Magic Happens in Every Garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All you have to do is look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helping the Home Place Fairies spread fairy dust on lovely June Poppies in Maine.

 

 

A hot July afternoon is the perfect time for hosting a fairy tea party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home Place Fairies are generous and kind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They know that gentle acts of kindness reach far and wide.

What touches one, touches all.

 

“If you want to go fast

Go alone.

If you want to go far

Go together.”

 

African Proverb and Fairy Proverb too!

 

 

 

Trolls are an elusive group and among the largest inhabitants of the Fairy Kingdom as well as perhaps the most misunderstood.

Here on the north side of a small mountain in Maine we live and work side by side all sorts of magical beings including a Clan of Trolls.

Some Troll facts :

Did you know that Trolls have the gift of invisibility so they are not often seen? Did you know that Trolls speak in tones so low they are seldom heard? Trolls love music, and some of them sing but the vibrations are of a frequency that other beings can’t hear them unless they want them to…which mostly they don’t. Trolls are very, very shy and with the exception of the Grand Fairy Spring Ball they mostly keep to themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eugene is a dear friend of mine and a Troll from the Clan of the Knoll. He is a metal smith and constructs all sorts of magical implements, such as the lovely Miss Millicent Mae Mailbox, as well as bells and finely tuned keys for mbiras and kalimbas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eugene’s cousins Beyla and Laszlo Troll are craftsman too; they carve rustic furniture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and paint not so rustic furniture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They live nearby in enchanted lichen covered caves close to the top of the hill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most Trolls of the Knoll are carvers and make lovely over sized furniture and exquisite instruments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just below Beyla and Laszlo’s cave lives William Edwin Troll and his wife Nora Russell Troll.

William Edwin is a talented musician who plays many instruments including the piano, the zither, violin, cello, viola, mbira and kalimba. (to name just a few!) William Edwin also composes music which he plays for his wife Nora as she prepares their meals.

Nora Russell Troll is just as talented as her husband. Nora Russell plays piano and is lead soloist in the Grand Troll Opera. She and Edwin make quite a pair and during the Grand Fairy Spring Ball if the breeze is just right you can hear her accompanying his melancholy playing as she hits both the high notes and the lowest of the low with her beautiful voice. Who knew Trolls could sing and play music, and so beautifully at that?

But there’s another thing about Trolls that might surprise you even more…

All Trolls are excellent chefs.

However, as you may have guessed, unlike Fairies or Pixies or most residents of the Fairy Kingdom Trolls are not vegetarians; they consume copious amounts of fish along with the furred and feathered.

Worry not, they consume only what they need, always blessing the food they eat with gratitude.

Out of respect for other members of the Fairy Kingdom while attending The Annual Grand Fairy Spring Ball all Trolls leave their meat dishes at home and prepare a beautiful vegetarian dish which always, always includes cabbage. Trolls absolutely love cabbage!

Their favorite meatless recipe is Troll Slaw. Yes, Troll Slaw not Cole Slaw….same thing but with a few differences.

Following is the recipe and I think you might appreciate the creativity of the Troll Clan in a way you never did before after you sample just one bite. Yes, it’s that good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TROLL SLAW

Dressing for Troll Slaw:

1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar

1/4 cup canola oil

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper or a pinch or two more.

2 Tablespoons Stevia (Truvia) or  1/4 Sugar (I do as the Trolls and use stevia)

1/4 cup minced and chopped fine cilantro

2 tsp peeled, grated and chopped fine fresh ginger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In small bowl or a 1 cup glass measuring cup whisk together the above ingredients, cover and let set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For The Slaw:

3 cups very thinly sliced and chopped small organic red cabbage

3 cups very thinly sliced and chopped small organic green cabbage

4- 6 scallions chopped thinly

2 large carrots grated

1/2 red bell pepper sliced very thin and diced small

1 large handful of snow peas sliced very thinly (snip off ends if need be)

1 can organic garbanzo beans drained and well rinsed

1/4 c. or to taste sliced and diced jalapeno peppers, I use organic in jar with NO yellow dye!

1 handful organic dried cranberries ( or raisins)

8-10 seedless organic pitted dates

1 handful of pine nuts (you may substitute sunflower seeds)

 

1/8 or so cup of organic black sesame seeds

4-5 beautiful heads of calendula flowers if you are fortunate enough to have some.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For your slaw the Trolls highly recommend all your ingredients be at room temperature and I agree; it really does make a difference and you will find that warm cabbages are more welcoming of the oil and vinegar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With clean washed hands do as the Trolls do and mix all of the above slaw ingredients (except black sesame seeds and calendulas) together in a large bowl. Set aside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right BEFORE you are to serve your slaw, whisk your dressing and drizzle on slaw, tossing and turning to coat all ingredients evenly using two wooden spoons.

Dressing minutes before serving prevents the slaw from becoming soggy, (unless you prefer soggy slaw of course). Trolls prefer their cabbage crisp.

Lastly sprinkle on your sesame seeds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, if you happen to have calendula flowers, which are edible by the way… snip off 5 or so flower heads and gently but firmly pinch off only their petals then sprinkle petals atop your Troll Slaw as a lovely garnish.

