Remembering the Words

each one of us hears things differently, or comprehends information or even stores memories or how about when it comes to repeating a message? after playing a game in school this activity demonstrates the process of how a short sentence when whispered throughout a classroom barely resembles that same sentence after it has done its rounds. the more embarrassing part of the exercise is when your version of the story is read out-loud and your cheeks turn crimson red. and this is how a rumour starts!

but even when your rendition of the sentence ends up as part of the rumour, are activities as the such not the building blocks for storytelling? the starting point that helped you developed a style, no more of a flair for writing whether it be for a sentence or perhaps a novel. 

and just think that all of this began with the rumour of do you remember when? 

A light on in the window

"You can do more with a castle in a story than with the best cardboard castle that ever stood on a nursery table."

Author: C.S. Lewis,
'Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life'

captured in a silent voice and a blurred lens

Instagram...communication through random snapshots of the moment and the story behind it.

it's all about me & you, nah, it's all about me

as there always comes a time, when eventually you have to crater, to the questions and requests to see who i am...well okay, as me as the owner of The Enchanted Pathways Faerie Nursery, that you realize that perhaps it wouldn't be so bad after all.

i'll will chalk this whole hesitation thing up to, well thinking about it, for, that for some unknown reason that i just haven't been able to put a face on my company, on me. (yes, that reason being shyness. yeah, that excuse will work... but, okay, but those who know me, will tell you quite blatantly that i am anything but shy)

i will admit though that i have gotten better at talking about the company over the past bit instead of squirrelling away busy as a bee and keeping to myself.

has this hampered my business, YES, i can tell you that without a doubt that if you want to be noticed then it is a pretty hard sell when nobody has actually heard about or seen or met you!

with being a wife, a mom, a grandma (to 4 and currently counting) that i've always told myself that i am just being protect of those that i love but ummmm how is anyone going to know that type of personal information when i haven't even told you about it?

okay fine, i must admit, deductive reasoning makes sense when spoken (okay, typed) out loud and yes, that even shouting out from the rooftops, this type of noise can only help.

after much thought, a few cookies (a whole box to be exactly honest), a cup of tea or two (possibly more), i have come up with a history of this, this being the company and then this, this being me.

i really love what i put together but i really put a lot of hard work into it. (yeah, you can stop reading here...like i work hard...my job is in a faerie nursery how much harder can a job get?).

so all of this painstakingly work can be found on the website under the tab named 'about' (yeah, yeah, yeah, i know, how original is that for a tab name).

oh, and,

p.s. ..... it is amazing that how easy it becomes once you start talking about you, that it just becomes easier and easier to do so. (um, but then again who doesn't like to listen to themselves talk about themselves?)

the photograph that i have put on my website was taken in this same photo-op. a massive thank you goes out to Chris who took the time in the sweltering heat to help me out.

so yeah, here i am!

this is me!

this is me....hard at work!

As if you have come to a fork in the road!

...choice...

wrong

amiss

...choice...

story

fable

...choice...

leave

flee

...choice...

acceptance

embracing

possibility

decisions

treasure

dreams

future

today

vision

step

life

live life to the fullest

live life on your own terms

live life without asking for permission

wrong story...just leave

...choice...

Handling It??

Life is full of everything...

Inundated with the most mundane chore ...

Twirling into a tailspin...

Lost with too many places to go...

Can you stop it? Life I mean, can you just stop it? Time I mean, can you just stop it?

So, now let's go back to that exact moment in time...

Would you, could you have what it takes??

Would you, could you even survive?

Would you, could you even think that you could walk that path?

Would you, could you ask a friend to help?

Or better yet, do you want to go.

Now again, let's go back to that exact moment in time...and it's time to play truth and dare...

Have you been missing too?

