Tuesday, May 28, 2013

I Think Mice Are Rather Nice

I think mice are rather nice.
Their tails are long, their faces small;
They haven't any chins at all.
Their ears are pink, their teeth are white;
They run about the house at night.
They nibble things they shouldn't touch;
And no one seems to like them much,
but I think mice are rather nice.
Rose Fyleman
This poem reminds me of when I was a child and came into my head after I bought this picture at a car boot sale at the weekend.
I could hear it whispering "buy me, buy me"  and I knew that if I didn't, then later on at home I would regret it. So I followed my instinct and paid the £3.50 (a bargain!) and brought it home with me, ignoring the odd looks from the daughter and husband. I'm so glad that I did. It looks as if it's a picture of  maybe the Royal Ballet, Beatrix Potter characters that someone has kept and put in an old heavy glass frame?
                                                                        ~*~
After a cup of tea and a loving cuddle with my new bargain mousy picture....Squeak squeak! ;)  I wandered down to a local garden, which was open  for the National gardens scheme.
Cantax house is the home of Sculptor Deborah Van Der Beek and the garden is an interesting treat.
As soon as I walked in my spirits soared  to see the beautiful wild flower cow parsley so often cut down on roadside verges left to show off it's delicate beauty.
It really set off these wonderful wood carved men folk in their wildness. 
There were enticing windows and doorways. 
And white forgetmenots. Something I don't have in my own garden, but something I must try and get growing.
The Iron man,  I think? 

I love this bird. 
I wish I'd took a few more photos of this one, as he was very thought provoking. A baby bird in his hand and his stomach had burger, fries and beer bottle tops embedded. His back had toy cars and parts of mobile phones. Do you see the hands and feet coming out of the top of his head? 
All in all an enjoyable day and the sun shone too.
Now it's back to work....

x

20 comments:

  1. ~ It seems we both have the whispering, "Buy me" in our heads this weekend...hehe! I LOVE Mr and Mrs mouse picture, truly enchanting, Karen...~ They look like soft velvet....We saved a tiny mouse that our kitties brought in recently, ever so gently as a gift for us...We set it free...As it was amazingly unharmed! LOVE all the woodland peeps, they look like from another enchanting world...Thank you for this lovely post....~ with kindest thoughts....Maria x

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    1. It's a wonderful feeling when you can set the unharmed mice free isn't it. Ooh... what have you been buying then Maria? I shall have to stop by your blog and see. ;)x

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  2. Love the mice, reminded me of the Beatrix Potter ballet poster I had on my wall as a child. What a wonderful garden too, thanks for the virtual walk.

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    1. That's what I thought too Charlotte. Glad you enjoyed sharing my garden walk. :)

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  3. What an enchanting place to visit.. OH how I love the sculptures, and not to forget the sweet image of the mice.. I love the sculpted greenery.. I attempted to sculpt a rabbit out of my rosemary bush.. I can appreciate the work that went into it, and I adore the castle.

    The windows and doorways in this most magnificent garden are a sight to behold.. What an amazing artist she is.. I believe the bird sculpture is my favorite.
    Thank you so much for sharing this Karen. What a treat!
    fondly,
    Penny

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    1. I think topiary needs a lot of patience doesn't it. And this even more so as it's yew rather than box, which grows even slower. I've always had a yearning towards sculpted greenery too which is strange, as it somehow goes against my love of things natural and left wild. I think it's the creative part of me that likes the surreal story book landscape. Glad you enjoyed. :)

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  4. What a beautiful place! I love magical gardens!
    have a great week
    Lisa

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  5. That topiary lady is quite stunning isn't she? I'm not sure if I've ever seen a human shape made like that before. It looks as though you had a lovely break.xx

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    1. She's captured the pose so well hasn't she. If it was me I'd use a teeny tiny pair of scissors to trim her. One mistake could take years to repair with yew. Can you imagine! :~/
      Thanks , yes I had a very relaxing weekend. Hope you did too Jess. x

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  6. Beautiful garden, I love the magical doorways, and the frothy cow parsley
    Bless all your days with a smile
    Thea x

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    1. Glad you liked it Thea. Aw thanks for your sweet words. The same to you! xx

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  7. Lovely pictures but I am in love with your mousy couple and think you got yourself a bit of a bargain there - so many times I have walked away and kicked myself for not buying something like this - so glad you did. Betty

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  8. I've done that loads of times too Betty and always kick myself as well. In fact I did it last weekend that's why this weekend I got it right. x

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  9. That is an odd but fabulous mouse photo, love it! Definitely worth the odd looks.... and I, too, love cow parsely, and Queen Anne's Lace, which everyone else pulls from their gardens, but I let it grow and sway in the breeze. What a cool place. I love seeing sculpture mingle with flowers.

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  10. I like mice too. I seem to have a wee visitor in my kitchen at present. He seems to be keeping the big, house spiders in check, so he is very welcome! I, too, love that bird sculpture.

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  11. Lovely post. I love mice, buns, hares.

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  12. Lovely mice and enchanted garden. I so love sculpture in the garden. What a great day! :)

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  13. This is a most intriguing stroll . I also enjoyed visiting Deborah Van Der Beek's site ... amazing.

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