THE FULL STORY OF . . .
Nibble 1: Gnomes Usually
Gnomes usually live to a ripe old age (375 years on average). Gnome accidents are rare and gnome disease is non-existent. Gnomes are smart, wise, careful, patient, humble, peaceful and any other good character trait that would result in a healthy and happy life that lasts for centuries.
Fortunately or unfortunately (that debate could rage for years), gnomes are not immortal. They do eventually die – usually a peaceful and beautiful death, at a time and place of their own choosing. It’s all very enviable – the complete control with which gnomes seem to have over their fate.
Nibble 2: Sonya and Kolbjorn Switzlberg
But usually isn’t always. And not every gnome experiences such a continuously pleasant existence. Accidents happen. Mistakes are sometimes made and, just like in the human world, the consequences of those mistakes can cause pain.
So the story of Sonya and Kolbjorn Switzlberg goes. Sonya and Kolbjorn (Kolby, for short) Switzlberg are two of those rare gnomes who did not grow up like every other gnome. Their first 60 years have been confusing, traumatic and scary.
Nibble 3: Ulf & Lotta...Ugg
Sonya and Kolby were born to Ulf and Lotta Switzelberg. Ulf and Lotta had married early for gnomes. In fact, Ulf and Lotta did something that is virtually unheard of in gnome culture – they ran away from their families, while they were still just in their 90s. While on the run, they got married outside their own kingdom (which is forbidden), and their marriage was officiated by only an owl and attended by just two mice and an injured opossum (which means it’s not even legal).
After having married, Ulf and Lotta embarked on a world tour, eventually finding their way to the Selkirk Range of British Columbia. Needless to say, Ulf and Lotta were careless gnomes. They did not bother to discover a Usefulness. They did not bother to set up an adequate home when they realized Lotta was pregnant. And they did not endeavor to surround themselves with respectable members of the animal kingdom.
Nibble 4: Not Even A Door
When their two children, Sonya and Kolby, were just toddlers, Ulf and Lotta frequently left them alone in a makeshift den they had dug underneath a tree. Unlike a normal gnome home, which is protected by a safety tunnel and solid door (in addition to an escape route) and made from wood and stone, this den was nothing more than a hole dug in the ground, shaded by tree roots. It had no rooms, no kitchen area, no bath or sleeping nooks. It was a hole in every meaningful way.
Nibble 5: Hungry
One day, after being abandoned for several days in a row, both Sonya and Kolby were overcome by hunger. Although scared and unsure of themselves, they decided they had no choice but to venture out of their hole and find something to eat. Immediately upon exiting the den, the gnome toddlers were met by a friend of their parents – Emils the Weasel. “Hey, little gnomes,” Emils sneered. “What are you doing out of your den in the middle of the day?” with not a stich of care in his voice.
“Hungry,” both Sonya and Kolby answered, sniffing to hold back tears.
“Hungry…” Emils repeated, his mind churning with how he could benefit from the situation. “Follow me, little gnomes. I will take care of your tears.”
Nibble 6: A Wolf in Weasel Clothes
Knowing that Emils was indeed a friend of their parents, both Sonya and Kobjorn eagerly followed him deeper into the woods. After traveling for what seemed like hours, but was probably only 30 minutes, Emils sneered again, “Stay here, little gnomes. I will be back with some treats.” And he slinked around a large rock.
No more than a couple of minutes later, Emils returned with a family of trolls. The trolls circled around the two gnomes, poking at them and grunting.
“What do you want for them?” the father troll asked.
“What do you have?” Emils responded.
Nibble 7: Chimpmunks. Yum.
“Chipmunks,” the troll grunted. “Four. In cave. Yum.”
“Hmmm,” Emils responded, clearly pleased with the notion of four delectable chipmunks handed to him with little more than a ½ hour’s effort. “That’ll work,” he said. “Bring the chipmunks.”
And with that the father troll grunted to his children in a language Sonya and Kolby didn’t understand. The troll children, pushed and shoved each other until the smallest of them waddled away, disappearing behind the rock. He returned minutes later with two chipmunks hanging, by their tails, from his mouth while his two mangy fists squeezed one chipmunk each. Emils licked his lips as the troll approached. “Let me taste one,” he demanded, barely able to contain his delight.
