Welcome to this months creative storytelling with THE WHATEVERS. I hope you are enjoying all our stories. You will find links and more information at the bottom.
The Whatevers and the FAIRY TRAIL FESTIVAL:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the
fictional Sherlock Holmes not only believed in spiritualism and all of the
phenomena of the séance room, but he also believed in fairies. He even wrote
two pamphlets and a book The Coming of the Fairies. When he would travel
to Lilydale it was often for the FAIRY
TRAIL FESTIVAL held towards the end of the summer season. The Fairy Trail is a winding path cutting through the
heavily wooded forest.
It always started with a long walk to the Fairy
Trail with the adults leading us. They often told stories of seeing fairies,
and fairy legends. Once we arrived a new Prince Fairy and Princess Fairy would
be crowned. I had always hoped it would be my turn but it never happened. This year it was my cousin Franz and
his sister Gertrude {we called her Tootsie behind her back}. They traveled from
Germany for a visit {really it was to move to here} and spend time with Mama
and Papa at the Hotel. What I didn’t know at that time was ALL of my family
would become permanent residents of Lilydale. But that is a story for later and
I will tell you more about Lilydale and my dislike for Tootsie.
Ahhhh…..Back to the Fairy Trail Festival. Once
crowned the Prince & Princess would lead the parade through the trail. All
the children would be looking and looking for Fairies. We looked under stumps, beneath
decayed fallen trees covered in kelly green moss, monster-sized mushrooms and overgrown forest ferns. We would
find little trinkets along the way and there would be squeals of excitement.
The grownups would clap and laugh and continue on with the conversations that
we were never allowed to hear.
It was along walk back to the hotel but always in
time for afternoon tea. Mama would be waiting with cold pitchers of lemonade
for us. The adults would get small glasses of MAMA’S CHERRY BOUNCE and one of
her special desserts. The children were never allowed to try the Cherry Bounce.
Mama always said that when we grew up then we could try it.
I can tell you that once I grew up and became an
adult I knew why Mama said “not for children”. It has quite the kick to it. I
carried on the tradition of making Cherry Bounce for Christmas Eve.
Recipe: Cherry Bounce {6~12 oz. bottles}
CHERRY
BOUNCE
2 qts. fresh sour cherries, washed and stems removed
1 lb sugar cubes
48 oz. vodka
1 gal. glass jar
Directions:
Place sugar cubes and sour cherries in sterilized gallon
glass container with tight fitting lid.
Pour over sugar cubes and cherries and shake.
Store in cool dark place, shaking once a day for one
week and once a week for 2 months.
Strain vodka, pour into clean, sterilized bottles.
Enjoy.
WEll I hope you enjoyed my story. I can attest to the fact that Cherry Bounce is real and it is something I often make for Christmas gifts. I usually make it around the 1st of July when sour cherries are in season and know it will be ready around the beginning of Dec.
Here are links to the other creative stories about The Whatevers. Please stop by and see what these fabulous artists have created.
If you would like to play along this is what you need to know:
Here is how it works
- Vicki, Cat, Cuchy (Carmen), Nathalie and I have made a one-year commitment to each other and picked twelve photos with Whatevers whom we will give a story.
- Every month – if possible always on the 15th – each of us will do a post with an individual story that goes along for us with the same photo.
- If you want you can play along and we will have the photo for you to download and show us your version of The Whatevers. The photo will be posted at the end of our blogposts- not on Facebook!
- There is no rules to the story itself- it can be funny, sad, uplifting, breathtaking- WHATEVER
- There is no rules on the length or the form of the story- it can be a short sentence, an essay, a poem or a soap opera – WHATEVER
- There is no rules on the artform you choose – it can be a scrapbook layout, an altered art project, an artjournal page – WHATEVER
- Here is a rule though: if you take the photo you have to link back to us and show us your story.
- These pictures are from our personal stash and are for personal use for you only! If you want to use them for a publication whether a book or magazine in print or digital form please ask for permission!
- If you want to participate we’ll have a linky list for each Whatever Post.
- You can also join our The Whatevers -Facebook Page
HERE IS THE PHOTO FOR THIS MONTH'S WHATEVERS:
Don't forget you can link up your Whatevers also.
Have a great day and see you in Nov. for the next chapter of THE WHATEVERS!
Don't forget you can link up your Whatevers also.
Have a great day and see you in Nov. for the next chapter of THE WHATEVERS!
