Secrets of the Mountain

 

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Introduction

Secrets of the forest

These stories were written to ignite and inspire imagination

Into the little minds of my grandchildren and all small children for they are my inspiration and give me my zest for life itself.

The Dandenong Ranges are such a magical place to spend time with small children at any time of the year.

They have such an abundance of birdlife, wildlife and mystical forests to explore.

 

 

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The Magpie and the Blue cat

Once upon a time when l was a little girl, there hung upon my veranda a gold and blue glass cat chime with pink bits. When the wind blew it would make just the best ringing sound that echoed throughout the forest, everyone could hear it.

When there was a slight breeze there was a faint chiming sound from the blue glass cat, I am sure it alerted all the birds in the area as they would sit upon our veranda to watch it move.

The kookaburras which are so very wise would sit and cock their heads to the side to get a good look at this very special blue glass cat. As it moved and chimed they would all join in with their loud and raucous laughing.

The red and green king parrots would hop very close and try to touch it gently with their beaks, the possums would do somersaults from the rafters to tap it and then listen to the sound. Rosellas would also hop close to tap it and then sit back listening to its fine tinkling sounds.

But the strangest thing of all was when the magpies came to visit, they would hit at the blue glass cat and break off little bits of glass, then they would pick those pieces up and fly off with them. I saw this happen many times and the cat was losing its blue glass tummy very quick. “Where is the magpie taking it “I would ask my nanna?

 “Oh magpies love glittery things and line their nests with them, if you can find his nest you will find the blue glass”.

Well, I decided there and then that I would try and find where the magpie was taking the bits of blue glass to.

Early the next morning I heard the blue glass cat chimes ring and I just knew the magpie was pecking at it so I crept outside.

There on the floor was a bit of glass and the magpie picked it up and flew off so quickly, but not so quick that I didn’t see where he flew to.

Pulling on my track pants, top and shoes I went out into the garden and through the old rusty back gate down into the forest below.

It was early morning and there was a mist all around, there was lots of twittering as small birds were waking up to the sun as it was beginning to filter in through the tall trees. I could hear the laughter of the kookaburras’ every time I slipped or fell on the dewy grass, this made me laugh quietly to myself

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Into the bush

Suddenly there was a noise above me, and there on a dead branch sat the magpie with the blue glass in his beak shining brilliantly in the early sunlight. I kept watching him as he suddenly took off and flew further into the forest. It was almost as though he were beckoning for me to follow, was he trying to tell me something? What an exciting thought!

I followed him although I had never been this deep in the forest before, I always thought magic happened here, you know the type of magic that is happy and exciting to kids.

As I came over the top of a gully I thought I felt someone or something watching me, I looked around but only saw leaves and ferns. The early sunlight was streaming through the tree branches like fingers of light making everything they touched gold.

I was still trying to work out where the magpie had flown to and began to fear I had lost him!

However just ahead in the forked branch of a tree I again saw him looking quizzically at me with the familiar blue glass shining in his beak, and then he was gone!

I didn’t see where he went but suddenly the next time I looked up he flew up and sat on the branch again

Suddenly there was a noise above me, and there on a dead branch sat the magpie with the blue glass in his beak shining brilliantly in the early sunlight. I kept watching him as he suddenly took off and flew further into the forest. It was almost as though he were beckoning for me to follow, was he trying to tell me something? What an exciting thought!

I followed him although I had never been this deep in the forest before, I always thought magic happened here, you know the type of magic that is happy and exciting to kids.

As I came over the top of a gully I thought I felt someone or something watching me, I looked around but only saw leaves and ferns. The early sunlight was streaming through the tree branches like fingers of light making everything they touched gold.

I was still trying to work out where the magpie had flown to and began to fear I had lost him!

However just ahead in the forked branch of a tree I again saw him looking quizzically at me with the familiar blue glass shining in his beak, and then he was gone!

I didn’t see where he went but suddenly the next time I looked up he flew up and sat on the branch again

Suddenly there was a noise above me, and there on a dead branch sat the magpie with the blue glass in his beak shining brilliantly in the early sunlight. I kept watching him as he suddenly took off and flew further into the forest. It was almost as though he were beckoning for me to follow, was he trying to tell me something? What an exciting thought!

I followed him although I had never been this deep in the forest before, I always thought magic happened here, you know the type of magic that is happy and exciting to kids.

As I came over the top of a gully I thought I felt someone or something watching me, I looked around but only saw leaves and ferns. The early sunlight was streaming through the tree branches like fingers of light making everything they touched gold.

I was still trying to work out where the magpie had flown to and began to fear I had lost him!

However just ahead in the forked branch of a tree I again saw him looking quizzically at me with the familiar blue glass shining in his beak, and then he was gone!

I didn’t see where he went but suddenly the next time I looked up he flew up and sat on the branch again but without the blue glass in his beak! Ah ha! His nest must be around here I thought.

I was however quite puzzled as I know magpies have their nests in trees not on the ground! So why did he fly down and where was the blue glass?

Looking around I saw a little movement out of the corner of my eye which appeared to be leaves or sticks moving, what could it be I thought?

 Can you see anyone in the leaves?

The movement was below the biggest, oldest and knobbiest tree I had ever seen, with a hollow at the base. I just had to know what was there, well you would too wouldn’t you?   Moving very slowly and quietly I had a very quick glimpse of a little bush imp in furry clothes, about the size of my kitten at home. Looking closer I noticed it was carrying something, and then it was gone… just like that!

Pushing through the thick ferns and native grasses, I went behind the tree but saw nothing, not even the magpies nest or the blue glass!

But I did find a little pile of coloured beads in the wet moss but no blue glass, so I thought I might pick them up on my way home after as I recognised them as Ashley’s bead necklace that was left on the veranda!

Well I thought, I think I might be lost now and still don’t know the answer to the blue glass as well as the mystery of the wood imp that I felt sure had been following me.

I felt quite disappointed and sat down on the damp, dewy, moss covered log at my feet to think about my next move. What was that tinkle tinkle!  

I was however quite puzzled as I know magpies have their nests in trees not on the ground! So why did he fly down and where was the blue glass?

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Oh my goodness!

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The Magic doorway

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The adventure

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