Making Marmalade

 DEAR FAIRY FOLLOWERS,

Happy January and I hope you are all feeling full of fairy fizz ! 

I have some exciting news from Betty's Cottage - we have some new fairies moved in to help Lolly and Buncle who will soon be moving outside once Spring creeps in and so let me introduce you to Bees-Wax ( she is the one dusting the teacups ) and all fairy fans will know that she is a Domestic fairy in her little maids uniform and below is her brother Buzz. They are very different characters as you shall find out but for now let me just tell you that Bees-Wax quietly hums as she goes about her work and Buzz
buzzes around quite noisily, so we always know where he is. I also have a SURPRISE FAIRY for you to meet later on , but in the meantime ...

 They have joined us at the time of year where we like to make our marmalade ...I am very fond of the stuff, although I know that fairies often find it bitter and much prefer the jam making season, however the fairies agree that it does make a dreary month much more magical with it's golden glowing colour and the smell of oranges wafting around the house ( which makes you think of sunnier days. )

This tiny Domestic fairy was in charge of the stirring and very brave she was too to balance on the edge of a bubbling pan ( please don't try this at home ! )

Once it was potted up Bees-Wax flew in to test it was set properly ...

 and then in buzzed Buzz to make doubly sure and with a flick of her magic duster , some extra fairy dust was put into the pot.

 Lolly and Buncle cut out the fabric tops and tried them out as new skirts whilst they were at it !

Lolly practised her best handwriting to make up the labels and Buzz checked that she had written the correct date.

 When all was done they sat down to a little snack of bread and marmalade .

Buzz doen't like the bits so we gave him just some of the jelly...

But Buncle likes the chunky jewel- like  pieces and so she tucked into a nice chewy piece of orange rind and she said it was so zingy she had more than enough energy to tidy the pots in the larder.

Bees-Wax gave the pots an extra dust of magic so that every time we peek inside the cupboard we shall get a golden glow from looking at them.

In fact I forgot to tell you that our new Domestic fairy has been very busy this month as one of her first jobs was to paint the larder and line the shelves with this lovely new lacy paper.

Now before I forget about our surprise fairy , here she is ...  All you readers of my Fairy Christmas and Fairy Year books will recognise her as Ty-Ping my secretary and I am so pleased to have her back ( she has been travelling all over the world signing autographs on the book tour. )  It is going to be a very busy year ahead and she really helps to keep me organised ...she was a bit miffed that she wasn't given the job of writing out the marmalade labels but is very happy that we shall be having a marmalade souffle tonight to welcome her back and we are looking forward to hearing all her travellers tales.

 And so I leave the fairies to say goodbye from the newly decorated larder ( always a good place to look for fairies of course and you are much more likely to find some hiding in your larder if you line the shelves with something pretty. )

Next time our Trainee fairy will have arrived ...I can't wait for you to meet her. Until then have a magical month even though it is cold and gloomy - remember a fairy is never very far away even if you can't see her ( but if you hear a loud humming it could be a him and it could be Buzz ! )
Love from, Betty X

New Wings, New Year

DEAR FAIRY FOLLOWERS, 
Now that the excitement of present giving is over I thought you might like to see what Lolly and Buncle got for Christmas. As I hinted to you before , their wings were really past their best and so 
I made some new everyday wings for them - strong and durable made of cotton and stiff enough to withstand all weathers !

 However the best present was to come ( and for all you followers who remember Lolly longing from some twinkle when she spilt the sequins ) new party dresses and wings were next to be discovered amongst the tissue and ribbon ... Lolly and Buncle were so delighted to look like proper fairies with sheeny- shiny dresses and twinkly- winkly wings ...

Their sashes are made of shimmering organza ...

 and their silk and taffeta skirts whisper and rustle when they move ...

They were so happy they danced around the desk ...

and they flew around the Pussy Willow twigs ...

and they swung around the fairy lights ...

 and partied in their party dresses all day long !

 As evening fell Lolly gathered up their little Christmas Lavender bag ( a present from Auntie Everlasting )

 and together they decided they would pack away their party clothes with the Lavender bag to keep them fresh and nice until the next Celebration comes around.

 They still have a few more days to wear their party clothes before they must put back on their garden dresses ...so until then SEASONS GREETINGS to you all and we wish you a FAIRY HAPPY NEW YEAR too . Do come back and visit us at Betty's Cottage in 20015 !

LOVE FROM,  Betty x

The Magic Desk

DEAR FAIRY FOLLOWERS,

It has been a very busy few days here at Betty's Cottage - the Red Fairy has been decorating with her 
favourite colour and Lolly and Buncle have been on high alert making sure that naughty fairies do not open any presents before  Christmas Day. Last night they had to grab this gift before the Cone Fairy peeked inside - so you see it is not only children who are tempted to do this !

