A Year With Beatrix Potter & Friends - October

Between 1885 and 1907 the Potters spent nine summers at Lingholm along Derwentwater.  Beatrix was free to wander in the woods.  Here she could let her imagination play.  It was the summer of 1901 that she first did the sketches for today's story.  In this photo from the movie "Miss Potter" you can see St. Herbert's Island, which became Owl Island in Beatrix's story. . . .

credit:  Momentum Pictures

This map will give you an idea of how far Derwentwater (at top of map) is from Esthwaite Water (lower right), near Hill Top. . . .

This is why Jemima will be taking us on the long journey (25 miles) in Farmer Cannon's cart. . . .

   

QUACK!  We are headed for Derwentwater where our tale takes place.    Quack!  Hop in the cart and I’ll tell you the tale about Squirrel Nutkin's tail on our way to Derwentwater. . . . 

The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

as told by Jemima Puddle-Duck

Squirrel Nutkin and his brother, Twinkleberry, along with lots of other squirrels live in the woods along the shore of Derwentwater.  There is an island in the middle of the lake called Owl Island, named after Old Brown Owl.  One Autumn they all decided it would be nice to gather the nuts and acorns from Owl Island so they went down to the lake and made little rafts out of twigs. . . . .

They spread out their tails and sailed their little rafts over to the island using sticks as oars. . . .

They brought an offering of three fat mice for Old Brown and asked permission to gather nuts from his island. . . .all except Nutkin, that is, who chided Old Brown with a riddle!

“Riddle me, riddle me, rot-tot-tote!

A little wee man in a red red coat!

A staff in his hand, and a stone in his throat;

If you’ll tell me this riddle, I’ll give you a groat.”

But Old Brown just ignored Nutkin. . . .

The other squirrels filled their bags with nuts and sailed home. . . .

The next day they came back and brought a fine fat mole this time. . . .

Again, Nutkin teased Old Brown by telling another riddle while jumping up and down and tickling him with a nettle. . . .

Old Brown took the mole and went in his house.  Nutkin told another riddle through the key hole then played marbles with oak-apples outside Old Brown’s door. . . .

On the third day Twinkleberry and six other squirrels went fishing for minnows for Old Brown, but not Nutkin.  He once again told a riddle, but Old Brown just ignored him. . . .

On the fourth day the squirrels brought six fat beetles each wrapped in a dock-leaf and fastened with a pine-needle pin.  But Nutkin was as rude as ever as he sang another riddle. . . .

On the fifth day the squirrels brought a present of wild honey.  It was so sweet and sticky they licked their fingers. . . .

Nutkin skipped about singing another silly song.  Old Brown was getting disgusted by this time.  QUACK! . . . 

The squirrels filled their sacks with nuts while Nutkin played ninepins with crab apples and green fir-cones. . . . 

On the last day the squirrels brought a present of a new-laid egg. . . .

Nutkin was as obnoxious as ever singing another riddle. . . .

This time Nutkin got carried away and made a flying leap onto Old Brown’s head!  All the other squirrels ran for the bushes. . . .

This was TOO much!  QUACK1  Old Brown carried Nutkin into his house and held him by his tail intending to skin him! . . . .

But Nutkin pulled away leaving half his tail behind!  If you meet Nutkin now and ask him to tell you a riddle, he stamps his feet, throws sticks at you and scolds, "Cuck-cuck-cuck-cur-r-r-cuck-k-k!". . . .

You can hear Beatrix's version here. . . .

                 

This is the Royal Ballet's performance of the tale. . . . 

                 

Beatrix first heard about the squirrels on St. Herbert's Island in 1897 when a lady who lived on Derwentwater wondered how the squirrels got there.  In a picture letter to Eric Moore, one of her former governess's children, she drew squirrels on rafts using their tails as sails.

In 1901 she wrote a story about the squirrels for Eric's sister, Norah. . . .

Beatrix already had a tame Owl and acquired two squirrels as models for her illustrations.

These are my practice drawings for the month. . . .

This is Beatrix's illustration that I've chosen to draw and paint. . . .

My drawing. . . .

My watercolor. . . .

Peter Rabbit offers us some Common Sense manners learned the hard way by Squirrel Nutkin. . . .

"Squirrel Nutkin, who did not ask Mr. Brown's permission to gather nuts, shows no deference.  People in positions of authority should not be pestered with insouciant rhymes and teased with impudent antics.  Do not provoke your elders and betters, or you may come to the same end as Squirrel Nutkin and lose your tail!"

.•*¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•

Take Joy!