Most mature adults no longer believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or the tooth fairy. However, have you seen all the fairies in gardens? Have you seen all the fairy houses and yard ornaments for those houses? Almost every store has them. Hmm……I wonder if garden fairies are related to the tooth fairy? How about gnome garden ornaments with blue jackets and red pointed caps?
If you happen to see a gnome in your lawn or garden, you will need another witness to back you up. It is the same rule if you find a rare bird someplace. According to ancient Scandinavian lore, gnomes do exist. According to ancient Irish lore, leprechauns do exist. When my sister and I were in Ireland our tour guide pointed out fairy rings around trees. Both the Norwegians and the Irish are very smart so there must be something to this. Checking a very old Norwegian book, I learned several facts about gnomes.
The male is about 6 inches tall and weighs 300 grams. Along with the pointed red hat and blue coat, he wears tall felt boots and has a white beard. The male gnome only takes his hat off when he sleeps or takes a bath. He is very smart and can easily outsmart creatures that prey on him. His tiny legs can also move surprisingly fast and his super sense of smell comes in handy. Not much is known about the female gnome because she stays home with the children. Obviously, she is not yet liberated or is just a natural homebody. Gnome families keep mice for pets.
Trolls and goblins give gnomes a great deal of trouble. Whereas, gnomes like human beings, goblins are aggressive and malevolent. They are the same size as gnomes and dress in all black with small pointed black hats. Gnomes can usually outsmart them. On the other hand, trolls are big, stupid, ugly and stink. They are the sworn enemy of gnomes so this is why the gnomes’ super sense of smell is so important.
You know that this information is true if you have seen the movie Gnomeo and Juliet. Hollywood would never fool their public! Businesses would never sell garden gnomes if they did not exist. Companies would not print books nor make greeting cards or wrapping paper with flower fairies if they did not exist. That would be fraud. I rest my case.
I know about gnomes, goblins, and trolls because for many years my husband crafted and sold them at the Nordic fair in Decorah. Each one was hand formed out of clay, fired in a kiln, and hand painted. No molds were involved. They came in many sizes and each one was unique. He also made gnome homes. The few we have left are used as Christmas decorations much like Department 56 villages.
A four-foot wooden gnome guards our garden. It was carved by Molly Wiste, a chain saw artisan. She has also carved owls out of trees in the Houston Park. Our gnome is definitely a conversation starter. Molly lives in northern Minnesota where she must have observed many gnomes.
Dad’s Creamy Cucumber Salad
2 large cukes, peeled and thinly sliced (6 cups)
1 sweet onion, thinly sliced (2 cups)
2 tsp. sea salt
1 cup mayo
2 Tbsp. cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. snipped fresh dill or 1 tsp. dried dill
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. black pepper
Stir together cukes, sweet onion and salt in large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap; let stand 30 minutes.
Transfer cuke mix to a colander set in sink; let drain, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has drained about 30 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels and transfer to a large bowl.
Whisk together mayo, vinegar, sugar, dill, garlic powder and pepper in a small bowl. Pour over cuke mixture; stir to coat.
Chill, covered up to 2-24 hours.