Saturday 1 October 2011

Day 271, 273, 277 & 278- Our Wooden Gate and Beyond


29th September, cloudy


Can you hear it, dear Diary,there are new sounds around the house. A sharp eeeeeee, ewwwwww, eeeee and then a soft ling -alinglingling. Like a little out of tune song, I can hear it especially clearly when I am sitting here, in the living room. In fact, I can see where it is coming from. 


That's the creaking of our new wooden gate, dear Diary, built barely a week ago and already sounding old. Papa and OM built it right after the rat incident. They built it high enough to keep the animals out and Baby in but small enough not to crowd the house. 


OM painted the stone steps leading from the gate crimson, to match the carpet  in the room. He wanted our guests to feel really important walking to our house with this red carpet treatment. I thought that was very clever.


When Mama first saw our gate, she had protested and insisted that the rats could still come through. So Papa strung some cowbells and wound them around the gate. Now whenever anyone or anything comes through, the gate will sing and announce their arrival, he said. I think Papa made the gate creaked on purpose.


There it goes again, the ling -alinglingling.

 But it's just the wind. It looks like the rain may come and then what a lovely afternoon this will be. I love sitting here to watch the rain. Now that we have a gate, it's like being inside and outside all at once. Seeing the prettiness just beyond our little wooden gate makes me feel a little giddy with happiness and I too want to sing ling-a linglingling.


With the rain and Papa's tender, loving care, even our cactus have bloomed. OM was just exclaiming this morning: Those blushing red buds swaying shyly with the winds, now that's a sight to behold. 


Today, we also have these giant purple mushrooms that seemed to have come up from nowhere. How amazing that they are in the same purple as the sea lavender? Can colours be contagious, I wonder.




And if you examine the pinkies, you can see how much they resemble the cactus flowers. I am really thinking now that flowers may start to look like each other if they stay close enough.


Then there's Miss Unusual. I call her that because she has strange black flowers. She is a desert plant and is very fussy. Not too much or too little water and only the best, like the water we used to wash our fishes or rice. We must not forget too that she wants egg shells for soil.


Thanks to the rich food, we now have so many Babies Unusual that Papa re-potted some and put them in the artists' workroom for inspiration.


These flowers were planted by Papa since I was a baby. They were planted just around the huge water barrel outside the kitchen so that I could not climb near the barrel and then accidentally fall into it. This still works for Baby, of course.


But it no longer works with me! 

Haha! 

I am now tall enough  to look into the barrel

 and see myself in the water and..


 MAYA! MAYA! WHERE ARE YOU? 

Coming , Mama!

69 comments:

Flor said...

¡Que ambientes creas!! Son tan únicos y con tu sello tan personal y admirable Ö
Logras una calidez muy agradable y la sensación de vida en cada escena ¡Admirable!!!!
Un abrazo
Flor

Sans! said...

((((((((((((((((((( Flor ))))))))))))))))))))))))). Muchas gracias. Bienvenido a mi jardín del popurrí. Jeje.

Daydreamer said...

OH, Sans! I LOVE this little girl! "Maya" is she called? A beautiful name too! And the fence with the bells.... so Perfect! I Too, have always loved the Feeling of a fence enclosing the safe yard areas..... I have built a few in my big world! But I LOVE the Most the glimpse of her face reflected in the water barrel! :) You are AMAZING! You think of Everything that makes this tiny place a REAL WORLD inhabited by REAL Little people! It is so nice to see the house put to rights again after the RAT! And to see the Garden you are making..... I have SO FAR to go in my Dollhouses before I get to the landscaping! But surely by then I will be able to learn from your creations! This Tribal House just goes on getting Better and Better! I think it is because it is so FILLED with LOVE!
Please Don't EVER stop!!!

Trishymouse said...

Your attention to detail continually amazes me!

Ascension said...

