The Truth about Fairies
Fairies exist. I know this because I have four children who have lost SEVENTY teeth and we are still counting. I finally gave the Tooth Fairy the alarm code and admonished her to keep her shenanigans to a dull roar.
I am certain magical, winged pixies exist because I have a personal Flower Fairy. She’s a seasonal fairy with an eye for beauty and a generous heart. Every so often the Flower Fairy gathers a simple bouquet of blossoms and blooms, arranges them artfully in a white iron pitcher, and flutters away leaving the surprise on the turquoise table.
The Flower Fairy is quiet fond of poinsettias, tulips, yellow daffodils, and sunflowers. She’s a very practical fairy—sometimes her floral arrangement are of the plastic variety to ensure the deer in the neighborhood don’t greedily deadhead the blooms.
Neighbors often remark on the cheery arrangements. Last Christmas, a neighbor I never met pulled her car over, rolled down her window, and inquired if I had purchased my poinsettias at our HEB grocery store. She couldn’t believe the poinsettias were fake and got out of her car to run her fingers over the soft, red petals. We chatted for a while and I have a hunch she drove away and headed straight to the craft store in search of her own fake poinsettias.
I love my Flower Fairy whomever she may be.
Scandal in the Neighborhood
Sadly, in the realm of fairies there are also thieves. One balmy night in August—on the eve of my birthday, no less—someone snatched my white, iron pitcher right off the turquoise table. The burglar dumped the murky brown water and two sunflowers under the magnolia tree before making off with my make-shift vase. I should have reported the crime, but hate to bother our law enforcement officials with the pettiness of my Flower Fairy’s gift gone missing. Although it makes me sad someone would pull a silly prank like that. . . I would have given the thieves the old Ikea vase if they had promised to put it to good use.
The Taste of Fall
Summer kept rolling along and every day I thought: I really need to put a vase back on the turquoise table. But, life is busy and the kids started school and blah… blah… blah…
Well, today is the day. It’s the first day of fall—there’s even a chill in the central Texas air that comes when the humidity takes a much needed hike. Thinking about being outside at the turquoise table without sweltering makes me happy. So I gathered up a bunch of flowers I picked up at the grocery store this weekend, arranged them as best I could without the assistance of my Flower Fairy, and put them outside on the table where I’ve been chatting with neighbors all morning.
Dear Flower Fairy, Will You Please Come Back to the Turquoise Table?
What do you think—will my Flower Fairy return? I sure hope so.
I had never heard of this T Table until your father mentioned it in a note to me. You remind me of your grandmother (and my Aunt Vivian Kessler) only no white streak in your hair. You look a lot like her and she was pure Hospitality.It made her such a great saleslady in the purse dept at Pegues in Hutchinson. All the ladies who came to town to shop would to upstairs to visit with her even if they did not want a new purse. I do not understand this blogging business, but may be doing it right now while I am typing this note to you. I hope you continue to write and have fun with this concept. It reminds me of something that I have read about with a neighbor who built a book nook and people would take a book and leave another to others to enjoy. It was enclosed with a door to open so the wind and rain did not damage the books. Maybe that would be fun along with your table? Or maybe it is too old fashioned because people read on Kindles instead of books now? Have a good life, Kristin. Aunt Vivian would have loved to know your children and they would have loved her.
Barbara — thank you for sharing the beautiful memories of Grandma. She was pure hospitality and so much of what I’ve learned I learned from her. There are several turquoise tables that also have the Little Free Library, too. So glad you stopped by here and took time to leave this message. Made my day to remember Grandma through your words! xoxox, Kristin