Some time ago, at the Secret Portal behind the Intergalactic Cacti, a beautiful shell photograph arrived for me from Country Girl!
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The whole family fell in love with its subtle colours and entrancing spiral shape receding softly into the background.
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After having it framed, we have nexperimented with hanging it in various rooms. As usual, the family all want to hang it in different places ... I'm calling on you, dear bloggy friends, to help us in the nexciting task of deciding!
I rather like it by the fireplace, near Derrick's Melrose photos, so I can gaze at it in comfort from my rocking chair ...
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Uncle Girth thinks it should be in the hall by the front door, so it's the first thing people see on entering Necky Knoll House.
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Our toddler son, Littl' Nicky says that as his neck is not yet as long as ours, he cannot see it when it's too high - so how about just above the work surface in the kitchen?
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Both Nexi and Nektareeni think that a shell is a good subject to have in the bathroom. But Maureen pointed out that it may get spoiled by all the steam and condensation. 
She suggested hanging it just outside the bathroom on the landing. We tried it there just as Necky Becky was climbing the ladder up to her attic bedroom. *
"Ooh!" she yelled, "I want it! In my secret attic room!"Sounds familiar! But it wouldn't benefit the rest of us, as she doesn't allow anyone in her room ...
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Over to you! Where would you hang the lovely shell photo if you lived in our house?
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And of course, a big giraffy Thank You to Country Girl for our wonderful present! Do visit her blog, Chronicles of a Country Girl, and see all her beautiful photographs.
79 comments:
Oh, Raph! I am cracking up at your wonderfully drawn and quite funny post about my photograph. In fact, I'm re-writing my blog that I just posted to send people to see this.
This is just so . . . so . . . fun! When you sent me the address, I cracked up because it really was 'the Secret Portal' behind some sort of cacti and I wasn't quite sure it would find its way to you.
It warms my heart to know that your family enjoys it as well and I sort of like it in the bathroom. I was actually thinking of having one printed for myself and hanging it in mine. And hey, if the steam gets to it, let me know and I'll send you another!
Thank you so much, Country Girl! It does go so well in the bathroom, and I'm sure if we keep opening the window to let the steam out it will be OK - but it's lovely to know you'd send another if it did get damp! (We giraffes are very splashy when we brush our teeth and gargle!)
The bathroom would be nice,but since I spend more tine in the kitchen if it were there I would get to see it more often.I just Love country girl don't you?
I think you should hang it on the mantle wall..and hope for an ever expanding bloggy gallery to be featured there..now what would I send..perhaps a picture of a ghost! Oh, my..
I'm voting for the bathroom. When you're forced to spend a long time in there, you can look at the shell and dream about the world inside its chamber.
Hello Betty - yes we all love Country Girl!
The kitchen would be a good place, though I would hang it a little higher above the work surfaces than Littl' Nicky asked, to avoid it becoming covered in tea, jam and chocolate!
Lyn, an ever expanding bloggy gallery sounds fun! Would you send a picture of a giraffe ghost?
That sounds like a great idea, Poetikat! I often sit in the bath with the teacosy on my head, so I can't hear Necky Becky and Nexi squabbling outside. Having the shell to contemplate while reading the Neckelchester News would be an extra peaceful time!
I'm here by reference from Kate (Country Girl). Those are wonderful pictures of the giraffes! Very creative! I think I'd vote by the fireplace because that seems a calming place.
Hello Alli and thank you!
Yes, our fireplace is very calming, and I love to dream there with a mug of hot chocolate and plate of biscuits.
I love your sketches, what a lovely way to honour a gift. I think bathroom, although above the cistern does not work for me.
Maybe the entrance hall to give the feeling of peace, tranquility and sun kissed beaches to all that pass through your door?
Thank you Jasmine!
I agree with you about above the cistern in the bathroom - but that is the only wall space that is free!
It would be nice to have that tranquillity and feeling of sun-kissed beaches in the hall - Oh for some sunshine now!!
LOL Raph - you never disappoint. What a wonderful, charming, uplifting, feel good, loveeverythingaboutit - post. :)
I like it in the hallway. Maybe you could do a rearrangement of the carpet to make it more sand like ?
If it was me though I would make mini copies so everyone could have there own wonderful shell to look at as they wake and go to sleep.
This really is all kinds of wonderful. How could you possibly decide the room to put it in???
i love the giraffe drawings...u r amazing and i bet u wud come up with a creative place...how about on the wall next to the stairs...u will always be glancing it going up and down the stairs...not too high for the kids, and still a special nook for the pianting.
How delightful that we send our love and art from one galaxy to another!
I'd love to visit giraffe world someday. I mean not just in my dreams.
I love spirals too, don't you?
Aloha, Friend!
Comfort Spiral
I like the idea of the wall opposite the bathroom
I had no idea that giraffe toothbrush handles were so long. Of course, it makes perfect sense, but I simply had not thought about it.
Thank you Olivia! Whoopee - I feel good now too!
I think it goes best in the bathroom! :)
Hello Carol!
