Daisy has come to visit her friends at the Magical Insect Inn of Oh Valley. It has been a very long time since she last visited. She’s hoping her friends will still recognize her. Even she thinks she looks so much different from her last visit, when she spent all her time out back of the Inn, in the cattail shallows of the Mighty Oh River. Much of her time was spent keeping her 360-degree gaze on the local Bull Frog, Fester. Daisy didn’t want to become his next lunch.

Her visit this weekend was due to a formally inscribed invitation from Second Lieutenant Darby MacIntyre Dragonfly for the 2020 Oh Valley Winter Cotillion. She gladly accepted. The Oh Valley Winter Cotillion was the event of the season and she was pleased to be attending with Darby.

Dragonflies playing Wing Tag

Darby, however, had been called away on duty and was not expected to arrive until very late on the afternoon of the Ball. He would not be there to greet her on her arrival but would do everything in his power to ensure he was there to greet and escort his guest into the fabulous ballroom, centrally located inside the three-turreted, Insect Inn.

Daisy is so looking forward to seeing Darby and all her friends again. The trip to the inn took a fair bit longer than you would expect for a dragonfly. Daisy was accompanied by her young friend, Twig. As Twig, a Walking Stick, is unable to fly, Daisy walked the distance to Oh Valley with him.

Twig was on an errand to Silvio’s Haberdashery to pick up the silk hat his mother, Willow, had on order. Daisy convinced him he should come to the Cotillion and that he would have loads of fun. He would meet some new people, many of them with interesting tales to tell. With Willow’s permission to stay overnight at The Insect Inn, and return with her hat the following day, it was all set.

Twig missed part of his Mom’s conversation with Daisy. Instead, he was doing what Twig liked to do best – day dreaming. While they were talking, he was imagining life as a living “Pick-Up-Stick,’ where he, and only he, would determine the outcome of the game. What Power!

Daisy assured Willow that she would look out for Twig and be sure he was respectful of his elders. Willow knew that her son would be learning a very good skill at the cotillion. Like all skills, learning young was definitely the way to make the new skill stick with you.

Do you know what a cotillion is? Twig didn’t… yet.

The walk was sunny and bright and the pair talked all along the path to Oh Valley. Twig was having some difficulty with his “times tables” , especially 7 and 8’s. He thinks it was because he missed school the day they were taught and never quite got the hang of either of them. They recited them together and Daisy helped him catch up to the others in his class. By the time they arrived at their destination, Twig knew all the times tables through 12 and was very relieved to now be ahead of his classmates. What Twig still didn’t know, and hadn’t thought to ask is, “What’s a Cotillion?”

Daisy and Twig checked into their rooms at the Magical Insect Inn. Once he was unpacked, Twig came out of his room to have a look around. He saw all the fine decorations and then a poster advertising the ‘Winter Cotillion.’  All the insects pictured on the poster were dancing. He wondered why?

“Hey Daisy?”

“There you are, Twig. How’s your room?”

“Oh  fine. It’s bigger than my room at home and there’s extra leaves in the corner that are folded neater than I’ve ever seen before.  Hey Daisy? Why does this poster show insects dancing?”

“Oh, that’s a poster advertising tonight’s Oh Valley Winter Cotillion. Isn’t it lovely?”

“Fine, but why the D.A.N.C.I.N.G?”

“Twig, what do you mean?” Dixie looked confused. “Don’t you know what a cotillion is?”

Twig shakes his head back and forth. “No.”

“It’s a french name for a Ball where we dress up and dance the night away! It will be so romantic!” Daisy was obviously thinking about dancing with Darby.

” What? Oh no. Not me! I’m not dancing. I don’t even know how to dance.  Listen Daisy, I’m gonna clear outta my room and go now. I gotta get Mom’s hat before Silvio closes. See ya back in Crazywort.”

