Questions, questions, questions :-)

It was a beautiful day and the little ones were sitting in the kitchen while Uncle Ukki prepared lunch.

They were chit-chatting about all kind of stuff and admiring the new wall paper Uncle Ukki received from a gnome from the other side of ( this) world.

Uncle Ukki finally decided to put up a painting he had for a long time and he was in a very good mood.

Barby was reading quietly as usual when suddenly she asked: "Uncle Ukki, I've read the Gnome book from A to Z but there is something I cannot find . . . . ."

"What is it Barby dear ?" Uncle Ukki asks her.

"Well, I'm trying to find out why the sky is blue ! I did check your Great Book of Knowledge but there are missing pages and where the missing pages should be there was this very old photograph."

"Yes yes look Uncle Ukki ! This fell out of your book!"
 Arthur held up a very odd looking picture.

"Oh dear. . . ." Uncle Ukki replied and he paused for a minute.
He had a frown on his face as if he was thinking very hard.

"Children, the man on the photo and the man on the painting are one and the same man.

He is the Great King Ollamh and he is one of the few Gnomes who is responsible for feeding a creature called Skugga."

The little ones started talking all at once: who is Skugga ! what does he feed the Skugga ! what does that has anything to do with the blue sky!  why are the pages missing?!!!

Uncle Ukki raised his voice and told them to be quite.

"CHILDREN ! Our lunch is ready so first : lets eat ! "

 While we eat you take a close look at the painting of King Ollamh, it's a magical painting and if we call him with our thoughts he will hear us and come soon and tell you himself what 

his task is in this world."

Uncle Ukki has said enough, the little ones were quite as a mouse :-) and while enjoying their lunch they looked up at the painting and tried very hard to think about this Great King.

 To be continued. . . . .

MOTHER HOLLE ! ! !

The Sandman and Suzanne had been staying for almost a month with Uncle Ukki and now it was time to go home.

During the night he sprinkled his magic sand and during the day they were still looking for Mother Holle.

Well, the Sandman decided to go to his own house and keep on searching from there.

They passed Mother Holle's house on their way home and the Sandman thought he might as well check her house.

FRICKETY FRACKETY FRACK ! ( he picked those words up from a lady in  Sycamore USA ) 

WHOOOOHOOOO ! Hallo Mr. Sandman !

The Sandman fell backwards in the snow and Suzanne's eyes almost popped out of her gorgeous little head.

My goodness Mother Holle ! You are home !
Yes yes, come on in ! I'll tell you about my little adventure over a nice cup a tea.

 Well, Mr. Sandman, I promised you to keep an eye on Petronius. . .oh look at this photo I have of the three of you  . . . . . .

I'm so glad he is such a help for you.

Where was I . . . . .. .

Oh yes, keep an eye on him . . . . . .

One morning I went to your castle to find his bed empty ! That was extremely odd, Petronius would never go out of his bed before noon.

So you understand I had to go look for him and it took me 4 weeks to find him !

He was in hiding you see, because he had fallen in love with this beautiful little owl by the name of Harebell and well you know, she laid eggs and he couldn't leave her of course.

When I found him he was a father of three beautiful owl babies !

Oooooh I wish I took a photo of them ! But the good news: in a few days he will be home again together with his babies !

The Sandman couldn't believe it, Petronius had children. . .. and a wife . .. . . 

He was very very excited and Suzanne laughed so hard he and Mother Holle had to cover their ears !

Mother Holle I'm so glad you are all right and Petronius too, you must have had quite an adventure looking for him. I'll bet want to tell us all about it but for now, we go home and have ourself a nice sleep. 

Uncle Ukki tells the story of Mother Holle

Uncle Ukki moved with the children to his winter-home and one day much to their surprise, a Raven delivered two little mousies onto their doorstep : Baby Sugar and her sister Lola.

Sugar could only sleep if Lola played a little song on her music box.

Of course they were received with open arms and they felt immediately at home.

One night the little ones were nicely tucked in, ready for their bedtime story.

 Uncle Ukki, we are a bit confused ! Ginny said

We don't really understand what the Sandman and Mother Holle got to do with each other.Can you please explain?

Oh my goodness little ones, didn't I tell you about them ? 

Well, it's a long story and a bit complicated but I try to tell it so you'll understand.

Mother Holle is very very old, maybe as old as the world.

She is the patroness of gnomes, spinners and weavers and she used to hang out with Wodan, the ancient German god.

Nowadays she lives in a European forest and she protects the castle of the Sandman. 

She can make snow by shaking her pillow and making her bed

If someone comes looking for the Sandman ( mainly manufacturers of sleeping pills ) she makes so much snow that these people get lost and  give up looking for him.

In ancient times, between Christmas until the first days of January,

she went on a Wild Hunt with Wodan.

They had an army of dead people, animals and fairies and went in  pursuit for the Wolf Fenrir who has eaten the Sun.

They always succeeded, that is why the Sun comes back in January.

During the Hunt Mother Holle also checks if the spinners and weavers had finished their yearly work and haven't been lazy.

Well, she is of course very old and she enjoys her peaceful life in the mountains now.

Her disappearing is very strange, so I hope the Sandman finds her soon. 

Hahahaa, you all fall asleep little ones !

Sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite :-)

 

She must be here somewhere . . . .

Well, the latest tip came from Gabi, she lives in Bavaria, Germany.

Again, the Sandman and Suzanne rushed over there and look at all that snow !

Yes oh yes ! She must be here somewhere ! 

Now it's just a matter of good old fashioned looking for traces and ask the animals around here.

NEWSFLASH NEWSFLASH

Uncle Ukki received a tip from Marita ( http://maritapollicina.blogspot.com/ ) : She told him she was in the Dolomites Italy and there was lots and lots of snow !

Aha ! Maybe Mother Holle ( aka Mother Hulda ) is in Italy !

He rushed over there with Suzanne but it was fruitless, no Mother Holle

The snow was gone . . . . . .  well, the search goes on.

Thank you Marita, Uncle Ukki appreciates every tip !


p.s.  we just received another tip, stay tuned!