Dear Reader and Friend..

Wishing you a magical evening with your loved ones...stay warm and stay happy out there..BIG hug from all of us.....Its the last night of this year...BONFIRE night in the garden....!!

We wait till the clock strikes twelve..............................................................HAPPY NEW YEAR..!

Light in the darkness...

On the Hilltop the days before Christmas were very busy...
Everybody was doing his best to make this the most wonderful Christmas holiday ever..

Sir Horatio Hog was in charge to arrange the lights...He was standing in the Library..looking up...
-Now that these poor little worms were in the dark for such a long time I am going to hang more then a million lights in this place...this he said to Mr C...who just entered the Hilltop Library...carrying a basket full of dusting cloths.
-Great idea my friend Horatio..said Mr C...there's more between heaven and earth then darkness...I'm sure you will do a grand job bringing light into the Library and to Hilltop Hall...
-I can't wait to see this..said the Dutchess..following Mr C and pulling behind her a vacuum cleaner..but please let us clean up first and dust the books and bookshelf's....
-Yes...OPEN those stuffy books...said C...let them breathe..(and... so he thought by himself...and...then I can take a quick look inside..he LOVED books).


Gustave was in charge of the Christmas dinner...he has been cooking for days and days....


And our dear Miss Moussie....she insisted to decorate the tree..with a little help from Elvira...
It took some time to get the tree inside the house..and for a while it was stuck at the winding stairs..the Library is at the second floor...so they had to drag the tree two spiral staircases up..!!

But today ..after some hard work...you are all ever so welcome to visit

The snowy Hilltop inhabitants would like to wish you a Merry Christmas!
Here's to you...my dear reader and friend..lets toast and sit down by the fire..Shake hand with the bookworms...and lets make them a promise..
Don't forget the BOOKS....because there are worms in it...!~We read to know we are not alone~(C.S Lewis).



And to end this little story Mr C would like to read you a poem he found whilst dusting the books...
John Kendrick Bangs (1862-1922) ‘Bookworm Ballads, a literary feast

My Bookworm gave a dinner to a number of his set.
I was not there — I say it to my very great regret.
For they dined well, I fancy, if the menu that I saw
Was followed as implicitly as one obeys the law.

“’Twill open,” he observed to me, “with quatrains on the half.
They go down easy; then for soup” — it really made me laugh —
“The poems of old Johnny Gay” — his words were rather rough —
“They’ll do quite well, for, after all, soup’s thin and sloppy stuff.

“For fish, old Izaak Walton; and to serve as an entrée,
I think some fixed-up morsel, say from James, or from Daudet;
The roast will be Charles Kingsley — there’s a deal of beef in him.
For sherbet, T. B. Aldrich is just suited to my whim.

“For game I’ll have Boccaccio — he’s quite the proper one;
He certainly is gamey, and a trifle underdone;
And for the salad, Addison, so fresh and crisp is he,
With just a touch of Pope to give a tang to him, you see.

“And then for cheese, Max Nordau, for I think you’ll find right there
Some things as strong and mushy as the best of Camembert;
And for dessert let Thackeray and O. Khayyám be brought,
The which completes a dinner of most wondrous richness fraught.

“For olives and for almonds we can take the jokes of Punch —
They’re good enough for us, I think, to casually munch;
And through it all we’ll quaff the wines that flow forever clear
From Avon’s vineyards in the heart of Will of Warwickshire.”’

From...Cobwebs from a library corner (1899) gutenberg.

Thats all folks........Hope to see you again soon.....Stay warm and Stay Happy..!


Art-Pic nr 4 `Scott Gustafson.Town mouse and Country mouse.

A Worm on a mission...

-You must be the ghost of Christmas present ..twittered Miss Moussie..But ..you are very tiny...The ghost in the Christmas Carol is a giant..'
-AHAA..said the worm in the fridge..you know your classics...surely then you can remember that the ghost of Christmas present has the ability to change ..so he can fit into ANY space...like I'm doing today...!
-Did you come alone....asked the Dutchess...or are there more worms in my refrigerator..?
-I have..now let me count..uuuh...2009 brothers to be precise..answered the ghostly worm..
-YIKES......Dearest..you have more then 2000 of those wormy ghosts in your fridge..squeaked Miss Moussie..EEEuw..
-No no no...said the ghost ...I;m alone....you really should read the Christmas Carol again sweet Moussie..it seems you forgot a part that's very elementary..I am alone because I AM the GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT....meaning I can only exist in the NOW....I am on Earth for just one single year....the year 2010....and this year is almost coming to an end...SO....And there he paused for a while....so.......I come with a very important message..I am a ghost on a mission...
-We believe you are not the only worm on a mission...croaked Gustave....look...and he pointed towards the wiggly worms in the sugar bowl...they also tried to tell us something...
-And we think we've got the message dear Ghost...said the Dutchess... I believe its all my fault...I'm the one who neglected the books....and the worms...Tell me ..what can I do...
-There's no better time to make a change then the present time...said the wormy ghost....whilst wiggling out of the Christmas pudding..
-I know what to do...twittered Miss Moussie exited...I know exactly what to do.......we are...uh...and then...ah...yes....
-Don't keep us in suspense sweet Miss...croaked Gustave...we all know you're ideas can be quit brilliant at times...do share them with us..

