Stocking Stuffing (3) - Giraffes

A Giraffe's Christmas Wish

(written by me!)

 

Twinkle, twinkle little star

If I could keep you in a jar

I'd wish upon you ev'ry night

Wishing for some snow, so white!

"I wish I may, I wish I might

Have the wish I wish tonight!"

In Africa the sun glows so hot

For giraffes like me, it's just the spot

But all the same it might be nice

To have a little snow and ice!

If I should wear some figure skates

I'd create some nice figure eights!

I'd glide across the ice so slick

Spinning, twirlin' 'round, oh so quick!

I know that is what I would want

A frozen pond on which to jaunt,

But other creatures might dislike

Their home becoming the Klondike.

So, Santa please, do what is best

For me, my family, and the rest.

Let's forget wishin' for snowfall 

I wish good days for one and all!

"Stocking Stuffing... Giraffes"

(watercolour, approx. 12" x 7")

These sweet giraffes are going to awake to find the juiciest leaves 

from the tallest of trees tucked into their stockings - the leaves they 

are not yet tall enough to reach! What a wonderful treat to awake to!

This is my favourite, so far, in my Stocking Stuffing series! 

I LOVE GIRAFFES!!

I discovered, while researching how giraffes sleep, that they sleep for about 4 hours a day!

They snuggle down into these sweet little packages - all limbs and long curving necks -

and they curl their neck around to rest their heads on their hind quarters!

These li'l giraffes were SO much fun to draw! 

All curvy lines and knobbly knees!! And spots!!!

The keen observer may have already discovered that whenever I draw 

a giraffe, I hide a heart (or two!) somewhere among their spots.

 I love hiding hearts (when I can) in my artwork!

Can you find the hidden hearts on these giraffes?

I will join with the li'l giraffe in wishing good days to one and all!

All the best ALWAYS!!  

 ♥ Cath-

 

 

 

 

 

Stocking Stuffing (2) - Mice

'Twas the night before Christmas

And all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring,

Not even a mouse.

 

Because they were both tucked up,

Sleeping soundly in their beds,

While visions of yummy treats

Danced in their heads.

Papa Mouse sneaked in quietly

With cheese for his small mousies.

They were dreaming of Christmas Day

and visiting cousins from other housies!

"Stocking Stuffing... Mice"

(watercolour, approx. 12" x 6") 

Inside the walls, everything is quiet; we can't hear the parents prepare.

Tiny morsels have been collected and saved, so everyone can have a share.

Oh, the celebrations that will be beginning soon! The party is about to start!

So much thought has gone into the festivities, so much time, and so much heart!

 

"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up everyone! Today is Christmas Day!!

Look at the treats Santa left in your stockings before rushing off to play!"

 ♥ Cath-

 

Stocking Stuffing

Stocking Stuffing

(by Catharine Fairchild)

Hot cocoa and popcorn as we sit by the fire,

Laughter and smiles, their eyes are getting tired.

Soon their heads nod and bob down in soft slumber.

Plump pillows, cool and cozy, nestle their sleepy heads,

Stitched quilts, tuck them into their warm and welcoming beds.

Sweet dreams will arrive as they doze into sleep.

Tiptoe out of their rooms to gather a few small gifts,

 Sneaking back to their stockings, hoping no eyelid lifts.

Tokens of love await them in the morning.

. . . . . . .

One of the most difficult things to accomplish during the holiday season

is not gift wrapping or baking seemingly endless cookies, but trying to 

get the gifts under the tree and into stockings without anyone noticing...

At our house, Mommy usually find a way to get the gifts under the tree 

while Daddy gets to enjoy the "milk and cookies" that our kids put out.

It's just a fun moment in time when the kids are sleeping, but excited 

for the next day at the same time.  They are older now, so sleep comes 

easier but the excitement is still the same on the eve of the big day!

I still remember when I was a little kid, trying my best to get to sleep 

but waking so often, anxiously wondering if I got one of the things from

my wish list.  The next morning it was always a treat to discover not only the 

gifts but also a stocking filled with small tokens of love in the form of a big orange

stuffed into the toe, some small gifts, and a handful of chocolates!

. . . . . . .

I've been working on a small series for the holidays titled,

- Stocking Stuffing -

Different animals, in their unique environments, gently slumbering while 

a parent plays 'Santa' and quietly fills each of their carefully hung stockings.

 "Stocking Stuffing... Bears"

(watercolour, approx. 12" x 6")

A cozy den under the tree roots, soft quilts cushion their sleep.

Yummy treats tucked into their stocking will make the morning so sweet!

♥ Cath-

  

 

Delivering Christmas Cheer

This year seems to have gone by as quickly

as my recently planted amaryllis bulb sprouts!

And like the rapidly growing amaryllis stalk, 

there has been something to be wowed by each day!

It's a lovely thing to realize that with a little water 

and a snug peat-filled pot that the amaryllis bulb 

will awaken from a 3-season slumber and begin again 

to sprout and stretch its gorgeous green leaves upward!

It's an even lovelier thing to realize that with a little care

and a snug love-filled hug that a neighbour

will feel blessed by a small gesture of kindness and will

produce a warm smile that will in turn make us feel blessed!

It's a beautiful time of year to show kindness!

I have found that at this time of year people are much more receptive 

to unexpected knocks at the door and the discovery of a basket filled

with fresh baked cookies sitting on their front porch.

There is something wonderful about this time of year!

We are all anticipating the first snowfall

We are finding ways to stay warm and snug...

Boots and galoshes, 

Hats and toques, 

Gloves and mitts,

Cowls and scarves,

Parkas!

Kindnesses, especially the unexpected ones,

can add a special warmth to someone's day

that simply cannot be replicated any other way!

