Anthropomorphic..... Market day in the Hollow.

         

          Anthropomorphic is the term used for bestowing  human traits onto  animals. It is most  common in storybooks, where Mr Toad recklessly drives his motorcar, in "The Wind in The Willows",  Rabbits fly kites in "Uncle Wiggly" and little mice sew the delicate threads on the Mayors coat in the "Tailor of Gloucester" .  I could go on and on and on.

  Of course we know, that in our imagination, anything is possible, and that in reality,tiny birds do not stitch your quilt while you are fast asleep... (or do they?) 

However, anyone who has spent any time with animals knows for a fact, that animals do indeed share human qualities. Animals exhibit, jealousy, faithfulness, bravery, selfishness, selflessness, love, anxiety, loneliness, generosity, sadness and joy. I am constantly amazed at the human-like antics and social order that goes on here at our farm. Take for example the chickens. A rooster can be very gallant. He finds a tasty tidbit on the ground, he picks it up, drops it, cackles to his wives, picks it up again and drops it, until one of  his lovelies comes to retrieve said tasty morsel, which he could have had all to himself. I call that a real gentleman! He jealously guards all his "women-folk" from any other suitors and will fight, to the death, to keep his family intact.

 Our Chinese goose, Fionna Goosefeathers, is very motherly, whenever a new waterfowl moves to our farm, she becomes instant Nanny, guiding the newbies to ponds and creeks, swimming with and caring for them until they are accustomed to the place. It is very endearing. 

Ducks are also quite interesting folk. Ducks form family groups and if anyone gets out of line, they are often shunned. It is one of the few things I dislike about ducks.  These "outcasts" are not allowed anywhere near the family  I have two such ducks, Lewis and Clark, who were booted out of their family group for reasons unknown to me, and I took pity on them. I had been looking for two little wives for them to call their own, for weeks and weeks. At last I found an ad with 2 female, Blue Swedish Ducks, looking for a home. Best of all, they lived just over the mountain from our farm...  Well, talk about ingratitude, it has been a full week and those little bachelor ducks will have nothing to do with the  "mail order-brides" from over the mountain. In fact THEY are shunning the females!  I think they re playing "hard to get", which is normally a female trait. 

Or am I, perhaps,  engaging  in Anthropomorphic fancies?

 Well, is it really any wonder? I have been painting  tiny anthropomorphic folk  for 14 days now... I think I am going bats!

 

There are 79 small characters in this illustration. Some are no bigger than 1/4 inch. And that doesn't even include all the teeeeeny tiny baskets, crocks, leaves, barrels, tortoise pies, etc, etc, etc. I paint under a magnifying light, but REALLY!

 The otter is quite tall at 1 inch!

 

   I am lucky I haven't gone  bonkers AND cross eyed!  Can you believe that miniaturists paint smaller than this ALL THE TIME?!

      It is an intentionally busy piece, full of color. But I  am afraid the colors on this blog are way OFF as I have a new camera who's settings I have not learned to use. I am nearly  finished with it this piece, Thank goodness!   Just a few more areas to paint, a little hat, a tiny apron and a wheel or two.

But no more pies!!! I think that tortoise has had enough already!

(The mousey milkmaid is 1 inch tall)

 This chipmunk is 1/2 inch.... which reminds me...

The next illustration has over 40 tiny squirrels and chippys!  That means I will have to thaw out the chipmunk again. And put on the TEA! This weeks tea is:

 and this weeks soup? Well, we got a bit tired of soup and decided to cook tacos today instead.
 One more picture of Miz Stickywig, I really love her! James says she is ugly.

 By the way, can you find Fionna Goosefeathers in these illustrations?? 

   There... all finished.
 Now it's time to paint 40 chips and squirrels.

 

The life of a good dog...

Ezra the Redbone Coonhound came to us over 10 years ago. He showed up one day, cowering in our shed, with a tight chain round his neck, skinny as a rail and nearly hairless from the mange.
 

 He was filled with a fear of humankind, and we had to tread softly while in his midst, for the least quick movement would send his tail between his legs and his body all a-tremble. A trip to the vet revealed heart-worms and the treatment would be  costly. It was a matter we REALLY had to discuss, whether to  put him down or not? We decided to spend the money and give him a second chance for a decent life. I think he had one. 

We gave him love

 We gave him kindness

 We gave him security

We gave him what everyone needs... a home.

He blossomed with health and found a new friend in Lydia, our other rescued doggy.

 Ezra loved to wander the woods and was a gentle soul who never harmed another creature. He was like no other coon hound alive, for he actually permitted raccoons to eat from his dish and rabbits to chow down in the tulip bed. He shuddered beneath the house during the slightest of rainstorms and was sorely lacking as a "watch dog". Nevertheless, he won our hearts in his insecurity and tenderness.
 However, he never got over his deep seated fears,  and  always kept his distance from most people. Someone wicked in his past had left an indelible mark. a wound from which he never completely recovered. I despise those who mistreat animals, to me, they are the lowest of the low.

This year , according to our calculations, Ezra turned 89 in human years. He lost his sight, his hearing, his balance and his zest.  He was in a lot of pain. We thought about his life with us, and feel that he had a good innings. A long life, with square meals every day, a clean,warm bed, a pat on the head and an atta boy!... a life of running through the woods and meadows under countless summer suns.

