Marlee's Hometown Has Found A Cause

It didn't take long for the news to spread around Marlee's small hometown that Marleewood was doing some remodeling. The word was that it was a small project, but a lot of people didn't know what they were doing. When you don't know something, what do you do? You ask, and of course, the folks in that little town did a lot of asking and wondering. They had seen some lumber going in the back door and some folks had seen a lot of cars parked in the back parking lot.

No one knew exactly what was going on until one day Marlee and Grandma B were shopping. Marlee was checking her list that she had put on her tablet when she heard someone say, "Hi, Marlee. What are you shopping for today?" She turned and saw Nick's mom. They were getting some books. Marlee said, "We are getting some books and some pillows for our new Quiet Room. Looks like you are getting some books too." Nick's mom started talking to Grandma B and wanted to know what a Quiet Room was. Grandma B said that sometimes you just need a little time to yourself and some quiet, so Grandma Lu thought that we could use one." Nick's mom agreed. She said, "I know I could sure use some some days. What do you need? Anything I can help with?" Grandma B said, "Anything and everything. Actually we just need some paint and some comfortable furniture, books and a few little things. I don't expect we will need much, but thanks for asking. Come and see us soon. Grandma Lu makes sure that we have snacks on hand!" They both chuckled and went about their shopping. Nick and his mama went shopping for lots of snacks for Grandma Lu. They couldn't wait to surprise her.

Nick's mom told some of her friends that were young moms. Those moms told their friends. It didn't take long before everyone in Marlee's hometown knew what was going on at Marleewood. Some folks thought it was silly but some thought, "Boy, what I couldn't do with an hour of quiet just for a little while."

One person thought, " There is nothing I love more than to watch a fire and just let my mind wander. I wonder if their Quiet Room will have a fireplace?"  Another person thought, "I love to watch a gold fish swim in a bowl. I could watch that little fish and think about nothing and just relax. "I wonder if they would like a gold fish?"

Some people thought that sitting in a boat or on a bank of a river or lake was a perfect way to get some quiet time. He loved to read books too. "I think I'll box up some books for their Quiet Room. I have plenty of them."  Other folks thought that taking a walk was a good way to get some exercise and have some quiet time as well.  One lady looked out her back door and watched the sun as it rose to begin a new day. She thought to herself, "This is my Quiet Room. I don't need to go somewhere to be quiet. I am a lucky one."

 When one mom heard about the Quiet Room she thought, "If I could just take a bath without someone wanting to know what I was doing, and why I was taking so long it would be a miracle. Quiet Room; I don't think there is such a thing."

An old man even heard about Marleewood's Quiet Room. He lived in a nursing home. One of his visitors had told him what was going on down the street. He told his visitor, "A Quiet Room? What I wouldn't give for some peace and quiet. This place is so noisy. Just because I am old some people think I can't hear. Well, I can hear very well.  It's noisy even at night. If I could go sit in Marleewood's Quiet Room I sure would. I wish I had a way to get there." His visitor had heard about a little girl whose name was Ruby. She was only eleven years old, but was known for granting simple wishes to folks that lived in a nursing home. He wondered...

Back at Marleewood Grandma Lu was showing the folks that were helping where she and Marlee, Charlie, and Grandma B wanted some things put and built in. They wanted a reading nook for one thing and they needed some book shelves. That was really all that needed to be built, the rest of the work was just decorating and some paint. The Quiet Room should be done in a couple of days.

The loud sounds of saws and hammers and people talking made so much noise that Grandma Lu had no idea what was going on in the back kitchen. Some folks were bringing in boxes of things through the back kitchen door. They were so kind, but they were just dropping the boxes off and leaving. Grandma Lu had no idea that the Community Room was getting full of boxes and even some furniture. Some boxes were filled to the brim with items that folks thought a Quiet Room needed. I'm afraid that the Quiet Room will not be nearly big enough for all of the donations that Marleewood friends had brought.

Back in the very noisy soon to be Quiet Room, Grandma Lu had started to sneeze....