Nibble 7: Sold
“No, little gnomes first.” The father troll responded. So Emils shoved Sonya and Kolby toward the family of trolls. “Fine. Here are your gnomes. Now give me my chipmunks!” And with that, Sonya and Kolby were sold into captivity. Troll captivity, a fate almost as bad (but not quite) as being eaten or burned alive.
Throughout their captive life, Sonja and Kolby were locked in a cage barely big enough for the both to sleep. The trolls did feed them. Accidentally. The trolls were so messy when they ate that chunks of whatever they were consuming routinely flew in the direction of the gnomes. The children salvaged what they could and, therefore, somehow maintained their health, if not their spirits.
Nibble 8: Dark Days
The lack of fresh air and kindness took a terrible toll on Sonya and Kolby. They took turns crying themselves to sleep, while the other provided hugs and comfort. They quickly learned how to handle the stench of the troll cave and they also quickly learned how to understand the troll’s routine, their language and their likes and dislikes. They watched their captors carefully (there was little else to do) which was certainly not attention that was returned. Though not physically abused by the trolls, they were tortured instead by neglect. The two little gnomes were completely ignored. It was as if they didn’t exist. The stupid, dumb, mean, selfish trolls had, indeed, forgotten about the fruits of their exchange with Emils. The little gnomes were nothing to anyone.
Nibble 9: Finally Alone
Eventually, maybe weeks, maybe months, maybe years later, the whole family of trolls finally left the cave at the same time. It was the first opportunity Sonya and Kolby had to be alone. At first they just reveled in the silence and lack of constant odor.
Kolby and Sonya made quick work with the animal bones they had collected from the spray of troll food they had received during their captivity. They had secretly saved and sharpened the bones into knives and saw blades, an impressive feat, as young as they were, gnowing eventually they would have an |
The #1 Torture Weapon of a Troll: Gas
All trolls produce unending explosions of noxious gas. Horrible, awful, stinky, smelly gas that escapes their bodies through constant farts and burps. Troll farts, especially, make all creatures who smell them wish they were dead. Getting through a troll fart alive and uninjured requires technique and skill, because the gas that is produced often causes nasal burns and eye injuries. |
opportunity to escape. Within short order, they were out of the cave and running to freedom.
Nibble 11: Fate's Mercy
Once outside th e cave, they realized they had no idea where they were, nor where they needed to be. For a split second, both had a moment of doubt – maybe they should just turn back – at that moment, captivity and neglect seemed less scary than their sudden, newfound freedom. Again the two gnome children were at fate’s mercy, but this time, fate was their friend.
Nibble 12: A Home!
After only a few minutes, they were startled by a grouse exiting its nest. The mother grouse was not only familiar with gnomes, but could speak a bit of the gnome language. After getting the gnome children’s story, she quickly shooed them into her nest and sent her husband out for food the gnomes could eat. For the first time in their lives, Sonya and Kolby found themselves in a home of love and protection.
Nibble 13: Finally Safe
The little gnomes quickly learned to love their new guardians. The grouse children were fun and playful. The parents were loving, responsible and dedicated to their family. For many seasons, Sonja and Kolby stayed with the grouse family. They learned the grouse language. They learned how to gather and store food, how to maintain proper hygiene, how to be respectful and polite to other creatures, and how to effectively identify and hide from predators. They experienced many moments of love and attention. From the day they joined the family, the momma grouse let the children sleep under her wings – a great comfort to both.
Nibble 14: Time to Move On
Eventually, however, the momma and father grouse gathered Kolby and Sonya together and explained, although they would love to have them be a part of their family forever, it would be best if they found a gnome family to live with. They further explained, they gnew of a gnome community with a reputation for being warm, friendly, welcoming and very resourceful. The grouse had arranged with their friends, the Selkirk Moose Clan, to deliver the still young gnomes to this community south of the 49th parallel. The community was a day’s travel (by moose) from the Selkirks.
Sonja and Kolby were devastated. The grouse family was the first family to show them care, nurturing, love and kindness. What would become of them? Where would they end up next? Were they being tricked again – sold to another troll family for four measly chipmunks? For several days, Sonja and Kolby tried to keep their spirits up while the grouse parents prepared them for their journey.
