Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Christmas In A Mouse Hole

       The baby was not quite ready to go to Grandmother's for Christmas week when the carriage came; and then everybody hurried so, that one of his little red gloves fell to the floor and was not noticed.
       At least, it was not noticed by the family; and when I tell you who did notice it, the story will begin.
       At the time these things happened, and that was only last Christmas, a swift, sleek Mouse lived in the kitchen pantry, back of the tall brown jar that held the rye flour. His doorway was small, but large enough for his swift, sleek mate; and as for his four children, although already sleek, they were not yet swift enough to leave their comfortable home with safety - so the size of the doorway did not trouble them.
       Mr. Mouse himself went everywhere in the house, and saw everything, as was proper for the head of a family who had a mate and four little ones to support. Mrs. Mouse was country bred, and knew very well that she had made a great match when she came to town to live, and  to a home in the pantry itself, than which no location could be more elegant, or more convenient.
       The shelf where the bread box stood was exactly above her front door and no one can cut bread without making at least a few crumbs. The flour barrel stood in the corner; and on other shelves were round shining boxes holding rice, sago, corn meal, and sugar, any one of which might be left open at any moment by a careless cook. Swift, sleek Mr. Mouse was a fine provider and brought many good things to the home nest; but even when he was away on business it took his mate but a moment to pick up a wholesome luncheon in the pantry for the entire family.
       Mr. Mouse visited the nursery quite often, having found a private way of his own up there through the walls, and as there were several children in the nursery, all very sociable and chatty, with a sociable and chatty nurse, he gained a good deal of information in these various visits which he always brought down to his mate.
       'My dear,' he remarked to her one evening, 'the children in the nursery are talking all the
time of something they call Christmas.'
       'Is it something to eat?' squeaked one of the small mice, greedily.
       'It is not,' replied his father, severely; 'and I thought your mother told you some time ago to curl up and go to sleep.'
       'Little pitchers always have big ears!' said Mother Mouse, with a smile; 'but tell me, dear, what is this Christmas, do you think?'
       'I hardly know'' said Mr. Mouse, slowly. 'It seems to have something to do with eating, for the children talk of fruits and candies; and something to do with stockings, for they are going to take big ones to their grandmother's and hang them up when they go to bed, they say. It seems to have something to do with presents, too, for somebody is going to put things they like in those stockings in the night, and when the children wake up in the morning, they will run and find them.'
       'It must be their fathers and mothers that put presents in their stockings,' exclaimed Mrs.Mouse.
       'The children do not say so,' answered Mr. Mouse, shaking his head. 'They talk about somebody they call Santa Claus.'
       'And who is this Santa Claus, then?'
       'My dear, I do not know. I learn a great deal in the nursery; but often I have to scurry back to my hole at the very most interesting part of the children's talk.'
       'And an absurd thing it is!' cried his mate, excitedly. 'As if you wouldn't be an ornament to any party! But listen, my love; why cannot we have a 'Christmas' for our children, too? We can get fruit and candy for them - but oh, I forgot; they have no stockings!' and she brushed away a tear as she looked at the forty bare pink toes in the nest.
       'Stockings! Stockings!' murmured Mr. Mouse, thoughtfully. 'Now I wonder if that wouldn't do!'
       'If what wouldn't do?' asked Mrs. Mouse, eagerly.
       'Do you know I saw something in the nursery to-day, after the children had gone, that I think might help us out?' said Mr. Mouse, rising from his seat. 'Everything is quiet in the nest now. Suppose you come upstairs with me and look.'
       The swift, sleek couple slipped softly through their doorway, ran across the pantry floor, and popped as swiftly into another hole behind the flour barrel. In a moment they were upstairs in, the nursery, and there, in the middle of the floor, lay the little red glove.
       'I do not know the exact use of this article, my dear,' said Mr. Mouse; 'but it has five bags on it which, carefully gnawed off, would certainly make stockings.'
       'Oh, wonderful!' cried his mate; 'four little stockings and a large one lefts over, that we can use for the storehouse. Now this is a find, and my babies can have 'Christmas' as well as the rest! You begin to gnaw off the bags, and I'll see what else I can find.'
       In a trice she was all over the room, squeaking with delight as she made each new discovery. There was an open box of cough-drops on the mantelpiece, a long piece of pink baby ribbon on the bureau, and in the wastebasket a paper bag with a few good peanuts among the empty shells. These she removed from the bag at once and carried them to her mate who was still hard at work on the little red glove.
