... stay forever young

Forever Young by Bob Dylan performed by the Tenors

Forever Young performed by Joan Baez

Forever Young performed by Rod Stewart

thank you Bob Dylan, the Tenors, Joan baez, and Rod Stewart

... The Stone of Souls

The Stone of Souls is the spirit of the world... it is the grandest of all the Stones for it protects the life force within all things. It is the energy that binds on a molecular level, pure and powerful with a will of its own.




Forever Young sung by Joan Baez written by Bob Dylan

... a BR with MP by VL

The Green Stone

... the works of Vicki Lemandowski

 

... Stone of Souls

The Stone of Souls

The Stone of Souls is the spirit of the world. It is the largest of the Stones but also the lightest for it has no physical mass. Think of it as a very large shell-less balloon. It is considered to be the most valuable gift to mankind and all of Stonesways. The “bearer” of this Stone is actually a misnomer for in reality, the Stone of Souls bears its keeper. It flashes then vanishes as the old Queen leaves the realm only to reappear upon its new keeper. How she is chosen is a mystery for the Stone decides. But once she is, the new Queen is engulfed in a brilliant glow that swirls around her. It again flashes and the new Queen appears upon her waiting throne. The magic of it all is such a wonderful enigma.

... atop Ridgeview Peak

Queen's Haven

Queen’s Haven is a marvel to all: vast halls, cathedral ceilings, granite archways, crystal columns along with the mightiest of waterfalls provide the setting for the annual festival of the Stones. This celebration brings all the kingdoms together as a show of unity and respect for the lands.

... dear little Lammy

Little Lammy

Lammy immediately added with her meek little voice. “They’re gone to the Owl’s Forest again. I tried to stop ‘em mom… but she won’t hear me… she just won’t.” Lammy was a sweet little sprite, such is a four-year-old pixie without her full set of wings. A sprite turns pixie at the age of six when all four pairs of wings unfold. Lammy had only three. Although able to fly, she wasn’t quite ready for any long or harried flights.

Lammy’s words alarmed Dora. As she pulled three more weeds from the healthy row of lavender, she shook her head and muttered, “Oh no… no no no.” She knew exactly what her headstrong daughter was up to, and it was sure to ruffle the feathers of the Owl Queen Beul. Fourteen-year-old Aleeza had a schoolgirl crush on Hawb, the young Owl Prince. Whether returned or not, such things were frowned upon by many species, especially the owls.

www.bethlewis038@Instagram

The Green Stone

The Green Stone was naturally gifted to the Queens of these wee winged folk for they are the master gardeners of the land.

... fairy magic comes from the Green Stone. Their magic dust serves as a powerful fertilizer for not only the gardens in their kingdom but also the varied flora throughout all of Stonesway. These tiny denizens simply beat their dust covered wings and the magic is released. It either falls in their wake or the Wind Stone of the bees carries it across the land.

... an impatient Mage

Doka the Mage

... the Palace of the Mages was waking to welcome the new day. The morning duties were unfolding as a housekeeper entered the vacant hall and placed a fresh bouquet of lilacs on the small table by the grandfather clock. Within seconds she had switched the wilted flowers with new ones, dusted the table, and straightened the doily. “Beautiful” she whispered and continued on her merry way. As the house-servant rounded the corner, the tower-like clock began to chime.

“Listen to that... Its six o’clock. What’s taking them so long?” Mage Doka was pacing between the arched doorway and the floor to ceiling windows. As a six foot, seventy year old man, his exuberance showed no resolve. Most mages were impeccable in health and vitality and Doka was no exception. The slender man had long white hair and a matching beard. As he paced, he’d wave his cane like a conductor’s baton while his cape floundered in his wake. He was usually a calm man with a soft voice but the morning’s plight had placed him into frenzy’s delight. Stress had turned his voice from calm to stern. He stopped and glared at the wizard who was leaning on his staff, “Zem... you said they would know... they should have been waiting for us.”

... Ridgeview Mountains

Ridgeview Mountains

The Ridgeview Mountain Chain follows the entire eastern border of Stonesway. It also runs for hundreds of miles into the northern tundra. To the south, they form an archipelago of islands that separate the Lanta Ocean from the Gulf of Meribea. These majestic mountains keep the salty waters from flooding the eastern kingdoms of Stonesway. Atop these hills live multiple communities of varied species who have carved their homes throughout and within this impressive mountain range.

Southern Entrance to Dwarfdom

A foreboding entrance represses most travelers from intruding upon the business of the dwarfs. Two large clans reside within the vastness of the Ridgeview Mountains: the Nautes and the Uves. They are a private breed of wee folk who cherish their underground lives. They live within a multitude of subterranean villages that are connected by an impressive network of tunnels and caves. Some of Stoneway’s older members believe Dwarfdom runs beneath all of the above ground kingdoms. However... no one knows for sure... except for the dwarfs, and they never discuss such things.

