Monday 27 April 2009

Springtime in Knollshire

Dear Bloggy Friends, you are highly favoured! Necky Becky, our oft-times grumpy daughter is in a good mood, and has decided, (nay - demanded!), that I should share with you one of our favourite spring walks.

I'll let her speak:

"This is our best view of Knollshire up here. You can even see our Necky Knoll House with the garden round it. There's my Dad's vegetable garden too. (He doesn't do much work in it though). Me 'n' Hals are on our favourite knoll. Old Gnarly the gardener says there's supposed to be a secret portal to another world called planet Earth, somewhere round here!"

Necky Becky never minds the rain. We had a few late April showers today, but she still insisted we go on our walk with Hals, posting a letter for Maureen en route.

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I love the overcast skies of showery spring days. Each droplet of rain seems luminous and full of promise. The grass gleams in the vernal light.

We all love to wander through The Forest. How beautiful it is there, with the birches clad in spring green. The young leaves shimmer as pinky giraffe-patterned clouds move mysteriously across the sky.

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Everything pulsates with a sense of waiting. The feeling of growing, ('growyness' as Necky B. calls it), pervades the atmosphere.

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Not to be missed out, big sister Nexi asked me to include this little 'decoupage' she has created from Necky Becky's picture.
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(Girth's just hollered across the room that we've not included a view of he and Nektareeni's Gleeful & Greedy Restaurant! There's a special story to tell you about that next time ...)

Happy Spring!

61 comments:

nollyposh said...

oh sigh... i love *magical* portals X;-)

Cloudia said...

"I love the overcast skies of showery spring days. Each droplet of rain seems luminous and full of promise. The grass gleams in the vernal light."

And I love visitng this dear & magical world you so generously share with us. We are all in your debt of friendship, Ralph ;-)
Aloha to the young`uns!

Chris Hale said...

I wonder where the Portal emerges on Earth? Somewhere nice, I hope.

Thanks to Necky Becky for sharing the walk with us, and to Nexi for her decoupage!

Heather said...

What a lovely springtime post - even if we did have ice on the bird bath this morning! It is my favourite time of year - there is so much to look forward to and everywhere looks new and fresh. Your illustrations are delightful, as always.

Rosemary said...

Happy Spring to you... tis a wonderful time of the year..... love the view of Knollshire.
Looking forward to seeing what a great vegetable garden you have. Beautiful forest with the giraffe spotted birches contrasting with the pink sky.

Unknown said...

Hi Raph,

Such a pleasant walk, and Necky B all Springyfied! The trees look lovely.

Tess Kincaid said...

Happy Spring to you and yours, Raph.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Hello Nollyposh - we love magical portals too! (We sometimes visit planet Earth on our Giraffe World Tours, but nobody notices us!)

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Aloha Cloudia from all of us! You are always welcome in our world, and Necky Becky was so proud to share our spring walk!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Ah, Chris, the portals shift with the ebb and flow of the universe and are to be found in different places ... but always nice ones!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Ice on the birdbath, Heather?! I hope you put some little pairs of skates out for the birds.

Thank you!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Rosemary!

Ermmm - our great vegetable garden ... well at present we could go in for dandelion coffee production!! Necky Becky's blunt comment about my lack of work in said garden was embarrassingly accurate!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

'Springyfied', Derrick! What a lovely word. Thank you - glad you enjoyed the walk!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Willow!

(Our willow trees here are now cascades of pale green foliage!)

bindu said...

Sounds like a nice walk. If I can find that portal, I'd be glad to slip into giraffe-land too! The giraffe-birch and clouds are so lovely.

Madame DeFarge said...

Raph - these are just aching beautiful drawings. I am so envious of your talent with word and paint. I shall spend the evening sighing.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Bindu! The portals to Giraffe World move around, so keep a look out for one ... Let us know if you are visiting, and we'll get Girth to bake some nice cakes for tea!

Grizz………… said...

It's like magic on this side of that secret portal, too…a green, sweetly-scented, land of blue skies and birdsong, where winter dreams come true and everything is soft and warm and delicious. Here, at Riversong, the stream runs like a turquoise ribbon—sparkling, murmuring, beckoning to come sit on the grassy bank, with laden picnic basket and a good book, and spend a lazy, sunny afternoon.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you so much Madame DeFarge!

I hope you do not spend too much time sighing, do indulge in some giraffe-style merriment too - cakes, tea and music!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Ooh yes, Grizzled - a picnic basket, a boat and Ratty and Mole and Badger for company too!!

Acornmoon said...

"growyness" says it all!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

I'll tell Necky Becky, Acornmoon! She'll be so pleased!

Jeane Myers said...

well I for one am glad Necky Becky 'demanded' to show us one of your favorite walks - it's beautiful and sounds and looks very much like our spring here!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Jeane - I'm glad you enjoyed it! If you find a portal to Giraffe World, let us know and you can join us on a walk!

Lyn said...

Happy Spring to you!
I myself am looking for a portal also, so that I may walk along your familiar paths..perhaps to join Necky Becky on a walk...

Raph G. Neckmann said...

I'm sure Necky Becky would love that, Lyn!

