clothes away and dressed in his light green and blue Spring outfit. Now, if he wanted to be invisible, all he needed to do was to wrap his long beard around his body in such a way that he resembled a plant in spring!

He smiled happily as he felt himself blend into his surroundings. Gnomes live close to the earth and believe that the more they are connected to each other and to nature, the better their communication and interaction. They are attuned to one another through thoughts, feelings and deeds, and know that good fortune is more about their lifestyle, than mere luck.

Gnomes of all types are joined together by this belief that there is an invisible web linking them to one another and to nature. They become one through this connection and live in harmony with all that is around them.

Picture acknowledgement: Shani Grove