The Quiet Room

Marlee and Charlie and the Grandmas had a meeting to discuss doing some remodeling to Marleewood. They loved that children and grownups liked to come there to have a snack, buy a little something, or just sit and visit. Of course, the children loved to have Grandma Lu tell them stories in the Sitting Room. Sometimes the Beauty Shop was really busy and so was the Photo Studio. Right now, though, in the summer time, folks were busy with outdoor activities; swimming, fishing, and even some vacations and family reunions.  If they were going to do some remodeling this would be the perfect time for it.

They were talking about something that Grandma Lu thought was needed at Marleewood. She wanted a Quiet Room. She was telling them that a quiet room was just that. No talking, no video games or television and no story telling. Marlee frowned and said, "Why do we need a quiet room?" Grandma B and Grandma Lu smiled at each other and said, "Because sometimes life gets too busy and you just need a place to sit and think things through or to read. Even at my house, my husband likes to have the television going all the time even if he isn't in the house."

Charlie said, "But we have a library just across the street." Grandma Lu said, "We sure do and it's a good one. Story Time is my favorite. They have lots of folks that use their computers as well as reading books.  Marlee started to giggle. "I know why Story Time is your favorite. You get to dress up like a pirate!" Grandma Lu laughed. "That was really fun wasn't it?"

"Well, a library is supposed to be quiet so folks can read or study, but it isn't all the time is it? People are coming and going. I was thinking of making that small room behind the Sitting Room a Quiet Room. It isn't very big. It would be just right for no more than four people. They could come in and have a cool drink and just "chill out" as you kids say."

Marlee said, "Well, isn't that going to cost a lot of money to do that? We don't have much saved up." Grandma B and Grandma Lu had already talked about this. They were going to chip in some money and some labor from their family and friends. They didn't think it would cost much at all. They could buy some used furniture and bring in some things from home. Both Grandmas wanted really comfortable furniture. There were days where a person just wanted to sink in somewhere soft and lay your head back and rest. Maybe just for an hour or so not for a long time. "Oh, we need pillows, Marlee said, nice soft ones. I think this is going to be like our Day Care, only for big people." Grandma Lu chuckled, and said, "You are exactly right, Marlee."

They talked about what the room would look like. Would it have wifi in that room? Maybe some folks would like to bring their tablets or computers with them sometimes. Some people would like to read. They would ask folks to donate some books and magazines for the Quiet Room. They also decided that some folks might like to listen to music. They decided that they would provide earphones in the Quiet Room too. Marlee said, "Well, don't make it too quiet or we will fall asleep." Oh the twinkles in the grandmas' eyes.

They would have a day for children too. Sometimes older children need some quiet as well as grownups. Marlee said, "My baby sister, Whittlee Jo is noisy and I guess I can be noisy too. Charlie giggled and said, "Me too!" And Grandma B hugged Marlee and laughed, "Me too!"

Charlie was the organizer of the group and said, "Okay, we need to go shopping, but first we each need to make a list. Maybe we don't have to buy much."
And this was just the beginning...

And They All Lived Happily Ever After...

Grandma B found a lot of pictures for the Scrapbook that they were working on. She was showing them to Grandma Lu and Marlee. As Marlee would pick out some pictures then Grandma Lu would write the words on the pages. Marlee told the grandmas that she could remember reading a little book that she had found in the Sitting Room. She said she had a black and white dress on that day. She said, "Did you find any pictures of Propunzul wearing a black and white dress, Grandma B? I think I saw some clear down there in a little box."
Grandma B started going through the pictures and said, "Yes, Marlee, I found some. Quite a few of them, actually. "Marlee gave Grandma Lu some of them to look at. She said, "Grandma Lu, can you make the end of the story using these pictures, or do we need to look through some more magazines and boxes of pictures for you?
"

Grandma Lu looked at the pictures and said, "Oh my! You have found pictures of Propunzul wearing a black and white dress. How did that ever happen? Yes. I can write the end of the story now. I have enough pictures. Thank you so much."

Grandma Lu started writing in the Scrapbook and Grandma B and Marlee added the pictures as Grandma Lu told them to.
"Prince Charming and Freddie were flying through the forest just as the mean old witch came out of her castle. She looked up and said, "Accra dabba! Dragon you are going to be a rock dragon until a beautiful girl comes and gives you a kiss. She will have beautiful golden hair and blue eyes. She will be the only one to break my spell on you."

