Dew dropped ...

Dearest...before we go inside to enjoy a marvelous soup..made by Gustave..I have to tell you this...

THE SNOWDROPS ARE BACK ON THE HILLTOP...isn't it wonderful..
Miss Moussie, being on the job....checking the Hilltop grounds,found the first one...with the help of her spy kit. A basket that contains the latest spy equipment..such as a secret agent pen..spy alarm..and of course a magnifying glass!

Miss Moussie got dew dropped by a beautiful snow drop....sparkling in the morning sunlight...

Secret ingredient

Secret ingredient

Like a regular Sherlock Holmes Miss Moussie searched the Hilltop grounds...she wanted to be sure everything was alright...Brrrr,she was shivering in her coat....how she longed for spring...
'I am sure Mozes took good care of everything', she mumbled to herself..'but to be on the safe side better check everything twice!' As far as she could see,with the help of a magnifying glass and a binocular,there were no strange tress passers or peculiar creatures in the garden..all was well,and very quiet.
There she saw Mozes sitting on the garden bench under the lilac bush...
'Look at my dear friend', she whispered...'How I wish I could be more like Mozes...big..and strong..he looks ever so confident..never nervous and so at peace with himself...I am but a little silly creature next to him..but I am so proud to call him my friend..I feel very safe when he is near..I think I will go and sit with him for a while...'
Whilst putting her spy equipment away in her purse she started walking toward Mozes..

Aha...said Mozes to himself....I spy a little spying moussie...and he smiled.
Seeing Miss Moussie always made him very happy....
Will you look at that, he mumbled....such a brave little miss...always cheerful...always feeling responsible...always wanting to help her friends....How he wanted to look like her sometimes...when he was about to lose faith in the world and the creatures living on it...when he went traveling to get away from it all....how grateful he was to call this little moussie his friend..When he was with her all was well with the world..Ahaa,she came his way...how wonderful..he hoped she would come and sit next to him him for a while..

Standing before Mozes Miss Moussie looked him in the eye....Mozes gave her a wink...Miss Moussie giggled....she then hopped on the bench and placed herself next to Mozes....They didn't have to speak....their friendship had a secret ingredient....it didn't need words...

They both gazed over the Hilltop...the place so very dear to them, and there they saw Gustave....hopping along....with something in his arms....it looked like a jar.
"Hmm...Maybe marmelade...whispered Miss Moussie..
Hmm..Could be honey..mumbled Mozes..
Mozes and Miss Moussie now were thinking the same thing....how they loved Gustave..for his love for food...and for his love for life..a very pasionate little fellow their friend Gustave..

Gustave..hopping merely on his way to Hilltop Hall, spotted Mozes and Miss Moussie sitting there...looking at him..
Yes,he croaked to himself....I see you my friends..but I can't wave...have to deliver something very special...have to be very careful not to drop it....
Would you look at them sitting there together....his best friends..he was ever so proud to call them his friends. A strange thing this was, Friendship..if you try to explane it you are always short on words.....How he admired Mozes...if only he could be so courageous...there were days when he wouldn't mind to be a big strong bear...it would also come in handy when he went on his shopping trip to the bees...
And there..the lovely lovely Miss Moussie....now..he didn't want to be anything like Miss Moussie..no...the only thing he wanted was to take care of her..to be sure nothing harm full could ever happen...he wanted to pick her big bouquets of spring flowers and bake her the biggest sweetest pies you ever did see..and he wanted to sing serenades...yes Like Mozes..because Mozes can sing like Caruso...To sing like Mozes that would he great...then he would serenade miss Moussie every day...

Gustave arrived at Hilltop Hall....standing at the kitchen door he gave a loud croaky call......
"There you are Gustave....said the Dutchess...whilst opening the door....'so good to see you...and I see you carry a jar my friend...whats in it...?
"This my dear lady,croaked Gustave..'this... is a secret ingredient...cant tell you more...trust me on this one....we just have to stirr it through the soup.....'

The Dutchess was about to go and say something to Gustave when suddenly in the kitchen..from the clock...a very loud Belle chimed .......SUPPER......

My goodness..twittered Miss Moussie....I believe we are invited in for dinner ....come my friend..it will be so good to see the Dutchess again... we can go tell her all is well in the garden..

Shall we follow dear reader and friend...because.. I don't know about you ,but I am very curious to know what it is ....that secret ingredient....Would you care for a nice bowl of soup..my dear.....

Warm Goodbyes

Miss Moussie entered the kitchen...she had expected it to be very quiet there..but in the kitchen,at the kitchen table, all of our little garden friends had already gathered. There was Mr C...Sir Horatio Hog...Gustave...our Duchess..The spirit at the table was friendly and warm ..as it should be at kitchen tables.