I suppose I could sprinkle sand all over the hall carpet to give a beach effect! I don't know if Maureen would agree, though.
The mini pictures is a nice idea - we could order a set from Country Girl - or maybe commission her to do a series of shells!
Thank you TSannie! Maybe we should put it in a different room every few weeks!
That's a good idea, Rush! We could have another bloggy-friend gallery up the stairs and keep adding to it. And as Necky Knoll House is three storeys high there's plenty of room!
You'd be very welcome, Cloudia! You could see our Intergalactic Art Gallery and eat giraffitude cake with us!
Thank you Jan - it would almost be part of the bathroom there, and not get damp.
Mo.stoneskin - yes, it makes them rather large to store in the bathroom, but they're great for doing air guitar!
Thank you marigirl - I'm starting to like that best too!
Hi Raph,
How lucky you are, receiving such goodies. The shell is lovely and I would be tempted to put it in the bathroom, especially as you don't have to worry about it becoming spoiled.
BTW, I love Hals' net pulley!
chuckling away here.. great post :o) and love the photo! i'd go for by the fireplace.. lots of spiral gazing opportunities there.. x
Hi Derrick - I'm becoming more and more convinced that the bathroom is a good place for the shell.
Hals loves his net pulley up to the attic! But Maureen wasn't too pleased to find that Necky Becky had cut a large chunk out of the net curtains to make it! :)
Thank you GreenWhisper!
I do love gazing at the shell photo, it's so tranquil!
You are such a gifted artist Raph! I vote for the foyer, where everyone can see it when they first enter.
Hi Ralph,
Well, I have a dilemma. At first when I read where to put the shell photo, My vote was in the hall by the door for all to see. But, then as I read on, I thought that Littl' Nicky had a good idea, too. So, since I couldn't make up my mind, I think that the photo should have fair time in each place for ALL to see.
Thank you Gaston Studio!
Girth will be pleased that you've chosen the spot he would like it to be in.
Thank you Choices. That is a great solution which will keep everyone happy and keep refreshing the designs of our rooms!
I think the shell photo (it is so lovely) should be hung in the hall where everyone can see it.
Why not make it a roving picture - one week in each place so that you all get the benefit from it.
And yes, Raph, I am indeed a Rupert Bear fan, which is why I called my little pug, Algy. He was a darling and lived to be twelve years old. I miss him still.
Thank you Heather! (I'll have to put my rocking chair in the hall so I can sit and gaze at it though!! :)
The roving picture is definitely a strong contender here, Weaver! We could also turn it into a family game: 'Hunt the shell picture' each week!
Algy sounds lovely. Pugs are such adorable dogs! And I'm a Rupert fan too - I always get the annual each year, through the Secret Intergalactic Portal!
It absolutely deserves a spot by the fireplace. A phot that deserves to be studied at leisure.
Right at the entrance! :-)
It would look giraffilovely!
Fab post.
Greetings from London.
RuneE - I agree, and the fireplace is really the only spot where I could sit on my rocking chair and gaze at the photo at leisure.
Thank you Cuban in London!
Another for Girth's favourite spot for the photo!
Raph , What a lovely gift to recieve.Christmas is in the air.
Smiled at the giraffe shower head...along with all the giraffe touches...Earth shell picture should go into the bathroom, can hardly wait to see Giraffeworld shells.:-)
It is a lovely gift, Rosemary!
Glad you like our giraffe shower! We have plenty of shells here in Giraffe Word - I will do a post on the seaside soon!
I love your illustrations. It's amazing how you pay attention to the smallest of details. Love the steamy effect of the bathroom picture. Great work. The shell photo would fit in great anywhere.
Wonderful. I'd go for above the fireplace, just because it all looks so cosy.
Thank you bindu - I'm very honoured! (Do my family photos look like illustrations? Maybe the Intergalactic miles change them from the little snaps I take with my Nekon camera into illustrations :)
The shell does look cosy by the fire - we can all sit and dream of warm sunshine on beaches, while the rain and wind slosh against the house!
Madame DeFarge, I've just put the bit about the fire being cosy in with my reply to bindu by mistake! I must need a large mug of tea and some Gleeful & Greedy custard pudding to wake me up!
How generous of Country Girl to send you such a neckciting present.
Thank you for the glimpses of your lovely home. I cannot decide (Libran all over) between the bathroomand fireplace. At the side of the fireplace it would not get too hot and would be protected from direct sunlight and you could quietly muse on its beauty. In the bathroom of course, you could contemplate it in privacy and let it take you to the sea shore as you make storms in the tub.... hmmm
not at all an easy decision.
I hope you know I adore your illustrations.
Thank you so much, Arija!
The fireplace and the bathroom seem to be the most popular places - and I am now also keen on both - maybe the rotating locations with a new room every week or month will work best!
Raph, adore your illustrations, gosh, they are so lovely!
I'd opt for the bathroom too for the quiet-moment haven-feel to be had there...just right for that lovely shell.
(Miracle in post since Friday but had forgotten it is a long weekend here till Wednesday so probably won't get beyond village till then... ; ))
Thank you so much, Liz!