... foggy morn...

...  A rainy night had quenched the thirst of the gardens in Winged Meadows. In it’s wake, the pre dawn morning was muffled by a dense fog that had blanketed the community surrounding Queen’s Hollow. As the sun peaked over the horizon, village life began to stir. But before the wayward cloud cleared, it muted the scurry of three excited pixies as they fled Oakwood on route to something other than work. They were in a hurry to escape the gardens that surely awaited them.

The Kiemon Hills

Kiemon Hills

To the west are the Kiemon Hills. They are the scarred remains of what used to be a majestic mountain range that ran from the Ico Desert into the Northern Tundra. For a millineum, no life has ever entered and returned, or came through on its own volition from the west. The inhabitants of the kingdoms astride the Kiemon believe these former mountains were once diversely biomorphic. The 4th Age destroyed them. Whatever was used had no mercy and left a poison upon the soil. Nothing grows, there is no life. Even creatures of flight avoid the dead highlands. Stoneswayians also speak of a mournful murmur that rumbles from the center of the hills rumored to be the cry of a now barren land unable to birth life.

... a warning from Beul

Queen Beul

... She flashed him that certain smile as she rose to her feet. “Leeza’s right. We need to hurry. I don’t want that Queen ‘Be-ewe-la-ling’ her beak into our behinds or worse.... how did she put it? Oh yeah… it kinda went like this.” Millie struck a creative owl-like pose to mimic the Queen and screeched,

“IF I EVER CATCH YOU WITH MY STONE AGAIN, MY BEAK WILL MARK YOUR BOTTOMS AND YOU’LL REGRET BEING BORN!”

... a plum speaks

... guess it didn't have much to say but your basic salutation...

... globing the spirit...

An island to globe... and globe... and globe... etc

... Cottage Mical

... lightning strikes

Lake Supigan

... (author called in sick)

... but he really isn't (but he sure looks like he is). He has a doctor appt today in Point (about 1/2 hour from home) and then is going to play bingo with his brother Jacky in Black River Falls (he's so excited he could pee... but he's gotta save that one for the doctor visit)... However... time for a little giggle or a hardy gafah... he posted the following on FB...

 (Drum roll please)... and now an update... from "out there" in coo-coo da ville... apparently the dollar crashes by the 26 of Sept and Obama declares marshall law and rounds us up into FEMA camps while Nibiru passes between Mars and Jupiter causing a polar shift which sends a mountain of lava flowing from every volcano on the planet as a 3 mile high tidal wave obliterates the east coast and the gulf states while CA falls into the ocean as thousands of meteors rain down upon us destroying our power grid and most of the cities allowing Russia, China, N Kornea + all the Arab countries to invade us but it won't really matter cuz Zika is turning us all into Zombies which apparently the Anninukinikinakaka's (aka aliens from Uranus... not my anus, youranus... clarity be impotent) love cuz they're gonna either enslave, eat or breed with us while the elite hide in the city under Denver. (God I hope I didn't forget anything... talk about mud on my face... geez)... have a thuper day! Anyone wanna play cribbage and watch you-tube video's? 15 fer 2 and a pair is 4. Peace and love (and laughter) to all :-) 

... globe - (++) X O2 to the nth = life

Add caption

... Think of a large sandy beach that surrounds a circular island. This beach not only follows the shoreline but extends under the ocean and covers the entire island. In the middle of the island stands a wee forest. Using the point in the middle of the island, imagine this entire “beach island” inside a globe. Think of the forest as living matter. The sand is non-organic material. The water is empty space. And the air plus the lining of the globe is the energy that holds everything in place. Lets call this globe an "Earth Globe."

Now here’s the twist. Step back and think of another “beach island.” But this time, think of every grain of sand as being an “Earth globe.” The forest and water are what we don’t know or understand. And the air and lining is the same energy that holds everything in place. Now imagine this “Earth globe beach island thing” within a globe. Let's call it a “Universe globe.” Step way back again and picture yet another beach where every grain of sand is a “Universe globe” and the forest water air thing still applies. Globe this too and call it a “Galaxy globe.” Step back even farther and imagine a beach where each grain of sand is a “Galaxy globe” plus plus. Put this beach of “Galaxy globe sand” ++ inside another globe. What should we call this one? How about the “Big Globe?” Step back one more time, and imagine a beach with “Big Globe” sand ++. Globe the Big Globe beach ++ thing and make an “OMG globe.” Phew! Are you getting a little dizzy? I am. But why stop here? Do this “step back beach globe ++ thing”... well... how about forever. It is the ability to grasp this concept or revelation and use its power that the Stones brought to the 5th Age of Man. Oh, don’t worry about all the ++ stuff. That knowledge is way above my pay grade... and not to sound offensive, but it's above yours too. What really matters here is not the unknown “++” stuff but the “energy” that remains consistent in EVERY SINGLE GLOBE... that energy is the Spirit of Life... aka the Stones.

