I thank all the other artists who fav'd and commented on my last image. You are all wonderful and I am so honored by your support. :o) Well, it's that time of the year again, it's time for Esmeralda, The Fortune Teller to leave for her winter home in the South. There will be sadness in the Forest for many days with her leaving. The excitement of her arrival seems like yesterday, when the Forest was in bloom. Now, the leaves are falling and the Fairies are getting ready for the long dark winter, which will soon be upon them. The Fairies will have lots to remember as they sit around the fires and retell what has happened over the spring and summer. They will dream of the luscious confections and delicacies Emeralda had brought with her. The baskets of Dollop Drops covered in chocolate with Honeysuckle centers. Boxes of Sugared Raspberry Surprise, barrels of honey dipped Spirkles with almond topping. Walnut Wiffles, Blueberry Bumps and a favorite among all, the infamous and fattening Pecan Puddles. Before her leaving she told all the Fairies and Elves fortunes and read the cards and did horoscopes. She assured them that even though the days will grow shorter and the snow and wind will come from the North, there were no black nasty clouds on the horizon. They will all be safe for another winter. What she didn't tell them, but they know, mysterious boxes gaily wrapped will arrive from the south Forest filled with Christmas goodies. Kegs of a spicy Mead made especially for the season of goodwill and exotic roasted nuts that can only begotten in the South. And other surprises that the Fairies and Elves of north have never seen before. But that's another story :o) Late in the afternoon, just as the sun is casting long shadows, if you run down to the Long Road to the south, just before the Troll Bridge and wait by the ruins of the old castle and wall across from the cornfield, you may just be lucky enough to see her passing by in her newly painted Vardo (caravan). You'll hear the 'clop. clop. clop' of Esmeralda's trusty steed Dudley's hooves on the cobblestones before you see them. Dudley has been decorated with ribbons by the Fairies for the trip and is fat and sassy from all the sweet apples and carrots he was fed all summer long. He prances proudly down the old road with a fine swish to his tail. Belfry, Esmeralda's loyal black cat, has managed to keep his slick figure, even though he was known to gobble up blackberries and lounge lazily in the sun all summer long. Okay, truth be told, he has a bit of a paunchy tummy and is on a strict diet. You'll see her cross the Troll Bridge and wind out of sight, but you still hear the "clop, clop, clop" of Dudley's hooves on the old cobblestones for a few minutes more. It will be a long trip, but always an exciting one, there will be many stories of Esmeralda's adventures when she returns to the Forest in the spring when the trees and flowers are in bloom...or so I am told. :o) DAZ-Mil horse, mil cat, Boundless Journey (Redhouse), Chouihani, Fortune Teller Accessories, Dead Corn, Plebeian (SilverElf) FK-Creations- KiriTe Hair PoserPros-Spiritfoxy-Fantasms for Galoneal & Classic Fairy Wings