Lydia Hildebrandt aka Kenning Stone's Page

Roba VII
After a few days Roba was convinced that it was certainly the hat that was the cause of the old lady’s charmed life and that made her think of her own unhappy life in Caonach to which she must return. Roba had noticed the old lady taking a nap in a hammoc every day before lunch, her friend, the crow always near by. The hat was hung from a nearby tree branch. On this day, Roba walked quietly to the tree. She watched the crow as the crow watched her, but he said nothing. She picked up the hat and quietly stepped back and back and back until she was behind the hut. The crow watched her the whole time. Roba felt very bad….she could not possibly steal the hat! She put the hat on her head and sat still….It did not feel like a special hat. Suddenly Roba heard the crow cawing as it flew up. She whipped the hat off of her head and ran to Anois’ saddle bags and stuffed the hat into it. As she came out to the front of the house she saw the old lady searching about. “Roba, my love…it seems the wind has blown away my hat….perhaps you could help me search for it.” “Well, yes of course…but I must be off soon for I fear I have stayed your welcome for too long already.” Roba rushed over the ‘look’ for the hat. They searched for a few minutes when Baba Yaga said: “Well not to worry…I am sure one of my good friends will return it soon enough..perhaps the wind himself will blow it back.” Baba laughed. “You must pack up your pony and get going if you hope to reach the bridge before dark. And I will prepare a lunch for your journey”. With that Baba went to the house. As Roba stood next to Anois, putting his saddle bag on, Roba pulled out the hat…she could not steal from this wonderful old lady who had been so good to her. She smoothed out the hat and walked around the house to the front to sit on the bench and wait for Baba. “Ah“…cried Baba, “You have found my hat”.
“Yes” said Roba sadly. “You don’t seem very happy about it my love”. The old lady smiled. “Oh, I am, I am..it’s just that it seems to have made this a wonderful place for you and I am sorry to be leaving it”. “Well, the hat is useful..but it hasn’t ‘made’ anything around here…what are you talking about love?” The old lady continued to smile. “The Hat…it’s a magical hat..isn’t it? Roba whispered.
Baba shook her head: “The hat is only a hat my dear Roba.”
Alright...that must be long enough for tonight......Thank you for reading my story.....and Blessed Be.

So..this week we actually have some business to take care of before we get to episode vi of Roba:

(My sincere apologies....I've been having technical difficulties and was unable to post Sunday night. )

Now, I’d been in my small home in Kenning Stone Relm finishing up the last episode of Roba when I heard some rustling at my back door. When I went to check I found these small bags at my door step. Well it was quite obvious that they had been left by Wood Elves. They are shy creatures and no one has ever seen one full on (one usually just manages to catch a fleeting glimpse of the little guys). They are a very creative folk and I guess they thought that since I’m a creative type I would appreciate their artistic endevours. So they have left me some of their treasured envelopes. The Wood Elves are great collectors of things and in this case they have collected envelopes and packages that people, elves and other creatures have received in the post. They’ve added a few paper scraps here and there, repaired and cleaned them up a bit and so that’s what we've got up for sale on eBay this week.


Our second blog item this week is Can-Eh? Can-Artistry - It’s a new forum started by kim aka imagesbykim and it’s for CANADIAN ARTISTS. We’re just starting but we’ve got many wonderful artists already….so you might want to check it out - it’ll be fun to help a Canadian group grow. Watch for the twice monthly challenge starting in September. And now, lets get back to our story:


Roba sat on a bench that stood outside along the west wall of the house, while the old lady took a kettle from a small fire pit near by. After pouring the tea Baba removed her hat sat in the shade sipping her tea in silence. Roba did not speak either because now that she was so near the hat and the old lady she did not know how to accomplish her task. Surely she could not steal the hat and a wise old woman would not just give up such a prize. After they had both finished their tea Baba finally spoke: “Now my love, what is your name and how is it that you come to be an old lady’s guest? “ Roba was very brief and said that she was from a distant realm and was only traveling through….yes…and peddling her wares. She tought of the gifts she’d received in Anois' saddle bags which gave her an idea: “..I also trade goods - that is a handsome red hat you have there….perhaps we cold do a trade?” “…this old hat? You flatter an old woman..I am sure it is too worn to exchange for your good wares…and I am rather fond of it as it is a very practical hat. It keeps my head warm in winter and cool in the summer heat.” Roba was disappointed but went on about her travels. When the sun was very low in the west Baba Yaga told Roba that of course she wouldnot be leaving for a few days..for she had travelled far and she must rest for a time. Roba did not argue..for she felt quite relaxed with the old woman and peaceful in the lovely green forest. Over the next few days Roba experienced many strange things like every morning the sun shone through her window to wake her and yet she always watched the sun set in the same window as she laid down for the night. The old lady's garden seemed especially verdant and lush yet she seemed to spend very little time in it. although, every day after breakfast, the old lady would set the red hat on her head, walk to the centre of the garden, cross her hands over her heart and her smile would beam as brightly as the sun beams that shone down on her. She would stand so for a short while and then sometimes she would adjust a pumpkin or tie up a dangling vine. But usually she just went to a corner of the garden where there would be a pile of freshly picked corn or beans, or peas. Roba marvelled at this. Baba Yaga just laughed and explained that it had been her friends....her very good friends. But Roba had seen no visitors come or go.