Welcome to Gaia! ::

I've written up stories* to use in random gifting. Feel free to gift as much as possible. I came up with inexpensive items in the hopes everyone can afford to contribute to the effort. This is as easy and inexpensive as I can make it. Please help as much as you can. heart

(there's one more to do but there's enough to start).

PLEASE use this Signature for stories. Remember gift anonymously!

Paired Item: Tall Paper Lantern White (Only, do not use set)
Where to Buy it: Global Imports
Zodiac Animal Correlation: Cow (The black and white pattern on the lantern)

What kind of stories did my grandmother tell me? Well, she started with her own most mischevious stories first, I think to win my attention. In childhood, she'd been light on her feet and she'd watch and warn fellow youths of an adult coming to catch them. First there where just moments stolen away from a chore, or the innocent gathering in a place one should not be. However, the more grandmother had forewarned them of danger, the more reckless a few became.

With sweet words and hollow promises, they'd lure her out again and again. Once, they'd dared to wonder out on her family's farm land. Ducking under a fence, they chased glittering lights as they danced between blades of grass. The fireflies were not alone, as a few dozing bovines
she knew well. As she held the lantern, she watched the cow's asleep face. The long snout and large eyes she'd found oddly adorable. How often she'd been treated to the fresh milk and stroked the soft fur of the animal as a thank you. She stood there holding the lantern as always, and saw the poor asleep creature fall to it's side.

Her friends cheered, and motioned to another of the cows. As tears stung her eyes she set the lantern down, quietly padding away. She couldn't stop them, she said, but she could no longer help them.

I asked her what became of these friends, she said the lantern knew better than she.

Paired Item: Carrot Basket
Where to Buy it: Buttercup Cafe
Zodiac Animal Correlation: Rabbit

I camped with friend down near a lake the summer when I was ten. My grandmother had me dress warmly in the cold nights. She teased me my coat was made out of fur at first. I about cried! I could never imagine wearing real fur. I told her the spirits would be upset if I were to do such a thing.

She laughed. Perhaps because it was the first time I acknowledged her stories about spirits. Is it odd for a child not to acknowledge there's rabbit living in the moon?

However, in the dark cold woods alone, you'll admit just about anything to get back to your warm campsite. To this day I won't collect firewood. Lost, tired, I talked to the moon. Yep. A nice full moon, and every time I said something I heard a rustle. Desperate, I followed it each time.

I swore I followed a white cotton tail out of those woods. You can think me silly, but every time I meet a rabbit, I give them a carrot just to be safe.

Paired Item: Any Philosopher's Cache
Where to Buy it: BiFrost or get one from DD
Zodiac Animal Correlation: Snake


The bearded man with silver hair and bread always drew interest in the streets near my home. The man, while a common presence, seemed to appear and vanish out of thin air. He was unmistakable once out of hiding. He wore clothing possibly aged as he, with more satchels on him than I thought one person could possibly tied on themselves. The children whispered stories about him and I held the belief that he was one of the guarding spirits my grandmother would tell me about.

I heard one story about the bearded man holding a pixie in one of the satchels. Another told me gems. Another said he kept souls and was some sort of grim reaper! At one point I think he was keen on scaring off the neighborhood kids. The stories grew more and more outlandish but it was also whispered that he never revealed the contents of one particular satchel nearest to his chest.

Having no fear of strangeness, I politely introduced myself to him. Then, bluntly asked him what he held closest to him. Surprised, he told me. "My friend likes to keep warm. You won't get scared if I show him to you?"

I was terrified, but I was this far in, so I nodded quietly. A tiny little garden snake, slim as my fingers was curled up asleep inside of the guarded satchel.

Then he gave me one of his satchels. "I come across these all the time. You sometimes never can guess what you'll find inside!"

Paired Item: Yarn and Needles
Where to Buy it: Junk in the Trunk
Zodiac Animal Correlation: Sheep

Grandmother always took good care of me, and once I was old enough to, I set out to make a gift for her. I quickly purchased yarn and knitting needles, thinking I could make something for her. Socks or even a scarf! How hard could it be?

The tangled mess I created was unsuitable as any argument of clothing. There were so many errors and poorly formed stitches, I was in tears the night before. In fact, I'd so poorly done it, when I gave it to her, her face didn't change. Then she laughed.

She unraveled the mistake and asked me to wind it back into the ball it once was. She complimented how the wool I'd chosen was a soft and sweet as a sheep. "I'd like it better if we did it together anyway."

This year, I'm working on a whole quilt based off what she taught me.

Paired Item: Any Hibakama
Where to Buy it: Global Imports
Zodiac Animal Correlation: Bird (Chicken)

My first trip to a temple, I noticed the entrance nearly lined by the local birds. Many flew around, almost like guards, but always landed back on the entrance post.

My grandmother led me around the temple, which was lovely and lovingly kept. Still, my curiosity got the better of me. Especially since I tried following some of the birds to no avail.

"Why do the birds do that?" I inquired of one of the Mikos. "They fly around but then they just go back to the same place."
"I'm not sure. The birds here are our friends, but they sure like the entrance post. I think," She said leaning down to tell me, "they like being able to come back to the same place as long as they do it on their own."

Paired Item: Honorable Teapot
Where to Buy it: Housing Store
Zodiac Animal Correlation: Boar

The winter before I finished school, grandmother took care of me most diligent when I came down with the flu. She served me cup of tea after cup of tea, insisting I keep myself warm.

Admittedly, I was old enough to listen to the wise words of my caretaker. However, my brain took in the words a bit muffled under my fever. I thought she kept asking if I wanted boar treat or something. "What's boar...treat?"

She laughed, "Boar, tree. You're running headfirst into trees like a boar, dear."

"Wha...?" I asked through my feverish haze.

"You're trying to go too fast, again." She said over and over again. "You'll keep tripping and running into things if you don't find your own pace. Drink your tea."

emotion_hug Thanks!