Queen Winter Pays A Call and A Winner Is Announced.....

"Winter did come to our home one night

Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
And we, we were children once again."
~Bill Morgan Jr.~

I should have been aware of her impending arrival. Had I been paying attention, I would have seen the preparations being made on her behalf. I did notice her brightly dressed Page's, who are in her employ to run errands or send messages, flitting about my yard. They were here to announce her arrival the next day. While they were out from under her ever watchful eye, they were up to some boyish antics. They were easy to spot with their royal tunics of red and blue flashing among the trees.The royal stags were the next to put in an appearance. She sent a group of guardsmen to check out the lay of the land before her arrival. These sentries are very vigilant and watchful and will send up a flag of distress at the least sign of danger. They are swift of foot, agile, and masters of melding into their surroundings.I should have noticed all the activity taking place and that certain feel in the air but I was distracted and paid it little heed until late in the day when I felt The Old North Wind begin to do her bidding. Once he began to blow in earnest he was quickly joined by the royal criers. They sit upon the clouds and weep and lament, their tears coursing down their cheeks turning to droplets of ice as they pass the frosty lips of The Old North Wind.

The royal musician, Puck, mounted an icy stone in the bare garden and perched there in his summer frock to pipe in that magic whistling sound that can only be heard in winter. His little companion held to his hat in steadfast friendship even though she shivered under her crystal quilt. Puck is never cold for he has his magical music to warm him.Queen Winter adores glitter and sparkle and her arrival shines best against a backdrop of ice and a dusting of snow. Icy hand maidens were sent to make last minute preparations by draping a crystal coating over bare branches and winter withered leaves. Evergreen boughs were encased in icy lacy loveliness. Tiny blue berry droplets dripped with diamond like sparkle. An icy path was lain upon all the road so that the Queen might glide in gracefully.

All the subjects of her kingdom were bound to their perspective homes and not one was sure to miss her grand entrance. It was made with beauty and splendor. It was to be a short visit in our region as she was traveling further north for a longer stay. We only had the pleasure of her company for one day. She glistened and sparkled in her silent frozen world. She invited me to take a few photos of her if I could but I was never able to capture the grandeur of her beauty or her exact likeness. She is very illusive and we see her surroundings but merely feel her presence. I heard her voice whisper upon the wind and the teasing rattle of an icy branch here and there as I swung around to capture her beauty. It was a game we played until I was numb from the cold and bid her farewell.The next morning I awoke to find her gone. Did I dream of such a wonderland? But no, it was real, and she left a little sign of her having been here after all. Her icy mantle drug upon the ground as she made her exit and left dusting trail of fine little icelett flakes across the forest floor. Best of all she left a wintry calling card with the instructions that it should be given to one royal subject, Joy! (time stamp and date:Feb. 2, 2009 5:25 PM) Joy resides at Joy To The Blog and you may visit her there. Joy, please email me your mailing information and I will pass along Queen Winter's calling card to you!

Thank you to all who visited and signed up for the give away. Be sure to check back in tomorrow for a Victorian Valentine Tutorial and to sign up for winning one of the samples I made to demonstrate the tutorials!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy