Early Springtime Walk

Usually at this time of year it's too difficult for me to hop off Aaron's stoop and take a nice walk. Actually, the hopping part is easy. It's the walking part I can't do so well once the snow starts reaching up past my hatchet blade. So when I woke up one day and saw green instead of white on the ground, I thought I would take the opportunity to stretch my fake rock that my boots are melded to and talk a walk around.

Even though I am a stoop gnome by nature, I can appreciate why some of us become garden gnomes. So I stopped in a little garden to see if there would be anyone to chat with. The garden was empty but for some nice shrubs and flowers. I stood in the garden for a while and listened to the trickles of water from melting snow and took in big helpings of the crisp air, which smelled like mud and decomposing leaves. To me this smells like Spring and it put a smile on my bearded face.

A thought popped into my head and right back out again before I realized what it was. I put my hand to my brow and tried to recall what it was. Today was special for some reason other than just unseasonably fair weather, but why?

Perhaps it will come back to me later.

Spring Fever

It is so nice to be home again on my perfect little stoop at Aaron's house. I've been enjoying seeing the seasons change from winter to spring! It seems like I've been waiting for ever to smell fresh cut grass and all of the colorful flowers, and now they have arrived!

Along with all of the lovely smells of spring, something else was in the air today and it made my belly rumble! It was enough to get me to leave my perfect little stoop -- but just for a little while. I hopped down and began letting my nose lead the way. At some points during my trip I was distracted by the refreshing smell of rain and those nice purple lilacs. Soon though, I had reached my destination. The yummy smell was coming from a place called Pannekoeken Huis!

I'm looking for a place to sit.

I wasn't sure what this restaurant was, but as soon as I saw the giant windmill on the menu, I new this was the place for me. I smelled butter and syrup!

I looked at the menu for a while but just couldn't decide between anything! So I ended up ordering a couple of things -- a Pannekoeken, which is like a pancake, and some potato pancakes with applesauce. My belly was still full by the time I got back to Aaron's stoop this evening, and shortly thereafter the chirping birds lulled me to sleep.

Home Sweet Gnome

I had to get away from the chaos. I needed to talk to someone who could find me a stoop that felt like home. I've been enjoying my adventures to no end, but there's something about this time of year that makes me think I ought to find a stoop I'm comfortable with.

"That way. There's the guy you'll want to talk to," said a scratchy voice. I didn't see who said it.

"Where are you?" I said.

"Up here," he replied.

I looked up and saw a sinister looking fellow atop a sign that said Happy Holidays. "How did you know I needed someone to talk to, sir?" I asked the fellow atop the sign.

"I've been watching you ever since that rocketship dropped you off. It looks like you want something and there's a guy here that is really good at helping people who want things."

"Really?" I said. It seemed like such good luck all of a sudden.

"Just one thing though, little guy," said the fellow atop the sign. "Have you been naughty or nice?"

"Naughty or nice?" I repeated.

"You don't have to tell me, but it's going to come up when you meet that guy I said you oughta talk to. He's just down that way. And you better hurry. He's going to be one busy fellow pretty soon. This is his busiest time of year."

"Oh! Then I better get going. Thank you for your help, sir!" I shouted up to the sinister looking man. He nodded and winked and suddenly seemed not sinister at all.

I followed a long hallway and went through an archway that said SANTA. I continued through a red and white maze that smelled like peppermint.

"Whoever it is that I'm going to meet, he must be a pretty jolly fellow," I said to myself as I saw all the sparkling tinsel lining the peppermint hallway. I went around another bend in the way and I was suddenly face to face with one of the friendliest looking people I had ever seen.

"Ho Ho Ho!" the large man laughed and laughed as soon as he saw me.

"Oh! Hello, sir," I said because I was so startled by what I saw. A very large gnome -- or maybe one of those elves I have heard about -- dressed all in red, with fat cheeks of the exact same color on either side of a giant, jolly smile. I almost forgot to introduce myself!

"I'm Aaron's Lawn Gnome," I managed to say.

"My name is Santa Clause. You must be my distant cousin, little fellow! It's so good to finally meet you. What brings you here today?"

"Well, I've been on an adventure for a few months now. I've traveled all over and have seen spectacular sites and met many interesting and friendly creatures. But mostly I've been trying out different stoops."

"You are quite a brave little gnome," Santa said as he gestured for me to come closer. "Did you ever find a stoop that suited you?"

"Well, I guess that is what has brought me here tonight, Mr. Claus," I began. "I've been having a grand time, but in the past couple of days I've realized that I haven't felt at home at any of these places."

"I see, I see," the giant elf said.

