August Flew By On Faerie Wings!

Hello there, Faeries and Fauns, Satyrs and Selkies, and Fey Folk of All Sorts, 

Ahh, August. The month of scalding high temperatures, and the first teasing signs of autumn. It was the month of surprise lilies ( also known as naked ladies, resurrection lilies), earlier-dark blanket evenings, light sweater mornings, and monarchs on the butterfly bushes. And it was a month of Faerie time: didn't it seem like it passed by in a strange flash? Looking back on my daily wonders journal for the month, I could hardly believe some of the experiences that seemed like yesterday were actually from the month's beginning.

Speaking of that daily wonders journal, my only blog post from this month was on that very topic. It's a new habit I've been fostering for almost a year now. It has been a wonderful weapon in the fight against feeling like all is hopeless. Making it a habit, and tracking it in a "Note" directly on my phone, keeps me on track to pay attention and notice to the little wonders and joys of every day. And nothing is too small or minor to note in your journal.

In the spirit of this journal, I'm going to share with you some moments from this month that brought happiness into my life. Some are grand, some may seem silly. The smaller ones will be at the end of this missive. I'll start with the biggest standouts.

A really big source of joy for me this month was the arrival of a new Faemily member in our household. Please meet Elynor Thorn, a jackalope faerie girl made by Armorel Hamilton of Armorel's Faybles. I've been wanting a larger-scale Fayble for a while, (my darling little Scampeno is a manifestation by her as well)

…but I wasn't sure what, and didn't feel like it was the right time. And then toward the middle of July, I started feeling a push to contact her. When I described my companion I wanted to Armorel, she was delighted and so excited because she had had some similar thoughts floating around her head.

By August 3rd Elynor Thorn was on her way to me, and she's caused so much magic in our household since then! I mention in my blog post linked above that the night she arrived (and oh, her appearance was a surprise, so I was so so enchanted and shock-smitten when I first saw her), I saw a rabbit in the middle of the road and went outside to clap my hands and scare it away from danger. And it went to the sidewalk and sat and stared at me, until I was about four feet away. Then ran off. Big lagomorph magic energy from her!

Then I started thinking about how to arrange her in the Faemily display. I definitely felt like she needed to be seated, for symmetry. But on what? I didn't want her to be unsafe/unstable, but I also didn't really think the traditional metal doll stand with its clamp would suit aesthetically. What I needed, I thought, was a chair made of twigs, but one just the right size and with arms so she would be securely kept in place. 

That evening after work, I stopped by the local fabric store to run a work errand, and noticed that the local antique and craft market was right next door. I went in, with this sixth sense feeling that what I needed was somewhere there. At one point I even smelled the beautiful perfume Armorel sprays on her creations as I walked around. And after about ten minutes, there it was, sitting in a booth with a fake potted plant on it. Exactly the chair I had pictured in my head. It was a bit more than I wanted to spend: $15. I didn't hesitate, however, and when I took it to the checkout, I found out it was on sale for half price. 

One more share about Ely and then I'll move on. I decided I wanted to create an opportunity for Adley and Ely to get to know each other better, and for Ely to meet Lady Hawthorn, the magical tree in my back garden. So, acting on a suggestion by my friend Bryonie, I got dressed up in a fancy newly thrifted dress, and we made tin crowns for everyone. We spread a blanket out under Lady Hawthorn's branches, and sipped apple juice from teacups and ate sugary sweet vanilla cupcakes. After all, I truly believe you're never too old to have a play date and fancy tea party. It was such a pure and bright memory, a moment I knew would warm your heart later, even as I was experiencing it.

Also this month I finally got some more work done on a short story I'm writing. I feel like I'm approaching the end of the first draft. The story is about the village of Much Blanding in England, a quaint but forgettable town that harbors a dangerous secret. 

