I had a lovely surprise the other day ... my meme present from Derrick of Melrose Musings! (This was a fun meme where the first five people to comment on Derrick's post would receive a present specially made, just for them, by Derrick himself).
You can imagine my nexcitement when I found a parcel addressed to me, just outside the secret portal behind the cacti! Maureen and the family all watched as I opened the cardboard tube ...
There inside was an exquisitely beautiful image of Melrose Abbey, photographed and manipulated by Derrick into a lovely pastel range of colours!
"Pink!" squealed Necky Becky and Nexi simultaneously.
"How atmospheric and serene!" sighed Maureen.
As I held up the picture, I realized that there was not only one present, but two! Underneath was a print of the original photograph Derrick had taken of the Abbey ... wonderful!
We lost no time in getting both pictures framed, so we could hang them on our walls! You can see them both here in the frames made for us by Gaffer Giraffter of Our Neck of the Woods Timber.
As they were my present, I chose the room. "Definitely the sitting room, where they will be most seen and appreciated by us and all our guests!" I said.
As a family we thought we'd try different placings near our fireplace.
Maureen, Littl' Nicky and I all agreed that they looked best hung one-over-the-other next to the fireplace.
My sister Nektareeni and Girth preferred them one on either side.
Help me, dear bloggy friends!
Where do you think these lovely pictures look best?
And Derrick, a most hearty THANK YOU from all of us at Necky Knoll House!
55 comments:
You are one lucky giraffe! Derrick's photos are beautiful!
Oh my.......HMMM Well the Pink is powerful stuff...and I can so see them powerfully alone...but my vote is together....They enhance each other !
I would also like to mention I am seeking adoption into this special family. Is there a procedure I must follow or a pete4tion I must present?:>)
Linda
Raph, how lovely to receive such a wonderful present. My thoughts on hanging the pictures are the same as yours, to hang them one over the other. That way they stay together as a pair. Later you can hang something a bit different on the other side of the fireplace.
One on either side would be my choice! Lovely pictures - thank you for sharing!
Good morning Raph,
The pleasure is all mine! But I didn't mean to cause any family fracas!
I look forward to seeing the suggestions everyone offers.
Thank YOU for such a lovely post.
They are indeed beautiful, Willow! I like looking from one to the other and savouring the colours and atmosphere.
I agree, Linda - they do so enhance each other. I don't think we'll let Necky Becky take the pastel one up to her attic!
Adoption into our family?! What a lovely compliment! I shall have to think about that... I guess I see my bloggy friends as part of our extended inter-galactic family ...
Barbara, yes I do like them together as a pair. Also, (a bit of strategy here!), they will be right in my line of vision from my rocking chair so I can enjoy looking at them without having to turn my neck!
What a good idea to hang something on the other side too. That would balance the look nicely.
Janet - you have the same preference as my sister Nektareeni and Girth. (Nektareeni is very stylish and has her own beautifully decorated boutique!)
Derrick - no family fracas, just our usual lively necklock!
How would you hang them, Derrick, as the artist?
PS Derrick - I'm waiting to see if Weaver notices something ......
Dear Raph,
How delightful to pull out the telescope and know that, however difficult things are in one part of the world, people are thriving and doing phenomenally well in other sections of our interconnected galaxies.
Just the other day I was having a conversation with someone down here (up there, for you?) and I mentioned a lovely Giraffe bloke whom I had not visited, in his part of the galaxy, for quite a while.
Further, oblivious to the confusion commencing around the table, I noted that he (you) had even visited the North in some form of cosmic teleportation at one point in time.
Finally, I remarked sadly on how remiss it had been of me not to visit and check that the Terrestrial (I capitalise it on behalf of dear Terra) financial crisis was having no ill effects on his portion of the world in Camelopardalis, or in his happy herd.
Well, you cannot imagine the hullaballoo on the other side of the jereboam.
Stark amazement and even some concern from the most feckless of companions was heard.
That and, "Ease up on the wine, big boy".
Sometimes, one has to be careful what one says.
One chap asked me if maybe the stress of unravelling finacial trades of the last month was getting to me and if I needed to maybe see a specialist.
"No worries" I blithely told him.
"I mentioned to the specialist that I my friends likely thought I was off my proverbial rocker".
"Why don't you kill them, then." was the advice the mythical good doctor told me. Or that was what I relayed to my companions.
Buttocks shifted quietly.
