I’ve started writing a bit again- my usual rather fanciful tales especially at this time of year. So starting early, here is a short story that is a continuation of the winter adventures of Miss Alice Beamish.
“Why this isn’t the same place at all!” said Miss Alice Beamish,”and where’s unicorn!?” She looked around the sparkling woodlands in dismay! On top of everything else Mother had burned all the eat- me cookies except for the two Alice held – one in each hand. She was very hungry and was therefore having a hard time leaving a few crumbs to mark the path. There wouldn’t be much of a trail to follow back home. A beautiful conservatory was visible through the frosty trees but as she approached she saw it was empty and abandoned. Not far away, snow powder gently drifted around a lonely carousel. Sadly, the animals in pause looked as though they had frozen during the night and not a single person was waiting to ride! Alice wondered where everyone was and what strange enchantment might have occurred here? She entered the empty glass ballroom and shivered slightly. Outside she could see the snow descending gently over the world, and remembering a trick her brother taught her, she stood very still and looked straight up into the glass cupola. After a few moments of concentration she was at the center of a universe of falling snowflakes.
She felt her stomach drop as the sensation of ascent began. A perfect garden spaceship had taken flight. The magic was working and everything had reversed. The snow no longer fell but hung motionless in space as the conservatory was propelled upward higher and higher into the heavens. Hundreds of hissing stars were shot from invisible bows and blazed by the window panes, melting Winter Jack’s lacey artwork. Alice heard the echoing oboe of the solar wind interspersed with the percussive swoosh of meteorites and spinning planets! The smaller shooting stars reverberated like Tibetan singing bowls. “Why this is a place of music and dancing after all!” she exclaimed holding her hands over her ears as the floor tipped this way and that. At once she became aware that the illuminated yule tree in the middle of the room was pointing toward the Constellation of Taurus. They were definitely heading in the direction of Aldebaran and she knew now that she wouldn’t be back in time for tea.
– for more illustrated story and to meet the unicorn check out the first story, Alice’s Twinkling Winter Tale; – and in the meantime
let it snow!
Drive the cold winter away
Info: Snow was created on my Gimp program
this story ( and info re: the images) was also blogged on Desert Mice and Dreams after visiting the virtual world of “Let it Snow”
the runes of the gatekeeper's daughter- dedicated to Nick 
“the echoing oboe of the solar wind” ahhh, your words are as enchanting as the pictures you conjure with them, Dear Cybele! ;^) ❤ ❤ ❤
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you are so sweet Aisha!! I am so glad you liked the story and took time to comment!! As I don’t think you have any holy days left this year (?) – to the Irish in you I wish the joy of this season ! 😀
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hahaha, yep, those are my Irish green eyes smiling at you, dear Cybele – thanks very much and all the same to you, too – Happy Holidays! ;^D ❤ ❤ ❤
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:)!!!
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Mesmerised by the narration and the magical photos,dear Cybele!I clicked here and there and on your old blog and on images to see how you shape your stories,to see how your imagination climbs up very high and touches the stars and the magic of the universe.A grippy Winter Tale woven with warmth and bright stars.Alice for sure won’t be back in time for tea.The magic of the “Tree of Life” and the Orange Giant Star have engrossed her,she is not for ordinary things now.I followed Alice’s course of thoughts and imagination,I identified with her and heard the wind’s instrument and felt the magic of the night.The snowflakes are still fresh on me and slowly melting … The song is playing in Praise of Christmas.Now,I know how you stole Nikos’ heart … Happy Name Day Nikos 🙂
PS:”Alice’s Twinkling Winter Tale” doesn’t open,it’s not a proper link … do something to fix it.
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oh you are so sweet and I will tell Nikos that you wished him well! I’m so pleased you like the story . It is people like you with imagination and poetry in their souls that I hope will enjoy my offerings!! Many blessing my dear blogging friend of the heart!!
PS I fixed the link!
and thanks for the link!!! I have bookmarked Rossis site.
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Blushed … ,touched and entranced by the magic of your stories.Thanks for fixing the link and opening the gates to Otherworld.I’ve just come back from the frozen forests and the twinkling lights in Winterland.Mesmerising the holy silence of the snow paths … 🙂 xxx
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🙂 much love to you Doda! I love the magic of those paths too and forests too!
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❤ xxx
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It was great to read something of yours again. Wonderful words, wonderful images. Love the child peeping into that fantasy land – all children should have the opportunity to do that.
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very pleased you got to read and enjoy the story Six! Thank you for a lovely comment! Yes I still like peeking into fantasy land lol!
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Wonderful, Cybele – I especially like the Killarney Park picture – great effect! Adrian
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I’m happy you read and liked it. Yes illustrating stories with images- sometimes animated- is a favourite of mine! Thank you
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Wonderful storytelling and imagery! I love the snowflakes. Now, after all this time, I think I’ve discovered your name is really Hannah 😊.
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I’m so happy you read and liked it Pam!! ha ha and yes! Cybele is my middle and creative name!!
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😊
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What an enchanting story and photographs! This is great! Hope all is well! 🙂
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I am so pleased you like it Linda!! Thank you for commenting! All is well with me! 🙂
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It’s lovely, Cybele! And I was just reading about the origins of Alice in Wonderland over on Nick Rossis’s blog just before coming to yours. .. coincidence! Are all the beautiful images your own too? They are truly magical! 😍
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It is wonderful when another (and excellent) writer likes your work! Thank you for reading! The two top images are composites and combination of a virtual landscape ( not copyrighted) that I explored and took some screen photos and then edited.
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PS could you give me the url of the Rossis blog? I’d like to read that post.
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Wow that’s so lovely Hannah ! Beautifully put together . Very creative words and images 🙂
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Many thanks for reading Poppy! I’m always thrilled when someone enjoys the story!!
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I totally agree with Poppy, Hannah !
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Many thanks Sue!!
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Fantastic short winter story, till the next Cybele. Beautiful images!
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so glad you liked it Della!! Thank you!
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I’m not ready to leave Autumn yet but you make the winter enchanting. Nicely done.
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we are getting frost here!! Thanks so much for reading Maverick!
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I haven’t made animate images in ages. You inspire me to try it again.
I love yours and the story is great too.
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many thanks dear Sherry!! yes fun!!
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your imagery is always so beautiful – “hissing stars!” More enchanted tales!
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thank you!
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Hannah, I think those cookies must be chocolate chip, or oatmeal raisin, anyway, for eat-me. ☺ Hmmmm, maybe we fall up and snow never falls down…..thinking, thinking 😨
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I’m rather fond of peanut butter myself!! yes I like falling up!! Love your thinking! thanks Robert!!
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Peanut butter, a entire different dimension of yumminess! with a Hershey kiss stuck right on top if you dare! ☺
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lol!
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As a Unicorn hunter, I’m always interested in ways to track them down (the horns make great ink pens).
Nice prose and visuals.
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lol thanks Disperser! oh boy they are a protected species you know!!!
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This sounds like a delightful but terrifying experience. 🙂
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the best kind!!! 😀 Thanks for commenting.
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An interesting winter tale Cybele … and those gif are way cool!
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thanks Bast!
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Wow. And how did you get those snowflakes?
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so glad you enjoyed it. It’s very magical isn’t it!!?. I learned how to make animations including snow with Gimp. However, this one was a ready to go plugin.
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Oh my, I love this!!! ❤ Please, continue with this adventure, this could be a fabulous book or even a series. (Missed you! 😀 )
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oh thanks so much Lore. So good to hear from you. It’s a rather meaningless bit of fanciful but fun!! I have slowed down a bit these days but will be over to see you!!
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