Hola "reina del oxido y de la realidad.
Me encanta el detalle de los cascabeles jejeje (ademas oxidados jeje)
El canasto del bebe, tambien con cascabeles para poder estar seguro el bebe de que no suben ratas.
Esos cactus que parecen de verdad, como los has conseguido?
Y esas setas (debe estar lloviendo porque aqui no hay ni una)
Un fantastico trabajo.
besitos ascension

CWPoppets said...

So many unique and interesting details in your room. This lovely teaset and I really really love that hanging crib with the little bells....
Have a nice weekend.
Christine

Piikko said...

Sans dear, your works are amazing!
I can hear the soft 'alinglingling' till here.:) Beautiful♥

Maria Ireland said...

What an amazing place. The details are fantastic. I love this lovely ! story!.
Hugs Maria

The Old Maid said...

Sorry to start about the music first, dear Friend.:) This first tune was sang by George Michael too, wasn't it? Love bossa nuovas in Brazilian most;)
The gate is so pretty rusty it is not suprising it is noisy.;)
And the barrel's reflection is a great photo!!:)

Rosamargarita said...

Todo un viaje en tu escena! los cascabeles, la alfombra.
Sigues con la música DESAFINADO! me encanta como ambienta tus fotografías.
Besos

malu2 said...

Que escena tan ideal que has preparado,es magnifica, con tantos detalles!!!! Y la historía me encanta
Besos de las Malu´s.

Eliana said...

Hi Sans! I am a big fan of your blog, so I can be suspect to talk about how your work is wonderful, but it is a fact, your garden in miniature is fantastic!
Hugs

Sans! said...

Bets, you have been so great with your unwavering support, amazing encouragements and love (yes, I have felt quite loved by you) :).

I think that's why people often comment that my project is so filled with LOVE. It is because of friends like you. I am sure you know what I mean. I can see it happening with your brownstone house and that castle with all the incredible frescoes and murals and glass painting.

Alas, I think I have finally finished the building of my Rolla Bungha, the tribal house, village home. 1 year,5 months , possibly another 3 days, since April Fool's Day last year. It has taken me a long while to build the house and even longer to find its voice.

I have learnt so much in the process, from reading everyone's posts, my own trial and error ways, advice of mini friends from Singapore & elsewhere. It has been such a meaningful journey, I can't even begin to describe how much I am affected by it. Like all the things and people I love so dearly, mini making is such a big part of me now I no longer think it is possible for me to ever stop. Ask me a year ago and I would have told you "yes, it could go the way of my vintage handbags and designer shoes, I may very well be quite over it in 6 months. "

I am like that with many things. I would get really involved, passionate and then I worked it till I squeezed every last milligram of juice out of it. Then I became bored and moved on. But while it lasted, it was all I wanted to do. Not this time. Mini making is my art and I intend to do it for as long as I can. :)

I will be so happy if you continue to share my experience with me, Bets,like I do yours.

Sans! said...

Trish!!!! Hi!!! It has been a while :). Congratz on the new start , the love of your life and country living :).

And thank you for taking the time to write those sweet words.:)

Sans! said...

Ascensión, recuerdo a mi puesto en el jardín en un estante? Http://sansdollhousediaries.blogspot.com/2011/09/day-274-my-garden-of-neglected-things.html. Usted ve los "frutos caídos" en la concha de Flora? Yo los usé como los cactus y luego me tomó tres pequeñas flores ("Pinkies") y los pegó en las frutas. Para el realismo, añadir el polvo y la suciedad y la pluma mágica de color marrón en los bordes. Fácil como el ABC! :)

Vi su trabajo de Yolanda, la Ascensión, y estoy enamorado de tu serie sobre los elfos de edad. Me encantaría intercambiar con usted. Puedo hacer una escena de lo oxidado, viejo (horario / lata latas, etc) y usted me hace una de sus elfo encantador viejo con libros como materia? Hágamelo saber. Cuando esté libre, por supuesto. Tal vez después de Navidad? Siéntete libre para decir no, por supuesto. Yo soy muy lento con el intercambio. :)

Norma Bennett said...