 "When the mean old witch cast her spell on Freddie, Prince Charming fell off. He was having a really bad day, wasn't he?" asked Grandma Lu. Grandma B and Marlee laughed and nodded their heads in agreement.

"Well, Prince Charming started running to get help from his parents and who should he find but Propunzul. He gave her a big hug and said, "Hurry quick, that mean old witch turned Freddie into rocks. We have to save him!" So that's just what they did. They ran back to the witch's castle and there sat Freddie. He was all made of rocks. Propunzul ran to him and tried her best to get him to come alive so he could live at Prince Charming's palace. She hugged him, but nothing happened. Then she talked to him and told him that she loved him. But nothing happened. Finally she said, "Freddie I love you so much. I want you to come and live at the palace with Prince Charming and me. Won't you please come alive and fly us there on your back? Propunzul gave him a kiss and suddenly the rocks fell to the ground.

 Freddie started to wiggle. Then he stretched his wings. He was ready to take Propunzul and Prince Charming to the palace. Suddenly there was a noise and some rumbling coming from the witch's castle. You could hear a screeching sound. The witch was yelling out of the window in the tower where she had put Propunzul. "Get me out of here. That's not very nice of you mean children. You can't just leave me here all by myself."
Marlee jumped up and down and said, "Yes, yes. That's where that mean old lady needs to be. Good story Grandma Lu."

Grandma Lu laughed and said, "Well, thank you, but there is just a little bit more to the story. I think we have forgotten Propunzul's parents. Remember how sad they were when the witch took Propunzul away? Well they got very very lucky and one day they had another baby; a baby girl. Her name was..Marlee jumped in and said, "Let's call her Whittlee Jo just like my baby sister, okay?"
 That's just what Grandma Lu wrote in the Scrapbook because Grandma B had some pretty pictures of Marlee's baby sister, Whittlee Jo. They searched and found one with Marlee and Whittlee Jo. That picture was just perfect to go in their Scrapbook.
Then Grandma Lu said, "And they all lived happily ever after."

                                                    *******

That's the end of the Propunzul story written, and told by Marlee Ada and Grandma Lu with lots and lots of help from Marlee's Grandma B!

The Wicked Witch Catches Prince Charming

Marlee, Grandma B, and Grandma Lu were beginning to get excited. Their work was paying off. They had several pages finished in their Scrapbook about Propunzul and Freddie. They knew that Prince Charming had an idea. They decided that Prince Charming would go see Propunzul at night since the witch visited her during the day. He wanted to  meet the girl that sang such beautiful music. He loved music. When he was at home he played the piano. He thought maybe someday he would take Propunzul to his palace where he lived with his mother and father; the King and Queen. He just knew that they would love Propunzul. So he made plans to visit Propunzul that night. He took a nap in the afternoon so he wouldn't be so sleepy at night. He sure didn't want to fall asleep in the forest.

That evening Prince Charming walked deep into the forest to visit Propunzul. He called up to her, "Propunzul, lower down your hair for me." Soon beautiful golden hair came falling down to the ground. It didn't take Prince Charming long before he reached the window. When he climbed into the room where Propunzul was, she jumped and let out a little yell. She was expecting the witch. She was a little bit scared of Prince Charming. She had never seen anyone but the witch since the day that she was born.  Prince Charming said, "Oh, it's okay. I have been listening to your beautiful singing. I love music. May I visit you every night and sing with you? Maybe I can rescue you and take you to my parents' house. We live in a beautiful palace. I play the piano. You could sing and I could sing and play the piano too.

Pretty soon Propunzul began looking forward to Prince Charming's nightly visits. He was so much fun. They would sing with the birds and the little owl. They had room in the tower that could even dance a little bit.

Propunzul and Prince Charming didn't know that the wicked witch had been watching Prince Charming climb up to the window to visit Propunzul and sing. She called up to the window one day and said, "Propunzul, lower down your hair to me." Soon the beautiful golden hair was lowered to the ground. The wicked witch said, "I know that you have been dancing and singing with the young Prince Charming. You can no longer stay here." She cut off Propunzul's hair and tied it to a hook in the tower.