       ''There is a box of candies, up there,'' she exclaimed; ''and we can carry them down one at a time, with the peanuts. The pink ribbon we will use to tie up the stockings, so that we can take them down home more easily. And let us take all the red cloth; it will make a nice warm carpet - and so cheerful for the children.''
       The glove fingers were gnawed off by this time  and were soon tied up with the pink ribbon, Mr. Mouse dragging this bundle himself and using the front stairs, as nobody was at home to object, Mrs. Mouse followed with the rest of the glove, and then both made repeated trips till they had carried down the nuts and a dozen of the cough- drops. By that time it was almost morning, and the swift, sleek couple curled up for an hour's rest.
       As soon as breakfast was over, Mr. Mouse led the mouselings, for the first time, out into the pantry and advised them to try climbing up the flour barrel, as far as they could go, until he should come for them. Then he hurried back, and with the help of his mate hung the four red stockings on four nails which had been driven too far through the wainscoting and whose points projected above the nest.
       In each stocking was a cough-drop, a peanut, a bit of soda cracker from the pantry shelf, and, at the top, a pink neck ribbon which Mrs. Mouse had carefully gnawed off with her white teeth. The remainder of the red glove was spread upon the floor, and the thumb was set in the corner, full of grains of rice which had been picked up back of the rice box the previous day.
       'This is truly splendid!' exclaimed Mr. Mouse, as he looked at the preparations. 'Nothing finer
could be found in a palace! Suppose we have 'Christmas' now, while the light is good. Later in the day, you know, it is really quite dark in here.
       'It seems as if there ought to be music,' murmured Mrs. Mouse. 'We had music in the country at a party.
       'I might see if the Cricket would come,' suggested Mr. Mouse.
       'Oh, do, my dear,' cried his mate. 'A Cricket would be simply perfect! Tell him there's a warm red carpet on the floor, and everything cozy.'
       Off ran Mr. Mouse to the sitting-room fireplace and called and knocked, and knocked and called, until at last a sleepy voice droned out, 'What's wanted?'
       'You're wanted, Mr. Cricket, for a 'Christmas.'
       'What's that?' asked the Cricket, stretching his black head out from a crack in the warm bricks.'
        'I really don't know, myself,' said the Mouse; 'but it's something the children up in the nursery have gone away to get, and I'm going to have one for my family. There are treats for everybody at 'Christmas' and you hang up your stocking.'
       'I Haven't any stocking.' objected the Cricket, rather gruffly - for a Cricket.
       'No matter,' said the Mouse; I haven't one either have I? And neither has my mate. But there's a warm red carpet on the floor, and plenty of crumbs!'
       'Crumbs, hey? asked the Cricket. 'Well, I'll come, if the mouse-hole is warm enough.'
       'Come along, now; do!' cried the Mouse, 'and make music for the 'Christmas.' 
      The Cricket was waked up by that time, and did come along; and, behold, when they reached the mouse-hole, the four mouselings had all come in from the pantry, had washed their faces and their ears with their small paws, and sat in a row beside their mother, as still as chocolate mice.
       Well, there is no use trying to describe that 'Christmas.' You wouldn't believe how grand
it was unless you had been there. First, there were wonderful sweets which was a surprise to Mr. Mouse, for he didn't know that his mate had found a cardboard box of raisins in the pantry and had brought away some of the choicest. Then the Cricket had a feast of crumbs, all by himself; and then, while his black and glossy sides shone with contentment, he began to chirp.
        At this moment, when the small mice had been stuffed with raisins and their black eyes were round with wonder, Mr. Mouse cried: 'This is 'Christmas' mouselings. Now you may go and see what's in your stockings. Run along! Don't be afraid!'
       Afraid! I should say not!! You ought to have seen them race to the red glove-fingers, run up to the top of them, thrust in their little heads, and bring out the cough-drops, the peanuts, and the bits of cracker.
       But the pink ribbons puzzled them. 'What is this, Ma? What is this, Ma? What is this, Ma? What is this, Ma?' sounded in chorus, while Father Mouse looked on with the smile of one who has been about the world a bit.
       Then Mother Mouse called her children to her side, and around each soft, sleek neck she tied a pink ribbon. When this was done (and the little mice did look simply lovely!) she gave her hand to Father Mouse, and together, followed by the four little ones, they began to dance. And they all danced and whirled, and whirled and danced, while the Cricket looked on and made music. Oh, it was a grand party, and a 'Christmas' long to be remembered in the Mouse-hole! Wiggin and Smith

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Dollhouse wallpapers in shades of blue...