I love this house Sans, and your pictures are must magic as usual. The richness of the colours is wonderful. I think the idea of the squeaky gate (and the bells) is really good, we have a squeaky old wooden step on the stairs to to our NZ cottage back door, it's very useful as an 'early warning system' for approaching visitors :)

Unknown said...

Oh I hope you're not close to "finishing", even though you've completed it-this is a real place, with real people in it, and their story is unique yet mirrors our own-Do you think that there will be more to tell, or will you move on? I really think that this is a picture book, a story book-I've learned so much from following it, and I would love to see it in print. Do you think this could be possible?

Trishymouse said...

Thanks, Sans! :) I am blessed to be sure...

Norma Soulet (AZArtist) said...

Hi Sans,

Wow your creations are so labor intensive! Love the gate with the cowbells ! You are amzing!
Hugs

Dark Squirrel Victoria said...

It just gets better and better! I love the rusty fence and flowers planted with Love. The photos are beautiful.

Hugs,
Victoria

onbeingaminimum said...

Your paint finishes are glorious....such ambiance.

Ascension said...

Sans te he mandado un email.
besitos ascension

BiWuBär said...

I was still giggling at your response to my last comment on the rat post - the underestimated danger in households... beware of the black bra (LOL). And then I came here to be captured once again by the magic of yet another outstanding post, so full of details, so incredibly well done and with breathtaking photos. You are so full of fantastic ideas as the red carpet, Miss Unusual etc. etc. - and of course the gate, this ling-alingling still clings in my ears. There is so much love in your scene and your posts, I can only hope there will be many more stories about Maya (beautiful name, btw).

Greetings
Birgit

Jollie said...

What a lovely story and your photos of all the little details are stunning as always Sans! :-)

Big hugs!
Jollie

Sans! said...

Christine, my sister helped me made the crib. I posted about it sometime in November last year. My goodness, that's almost one year ago!

Sans! said...

Piiko, maybe it's your phone ? teehee :)

Sans! said...

Thank you Maria Ireland! :)

Sans! said...

Ewa, I have heard the George Michael version. I don't like it, it's too airy and light and trying-too-hard. Don't get me wrong, I like George Michael, I love "kissing A Fool". I just think Desafinado if sung by a male, should be sung with a certain level of matter-of-factness, like someone having a conversation with you. Maybe I just love the Joao Gilbreto version too much. I just couldn't find a decent recording of him doing the song on mixpod.

Do you know the lyrics? I so love the title. It is about a man singing to his beautiful girlfriend who looked down on him and often complained that he sings off key. Apparently, this is an inside joke because the older and more traditional Brazilian singers hated the Bossa Nova sounds saying that the key is hard to say, "crooked" and off.

I found this more literal translation of Desafinado on a forum:

[ When I sing you do not leave
And always you have the same complaint
You say I am off key, I cannot sing
You are so beautiful
But all beauty can also end ]

If you say that I am off key, my love
You must know that this will cause me great pain
Only the privileged have heard your equal
I possess only what God has given me

If you insist on classifying
My performance as unmusical
Lying to myself, I argue
That this is bossa nova
This is very natural

What you do not know or even sense
Is that my tune also has a heart
The photograph of you in my Rolleiflex
Reveals your enormous ingratitude

Do not speak thus of my love
That’s all you have been able to see

You have forgotten that music, above all,
Is what is carried within the tune
Deep within its breast there beats
Within the breast of my tune
There beats a heart

Sans! said...

O yes, I am dying to tell you about the photo of Maya's image in the water barrel. That has to be the hardest photo that I have ever tried to take. Imagine one hand holding the doll and the other my camera . I cannot see the inside of the barrel through the camera and then hold the doll at the exact spot where there will be a reflection in the "water" (resin of course :)) I think I took about 20 shots and only 2-3 came up with an image. I tried again on another day and no reflection came up at all! I kept this picture for the "reveal" post :). This is the post that I reveal her name and a blur image. :) I had meant this to be the last entry :).