The bathroom quiet-moment-haven is so true and the shell would so fit in with this.
A long weekend till Wednesday? Sounds like a great place to live! I'm really looking forward to receiving your book!
It looks perfect in each place but I vote for the bathroom too- it just fits that world!
Thank you Dee! The bathroom does seem to be a popular place!
So sorry that you did not win my blog giveaway, I was rather hoping that you would and then I could find out where in our galaxy you are located!
Enjoyed your last post, amusing as ever.
Hi acornmoon - how disappointing, as I was hoping to be the only giraffe on our planet who had interior accessories featuring cows! Your fabrics are so beautiful.
We are located in Camelopardalis constellation ... with secret portals on planet Earth! :)
I vote by the fireplace!
The picture is so fascinating with its whirls and whorl that I would like it in front of my favourite chair, so that my mind could unwind as I contemplated its beauty and form over a nextra special brew of hot steamy coffee!
Great picture: great post!
Great idea, Coastcard! I'll go for the nextra special brew of coffee too - and a large slice of chocolate cake!
What a dilemma, Raph! First I wanted to recommend the bathroom but then I realised that the shell doesn't look like a sea shell but rather like a shell of a garden snail. The garden snail lives in grass and so I was looking for a green wall in your house and I found one in the hall and one in the kitchen. Well, I wouldn't want to have a snail in my kitchen so that's it: my choice is the hall! ;-)
Petra, what a wonderful thought process to decide on the hall! If the shell is like a snail shell, I'm sure our friendly Knollshire snails would love to see it. Maybe we should hang the photo low down the wall in the hall, so they will be able to look at it from the front door, and admire their planet Earth relative!
Above the mantle gets my vote.
Thank you PERBS - we've not counted up the votes yet, so we'll add yours in!
Well Raph, It looks good everywhere, such a lovely house, but I would choose the bathroom with all that water, the shell would feel at home.
Ps.Raph I tried putting the HTML code for the snow in the comments box , but it wouldn't let me.I tried remembering where I got it from, but can't. Doh!If you put your email address in my comments(I won't publish it) I could try emailing the script.If I find the website again I'll let you know.Snow would look beautiful in Cameleopardis (is that the right spelling?)
Thank you TFE! I'm sure the shell would feel at home in our bathroom, and it would be nice and warm too.
Thanks for trying the html code in my comments. I'm not sure what I'd do with html code - I'm not very tekky!! I seem to remember seeing a grab widget on someone's blog for snow, and I've looked on all the usual blogs I visit but can't see it. Also having trouble accessing blogs at present and leaving comments - I've asked our Nekky Tekky to look into this for me ...
Merry Christmas Raph!
What a gorgeous photo and those illustrations just make me smile all the more.
Over the Mantle is where I would put it. I'm worried that an Octopus might just accidently wander into your rather necky bathroom and steal it. Safer to put it where you can see it then the Octopus can't have it in his underwater home.
Lots of big necky hugs to you and your wonderful necky family
Liz
Thank you Liz, and Merry Christmas to you too!
Goodness me, it didn't occur to me that an octopus may steal the picture from our bathroom. I suppose one could make it's way up through the drain pipes. We have read over the Interneck about planet Earth octopi stealing shells to live in, but I didn't make any connecktion - maybe I should warn Country Girl!
Best wishes to you Raph and the whole family (including that other family to whom you are so connected) for a wonderful, Happy Christmas.
Kat
Thank you so much, Kat! And giraffy greetings to you and your family for a wonderful Christmas too!
(Do you mean by my other family, all my lovely bloggy friends? :)
All of those places look like wonderful homes for that picture! Although I think that the kitchen is the nicest place for it, personally :)
Thank you Lauren! We certainly spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so we'd see it a lot!
Hey Raph, I've found the website I used to get snow on me blog.It's here...
http://www.bloggerbuster.com/2008/12/simple-snow-effect-widget-for-blogger.html
Go there and just follow the instructions.You should have snow in time for Christmas. Have a merry one!
LOL! I would definitely put it in the bathroom!
Thank you for your comments. I must say I haven't been the best blogger lately either - my life has been SO hectic!
No cards yet :( I feel very sad about that, but I have hope - last year my SIL sent a card from Aus and it took nearly 4 months to arrive!!!! The joys of being in Africa! I promise to let you know the moment they arrive.
Wishing you a "giraffly Merry Christmas" and all the very best for 2010!
Thanks TFE! It was Maureen who wanted the snow - I'll give her the web address, and see what happens! (We've plenty of salt and grit here, so we should be OK - if you can only see our necks sticking out over the top of drifts, come and rescue us! :)
Thank you Janet! A giraffly Merry Christmas to you too!
If your SIL sent a card which took 4 months to arrive, there is hope for the giraffaway cards! I'll be so pleased when you do get them - if they don't arrive soon, we'll have to see if we can find a secret portal and bring some more through on our bus!
I forgot how much I love this blog, been too busy lately.
Thank you Sandy! I've been busy too - looking forward to some time to catch up on blogging soon!
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