“Stop right there, Mister! Don’t run off like a scared rabbit. Your Mom raised you better than that. I promised her that I would teach you how to dance. Learning to dance now will be an advantage when you are older. You won’t be embarrassed when you want to dance with someone. You’ll know how already. The one you choose to dance with will be very impressed Please trust me. Twig?”

Obviously this will be Twig’s first Winter Cotillion and both he and Daisy had their work cut out for them. Twig doesn’t want to disappoint him Mom or his friend.

Now of course, Twig found walking easy, for Twig is a Walking Stick. Dancing, however proved to be a bit problematic. Though he was giving it his best shot, he couldn’t get his six legs to move in unison and unlike Daisy, who seemed to be comfortable on four and sometimes two, he needed all six legs to keep his balance.

Fortunately as his frustration at not being able to control his own limbs started to get a solid grip on his temper, Darby arrived. He saw Dixie and came rushing over, apologizing for not being here when she arrived. They began to talk so fast to each other as though they were making up for lost time. They totally forgot he was standing there with his legs in knots. This was his chance to skedaddle if only he could untangle himself. If he hurried, he could still make it to Silvio’s Haberdashery before closing.

“Not so fast, my friend.” Darby spoke clearly and sharply, something he’d picked up at Drone School.

I really do need to get my Mother’s hat before Silvio’s closes for the day. 

“May I join you?” Darby asked. “I need a new Top Hot for tonight and if any shop has what I hope to find, it will be Silvio’s Haberdashery.”

Twig was out of there so fast that Darby found it difficult to keep up. “What’s your hurry, Twig?”

“Daisy is trying to teach me to dance. I’m not very good. I’m not good at all. I don’t understand how she can stand on four legs and sometimes only two. It’s impossible!”

“Ahhh, I see. I think there is something that Daisy forgot to mention when she was teaching you. The easiest way to learn to dance is to look for the best dancer in the room and ask them to dance. You lean on each other. They will hold you up so you can balance on four legs. Soon, you’ll be balancing on two legs because you’ll be using their legs to help you balance. After a song or two, you’ll get the hang of it and won’t need to lean on your partner as much. By the end of the evening, you’ll forget that you arrived today not knowing how to dance. You have my word.”

Fancifulls arriving at the Oh Valley’s Winter Cotillion

Twig stared at Darby in amazement. Darby was an insect of the world. He must know what he was talking about, right?

“I know it sounds impossible right now but you give it a try tonight and I guarantee you’ll enjoy yourself and by the end of the night, you will be glad you learned how to dance.” Give it a go?” asked Darby.

Darby bought a beautiful top hat lined with the smoothest royal blue silk while Twig waited with his Mom’s parcel.

That evening as the music started to play in the ballroom and all insects were assembled, Darby turned to Twig. “One last piece of advise?”

“Anything, Please!”

Guests getting fresh air outside the Magical Inn at the Winter Cotillion

“Don’t expect to be perfect.  If your legs do get tangled up, laugh it off. Remember, tonight is meant to be fun.”

With that, Darby lifted his splendid Top Hat and set it on Twig’s head. Darby had only bought the hat to bolster Twig’s confidence. It was not too long ago when he was in Twig’s shoes.

“Now you’re the most dashing Gent in the room.” Enjoy yourself! Now where’s Daisy? And off Darby went to find his date.

“Thank-you Darby.” But Darby was already gone. Twig felt 10 feet tall as he crossed the room to ask Flutter to dance.

Have a wonderful week ahead everyone.

Sue, Axie, and the Fancifulls of Oh Valley

PS…. All Dragonfly Fancifull names begin with a “D” 🙂

Silvio of Silvio’s Haberdashery is a “Silkworm Moth” and all the silk for his hats is produced on premises. I promise to introduce him at a later date.

Christmas Eve had come and gone. Christmas day was almost tied up with a bow as well. Carmen was wondering what she’d done wrong. She’d been very good all year. She couldn’t understand it. There was no gift from Santa. She wondered if it may have been that she didn’t write him a letter like previous years. This year, Carmen had been so busy helping her Mom that she didn’t have time to write her letter to Santa Claus. She had hoped that he would notice that she’d been very good all year without her saying so. He could see her, right?

