Forest Fiction Fan Club: Cozy Forest Fantasies

Gather round, green readers! One of my resolutions for twenty-twenty-forest is to read more fiction. I have been in a bit of a reading rut lately and I work at a library for crying out loud! I remember when I was younger and would come home from work every night with a huge stack of YA fantasy and read until I fell asleep. These days, I sneak scraps of interesting looking nonfiction books I find at work. Rarely does anything new "hook" me. I suppose after reading so much, I got bored with the same old literary tropes. And don't even get me started on the sorry state of modern fiction. Often, I judge a book by its cover, pick it up and try to get into it and hate it! Then, I discovered an emerging new genre called cozy fantasy. Fantasy fiction set in soft, slow-paced worlds where the focus is more on enjoying life's simple pleasures and relationships. Here are three recent reads I actually enjoyed...

Hakumei & Mikochi: Tiny Little Life in the Woods by Takuto Kashiki is a manga series that follows the adventures of two friends in the forest as they spend their days exploring, foraging, cooking and working. The story starts with the characters trying to haul a wooden dresser into their treehouse apartment and ends with a ride on the back of a mythical bird. This odd couple goes about the woods and meet many friends along the way. This series was also made into an anime series which looks even more lush in color!

For fans of: The Borrowers, Little House in the Big Woods, and Wind in the Willows

Eva Evergreen: Semi-Magical Witch by Julia Abe is a children's coming of age novel about an apprentice witch who must go through a trial to prove her magical might. This adventure appeals to those who love a classic quest and is filled with cozy characters and animal companions. Fall in love with the quaint seaside town of Auteri as Eva must do good deeds for the townsfolk. The worldbuilding creates an accessible entryway to this fantasy world. 

For fans of: Harry Potter, The Worst Witch, and Witch Hat Atelier

After the Forest by Kell Woods is a fairy tale retelling of Hansel and Gretel all grown up and trying to make a living in their small hamlet. When Greta discovers the secret recipe for the witch's gingerbread she starts to bake it and sell it to support the family while uncovering dark secrets about her past and the forest. While I normally abhor literary retellings, this adult novel is well-written, relatable and manages to avoid the fantasy trope of over-the-top worldbuilding that I can't keep up with. 

For fans of: Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Goose Girl, and Ella Enchanted

Cottagecore Cartoon: Moomin

"Here they are for one and all, the Moomins are about to call,

Come and sit down here with me, they’re here for you on your tv, they are the Moomins..."

Meet Moomin, star of the animated series from 1990. A cute and cozy cartoon about the adventures of the troll-like Moomins in their pastoral paradise of Moomin Valley. Based on the books by artist Tove Jansson, the Moomin series has been a cultural phenomenon for over fifty years. The beloved children's books and animated series embody the Finnish concept of mökkielämä, all about spending summers in vacation cottages, close to nature and the sea.

Most of the early episodes are on YouTube, a rare trove of treasure! The animation was done by a Japanese studio, and there are anime influences in the plot and art style. The episodes offer a slice of life in the Moomin household, a cozy and slow-paced space where anything could happen. The nature scenes are top-notch feats of animation, as you will feel the rustling breeze, the flow of the river, the pitter -patter of the rain and the calm ocean rolling by...

Although I had read an article about Janssen earlier in the year, it wasn't until a friend sent me a meme that I really started researching the books and movies based on Moomin. The meme showed the character Snufkin meditating near a river. I was immediately intrigued by this character and looked the show up...

The character of Snufkin is a free-spirited wanderer with disdain for authority. He leads a nomadic lifestyle camping through the valley, always going on adventures with his friends. Interestingly enough, there is a video game coming out in March 2024, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley. 

So tune in and join the fun with Moomintroll, Snufkin, Little My and all the friends for another peaceful day in the valley...There are a grand total of 78 episodes to enjoy, as well as a feature-length film Comet in Moominland. Not to mention, a brand new CGI series, Moominvalley that was recently released.

Perfect for fans of: Little Bear, My Little Pony 1986, and 

Rilakkuma and Kaoru.

2024EST is Going to be the Best!

 

Happy New Year, friends of the forest from far and wide. I recently attended a winter solstice ritual led by a pagan priest of earth. While there, I was struck with a vision for the new year 2024. Twenty-twenty forest. The year I will see the forest with 20/20 vision. The year I act on my green goals I have spent over a decade dreaming of. This year, I vow to live life to the forest, get back to my roots and turn over a new leaf! 

To live life to the forest, er, fullest one must walk the woodland path. Take time out every day to reconnect with nature through hikes, meditation and forest bathing. Read forest fiction or indulge in green gaming. Enjoy eating forest foods and wearing cottagecore clothes. Do the things that make you happy.

I want to write in the woods and find forest treasures in the trees to create crafts to sell in my shop. Go foraging in the fields and make herbal teas with what I find. I want to run through the woods in the morning and drink tea in a treehouse as I overlook the park and feed the squirrels. I want to get back to my roots, back to the forest...

