The Revised Version

Once Stella (for that is the maiden's name) arrived at her home she noticed a visitor was at her house for there was a strange horse tied to the hitching post outside her door. It was a beautiful, sleek, black mare which was nicely groomed, and was wearing an expensive saddle.

Curious, she slipped in the back door and made her way to her bedroom to change into something more suitable for company. Setting her basket of flowers on her bed, she turned to her wardrobe. Opening the doors, she examined her dresses, trying to find a nice one that would work for company. She only had a few dresses, so deciding was not that hard.

She finally chose a pretty green dress; the nicest one she owned. Stella guessed the visitor was a man from her father's business. Her father always wanted her to look nice when he had company. It was odd though, for her father had not mentioned having anyone over like he usually would.

From her bedroom she could hear her father's deep laughter. As noiselessly as a cat with velvet paws she walked down the little hall leading to the parlor, before going in she paused to listen behind the closed parlor door for what the conversation might be about.

To her horror she heard a young man talking about her."It is of your lovely daughter that I have come, sir. The stranger said. Stella pressed her ear to the door so she could better hear what the young man was saying. "I have been interested in her for quiet some time now, though I doubt she knows who I am. I would like to request her hand in marriage. I am not a poor man, as you well know, but I am sure I could make her extremely happy."

"I must confess that Stella has no dowry. It has been a long concern of mine that no man would want to wed my daughter because of it. If you are still interested in her, even without the profit of the dowry would have provided, I will permit you to marry her, though you must promise to take the greatest care of her, for she has been the greatest comfort to me during these hard times, and my only joy in life since her mother passed away five years ago. If any harm should come to her, you have my word as her father that you will regret the day you were born and wish you never set eyes on my daughter."
"This cannot be happening!" Stella though as she leaned her head against the doorpost and tried to collect her thoughts.
"I don't want to marry someone I don't even know and who has never even talked to me!" Immediately the bouquet and love not flashed through her head. Could the man in the parlor be the one who left the note in the woods for her? Changing gears she again listened to the conversation in the parlor.

"All right, it is settled then." She heard her father say. The noise of wooden chairs scraping on the bare tile floors as the two of them stood up reminded Stella that she wasn't supposed to be listening to the conversation. "Yikes! I better get out of here!" Stella quietly rushed out the front door as quietly as she could. "Oh bother! Where can I hide? She quickly looked around until her eyes met her old childhood hiding spot. In a flash she scrambled up the large maple tree just outside. Although she was old enough to be married she still loved to hide away in this lofty bower. "From here I can see who came to ask my hand in marriage and still not be seen."

On not being seen Stella was very mistaken because she hadn't climbed high enough so a portion of her dress was hanging down like a little flag to where she was hiding. "Thank you very much sir!" She heard the visitor say as he started down the path to his horse. She didn't recollect ever seeing the tall, dark haired, stranger before. From her leafy perch she could see that he was extremely pleased with himself; there was a spring in his step and he was whistling a merry tune as he untied his horse from the hitching post. But glancing up he saw Sella's dress hanging from the tree....


Written by
~Lady Florimel~
Again special thanks to JS for the lovely help in revising my story!!
I would love any more suggestions for this story!

I would highly recommend checking out Above Rubies. It is an awesome blog!!!

The note in the flower bouquet

A young maiden could be seen making her way through the crowded village. She was dressed in peasant's clothes and over her arm was a large basket.
She wove her way through all the people selling their goods. Once through the crowded streets, she traveled down a dirt road until she came to a very old forest. Glad to be away from the loud market she began to sing in the solitude of the country. The sun flickered through the tall, waving trees, making merry little patterns on the moss covered ground. In the leafy canopy above her, the birds seemed to join in on her joyful tune.
Finally she reached her destination. It was a small meadow mostly covered in wild flowers. She began to pick quantities of flowers, placing them in her basket. When she was finally satisfied she started her way back home, but glancing up she saw a bouquet of flowers placed in a tree with a note attached to it. On closer examination she noticed that her name was written on it in beautiful handwriting. She took the note down from the tree and opened it inside was written,
"True love I do so ask of thee. Oh, please just answer my humble plea!"
Looking around her she didn't see anyone who may have left the note; there were only birds lively chirping around her. Who left the bouquet and love note? She pondered this as she journeyed home.....