Believe me. I do understand why this is so difficult... for it's much easier to grasp the minutia of the physical rather than the omnipotence of the spiritual.

... the marketer/story advisor/photo guru

It is an honor to introduce my sweet, sweet cousin, the adorable Vicki Moyer... aka Vicki Lewandowski... aka ninja sister... aka adored mother... aka loving wife to Steve... aka cherished grandmother... aka believer in the Trinity... aka entrepreneur extraordinaire... aka computer marketing wizard... aka woodworker... aka sign maker... fan of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon (as teenagers, we listened to it over and over again)... aka one of 16 with 4 parents (yes, we did have quite the amazing large family and it was a blessing to say the least)... aka squirrel rescuer... aka lover of THE ONE TRUE carpenter... aka spiritual guru... aka pet person... aka taco salad specialist... aka inspirationist... aka dress maker... aka multi dimensional designer... aka photo proficienado... and the third member and equal partner of the team who is bringing the world... Stones.

... the author

Hello... meet the author... moi, aka michael steven peter... aka believer in spirituality... aka lover of life... aka tie-dyed t-shirt maker (yep, made the one I'm wearing, my hands turned blue but that's another story)... aka widow of Eric Jones (he left the planet on Dec,8, 2012)... aka squirrel tender... aka loves a certain carpenter... aka plays the guitar on the piano... aka work in progress... aka is either 16 or 958 years old... aka is owned by five cats... aka farm grown... aka card-carrying gay man... aka lover of a healthy debate... aka loving uncle... aka woodworker... aka middle child... aka ENFP... aka baptized by choice @ 42 years old (two doves descended upon the water as I rose from being dipped, it was incredibly humbling and truly spiritual)... aka artist (just wait, you'll be seeing lots of my work in Stones, I promise)... aka seeker of a new life (as in open to where the spirit leads me)... aka LOVES PEOPLE AND BELIEVES THAT HUMANITY CAN CHANGE THE WORLD IF WE ONLY TRY... aka poet... aka reader... aka honest to a fault (it gets me in trouble)... aka prefers the light of day but appreciates the dark of night... aka wishes mankind would stop hurting each other... aka believer of the Golden Rule... aka lover of surprises and spontaneity... aka may be the author of Stones but has two wonderful partners that are equally involved.

"May light guide your journey, may you find love in everything, and may whatever you believe in keep you safe and journeying toward enlightenment." (sending AIRHUGS to all)...

Lake Supigan

Lake Supigan

Lake Supigan covers the entire northeastern corner of Stonesway and defines the other third of the northern border. These cool fresh waters have several kingdoms with the largest being that of Merville, the center of the Merfolk way of life. The Mer-Queen Rula has dominion over all waterways except that which belongs to the Myriad. However, since the Merfolk are the water guardians of Stonesway, Queen Rula has a sanctified obligation to ensure the safety of even the waters in the overflow. It is due to this charge, that the Myriad show their respect to all merfolk. The peace between them has never been broken. Such are the ways of like-minded dwellers in air, land, and water. Whoever is charged with protection and oversight carries the will of the element albeit the Stone of it’s core. Such are the wonders of the Stones.

... the illustrator/story advisor

It's my honor to introduce a very special person, Beth Ricci... aka Beth Ricci Lewis... aka my dear friend... aka an enriched singer... aka budding artist... aka Certified Oral Surgical Tech... aka community actor... aka loving wife to Steve Lewis... aka cherished Aunt to seven... aka costume designer... aka book-keeper... aka our ILLUSTRATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE... aka my ninja daughter (while in college, she played my daughter in the play 40 Carats... it was a hoot)... aka humble follower of a very special carpenter... aka story consultant... aka human to three beautiful kitty mates... aka a BELIEVER IN THE TRINITY... aka inspirationalist... aka believer, and partner of STONES... The Mystical Age Of Enlightenment.

1beth.htm

... the science dilemma...

Science would have us believe emotions are a bi-product of complex chemical reactions within the brain... primarily, the human brain. Science is wrong. Any pet person could provide sufficient anecdotal evidence that contradicts such conjecture. It is the spirit that dictates feelings and emotions and the bi-product is the chemical reaction. Regardless of species or intellectual capacity, the energy of life is the spirit. How else can the responses exhibited in life be explained... a herd of donkeys crying over the death of one of their own, a dog's excitement when seeing his human after a long absence, a nursing mom of a litter of her own accepting a baby of an entirely different species, the purring of a cat when petted... or what about this little guy, sitting on my back step. Can science be 100% confident in its conclusion that it's nothing more than a conditioned response (he's waiting for the peanut guy who kindly hands him peanut after peanut). I believe there's more to it than conditioning...