Nibble 15: Good-bye Grouse Family!
On the appointed day, just before dawn on the 2nd day in May, 2014, two large moose approached the grouse nest. With tears in their eyes, mamma and papa grouse bid their two little gnomes goodbye. The children grouse cried outright, as the gnomes slowly climbed the nose and then the face of the largest moose (the male), to eventually settle on the top of his head, nesting in his long tufts of hair just behind his antlers. Waiving goodbye, with tears staining their cheeks and pain in their hearts, Sonja and Kolby disappeared into the woods atop two of the strongest moose of the Selkirk Clan. Their destinations: Gnome Valley, U.S.A., home of the Gnomes of Cashmere.
PART 1I - JOURNEY TOWARD HOME
Nibble 16: A Day's Work
The journey did indeed take only a day’s work. Humphrey (the male moose) and Harriet (the female moose) made quick work of the journey, following a mighty river as it flowed south into a land the humans call The United States of America. Eventually, they reached the most dangerous part of the journey. At a place where a smaller river meets the mighty river, the moose needed to turn west. The Gnome Valley would only be a short distance from there.
Nibble 17: The Humans & The Plan
The danger of this turn was due to humans. The humans had been populating the area for a century or more. They had built roads and dams and buildings and bridges. Their constructions confused the moose and the heavy use of concrete made travel by scent difficult. After an evening of discussion, feeding and resting on the shores of the mighty river, Humphrey and Harriet agreed they would split up. Only Humphrey would travel the remaining distance the next day, while Harriet, now pregnant with Humphrey’s offspring, would remain in the highlands, waiting for his return.
Humphrey’s plan was to cross the mighty river at the large human community (known by humans as Wenatchee) just north of the river’s big bend east. He would then head into the mountains and cross over to what the humans call Mission Ridge. Once upon the ridge, he would traverse a short distance and drop down into the Mission Creek drainage and then safely enter the waiting community of Gnome Valley where the Gnomes of Cashmere would be waiting for his arrival.
Nibble 18: Thwarted!
All was going according to plan for Humphrey, until he was spotted by humans. He picked up his pace but was soon spotted by a human couple in that human contraption called a car. They seemed to be chasing him. The female human had a small piece of machinery in her hand and seemed to be pointing it directly at Humphrey. The male human was driving the car, following Humphrey as he dodged around human buildings and through human streets trying to ditch his pursuers. Upon his neck, Sonja and Kolby were terrified. They could sense Humphrey’s fear and the panicked change in his gate. They knew he was trying to evade that big machine that seeme d to be chasing them. Sonja began to cry. Kolby tried to comfort her, though both had to hold on tightly to Humphrey’s hair in order to avoid being thrown off.
Nibble 11: Fate's Mercy
Once outside th e cave, they realized they had no idea where they were, nor where they needed to be. For a split second, both had a moment of doubt – maybe they should just turn back – at that moment, captivity and neglect seemed less scary than their sudden, newfound freedom. Again the two gnome children were at fate’s mercy, but this time, fate was their friend.
Nibble 12: A Home!
After only a few minutes, they were startled by a grouse exiting its nest. The mother grouse was not only familiar with gnomes, but could speak a bit of the gnome language. After getting the gnome children’s story, she quickly shooed them into her nest and sent her husband out for food the gnomes could eat. For the first time in their lives, Sonya and Kolby found themselves in a home of love and protection.
Nibble 13: Finally Safe
The little gnomes quickly learned to love their new guardians. The grouse children were fun and playful. The parents were loving, responsible and dedicated to their family. For many seasons, Sonja and Kolby stayed with the grouse family. They learned the grouse language. They learned how to gather and store food, how to maintain proper hygiene, how to be respectful and polite to other creatures, and how to effectively identify and hide from predators. They experienced many moments of love and attention. From the day they joined the family, the momma grouse let the children sleep under her wings – a great comfort to both.
Nibble 14: Time to Move On
Eventually, however, the momma and father grouse gathered Kolby and Sonya together and explained, although they would love to have them be a part of their family forever, it would be best if they found a gnome family to live with. They further explained, they gnew of a gnome community with a reputation for being warm, friendly, welcoming and very resourceful. The grouse had arranged with their friends, the Selkirk Moose Clan, to deliver the still young gnomes to this community south of the 49th parallel. The community was a day’s travel (by moose) from the Selkirks.