It is time to start living deliberately, simply. A time to walk with fawn's footsteps upon the earth, A time for all of us to go greener, get leaner, cleaner and a whole lot less meaner.  May 2024EST bring out your best! 

Weekend in the Woods

 

What a wonderful weekend in the woods! I had a rare Friday off work, so we drove to the thrift stores where I found the perfect dresser for ten bucks. Knock on wood! 

For New Year's Eve, I helped set up the Time Traveller's Ball at the Church of the Guardian Angel. While there, I discovered an enchanted library, where I read all about magical beasts such as the peryton. The peryton is a half-stag, half-bird. 

Finally, I had some relaxing fun as I beat the game Picontier, a cozy farming sim set in a post apocalyptic future made by the team that brought Fairune. The game's charming pixel art reminds me of playing the original Pokemon or Legend of Zelda. Picontier has a sense of wonder and awe as you explore the island and discover new things ...

The Spring Fairy Ball

 

Oh what a night! The annual Spring Fairy Ball last weekend was held at St Johns Church which is one block from my apartment. I often go there to visit the grotto and consult my guardian gargoyles...

I spent the day relaxing and enjoying the spring sunshine, went for a walk to forage four leaf clovers, had a picnic in the Remington village green then came home to read fantasy fairy tales. As evening approached, I began to get dressed up in my forest finery. A green gown, gold leaf necklace, a lucky emerald ring...

photo by Bidlack Photography

When it was time to go to the ball I picked out a few fairy books from my collection to donate to the Little Free Library at the church as my contribution to the magic. After all, I am the local fairy for this church.

When I arrived I felt as if I had wandered onto the set of a fantasy film. It was a rococo cottagecore dream! Everyone was dressed in their best. Young fairies wandered around with silver serving platters of cheese, strawberry crepes, beet pickled eggs, tea sandwiches and other delicacies.

photo by Dave Schiabble

There were mushroom people, a strawberry vampire, a young hero, forest fairies, fellow forest queens, green men...

It was a wondered evening of dancing and making new friends. I hope to see you all there at the next Fairy festival!

photo by Dave Schiabble

The St. Patrick's Day Parade

 

Today was the traditional annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Mt. Vernon. For over sixty five years, various Irish groups gather and march down Charles street.

I packed a picnic with pizzazz and headed to Monument South Park with green vegetable sandwiches, chips, and a collection of cookies. There was a woman selling green checkerboard shortbread squares and I grabbed a matcha cookie from Dooby's Cafe.

The "trooping of the fae" continued with my friends from the Baltimore Faerie Festival Nina Amaya and Cassandra the Hair Fairy.

After the parade, local Irish pub Mick O'Sheas was the place to be, although at the James Joyce, famous fiddler Sarah Stepanik was performing with her band the ShamRouges.

Meet the Mushroom Masters

We headed midtown to Mt. Vernon's Hotel Indigo after work for the opening reception of Kevin Hailey's 'The Lit Hyphae Trade', a series of paintings inspired by mycelium networks...

The ongoing exhibit is on display until April 13th 2023 in the lobby of the hotel. It is thanks to the efforts of Amy Cavanaugh Royce from Maryland Art Place that the hotel will be hosting a series of rotating exhibits this year.

We chatted with the artist about his painting process and ideas behind these pieces,  Postencephalitic Swells Out There and Musical Hallucinations Virtually Nonstop. Here is what he had to say...

"The Lit Hyphae Trade is a series of paintings concerning the movements and dynamics of mycelium. Hyphae are the branches in mycelium; a fungal network that is found everywhere from our guts to the deep woods. Mycelium acts as a communication for trade of nutrients and sustainer of life. The hyphae forms have proven to be an inspiring subject in my painting both in form and concept. The assumed chaos of the structure of mycelium under a microscope displays an eerily similar gesture to my paint strokes. I have unconsciously adapted this technique within the single dimensional paintings in this show. I have also begun to believe in cosmic mycelium further depicted in the paintings with rich cerebral-like color galaxies.

It is known that mycelium has adapted a unique “barter system” for nutrients with which the various plants and organisms are communicating through, thus posing mycelium itself as language. Mycelium as a language never displays a one-sided front. This approach to communication and bartering allows the plants the nutrients needed through a holistic and balanced behavioral model. I believe this possible Lingua Franca, established for the underground fungal world, could provide an example of how humans may achieve a more symbiotic and connected relationship with other earthly organisms, and ultimately ourselves."

We further discussed the concept of mushrooms in the cosmos, and the possibility of alien fungi invasions, a la "The Last of Us". 

Thanks to the efforts of the organizers at MAP, this eco-art event was a smashing success, with champagne flowing freely and artists, musicians, city planners and librarians gathered to appreciate mushroom art.