        Click on the images to download the largest available size. Three leafy, lovely wallpapers for you to choose in blue shades. This tiny pattern will dress up any dollhouse wall in something petite and perfectly Victorian. Although, blues were not the most favored colors of that era, they have always been my own preference.

Blue and white version

A paler blue on a darker color

The original version of blue and ivory, aged with time.

Monday, October 14, 2024

Make Dollhouse Wreaths Using Felt Squares

Left, a felt wreath using green, purple and gold colors for Mardi Gras adorns our American Girl
 Dollhouse front door. Right, a felt wreath made with white, orange and black felt squares adorns
a Barbie sized front door for Halloween.
       
       To make these simple, versatile door wreaths you will need: a chenille stem, sharp scissors and felt sheets in any three colors you prefer. I have chosen purple, green and gold for a Mardi Gras Wreath and black, orange and white for a Halloween wreath version. For each of these wreaths I used three standard felt sheets each in the traditional colors of holidays. 
       Cut one inch strips for each felt sheet and then cut these into one inch squares. The measurements may be approximate; if the felt clippings are off a bit it will not affect the attractiveness of the wreath.
       In the center of each 1'' x1'' square poke a tiny hole with the tip of your scissors to insert the chenille stem. Alternate the colors and string them onto the stem until the wreath is satisfactorily dense. Bend the stem into a ring shape and then bend the ends of the wire around each other to prevent the felt squares from working their way off of the wreath. Reshape the wreath as you prefer and attach a wire or ribbon to hang it from your dollhouse front door.

Mantels for a dollhouse in watercolor . . .

''Comfort, cheer and restfulness are the natural
 accompaniments of a Mosaic Faience Fireplace
Arc and Mantel such as this, and there is a
subtle appeal in its simplicity.''

  ''Fire-Worshippers we all are in some degree or another. For cooking food, for warmth and for cheerfulness, the home fire since before the dawn of history, has drawn deeply on man's affections.''
 
      "Even with the advent of modern heating methods, the hearth still retains its place as the symbolic center of home life. Custom hallowed by the centuries decrees it as the family gathering spot and as the place whence flows the welcome of hospitality. 
       Surely then the setting of the open fire becomes a matter of importance - the fireplace and mantel. In ancestral homes these have always been outstanding examples of the architecture of the period and have reflected the character and tastes of the owner." The Mosaic Tile Company, Zanesville, Ohio.


Sunday, October 13, 2024

The Collie Paper Doll Dog

The collie came from Scotland and was used
to help heard sheep.


''This collie lives on a farm and loves to help his mistress carry home the mail."

THE COLLIE

       ''The rough Collies have been working dogs for centuries, though the earlier breed was smaller and lacked the handsome appearance of the modern dogs. Originally used for herding sheep, collies were made generally popular by the admiration of Queen Victoria. The height should be 20 to 24 inches at the shoulder and the weight 40 to 60 pounds.
       Collies are usually black and tan with white frill and collar or a rich orange brown with white frill, collar and face. The may also be pure white or sable." Cook

More About Collies:

The Fox Terrier Paper Doll Dog

"The fox terrier weights about 18 pounds.''
       ''Ricky, a circus boy, with Nicky, his trained terrier. Nicky has been taught to do many tricks such as jumping hurdles, balancing a ball on his nose, shaking hands and walking on his hind legs. He likes to wear a pointed cap and pleated collar like his master.''
The Fox Terrier

       ''Both the Smooth and Wire-Haired Fox Terriers have been very popular dogs for a great many years. The Fox Terriers cam first to England. The smooth type is slightly older than the wire-haired and, because of its keen scent and eyesight, was once used by hunters in routing out foxes from their hiding places. The coat of both types is white with black and tan markings. Height is about 15 1/2 inches at the withers; weight, about 18 pounds. The Fox Terriers are lively, affectionate, and quick to learn." Cook

More About Fox Terriers:

The Chihuahua Paper Doll Dog

"Chihuahuas originated in Mexico
hundreds of years ago."


