Out and About - April 2016

I don't have much to show you even though it was a busy month!  On the 1st we flew to Phoenix for Ken's nephew's wedding.  It was a lovely affair and we got to spend time with several other family members we hadn't seen in awhile.  I captured the sun setting just over Ken's greatniece's head. . . . 

A Year With Beatrix Potter & Friends - April

If you are a first-time visitor to this monthly Beatrix Potter & Friends post, you may want to view the earlier posts first:  January   February   March

It has come to my attention that our guide, Miss Jemima Puddle-Duck is otherwise occupied with nest sitting.  I am told that Mrs. Cannon, the caretaker's wife, has agreed to let Jemima hatch her own eggs after her earlier near-disastrous attempt.  So, we must content ourselves with a story about two bad mice in the meantime.

Tom Thumb and Hunca Munca were Beatrix's pet mice.  She'd rescued them from a cage trap at her cousin Caroline's in 1903 and wrote a story about them while there during a week of relentless rain.  Later, Norman Warne would provide her a photograph of the doll house he was building his niece, Winifred.  Beatrix's mother would not allow her to visit Warne's brother's home to see it for herself.  One commentator on the story felt, "The tale's themes of rebellion, insurrection, and individualism reflect not only Potter's desire to free herself of her domineering parents and build a home of her own, but her fears about independence and her frustrations with Victorian domesticity."  You can read Beatrix's letters, below, concerning the ordeal. . . .

More Or Less - April 2016

This past weekend we were in Phoenix, AZ to attend a family wedding.  The next day Ken's brother and sister-in-law took us to the Desert Botanical Garden where we spent the day into the evening walking the paths or sitting in the shade.  There was lots in bloom which really put me in the mood to get into my garden.  Unfortunately, we came home to a freeze warning, so I will have to wait a few more weeks before I head for the garden center.

Out and About - March 2016

March 1st was the first of my 8 watercolor classes.  We spent it learning about the different ways to put the paint on the paper.  I was delighted to discover an old acquaintance I hadn't seen in 16 years was also attending. . .

A Year With Beatrix Potter & Friends - March

Jemima Puddle-duck, when we last saw her, was waddling down the lane wearing Tom Kitten's hat. . . .

More or Less - March

This month I'm glad to report I have LESS in my house.  I started  my decluttering project, finally, after Marie Kondo's book, "Spark Joy," became available at the library.  I posted this picture in last month's Out and About of all the things I'd collected for my kids to look through before I disposed of everything. . . .

Out and About - February 2016

Compared to February 2015 it doesn't look like I've done much this month!  But I started the month busily reading more about Beatrix Potter so I could draw this map and write a new post for this month's entry for A Year with Beatrix Potter & Friends. . . .

A Year with Beatrix Potter & Friends - February

As you may recall last month Jemima Puddle-Duck agreed to be our guide for our walks in the Lake District. . . .

More or Less - February

♫Finding Neverland♫

I've not been very successful with my "Less" list, but I have made some progress with my "More" list.  January was largely devoted to children's books and my desire to illustrate mine.  To that end I've been drawing more in preparation for my monthly Beatrix Potter post. . . .