The Patchwork House

I-star lived in a house. Her house was no ordinary house. Her house was a patchwork house.
The walls were made of earth, clay, stones, straw and anything else that would plug in the holes.
The roof was made of different slabs of corrugated iron, plastic and tarps.
The windows were bare with patchwork curtains hung for shade.
The floor was wood, covered with plaited mats made from flax and straw.
Her furniture was carved tree stumps and odds and ends collected from the neighbourhood and local dump.
It was home and I-star loved her home. No one could see her home from the quiet street. Her home was hidden by tall and bushy trees. When the flowers bloomed her home smelt like soft perfume.
Down the back yard, of I-stars home, was a trail which led to a little sandy beach.
Today I-star was busy carrying buckets of shells up the hill to where she was working on a path made by crushed shells. It looked very colourful. I-star had built a rock pool where a lovely frog came to sing. She grew a bamboo forest. Where she had created a tree house up high in the bamboo. I-stars bamboo tree house was the perfect spot to sit and meditate.
I-stars cat moon beam loved to curl up anywhere I-star was. Moon beam adored I-star.
As I-star rested with some nettle tea, Moon beam came to sleep on I-stars lap, enjoying I-stars warmth.
The day was cool and sunny. Spring was promising to bloom soon. The sea air felt refreshing as I-star sipped her tea. Twinkling in a tree branch a light caught I-stars eye. I-star put her tea down and climbed up the tree. Up in the branches was a crow's nest. In the nest was a huge clear blue sapphire ring.
"Why the cheeky bird". Thought I-star, wondering where it came from.
"Now what shall we do with this?"
Just then a nasty screech of a bird swooped dive bombing and flapping her wings in I-stars face. "Get-away!" I-star yelled. Moon beam leaped to grab the bird only knocking the squawker hard to the ground. The bird lay dead. I-star buried the body amongst the roots of that same tree where the crows nest and ring was found.
I-star took the ring to the lost and found at the police station in town.
Two full moon times past and no one had claimed the ring. It was I-stars to keep. What should she do with this beautiful ring? I-star wondered.
Windows and more durable walls I-star felt would be nice and maybe a goat or sheep, or a bicycle and cart. A whole new world opened up to I-star. The world of money and material wealth.
I-star lived a simple happy life; her heart was in her creations. There was really little she needed with money.
Two hills away due east was a crystal shop. Owned by a friend. I-star decided she would purchase herself one large pure clear crystal to reflect rainbows in the sunlight of her tree house.
I-star was up before the sun to follow its rising over the hills to her friends shop. It was a brisk hardy hike. The sun was in the south when I-star reached the village, with the crystal shop.
Amethyst was delighted to see I-star. They hugged and spoke gaily.
Amethyst showed I-star all around her shop. Showing her latest stones dug from caves in various parts round the globe. Rose incense calmed an atmosphere of gentle peace though out the shop.
I-star felt drawn to a round ball of clear crystal nested in a wooden box, on the window sill. A light beam shone through the crystal reflecting a bright rainbow on the floor.
I-star felt joyous her friend was glad. Together they feasted on I-stars lunch; then I-star had to bid farewell and follow the setting sun in the west home, journeying with a new special crystal.
It was dark when I-star arrived home. There was no Moon in the starry sky. Moon beam was strangely not around to greet I-star. I-star wasn't too concerned as Moon beam often went out in the night.
I-star was tired and snuggled into her hammock and slept well.
Awake to the morning I-star went up to her tree house with the new crystal. She opened the box on the window sill to let the sun light shine on the crystal. Then kneeled on the floor to her dandelion tea. The tea was warming I-star felt very relaxed. She took some deep slow breathes and drifted in to a light peaceful space.
Moon beam entered her mind "where was she?' I-star wondered. Then I- star saw an image of Moon beam in a dark place cozy and resting, around her were seven adorable kittens. I-star saw large fur paws and gorgeous kitten faces huddled to her Moon beam. I-star slowly opened her eyes and smiled.
I-star climbed down out of the tree house, raced up the shelly path to her house, into the kitchen and gently opened the broom closet. There behind the door snuggled amongst rags, sacks and old papers was Moon beam and seven little lovable kittens.
Moon beam looked up at I-star with a beautiful beaming smile. The proud mum.
I-star grinned a merry grin and welcomed the new family into her home and heart. I-star found some dry flax she had hung and weaved a huge round basket, She filled it with soft cotton pillows. For the kittens and their mumma.
The kittens stayed close to their mumma, their mumma followed close to I-star and I-star was always at home in her little patchwork house.
 

Picture by :Devi