... a thought

"Thank you Vincent!"

We all know of the Van Gogh masterpiece, The Starry Night… right? Imagine Vincent showing his vision with only words... not with paint. Possible? Maybe… but not probable. So I propose: if paints are to art as words are to stories, then energy is to life as the Stones are to the Spirit of Life.

... atom by atom

Science tells us the atom is the smallest unit of measure for all elements. It consists of a core (neutrons and protons) surrounded by orbiting electrons. There are 118 known elements. And each element is defined by the number of protons, electrons, and neutrons within the atom. The average 150-pound human body has approximately seven million trillion atoms of which 99% comes from only six elements. That’s what I call a whole lot of atoms mulling around fighting for form and existence.

The Spirit of Life is the energy that holds all of these elements in place. This energy is not only everywhere... it's conscious.

Winged Meadows

 Mid summer had blossomed and a rainbow of color painted the lands. Gardens were everywhere, alive with all types of flowers, fruits and vegetables. Even the forests and prairies were growing in bounty thanks to the magic of Winged Meadows. But the gardens of Elmwood and Oakwood had special yields… an assortment of herbage used by all of Stonesway. They were brimming with jasmine, sage, lemongrass, mint, juniper, and every other known healing herb used for the betterment of life.

It was believed that the 4th Age of man had turned away from nature in its quest for health. With science and invention, they abandoned what stood before them and developed poisonous compounds to replace the inter-connective ways the spirit provided. They created their own doom. The Stones brought the 5th Age into the light... and Winged Meadows blossomed into wonderous amazement.

... the nemesis of providence

"What is wrong? Please... I need to know. Help me." As Mical watched the rain, a bolt of lightning ripped across the sky. The thunder that followed not only shook his home but spoke to his heart. He had been given an answer, his purpose was shown. The approaching peril required an adversary. And he had been chosen... the nemesis of providence armed only with love.

... a flight toward destiny

... the old squire threw some travel goods into his tattered leather satchel, grabbed his walking stick and bolted from his home. A race with time had begun. There was no turning back. Hope had ignited his will and challenged his spirit. The risk was great but nothing would stop him from fighting with destiny atop Widow's Peak... a destiny that was coming for the Stones.

The Turum Wall

The Turum Wall is the largest and oldest man-made structure in Stonesway. It serves as the southern border for the lands of the tribal plains. These are the kingdoms where centaurs and humans have truly bonded for the betterment of all life. The Wall rises thirty feet into the air, is eight feet wide and spans the entire length of the valley.

Illustration by: Beth Ricci Lewis

The Third High Queen of Stonesway

The Heart Stone

... Queen Beth Roonie is the third High Queen of Stonesway. She received the Heart Stone on her 30th birthday. She is a fifty year old woman whose characteristics are said to mimic that of the most lovely and truest friend. Her physical beauty touches the soul like a cloudless midnight sky; her shoulder length hair shimmers like black velvet against the light of a full moon, eyes deep of royal blue, lips as red and soft as cherry licorice. Her smile causes young men to blush and older men to wish they still could. Her voluptuous body is curvy; her big bosom giggles when she laughs, her waist a mere turning point for hips that sway lingering echos of a dance.

The Heart Stone was gifted to Queen Roonie for the pureness in her heart, her emphatic emotional stability, and the fullness of love she champions for all life.

Second High Queen of Stonesway

The second High Queen of the valley is Queen Jacquelyn. This amazing woman arrived at the Palace of the Mages on the day the old Queen ascended. This is the way of the Earth Stone. The new bearer always appears at the palace gates at the exact time she is needed as if fate had called her to duty... She is a strong, confident woman... the oldest of the Queens at 62... When she speaks, her strong, low voice projects a gentle ambiance of understanding like a cherished grandmother. Queen Jacquelyn was given the Earth Stone for within her resides the truth of the land and how it connects to the spirit of life... Citizens of her dominion are strong willed and masters of the connective sciences or magical arts if you wish. For thirty years, a multitude of life has served on her counsel. Mystics, wizards, seers, mages, heralds, alchemists, even owls have shared in the knowledge of her Stone. They are pillars of truth and stay close to the Earth Stone and its Queen.

First High Queen

... The Stone of Souls chooses its bearer and Queen. How? It dissipates with the last breath of the ascending Queen as it simultaneously forms upon its new chosen keeper. Of all the Stones, the Stone of Souls is the grandest for it protects the life force within all things. It is the energy that binds on a molecular level, pure and powerful with a will of its own. Queen Joanie has been it’s keeper for the past thirty-five years. She is the humblest of rulers and the most cherished person in all the lands.