 This morning all was usual at my desk with a few fairies rummaging around the pens and papers , wondering if I have been writing about them no doubt.

 Here we get in a little closer to see what is going on ...it looks a bit messy after all the Christmas card writing and all the long lists I have to make and I spied a few fairies not making it any tidier.

 The little tree fairy who Lolly and Buncle rescued from the Bauble Box flew on to the top to  see what was going on although strictly speaking she should be hanging on the tree by now - she looks so sweet that I can't bring myself to tell her off . One has to make allowances for the very young fairy.

Matilda however is not so young and is overly  fond of my sparkly pen. If it ever goes missing I  call her name and she brings it straight back to me . I have given her the task of keeping all my pens topped up with ink as she seems so taken with them.

 She sometimes asks Myrtle to help her tidy up  - they like looking in all the little cubby holes and are still looking for the secret compartment that I told them about (this of course makes it an even more magical desk and all visitors are invited to find it but so far nobody has - other than Auntie Everlasting of course ! )
  Having lots of special little momentos , photos and keepsakes all in one place will give off a very magical atmosphere and attract fairies to it for all you Fairy Spotters still hoping to catch sight of one and don't forget that if you don't see a fairy you are still experiencing the magic !

 My desk does seem to attract a lot of fairy attention and the Fairy Tale book on the top is a regular resting place for a fairy to sit and dream. This is the fairies favourite book and I often read it aloud to them on a Winter's night.

 Before I go Lolly and Buncle have reminded me that we took some photos last  night when all the fairies had settled down to show all you Fairy Followers where they will be sleeping tomorrow night ...

First they had to shift some things to make room for their beds ...

 and then they settled down by the candle with their stockings at the ready ( I had to sew on their initials so there were no mix ups or arguments ) and they always like a paper chain over them so that if it rustles they might make up and see Father Christmas ...

 But they always fall so fast asleep after all their fairy duties that they never do !

HAVE A FAIRY MAGICAL CHRISTMAS !

Love , Betty X

The Tree is Dressed

Dear Fairy Followers,

As we get ever closer to Christmas the magic is mounting at Betty's Cottage.

This week Lolly and Buncle were very happy to get outside into the fresh air and bring in some greenery which with it's shiny piney smells, brings the magic of Mother Nature right in amongst us and as Auntie Everlasting likes to remind me , keeps any witches and passing lightening away from the house so we can all sleep easy in our beds too !

We have also sent out all our Christmas cards which makes us feel very pleased with ourselves as our job of spreading more magic out into the world is done ( Buncle is in charge of  the sprinkling of fairy dust goes into each one . )

 In with the greenery came a shiny brown Cone fairy and she scattered some of her woodland twinkle ...

 and then it was all hands to the dressing of the tree ...

 which of course brought in more passing fairies ... this Blue one got rather too close to the bird that pecked poor Lolly last time ...

 and this little Gold fairy was found frolicking amongst the branches and baubles quite unaware of any dangers that might lurk in a Christmas tree.

 ( The Blue Fairy was quite unharmed by the way. )

 The next job was to wake up the Tree -Top Fairy from her year's slumber in her very own box. It is a very important job to be a  Tree Fairy and not every fairy has the stamina for it.  Lots of these sleeping beauties live a long time as they get passed down the family and are cared for as a special fairy ( that many grown-ups remember as it is the best way of bringing back memories of their childhood Christmas's.) Eventually they retire when their dress and wings are so threadbare it is time for the family to replace them - always a Very Sad moment.

Our fairy has been with us for ten years now and still has a lot of go in her ...

 With only a little bit of a push she was soon into position ...

 and the whole tree was complete!

 Once she was warmed up by the fairy lights and quite awake she asked me to tell you that her name is
Queenie and she wishes you all a very Happy Christmas and not to prod or peek into any presents that might be under your own tree as any Tree - Top fairy will know immediately and it is prone to make them sneeze ... of course if you have a Star you will not be found out but I think it is much more fun to have a fairy keeping watch !

 So as evening fell we lit the candles ...

 Lolly and Buncle shared a mini mince pie ...

 and after the last currant was eaten they flew off to my desk and made plans to move their beds in there for Christmas Eve ( this is a Special Treat and only happens on this one night of the year so please call by  before Christmas and see them hang up their stockings where I write my books ! )

I do hope all your preparations are going well and that the magic is with you too !

LOVE FROM , Betty X