Sonja and Kolby were devastated. The grouse family was the first family to show them care, nurturing, love and kindness. What would become of them? Where would they end up next? Were they being tricked again – sold to another troll family for four measly chipmunks? For several days, Sonja and Kolby tried to keep their spirits up while the grouse parents prepared them for their journey.
Nibble 15: Good-bye Grouse Family!
On the appointed day, just before dawn on the 2nd day in May, 2014, two large moose approached the grouse nest. With tears in their eyes, mamma and papa grouse bid their two little gnomes goodbye. The children grouse cried outright, as the gnomes slowly climbed the nose and then the face of the largest moose (the male), to eventually settle on the top of his head, nesting in his long tufts of hair just behind his antlers. Waiving goodbye, with tears staining their cheeks and pain in their hearts, Sonja and Kolby disappeared into the woods atop two of the strongest moose of the Selkirk Clan. Their destinations: Gnome Valley, U.S.A., home of the Gnomes of Cashmere.
PART 1I - JOURNEY TOWARD HOME
Nibble 16: A Day's Work
The journey did indeed take only a day’s work. Humphrey (the male moose) and Harriet (the female moose) made quick work of the journey, following a mighty river as it flowed south into a land the humans call The United States of America. Eventually, they reached the most dangerous part of the journey. At a place where a smaller river meets the mighty river, the moose needed to turn west. The Gnome Valley would only be a short distance from there.
Nibble 17: The Humans & The Plan
The danger of this turn was due to humans. The humans had been populating the area for a century or more. They had built roads and dams and buildings and bridges. Their constructions confused the moose and the heavy use of concrete made travel by scent difficult. After an evening of discussion, feeding and resting on the shores of the mighty river, Humphrey and Harriet agreed they would split up. Only Humphrey would travel the remaining distance the next day, while Harriet, now pregnant with Humphrey’s offspring, would remain in the highlands, waiting for his return.
Humphrey’s plan was to cross the mighty river at the large human community (known by humans as Wenatchee) just north of the river’s big bend east. He would then head into the mountains and cross over to what the humans call Mission Ridge. Once upon the ridge, he would traverse a short distance and drop down into the Mission Creek drainage and then safely enter the waiting community of Gnome Valley where the Gnomes of Cashmere would be waiting for his arrival.
Nibble 18: Thwarted!
All was going according to plan for Humphrey, until he was spotted by humans. He picked up his pace but was soon spotted by a human couple in that human contraption called a car. They seemed to be chasing him. The female human had a small piece of machinery in her hand and seemed to be pointing it directly at Humphrey. The male human was driving the car, following Humphrey as he dodged around human buildings and through human streets trying to ditch his pursuers. Upon his neck, Sonja and Kolby were terrified. They could sense Humphrey’s fear and the panicked change in his gate. They knew he was trying to evade that big machine that seeme d to be chasing them. Sonja began to cry. Kolby tried to comfort her, though both had to hold on tightly to Humphrey’s hair in order to avoid being thrown off.
The chase, which lasted only minutes, but to Sonja, Kolby and Humphrey seemed to take hours, left all three exhausted. In the end, Humphrey had skillfully evaded his stalkers, but he vowed to drop off the gnomes and return to Harriet and the Selkirks as soon as possible…and never cross the big river again.
Nibble 19: Arrival in Gnome Valley
When Humphrey and his passengers arrived in The Gnome Valley just after dusk, there was indeed an arrival party waiting for him. The mayor of the Gnomes of Cashmere, Larrs Eliasen, and his wife, Petunia, and several friends greeted them. They led Humphrey to a pasture where he could rest, drink and eat and they welcomed Sonja and Kolby into their home.
Nibble 20: A Real Gnome Home
As Sonja and Kolby entered the cozy home of the Eliasens, they were spellbound. To enter the home, they traveled several meters underground through a dirt tunnel that ended in a small wooden porch. The porch stepped up to a heavy wooden door (with a cricket in a cage guarding the entrance!). Behind the door was a lovely home, with every square centimeter furnished with beautifully carved wood, rock or fabric. A real gnome home! Sonja and Kolby were in a real gnome home for the first time in their life! They were speechless.
