Snow and Sparkles

Meggie mouse has been especially out of sorts. Montana usually gets lots of snow, but this year has been as dry as old cheese. Meggie got a brand new pink sled for Christmas, and now that it FINALLY snowed…Lumi and I took her sledding on the local hill.

Lumi has her skis, and I brought my sled, with promises to Karamel to stop by Gingersqueak’s later for drinks.

“I wanna go super fast!” Meggie squeaked.

“It’s about connecting with the snow, not just speed,” Lumi admonished.

Meggie hmphed and positioned her sled.

She pushed off as I was getting up the gumption to go down the hill myself.

“Mouse looking at you miss Brambleberry", she squeaked while zipping by.

I turned to look.

“Squeak!” And I slipped and fell flat on my nose. One day I will learn to be a composed mouse in all situations. Ach, but today isn’t that day! I scrambled up and brushed myself off just as James mouse skied over to me.

“You ok?”

“Yep, I’m fine.” I smiled. “Taking a break from keeping the world safe for democracy?” I steered the conversation away from my embarrassing display.

He grinned. “After a stint overseas, I get to take some leave and relax, so Cedar and I decided to spend some time in Montana with his folks.”

(Cedar! That must be what’s his whiskers name. Cedar, Cedar, Cedar, Cedar…)

“I’m super glad I ran into you, Brambleberry. I had some time in the UK before Christmas, and found something at one of the markets that made me think of you.”

He thought of me!? Happy squeaks!

“There was a Scottish merchant who made jewelry, and he had a mousetastic idea. He said he took a photo of a snowflake that landed on his arm in the Highlands and crafted a pin after the photo.”

James put his paw in his pocket and drew out a beautiful pin.

“I thought you might like to have a snowflake from home to keep you company through the winter.”

I was squeakless! But to remain so wouldn’t be prudent.

“That is so incredibly thoughtful! I don’t think I’ve ever seen it’s equal.” I couldn’t stop gazing at it, so delicate, so sparkly, and so full of meaning.

James was grinning so my reaction wasn’t going unnoticed. Truly I was ok with being squeakergasted at this moment.

“Maybe it could go on your hat?” James offered with a smile.

“That would be perfect.” I replied, regaining a bit of composure.

James pinned the snowflake carefully to my hat and we chatted for a bit. I didn’t sled…he didn’t ski…but we enjoyed some time to squeak and catch up.

Apparently the Space Force mice have been busy serving their country and sometimes the world. I explained about my friends’ shoppes and construction going on in our hamlet.

Meggie and Lumi got tired of playing in the snow after a while and motioned for me to go with them to Gingersqueak’s. James and I said goodbye, and I thanked him again for his super thoughtful and sweet gift.

“That’s a lovely pin Brambleberry,” Lumi said with a smirk.

“Hehe,” I giggle-squeaked.

We went inside, and no sooner did Meggie get through the door…

She picked up her stuffed unicorn and started declaring. “Miss Brambleberry has a special some-mouse!!!”

“Meggie, get those wet shoes off my chair!” Karamel raised an eyebrow, daring her little sister not to obey.

Meggie bounced, kicked her feet out and landed on her tail.

Karamel was only diverted from Meggie’s statement for a whisker twitch before turning to me.

“Brambleberry?” Karamel raised her other eyebrow to match the first, and looked at me and then at Lumi. Lumi snickered. “Take a look at her new hat pin.”

I smiled, determined to be sophisticated. “I met James mouse at the costume ball last fall. He’s in the military and was deployed directly after. He said he spent a little time in the UK and when he saw the pin…”

“He bought it even though he doesn’t live here and had no notion if he’d see you again…” Lumi was still smirking.

“Um…yes.”

“Can I be your flower mouse when you get married?” Meggie squeaked.

“That’s putting the mouse before the cheese, lass. I still don’t even have James’s email or phone number.” I suddenly felt down in the whiskers. We were squeaking for quite a while, how could we still not have exchanged information??

Karamel pondered briefly. “I should look into making some new pretty cookies I saw in my favorite magazine…” she mused, glancing at my hat pin. I wondered if Karamel was planning my wedding along with Meggie. Och, but if I can’t find the mouse I won’t be able to marry him!

Timbertale walked in and grabbed her drink off the counter.

“Hey Brambleberry, want to see the progress on my shoppe?”

“Sure!” I glanced at Lumi to see if she was coming.

“I’m going to build a fire and defrost my toes,” she squeaked with a smile.

Timbertale and I headed next door.

“It’s really coming along. I love the stone flooring!”

I turned to see Timbertale settling herself on one of the window seats.

“I’m glad you like it, are you still good with helping paint trim latter this week?”

“Of course,” I smiled as I looked around.

“I overheard your conversation when I came in to get my drink. Brambleberry, what are you going to do about that, “very nice mouse,” as you called him last fall?”

“Och but I haven’t a whisker of an idea. We still haven’t managed to exchange information!”

Timbertale grinned. “Well he found you on the local snow hill. Perhaps you’ll run into him again?”

“Lord willing and the cheese doesn’t mold,” I giggle squeaked “This pin is truly the sweetest gift anyone has ever given me.” I put my paw up to touch the sparkles. “I wish I knew how to get a letter or email to James.”

Timbertale hopped off the window seat and joined me by the counter.

“Maybe it’s better if you let him find you? I mean, you can’t really ask for anything more romantic than that.” Timbertale slurped her drink.

“You may have a point…” I ran my claws over the cash register and realized it was an antique. “Beautiful cash register my friend!”

Timbertale grinned. “I was wondering if you’d notice it, since you have a, “very nice mouse,” on your mind.”

“I’m not addle-squeaked, just a little preoccupied…”

“Maybe the first books I order for the shelves should be tomes on winning over very nice mice,” Timbertale’s cheeks were going to hurt with her smiling this much.

“If there were something to throw at you right now…” I put my paw on my waist and tried to glare at Timbertale.

“Hahaha! I don’t have any stock yet, and I know you won’t risk your pretty pin by throwing your hat!”

“True…but as soon as you get pillows in here, watch out!” I laughed. It was nice being able to squeak about James with a friend. I wondered when I’d see him next. Would he take the time and energy to track me down? Could I possibly be important enough to him to do so?

Timbertale rested a paw my arm. “I have a feeling you’ll see him again.”

Mouse posts are made possible by amazing artisans and crafters who make lovely clothes and accessories as well as kits for buildings and shoppes. Some of the new crafters in this post are:

DowntownAllyCat for Meggie’s pink sled:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DowntownAliCat?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1687741991&from_page=listing

James’s sweater from OksaDollClothes:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/OksaDollClothes?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1832231411&from_page=listing

Meggie’s unicorn from ArtMagicStudio:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4398867499/maileg-little-sister-unicorn-outfit?ref=yr_purchases

Meggie’s pink shoes from LittleBitOfRainbow:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4304126054/pvc-leather-maileg-mouse-shoes-miniature?ref=yr_purchases

Timbertale’s counter from Calicogarden:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Calicogarden?ref=yr_purchases

Brambleberry’s snow dress from TricotMagic

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TricotMagic?ref=yr_purchases

I will list the kit for Timbertale’s shoppe when it is completed. As always, if there is something you’d like to find but I didn’t list it in this post, please feel free to message me and I will get you the information.