A very happy holiday season to you, dear reader! It is the Feast of Wysolice here in Olkaria, and Greenwood is merry and bright. How I love this time of year, the baking, the fun and games, and all the old traditions shared with family and friends.
Though my own family could not be here for the holiday, I received a letter which filled my heart with such cheer that I cried. My sister Lettie is going to have a baby! She wrote that she had wanted to come and visit me this very winter, but Peter and Auntie Ember have begged her not to risk the cold. So she conceded, but goodness, she said they would all make the trip to Greenwood this spring, “no matter how pregnant” she was! Oh Lettie, once she’s made up her mind there’s no swaying her.
So now I must begin thinking about a gift for the baby, even as I have just finished up Wysolice gifts for my friends. This year I made mittens with pretty snowflake patterns for everyone. I had such fun giving them out tonight at the Hume’s house. Mrs. and Mr. Hume thanked me kindly, while Mary Colson said the colors I’d used were her favorite. Elise scolded Davy as he tried to steal her pair and put them on his ears, which made us all laugh.
After our festive meal followed by a few games of charades, when the mulled cider and Wysolice cake had been passed around, we all settled down by the fire and enjoyed a quiet moment of peace, the logs crackling happily in the hearth. Mr. Hume had fallen asleep and was softly snoring, while Mary and Mrs. Hume worked on a quilt together. Davy, I’m sure, was up to mischief somewhere in the house. So Elise moved beside me and we chatted about this and that. I thanked her for the candied peel and she thanked me for the mittens. I told her that I hoped they would match the scarf I’d made for her last year. “Did you make a matching pair for Mr. Lorenz too?” she asked, and I blushed deeply. I had. “You remind me so much of my little sisters,” she giggled, “So timid. I think you should tell him how you feel. He’s obviously fond of you!” I sighed. “Yes, we’re good friends.” And I kept my voice low, so only she could hear; “But that doesn’t mean he feels the same way for me as I do for him… still, I do want to tell him… when he returns.” Elise leaned back in her chair, and I saw the far off twinkle in her eyes. “I was the one who went after Davy. I don’t think he knew who I was until I asked him to carry my basket for me one day.” We heard a cough and turned around as Davy broke into the conversation. “Asked?” he laughed, “More like commanded?” Elise snapped back fast as lightning. “Well, you didn’t say no, did you!?” And I giggled as the two of them began to bicker playfully, waking Mr. Hume from his sleep with a start.
Dear reader, I’ve already gathered up a few sweet Impressions from the holiday so far. I’ll save some for my regular batch of remedies I make for the village, but some of them I want to mix in with the remedy for Lorenz. After all, part of what makes Greenwood beautiful is the wonderful people who live here.