When was the last time you shoveled your neighbour's driveway or sidewalk?

Or ran down the street after their garbage can lid because it was blown off 

by a strong gust of wind?  

When was the last time you baked them a special treat - just because?

Or simply dropped off a note letting them know that you're glad you're neighbours?

Now is the time to get your heart thinking of how you can share warmth

and show kindness to those with whom you share a street!

"Delivering Christmas Cheer"

(watercolour, approx. 8" x 12")

Be a Secret Santa!

Be a bold, carol-singing elf!

Be your own sweet self! 

However you choose to do it - 

just do your very best to get out there

and deliver some Christmas cheer!!

♥ Cath-

  

"A Collection of Nuts"

Autumn Is For The Squirrels

A poem written by me!

Running here, running there

Inspecting all the ruts

Dashing here, dashing there

Collecting all the nuts!

Leaping here, leaping there

Bounding from tree to tree.

Jumping here, jumping there

We're on a gath'ring spree!

Checking here, checking there

 Using our sense of smell.

Looking here, looking there

We buried them so well!

Scurrying here, scurrying there

Gotta tuck them away.

Bustling here, bustling there

We have no time to stay!

 

 Cramming here, cramming there

Working all day, 'til night.

Shoving here, shoving there

Packing them all in tight!

Watching here, watching there

Thieves are quick as a flash! 

Squawking here, squawking there

Gotta protect our stash!

 

The poem was written to go along with my newest illustration celebrating Autumn!

"A Collection of Nuts"

(watercolour, approx. 12" x 7")

Hope you find enjoyable activities to fill your days 

while everything out of doors prepares itself for Winter!

♥ Cath- 

 

 

 

"Leaf Leap"

The soft breezes that brought welcome respite in the Summer

now band together in the cooled air to create gusts...

The air turns crisp...

The gnarled limbs of apple trees

are heavy with ripened fruit...

The sunlight is simply delicious, bathing 

everything it touches in a luminous glow...

The brilliant foliage is transformed into stained glass...

...even the soft greens of late changing leaves look like

shards of peridot delicately suspended from narrowing limbs...

Walks out of doors are transformed with sights, sounds, and scents...

Kaleidoscope landscapes...

Crunching and scuffling leaves...

Wood fires warmly perfume the cold air...

{Insert contented sigh here}

I fall for Autumn every single year!   

...and so do these sweet li'l mice:

 "Leaf Leap"

(watercolour, approx. 6.5" x 6.5")

An ideal spot! A quick scramble up into a low bush, 

to the perfect branch that was spotted whilst on our walk...

One... Two... Three... 

Woo... hooo..... HOOOO!!! 

It's as though the toadstools grew here for this very purpose!!

As the puddle is to Spring, so the leaf pile is to Fall

The perfect day for a leaf leap!

Get out there and enjoy it!!

  ♥ Cath-

Sketchbook Sneak-A-Peek

Summer break has yet again flown by 

with lots of sunshine and clear skies!

 

Just the way I like it!!

 

Two months filled with a mixture of busyness and laziness

and barely any structure or stricture to our days!! 

 

The kids took a break from school, I took a break from painting...

 We accomplished what needed to be accomplished and

found ways to fit in what we wanted to accomplish!

All in all, lovely!

Now, Summer break is over and everyone is back to school; the house is quiet... 

But I've adjusted to the quiet. Actually, I've now heartily embraced the quiet!

I've found it's the friend that can be gone for long periods of time 

but when you're again in each others company it's oh, so enjoyable!

 

I have to admit it was a wee bit different when I sat down with my watercolours!

I experienced an awkward, "I thought we were best friends, so why haven't 

we seen you for two months" feeling...

 

I looked over my brushes, propped inside a tall teacup, and 

felt like I was about to say, "You're, um, looking good! ...hee, hee...

Hey, you've lost some weight haven't ya'?... ha, ha, ummm, nice haircut!"  

 

- All my familiarity with them had diminished! 

I couldn't even be sure if they were all there! 

I pondered over their sizes and shapes and tried to recall 

which ones were the newest and which were my favourite!

 

I sat there for a few moments more and then a 

most shocking thought came across my mind,

 "I don't really need to paint today... I can load the 

dishwasher and clean the bathroom instead!"

 

What???

 

 I knew right then and there that I had to get 

acquainted once again with my brushes and paints!!

When I see housework as more fun than painting, I know 

that my avoidance tendencies are conspiring mutiny!!

 

So I worked on a fun illustration and I'm 

in the process of painting it! Woo-hooo!!

But, you'll have to wait to see that one - 

it's still a few days away from being finished!

 

 

In the meanwhile, I will give you a small glimpse at my current sketchbook pages...

 

"S.S. Gravy"

Illustration idea, originating from a suggestion from my Dad... 

 

"The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick Maker" 

...because, why not?  They may be future background characters to a children's book! Who knows?!

And throw in a General Store shop keep while we're at it!

 

 

No, this dragon is not thinking of small babies 

as he munches on a spoonful of pasta! Tsk, how could you think that??

It's just a matter of "don't-waste-paper-and-keep-the-ideas-flowing" 

and a "how-do-I-access-my-cropped-photo-files-on-my-tablet?" kind of thing!

And these are the sort of drawings that come from asking 

my kids to 'name two animals for me to draw!': 

"Turtle and Squirrel"

 

"Octopus and Goldfish"

 

 

That's all for now!

I had better get back to my watercolours and brushes,

gotta work to keep the relationship alive!! :)

Hope you all had a lovely Summer!

 

I, for one, am looking forward to 

falling for Autumn yet again this year!!

 

Wishing you all the best - always!

♥ Cath-