Nibble 21: Have A Seat
“Have a seat, dear ones,” Petunia Eliasen said to the exhausted children. “Sit down at the table and I will bring you some porridge.” Sonja and Kolby glanced around the room with confusion. “It’s okay, you can sit down,” Petunia encouraged.
“Ah, Mrs. Eliasen (mother grouse had taught the children to properly address adults),” Kolby said politely, “I don’t gnow what a table is.” Now it was Petunia’s turn to be shocked.
“Oh, dear!” she responded, “You poor little gnomes. Don’t gnow what a table is.” She shook her head, sadly as she walked to the table. “This, my dear ones, is a table. This is a chair. You sit in a chair at a table like this,” she said as she pulled out the chair and sat down.
“I see…” Kolby responded, as he and his sister followed her lead. Soon the two gnome children were both at the table, gobbling up porridge with fresh baked bread, butter and blackberry jam. In the porridge was delicious cream and fresh mushrooms. They were also given a soothing chamomile tea – all things neither gnome had ever experienced before. After a few awkward passes with their first use of a spoon, both gorged themselves with the best meal of their lives, accepting both seconds and thirds. Mrs. Eliasen was pleased.
Nibble 22: Is This Our Forever Home?
When Mr. and Mrs. Eliasen tucked Sonja and Kolby into their sleeping nooks that night (beautifully carved wooden beds that were built into the walls of the house), Sonja shyly asked, “Mrs. Eliasen, are you going to be my new mother?” Mrs. Eliasen’s heart broke as she heard those words. The child was such a dear. Beautiful too. But no, she would not be her new mother. “No, my child. I wish I were, but Larrs and I are too old to take on such young and delightful gnomes as you and your brother. We are going to be your foster family for a while. Our children, who you will meet tomorrow, have children of their own now, and they will help us raise you while we look for your forever home.”
Sonja looked down at the beautiful handmade quilt on her bed. She felt the fluffy down mattress and pillow beneath her body and head. “Oh,” she said quietly, her heart breaking too. “More moving,” she thought. “Okay.” She smiled back. “Well, thank you for taking care of us anyway. I hope our forever family will be nice like you.”
Nibble 23: A Little Prayer
“Me too, child. Me too,” Petunia thought to herself as she hugged Sonja, “They will, darling,” she reassured instead. “They will.” And with that she said a little prayer and left the children to sleep.
The weeks and months have moved quickly since Sonja and Kolby moved into the Eliasen home. They are happy little gnomes. The Eliasens and their children are giving Sonja and Kolby their complete love and support. They include them in all their family events and are doing all they can to help the children relax and grow, despite both of them gnowing that, at any moment, someone will sit them down and say once again, “It’s time for you to go.”
Nibble 24: Gnome Country Store
The big-hearted Eliasens own the Gnome Country Store. The store is a place where gnomes exchange the creations they have made from the produce that grows in abundance in the Gnome Valley. Most gnomes are very active in the agriculture business, either as a side hobby, a part-time Usefulness, or as their complete Usefulness in life. Many gnome families in the Gnomes of Cashmere community help the human orchardists of the area. They keep an eye on the orchards during the night. They help dry or warm the fruit at critical times and they make sure that pests and diseases stay in check (they also, on occasion, use a little gnome magic to protect or heal a tree or orchard from damage).
Nibble 25: Gnomes & Fairies at Liberty Orchards
In the first part of the 20th century, the Eliasens had a strong working relationship with the Tertsagian and Balaban families, the founders of Liberty Orchards, a famous orchard in the human community of Cashmere, Washington. In the 1930s and 40s, as Liberty Orchards was perfecting their Aplets & Cotlets recipe and process, both gnomes and fairies frequently helped them.
Nibble 19: Arrival in Gnome Valley
When Humphrey and his passengers arrived in The Gnome Valley just after dusk, there was indeed an arrival party waiting for him. The mayor of the Gnomes of Cashmere, Larrs Eliasen, and his wife, Petunia, and several friends greeted them. They led Humphrey to a pasture where he could rest, drink and eat and they welcomed Sonja and Kolby into their home.
