knock, knock...

if you are sitting comfortably, then i shall begin...

Tif was looking through her stash of yarn, hoping to find some 'warmth'...the shed was cold and lonely since her folks had left. she was also looking for 'inspiration'...

the snowballs had been completed and now she was turning her attention to 'christmas trees'...minatue ones made from yarn, a little something for the wee pesky gnomes to make them feel 'more loved' as it was becoming quite clear they were not going to 'get over' eleven months in a box quite as quickly as she had hoped...

knock, knock...

"oh" said Tif to used dog, "who can that be, shall we go and see?"

(she opened the door)

"hello, are you Miss Tif and is this Mossy Shed?" asked the visitor

"what if i said it wasn't?" Tif was quick to answer.

from behind her a roar of "hurrahs" somewhere in the direction of the mantelpiece were to be heard...

"Ceril, Ceril...is that really you, did you get our postcard about needing to brighten the place up a bit...come on in and make yourself at home"...

next thing Tif knew...Ceril, a rather dubious pesky gnome pushed through her feet and marched on into the shed...she noted with some 'horror' that he bought a pot of yellow paint with him and worse still he had mislaid the lid...

Tif returned to her 'yarn stash' and empty corner of the shed where her folks had sat just the day before to knit and read...

a few minutes later...

knock, knock...

"oh no" whispered Tif to used dog "let's hope it's UPS or FedEx and not who i think it could be"

(she opened the door again)

"hello" said a rather jolly looking christmas gnome (quite obviously pesky and well fed)..."is this where wee 'pesky gnome in charge' and his cronies live?"

"what if i said it wasn't?" asked Tif

too late...another cheery welcome was called from the mantelpiece...
"uncle Bert, is that really you, did you get our postcard with the S.O.S on it...and more importantly did you bring your sack of 'christmas cheer' with you...quite honestly Tif is a 'crap' host and we haven't had a drop to drink since last christmas when we found her 'wee supply' for light weights"

"i, that i did my wee pesky gnome nephews" uncle Bert replied, whilst pushing past Tif and into Mossy Shed "i knew it was a matter of most importance and so i came a running, never one to miss out on a 'wee party' with my family"

Tif and used dog returned to yarn hunting...

knock, knock...

"i can't face it used dog, you will have to go alone this time"

used dog answered the door and looked around, nothing there...just as she was about to close the door and report back to Tif, a little voice squeaked...

"down here"

and sure enough used dog counted eight little pesky ladies on the door mat...

"we're here to spend christmas with wee 'pesky gnome in charge' and all his cronies...we come from sweden and we like to party..."

and the roar of appreciation from the mantelpiece inside the shed was heard from several blocks away...

"oh yes, boys" cried 'pesky gnome in charge', tears of joy on his cheeks..."all our christmases have come at once"...

she's thinking those wee pesky gnomes aren't going to need crocheted trees to keep them warm and cozy this christmas ~ Tif