Fraidy Cat

It's true......... some of the most important thought provoking moments, and most of life's lessons can come from a children's story book. Do you know the story of Fraidy Cat? When I read it again not too long ago.........I realized how the message it contained could apply to life in the new year.

Fraidy cat accidentally found himself on a carousel that started spinning. All Fraidy Cat's buddies, that were nearby, were surprised that he was on the carousel spinning around, and being so brave.......when in actuality.......it was quite by accident that he was doing it at all.

Life's lesson for the new year............when you are spinning out of control on the merry-go-round of your life.........pretend it was meant to be like Fraidy Cat did..........and soon you will have the courage, and strength to conquer any fear, or uncertainty you might have.......as well as gain self-respect, and the respect of your peers!

My Phan Tom Cat above.........is following this advice.....as well as, realizing that in certain circumstances in 2009....... it will probably be better to not be seen or heard.

Here are a few more bits of wit and wisdom for the New Year, taken from stories for children, and presented in the book.......What the Dormouse Said, by Amy Gish.

From Scooter (Vera B. Williams, 1993)..........When you are making things time goes fast.

From Max Makes a Million (Maira Kalman, 1990)............I want to say that wonderful ideas can come from anywhere. Sometimes you make a mistake, or break something , or lose a hat, and the next thing you know, you get a great idea.

From 101 Dalmatians (Dodie Smith, 1957)..............Many dogs can understand almost every word humans say, while humans seldom learn to recognize more than a dozen barks, if that.

From Runaway Bunny (Margaret Wise Brown, 1942)............"If you become a bird and fly away from me," said his mother, "I will be a tree that you come home to."

From Peach and Blue (Sarah S. Kilborne, 1994)........................"I don't think I'll last forever," said Peach. "That's okay." said Blue. "Not many folks do. But until then, you have me, and I have you."

And so on..............so many more...........truths, and lessons.....for the ears of babes, and everyone.

Here is my own Fraidy Cat.....Rio...not yet suspecting her ride on the carousel!

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!

Hey...........what happened to Christmas this year? For me it was a little bit like a play on the words of a poem, The Fog, by Carl Sandburg.........

Christmas came on little cat feet.
It sat looking over the hills and vineyard
on its haunches
and then moved on.......................

Three year old ........Grandson Andrew Steven Bartolucci Engelbert shows it best .......how to move on with gusto...........Catching and tasting all the "snowflakes" I can is his New Year's Resolution, and mine too!

So, may everyone catch, taste, enjoy and savor all your personal and unique "snowflakes"that fall on you in the coming year!

"snowflakes".........experiences, opportunities, adventures

There's No Rhyme or Reason...........

I'm late, I'm late I'm in a Santa stew............I have fallen down a snow hole, and this may be a revised version of Wonderland...........me wondering how I got myself in this situation......of being unprepared. One good thing..........I do not have to live up to any holiday expectations..because I have none. Do we see a pattern here in the way I create, as well as live?

Yesssss, you caught me sluffing. I have a dramatic background, but not much for Christmas to show.
I have spent too much time hanging out to dry..with my family in the mountains...........after days in the snow.
Now......it's time to do or die..........the holidays are coming............
People are waiting and counting on me....................
Help....... there is that............ something lurking in my not so distant future........... a holiday.....it's the one that follows THE ONE and ONLY HOLIDAY in October!

Let's Tinsell and Whimsy it up!!!!!

It's angel unaware.............dirt angel otherwise known as Earth Angel...........
I am Adrift..............
Jestyer snow person.......................

Santa at Bowling Green.............K............
Santa Catalena.....................friend of Santa Francisco
Santa Thinking Outside the Box.........................on his tiny chenille feet
AND......me having to be an elf in spite of myself!..............!

A Little Victorian at Christmas

OK.........go figure......I like Christmas to a certain extent, each year it varies.......it encroaches on Halloween, so right there that gives it at least one negative. Here's the figure part of go.......I like the old Victorian look for Christmas......although I do not have a Victorian bone in my body, nor do I have anything Victorian in my present surroundings. So, I guess the best way to explain it is that Victorians loved things......and to excess. They cherished objects, conceived of them, produced them, acquired them, and displayed them without tasteful restraints. How could anyone deny that fervor?............Not Me!

Why not have 100 painted Victorian ladies on vases, pitchers, and such instead of one!

And is this a refined way of saying I like clutter......the Victorian vignette..below?