That night when Prince Charming called Propunzul to lower her hair it was the witch that lowered down the beautiful golden hair. Of course, Prince Charming 

didn't know that Propunzul was gone. So when he saw the witch he was so scared. The witch threw him out the window and sent him deep into the forest.

Prince Charming's fall had injured him. He couldn't walk or see very well. He got lost and couldn't find his way home, but he had a friend that heard and saw everything! Freddie! That's right. Freddie had indeed gotten bigger and stronger. He broke out of his place in the castle and flew over to Prince Charming. He said, "Get on my back. I will fly you to Propunzul. Then the two of you will be safe at your parents' palace."

Marlee said, "Grandma Lu, I was wondering when we were going to have Freddie save Prince Charming. Now everything is going to be alright."

Grandma Lu smiled and said, but Marlee, you forgot that the witch had turned Freddie into rocks. We have to have some more story and more pictures, right?"
"Oh yes, I forgot. Grandma B, do you have some more pictures? We are about done, but we have to have more pictures. Grandma Lu has a lot more writing to do. I feel sorry for Freddie. What is going to happen, Grandma Lu? Is that mean old lady witch going to catch Freddie helping the Prince? Oh, I just know that's what is going to happen, Is it? Is it?"

Marlee Wants A Baby Dragon On The Mini Farm

"I know what Prince Charming's idea was! He was going to see Freddie, wasn't he? I bet he is going to be Freddie's friend and he is going to rescue Propunzul. Have you got pictures, B? I think I know just how this story is going to end. Hurry, Grandma Lu. We need to get to the part where the witch gets gone!"
"Whoa! Slow down, Little One, I can't write as fast as you are talking. Okay, now what do you want me to write again? You want Prince Charming and Freddie to become friends. Okay, you and Grandma B find me some pictures. I will turn the page and start writing this while you are looking," said Grandma Lu.

"Here is an old picture of when she was just a kid. Do you want to use this one?", asked Marlee. "We probably should have put that one in sooner. What do you think? Shall we use it or throw it away?" Both Grandmas said, "No! Don't throw it away!" and then they laughed. It was time for a break. They had been working for about an hour. All three of them were getting silly.

"Is there more coffee and a cookie somewhere, B? I think Marlee and I could use a snack." Grandma B chuckled and said, "Seems to me like you are two of a kind; snackers." Grandma Lu and Marlee nodded their heads and walked out to the kitchen to see what there was to eat. When they got out to the kitchen, Grandma B said, "Marlee, I just love the picture you painted for Papa and me. Is it okay if I put it on the refrigerator for everyone to see? You did such a great job on it. As often as you and Grandma Lu get into this refrigerator you will get to see it a lot!" Oh how Marlee and Grandma Lu laughed. They didn't care. They wanted a snack.

Grandma B had started to decorate some cookies, but the two snackers said, "That's good enough. Let's eat them now. We are hungry from working hard."

Marlee was anxious to get back to the Scrapbook. So they went back into the Community Room. Grandma Lu started writing and had not told Marlee what she was writing about. Marlee didn't like that and told Grandma Lu that she needed to tell her what she was writing. "Well, Grandma Lu said, I am writing the part where Prince Charming goes to visit Freddie. We don't have any pictures of him where he isn't made out of rocks, do we?"
Grandma B had been going through some old magazines and said, "Yes, we do! Here's one a lady had sent to this magazine. Isn't he cute?" They all agreed that he would look cute in the Scrapbook, so Grandma B cut him out and helped Marlee put his picture in the book. "Aww, Marlee said, "He's so cute. Can we get one for the Mini Farm, B, please?" Then she giggled. They were having the best time making their Propunzul book.
If you listened very carefully you could hear Grandma B chuckle quietly, "Not in this lifetime, Marlee girl. Nope, not in this lifetime."

Prince Charming Has An Idea

The Scrapbook was going well. The three of them took a break and discussed what was going to happen next. Grandma Lu said, "Well, just like babies people get bigger and so do baby dragons." All three of them were laughing like crazy. Make believe was so much fun.