Nibble 20: A Real Gnome Home
As Sonja and Kolby entered the cozy home of the Eliasens, they were spellbound. To enter the home, they traveled several meters underground through a dirt tunnel that ended in a small wooden porch. The porch stepped up to a heavy wooden door (with a cricket in a cage guarding the entrance!). Behind the door was a lovely home, with every square centimeter furnished with beautifully carved wood, rock or fabric. A real gnome home! Sonja and Kolby were in a real gnome home for the first time in their life! They were speechless.
Nibble 21: Have A Seat
“Have a seat, dear ones,” Petunia Eliasen said to the exhausted children. “Sit down at the table and I will bring you some porridge.” Sonja and Kolby glanced around the room with confusion. “It’s okay, you can sit down,” Petunia encouraged.
“Ah, Mrs. Eliasen (mother grouse had taught the children to properly address adults),” Kolby said politely, “I don’t gnow what a table is.” Now it was Petunia’s turn to be shocked.
“Oh, dear!” she responded, “You poor little gnomes. Don’t gnow what a table is.” She shook her head, sadly as she walked to the table. “This, my dear ones, is a table. This is a chair. You sit in a chair at a table like this,” she said as she pulled out the chair and sat down.
“I see…” Kolby responded, as he and his sister followed her lead. Soon the two gnome children were both at the table, gobbling up porridge with fresh baked bread, butter and blackberry jam. In the porridge was delicious cream and fresh mushrooms. They were also given a soothing chamomile tea – all things neither gnome had ever experienced before. After a few awkward passes with their first use of a spoon, both gorged themselves with the best meal of their lives, accepting both seconds and thirds. Mrs. Eliasen was pleased.
Nibble 22: Is This Our Forever Home?
When Mr. and Mrs. Eliasen tucked Sonja and Kolby into their sleeping nooks that night (beautifully carved wooden beds that were built into the walls of the house), Sonja shyly asked, “Mrs. Eliasen, are you going to be my new mother?” Mrs. Eliasen’s heart broke as she heard those words. The child was such a dear. Beautiful too. But no, she would not be her new mother. “No, my child. I wish I were, but Larrs and I are too old to take on such young and delightful gnomes as you and your brother. We are going to be your foster family for a while. Our children, who you will meet tomorrow, have children of their own now, and they will help us raise you while we look for your forever home.”
Sonja looked down at the beautiful handmade quilt on her bed. She felt the fluffy down mattress and pillow beneath her body and head. “Oh,” she said quietly, her heart breaking too. “More moving,” she thought. “Okay.” She smiled back. “Well, thank you for taking care of us anyway. I hope our forever family will be nice like you.”
Nibble 23: A Little Prayer
“Me too, child. Me too,” Petunia thought to herself as she hugged Sonja, “They will, darling,” she reassured instead. “They will.” And with that she said a little prayer and left the children to sleep.
The weeks and months have moved quickly since Sonja and Kolby moved into the Eliasen home. They are happy little gnomes. The Eliasens and their children are giving Sonja and Kolby their complete love and support. They include them in all their family events and are doing all they can to help the children relax and grow, despite both of them gnowing that, at any moment, someone will sit them down and say once again, “It’s time for you to go.”
Nibble 24: Gnome Country Store
The big-hearted Eliasens own the Gnome Country Store. The store is a place where gnomes exchange the creations they have made from the produce that grows in abundance in the Gnome Valley. Most gnomes are very active in the agriculture business, either as a side hobby, a part-time Usefulness, or as their complete Usefulness in life. Many gnome families in the Gnomes of Cashmere community help the human orchardists of the area. They keep an eye on the orchards during the night. They help dry or warm the fruit at critical times and they make sure that pests and diseases stay in check (they also, on occasion, use a little gnome magic to protect or heal a tree or orchard from damage).
Nibble 25: Gnomes & Fairies at Liberty Orchards
In the first part of the 20th century, the Eliasens had a strong working relationship with the Tertsagian and Balaban families, the founders of Liberty Orchards, a famous orchard in the human community of Cashmere, Washington. In the 1930s and 40s, as Liberty Orchards was perfecting their Aplets & Cotlets recipe and process, both gnomes and fairies frequently helped them.
