Cassy and Assrais, I loved reading your encounters too!! woww! I read of an online encounter a man posted on his website (will have to get the link for us here) where he was in a friend's yard after a big snowfall-- and encountered a gnome standing at the base of the neighbor's tree- it was dusk.

He actually had a conversation with this Being- who told him that they use that tree as a portal but that they don't often enter our realm because of the human's smell. They usually wait until after a snowfall when their is a cleansing effect-- where the negative energy left by human's is cleansed by snow (and I guess rain too)

I guess that gnome you encountered didnt know what to expect of your reaction-- and didnt realize at first that you were able to see him. When he did, he reacted that way- but I'm sure if he got to know you, he'd probably be your friend!