We have two cats and love them dearly. But sometimes, well,.... cats will be cats.
The other morning one of my two, was doing just this, being a cat. I opened the back door to find two of the dearest little mice. Not a mark on them, almost untouched, but sadly dead. I made a grave for them lined with leaves beneath the hawthorn tree and placed an apple core for their journey. These two mice stayed with me all day in my head and inspired me to paint.
Two toadstool hangers.
The words read: 'Rest your spirit beneath the sleepy leaves and wild woods' and 'When the sun fades sleep gently dear one'
Nights have been chilly this week. A fire has been lit on more than one occasion. In the garden I am being watched and shadowed by a friendly Robin.
The other morning I went out in search of capturing Autumn rain drops.
Autumn can be seen everywhere now. Have you spied her watching you?
'She swept through the garden with a misty cloak. And beneath berry boughs I spied her Autumn face'
***
(Wooden Heart Hanger and both Toadstools will be listed shortly in my Etsy shop)
And before I leave, here's a little enchanting Autumn magic I found on You tube.
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Posts
Love the toadstools and Autumn face - you have captured the magic of the season! Enjoy these gold and red days. :)
ReplyDeleteMagic.
ReplyDeleteLove the eyes.
And the autumn movie.
the toadstool artwork is so sweet, and a beautiful way to honor the mice spirits. lovely. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI am so moved by your beautiful treatment of the two little mice. thank you for sharing that. And I do so want to get the "Autumn Face", very very lovely
ReplyDeleteBeautiful story, and beautiful Autumn face too!
ReplyDeleteCold here too, my cat is the same, sad but I guess that is catness. Great work.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post - those two little mice wiull certainly have a pleasant journey to the spirit world more so than most I am sure. Those little toadstools are so lovely as is the autumn hanging. You have captured a different angle to Autumn - love it.
ReplyDeleteJane
Wonderful Autumn eyes: yes I have found her watching me from the most unexpected of places!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful paintings, I love the curled mice and the words you choose are so good... :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! I think you've caught the spirit of Autumn with its magic, melancholy and misty secrets. I've seen mice twice and I must confess that I was afraid of them, but being heroes in your story, they seem quite sweet! Poor creatures! You've given them the tenderness that they'd never met in their lives. I like the toadstool hangers and the wooden heart with the eyes of Autumn - how very nice! Lovely photos, everything is so touching and stylish at the same time!:-)
ReplyDeleteNever enough visions of autumn.. beautiful. Sorry about the mice, but at least you have immortalized them :) All the best.
ReplyDeleteThose little mice and berries are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI too have just blogged about autumn... it's that time of year
Celia
I love your story about the mice, and how you captured them in your new work - they are beautiful and really evoke Autumn with the little berries surrounding them. I like also your Autumn heart, its wonderful!
ReplyDeleteMuch love
Julia x x x
Hello Sweetie, I have been so busy I have neglected my blogging pals... hope you are well...I love your fab makes...Alfie is always trying to kill mice and Pete often manages to save them...I love your little burial preparations...
ReplyDeleteKaren, these paintings are stunning! I don't know about autumn watching me but is that a face on the green apple? (You can see it if you turn it sideways!)xx
ReplyDeletePoor little mice, I have 7 cats and it breaks my heart each time they bring back their catches - mice, birds, butterflies.....but that's the way they are and you have to love them regardless of this.
ReplyDeleteYour little mice are beautiful :)
How kind of you to send the mice off in such a fashion...my cat Rueben brought in a tiny field mouse the other day and I was fortunate enough to catch him and free him...love your sweet memorials to them.
ReplyDeletelove the art and the video,strangely I had just been reading Yeats before I checked my blogs !!
ReplyDeleteDear Karen, those wee mice may have come to a sad ending, but what a beautiful way for them to be remembered. I am loving your creations. Isn't autumn so enchanting.
ReplyDeleteYou are a lovely artist.
ReplyDeleteYour toadstools and autumn face hangar are so lovely - they truly capture the essence of the season. :) Theresa
ReplyDeleteThe toadstools are nice and I really like the eyes. Fall does seem to be arriving everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI love the mice paintings; the story about finding the mice and being inspired by them is beautiful. It's artists who have the gift of taking the harsh moments of reality and transforming them into something that carries on giving life.
ReplyDeleteLovely epitaphs to the mice... yes, cats will be cats and are without shame. They show their love for you in catching food for you.
ReplyDeleteFor a moment I thought the Face among the Leaves would be the Green Man!
What's the poem in the movie? It sounds familiar, but I don't remember it.
Stay warm, the season of Sniffles is upon us.
A sweet tribute to the tiny ones--the mushroom/ mouse painting is lovely. Alas, despite my long standing vegetarianism my cats still insist on gifting me with similar "food".
ReplyDeleteHow sad the little mice. The hangers are so sweet and I adored the utube vid, very unnusual :D
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm opening a blog design studio, if you're interested go here:
ReplyDeletehttp://novelsandbits.blogspot.com/2010/10/grand-opening.html
I wouldn't mind if you mentioned it sometime either *she says hopefully*. I haven't had much publicity about it *she says sadly*
Many thanks,
Ri