Having just returned from my mailbox I have discovered the most deelightful surprise. My 4 and 1/2 year old niece Senay has sent Auntie a letter. The letter was dictated by her and written by Nana, not less than a week ago. It then came 300 miles down through the mountains to finally arrive on my doorstep with unbelievable flair. Of course these letters are always accompanied with fabulous drawings of important things like sunshines, and dogs, and people she loves. They come in colorful envelopes smothered in sparkly faerie stickers and rainbow glitter pen. And, I feel it most important to add to this, that if a letter from Senay awaits me, the mailbox is positively glowing from the inside out before I even open the lid.
Senay, is a faerie expert, I don't know if I mentioned that. Her knowledge of the Little People far surpasses any adult wisdom in this arena. This summer, while camping together for 10 days, beside a mountain lake in British Columbia's wild interior, she educated me in the department of faerie dwellings, faerie entertainment, and faerie transportation.
I learned that faeries live mostly in trees and hollowed out mossy stumps, however there are some who choose to live in secret crystal caves and others that live in the water, and, unlike us, breathing under water is not a problem for them. Fairies like to catch rides on the beautiful stones that people wear around their necks, and to use the words of Senay..."the more sparkly the necklace, the more the Faeries like it."
She commented on the sparkly quality of my tourmaline necklace, and then, without hesitation informed me that there was a "Faerie Party" going on around my neck, and "was I aware of this?"Late that night, in the wee hours of the morning, when I found myself wide awake, under a big fat full moon, in my little yellow tent, I remembered the Fairy Party Senay told me about earlier in the day, at which point, I removed the necklace, and instantly drifted off to sleep. Go figure.
Senay is also an advocate of Faerie rights and takes particular care of her little friends. If anything should threaten them in anyway, she rises up to protect them with faerie feirceness. There was some panic at the lake this summer when Opa was eating all the "CHERRIES," and Senay, who was playing in the woodpile nearby thought that Opa was eating all the "FAERIES," and well you can imagine. Otherwise, the only other thing she mentioned that I feel I must report is that if you can't see Faeries, it's only because "your not looking."
This report was taken in July of 2008. Senay has been doing much more research in this area since the date of my report, and is currently trying to discover why there are so many fairies in her mother's hair in the mornings?
Faerie Image by Brian Froud
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The rain is a comin down today and the dark days of late autumn seem to have officially descended upon us. It is without question time to cozy up indoors with warm socks and hot soups. There is a pot of barley soup bubbling away on the stove-top and fresh bread baking in the oven as I write this. The smells that permeate this little green cottage make the darkness of this grey day quite wonderful. Yes, indeed, now is the season for steamy cups of tea by the fireside and after dinner sing-along's with good friends that extend into the dark nights until candles burn down in their holders and disappear. 
Having spent the morning in a nest of blankets, sipping hot honeyed herbals for sore throats and stuffy noses, with my dear dog-friend Gus, I am convinced, that dogs, are all nurses in disguise. They are also the best hot-water bottles and foot warmers. Beyond this, they are easily the best company and have the most exceptional bedside manner. I feel entirely cared for and completely loved by my exceptionally cute and cuddly canine care-giver. He has completely assured me that stillness, a good book, and a warm blanket are just what the doctor ordered, and as Gus drifts in and out of peaceful sleep I give myself permission to do the same. 
Isn't the ability to go to sleep at night and enter the dream world an absolutely extraordinary thing? I mean, how can anybody actually consciously use the phrase that was "just a dream," like somehow just because this adventure occurs outside of the physical realm it is less important or less meaningful. To be honest, I think this is what makes dreams even more wonderful, the fact that we experience them outside of our waking lives.