UMMMM maybe..........but even though there were many objects displayed in the Victorian home.........they were arranged just so......... according to a set of strict guidelines. Any spot whether is be a table, manteltop, wall or shelf anywhere was deemed bereft and without the personal touch if it did not have a clutterly collection of something on it. The home was also thought to be unwelcoming, and neglected..........or possessing bare ugliness. That just won't do in my life either.

So........welcome to my world of Victorian Christmas Clutter...................

Enough said.........do I have a Victorian Christmas clutter table or what? No tasteful restraints here! I even see a devil in there waiting until Hell freezes over to open her gift................

No Way!

This is one of the things I cannot do................

Make a taco with my tongue............Just like when the man up above said math........I thought he said bath, and I said I will take mine later. Such is my lot in life...........a mathless, no tongue taco wonder! Resolutions for the new year..........learn to make a tongue taco, and my multiplication tables.

Zen Stampede..........

After saying good-bye to my seasonally attired bust...........I had to go back inside because a wise blogger never leaves home without........

the camera...........otherwise they might miss this secluded overgrown garden in Pompeii..........

or this surreal plush green vineyard carpet..............
And these rows of marching red fire ants.....................
or Kung Fu Panda .......................
Or .........a zen stampede.............
Further down the road I would not want to miss.........where an aluminum fishing boat went off the curve and magically became a viking ship.......pointed upwards at both ends........... this place will be forever known as Eddie's curve.
And............last, but not least I would very much like to capture the row of stakes piled high........lined up, and ready to burn in preparation for the upcoming Feast of Saturnalia..........the most festive of Roman Pagan celebrations.

Reality becomes imagination through photographs........it's way more fun than just seeing what is..........

I've Got You By the Strings........!

Everywhere, in every age, one of mankind's favorite forms of performing arts has been puppetry. It seems to have had it genesis in religious ceremony, in conjunction to priestly power. Some early evidence of puppetry have been found in Egypt, Greece and Rome.
Fertility was the hoped for effect of ritual use of this primitive puppet holding wheat, sun and with a movable phallus.

When the organized spectacles crumbled with the fall of the Roman Empire, the puppeteers moved on carrying their small worlds with them performing in the barbarian world unsung, and sometimes not noticed. These are early examples of puppets found in Roman ruins. Bearded puppeteer holding the string.

A puppet is an inanimate figure that is made to move by human effort before an audience. It is part of man's ancient urge to re-create life that results in this many-layered art. More diverse than painting, sculpture, dance, song, or story, puppetry has something in all of them. It is also a means of communication, an extension of human expression.
From the Nishka Indian culture..........this puppet has doors in its chest that open to reveal a painting of its soul, or spirit.

You can even pick up a handkerchief, or a necktie and give it emotion and life.
NeckTie Puppet
My version of a Handkerchief puppet.........This foundling has all her worldly possessions attached.
An example of a puppet theatre. This is the oldest puppet theatre in Europe. It is located in an 11th century Brussels church.

A puppet must always be more than his live counterpart-simpler, sadder, more wicked, more supple. It is created to perform, entertain, and to make a statement.
As does Charlie..............
Punch is considered one of puppets royalty. He had his early roots in Italy. After many years, he helped in the evolution of a unique kind of theatre. One where the audience is also involved. The special power of this type of punch puppet theatre is that Punch and his cast can be ready to play a special new drama in an instant, based on the audience. The legitimate theatre cannot do that. They must rehearse in most cases. The movies cannot do that either. Live puppet theatre can create a personalized show that has the ability to go beyond amusement.

Some American hand puppets of the 19th century done in a folk art style.

Somewhere someone may be making a puppet that resembles nothing human, or animal at all. It may be an abstraction, or anything!
An artist from Zurich conveys an illusion of life through the use of moving symbols......what will the next puppet be...........yours?

Hangtown Field Trip.............

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Pass those frolicking in the fields..........

AND go beyond my family who are always standing and sitting patiently.......................................................

Now ease on down the road..........
to meet my posse for our trip to Hangtown!........................................................Posse being an appropriate word for a town named for vigilante justice.

Hot on the trail to view the curiosities at Gothic Rose Antique

First jewelry..........a girls best friend!

Triple threat welcome......


Dressed to stare.........


Dressed to kill...........Femme fatal Eva Fangoria.......


Taking it easy among the elegant clutter.........

Memorial to those that have passed.....................

Strange buds...........


The back room where your fate can be sealed....sometimes in a jar........



Wicked wares stored in the back room.......



Exit the Gothic catacombs........the end to a perfect day!