Carmen always made her bed and helped keep their little home tidy. She was learning to cook basic food so her Mom could rest more. The doctors said she needed lots and lots of rest. Carmen wasn’t exactly sure what was wrong but the doctors said that rest would help to get her strength back. Carmen would lay beside her on the big bed after school and try to read the local news off their iPad. Her reading level since last year was much higher than other kids in her class. She liked reading. Her Mom would help her with the big words and explain what they meant. Then they would reset the iPad and wait patiently for her Dad to come on the screen. They communicated this way every day.

Dad was far away serving the country and couldn’t make it home for Christmas this year. Carmen really missed her Dad. She knew her Mom did too because as she would leave her room to put the iPad away, she could hear her Mom softly crying. Dad kept saying he’d be home in Spring. Carmen hoped he’d be home for much longer this time. She hoped her Mom would be better too and they could go back to being a normal family.

At school, Carmen loved to read and even liked Math. She was very good at both. She studied very hard, learning all she could from her teachers.  Her homework was always handed in on time, and  she paid very close attention to the lessons taught.

Carmen had decided when her Mom first became ill that she wanted to be a doctor. It had been over a year now and she wanted her illness to go away. Carmen was going to become a doctor who researched rare illnesses to find their cause. Her teacher, Mr. McLeod, said that she would have to study very hard for a very long time to become a doctor. She would study very hard. It was important to keep her grades up so she could reach her goal.

Carmen studied so hard in fact, that day after day, she forgot to mail her letter to Santa. This year, Carmen didn’t even find time to write one.  She knew what she wanted. There was a beautiful red toque with faux fur around the band and a matching faux fur pom-pom at the tip in the local department store window. It was lovely. She didn’t want to bother her Mom and Dad for it because it was not a very reasonable hat. Clothes without extra adornment were the type they usually purchased. Maybe Santa would know she liked it? 

Carmen never complained – even when some kids at school pointed and laughed at her because her clothes were not trendy like theirs. When this happened, Carmen would find a quiet corner in the library and read. She knew the kids who liked to tease and laugh at her would never come into the library unless they had to. The school library  was her safe place.

Well, with all the millions of other children that Santa visited last night, and no letter from Carmen to remind him, he plum forgot to visit her home. In his defense, it is not on the beaten path. Carmen lived around a bend in the road, and half-way up a very steep hill. Santa shot right passed it as he was gaining altitude to get his sleigh over the steep hill.

This would never do. He had to think of something fast. Carmen had been very good all year and had made it onto his nice list every other year. Without her letter, this year, she didn’t make it on either the Nice list or the Naughty list!

“Pepper?” Santa bellowed.

“Yes, Santa?” Pepper was one of Santa’s finest elves and was always there to help him. Santa is over 200 years old and doesn’t remember everything all the time. It’s a good thing he met Pepper a while back….. But that’s a story for another time.

“Pepper, how are the reindeer? Are they well fed and rested from last night?”

“Well, funny you should ask. The thing is… well… they’re all pretty jumpy Santa. Blitzen says that you missed someone and none of them can sleep because they don’t think their job is done.”

“They are right. I forgot a dear little girl, Carmen –  totally overshot her home. I feel terrible about it. Do you think the reindeer have enough steam to get to her home around the bend in the road and half-way up the steep hill? It’s a wee home with a tiny roof.”

“I’m certain they won’t rest until they have completed this mission, Santa.”

“You may have to land out back and not on their roof. First though, I need to get this little girl my gift. I think I know just what she’d like. Mrs. Claus has been knitting this beautiful little red hat and I saw her finishing it off with some sort of fur this afternoon. I think it would look lovely on little Carmen. I’ll go see Mrs. Claus right away.”

