The Grimbriar Gazette | Issue No. VIII
Updated: 10 hours ago
Weather
The weatherstone is wet; therefore, it is raining. The toads are holding court over a worm theft, so the rain will likely last the week. The grass blades are facing westward, so expect a dramatic cold front to sweep through. No snails have been spotted within ten feet of the weatherstone, so wind is likely.
Lost & Found
Found: Ten identical drawings of a cat wearing a bathrobe. Very well done, would like to return to owner. Found on the library floor. A few of them are meowing pitifully, so be quick.
Lost: A stone in the shape of a boot. The initials 'DR' are carved on the back. Please don't speak to the stone if you want to keep your fingers.
Found: Talking ball of lint found outside the kitchens. It's a terrible gossip. I now know far too much about far too many of you. Left where I found it.
Gossip
A New & Bright Face
Something unexpected has been simmering in the Grimbriar Kitchens, and it's not the soup! A new hearth sprite has recently joined the kitchen. It's a long and arduous road to becoming a Grimbriar hearth sprite, so no doubt this new player is excited to get started. The elder sprites have taken to trialing the newcomer by tasking it with the most difficult chores. According to one of the kitchen staff, the new sprite, called Arden, is taking it in stride.
"It's burning hotter than a sun in its little oven. No trouble at all. Not a complaint or a peep!"
Most recently, Arden has succeeded in managing all three hearths for last night’s dinner. It’s quite a task for any sprite, especially one so new! Arden seems happy to be here. If you have the opportunity to say hello, we encourage you to stop by and give them a "pat on the back" for a job well done. Please don't actually touch the hearth sprites; Nurse Bell is still recovering from the fireworks incident and running low on burn salve.
Rumors
Ghostly Hound Spotted in Woods
A white dog has been spotted haunting the woods behind Grimbriar. It seems to change sizes depending on who spots it; one student reported it was the size of a wolf, while another claimed it was a mere terrier. While no one has yet interacted with the mysterious canine, reports of late-night barking have begun to circulate. Rainy Grey had this to say about the dog:
"I was documenting wild mushrooms when it popped out of a bush! Its eyes were ice blue, and it bared its teeth at me!"
Students are advised to avoid the area until further investigation is done. For now, curious onlookers should watch the dog from afar.
Familiar Faces
Meet Whimsy, Petal-wearing Pixie & Pest
Whimsy can most often be found by the dragon fountain in the South courtyard. You won't find her standing amongst the crowd or sitting on one of the many iron benches; you'll have to look a little lower, perhaps by overturning a leaf or two on the rose bushes. Whimsy is Grimbriar's resident Petal Pixie, dressed in pink from pointed ear to toe. Don't let her pretty fashion fool you, however; Whimsy has been voted the meanest presence at Grimbriar ten years in a row. Students complain of her ankle-biting tendencies, her habit of stealing pencils from their packs, and her enjoyment of whispering nasty falsehoods into the ears of unsuspecting visitors. The Grimbriar Gazette did not attempt to interview Whimsy, for reasons that may be obvious. If not, it's because we are afraid of her.
Should you find yourself in the South courtyard, be sure to make your visit swift. Wear ankle protection, secure your belongings, and if troublesome gossip hurts your heart and ears, perhaps wear earplugs. Whimsy can be spotted quite easily: she stands about the height of a thumb, wears pink petals on her green skin, and has large, bug-like eyes that look like black holes. Readers, consider yourself warned!
Word Search
This Week’s Menu at Grimbriar Hall
As always, every meal can be altered to meet the dietary needs of any student upon request.
Monday
Breakfast: Steaming cinnamon oat porridge, baked apple slices, warm cloudberry tea
Lunch: Thunderclap potato and leek soup, crusty rain-bread rolls, warm pear cider
Dinner: Cider-braised beef stew, buttery mashed potatoes, spiced blackberry tonic
Tuesday
Breakfast: Warm ginger molasses porridge, stewed pears, chamomile tea
Lunch: Creamy mushroom and barley soup, toasted rye bread, warm cranberry cider
Dinner: Slow-simmered chicken and dumplings, buttered peas, spiced apple tonic
Wednesday
Breakfast: Nutmeg buttermilk pancakes, warm maple syrup, spiced milk
Lunch: Split pea and ham soup, seeded soda bread, hot honey lemon tea
Dinner: Flaky pot pie with chicken and root vegetables, wilted greens, warm spiced cider
Thursday
Breakfast: Drop biscuits, honey butter, warm cardamom milk
Lunch: Roasted tomato and fennel soup, grilled cheese toasties, warm ginger tea
Dinner: Sticky honey short ribs, buttery polenta, warm blackcurrant cordial
Friday
Breakfast: Chocolate porridge with toasted walnuts, stewed plums, warm chai
Lunch: Wild mushroom and thyme soup, crusty baguette, hot spiced cranberry punch
Dinner: Lentil and root vegetable stew, warm cornbread, spiced pear tonic
Saturday
Breakfast: Buttery crumpets, clotted cream and jam, warm honey tea
Lunch: Curried butternut squash soup, toasted flatbread, warm ginger lemon fizz
Dinner: Slow-roasted pork shoulder with applesauce, buttered egg noodles, warm mulled cider
Sunday
Breakfast: Warm cinnamon rolls, vanilla glaze, hot cocoa with marshmallow
Lunch: Creamy chicken noodle soup, warm buttered rolls, spiced apple cider
Dinner: Shepherd's pie, buttered green beans, warm spiced milk
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