This has been one crazy month. Now you have to understand, this wee Faerie, well she doesn't usually get toooooo worked up over a bit of sporadic nuttiness (now, did you catch that...it's almost into December, the month of when 'nuts' (okay fine, Nut - 1. a a fruit consisting of a hard or tough shell around an edible kernel. * the hard kernel of a nut. courtesy of my iMac Dictionary) get to be in the forefront and be honoured to be within the same candy dish with some of the more traditional types of snacky things that are put out for guests, mind you, that isn't quite true in this household (being vegetarian and everything)...so for those of us that this above 'nutty' commentary doesn't apply to....well, then shall we all continue on with the whole crazy month topic. (ps, has anyone but myself notice how easy it is for me to go off topic. It's like it's a natural type of phenomenal event {okay...it isn't quite a phenomenal event as it isn't just a one time type of event} that I find myself trying to explain myself to you....[okay....I'm trying to make sense of the whole thing myself and then trying to describe what I'm trying to say])....Wowzers (is that even a word...back to the iMac Dictionary....hmmmm this is what I found...hmmm there is just WAY to much for me to type out...so here is a screen shot....{ohhhh something technical...hold onto your hats here...you never now what I blow up this time. {yes, unfortunately there have been numerous times, well that even my son ((who is the Mac guru)) hasn't even been able to help me}...so, according to my iMac Dictionary, I will have to say that sadly 'Wowzers' is not a word...sigh.

Now were was I...(thank goodness I had an interruption otherwise I think I would have almost gone the record {well a record to me}...[hmmm wonder if I should go back on my blogs to find out]...do I have time to do that today??. Okay, so let's say it was a new record (although I highly doubt it), mind you, it just might be a new record??

Okay...I can do this...I can keep on topic...honestly I can (does anyone need the definition of the word 'honestly' as I can get it for you real quickly as I have a tendency to keep up my iMac Dictionary at all times just to get me through writing blogs...it's just a thing I do...{you know...to make it look like I speaks real good English}...man would my teacher's been real upset with me for that comment lol [please, all of my teachers please do not take offence to this previous comment...I just love to use bigger words, words that perhaps could be classified as my word-of-the-day], ((okay, fine...this/these words cannot be considered my word-of-the-day as thankfully, I don't punish you with blogs everyday of the week)) {{mind you, I don't know exactly if it would be a punishment for you more than it would be for me}} [[honestly here, how many new words can a person take in a day]]).

Okay...I'm trying so hard to show you what all I have managed to do so far in this blog....I have managed to use (in the same sentence!! {yes, in the same sentence} [wonder if I could classify this as a phenomenal event??])...I have been able to use all of my brackets....like all of them....in possibly the correct order (mind you, probably in the correct instances) {hey, don't be so critical there....} [I know it's you...you who is by now laughing or could that be crying??]. I have used...

You know the references of Dictionary 'bracket' noun 1. each of a pair of marks [] used to enclose words or figures so as to separate them from the context....Thesaurus 'bracket' noun 2. put the words in brackets: Parenthesis, square bracket... (again, thank you so much iMac Dictionary/Thesaurus).

Okay. how come the sizing of these screen shots ended up to be display in different sizes? Weird, and I mean weird in this instance! Oh well, we will just have to work with it the way it is. I am sooooo impressed with me...I am. (ps....Blogger isn't too happy with me using the word 'sooooo' either...it seems like it likes to auto-correct it to 'sooner'...too bad it 'sooner' just wouldn't fit into the conversation so I didn't upset my whole auto-corrector. Hmmmmph....lol that turned into hmm mph (miles per hour??).

So after the whole explanation of the 'bracket' theme, yes, this has been a very 'crazy' past few weeks. But in order to not upset the applecart (so to speak {please do not make me look up that groupiing words either}, I could you know...yuppers I could [I wonder when the word yuppers will be appointed a place into the dictionary...we all ((well, I do))).

I just LOVE craziness unless it is outside the realm of the Fae (well some of it had to do with the craft fair so, technically) {oh, and I did do some shopping for the nursery as well} really throws me for a loop.

So to recap....my month was insanely busy, I do not like the craziness of such insanely business, I love using brackets in my writing, I love doing screen shots to visibly display my definitions, and I love to shop. Oh, and how could I forget the whole 'nut' thing.