Mrs. Claus found Santa first. “Santa? I made this for little Carmen. I couldn’t find her on your lists this year. I remember you saying that she’s been so good helping her Mom while her Dad is away and that she is studying so very hard in school to be a doctor. I decided to make a matching one for her Mom too. It will help to keep her head warm while she recovers. Do you think we could get these to them?”

“My dear Mrs. Claus. I love you more every day. What would I ever do without you?”

Two toques were carefully gift wrapped. Bright copper ribbons and tags were added and both were placed in Santa’s magical sack while Pepper prepared the reindeer. Some extra Sparkle Corn was fed to each one to give them the energy they needed to make this second trip in as many nights. The reindeer were raring to go!

Santa gave final instructions to Pepper and in turn, instructions were whispered in the ear of each reindeer. Santa wanted to be sure they took it easy on Pepper. This was his first flight actually piloting sleigh. They were ready.

“Up! Up and away!” exclaimed Pepper.

In the blink of an eye, they were in Carmen’s back yard and Pepper popped down the chimney. He crept into Carmen’s little bedroom and set her pretty toque and a cherry-flavoured candy cane on her bedside table.

Next, he crept into the room with the big bed. Carmen’s Mom was awake. Oh no! She saw him! Well there was nothing for it but to explain his presence.  Here goes…

“Hello? I’m sorry to disturb you,” said Pepper, “but I’ve been sent on a mission from the North Pole. It seems there was a clerical error and little Carmen was overlooked last night. Santa asked me to deliver her gift and I have been given one to deliver to you too.  Santa and Mrs. Claus hope you will soon be better. Please let Carmen know that even without her letter this year, she was so good that Santa remembered her. The reindeer did too and wouldn’t settle until we got back here with Santa’s gift for her. 

Carmen’s Mom was spellbound and lost for words. She accepted her gift, opened the wrapping and tried on her new mint green toque. It was a perfect fit… and she felt a little bit better as soon as she put it on. She’d read that, Santa is magic and he’s there for all who believe. Thanks to her wonderful daughter, she was a believer.

Pepper said goodbye and with the team of reindeer quickly took to the sky – Destination North Pole and some well-deserved rest.

The next morning, Carmen awoke to kitchen smells – bacon, coffee and toast. How could that be? Mom would still be asleep. Then she noticed the beautifully wrapped present on her bedside table and beside that a Cherry Candy Cane and a little note… a note that Pepper had not left the night before.

“So sorry I missed you Christmas Eve, Carmen. I did not receive your letter, you see. You are a good girl and I will try not to ever miss your home again, wherever you may live. Please write. I enjoy reading your letters with all your information. They make me smile and chuckle.

Carmen opened her gift from Santa and there was that beautiful red toque with fur trim and pom-pom… only it wasn’t quite the same as the one in the department store. It looked even more perfect… and inside was sewn a tag. “To Carmen, Much Love, Santa and Mrs Claus.”

Carmen raced into the kitchen with her new toque and saw her mom leaning against the counter,drinking a cup of coffee and wearing a mint green toque just like her red one.

Happy Boxing Day, Honey! Want some toast and juice while I get the rest of our big breakfast ready?

Merry Christmas Everyone from Hazy Dayz Dragonflies and me, Sue Gibb.

Cranberry knew that Christmas was right around the corner. He was born on Christmas Day. That made his birthday extra special. All his Fancifull neighbours, even complete strangers decorated their homes and shops and made special meals and wrapped gifts. He knew the true reason for all the celebrating but sometimes his mind liked to imagine that all the twinkling lights and streamers and sparkly balls were displayed just for him.

He belonged to the Oh Valley Cricket Choir. It was the best choir anywhere and they practiced super hard to keep this ranking. This year’s choir practices were well underway. The list of carols that would be sung as they strolled through Oh Valley was set. Cranberry liked taking part and he was known for his lovely chirp.