As a joke it went over as well as Hitler's picnic in Belgium went with the Walloons and the Flems.
(That, I think, was the last time those two groups likely agreed with each other. (Sorry, political Earth humour. I doubt Belgium matters much in Camelopardalis; they don't matter much here.))
Anyway, I am delighted to visit and see if everything is doing well here.
As per your question on art placement, I am torn.
Aesthetically, I want to agree with you.
In sympathy with Nexi, as a bad uncle in training, I would love to support her aspirations for the piece. If this channels her away from Girafferteens and 'RaffPop fan 'raff posterdom, then I would think you might be in agreement.
(Nexi, are you taking notes? I will courier outrageously awful teen 'Raff posters to put up to attempt to sway your father's judgment... delete this bit before your Dad sees it.)
Raph, quick question, directly relevant to today's post.
A muse with whom you are on more than speaking terms with with, aka Urania, I believe, transported a delightful package which has become my screensaver to the Heroine's envy.
Do you think I can post this, similar to what you have done? I have not to date to not give the muse's Terran 'handle' away--or any IP rights. I have wanted to publicly praise the creator but have felt myself to be in a bit of a bind, you see.
Should I continue the status quo or what think you?
Maureen might well have some good suggestions, too. The good woman who consented to marry me usually has the good suggestions in our family.
(Thank goodness she does not read extra-terrestrially...)
And, Derrick's artistry is sublime. You are a lucky man. And so am I with what I have received.
Tschuess,
Chris
one on each side until there's something for the other side. Ballance!
wow - fabulous! gifts from Derrick - love how he manipulated the colors to match your world! I vote for the two together to the side of the fireplace!
Sepiru Chris, I am so enjoying reading your comments again! A real treat at the end of a wonderful day. I shall come back to read this again after my tea, (Girth has been cooking a concoction with courgettes, mushrooms, garlic, onions, pasta and cheese which has the most delightful aroma).
Nexi likes the idea of a bad uncle in training, and said maybe she can train you to help her stencil arty designs on the wall, or to distract me so that I don't notice her stencilling walls. She is unusual in that she doesn't go for 'raff posterdom. Her ethos is, is she hasn't designed something, it's not going on the walls, unless it is 'exceptionally awesome genius'. (Derrick is thus highly praised!)
Maureen, like me, is enjoying Status Quo. Our muse is not the kind who requires public praise in order to bestow inspiration on us - indeed we find this more in the hidden dells of our forests. The handle on the door to our portals is delightfully secret ... However, duplication and transportation of the 'delightful package' to the Heroine's screen is commendable!
Oops - my tea is going cold! I'm going to look up 'jeroboam' in our English-Camelopardalian Dictionary and enjoy reading your comment again with my coffee.
Wonderful Sepiru Chris - your whimsy has returned - use it to bash any malaise that may surface.
That's a good idea, Marigirl! I suppose we'd need either something large on the other side, or another two small pictures.
Jeane - it's wonderful how Derrick has tailored the colours to our world! He has the Camelopardalian palette perfectly!
Hum , I will never look at cacti the same again . I will be looking for the portal to Giraffe World.
Nektareeni and Girth's placement win my vote..
Derrick is very talented and you are very lucky to have such a nice friend.
Rosemary, I am indeed lucky to have such a nice friend as Derrick, with such great talent too.
Our portals to Giraffe World occur in a variety of places - sometimes behind the cacti, oft-times elsewhere! You have to look for the secret giraffe ...
What treasures!
So lovely in your dear home, too.
Aloha, my tall friend-
Thank s Raph! I love extended inter-galactic family ...Great concept....
Linda
What a lot of suggestions, Raph! And such kind comments.
I think I would agree with your original idea and hang them together on one side. You will have to let us know what you get to balance up on the other side.
I can imagine that a certain pink someone is being a little grumpy now!
Oh the picture is strikingly beautiful! It brings life to a place that some could dismiss as "abandoned."
Well deserved gift, for all the joy your bring us with your writings!
They are treasures indeed, Cloudia!
We'll all have to have a cyberspace intergalactic celebration when we've finally decided how the pictures are to be placed!
Glad you think so, Linda! I wonder if Neko (Nexi's boyfriend) would write a song for us about it!
I haven't counted yet, Derrick, but I have a feeling that may turn out to be the most popular placing for them.
However, knowing the way we work as a family, we'll probably keep moving them around so everyone is happy, anyway!
