Grandmas everywhere own a coffee-table book called "Gnomes," perhaps our culture's most revered account of the mystical forest creatures. The book, first published 30 years ago and aimed at the toddler set, illuminates the child-rearing, dietary and fashion habits of the pointy-hatted people.

But it glosses over at least one important detail, a bit of information that could help endear the little guys to an older, more mature audience: Gnomes love chicken wings and beer.

At least according to a couple of guys who recently took their gnomes to The Cheesecake Factory for supper.

Christian von Lahr and Christopher Valentine work in a different realm than you and I -- that is, they communicate with dead people, as well as gnomes, leprechauns and fairies. Last weekend, they brought their extended "nature people" family to Raleigh for the new age Body Mind Spirit Expo at the State Fairgrounds.

Aside from private readings, in which the men worked to communicate with the dead on behalf of customers, they held a lecture and peddled their books, which include one called "Seeing and Sensing Gnomes."

The men say that in writing the book, they simply channeled what the gnomes wanted them to get across. Their lecture's promotion included the promise of tips on seeing the gnomes in your own life, and with that, about 30 people gathered in the back of the Kerr Scott Building to hear it.

Von Lahr began the presentation by asking how many in the audience sensed gnomes, leprechauns and fairies, all of which fall under the broad category of "nature people." Maybe six or seven raised their hands. Nature people, he said, are of our physical plane. One needn't have any special powers to see them.

"We can all see them if we want to," he said. "They are absolutely real."

And they want to be involved with your life. Have you ever misplaced car keys, only to find them later in the exact place where you thought they should be, a place where you had already looked? That was leprechauns, teasing you a little.

"Nature people are not goldfish," he said in advocating communication with them. "You don't put them in a bowl and just look at them."

Later, von Lahr had Valentine stand against a wall. He inhaled and exhaled a bit, and then von Lahr pointed to a spot against the wall, a few inches above Valentine's shoulder.

Do you see that? It's an elf.

A couple of audience members nodded when asked if they saw a blue blur near his shoulder. I saw only the wall.

Soon, Valentine was waving his hand above his head, helping people to try and see the unicorn that had appeared there.

Again, I got only the wall.

But Deb Dougherty of Clayton saw something unusual, namely, the horn of a unicorn above Valentine's head.

Why do some see unicorns where others see a wall? "If you open your heart," she said, "you can see all of it."

After the lecture, von Lahr and Valentine stepped outside for a chat. The men, who are partners in business as well as life, live in Piney Creek, about 45 miles northeast of Boone. They relocated not long ago from south Florida because their nature family, well, enjoys nature.

Von Lahr, 57, said that everyone is accompanied by at least two gnomes at all times. Because he and Valentine are more attuned than most to the nature people around them, the men have thousands of gnomes and leprechauns in their lives.

Most people don't see them, von Lahr said, "because of peer pressure growing up. You're told not to believe the things you see."

For example, kids are discouraged from having imaginary friends.

Valentine, 37, said they took the whole family to the Cheesecake Factory at Crabtree Valley Mall, where the wings are a favorite of the gnomes. But don't be confused. The foot-tall gnomes don't usually leave tiny teeth marks in the chicken. Rather, they feed on the "etheric" energy surrounding the wings.

The men encourage those who want a connection with nature people to set out food for them, but more often than not, one shouldn't expect any to be missing, even after a gnome feast.

"When they put out milk for them," Valentine said, "they shouldn't be upset when they still see it out the next day, because the nature people have enjoyed it thoroughly."

Kind of like my conversation with the gnome-knowers.