Let me know if you find a portal. Sometimes they can be where there are giraffe-markings - maybe the pattern of the stones in a wall, shadows cast by trees, the grain of wood ...

olivia said...

LOL, there is just so much detail in each image ... a feast for the eyes. And what a wonderful walk. Thank you for sharing it w/ us ... :-)

Liz said...

I walk a cow in my forest and my necky favourite giraffe bloggy friend tells a lovely story complete with a very lovely necky forest. I think I would like to have my forest like yours Raph I love the Giraffe Trees I think they would look right at home on my farm here.

Say hello to all your other necky family and I like Necky Becky's sotry and old Gnarly the gardener.

Take care and look after your spots
Liz

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Olivia! I'm glad you enjoyed the walk and the details!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Hi Liz! I've passed your greetings to the family and to old Gnarly too! Many thanks, and they all send giraffe greetings to you too.

I'm really pleased that you enjoyed our necky forest. It would be great if you could grow some of our giraffe trees on your farm!

Barbara Martin said...

A nice springtime walk in the woods is a treat I'm looking forward to once the temperatures warm a bit more.

Rainshowers are to be expected in the springtime as they help all those thirsty plants to grow.

Another Portal? In your garden? Wow.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

I hope your weather becomes nice and warm so you can enjoy your springtime walks, Barbara!

Our garden doesn't extend this far!Just to where the hedge is at the back of the shed, which you can see in the distance on the picture. But in a sense, the whole of Knollshire is our garden!

The portals are constantly moving ...

A Cuban In London said...

I loved the tour. And I wonder if that secret portal is long enough for your neck ;-)? Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

Rune Eide said...

You have a daughter who is both a talented artist and talented writer. Take good care of her!

PS Thank you for the nice comment!

Country Girl said...

I love all the growyness depicted. This was just lovely, Ralph!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Cuban in London - I'm glad you enjoyed the tour!

The portal is sometimes not wide enough for me if I have been eating too many cream cakes!!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you RuneE, it is kind of you to say so! I do take good care of everyone in the family - they are all very close to my heart.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Country Girl, I am glad you enjoyed it - growyness is so special at this time of year, isn't it!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Gorgeous. And I agree with Necky Becky. I never mind the rain either!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Kindred spirits, Pamela! Spring rain in particular is inspiring and invigorating.

cotedetexas said...

What a charming blog! adorable.

thank you for your comment on my blog about Grey Gardens!!!! Very strange story isn't it? But very interesting.

thank you again!
Joni

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Joni - I am honoured!

Grey Gardens is indeed an amazing story and I was fascinated, reading your wonderful blog post about it.

Leigh Russell said...

wow - don't know what else to say, and it's not like me to be lost for words... What an enjoyable blog.

Unknown said...

I'd notice you, Ralph, if you came thru a portal in my area... and I wish there was one in my area!

Unknown said...

Left something for you on my post today; hop over and pick it up when you have time.

Jane

Lauren said...

What a beautiful walk that Necky Becky has shared with us. I hope that your Spring is going nicely :)

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Leigh! Glad you enjoyed it - hope you're not lost for words for long, being an author!!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

I wonder if I could disguise myself so people wouldn't notice me if there was a portal near Gaston Studio? I could wear a thick scarf to hide my neck - or maybe my ZZ Top outfit?

Ooh - I'm intrigued, Jane! I'll pop across later this evening, we've a house-full at present, and I've just sneaked away for a moment to check my comments!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Lauren! I hope your spring is going nicely also - here the sun is shining and we're all full of chocolate gateau, icecream and merriment!

sandy said...

These are wonderful!!! I will be back to catch up...

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Sandy! See you again soon!

Cloudia said...

Mr. Neckman: Check out this post!

http://bubblewench.blogspot.com/2009/05/wordless-wednesday.html

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Cloudia! I've just been across and invited the lonely giraffe, and Bubblewench round for tea at Necky Knoll House!

Bubblewench said...

Hi there! Thank you for visiting me. What a unique blog you hve here! I will be back :)

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Bubblewench! Look forward to your next visit - I'll be back to yours again too!

Heather said...

Thankyou for your kind comment on my blog Raph. I don't know of any intergalactic portals in the Bristol area but we do have a very nice zoo and I would ensure that you were well cared for and not restrained in captivity.

Kat Mortensen said...

Raph - Your world is so beautiful! I can only hope that my DREAMS would be as wonderful to explore as your existence already is. I love the forest especially.

I think Knollshire would inspire some wonderful poetry. Does your world have any poets?

Kat

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Heather! I'd only need a short weekend break to visit the Exhibition - but the big question would be - do the Zoo serve chocolate gateaux to residents?!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Poetikat! You are always welcome to visit our world.

Our world does have a range of poetry, from deep and atmospheric to light-hearted. We must be thinking on the same wave-length, Kat, because my next post will be the song-lyrics (a form of poetry?) to a Tea Shanty ...

Leigh Russell said...

I wonder if your giraffes would canter over to amazon.com and ask them why Cut Short isn't available until October, although it's published in June...

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Is there an intergalactic portal at Amazon, Leigh? Hope it gets sorted.