The gnomes, as opposed to
the fairies, were more helpful and reliable in the manufacturing process. They helped with taste testing, guarding the facility from scavenging critters and keeping the facility floor and equipment clean and operating. The fairies, on the other hand, had a much better handle on marketing – being as into image and popularity as they are. |
Why Does the Sign Say "No Mice"?
Gnomes LOVE animals of all kind. In fact, a gnome home is simply not complete without a pet or two or three. The most common and popular pets of the gnome community are small field mice. The field mice become valuable members of a gnome family and are often taken on outings and trips. That is why the Gnome Country Store must have a sign clarifying that beloved pets like mice need to stay outside. Those playful field mice can wreak havoc on store displays! |
Nibble 26: Rewards
In exchange for their valuable help, Liberty Orchards rewarded the Eliasen family with the right to produce and market gnome-size boxes of the famous candies at their Country Store. The fairies were rewarded with being featured in the early Liberty Orchards marketing campaigns and, much to the fairies’ vain satisfaction, their images were placed on the cover of Aplets & Cotlets boxes, which were shipped far and wide as the tasty candy became world
famous. Eventually, the majority of the fairies involved in helping
Liberty Orchards moved away from the valley, stricken as they were with the fame that resulted. Most of them moved to Orlando, Florida or Anaheim, California where they first began their show-biz careers. Today, many live in Hollywood USA and are currently pursuing careers in the movie, film and entertainment industries. A dozen or so are vying for a soon-to-be-produced reality show: Real Fairies of L.A..
Nibble 27: Sonja and Kolby As Their Own
Today, the Eliasens enjoy a strong business in their country store and Sonja and Kolby are learning the trade too. Both children seem well-adjusted and helpful. Meanwhile, many families throughout the entire Gnome Valley pitch in to help raise the orphans. They invite Sonja and Kolby to play-dates and birthday parties with their own children or to simply join them on a hike or to go fishing at the local gnome fishing hole. Friends of the Eliases often invite the children over to their home to have sleepovers with their own
children or grandchildren. This gives the Eliasens, who are well into
their 300s and starting to slow down with their age, some time for rest & respite from the demanding responsibility of parenting.
Indeed, the entire Cashmere Gnome Community is in the process of adopting Sonja and Kolby as their own. Soon a younger gnome couple from the Gnome Valley will step up to become the
children’s forever family. It is only a matter of time. So for now,
say a prayer for Sonja and Kolby and may God bless them.
In exchange for their valuable help, Liberty Orchards rewarded the Eliasen family with the right to produce and market gnome-size boxes of the famous candies at their Country Store. The fairies were rewarded with being featured in the early Liberty Orchards marketing campaigns and, much to the fairies’ vain satisfaction, their images were placed on the cover of Aplets & Cotlets boxes, which were shipped far and wide as the tasty candy became world
famous. Eventually, the majority of the fairies involved in helping
Liberty Orchards moved away from the valley, stricken as they were with the fame that resulted. Most of them moved to Orlando, Florida or Anaheim, California where they first began their show-biz careers. Today, many live in Hollywood USA and are currently pursuing careers in the movie, film and entertainment industries. A dozen or so are vying for a soon-to-be-produced reality show: Real Fairies of L.A..
Nibble 27: Sonja and Kolby As Their Own
Today, the Eliasens enjoy a strong business in their country store and Sonja and Kolby are learning the trade too. Both children seem well-adjusted and helpful. Meanwhile, many families throughout the entire Gnome Valley pitch in to help raise the orphans. They invite Sonja and Kolby to play-dates and birthday parties with their own children or to simply join them on a hike or to go fishing at the local gnome fishing hole. Friends of the Eliases often invite the children over to their home to have sleepovers with their own
children or grandchildren. This gives the Eliasens, who are well into
their 300s and starting to slow down with their age, some time for rest & respite from the demanding responsibility of parenting.
Indeed, the entire Cashmere Gnome Community is in the process of adopting Sonja and Kolby as their own. Soon a younger gnome couple from the Gnome Valley will step up to become the
children’s forever family. It is only a matter of time. So for now,
say a prayer for Sonja and Kolby and may God bless them.