       "Paco says his chihuahua is a lively, playful little dog. He has smooth hair and is easy to train."

The Chihuahua

       "Chihuahuas are tiny dogs of Mexican origin, and it is believed that their history dates back to Toltec or Aztec days. The smallest of all dogs, they may weigh 1 to 6 pounds. Chihuahuas have a saucy expression and are alert and intelligent. The coat may be smooth or long-haired of any color, solid, marked, or splashed.'' Cook

More About The Chihuahua:

Thursday, October 10, 2024

How to make a Christmas popcorn tin for dolls . . .

       In the United States, people often gift large quantities of popcorn to their family and friends packaged inside giant tins. This popcorn is not your average variety, buttered or plain, like the popcorn purchased from a movie theater or at a fair. This popcorn comes in a wide assortment of flavors like: caramel with peanuts, peppermint, cheddar cheese, and other candy flavors. The flavor choices are divided from each other inside the tin by a cardboard partition with two or four compartments. Our Christmas popcorn tin has two special varieties: peppermint and cheddar cheese.

 Popcorn tins are usually barrel shaped and decorated with all kinds of festive
 Christmas scenes.The one we use for this dolly craft is just the
right size for 18'' dolls.

        To make a craft for your doll's Christmas popcorn you will first need a tin with Christmas motifs on the outside. These are easy to find in thrift stores, grocery stores, hobby shops and online. Scrap cardboard, newsprint or tissue paper, white school glue, Mod Podge, masking tape, Styrofoam beads and acrylic paints are all the supplies necessary for the following process.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. The finished 18" doll sized popcorn
    tin for Christmas play.
    Clean a small Christmas tin for this craft. Make sure the tin is thoroughly dry before proceeding to the following steps.
  2. Stuff the tin with crushed newsprint or tissue paper all the way up the inside of the can minus about an inch of space from the top.
  3. Fold a piece of scrap white cardboard to fit and divide a shallow space at the top of the can. This cardboard should fit snuggly on top of the crushed paper, across the filled cavity.
  4. Squeeze a generous portion of white school glue inside of each space and fill these with the white Styrofoam beads. Let dry.
  5. Repeat step 4. again if necessary. Sometimes the beads settle and you might need a second application to make the divided spaces look as though each is filled generously with pretend popcorn.
  6. Paint the Styrofoam beads with acrylic colors representing the kind of popcorn you wish your dolls to eat during the holidays. I used yellow for faux 'cheddar cheese flavor' and pink for faux 'peppermint' flavor.
  7. Once the paints are dry, seal all of the inside parts with a coat or two of Mod Podge.
More Doll Popcorn Crafts and Poetry:

Monday, October 7, 2024

How to Decorate Miniature Halloween Tree

        The first step in decorating any holiday tree, no matter the size of the tree, is to string lights within it's branches. I chose skeleton shaped white lights for this tree because the theme is for Halloween of course. I will hide the large battery pack beneath a tree skirt once the rest of the black miniature tree has been decorated.

Left, a small table-top tree in black for a Halloween display. Right, orange and black
 ornaments and garlands. On the far right, a handmade paper garland.

Above is an assortment of tiny, handmade ornaments for a doll sized Halloween tree.
  