Grandma Lu wrote down the story just like Marlee was remembering what she had seen in that little tattered book. The witch found out that Marlee and Freddie had become friends. She saw Propunzul out by the stone part of her home talking to Freddie. She could not have that at all! So she put Propunzul in a tower way out in the forest. She wanted her far far away from Freddie. Freddie was her ticket to be the most famous and beautiful witch in the whole world, not just the forest.

Propunzul was indeed Freddie's friend. She waved goodbye to him just as that mean old witch took her away. Even though it made her sad to leave Freddie, she accepted her new home. The tower that Propunzul lived in had no doors. Even though Propunzul lived all by herself, she remained a very happy little girl. The birds would sing to her and she would sing their little songs right back to them and smile. Propunzul had a beautiful voice. All the animals in the forest loved her. At night time she would sing to the stars. The birds did too. There was a baby owl that lived in a tree close to the tower. He would sing to the stars at night with Propunzul. They were good friends.

One day when the wicked witch came to visit her she called, "Propunzul, let down your hair."  Propunzul did as the witch asked. Her hair had gotten so long that the witch could take hold of her long hair and climb up into the tower. She would take her food and water. She would visit, then she would climb down and go back to her house. She did this every day for a long long time.

 One day the King's son came walking through the forest. He was called Prince Charming. He loved music. He could hear beautiful singing coming from a long ways away. It sounded like it came from deep into the forest. As he walked the singing was getting louder. He was just enchanted with the sound of Propunzul's lovely voice. However, he was getting tired from all of his walking. He sat down by a tree. As he sat there resting he watched with amazement. He saw a witch call up at a little window, "Propunzul let down your hair." Much to the young Prince's amazement he saw beautiful blonde hair being lowered down to the ground. Then the witch started to crawl up that long hair and went into that window. Day after day the little prince walked into the forest and sat by the same tree. The witch would call out to Propunzul each day. He knew that the witch only went to visit Propunzul during the day. He had an idea...

Grandma B Thinks There Will Be Trouble In The Forest

Marlee and Grandma Lu were busy in the Community Room working on their book. Grandma B was there too offering suggestions and going through photos that everyone had given them to add to the Scrapbook of Propunzul.  They had gotten to the part where the wicked witch had taken the beautiful baby girl away from the sad parents. Remember Propunzul's daddy had taken lettuce from the witch's garden without asking so the witch had taken the baby away from them.
"The witch had taken the baby home with her and raised her well. She treated her just like a mom would have. She was growing into a beautiful little girl. She had blue eyes and golden hair. Her hair was growing very fast so the witch put her hair in braids. Propunzul's hair was beautiful, just like yours, Marlee," said Grandma Lu.

Marlee said, "Okay Grandma Lu, now get to the part about Freddie, the little dragon. Remember? That mean old witch turned him into rocks."

"Oh, that's right, Marlee. Well, you see Freddie's mama had pushed out her baby dragons from their nest just like mama birds do. When bird moms think their babies are ready to fly, they just push them out of the nest and away they go. They fly to the nearest tree. Well, Freddie wasn't quite so lucky. When his mom pushed him out of the nest. Boom! He didn't fly like he was supposed to. He fell down to the ground. When he landed he hurt his little wing and had to walk. Well, guess where he walked to? You are right! He walked right into that mean witch's yard. She looked out her window and said, "Aha! I will get you well, little dragon then you will fly me around. My old broomstick is about worn out. I will feed you full of food and your wing will get all better. You will grow big and strong and blow fire out of your mouth and scare people. I will be the Queen of the forest with you for my ride! Ha! I will wear flowers in my hair. Everyone will think I am beautiful."

 Grandma Lu was busy writing the story for Marlee. Grandma B was helping Marlee put the pictures in the book beside where Grandma Lu had written the words. Grandma Lu said, "Marlee, would you like to read this book someday?"  Marlee giggled and said, "I'm too little to read, but when I go to school I can read it. But it needs lots more pictures, don't you think?"