Hmmmmm, wonder what will happen between now and my next blog. I can't wait to see (well, in your case...read) find out.

p.s. Bet you didn't know that I copy and paste these whole write-ups as I go along as wouldn't it be absolutely a catastrophic event that I lose my train-of-thought and have to start all over from the beginning.

Introduction of a Lost Clay Potter??

Well it seems that there is an never ending surprises that happen here at the nursery.

Over the weekend there was a wee knock on the door.  Now if this was summer time or even very late spring this would not have been something that doesn't happen on a regular basis...but with it now being nippy outside with even snowflakes falling gracefully from the sky I was actually quite concerned and questioned who on earth could be outside on this wintery day??

Wow! I couldn't believe my eyes...there was a Faerie standing there just a shivering away. I asked her right away to come in to warm up by the pellet stove and then I ran off to make a pot of sweet tea for her.

After she was settled in and rocking away on one of the comfy chairs she began to tell her story all the while emptying her bag of the many treasures that she had collected on her way.

Here she was a Clay Potter that had been swooped up by a westwardly wind and she couldn't find her way back. Thankfully she found a yellow breasted grosbeak that new the way to the nursery...and now here she is!

As I hadn't even known that there were any more Clay Potters out there she definitely was a beautiful surprise and a wonderful addition to the group.

Once she was all able to get up and bit more back to normal she asked if she could introduce herself to the others. I wasn't too sure what she had in mind but I told her I would do anything to help her out.

Then she ran off with Faerie Bosh to help her in the kitchen. Hmmm what was she up to?

So here is here introduction....please meet Faerie Edie...

Here is a close up of Faerie Edie

What a stunning dress!

And with Faerie Bosh's help...she offered every one a bit of  yummy strawberry shortcake  and a cup of  sweet tea? She then started to sing away with a most beautiful voice that I have ever heard.

Can it be? Can it be? Can it be!!

Now as some of you know and some of you don't know this tad bit of information and please do keep it to yourself as the faeries for their own protection do not want this to get out, especially to other faeries but my goodness never, never, never, ever, to a human!

I am not quite sure what transpired so long ago as I have not heard many of the stories, the whispers or even been able to eavesdrop while the faeries are sleepy eyed and singing themselves to sleep with dreams of days gone by. But for sure, for sure...something did happen those many moons ago that brought us and the faeries to such a quiet and shussssh type of relationship. It does seem though that there really are very few of us that can see faeries. Actually be able to listen to the faeries as they sing their songs. And most of all to be able to dance away with them while they play in the flower garden.

So with that all be told....we now hope to remember, to dream, to hope that we may be one of those lucky few....that get to know the faeries.

As we all know there is a whole lot more to that realm that has the thinnest, shimmery and magical veil to it that has all kinds of wonderful things happen on the side that we cannot see. But once in awhile, not very often, but sometimes they like to just peek their toes through and their noses so they can see what all the noise is about on our side.

So if the mystery of the faeries is somewhat known to others, who just might know a wee bit more of the puzzle, who know just a wee bit more of the secret than to the best of my knowledge...and as you can tell...well...all in all...I really don't know too much at all!

Back to the original few sentences that this wee story relates to...I seem to be able to get easily distracted from the thought at hand...but then again....I think I am allowed to deviate a bit as with living in a nursery filled with faeries...well who wouldn't be absentminded, bewildered and well be completely stumped, perplexed and well be completely befuddled!

I have learnt (remember to shhhhhhussshhh this part of the story) that the faeries can actually wear the tiniest, of the weeniest, of the whittliest, of the teensy-weensiest, of the itty-bittiness, of the...well okay, you figured out that I was just trying to say that these aren't huge by any means. They wear cameras! Well, actually, I really don't know what they wear or if they are wearing anything at all for that matter. I just know that they are able to somehow share little glimpse of what they see and transfer it to an image that a human can see. Now, I don't know if that means that I am someone special, someone that is lucky, or just someone who stumbled upon, or just someone that yearns so much to be able to see these images or whatever it is called and known throughout the world of Fae!

