Oh, such a happy Wysolice it is turning out to be, with sweet gifts and winter wonders! Dear reader, the Feast of Wysolice takes place over twelve days and ends with the rising of the sun on New Year’s Day. This is the fourth night and already my heart feels full from so many joyous moments.
I’ve been enjoying the simple pleasures of the season, like decorating, baking, and exchanging gifts. My cottage, I’ve adorned with ornaments from nature: sprigs of fir and holly berries, so handsomely crafted by the Green Sister’s hand. And ingredients like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg have the whole cottage smelling of cake every day. At night, my friends and I have taken our treats to share with each other at the Hume’s house. Gingerbread, apple tarts, oatmeal cookies, fruit-topped Wysolice cake, goodness! My eyes have certainly been bigger than my stomach, but somehow I’ve managed a little taste of everything. Some evenings, when our company finishes snacking, we give each other gifts. I have gifted most of my scarves already, to help keep the winter cold at bay, and oh, my dear friends even had gifts for me too. From Mr. and Mrs. Hume I received a mortar and pestle, Mary wrote out a few of her best recipes for me to try, and Davy and Elise, they gave me a bundle of pretty ribbons for my hair. All so lovely and thoughtful.
But on this night, dear reader, I also received a most unexpected gift. I had not been back to the cottage for long, when I heard a light tapping sound. Flame jumped up and dashed to the door as I rose to see who was there. It was Lorenz, come to wish me a happy Wysolice! Oh, I was most glad to see him and invited him in for a cup of tea, but he begged my pardon, saying he couldn’t stay but for a moment. First, he handed me a sealed note from the baron. I thought it curious, especially when Lorenz added that the baron asked I read it alone. However, I was quickly distracted by another parcel. This one Lorenz said was from himself, and when I opened it, oh, I found the most elegant, green cloth-bound journal inside! The spine and cover had intricate gold embossing and on the first page was written “To Sonya, From Your Friend Lorenz.” He chuckled, a bashful look on his face, and said he thought I should have a new journal for a new year… I was in awe. Never in all my life had I received so fine a thing, and I quietly thanked him; perhaps too quietly, for he began to fret that I did not like it. Oh goodness, no! I shook my head and told him, “It’s the most beautiful journal I’ve ever seen! I will treasure it.” I remembered the scarf I had made for him and quickly went to fetch it, apologizing that it wasn’t nearly so fancy a gift, but he interrupted me, smiling softly. “It’s perfect.” Surely it wasn’t; I knew there were spots where I purled when I should have knitted, but he refused to hear any of it and put the scarf about his neck right then. His eyes seemed to twinkle as he looked at me…
For some reason at that moment, Flame decided it would be good fun to run between Lorenz’s legs, and oh my, the poor gentleman was knocked over into the snow. I quickly helped him to his feet, brushing the ice from his coat. I then turned round with the intention of scolding my naughty fox friend, but dear reader, I was too amazed at the sight before me. Flame is a creature of the forest, touched by magic. His fur usually has a gentle, greenish glow in the darkness. But on this night, against the pale snow, it was practically blazing! So bright was his fur that, as he pounced and sprang about, the snow all around him lit up and sparkled in the reflection of the light. The giddy fox danced in the cold night air, and the snowflakes that were flung shone like fireflies. Oh, it was a beautiful thing to see. Even Lorenz, who had every right to be cross, laughed with glee. We stepped out into the night to behold the sight together.
Lorenz is likely back at the manor house by now, and I am once again in my cottage. My silly fox friend seems thoroughly tired out from his play and we are resting in front of the hearth. Also, I’ve read over the note from the baron and found it is a request: he asks me to pay him a visit after Wysolice to commission a remedy, thought he doesn’t say what kind and desires that it be kept secret. Goodness, that is rather strange! I’ll be sure to let you know how things go then; for right now my heart is fixed on this moment, on Flame, and the journal from Lorenz, and this wondrous night!