I'm getting into the idea of having a cyberspace intergalactic celebration - no doubt that will cheer up Necky Becky too!!
I like that thought and description, Tom!
And thank you - I'm glad my writings bring you joy.
What a neat photo! I love how he treated it to make it have all those colors. Beautiful!
It is indeed, Lauren. I love the way he has created the contrasting colours between the Abbey and the foreground too.
What a lovely surprise! All laces are excellent for the photo and painting to hang on. I like all your drawings. Have a nice week in your neck of the giraffe wood.
Congrats on your pressie! What a wacky, zany and lovely post! Many thanks.
Greetings from London.
Thank you Reader Wil! I hope you have a lovely week too!
Thank you Cuban in London! 'Wacky, zany and lovely' - I like that description!
Hi Raph!
I hope you'll not take it amiss, but I have tagged you over at my blog to provide six bits of information.
I blame Mme DeFarge myself!
Hang them one above the other in the hall to save arguments. That way everyone who calls at the front door will still see them. I don't think you will get to see any garden plans as the garden is too small for such grandeur. It just evolves, but when I have put more plants in and the light improves, I will try and get a good photo to put on my blog.
Six bits of information, Chris! Sounds intriguing ... I shall come and have a look ... I hope I know the answers!
Oh Heather - but if they are hanging in the hall we won't be able to look at them when we are sitting cosily round the fire!
Gardens which just evolve are the most fun, and full of surprises! Look forward to seeing the photos.
These are beautiful! Are your visitors mostly giraffes or human? Just wondering at what height the paintings in your house hang ...
Bindu - Our visitors to Necky Knoll House here in Camelopardalis are all giraffes. We are not aware of any portals for humans to visit in person, only the cyberportal of the Interneck. (Although there are occasional secret portals for us to visit planet Earth and collect or deliver our meme pressies!)
So we hang our pictures quite high ...
Great! I always liked giraffes - glad I found you!
Thank you Jeannette! There are always plenty of giraffes here!
Congratulations! Great reward by Derrick, and well deserved. The realistic and the other-worldly, now let's see.
I sort of like the horizontal mirror over the mantle, the real and the pastel on either side. Or instead of the mirror, how about a Jackson Pollock? I do like symetry, actually.
Lyn
Thank you Lyn!
A Jackson Pollock ... You mean an original?
It would be fun if we could have a mirror that was also a secret portal from Giraffe World to planet Earth and vice versa!
Charming post and hmmmmm, I like them all!! However, leave the mirror above the fireplace and the two of the photos on the left...but then again...whatever you choose will be great.
Thank you Sandy! I also still like best the mirror with the two pictures on the left!
Wonderful pictures- lucky lucky you! I like them together on the side!
I am lucky, aren't I, Dee! Whoopee, I think the two pictures down the side seems to be just about the favourite placing so far!
They look best one above the other on the left of the fireplace, Raph - what lovely pictures they are to be sure.
Promised to send you the Edwin Morgan poem Raph - do you know it? Whenever I read it (he is one of my favourite poets) it makes me smile. What do you think of it?
The Giraffe (a Glasgow sub-way poem)
The subway giraffe
Keeps its head down.
It has a special joint
in its neck. Its mother
is known to have been friendly
with an excavator.
It feeds on old tickets,
a cold chip or two,
makes do with cigarette ends
but shivers with pleasure
at a scatter or rings
torn off from cans,
smacks its lips
as the metal rattles
down to its stomach.
The neighbours nod wisely:
"Favours his da."
Good-oh! Another preference for my favourite placing of the pictures! Thanks Weaver!
I love this poem, Weaver! It really made me smile too.
I am not familiar with Edwin Morgan's work - not really very widely read with poetry atall, I confess. Now I have read this I shall be looking for more of his!
Thank you so much.
Ralph - from your last comment on my blog, the tracking software I use is called StatCounter - http://www.statcounter.com/ - easy to use and fun to see.
Take care,
Tom
Thanks Tom. Easy to use? Wonderful, even I should be able to get my neck round it! It'll be fun to see readers from all over planet Earth ... (Oh - what if they are not from planet Earth?!)
LOL, wonderful post! Wonderful. What a treat seeing Derrick's photos hanging on the wall ... lol! I like them one above each other too ... :-)
Thank you Olivia! We all love Derrick's photos here, and I'm so glad my favourite hanging arrangement is the most popular!
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