This year though, his chirp seemed to be a bit off. Sometimes the high notes he could easily rub together in past years just weren’t sounding right. His notes didn’t blend with the other members notes like they were suppose to. The choir master, Sir Candicane Cricket, who had decades of experience singing and directing choirs, cautioned Cranberry that he needed to practice some more at home to be sure he wasn’t out of tune when the choir chirped in public that holiday season.

Oh… but there was so many distractons! Everything looked so lovely outside, especially at night with all the added glitter of the stars. Cranberry kept putting off his practicing. There’d be time later, Right??

This afternoon, Cranberry was out with two of his buddies, Calvin Caterpillar and Cinch-the-Inchworm. They were out checking all the shop windows to see if there were any new styles of heat lamps for their rooms or drone models to build. It was a bit spooky having a dragonfly model in your bedroom but call it a Drone and that made it the toy all young Fancifulls wanted this year. Darby, their Dragonfly friend, was a real military drone. Second Lieutenant Darby MacIntyre Dragonfly, had completed his training. He wasn’t the least bit scary. He was fun to be around and treated them like adults. He was awesome! He would be home on leave for Christmas before he was needed at his post. All the young Fancifulls were looking forward to hearing about his adventures in training.

Cranberry, Calvin and Cinch were so involved with window shopping that Cranberry forgot about his evening choir practice with all the other crickets. Uhh Ohhh. Sir Candicane was not going to be very happy. What could he do? He didn’t want to let his choir friends down but he wanted to hang out with these friends too.

What would you do?

This is what Cranberry decided…

He asked his friends if they would like to come join him at choir practice.

“Why? Everyone knows that only Crickets are allowed in the choir, Cranberry.”

“Why do you say that?”, Cranberry asked.

“Crickets make the best music. Everyone knows that too!”

Cranberry thought. ” Calvin, I’ve heard you hum tunes. You were in key. And Cinch, I’ve heard you whistle. You can carry a tune. 

“Listen guys, I don’t know why only crickets are allowed in the choir. I’m not certain that the choir is only for crickets. Possibly everyone thinks it is only crickets because all our members are crickets.”

Cinch’s voice broke in his frustrated exclaim, “Cranberry, It’s called the Oh Valley Cricket Choir. What are we suppose to think?”

“You’re right Cinch”, Calvin agreed. “It is called the Oh Valley Cricket Choir. My family gathers together every Christmastime, listening to the carolling of the Cricket Choir when Cranberry and all the other crickets come to our window at the Insect Inn  It’s a Christmas tradition.”

“All I know is my chirping has not been sounding very good lately and Sir Candicane is not going to be happy with me. You see, right now, I’m missing a practice over at the community centre. I’m suppose to be there right now. I have an idea. Will you come with me?”

Together they made their way to the community centre where choir practice was already in progress. Sir Candicane Cricket had his back to them and was waving his baton all willy nilly as the crickets chirped out the notes to ‘Jingle Bells’. The Choir Master did not see them enter.

Calvin and Cinch eagerly joined in with the singing. They never sang much before. That was always left to the Crickets. They each got so wrapped up in the song they didn’t notice when the choir had finished.  They were still singing their hearts out.

Crickets stared in amazement. Sir Candicane turned around and dropped his baton. He’d never heard two more clear tones in his life and their pitch was perfect. Why hadn’t they joined the choir? Then he saw Cranberry. There was a slight frown on his face as he asked where he’d been.

Here was the perfect opportunity for Cranberry to bring up his plan… but first…

“Ahem…. Calvin? Cinch?…” but the pair of caterpillars were engrossed in the music – their music. By  this point were singing rounds of Jingle Bells in two-part harmony.

“Guys?”… No response.

“Hey!”… Nothing – Calvin and Cinch were swaying to their own music totally oblivious to the scene they were creating.

EXCUSE ME???“, poor Cranberry almost screamed.

“Oops. The pair stopped, looked around at everyone staring at them, looked at each other and burst out laughing. Everyone in the room joined in.”