In mid-August, within a week of each other, I was contacted by two brands to do social media collaborations. One of them was the clothing brand Scarlet Darkness, whose beautiful clothes can be found on Amazon. The other one was a rather big surprise. I am already smitten with the company Fable England. I've had one of their handbags on my Pinterest wish list for years. They asked if I could share some items from their new line that just came out Tuesday. And let me tell you, I angsted over what to choose! I am excited to take atmospheric photos next month with the three items I selected. Stay tuned!

When my overdress from Scarlet Darkness arrived, I decided the narrative would be: acorn faerie sneaks into an apple orchard and steals apples. So I got dressed up in my acorn cap and a new acorn shaped basket I nabbed from Target's dollar area. I added a ribbon to the basket to make it a purse. And then I went to a local orchard just a mile or so down the road from the farm where I lived in high school. It was a beautiful cloud-covered Saturday morning, and I saw a gorgeous hawk sitting on a wire just ten feet above me above the corn fields. 

Anyway, I'm very pleased with how those photos came out, and I want to share a couple of them here. I haven't even shared these on my Instagram yet, so this is a sneak peek!

Another set of photos from this month were set in a beautiful area of my local arboretum I hadn't yet explored: a Stumpery! Set in a hollow below a wooden bridge, this area is filled with gorgeous twisting tree roots and strange and unusual shade plants. It really feels incredible and magical down there, and when Tom and I went, I knew I had to return and take some photos. The concept of this particular set of photos was that I was the spirit of the Autumn woods, awakening long enough to whisper to the tree roots that fall was approaching. Though they could continue sleeping, they should start to dream in crimson and gold. I really love how these pictures turned out, this one especially. 

Oh, and Russ and D.M. Anderson shared another photo from our wonderful fey session last month! 

I also shared an edited capture of our group troll dance, and wrote a silly poem to accompany it that delights me greatly in its faerie-ness. 

Bimble bumble

the trees rumble 

As troll feet stumble 

Prance and tumble

At the troll dance

Tails akimbo 

Spinning fast, slow

Happiness grows 

Seek what they know

At the troll dance

Hear and listen

Slow and hasten

Feel the frisson

Learn the lesson 

Of the troll dance

Okay, on to the rapid fire little joys of the month I thought you  might also find a delight.

-My library patron, Gene, turned 100 years old. I attended his birthday party, and contacted his favorite author (Danielle Steel) for a note. She sent one with an autographed photo, and it arrived a few days ago. I can't wait to give it to him.

-Found out my friend, harpist Elizabeth-Jane Baldry, is planning to have a magical table made from a fallen oak tree in her magical Dartmoor forest, Pigwiggen Wood. I will definitely keep us updated as she works to raise money for this incredible effort straight out of a folk tale. 

-Got a new patron on my Patreon! I also shared an exclusive video touring my summer decor in the house…Midsummer Night’s Dream themed.

-Meryl Streep's beautiful lullaby on the show Only Murders in the Building has been on repeat on my phone when I need some comfort. 

-Terri Windling has several new exclusive wonderful shares on her Patreon. I so utterly recommend you go support this cornerstone of the Faerie community. 

-I saw a coven of crows in the parking lot at work one morning, five of them in a circle.

-I had some very sweet patrons tell me I looked like a faerie.

-Discovered a new comfort show on Netflix called Samurai Gourmet.

-I got a strong craving for an ice cream float, which I haven't had in years since I can't do dairy now. Then it dawned on me that I can still do a vegan ice cream. So Sunday afternoon I had a frothing, creamy float with cashew milk ice cream, and oh. Oh oh. You know that delightful feeling when you have a strong craving, it's met, and the experience is just as much a joy as you imagined it would be? Yes. 

-We got the Froud stairway gallery walls hung and they bring me joy every day and night.

-I made homemade soup for the first time. And it was delicious! 

So yes. Let's end on soup, something so seemingly simple that can bring so much comfort, warm the belly, and nourish. May you all find little and big things in your August to nourish you as well. 

With Faerie Wings and Magical Things,

Grace