Now these images can somehow (please do not ask me how, why or what as I truly do not know) be put onto a film that I can transfer into a picture that we, humans, can see them, view them and in most times just be in awe as you can now see what the faeries see!

Today, as the sun was still a wee bit warm in the early afternoon and there was no breeze to be had, mind you there were lots of Boreal Chickadees and the sometimes very pushy Grosbeaks swinging from the seed filled feeders and then on top of all of those birds chirping away that sometimes love to the start to dip and dive while trying to catch one of the faeries, just to play with them or so they say...there was a squirrel hiding in amongst the sunflowers that needed to be watched, and watched very carefully.

So instead of letting them hide within the tall grasses in the bushes where the squirrel could quickly spring to, so I decided I would just let them out to tip toe through the flower garden instead.

Now, all of a sudden I heard a full out flutter of wings and high pitched squeals and giggles...so off I run outside to see what all the commotion was about...but the faeries were just talking way too fast for me to even to try to figure out what on earth they were trying to tell me.

With all of this excitement going on...this is how I learned of their secret...(the one that I mentioned way up close the beginning of this story...but remember you have to shhhhhussssshhhh and not to breathe a word about this)...that they decided it was important enough that I needed to see what they had seen.

I, myself, am at a loss for words, I have no clue how to even process what they showed me, or if I am even allowed to share with even you. After much discussion and trust me...with faeries...it may seem to you and me that this whole conversation was only a few seconds long, but this bit of chatter to a faeries took all afternoon, through tea time, through supper time and then all the way to the darkness of the evening... that they had finally decided that they could/should share what they knew with me!

What they told me, well the best way to describe it....is well just through the pictures that they shared with me...

I could see something but I wasn't quite sure what exactly it was that I was seeing. 

To me, this looked like perhaps we had a visiting stunning and beautiful wee pony.  

Even with this front view, I was still wondering if I should give my head a shake! 

 Things are a bit clearer but was I really seeing what I thought I was seeing?

And here she is! In all of her loveliness, grandeur and exquisiteness...

I do believe we have a unicorn here in amongst our nursery!

Vienna by Meagan

So the Nursery was lucky enough to have both Meagan and Heather over this past weekend. While Heather made a beautiful faerie that reminded her of wintery days, while Meagan's faerie kept to a similar brrrrrr theme she also mentioned what her faerie likes to do on warm summer days.

I would like you all to meet Vienna and this is how her story goes...

"Vienna is a delightfully aristocratic faerie with a taste for the finer things in life. She enjoys reading the classics in a giant elm in the park on a summer day or taking a seat in a packed opera house on a snowy winter's evening. Having spend much of her life in Russia and Austria, she enjoys the cold of the North very much, just as long as it includes a toasty fire and a cup of spicy mulled wine."

Thank you so much for visiting Meagan, I hope you had a wonderful time and that you will be back again soon.

Heather's Visit to the Nursery

Well my winning contestant for Nutmeg the Halloween Faerie actually was able to come over this weekend and make Nutmeg a friend.

I would like you all to meet Glisten. This is the little story that Heather wrote up about her.

"Glisten is a crisp sparkly winter faerie. She dripped off the end of an icicle one sunny winter's day and has been enjoying her time in the garden ever since. Her favourite activities include skating on frozen bird baths, making 'snowfaeries' in the freshly fallen snow, and coming inside for a hot cup of apple cider afterwards. Her dress is made from endless layers of wintry petals, covered in sparkling gems".

And yes, for all of those who have not had a chance to visit the nursery....I hold all my Friends of Faeries captive!! Well only for a little awhile, I promise. Once a visitor has come over and spent the time to make themselves a faerie, I get to keep her here in the nursery for a bit. Since the first visit is always a gift from me, in return you must leave her with me to have her photo taken and posted on my website. As well, you must give her a name and write a short biography. It can be something simple to as to what you were feeling when you were making your faerie, about her dress or like Heather, a bit about your faeries' personality.

Glisten will now be gently packaged up and I will give Heather a call to let her know that she can come and pick her up to take home.

And we are live!