Leave a comment on what you think should happen next, or who her secret admirer should be.
(Special thanks to Jumbo Shrimp for helping me get this story straight!)

The last day in a skirt!

Today is the last day I shall be wearing a skirt for the Feminine Challenge. I actually think I could keep wearing my skirt for a long time! I've had SO much fun with this!

Friday I went to a friend's graduation party with my family.
And on Saturday I went to a wedding. I helped deliver every one's salads, Elizabeth, KK, and Jumbo Shrimp helped too. It was a very fun job! Except you would have to interrupt people to tell them that "You can eat the carnations." Other then that it was great! When I go to weddings and things like that,
I love to help, I feel more at home serving instead of being served.

Other then these few things, my life has been pretty boring lately. When I get back from our trip in two weeks I will have much more interesting things to talk about! Until then I guess that is all.

~Lady Florimel~

Psalm 34

Random things happening

This week I am doing this Feminin Chalenge, along with some friends. What you have to do is wear a skirt for a week and do your hair different and wear different jewelry each day. It is actually really fun! The only thing is that is is rather hard to ride I bike in a skirt. But that is okay.

This morning I got up at 6:00 to go for a walk with some friends. When I first looked out our little window in our room (I share a bedroom with Elizabeth in the basement) I despondently fell back in my bed, for it looked like rain and I didn't want to get up. :)
But once I got up and went outside ( after laying in bed for those five minutes I felt I needed :)
I realized how very glad I was to get my sleepy self out of bed, for it turned into a very pretty morning.

Yesterday I enjoyed chasing my friend and sister around the yard with the watering can. How those pretty "flowers" did scream! :P
They didn't get a long enough "drink" so I had the garden hose assist me in fully watering them.
But, oh! How dreadful revenge is! I definitely got repaid for "just watering the flowers."
It was a lot of fun though!

Lies and Promises

Have you ever had the feeling that you are useless, unworthy, or here for nothing? I have.
But my friends these are lies! We ALL are here in this world, at this time, for a purpose! God has
a special plan for everyone of us!

These reassurances have been SO helpful to me!! They are TRUE promises.

I am accepted
Romans 15:7

I am God's child
John 1:12,13

I am Christ's friend
John 15:12-17

I have been justified
Romans 5:1

I have been bought with a price; I belong to God
1 Corinthians 6:19,20

I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 2:17,18

I have been redeemed and forgiven of ALL my sins
Colossians 1:13,14

I am secure in the Lord
Proverbs 3:19-26

I am free from condemnation
Romans 8:1,2

I am assured that all things work together for a good
Romans 8:28-30

I cannot be separated from the love of God
Romans 8:35-39

I am born of God and the evil one CANNOT touch me
1 John 5:18-2o

A boring post :)

What have I done lately?? I know I have done many things this week but I really cannot think what they are??? Yesterday we went to a friend's house for lunch, because it was his birthday.
He and his wife are like grandparents to us, they are really kind. And on the fourth of July we went to some friend's house to play games. Then we went to watch fireworks. I personally think that it was a better show last year, but that is okay. Yesterday I also washed our dog. She gets dirty way to fast ;)

Today Elizabeth, Emily, Kirsten, Katie, Karisa and I walked to Skelly's. And when we got there it was closed! How very disappointing it was to walk all that way and have it closed! And Emily was going to treat us all to doughnuts! Oh well, We will just have to go another time:)

Sorry I cannot think of anything more interesting to write about:)

~Lady Florimel~