Ezra went was put to rest  last week, right here, in the Hollow, where he spent the best of his life.  I had a good cry... I will miss him

 But I am happy that he found some measure of happiness here in the Hollow.

Animals enrich our lives and we can enrich theirs.

Good bye my big ol doggy friend.

Mona Lisa of the Goose kind...

 Dear Diary, Today was my first day of modeling for the Mistress. She is immortalizing me in  her new book!  I shall have 2 whole pages! Well, I cannot take full credit for the honor, because it was Fiona Goosefeathers the 1st ( my predecessor) who was the true inspiration. But she has long since passed  from this  earthly world and is now dwelling in the land of heavenly feathers.

 Everyone says that I look exactly like her... Except, for the fact that she was missing an eye on one side her head!  Well, not exactly missing... just sort of "sewn shut" They say that being a one-eyed goose gal is what gave her such a  feisty disposition.

This is the Bonnet I was told to wear... bought especially for dear Fionna the 1st.

 I am sure you recognize it hanging from her long elegant neck.( Note the funny little shoe button eye.) I am glad I have both of my blue eyes intact.

  Dear Diary, The Mistress dressed me in lovely garments and took special jewels from the vault to festoon MY long elegant neck. She put me in an awkward position and told me be as still as Mona Lisa. I do not know who Mona Lisa is, but I can assure you, I stood very very still. I like to please my Mistress.

The Mistress began to draw...

  And draw,

and draw. For a very long time! Even my feet had to stay perfectly still! I felt very self conscious and   began to wish that I had gotten a pedicure.

 I tried to think of something to keep my mind occupied and so I dwelt upon my dear Hamish.... Oh how I adore him! He is a Gander of Magnificence!

Dear Diary, Today, Hamish caught a glimpse of me in my lovely little modeling frock and seemed quite smitten! He asked me to accompany him to the  "Moonlight at Midnight Serenade' at Croaky Toad Creek on Friday. OH, BE STILL MY HEART! I do hope the Mistress will allow me the loan of this dress!

At long last I can come out of this position. Who knew modeling could be so painful?!!

Dear Diary,  My profile is coming along nicely...

 

I look every inch the Lady

 And I am sitting as still as Mona Lisa.

,

 Dear Diary, After 4 days of standing on my poor little orange webby feet, we are 

Finished at Last!

The Mistress says she is quite pleased with the drawings and will have me sit again when she is ready to paint. She has loaned me the little dress AND the bonnet for my upcoming date with the divine Mr H.

Now I can concentrate on winning the heart of Hamish  and getting a pedicure!  After all, I am an artists model now.

 Dear Diary, Wish me luck!

Wishing you tidings of great joy, from all that dwell in Hopalong Hollow!

We wish to thank all of those who visit us here in the Hollow.

Thank you for your kind comments and  for taking the time to peek in on us when ever you are able. We hope you will continue!

You can view in the larger window, but the photos seem to blur a bit when viewed large. I am still trying to figure this thing out!

 The Beautiful music is called: Dues Meus Adiuva and played by Wendy Barlow on harp and Bill Bellamy on hammered dulcimer.

All photos were taken here in the Hollow and Manor, by Amateur Photographers, James (Lord of the Manor), and Mistress of the Manor, me.

"The Christmas day is dawning;

Our carols now we sing;

And pray the coming season

 May peace and gladness bring.

To every one, and all of yours,

 We wish a merry day,

And hope some of its pleasures

Through all the year may stay."

L.A. France

  Now, I must dash! I have to go and watch my FAVORITE rendition of "A Christmas Carol" with Albert Finny as  Scrooge.

 "God Bless us, every one!"

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....

" So... what the heck is this stuff? "

  

    Yes, tis snowing all around our fair land!  We are not being bombarded here in East Tennessee  but rather are enjoying a soft and gentle, steady outpouring of fat, fluffy flakes. I feel more than fortunate to be safe and comfy in the confines of home and hearth. But every few hours, I have bundled up, camera in hand, to capture the comings and goings of our little friends here in the Hollow.

Ducks love water, no matter what form it takes! I just want to gather up this little gaggle and pop them in the potting shed where it is warmer,( being the foolish human that I am)). But they would be quite upset with me and quack up a storm! (Another storm.)

Every once in a while they go inside for a bit of corn and  grain,

 but within minutes they are back out again, splashing about in the icy creek.

Ursula is kicking up her hooves and delighting in this dusting of white.

  And sheep have little to worry about wrapped up  in their woolies

I check to see that my chicken folk are cozily perched in the rafters of the barn

.

and enjoying some good barn cookin...

 It makes me happy,

 to see that the Peabody Boys are feeling content and dry.

 While back outside,

Concrete sentinels care not  a whit for the weather...

.

Let it snow,

let it snow,

 

let it snow!

  For those who are really getting pummeled, I feel for you. I grew up in Colorado, I honestly remember walking to school in snow that was up to my chin. Of course, I was only in 2nd grade, and it was more like swimming than walking. But kids these days would never do such a thing!

'

Snow on the rooftops is just so... so.... Christmas-like!

  Makes me want to Ho, HO, HO!

Our snow won't be around for long, so we enjoy it while we can.

I hope you can enjoy yours too.
Be Careful on the roads!

( The day after)