Well after a few months of work... the web page is now live :)

A big thank you goes to Shawn who designed it (and had to put up with me saying....but how about this colour, nah, lets try this colour instead), hubby dearest for his input, Meagan for her wonderful words behind the story of the Faerie Nursery and all of you for your patience and help.

Please enjoy :)

Enchanted Pathways Faerie Nursery

Progress...

Yes, we are making progress :)

Great news on the webpage. Shawn is now just doing the final testing of the page links and setting up the domain. We have set a target launch date of May 1st for it coming on-line. This site will list all of the petal faeries that are available to find new guardians and new adventures. 

I have commissioned a wonderful story written by Meagan that will be presented on the 'about us' page. She was able to come and visit the nursery for inspiration, I am very pleased with the outcome and I can't wait for you all to read it. 

Along with the website, shortly afterwards the Enchanted Pathways Faerie Nursery Etsy store front will open. 

All of our disclaimer and box labels along with our new 'guardianship' cards have been printed. Thank you so much to Sherry with The Business Center. Please visit her website for any of  your printing needs, websites and soooo much more. You can reach her through this link: The Business Center

So many great things happening. I hope you all come along and enjoy the development of our little project. 

We guardians of the nursery are heading south for a few days (I have a new grandson Dominic, that needs to be held and my little granddaughter Rebecca needs to have her Amma Emm to play with). 

I look forward to sharing all these new and exciting events once I get back. 

Wow!

This has been quite the week.

I guess I should have keep the blog updated so everything didn't have to be written all at the same the time. But time allows what it does.

1. I now have hired someone to do my website. A big thank you goes out to Shawn who has taught me the difference between a blog and a website (remember, I'm the one that still thinks that there is a magic combination of keys that if pressed my whole damn computer will blow up). He has be wonderfully patient with me and has guided me through this whole process. He has been up for changes and insertions and deletions :) I couldn't ask for anything or anyone better to represent Enchanted Pathways for me.

2. I have purchased a design. I now own the exclusive rights to a great banner, background and avatar. I would like to thank Erin and her shop "swiekysiggies' on Esty (http://www.etsy.com/shop/swiekysiggies). I have been a major pain the backside for her but she has been great. She is now working hand-in-hand with Shawn to make sure the image is on both my Esty store front and on the website. I am now using her faerie design on my Facebook and Flickr as avatars. When I seen her work and especially this design, I knew I had found what I imagined and hoped would represent what I thought Enchanted Pathways meant to me. I hope you like it as well.

3. My Esty store front is almost ready to be open. I am just finalizing the last details for postage. Now unfortunately there will be no sneak peeks at the new banner as Esty keeps you on vacation mode until you actually add listings for sale. But you can find the link at www.esty.com/shop/EmmanuelleNixon.

4. I have set up a new Flickr account that will be specifically for Enchanted Pathways. Currently all of my available faeries have had their photos retaken, they are named and have a bit of background posted. You can check them out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/enchantedpathways/

5. Out of the blue, I happened to see that there were new courses being offered here in Fort Smith for small businesses. Now even though I do have my Business Management behind me, these courses have been wonderful refreshers. I would like to thank Linda at Thebacha Business Development Services for her great ideas and most of all for being a sounding board.

6. I have hired a local writer, Meagan to help me develop the story behind Enchanted Pathways. Now I could go on but there will be no hints until the story has been completed :)

7. I have been to the Bank of Montreal and with the assistance of Geri set up my accounts for the company. It is always awesome when you have someone who will go out of their way to help you because they believe in you, not just because it is their job.

8. I must add in that I have a wonderful boss and a great group to work with. They have all been supportive with me, encouraging me along the way and offering up their knowledge and experience to get me going. Plus they are putting up with me missing work so I can attend these courses. I am sure they are all sick and tired of listening to me go on and on about faeries.

9. So I guess in the end...I have been sitting here teetering on the edge of whether I want Enchanted Pathways to continue to be a little hobby or whether I want to make a go of it and see if I can let it grow into something more. I have opted for the later. So here we go .....