So I am thrilled you like the pic- from one fellow photographer-enthusiast to another kind of way *wink

Sans! said...

Rosam, sacaste mi correo electrónico? Decirle a usted acerca de sus dones preciosos? ¡MUCHAS GRACIAS!

¿Y quién cree usted que pensé cuando fui a buscar Desafinado? Usted, por supuesto! :)

besosssssssssssssss

Eva - tatalamaru said...

Que bonita escena. Me encanta esa mezcla, esos colores, es estupenda!!!... como la historia por ti contada, haces que sea algo especial.
Cuida al bebé, aunque ya veo que pensasteis en todo, poniéndolo en lo alto.
Un beso enorme.

Eva said...

I want to sing ling-a linglingling in your garden....I am coming back my dear. I have missed you, I am sorry. I have news at work...

Ana Anselmo said...

Sans, you must write a book with this lovely story and of course with all these pictures. You aare not only a fantasticand talented miniaturist, you have a gift, you are a creative writer. may be you can edit a ebook...just an idea ;)
Thanks for your sweet comments on my blog, but I couldn´t be a surgeon....
lots of love

Flora said...

But Sans, you leave us SO?!
With this concern, I can not sleep tonight!
I want the rest of the story(although I have a little anxiety).
Beautiful the image of the face reflected in the ogre...
I feel a great tenderness and affection for this girl and who knows ... maybe when she least expects it, someone knocks on the door of her house, crosses the musical garden, and will bring a package for her, maybe, maybe, soon ...
Good nught, my friend :-)
Flora

Margriet said...

What a wonderful fence and i love the little bells attached to it!!!
The photo of the reflection of Maya is so beautiful!!!

Alison Shibata said...

Just wanted you to know that I'm still here... Currently, up to my eyeballs in Tebineri (pottery clay), experimenting and loving every second.

Btw, I AM a people person, haha :)))) Will write soon...


>3, Alison

Unknown said...

lol @ Alison :P

Sannsssss I'm wondering if my tetanus shot has worn off~~~ LOL! I really am looking forward to our next meet, you always have so many nice updates to the Rolla's house I wonder if it will ever be completed XD XD

Sans! said...

Malu, estoy muy agradecido por su reconocimiento de mi trabajo y la historia. Sé que no merezco tu alabanzas, pero todavía me encanta leerlos:).

besos y abrazos

Sans! said...

Eliana, you just gave me a crazy high with your comment. I don't dare believe I actually have "fans" :) and one from the land of Bossa Nova! I am in awe of almost all things Brazilian, your culture, your art, your people, your music ! If not for the fact that Brazil is so many hours of flight away, I will have seen it already! I am sure I will fall totally in love with your country.

So thank you from the bottom of my heart for your compliments!

Sans! said...

Norma , THANK YOU! One day, your stairs may creak to warn you of unexpected guests from Singapore :).

My runner friends and I were talking about travelling out of country to run. We talked about New Zealand in 2013 :).

I still expect you to visit, Norma, en route to Bali perhaps?

Sans! said...

Amy, you have put some really dangerous ideas in my head. I am scared to even think about a book or worse, start believing it is possible.

But I promise you, you will be one of the first here I will tell if the book really materialises. Why? Because it is you who made me believe. :)

dalesdreams said...

I am reading between the lines and am so enjoying your sense of humor. :)

Loved all the produce in the last post as well, you are a lucky gal. :)

Natalia's Fine Needlework said...

Such an ideal place to visit. The blooming cactuses are my favorite! Thank you!

Viajes y Rutas said...

Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flor said...

¡Que bonita respuesta e invitación!!!! Y en español!!!
Un beso
Flor

Sans! said...

((((((((Trish))))))))))))

Sans! said...

