Naturally, I wanted to feature Otis Munkenheimer, so I first thought of just placing one of my photos inside for a decorative little refrigerator magnet. Well, as is usually the case with me, a simple project evolved into a time consuming and tedious undertaking. After cutting out different photos into the right sized circle and than placing the photo inside the lid of the tin with a dimensional glaze, I decided once they were dry, to line the inside of the lid with a faux suede fabric. Once that was complete, I lined the bottom of the tins with a thin layer of cork. Okay, we are now two days into this refrigerator magnet project. Clearly, one does not need refrigerator magnets that are lined with faux suede and cork, right?
By this time, I am thinking, why do I do this? I am truly crazy to spend so much time on a darn refrigerator magnet. Can you guess what happened next? Yep, I started thinking, "I must put something inside these cute little tins".
And that was just the beginning of my trouble. This morning, my husband and I were talking about this and he suggested peanuts. I thought, "Well that would be cute, but I must tell people why the peanuts are much more than just peanuts". I had started working on a little story the night before and so ended up finishing it this morning to incorporate a reason for peanuts in these tins.
There you have it. What started out as refrigerator magnets are now wonderful little tins that not only contain peanuts and a picture of the Munkenheimer; but, they also contain a little scroll that tells the following story:
Here is the story:
Just beyond Wood Haven past the row of tall cedar trees and slightly West of the large Hickory Nut tree where Theodore W. Squirrel lives, there is a magical place where strange and wonderful things happen. This place is known far and wide as “The Wood’s Secret Garden”. Legend has it that if one is very, very quiet and is willing to wait a few hours just sitting and observing God’s creation, without looking at their smart phone (okay that was not part of the original story)—Now, where was I? Oh yes! As I was saying; Legend has it that if one is very quiet and willing to sit for at least an hour, especially when the sun is first coming up in the morning, they may actually get to see me. I am Otis Munkenheimer. The Chipmunk from the Wood’s Secret Garden.
From my point of view, one of the strangest things that I have seen in the Wood’s Secret Garden is a lady who wears funny green rubber boots and has a black box attached to her face.
This same lady will sit for hours near the pile of peanuts that miraculously appear each day. I have found that when I decide to thrill her by coming over to the peanuts, that black box, with the giant glass eyeball, starts making a rapid clicking noise and I think that lady actually holds her breath the entire time I am present.
Over time, I have found that if I decide to entertain this lady by playing with the peanuts, more peanuts seem to appear. You should see me. I will take a large peanut and shove it into my right cheek, shake my head a bit, deciding it is just too long for that side, and slowly pull it all the way out and move it over to the left side. If I repeat this several times, I can see that lady smile and “click, click, click” that black box goes. I suppose it also amuses me, as well.
I am not sure how that lady even knew my name; but, as I mentioned, strange and wonderful things happen in the Wood’s Secret Garden.I have grown quite fond of this lady, who now just calls me “The Munkenheimer”. She tells me that one day she will write a story about my adventures, especially the one about that stormy day that I had found an old wooden row boat that had washed up near the underground cavern where I live and set out with hope of finding Flat Rock Island where Chief Red Feather lives.
Who knows if she will ever really write any stories. That is why I insisted that she at least let me introduce myself and allow me to share just a few of those peanuts that I have stashed away for winter. After all, I have hoarded so many that I would have to live three lifetimes to even make a dent in the supply.
Perhaps, if you place these peanuts in a sheltered quiet place in your garden, I will be able to find them and get them back again! Hahaha. Just kidding. Perhaps you will find your very own Chipmunk and start your very own adventures.
Signing out for now,
Otis Munkenheimer
(The Chipmunk from “The “Wood’s Secret Garden”)
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I plan on selling these adorable little gifts at the craft fair, but would be happy to sell them to anyone interested before the fair. They will be priced at $9.99 each.
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