Grandma Lu chuckled and said, "Well, it certainly does. How are we doing over there, B? Have you got some more pictures to add?"
"Oh yes, we sure do. It's hard to choose which ones to add. Marlee, what do you think of this one? It's a picture of Propunzul when she was getting bigger. She is looking in the small window where the witch has put Freddie." Marlee agreed. So they put that picture in the book. They were keeping Grandma Lu really busy writing the story.

Grandma Lu said, "Marlee, are you thinking what I'm thinking? I think that Propunzul and Freddie are going to be friends someday. Marlee grinned and said, "Oh, I think so too. The witch isn't going to like that is she? Write that down, Grandma Lu!" They both laughed.

 Grandma B just shook her head and said, "I think there is going to be some trouble in the forest one of these days..."

Grandma Lu Keeps Her Promise

Marlee and Grandma B were out in the kitchen at Marleewood making bread pudding. Marlee loved to help bake and it was always a good time to visit with her Grandma B. Marlee wanted to know if Grandma Lu was ever going to come back. She wanted to get started writing that book! Grandma B chuckled and said, "Well, it takes awhile to get all the pictures together. Once you get the pictures all gathered up, then you have to start telling a little story to go with it, remember?"

Marlee nodded her head sadly and said, "Yes, I remember, but I sure do wish I could just know when she was coming to help me." About that time, the door opened to the back kitchen with a swoosh and a 'yoo hoo'! Grandma Lu came in loaded down with pictures and a great big old book that she called a Scrapbook. It was really really old. She also had a brand new one under her arm. She had kept her promise to Marlee, hadn't she?
Grandma Lu said, "Marlee let's go to the Community Room because there are long tables in there. We need some room to do this, okay?"
Of course, Grandma B followed them in there. She had lots of pictures to add to the book too.
Grandma Lu showed Marlee her old scrapbook and how she had put pictures in it when she was a little girl. Then she opened up the new one that she had for Marlee. The inside was completely blank. She pointed to the first page and said, "Okay, Marlee, this is where we start with your book; 'Propunzul and Freddie'.
"Shall we start with Once upon a time? Or do you want to start it differently?"

Marlee kind of knew what she wanted to say, but was still too young to say it.  She wanted to have Grandma Lu start the story for her. Just as Grandma Lu was going to start writing, Marlee said, "Well there was this big castle and a rock dragon called Freddie. I was little when I first read that book, now I am a big kid. Remember that mean old witch lady? I want you to help me fix what she did. I want Freddie to be able to fly again."
Grandma Lu said, "Okay, let's begin our story, ready?" Marlee nodded her head so fast she got dizzy.
"Once upon a time there was a mommie and daddie that wanted a baby really bad. They had been married a long time and still they didn't have a baby. Then one morning they were so happy. They were laughing and dancing around their little house. They were going to have a baby!

They lived in a cute little house that was next door to a mean old witch that lived in a small castle. She had a garden. The lady could see the mean old witch's garden from her window. Every day she would look at the beautiful lettuce that was growing in the garden. One day she asked her husband if he would go get her some of that beautiful lettuce out of the witch's garden. He told her that he couldn't do that because it didn't belong to them. He didn't trust that witch anyway. She had been known to do some bad things since they had lived next door to her.
His wife begged him everyday for some of that lettuce.
Finally one night he sneaked over to the witch's garden and picked some of the lettuce. He made it home safely without the witch seeing him. Oh his wife just loved that lettuce! She ate it all gone really fast. The next day his wife asked him to get her more of that delicious lettuce. Her husband refused because he was afraid of the the witch. His wife refused to eat. All she wanted was more of that wonderful lettuce. Day after day went by. His wife refused to eat anything. All she wanted was the witch's lettuce. He became afraid that his wife was going to get very sick so once again he sneaked over to the witch's garden and picked some lettuce. But this time the wicked witch caught him. "Aha! I caught you picking my lettuce. You shall pay for this. You will give me your baby when it is born. If you don't I will turn you into rocks!

So after the baby girl was born the wicked witch came into the little house and said, "Hand that baby over to me! She is beautiful. I am going to name her Propunzul!"

