Mouse House

It is Christmas Eve. In a corner of my kitchen, a tiny mouse sleeps snuggled up in bed under a cozy knitted blanket. In the bunk bed below, another little mouse sleeps curled under a tiny quilt. Just below, in the corner cupboard that they have made their home, Mama Mouse puts the baby in her cradle and Papa Mouse places gifts under the Christmas tree. At street level, the Mouse General Mercantile Store is still open late for last minute shoppers. The cupboard is decorated with holiday lights and greenery.

I have always loved mice. I think it relates back to when I was a little girl and my oldest brother Nick who is 13 years old then me, would take me by the hand down to a little gift shop in Ocean City, Md which sold tiny mice figures dressed in various outfits. He would let me pick out one or two and buy them for me. After that, he would buy me ice cream - rainbow sherbert on a sugar cone. I was in heaven. He made me feel so loved and so special. Maybe that's why I've always loved mice and have a mouse house in my kitchen and little mice hidden throughout my house - tucked sleeping in teacups or sugar bowls.

I inherited the miniature store things from my beloved Aunt Pat, my mom's sister. She is one of the women who shaped me into who I am - who taught me the power of laughter and mischief and ritual and imagination. She taught me to remember and honor my ancestors, to try new things, to broaden my horizons, to welcome people into my home, to create beauty and magic. She loved miniatures and I wish she were still here to see my Mouse House and to see the miniatures I create along with Needle felted mice. She lives on in me. My brother's kindness and generosity towards me still lifts me up every day. I smile at my Mouse House and love watching my granddaughter look at it in amazement as the mice magically decorate for every holiday and Santa brings tiny wrapped gifts that she is allowed to unwrap for them. All year, I collect tiny things here and there to save up for Christmas for the Mouse House so my granddaughter can experience the magic that my loved ones gave to me.