-A big smile appeared on Miss Moussie face and she twittered with a firm tone of twitter...(which could only mean that whatever she had been figuring out definitely was going to happen).....LISTEN....We are going to celebrate Christmas in the Library..

-Marvellous...said the Dutchess...
-Amazing...croaked Gustave..
-Wonderful...wiggled the worms...
-What a hoot...hooted Owl....
-I love it when a plan comes together ..squeaked Miss Moussie....come on everybody...things to do ..places to go....no time to waste.....

So..dear reader and friend...I believe this year Christmas will be celebrated in the big Library at Hilltop Hall....Better go now and let our Hilltop friends do what they have to do to make this Christmas special....Don;t forget to visit them again...because you are always very welcome on The Hilltop....see you in the Library soon...

I know that worm.....

-Do you think its safe to open that fridge...twittered Miss Moussie..
-I'm curious...like Alice...said the Dutchess.....we have to know whats in there...!
-Maybe its the Christmas pudding.....getting impatient and wanting to come out....croaked Gustave..
-Shall I open it, hooted Owl....if its something creepy I'LL slam the door shot again..I'm very quick on these wings..and to demonstrate this Who flapped his wings furiously..

-And doing so Who created a storm strong enough to blow Alice and Monster away...
Luckily both of the worms made a soft landing in the sugar bowl..

-Dear Who..Be careful when you open that door ..said the Dutchess..I will be right behind you..
-Me too...squeaked Miss Moussie..
-Me three..croaked Gustave....uh...On the count of three everybody..
-One....two....THREE....and there Who opened the fridge door.....

This is what they saw....
Another worm ..sitting in the middle of the Christmas pudding...shouting..

........COME IN AND KNOW ME BETTER MAN.....!

O.M Goodness..twittered Miss Moussie...I know that worm....Its the worm of Christmas present...

A WORM VIRUS..

It was a strange looking scene in the Dutchess's kitchen...There was Who, sitting on the Table with at his big owl feet two little worms..
Miss Moussie had sat herself down on her thimble...it was always standing ready for her next to the teapot warmer,and Gustave found a lovely seat close to the Dutchess...at the rim of her now empty cocoa cup.

The worms continued there story..

-Dear Dutchess said Alice....when was the last time you visited your library..I ask you this because there's SO many dust on all of the books...you wouldn;t believe !...WE...the bookworms who live there are having some serious allergy problems...we can not stop sneezing....
-And don't forget to mention the darkness...there hasn;t been any light coming into MY book for ages....said the Monster...
-We need the light dearest Dutchess...its not possible for any living being to live in darkness all of the time...we don't know when its day or night...I can't see if the roses are white or red in MY book...sighed Alice..and this could bring some characters of my story in big problems..
-I'm sorry to say that there are worms who have left this building searching for a lighter and brighter place...we surtenly need this at this time of year...and after saying this Monster took a deep breath...He looked very sad....He knew where living in darkness could lead to...

-I understand...twittered Miss Moussie..it is the season of light...I would be sad too when I had to spend it in darkness...Tell me..are there more worms wandering around on the Hilltop searching for a brighter place...

-O my goodness...I feel very bad....Dear Alice..and dear Monster you are trying to tell me that I've neglected you...and you are so right..I haven't been in the library for months...the Dutchess said this whilst searching for her handkerchief...she had tears in her eyes...
-Don't cry my sweet lady...croaked Gustave..and he helped to pull out a handkerchief out of the Dutchess's sleeve...please don't cry...You couldn't help it..you have been ever so busy....writing and drawing...
-Yes yes...AND spending to much time at my computer...sniffled the Dutchess...I didn't read a book for ......I don't even know when I last read a book...a she blew her nose..very loud!!

-You know...whispered Alice,while she crawled close to the Dutchess to look her in the eye..you know, we even thought of choosing the dark side..and become a VIRUS!
People are not reading books anymore...we worry all the books could disappear in time so we were thinking to go in the computer business...and sabotage the system...we even had a name for our virus....The Trojan Horse...I believe some worms all over the world are already very busy doing so...
-O MY GOODNESS..twittered Miss Moussie...you can not do that...a virus is very dangerous and is not to be trusted...please tell us how we can help....before this gets out of control...?

For a moment there they were all thinking what to do....when a knock and muffled sound came from....the refrigerator....

-COMMmmminannnnknooowmebrrrtmn.....