"So, I guess what brings me here tonight is, I was wondering if you could help me find a stoop that feels like home. That man outside your office said you're good at helping people who want things."

"Ho Ho Ho," Mr. Claus suddenly laughed and clutched his jiggling belly. "That's only under one condition, though."

"Oh," I said. And then I remembered what else that man atop the sign said.

"I've been very nice, Mr. Claus," I said.

"I know you have, little cousin of mine," Santa said with another small chuckle. "You certainly have been on a long and enjoyable journey. Sharing your good cheer and stories of adventure with all the little and large creatures you've met along your way. I'll give you one final journey before you find your stoop that feels like home, okay? I think you'll enjoy it. I know, I know, it won't be your final adventure all together, just for the time being. I can see that you have a fondness for traveling!"

"Mr. Claus, that sounds wonderful! I can't imagine what kind of adventure such a jolly fellow as yourself could have in store for me! I'm so excited, Mr. Claus!" I was suddenly itching to get on the trail again. A new adventure about to begin!

Mr. Claus laughed some more as he saw me inching toward the door. "Off you go, little gnome. Just follow that bright glowing path and you'll know when you've reached the end." I walked back down the hallway, along the way I saw gnomes in the gift shop wishing me luck along my journey.

Sure enough, as I stepped outside I saw what Mr. Claus was talking about. The newly fallen snow wasn't just sparkling white, but it was many different colors because of all the lights pointing out my way!

There were trees covered in lights, stoops covered in lights, and even animals made of lights! And the animals reassured me I was going the right way. It was a lovely walk and I was so anxious to see where I would end up! I was really getting excited at the idea of taking a break from my exciting journey and spending time at a place I could call home. What a great feeling!

Soon I saw an even brighter glow, and it was blinking! I stood and watched for a little while before I realized there weren't any more lights. I must have reached the end of my path! But I was confused. Where was the stoop? I looked around and I saw a house awash in the glow from these lights. I noticed it had red trim, just like my hat. But what was that? A stoop! A stoop that I recognised, a beautiful stoop; it was Aaron's stoop!

I held fast to my little backpack, full of souvenirs and food from my wonderful journey and ran across the street, up the steps to Aaron's house and, as I resumed my post guarding Aaron's stoop, I finally felt at home.

Rocketship to Chaos

I decided to keep walking since this neighborhood was dark and quiet. I couldn't really make out any stoops and I thought it was time to move on -- I've been in the area a while, mostly spending my time with Snow Man. Also, the lady I wanted to say thank you to, for giving me to such a nice person with a lovely stoop, had left.

It was so quiet I could hear the snow squish under the stone under my boots. Just as I was starting to wonder if anyone has been following my tracks I heard my steps go quiet. The ground felt soggy! Boy was I confused!

"My head must be playing tricks on me again," I said. But sure enough, when I looked down, I saw grass beneath my stone. I followed the path of soggy ground out of curiosity. "What could have melted all this snow?"

I kept walking and soon I saw a strange silhouette against the gray sky. I was a little timid to get any closer because this was such a large, looming object! "This is silly," I said. "I should be used to giants by now." And I walked with my chest out, my chin up, and my hand ready to salute whatever was up ahead. When I finally reached the large, looming figure, I realized it wasn't another friendly creature, but a rocketship! I immediately thought back to the rocketship I rode on when I first started my journey and how fun that was. I thought out loud, "Since this rocketship is so much bigger it must be even more fun!" and I hopped on and waited for take off.

I only had to wait a few moments before the rocketship shuddered and shook and shot fire into the ground for take off. "So that's why all the snow is melted!"

It was a short flight, but did I ever feel like I had been transported far, far away! I was plopped down in the middle of a chaotic land called Macy's. Rats were fighting toy soldiers, pretty pink pigs were dancing ballet, and a very tall woman was putting on a puppet show under her skirt!

I did find something peaceful among all of this though; giant daisies were growing here! They reminded me of the garden gnome I met a long, long time ago. I wonder if he's found a good garden to winter in. Thinking about this turned my thoughts to stoops and I wondered if there was anyone here who could help show me to a stoop that would feel like home.

Sorry I Missed You!

"It's time for me to wander some more," I said to Snow Man. "I haven't been here before!" I started to look around a bit. It was a tad warmer today and it seemed to make Snow Man a little quiet. "Thank you for your great company," I said to Snow Man and started my walk around town. That's another giant for my adventure list!

I really wandered all over today, doubling back and going in circles. I like this town! Of course, because giant Snow Man lives here, but I also found this funny house just for clocks!

