PRIME LOCATION SOLD $14.50!

I love everything about living in a house. To me a home is where our heart belongs. I find cottages, tents, bungalows, mansions, cabins, 5th wheelers, tree houses, painted lady homes, Victorian home, ranches all holding a heart that belongs home. On a recent trip to the flea market on a high shelf was a doll house, price $14.50. That house was bought in two nods of a gnomes head! On the bottom floor Mr. & Mrs. Santa wave holiday greetings. A certain husband surprised me with batteries and the lights came on. Not only that, but this house is musical and Santa and his dear wife play ring a round the rosie around the Christmas tree.

Up in the attic I found the play room and the children dancing and a certain hedgehog called Gretta from Gothere (see my other shared blog called Nowhere) singing "Up on the House Top."

Up near the house top is a little cuckoo clock, tucked under the gables.

As you close the door, the music stops, the dancing stops and the lights go out and everyone goes to bed. Thank you for sharing in my storybook home, this Saturday morning. As we kick off the holiday season, may we turn back time, get back to basics and share the love of the season with all.

THE VIEW FROM THE CLUBHOUSE

It's a glorious day indeed! The gnomes from Gnomeland have found their winter clubhouse! If you remember yesterdays journey, it took a good knock knock from Bingo on that old closed gate that asked him to "Please Knock". Today when the 25 gnomes returned to search further a "Welcome" sign hung on the gate. Jacqueline (the girl with the curl) was summoned to take up the rear and have a peek. When we looked past the tire swing, and up into the high heavens of the tree to the bee hive, we found a tree house and it was unanimously decided THIS would be THE GNOME CLUBHOUSE indeed! The girl with the curl climbed the steps to the clubhouse for a gnomes eye view!

As she past the third step a sign hung under the clubhouse, breathing a sigh of relief, the gnomes would be safe for winter.

See what we mean...today the gate said "WELCOME"! A sure sign that indeed, this was the place!

So many signs all gave the gnomes direction but this one was the very best for it said "Gnome Sweet Gnome". (by the way, this sign has been repainted many times from the days it lived in Once Upon a Fairyland).

The famous tree house has now become The Gnome Clubhouse!

Thanks for hearing my short story of the Clubhouse, Believe it or not, it's true! Stay tuned for more post over the years (especially in winters) from the Clubhouse.

THE KNOCK, KNOCK STORM

Day 3 unfolds, we are almost there! A clubhouse for the gnomes may have been found! It seems along the path from Gnomeland there were a few hard knocks. This just confirms that finding a place to reside for all the gnomes is a very good idea as winter slips in. A gate has been found, that required a "please knock". So, Bingo the head gnome kicked the bottom of the gate and it made a "knock, knock" sound. The gate opened wide and the sun peeked in. All 25 of the gnome population marched through the gate and were delighted to see a tire swing! But where was the clubhouse?

A sight for sore eyes, one of the gnomes shows his injury from the bad storm last Friday night...which is still storming!

The gnomes took turn on the tire swing and all of a sudden bees were everywhere. That was a sure sign to the gnomes, this may be the spot they would find the club house. Looking way up...they spotted the bees house. Bees are a friend to the gnomes. They would have good neighbors!

This is the photo of Lolinda that we have been talking about all week and Bingo behind her. She is made of concrete, that should tell you the strong storm that hit Gnomeland and why they are looking for a club house. By the way, Lolinda is okay but she now wears a coat and a gnome hard hat.

ASK, and YOU SHALL RECEIVE

Day #2 in Gnomeland brings all the gnomes to a common meeting ground. In order to find a clubhouse for the winter, it takes careful thought and planning. It was decided at the gnome convention that the gnomes would seek some guidance in the matter to help chose their clubhouse. Here we see our two love birds talking about the sleeping situation in the clubhouse...Bunk beds, nut shells for the wee little gnomes, does twig furniture need to be built? Do we need hay for bedding or flannel blankets?

On assignment Jonathan the gnome consults the barn yard animals on the best clubhouse they recommend. They concluded...perhaps the hay loft in the old Jenkins barn?

An intimate peek at the conversation and wand waving of Pappy and Mappy Gnome and the fairy of Good Housekeeping. Perhaps her wand will lead the way...

Cruton ask the blond maiden for her advice but she is so shocked to see Cruton she is speechless.

Did you know that kittens under 1 month are valuable source of knowledge when needed? Mittens gives Ginger the Gnome some wise advice..."Just ask Ginger, and you shall receive."

Side note-Lolinda was mortified at what happened to her in the wind and snow storm. There is no good reason for the winter season according to Lolinda. She has given me permission to show you what happened to her tomorrow...not today.

IN SEARCH OF "GNOME CLUBHOUSE"

Gnomeland is in a whirlwind! Last Friday when the snow blew in and thunder roared the gnomes had a small convention on the bridge and decided that this winter was not worth it. The head gnome Bingo, has declared it is time to look for a clubhouse! All the gnomes voted YES...in the following days, we will join the gnomes, in search of their winter hideaway. Too many winters have been spent building fires in the snow. The Harvest Moon Garden Shed, is now abandoned. If the gnomes built some ladders and boarded up the windows, it may be a safe haven for all.

Or, maybe the attic over at the Fairytale Cafe? The oldest gnomes however may find it hard to climb the stairs. This is a BIG consideration of the gnome elders.

Chancy climbed a tree, he's on his way up to the tree house! Perhaps if they used the gnome crib and found some rope, they could hoist gnomes up and down, as needed.

A first hand view of the gnome convention held last Saturday.

Lolinda was caught in the storm. With snow in her eye and no coat, she cried all day and tomorrow you'll see what else happened to her. THIS was the turning point for all. Stay tuned, the hunt continues...

MONDAYS SMILE!

I have lived in my home town now since 1963. Those were the days when you walked down the street and you ALWAYS received a gift...someone would SMILE at you. I find in the hustle and bustle of this world, those gifts do not come as easy. Sometimes when I SMILE nobody smiles back! This plunders me back home, to my home sweet home where many smiles greet me...and that is a daily gift. I wanted to share some smiles on this Monday morning with you. On the landing of my staircase, is RUPERT. If I turn a switch on...he will actually talk to me! He is my only Hobbit friend.

RAGGEDY ANN Ann greats me each day on my desk in my craft room. Which I named my "happy room".

My dolly sisters (since I'm an only child) sisters are important to me. I always wished I had one. Please meet SANDY and her younger sister CINDY.

Even though this snowman appeared to loose his body...he is still smiling! And...last but not least, a smiling cat! Which reminds me of the Cheshire cat in Alice In Wonderland. Please look close, and you might see a wee little dog giving the cat a kiss!

Have a sweet Monday and give your SMILE away today!

"THE BROOKS" A story in itself...

I have been waiting and waiting to show you these pictures from the beautiful Victorian home in Montana called "The Brooks". The lady that owns it also owns the local Hallmark and she has a male decorator that is so gifted! I was like a little girl in the Christmas candy shop with so many magical corners and hideouts...my head was twirling with fairy lights, candles, decorated trees straight out of a story book land. Nestled in the branches...the Santa Snow Fairy...Silver and Tinsel and a heart of gold.

This tree had these beautiful woodland owls on it. It reminded me of the story of the Snow Queen or the forest walk in the Lion and the Witch and the Wardrobe.

A fireplace to warm your heart. I was thrilled to see the old vintage wall paper...sooooo pretty!

And on the steps...stands one of the best friends I have ever had in my whole life...Nico!

I have not skipped Thanksgiving...I just could wait to show you a peek of my Christmas Land adventure!