-Curiouser and curiouser said Alice.....there's someone at the fridge door....

The Insects' Christmas

Taking a little break from the worms...be back soon with more adventures on the Hilltop..don't mis it..

It's a worm thing..

-Hello there...croaked Gustave...I was planning to come for a cup of cocoa but look what I found on my way over here..and he pointed towards the worm standing next to him....Dear friends..let me introduce to you ...Alice...from wonderland...

Alice..very courteously made a bough and said...So nice to meet you all...I hope I'm not causing any inconvenience by crawling in unannounced...

-Well..dear Gustave..and..eh ..Alice, twittered Miss Moussie..you are ever so welcome...and please meet another unexpected quest....The Monster...from Frankenstein...!

Now it was Gustave's turn to be surprised again...and little Alice stood there silent..and motionless...
Nobody knew exactly what to do or what to say...

Dear friends...said the Dutchess breaking the silence.....this seems to be a very awkward situation.....so please forgive us our behavior...worms on kitchen tables or on doormats are not something we are used to..Please, Mr Monster and sweet little Alice ..would you be so kind to tell us what may be the purpose of your visit..

-Its a worm thing...said the Monster
-No,its a book thing..said little Alice whilst climbing the table leg...
-Its more wormy then book..said the Monster..
-No,its more book then wormy..said Alice..now reaching the table surface..
-I would say its a bookworm thing..said the Monster.
-I agree,said Alice..and she sat herself down at Owls feet.....who sat very still in anticipation....what next..?

-Oke..,croaked Gustave ..leaping from the doormat to a kitchen chair....so far so good...

-What's a bookworm thing...twittered Miss Moussie...I never saw it before...never heard of it either...?

Did You...?

Lost worms..

-What's so funny ...said Alice... please Mr Frog, is it possible, when you have stopped laughing, to ask you a question....?
-O..I'm so sorry my dear ...croaked Gustave with a big grin on his frog face..I'm so sorry,this isn't very polite of me...Its ever so nice to meet you..you look adorable.. My name is Gustave and please..do tell me...how can I help you..?
-Well,the problem is...Gustave.. I AM LOST....and everything is getting curiouser and curiouser...
-Lost you say...lost in the woods....?
-Yes....suddenly I found myself falling and falling ..and there I was..In the middle of Hilltop forest...and now I don't know how to get back..
-Back to whére little Alice,croaked Gustave...where did you come from..?
-From a book...said Alice with a very tiny voice...the most wonderful book ever written...and I;m a very important character in it...I'm Alice....

Gustave looked puzzled....he didn't know what to say..A lost worm....how strange..

-Come on..he croaked whilst hopping of his stool...I know just the person who can help you....follow me little Alice..We are going to visit the Dutchess..she'll know what to do..
-The Duchess...uttered Alice surprised..did you say the Duchess...she's in my book you know..she is very ugly don;t you think..!
-I THINK NOT...croaked Gustave...my Dutchess is very lovely looking...how dare you say this about the Dutchess..are we speaking about the same person..?
-Well, last week she said this to me...listen "'You don't know much; and that's a fact",this wasn't very nice...
-Couldn't be my Dutchess, said Gustave..I'm sure of it...
-How about this then.....and I quote..: Be what you would seem to be -- or, if you'd like it put more simply -- Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise.
-This COULD be my Dutchess but I think I should understand that better, if you had it written down....I can't quite follow it as you say it...
-THAT'S what I thought..when I heard that the first time.... Alice said surprised..

The situation was,like Alice mentioned before,getting curiouser and curiouser..Together Gustave and Alice walked towards Hilltop Hall....Off to see The Dutchess..

Meanwhile ...in the kitchen of Hilltop Hall....a little wormy creature named Monster asked..
-What;s so funny...never saw a worm before...?
--Not a worm from frankenstein...laughed Miss Moussie...Whats with all the stitches..you look all stitched up...I'm afraid when I touch you ,you might fall apart...
-I happen to be proud of my stitches ...Its what makes me special..I am a very important character from a very famous book...I'm the Monster...I was created....
-O yes..I know the book..twittered Miss Moussie...I found it very creepy.....The monster was made by a crazy scientist...And crazy scientists are not to be trusted...
-Well,let me tell you....I am NOT my creator...I am a very loving creature..!
Let me quote myself...I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me likes of which you can scarcely imagine and eh.....eh....

-And eh WHAT,,twittered miss Moussie..
-Eh..I fforgot the rrest...stammered the monster...
-HMMN...squeaked Miss Moussie..whilst looking at the Dutchess.....very suspicious....

-O my goodness...said the Dutchess...look what just entered the kitchen....

Miss Moussie turned around and saw Gustave standing on the doormat...and next to him a worm..a worm with curls ....

-I'll say.....twittered Miss Moussie..O. M. G. indeed....!