March 10, 2026

This month's story is both funny

and heartwarming.

Enter my new friend Sally❤️

Shortly before Christmas, Sally came as a new customer to pick up some last-minute gifts. She came to our point of sale and inquired about the possibility of a pink gnome for a friend. I replied, “I would be happy to make one, but it would not be ready before Christmas.” She prepaid for the gnome… and I promptly forgot to make the gnome.

After the holiday season,

She returned, and as soon as I saw her, I realized my mistake. As I was apologizing, she read the flyer we had posted about Make a Gnome Night, and between the two of us, we got her booked with a discount. All was solved, until the night came and Sally didn’t!

A few days passed, and Sally came to our storefront to apologize because she had neglected to write down the day of the event. We had a good laugh, and then rescheduled for an afternoon, so she could come by when the store was open, and we could make a pink gnome.

The day we planned came, she came, but I forgot to bring the supplies for making this precious pink gnome!! I’m thinking, to myself, “I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS HAS HAPPENED AGAIN”.

    Being the good sport she is, we laughed about it, wrote down on our calendars the exact time and date of when this ridiculous pink gnome was GOING TO BE MADE.

    Finally, the LAST attempt at meeting and making it happen!!

She came, and with a look of sadness  on her face said, “Lois, we just lost our beloved family horse of 19 years, yesterday, and I need to ask if I can make a horse instead of a pink gnome?”

    What transpired from that moment on was the sweetest gift of community. We shared our pet stories, grieving the loss, and going forward in comfort with what our hands needed to do.    In between the forming and glazing, we took a small break and shared a homemade cookie, and a lovely cup of coffee from our friends at Bar C’est Leu. It was what I would call… being at home.    I had just the right glazes for her horse, and she had the time and now the skill to make the family horse that everyone remembered… plus, a few pink gnomes.

    I mentioned at the end of our session that all the plans of making the pink gnomes that didn’t happen… turned out to be what needed to happen. My new friend Sally said, “Thank you, this has been a therapy session, and I needed this,” and she came in for a hug.

    What an honor and privilege it was to walk with Sally in the pain and shock of saying goodbye to a beloved pet family member.

Goodbye, Alki. You will remain in our hearts forever!

Thank you, Community, for trusting me with your stories.

Lois

The Carefree Quail