I stood on a corner in this neighborhood, waiting to cross the street. "Hmm," I said to myself as I stood on the corner, looking at stoops. I saw a lady leave the house on the corner and I had such warm, happy feelings all of a sudden. Not like those I felt while meeting someone new, but instead because of something familiar. But I couldn't quite place exactly what was so familiar. I looked and thought and thought and looked and finally I remembered! But it was too late. The lady had already driven away.

"That was the lady who rescued me from that dusty store shelf!" And with that I ran to her stoop, which is quite nice by the way, and made sure to leave her a note before I continued with my adventures.

A Friendly Man Made Of Snow!

Now that snow has fallen on the ground everything is so quiet along my walks! It's fun to follow all the tracks that have been invisible to me until now.

I began following a long skinny trail and as I kept following, the trail kept getting wider and wider. Soon I couldn't seen the edges of the trail, and whoever made the trail was so heavy that they sunk right down to the grass! I thought I must be on the trail of another giant. My travels have been full of them so far!

I was soon distracted from the widening trail by a strange black shape high up in the sky. It almost looked like a kind of hat the more I looked at it. Then I noticed a long red stripe waving in the the wind. The ground, the sky, and everything in between was the color of snow. I got closer and closer to those strange shapes in the sky and all of a sudden I bumped right into a pile of snow. I said, "Oof!" But it didn't sound like me! I looked around to see where the other sound could have come from, but I didn't see anything but snow all around!

"What are you looking for little gnome?" said someone in a friendly voice.

I wasn't sure where to look when I spoke, but I replied, "I'm looking for who said 'Oof' at the same time I did, when I ran into this hill of snow."

"That was me, " said the friendly voice.

"Who?" I said, again, not knowing where to look.

"Me," said the voice. "Look up."

I looked up and saw only snow. I backed up from the snow hill while looking up and found that I had been standing under the hat and red stripe. Only I found that the red stripe was actually a scarf around the neck of a giant man made of snow!

"Oh! Hello! You must be the one who made this trail I've been following," I said.

"Yes, that is my trail! I'm so glad you followed it. Every winter I come back to this very spot and you're my first visitor since it snowed!"

I decided to stay with Snow Man for a while. We talked about my adventures, hats, and all things winter.

Fooled Again!

The caves were certainly an adventure, but they are too lonely! Not one single gnome crossed my path. Not one single anything came through the caves, in fact. But I gave it a try and that's what counts. I continued on my way, thanking the pigs for such a great visit before I left.

I decided it was time to meander again. I couldn't possibly find anything better than caves and camels on my straight-line-east route! I meandered so much that I'm not sure how I wound up on a such a strange path. It felt like I was indoors! That is, if I'm remembering the indoors correctly. It was so long ago after all. I kept following different paths until I saw a strange pair of stoops! I immediately hopped up on one; it seemed like ages since I've been on a stoop. But this didn't feel quite right. I stood for a few more minutes and studied these stoops and realized they were steps for sure, but they lead up to chairs!

Not much further down the hallway I saw tall pointy hats! "Hello! Hello!" I shouted down the lonely hallway. I was excited to find some company. The hats were still, so I thought the gnomes up ahead stopped to wait for me. When I did reach the gnomes, I realized I had been fooled again! Silly me!

"This certainly is a strange path," I said out loud to myself. "I must be getting lonely if I'm starting to see gnomes that really aren't gnomes again."

A few moments later I came to an enormous window and saw such a surprise. It was snowing! I was definitely indoors. It looked much more fun to be out in the snow so I looked and looked for a door. I was so excited when I finally set my stone under my boots in the snow! It was getting pretty deep, too! I saw a tall hill and decided to climb it so I could see what direction I should go next. When I got to the top I looked all around until I saw a warm, welcoming glow that I knew would take me no time at all to get to. I slid down the hill and steered with my hatchet around a large boulder of ice.

The snowflakes felt refreshing on my face and I put my nose up in the air to catch as many as snowflakes as I could in my beard. When brought my nose back down to see where I was going I got such a start! Gnomes were buried in the snow!

I ran as fast as I could to rescue them. Who knows how long they had been under all that snow! Good thing we have such tall, bright hats. I wouldn't have seen them otherwise!

When I got closer I saw that once again my imagination got the best of me. I stood for a moment to catch my breath and then noticed the warming glow I was walking toward was just across the street!

I heard a couple of hellos and noticed there were bears and deer waving to me to come over. "Hello!" I shouted as I crossed the street to meet them.

"Don't you love the snow?" The bears asked.

"I like when the snow covers my back!" said one bear.
"I like to eat the snow," said the deer.

I told them that I liked when the snow covers my beard. "It's refreshing when it falls on your face, too!" I added, and all of the animals nodded in agreement.