Norma S, most of my work is in fact not labour intensive. I am a slow worker though and something simple to make may take me a while.

Making this gate was a breeze because I bought the gate from a S$2 store. :) I think it was a miniature gate meant to depict Japanese rural life ? I just painted the gate to give it age and colour that was more typical of India. The gate was made using bamboo so the colour was much lighter before I painted it.

No intensive about whatsoever :).

The Old Maid said...

:D Sans, I am NOT surprised this scene took so many shots! BUT it was absolutely worth the result!:)

JDayMinis said...

Love the close up photos, really add mystery!! Oh to be so small. Hugs, Jean

Sans! said...

Victoria, thank you :)

Sans! said...

Thank you too, Janice !

Sans! said...

Ascensión, he estado pensando mucho de la escena para ti. :).

Sans! said...

Birgit, if I have my way, the story of Maya will be an epic one. From the tribal house to the merchant house and perhaps ending at the palace. I fear though that you may not have the inclination to hear the end of it. LOL! It is not easy to keep a story interesting for so long and I am no JK Rowling.

I am just really contented right now that you wanted a little more :).

Sans! said...

Hugs to you too Jollie :) I hope you are feeling better.

Sans! said...

Jejejejeje, Eva Tata:) Es común en el pueblo de tener una cuna que cuelga del techo. Cuando yo era niño, yo también tuve uno así, excepto que era una base de tela. Ahora sé, estos aldeanos son sabios para poner a la niña para que no podía ser mordidos por ratas.

Sans! said...

EVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

I miss you too. I can no longer have tapas without thinking of you. I am waiting for your update ! Please don't forget to write ok?

I have been so busy too . Replying to comments 2 weeks later...sighhh

Sans! said...

Ana, sweetie, you cannot imagine how motivated I am by your compliments. Your feedback have given me a lot of food for thoughts. I will consider them seriously.

We always say the skill of a surgeon is judged by his stitches. Do you know that's one of my criteria for picking my surgeon? If my surgeon has your skill in stitching, I will be so pleased.

Sans! said...

Flora, I showed Maya your gift and I think there were tears in her eyes. The possibility of corresponding with someone so far away for her was like a sudden expansion of her horizon.

Every single word will be cherished, every bit of paper treasured.

She is sending you a million kisses and as many hugs.

Sans! said...

Margriet..teehee, you pleased Maya so, saying her reflection in the water though distorted was beautiful.

I hope you will be here to meet her.

Sans! said...

Alsion, a people person eh? We shall see :) teehee

Sans! said...

Cinds, you know what Alison was talking about? Ooops, did I just call her Alsion? Forgive me!

I have to regretfully tell you that since our last meet, I have not started weaving any baskets !

Sans! said...

((((((((((Dale))))))))))))))

Sans! said...

Natalia, the blooming cactus (we say it like its a bad thing..teeheee) are my favourite too :)

Sans! said...

Carmen,

Graciasssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sans! said...

Muchas Gracias Flor :)

Sans! said...

Ewa, thank you again :).

Sans! said...

Jean Day! So good to see you here. I am really flattered that you like my photos.

Las pequeñas cosas de Victoria said...

¡¡Ay dios mio que escena mas bonita !!
no se como logras que parezca todo tan real .
Mi sueño es hacer algun dia una escena con ese realismo que le das a todos los detalles !!
mi mas sincera enhorabueba Sans ,un maravilloso trabajo !!

.. * . (\ *** /) * . *Un besito
.* . * ( \(_)/ ) * * .cielo
.* . * (_ /|\ _) . * .que tengas
.* . * . /___\ * . . un buen dia

Sans! said...

Victoria, que me halaga mucho con sus elogios. Me hicieron vertiginoso con la felicidad. He visto su trabajo y son realistas, detallados y encantador. Yo siempre disfruto de tus mensajes, ya que tomar maravillosas imágenes de tus miniaturas. Te felicito, Victoria!

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