Goin nutty....

Or goin nut huntin..

;

 

.

The treefolk have been busy

,

 And so have I.....

Between puppy training..

  laying out a rustic OLDE courtyard, using old bricks and broken concrete,

 and painting dozens of little nut gatherers, all less than an inch tall,

for this illustration.

 I haven't had much spare time.

There are about 2 more days worth of painting in this piece.
Remember Esther? She made an appearance in this illustration.
I miss that lil gal. I fancy that she is the same starling currently building a nest in our eaves.

.

I will be back soon to show you

Hope you have a good weekend, maybe the weather will be Spring-like and lovely?
I long to garden, don't you???
 
Three Cheers For Nuts!

 Hopalong Hollow Gazette News Flash!!!
 Lewis and Clark have finally discovered what it means to fall in love...
with Gwennie and Gretchen.
 And the Agents have grown at least 5 inches!

.

Ode to an Acorn

There is just something about those little acorns that drives me nuts! I love them. When I stroll through the woods, instead of enjoying the towering trees adorned in their Autumnal filigree of  brazen reds, bronzes and coppers,    my eyes are scouring the ground, searching for ACORNS.

.

What a happy little nut is the acorn! Why does it appear so jolly? WHY are there acorn images all over my house?!!!

 I feel inspired.....

to honor the ACORN.

Ode to an Acorn

How do I love thee, little acorn?

 Let me count the ways,

I love thee on teapots,

  BOWLS

PLATTERS

and TRAYS

  

 I love thee

Acorn finial,

Inside the potting shed,

 I love thy perky patterned cap

Atop your acorn head.

 

From the artists perspective

the acorn is respected,

(While  walnuts and filberts  are woefully neglected.)

Of all those in the nut world, 

Tis the acorn most adored 

While peanuts and cashews are vehemently ignored!

Indeed little acorn,

all artists sing your praises,

The potter takes his sculpting tool to carve your little faces .

Your image has been cast..
in IRON,

TIN

and WOOD

An even cast in concrete,
you're
  EXCEPTIONALLY
good!

In paint, clay, or stonework,
No nut doth compare.
To the innocent acorn,
 So charming and fair.

And though, to the human,

  Your taste is quite bitter,

Just the mention

of your name,

Makes tree-folk twirp and twitter!

In acorn stews, and muffins too, 

No ordinary nut will do.
Acorn souffle, acorn pie
Acorns piled way up high!!!

For breakfast, supper and afternoon tea,
scouring the grounds neath the old Oak tree,
They gather you acorns three by three
and stash you like gold,
or honey to the bee.

And so, humble nut,

So tried and true

From the depths of my heart...

 I honor you.

(Okay, so it's not Elizabeth Barrett Browning or Shakespeare..... but it's REALLY, REALLY close.)

SMILE