Woodgnome
The Goyt is a charming wooded area alongside the boathouse at Carr Mill Dam, and, deep within it, lives a rather peculiar resident. Locals call him The Woodgnome Man. But he’s not your regular woodgnome, the kind you might see in a cartoon perhaps. No, The Woodgnome Man is a six foot tall, guitar-playing, mushroom-munching, chocolate muffin-devouring creature with a penchant for serenading the forest with his whimsical tunes.
The Woodgnome Man’s home is a large but cozy burrow on the banks of a babbling stream that winds its way through the Goyt. His front door is a guitar shaped piece of bark, adorned with a tiny brass knocker shaped like a mushroom. Inside, his home is a delightful mess of musical instruments, mushroom caps, and muffin crumbs. The walls are lined with shelves holding an impressive collection of guitars, each one more unique than the last. There’s the acorn guitar, the pinecone ukulele, and his prized possession, the mushroom mandolin.
Every morning, The Woodgnome Man wakes up to the gentle sound of the stream and the chirping of birds. He stretches his arms, grabs his favourite guitar, and steps outside to greet the day. His first stop is always the mushroom patch, where he picks the freshest, juiciest mushrooms for breakfast. He’s convinced that mushrooms are the secret to his musical genius. After all, who wouldn’t be inspired by a breakfast that’s both earthy and magical?
Once he’s had his fill of mushrooms, he heads to his favourite spot by the stream. He sits on a moss-covered rock, then, chunnering away to himself, he strums his guitar and lets the music flow. His songs are a mix of Floyd, folk, blues, and a touch of gnome magic. The animals of the Goyt gather around to listen, swaying to the rhythm and occasionally joining in with their own sounds. The squirrels provide the percussion with their acorn tapping, the birds add a melodic harmony, and the frogs contribute a deep, resonant bass.
But The Woodgnome Man’s day isn’t all about music. He has a serious sweet tooth, and his love for chocolate muffins is legendary. He’ll harvest the woodlands for his ingredients to create and bake his legendary Woodgnome Muffins. He’s also known to trade his musical talents for muffins with the local baker gnomes. They say his rendition of “Sweet Gnome Alabama” is worth at least a dozen muffins. On special occasions, he even writes songs dedicated to his favourite treat, like “Muffin Man Blues” and “Chocolate Symphony.”
He loves to perform for humans! While he usually keeps to himself and his woodland friends, he can’t resist the opportunity to share his music with the occasional human visitor. One sunny afternoon, as The Woodgnome was strumming away, he noticed a group of human children playing near the boathouse. Curious and a bit mischievous, he decided to give them a little concert. He tiptoed closer, hiding behind bushes and trees, and started playing a lively tune. The children were delighted, clapping and dancing along. The Woodgnome Man couldn’t help but laugh, his belly shaking with glee, much to the surprise and delight of the children he’d entertained.
One of his favourite pastimes is sneaking up to the boathouse at Carr Mill Dam on Friday night Jam Sessions when he hears laughter and chatter. He hides behind the bushes and starts playing a lively tune on his guitar. The humans are often surprised and delighted by the mysterious music floating through the air. Sometimes, he even steps out from his hiding spot, giving them a full concert. His fingers dance across the strings, and his songs fill the air with joy and magic.
The Woodgnome Man has become something of a local legend among the children who visit the area. They tell stories of the magical woodgnome who plays enchanting music and sings for them. It’s not uncommon for them to leave little gifts of their own, like shiny pebbles or colourful ribbons, as a thank you for his performances.
So, while while The Woodgnome Man’s main audience is the woodland creatures, he certainly enjoys the occasional human concert, spreading his love for music, mushrooms, and muffins to all who are lucky enough to hear him.
Each evening, as the sun sets over Carr Mill Dam he returns to his home in The Goyt, tired but happy. He places his guitar back on its stand, grabs a chocolate muffin, and settles into his favourite mushroom-shaped chair. Taking a bite of the muffin, savouring the rich, chocolaty goodness, he chills out and thinks about the day’s adventures.
Life in the Goyt is perfect for The Woodgnome Man, filled with music, mushrooms, and muffins. And as long as he has his guitar and his treats, The Woodgnome Man knows he’ll always be the happiest woodgnome in the Goyt.