We live by a large, unmanaged woods. The woods are amazing to me (and the setting of many a photo op). There are bluebell photos we take with the twins, and there are mornings of Gorby hurtling through the bracken. We are not alone in loving the woods – other villagers love it, too. And from time to time, they leave signs behind.
Someone hung this swing up – it’s one of a few, they last for a while until being in the elements finally wears them out. They are then removed, and new swings pop up elsewhere.
Moreover, there are people who do amazing, beautiful things. And because of the consistency and differences, we think there are multiple people spinning magic.
Someone has made an elf house, high up in a tree.
But it can be high up in the tree, because there’s a doorbell (which works!) just about little-person height.
There are doors liberally placed throughout the woods – yellow ones, black ones, purple ones. We are a polite family, and we like to knock on the doors as opposed to just trying to barge into an elf’s house.
Elves do, of course, still need to receive their post, too.
Someone has gone all out in making an elf home – it’s a lovely soldered piece, with a bell to ring to announce visitors.
And when you open the doors, there are steps down into the ground for the elves that like an underground life.
It’s remarkable to me that people do this. They do it quietly, and when assholes tear them up (even in a tiny village, there are assholes) then a ruined door or elf house is quietly removed, and a new one placed in a new location. Every walk in the woods is an adventure in finding a new door, a new place for elves to live. Alastair and Melissa are getting in on it and creating an elf house as well, which they will quietly replace when it comes time.
It also means that magic stays alive for little people.
Life is hard (she says, stating the obvious). It only gets harder as we grow up. Life has a way of abusing us of our magical thinking all too early. It’s nice to know there are people out there who quietly assist in keeping Santa in flight, the Easter bunny in chocolate, and the elves in assisted housing.
And that’s the part of it that I love the most.
-S.
This is the Lockhart thing I have read or seen in ages!
Damn iPod preemptive text…Loveliest!
That is so adorable!! We just moved to the Oxford area and as much as I love it, I wish we were somewhere a bit smaller where this sort of thing happens.
Love the woods, love the photos, love your neighbors who take care of the elves. Hate those who would destroy the homes of the elves. Galadriel must be sad. As am I.
That is a wonderful thing!! I hope it continues forever.
This is so wonderful and I love that your family is doing this too. There is also a lot of those cute doors on huge rocks (or perhaps boulders?) and lava rocks here in Iceland. It’s on the way to my parents summer cabin. I’ll take some pictures of it next summer and send it to you (if I can remember it … since becoming a mother my memory suffered greatly!)
I love that Alastair and Melissa are getting in on it as well. To be honest, I am thrilled for the twins that their older sister is getting to spend so much time with them-its a win all around.
Up by Adam’s hometown there is a patch of woods with these little doors all over. Now if I can just find those little bastards that make the cookies, I’d be all set. For life.
How absolutely charming! I love that the whole family is enchanted and that someone took the time to do the enchanting!
I love that more often than not, I wind up replying really close to your reply–without even trying to! It’s like we’re all mind-melded n’ shit.
I’d do this. In fact, I’ve done stuff like this now and again. (I have a tendency to hang necklaces I no longer wear on trees with little notes on them.) I’ve left nice notes and small prints of nice sayings (my fave: “Go easy on yourself. You’re a human BEING, not a human DOING.”) on the windscreens of cars in a parking lot. I’ve sent a lot of postcards to random strangers through various websites.
I have read that there are a few elf houses where the elves welcome messages to be left inside the doors. Sometimes the elves even answer those messages, leaving a reply in the same door, designated for the asker. And people seem to leave only with their own response. (Project for M & J?)
This kind of stuff is what art is to me. This is why I don’t find it nearly as important to SELL! SELL! SELL! my artwork. I’d rather have a good time creating it and then know it’s going to a place where the person will enjoy it regardless of how much they can spend.
Give the elves my love, will ya? And tell ‘em that the gnomes aren’t all bad.
This is so precious! Nick and Nora are going to one day tell tales of these elf houses to their children. =)
How absolutely lovely. The twins will definitely remember the elfiness, and share with their own children.
PS – damn the asshats!!!
That makes my heart all warm and fuzzy.
This is fantastic!
This is truly amazing!
Seriously love this SO MUCH.
I am doing this on every tree in my yard, and in all the little nooks and crannies I can find. Since I live in a desert and have no woods….
Thank you soooo much for posting this!
That’s pretty cool. I would have never thought to do that in a million years, but I like it. Maybe I’ll try something like that in my neighborhood.
I don’t know if you have Keebler brand over there but if so I must say that it is imperative that some Chips Deluxe and Sandies be provided to what I imagine are hardworking and thus hungry elves.
❤❤❤❤❤