Marlee's Memories About A Little Book

 Behind Grandma Lu's easy chair in the sitting room at Marleewood there was a little tattered book. It was very old and one could tell that little sticky fingers had read the words and looked at the pictures many many times. Probably most of the children that had looked at these pictures were too young to read the words. I'm sure that grownups had read children the words in this little book at some time or another a long long time ago. Where it came from no one knew. But Marlee had seen the little book. If you remember some time ago, she had grown tired while she was telling the story of Propunzel and Freddie to Grandma Lu and her
Grandma B. The little book had fallen on the floor and no one had noticed.

Over time the book had been bounced around and kicked under the chair by little feet, brooms, toys and a vacuum cleaner. There it lay with only memories of it's
pictures in a little girl's mind. Marlee considered that the little book was her book. But she hadn't seen it for a long time. She had memories of a little rock dragon that had gotten himself into trouble.  She had said that a wicked witch had turned him to rocks. She did that because he was trying to help Propunzul escape from the castle. There was a big castle and a little castle.


When Grandma Lu had told Marlee that it would be fun to write a book with lots of pictures in it, Marlee had been so excited. She wanted to make a book with pictures about Freddie and Propunzel just like she had seen in that little book. Grandma Lu had promised her that she could even have her name on it. She called it a funny name. She called it a Scrapbook. She said it had lots of pictures in it and would grow up with her. Marlee had never heard of that kind of book.

 It had been several days since Marlee had seen Grandma Lu. She was so anxious to get started on the book. When Marlee closed her eyes she could just see that little dragon. Oh she loved him. But she was very sad that he couldn't move just because of that mean old witch.  That mean witch lady even had a glass ball with lightning in it. She got so mad at Freddie! Boom! She turned him into rocks.
She was going to ask Grandma Lu if they could write a book where Freddie could move his wings again. Oh that would be so much fun. She just knew that Grandma Lu would help her.

She remembered that there was a mama and daddy in that story that wanted a baby very badly. Marlee said, "Just like my mama and daddy. They wanted a baby too, but they got a noisy one." She giggled and thought, "She's not so noisy anymore. Everybody says we are going to be good friends someday. I sure hope so. I think I will put Whitlee Jo in my book. That would be good."

 "Hmm,  I can remember something about lettuce in the witch's garden. I am going to have to ask Grandma Lu. I can't wait to get started on our book."

The Scrapbook: Propunzul And Freddie

 Grandma Lu was thinking about Marlee and her imaginary Freddie, the little stone dragon. She shook her head and grinned and thought, "I need to tell her a story about Freddie before I tell her the Rapunzel story or as she calls it Propunzul. She said that the wicked witch had put Propunzul in a rock castle and turned Freddie, the little dragon into rocks too. I'm sure I could tell her a little story about Freddie.  Let me see, what did Marlee say? She said that the wicked witch said 'acra dabba' and the little dragon turned into a bunch of rocks. Okay, let me think of a fun story for her the next time I go to Marleewood.
She is so much fun and loves stories. Maybe some of the other Marleewood

children will drop in. It's been awhile since I have seen them."

In a few days Grandma Lu drove by Marleewood and saw Grandma B's car. "Hopefully B has Marlee with her. I hope so. I have the Freddie story in my mind. I probably better tell it before I forget what I made up." She shook her head and grinned to herself. She knocked at the back kitchen door. Grandma B said, "I saw you drive in. Come on in and have a cup of coffee. I bet I can find something to snack on." Grandma Lu grinned and got herself a cup of coffee. While she was getting herself settled, she asked her friend if Marlee was with her today. Grandma B said, "Yes, she is. She's in the sitting room again going through those fairy tale books. She is probably making up some doozie stories in there. That girl has so much fun with those books she found in the Daycare Room. I'm glad to see how much interest she has in books."
Grandma Lu said, "Look B, she has Snow White, The Wizard of Oz and Rapunzel in there. I'm going to have a little fun with her if you don't care. Remember she was telling us about Freddie the Dragon? Well, I made up a little story about him, then I'll tell her the story of Rapunzel. She sure loves Rapunzel doesn't she? You know there are so many dragon stories, but most of them are for grownups or have been made into movies, so I thought maybe I could tell a little story about a little dragon that had gotten into just a little bit of trouble. What do you think? Grandma B just grinned and said, "Go for it, Girl." and sipped her coffee.

