The Story of KÖlvar the Tree Elf

 I saw a hole in a maple tree in Manito Park one day...

                                       

I looked inside, and there was a small elf. He appeared to be as surprised as I was at this discovery. He looked scared, so I assured him that I meant no harm, I was just curious about the hole that I saw in the tree. There was relief in his eyes. "My name is KÖlvar,"he told me, "This is my home." 

He liked his dwelling but didn't feel very secure and he was concerned about getting cold in the coming winter. I asked if he would like a door to protect him from marauders and the elements. He said, "that would be nice." So, I made him a door for his home.

It took some creative
measuring to
get it to fit

He painted the door.

 He was sitting a small nest as we talked. Since I don't know much about how elves live, I asked if a nest is where he slept. "Tree elves usually sleep in nests," he said, "because they are easy to build. Some are lucky enough to find a mat to sleep on." 

He went on to say that his nest was adequate but not so comfortable.   I asked if he would like a bed to sleep on. "Yes, of course, but where would I find one?" he asked. 

"You don't have to look for one, KÖlvar, I am going to build a nice comfortable bed for you to sleep on," I told him.

 

KÖlvar appreciated my kindness. For that, he said, he would only reveal himself to me. For others, he will not be physically visible, but will leave poetic clues to the mysteries of his existence.

Mysteries like the tones from his "sound garden."  The sound garden consists of three sets 

of windchimes hung high in nearby trees. They are well spaced so that   you don't hear them all at one time. KÖlvar will ring them for those quiet enough to hear and feel the magic.

 

There are also affirmations for the curious few who look behind his door:

 KÖlvar said, "I enjoy notes from those bold enough to say hi!" So just inside the door he put a small notebook for visitor. 

This also allows others to share in his magic. The magic of knowing others are aware of KÖlvar.

In addition to the door and bed that I have made for the elf, visitors have left KÖlvar gifts and trinkets. He love his gifts and bestows the giver with joy and positive feelings.

 

 

 

KÖlvar lives a simple, quiet and happy life. Though you may never see him, you will know that he is near. He will always welcome your visit to his home in Manito Park!

This story continues as you seek out his friendship...

The trees of KÖlvar's Sound Garden 

 

Look up waaaay up

The chimes in the sound garden 32' up

 

 

 

The Ordeal: 10 Days Without Electricity.

 

The Ordeal

22 November 2015  · 

 

Day 6 of the ordeal: Still without electricity, provisions running low, no hot water, temperatures dropping into the single digits tonight, no end in sight, chances of survival diminish with each passing hour...

Oh, the humanity!

 

Day 7 of the ordeal: Still no electricity... batteries of my devices nearly dead, must conserve my communique's...Hope is dwindling, I haven't heard helicopters since last evening. I can only assume this means the search party has been called off. Morale is extremely low. It seems that the end is imminent. I must make some difficult decisions; stay put and hope to be found, or attempt a self-rescue by putting on my boots and hiking out... Though, with my c-section wound and Tyler's broken femur, hiking may not be the best choice, but we must do something... Nothing in my life has prepared me for this type of adversity...

 

Day 8 of the ordeal: Snow has begun to fall... The outlook is grim... After weighing the risks involved in hiking out, we decided to hunker down until the very end... It is easier to find a stationary object than a moving one.

Out of provisions... Lights are on on 3 sides of us... To the west... to the South... To the East. We are in a still-dark peninsula, have they forgotten us? Do we still exist? Or should we allow hope to once again fill our sails?

  

Day 9 of the ordeal: Still no electricity. There are lights on all four sides of me, I know I have been forgotten. All hope of rescue gone I feel like we missed the last helicopter out of Saigon and watched it off to the horizon... We may have to melt snow for drinking water... I have exhausted my data plan... I don't see survival as an option any more. Someone, please let Carlos know that I love him...

 

Day 10 of the ordeal: I have been keeping the drapes of my room tightly closed to conserve heat, but as I awoke this morning, my room was full of light, not the light of the sun, but the light on my nightstand. My digital light flashing 12:00…12:00…12:00… was I still dreaming? I looked around again, still light in my room. I reached to the lamp on the nightstand, I flicked the switch back and forth to on then off and on again. Power has really been restored!!! They did not forget about us and this little peninsula of darkness on South Grand! We’re saved!!!

Just yesterday, we were certain that ours would not be a rescue; rather, a recovery operation. The young one was growing increasingly restless and scared. I weighed the risks involved and decided, that, despite his broken femur, I would dispatch the young one to seek help. More than 36 hours has passed since he hobbled off, crutches crunching in the newly fallen snow…I have not seen him since. I fear that he may have been eaten by wolves.

Follow up 11/28/2015:

I had the craziest dream last night: I dreamt that I was supposed to work in Seattle but had to stay in Spokane to help my son move into an apartment. The power to my apartment went out a couple of days before that. Then, my son arrived for a day which then stretched out to 6 days, my birthday gift turned into penance, then had a migraine so severe that I slept right through Thanksgiving... It seemed so real...