MANY thanks to those of you who read and made such kind comments on my 2016 Christmas story, A Tale of Old Mistress Winter.
I do indeed, as some of you suggested in comments or to me in person, hope to publish it ‘properly’ in some shape or form. With that in mind, and after our Christmas ended on 6 January 2017 (we celebrate from 24th December-6th January) I removed the text of the three parts of the story from the titles… I’m leaving the links, titles and comments in place because (a) I may put the story back if I’m not successful (b) your comments meant so much to me I want to keep them and treasure them!
Happy 2017 to you all.
MEMOIRS OF A HUSK 
This is wonderful, Mary. Publish it! (with illustrations by Edmund Dulac….). Happy Christmas!
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I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I am thinking of having some designs done (by a designer I tracked won who did an illustration on a Bronte poster in 1997) for this and the little match girl. Then next year… well, we’ll see. Happy Christmas to you too and thank you for reading! Mx
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A lovely story, capturing the atmosphere and meaning of a natural winter.
Old Mistress Winter might like to know that many years ago Mother Nature might have enlisted the help of W.A. Bentley. He started a catalogue of snowflakes way back in 1922, by photographing the crystal shapes of each flake and had them published in a book in 1931. I have a more recent edition of the book published in 2000 and the photographs are wonderful, just like the story.
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Golly, I had no idea! I will look him up. I wonder if the bookshop in Southport… any excuse! Happy Christmas Ron and thank you for your words, very much appreciated. See you in 2017 when Jelly is in the air again!
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Mary, Once again you have written a wonderful, magical tale and I hope you enjoyed creating it as much as I enjoyed reading it! My dear, I am overwhelmed by your talent. I would love to see your stories illustrated in books for young people. More, more!
Here’s to a bright 2017!
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Thel, thank you so much. Yes, let’s hope 2017 is bright and happy and full of joy – well, a fair smattering amid the gloom and doom would do! And yes, I did enjoy writing it. Odd, I had a headache for days and when I sat down and started writing this it vanished completely… I think I have become addicted to writing! Happy Christmas to you and the gang, stay away from those cliffs 😉 Lou x
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Happy winter and merry Christmas to you too. Beautifully written, thank you.
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You’re very welcome Judy, hope it touched a spot that needed it. Mx
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Beautiful story, Wise white owls –
Running by to wrap up the holidays with a note
Waiting for sunset on Christmas Eve is like standing toes-over-the-edge on a high diving board.
Every year we’d cruise casually by the window to keep an eye on the sun’s progress until it was officially evening.
Then the shout “Christmas Eve Gift!” would ring out.
You see, the traditions says that the first person to voice that phrase on Christmas Eve to another would be graced with good fortune and joy all the next year.
(And of course, whomever was first won. Everything was a contest…)
It’s more difficult to be first now with caller ID.
As all those who have become my friends in blogland are spread widely across time zones, I’d like to wish you all “Christmas Eve Gift” now.
And as I already feel so fortunate to have such wonderful readers and writers in this neighborhood, I wish to share any phrase acquired good fortune and joy with you in thanks.
No matter where you are or what you are guided by, hope you have a very merry Christmas and a new year full of adventure and joy.
Peace on earth and goodwill towards all creatures great and small.
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Happy Christmas, winter, new year – and anything else happy that you like – to you ‘Phil’! Thanks for reading – and thanks for your writing. Here’s hoping for peace and at least some sanity next year – and good things to inspire us! Keep on wielding that quirky pen of yours. Mx
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“Curator of all the snowflakes” and excellent phrase.
People are right. A great tale – and it should be published! A new year’s goal?
Meanwhile, wishing you miles of smiles, intriguing wanderings, and lots of magical tales yet to come in the New Year! Cheers and onward.
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Thanks Phil and with hope in my heart, wishing for all the best for you and the world in 2017. (And publication for the curator! Thanks for your comment!)
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Thanks for your story, Mary. Why didn’t you publish it? (As it’s now on your blog, it has published status and other editors – this side of the pond – are unlikely to accept it.)
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Thanks Charlie/Rosemary Reader! Why didn’t I publish it? It was my extra long Christmas card to my readers I suppose. I do have vague plans though of an illustrated book/let… Any ideas always welcome. Sorry I haven’t been to look at your piece yet as promised – I don’t get email alerts any more for some reason, to yours and others that I used to receive automatically – going to have to check out the settings after my break is over. Happy New Year to you and yours.
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Thank you for the extra long Christmas card. With a few other stories and a few drawings, this one would do well in an illustrated booklet. I’m reading a lot of illustrated stories to my 3 year old grandson at present.
To get email alerts, on WordPress, you need to go into Followed sites – Manage. Navigate to my site(s) and click on the arrow on the far left. At this point, select On and Weekly.
Hope you had a great Christmas.
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I was getting them but they have stopped through none of my doing. Will sort it eventually 😉
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Sorry and yes thanks had a great Christmas, hope you did too. Still enjoying mine 🙂
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