By this point, even Sir Candicane Cricket himself, was not able to get the attention of his choir and sat back and smiled and all his happy crickets and now he could see why Cranberry had brought his friends to them.

“Sir,” Cranberry began while the rest of the choir was otherwise occupied, “I’m sorry I missed the practice. I don’t sound right and don’t enjoy being in the choir anymore which is not a good reason to not show up. I won’t do it again.

“Can I suggest that since my chirping is off this year, I take on another role with the choir until my legs stop growing and I can control my sound a bit better. I’ve brought two of my friends who, as you can see, love to sing. I believe they would make great additions to the Oh Valley Cricket Choir.

“Unfortunately, they thought that you needed to be a cricket to join the choir because of our name, Oh Valley Cricket Choir.”

Sir Candicane picked up his baton and considered the whole situation, while 30 pairs of eyes swiveled in unison from Calvin and Cinch to see what he’d say. Someone dropped a pin but the sound was ignored.  

“I’m not sure how our choir acquired the name ‘Cricket Choir.’ As a lad, I use to have a good friend, Boston. He was a Bumble Bee and he had a marvelous baritone hum. He and I stood side-by-side in the choir. I think the name Cricket Choir may have been playfully introduced a long while back when someone noticed that most of the members were crickets. The nickname sort of stuck and now I guess it appears to be official but rest assured, it is NOT our official name. We are the Oh Valley Choir.

“Anyone can join the Oh Valley Choir, anyone at all. If you like to sing, we are glad to have you join. We will teach new members that don’t know how sing but want to learn. You said your friends names are Calvin and Cinch?”

“Yes Sir.”

“Calvin? Cinch? How would you like to join the Oh Valley Cric… ahem… Oh Valley Christmas Choir?” Sir Candicane asked.

“Really? Honest? Can we?” Calvin and Cinch were in their happy place.

“Yes. We would be honoured to have two such fine voices in our choir. Practices are every Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm for one hour. That doesn’t give you much time to catch up with the others. December 23 and 24th you will be caroling with us… leading the way when we introduce, ‘Jingle Bells.’ Do you think you can handle it?”

“Way Cool!”, the caterpillars chimed as they high-fived. “Yes, Sir! We can handle it Sir!”

“OK. That’s settled…. Now, Cranberry. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I didn’t think there were any Fancifulls other than crickets that wanted to take part in the choir. Please take your position and stay after practice. We will have to have a chat about your tardiness and what can be done with your pitch problems this year. You’re not the first cricket with growing pains. I will teach you some tricks to help you make the transition to the chirp that will come naturally to you next year.”

“Thank you, Sir Candicane,” Cranberry felt so much better. He didn’t want to let the choir down and now he wouldn’t. He believed he could overcome his pitch problem with Sir Candicane’s instruction.

With the few minutes left of choir practice, the members of the choir learned that Cinch and Calvin didn’t need to practice at all! They knew the words, notes, and even where the places in the phrasing to take a breath. They sounded amazing!

They were so good, in fact, Sir Candicane decided he’d have them as soloists out front of the choir for some songs. All the members agreed it was a great idea.  The best choir in the region just got better because their choir included and accepted anyone who wanted to take part and did not limit their members to crickets – … which of course they never really had. It was all a  big misunderstanding. 🙂

That evening, after practice, Cranberry was home under his heat lamp, doing his homework for Miss Phyllis’ class next day. He could have done it three times over in the time it was taking him. He kept getting sidetracked by his thoughts of the wonderful Christmas and Birthday he would have this year. All his friends would be with him in the choir when they went carolling, window to window. And Sir Candicane would take time to tutor him and offer him techniques that would help him sound better.

Maybe he might even get an new Drone model under the Thistle Tree this year.

He was one very fortunate cricket and Cranberry knew it.

Here’s hoping you will share some time with your friends this holiday season. It’s a very rare and valuable commodity these days.

Sue, Axie, and All the Fancifulls of Oh Valley