-Dear Miss,croaked Gustave,there you are...please do join me for a waffle..or maybe two..!
-O,I never can say no to a waffle,smiled Miss Moussie..and she placed herself next to Gustave...putting her basket with woollies next to her .
-What's this in your basket then ...asked Mr C....Are those very bright colored knitting's... mittens? And socks...?
-Yes, they are Mr C...are you in need for some woollies ....it must be ever so cold undfher groundthf..twittered Miss Moussie with her mouth full of waffle..
-I must say I do like the red mittens..said Mr C...they would go lovely with those purple socks...
-Do you have anything to swap dear C...asked Gustave..Just yesterday I swapped a pie for a scarf...
-I can swap a painting for some woollies...would this be a possibility ...asked Mr C...you could go with me Miss....in my underground labyrinth gallery.. and pick one...
-O My..I love art..twittered Miss Moussie...this would be a great swap dear C..

Then Mr C began to tell a story about frozen corridors...and big piles of snow blocking the entrances of his labyrinth, and how difficult winter was for him this year..
Sir Horatio was very quiet...he listened.. but some how his mind wandered of to other matters, matters of the heart..

-Why so quiet dear Horatio...asked the Dutchess who was sitting next to him....is there anything I can do for you...
-Can I whisper something in your ear sweet Dutchess...said Horatio....please come closer..and then with a very soft and shy voice Horatio whispered.....I think I am in Love....
-O ,but that's wonderful...said our Dutchess surprised..and may I ask...who is the lucky girl...?
Again Horatio whispered.....I believe its..its...Gretta...from Nowhere...I just saw her ones...but I cant stop thinking about her...
-Well,love IS in the air..said the Dutchess...Just look at our little Gnome friends...did you notice they closed the Cuckoo clock....there is a sign hanging on the little clock door saying....B&B....closed for business...
-Really..whispered Horatio...I wonder what kind of business...
-My friend Horatio...why don't you write the lovely Gretta a letter...love letters are very romantic and I know you are a great writer...Its almost Valentine´s day..why not send her a token of your love..suggested the Dutchess.
-Maybe I will...whispered Horatio...but don´t tell anybody....
-Ofcourse not my friend...this will be our little secret...said the Dutchess reassuring.

Then the Dutchess took her teacup in one hand and a little spoon in the other...and whilst standing up and clanging the spoon to the teacup...she said...
-`SPEECH...!´
-My dear friends ..I have an announcement to make...please listen for a moment..

All eyes now where on the Dutchess...nobody spoke...a very silent silence..not even the clock was ticking...this because the clock had stopped doing so..remember, when the cuckoo had left the building..back to cuckoo land..!

My dear friends....I have to tell you something....within a few days I will be traveling to a far away country...So... I will have to leave Hilltop Hall into your protection...
I am sure you will take good care of things and I promise I will be back in a jiffy...
May I ask for a volunteer...who will do me the honor of being the Fearless gatekeeper this time...

Again..a very silent silence....Everybody knew that Elvira did a great job the last few weeks....she was doing it even now..at this very moment..guarding the gate...

-I will do it...said Mr C..with a confident tone of voice....Nobody will come past me..I see everything and everybody...just you wait and see...I have eyes as a hawk...and then he asked Miss Moussie for a handkerchief to polish his glasses...

-So good of you dear Mr C..said the Dutchess...now I know I can go and not worry...
Lets have a wonderful day together...I´ll be packing my bags this evening...so I would love to spend this day in your sweet company my dear friends..

At that very moment the door from the Cuckoo clock opened.....They all heard a little but very LOUD voice chime.....BREAKFAST.....
Beauregard appeared....in grate haste he leaped over the breakfast table and gathered...a croissant ,two waffles ,some cheese...and an orange....this was not easy for a little gnome like him!
Whilst saying..I am so sorry to disturb, Belle is ever so hungry....he leaped back into the clock..closing the door with a bang behind him..

It was a very lovely Sunday at the Hilltop....our friends enjoyed each others company and had a marvelous time..
When evening came they said their warm goodbyes....
The Dutches hugged each and everyone and promised to be back soon...

Very late that night...when the Dutchess walked the Hilltop grounds for the last time before leaving she saw Miss Moussie and Gustave sitting there...on the old garden bench...
Gustave with his arm around Miss Moussie...The Dutches smiled...yes..Love was in the air..
Our Dutchess was so grateful to know such dear garden friends.....she knew that where ever she may go ..they would be with her..she would cherish them and carry them in her heart for ever...

LOOK...dear reader and friend..A falling Star..makes no difference where you are..lets make a wish.....together we can make dreams come true...

Very early....

Monday morning...very early...

Miss Moussie carefully shuffled through an icy garden...the ground was very slippery..She was heading to her Swop Shop...carrying a basket with woollies...Little socks and tiny mittens she knitted herself and she now wanted to swop for handkerchiefs. A lady could never have enough handkerchiefs...They always came in handy when she would occasional drop one to attract the attention of a fine and dandy, strong and manly ,mouse!

-Snow... snow ...and more snow...twittered Miss Moussie ..its ever so difficult to find my way in this snowy garden...How I long for spring to come..

A door opened at Hilltop Hall...our dear Dutchess appeared...while standing in the kitchen doorway she called....'Everybody....tea's ready...and I made waffles for breakfast...

-O,that's just what I need...twittered Miss Moussie...waffles, with whipped cream I hope....And when I'm in the kitchen I also could visit Bell and Beauregard in the cuckoo clock..I wonder how they are..

And there Miss Moussie went...dashing through the snow...shall we follow her into the kitchen....