Soon Grandma Lu wandered into the Sitting Room and there was Marlee with several books. This time she was sitting on the floor looking at them. She looked up and grinned when she saw Grandma Lu. "Are you going to tell me the Propunzul story today?" Grandma Lu said, "Well, first of all you told me about Freddie and that he couldn't rescue Propunzul because the wicked witch had turned him into rocks, right?" Marlee nodded her head yes. "I saw it in a book. I saw the pictures. There was a little girl with golden hair like me and a little rock dragon." Grandma Lu was one to believe little ones for the most part so she said, "How about if we tell the story together and make it into a book? You could even have your name on it. Would you like that?" Marlee grinned and said, "Yeah, that would be fun to have my own book. Can we call it Propunzul?" Grandma Lu smiled and said, "That we can, Marlee girl. That we can."

Grandma Lu had an idea. "Marlee, how about if we get different pictures of you together and make a book called a scrapbook? When we get it all done it will tell a story that you can look at even when you are old." Marlee laughed and said, "Like you are, Grandma Lu?" Grandma Lu said, "You got it!" They laughed together and started to make plans for their book. They were going to ask Marlee's mama and Grandma B for help with some of the pictures.
Children and some grownups had started to come into Marleewood to see what was going on today. There was even a new friend that had come to visit. His name was Spencer. We love to have new friends, don't we?
Grandma Lu said, "Hi, everybody. Marlee and I are getting ready to make a book out of pictures. Would anyone like to draw or color a picture for me? Then we could put them altogether and make a little book. Or we could put them out in the kitchen to make it look nice. Whatever you would like to do. What do you think?"
Some of the children were already going out to the Community Room to do some painting and coloring. How fun. I see Noah, Hudson and Emma are already very busy.  Marleewood's kitchen was going to look very nice indeed.
                                             

Marlee Asks A Lot Of Questions

The King and Prince Charming went to the castle and had a visit. They decided that they were too young to get married, but the King said that they could play in a cute little house that he would build for them in the woods. While they were in the castle the servants would care for them.
The families were gathered together and they all agreed that they could play peacefully in the woods. They would make sure that no harm would come to them. They loved both Snow White and Prince Charming.


The news spread far and wide. The animals were so happy. They got together and planted flowers around the cabin. It looked so beautiful.
The gnomes had gone home to Lady Cheryl's house.
Jace and Jaydon were once more in charge of the garden at Lady Cheryl's house. They were on the deck as they should be protecting the plants, the gnomes, and the gardens.

One day one of the little gnomes toppled off the deck. When he fell he chipped a tiny bit of his hat. Lady Cheryl picked it up and dusted it off. She thought, "Hmm, I wonder how that gnome fell off the deck. Jace and Jaydon are usually very good about keeping the forest animals away from my home." She just shook her head and put it back on the deck by the flowers with Garder, the garden gnome. He stood proudly by the old shoe with the hen and chicks planted in it. He gave a little smirk and remembered the tiny bit of magic plant that he had slipped the Court Provider in the Castle kitchen. "That had been fun," he thought. "I'm sure glad that Prince Charming and the King got along so well. Snow White and Prince Charming will have such fun in that little play house in the forest. But I'm glad to be home again safe and sound."
"Well, Marlee, what did you think of that story?" asked Grandma Lu. "That was a story that ended up with everyone being happy wasn't it?"

Marlee said, "Yes, it was a good one, but I want to hear about 'Propunzul', Grandma Lu. You keep forgetting about her. I don't understand these fairy
tales. Everybody keeps looking for Prince Charming! How many are there anyway?"
Grandma Lu chuckled and said, "Well, Marlee in the land of make believe there can be as many Prince Charmings as we want. How about if I help you tell the "Propunzul" story another day. I promise we shall hear about Freddie, the little dragon too, okay?"
Marlee said, "Okay, but don't forget! Oh and Grandma Lu how come that elf fell off the deck?"
Grandma Lu smiled and said, "You know there might be a story about that someday. Bye, Marlee. See you in a few days."