Nora Russell Troll is a romantic and always looking for ways to make William Edwin smile. Sprinkling on the edible and cheery calendula flower petals is a very special way of expressing her love for him.

I think after you try this recipe you will have a whole different appreciation for Trolls, because Troll Slaw is REALLY good….Trolly good!

Enjoy

Click on the above link to hear William Edwin Troll play his beautiful Marguerite Waltz for Nora Russell as she prepares his slaw.

William Edwin Troll on violin and Beyla Troll accompanying on piano.

I suggest you play this as you prepare your own Troll Slaw.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some Fairy Fun Facts:

William Edwin Haesche (born in New Haven Ct on April 11, 1867 ) was an American composer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gr. Uncle Will co-founded the New Haven Symphony Orchestra where he played first violin and conducted the People’s Choral Union, a choir of 250 voices. In 1903 he became instructor of instrumentation at Yale University. At the end of his life he taught violin and music theory at Hollins College in Roanoke Virginia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He wrote a number of works for orchestra, chamber music and songs, as well composed choir pieces. Will composed “The Marquerite Waltz” for viola and piano. In 1890 he married Gr. Aunt Nora Helena Russell, a noted soprano.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Together they created their own great story of music, love and companionship.

 

 

Live now the stories your children and their children will later tell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The possibilities are endless.

 

 

Hidden somewhere deep within an Enchanted Forest on the north side of a small mountain in Maine,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An ancient oak tree grows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deep within the hollowed heart of this tree lies Sacred Chambers,

The secret home of the Home Place Fairies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At her base an alter stands holding precious stones, feathers, tokens and gems, all gifts from believers to the Fae.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are out searching for Fairies I do not think you will find them because they are always one step ahead of you and looking your way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home Place Fairies possess the ability to shape shift, which means when the occasion suits them they can increase in size to that of mortal children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They also possess powers of partial and total invisibility.

Often times they choose to make their wings invisible to the human eye, this way they can walk among mankind undetected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you should go seeking Fairies some fine day just remember they are out there and watching you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Horse with Nightingale and La Rosa.

 

 

 

Into the garden the children dressed as fairies go

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happily making wishes they follow wee little fairy lights…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fairies believe that if you can dream it, you can do it. But they also say you must remember all good things take time. Like a garden grows so do dreams and wishes which must be nourished and properly tended and cared for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home Place Fairies highly recommend sharing your hopes and dreams with grown ups you love because you never know, that grownup might share with you their own childhood wishes and tell you how they came true!

So plant some dreams and wishes today no matter how small; carefully nourish and cultivate the ones of most importance and they will grow.

Lula Belle is the tallest of the Home Place Fairy Folk and because of this one fact she is the first of the fairies to emerge from their winter chambers each and every spring.

Her job is to determine exactly when the spring winds are just right for sprinkling  fairy dust on the blueberry fields here in Maine.

 

 

 

 

 

Today the sun came out from behind the clouds as a gentle wind blew in from the north west. Lula Belle determined these conditions were perfect for dusting the fields.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lulla Belle calls out to her fairy companions,  “Come, sprinkle fairy dust to help encourage the blueberries to flourish and grow. ” The other fairies are feeling rather shy after spending the long cold winter in their cozy chambers. They’ve not once opened their wings to flutter or fly all winter and are feeling a bit timid and shy about doing so after all this time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The smallest of the fairies, being the most curious sets off, following a sparkle of Lula Belle’s fairy dust which leads to a cluster of human children who’ve heard the fairies whispering and seen their twinkling lights.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fairies chose to shape shift, increasing their size so they can play with the children while they work their magic. This is a privilege allowed to fairies on a single spring day each and every year for one a single hour.

 

 

 

 

 

A little girl leads the fairies to the Sacred Cairn of Rocks where another child waits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everywhere the fairies run is illuminated by sparkling fairy dust twinkling and bright.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Together with the children by their sides the fairies look over the magnificent countryside and honor the vast landscape which lay before them. Being fairies they find they are eager not only to run with the children but to soar across the fields and fly!

 

 

 

 

 

The fairies continue playing with the children as they sprinkle the blueberry fields all alight with their magical dust. When twilight sets in they will shape shift back to their original sizes, say goodbye to their human companions and fly back to their magical chambers as the children walk home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lula Belle will be the last of the fairy folk to leave. She is happy how everywhere she looks is now sparkled bright with fairy dust to nourish the blueberry fields all through the springtime, twinkling and shimmering each and every night.

 

 

 

Scenes from my garden in Maine on this May morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And of course the fairy folk are out and about in between the rains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a Garden Magic Happens each and every day.

 

 

 

 

 

Some things are more visible than others, and it can take a keen and discerning eye to see the smallest of the small.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The closer you look, the more you will see.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are fairies in my gardens and I am guessing in yours too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes we don’t always recognize the most magical beings around us, nor see them fully for who they are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fairies are Pranksters and love to play games, like hide and never be seen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a good look around your own garden,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be curious and venture out.

 

 

 

 

 

There is so much for you to see.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Magic really does happen, all one has to do is look.