Preparing for the Fall Festival
Poltoy and I are
busy planning for the fall festival. We have a good start on our berries and nuts, and have
several ready to store for winter. 
Business has been good so far. I have mended many
pairs of shoes and boots, and crafted many new ones. Poltoy has tucked his
treasure chest away for now. He will announce his finding at the Fall Festival. I am
excited to know of the guest speaker. It should be a nice surprise. I have nominated
Poltoy for the purple amethyst award. After all this time he has a special place in my heart.
Poltoy called me his son the other day while he was chatting with some of the Elven
Elders. I felt very proud.
Tari has sent word throughout the forest, that the treasure
chest has been found, although not revealing who has found it. The fall festival is one of
the grandest of celebrations. It is a time of harvest and kinship. During times like these
Tari sets up inns throughout the forest. This is to ensure that all the elves attend. Some
of the elves live deeper in the forests than others, and the traveling may be quite a journey.
In some cases, as much as 3 days. The inns will stay open for any elves needing a place to
sleep, until all the elves have returned safely to their homes. The fall festival lasts 2 days
and 2 nights. The first night is really a preparation, all the elves bring their carts of berries
and nuts and other things to the Glen or clearing of choice. This year it is to be held in the
Twilight clearing in Timber Glen. It is one of the nicer spots in all the forests of Tari.
Poltoy is busy with his writings. He will not tell
me what he is writing about just yet, as he says it is work in progress. He has taught me
how to grow many new things in the garden, and although we will not have much of a fall
crop this year, he did bring several herbal plants with him. Come spring though we will
have a wonderful garden to feast on.
Poltoy has
gotten word from Gilbani that his yard is over run with weeds, and squirrels, and rabbits.
They have eaten some of his garden. Poltoy has sent word to Gilbani to harvest everything
remaining in the garden and to keep it for himself. He is very concerned about this
although I try to reassure him.
I can only hope that he doesn't plan to leave, as I have
gotten very used to him being here with me. He has become like a father to me.
Poltoy continues his writings daily. We spend the evenings reading or talking. Some nights we gather berries and nuts and other food. 
Poltoy has shown me a much better way to dry and store the berries for
winter. He wraps them in fallen leaves, and places them near the fire. Just for a moment
until the leaves wrap nicely around the berries. He then takes a small wooden crate and
lines it with straw. Placing the berries wrapped in the leaves inside, he tucks the straw all
around. This preserves them nicely. 
He does the same for the nuts. I am sure this will
prove to be a better storage system. He also told me that it would be better to store them
in the workshoppe to keep them cool.
We have loaded our carts and knapsacks and
are ready to set out for the Fall Festival.
© by: Lana Stanford and L.C. White