How To Make 6 Tiny Halloween Trims:
1.) pom pom bats - To make these tiny bats you will need black paper, googly eyes, tacky craft glue, black pom poms and black thread for the hanger. At this post is a template for paper bat wings. These are large but you may print smaller copies for this craft if you'd like to.
Directions:
  1. Cut a pair of tiny bat shaped wings from the black paper.
  2. Glue a small black pom pom in the center of the wings for the bat's head
  3. Glue tiny googly eyes in the center of the pom pom. Let dry
  4. Glue black thread to the back of the bat for a hanger
2.) pom pom ghosts - To make the ghost ornaments you will need: googly eyes, white ruffled cup-cake wrapper(s), tacky craft glue a black permanent ink marker, white thread for the hanger.
Directions:
  1. Cut a piece of ruffled cup-cake liner and pinch it at one end.
  2. Using tacky white glue push the pinched end of paper into the center of a white pom pom.
  3. Glue on googly eyes.
  4. Draw on a mouth with the permanent ink pen.
  5. Glue on the thread to make a hanger.
3.) candy corn witch's hats - (pictured below) To make the candy corn hats you will need the following supplies: white typing paper, white thread, acrylic paints (yellow, orange, white).
Directions:
  1. Cut small circles from the white typing paper and cut them in half. 
  2. Curl the half circles into cone shapes, pasting their over-lapping corners together. Let these cones dry completely.
  3. Thread a needle and poke it into the tip of each hat pulling it down through the cone. Then poke through a tuft of cotton and string a loop through the interior of the cone up and out the tip again. 
  4. Squeeze a bit of tacky glue inside the cone to dry and hold the thread hanger in place. See photo below.
  5. Cut more circles from paper for the brims of the hats and glue the cones to the brims. Let dry.
  6. Paint the witches hats to look just like candy corn. The tips should remain white, the centers will have a dark orange stripe and the bottoms of each candy corn hat will be bright yellow.
See how to assemble the candy corn hats for our tree.
 
 
The miniature Halloween tree displayed inside of our
18 inch, American Girl dollhouse.
 

4.) tiny broom sticks -
The supplies needed for the tiny brooms: a chenille stem, decorative paper for ''straw'', brown paint, cotton balls (just a few) and thread for hanger.
Directions:
  1. Cut long narrow strips of paper and cut a ruffle running down each strip.
  2. Cut a piece of chenille stem approximately 1 1/2'' long. 
  3. Squeeze tacky craft glue onto the stem and paper as you twist the paper around the stem to make the broom bottom.
  4. Use thread to twist around the paper and make it adhere to the stem better.
  5. Twist a bit of cotton and glue around the stem of each broom to make the handles smooth. 
  6. Paint the handles.
  7. Tie a narrow ribbon or thread to the end of the broom handle to make hangers for the tiny brooms.
5.) Spooky themed stickers - To make the sticker ornaments you will need tiny thematic stickers, cardboard, tacky glue, decorative papers.
Directions:
  1. You can purchase any stickers of your own taste to layer on top of cardboard and paper to make flat ornaments for a tree.
  2. Paste on hangers to the backs or poke a hole with a threaded needle through the tops of the ornaments so that these can be hung on a miniature Halloween tree.
6.) drinking straw garland - Supplies needed to make the garland: decorative straw, pom poms, and beads.
Directions:
  1. Cut a decorative drinking straw into short lengths to thread together with pom poms and beads for a garland. The straw and pom poms are very light weight and are easily hung on the fragile wire branches of a miniature tree!

Left, details of a small owl tree topper, he wears a candy corn party hat and velvet orange
 ruffled collar. Right, details of miniature ornaments especially made for All Hallows.

Sunday, October 6, 2024

In The Indian Summer

 IN THE INDIAN SUMMER
By Joaquin Miller.

The  squirrels  chattered  in  the  leaves,
The  turkeys  call'd  from  paw-paw  wood,
The  deer  with  lifted  nostrils  stood,
And  humming-birds  did  wind  and  weave,
Swim  round  about,  dart  in  and  out,
Through  fragrant  forest  edge  made  red,
Made  many  colored  overhead
By  climbing  blossoms  sweet  with  bee
And  yellow  rose  of  Cherokee.
Then  frost  came  by  and  touched  the  leaves;
Then  time  hung  ices  on  the  eaves;
Then  cushion-snows  possessed  the  ground,
And  so  the  seasons  kept  their  round.
Yet  still  old  Morgan  went  and  came
From  cabin  door  to  forest  dim.
Through  wold  of  snows,  through  wood  of  flame.
Through  golden   Indian-Summer  days
Hung  round  in  soft  September  haze;
And  no  man  crossed  or  questioned  him.

How to Craft Baba Yaga's Fairytale Hut

       I handcrafted this Baba Yaga hut for my younger child. She has always loved Slavic folktales and collects some unique paraphernalia around themes found in these stories. 
       Baba Yaga is a common witch caricature associated with these foreign folktales. Sometimes she plays the villain, sometimes the hero, depending upon the author, time of harvest, culture or country where she is found. Her hut is always trying to run from her and any persons who might try to enter it's curious enchanted rooms. 

Baba Yaga's reluctant hut, from Russian folk tales. This is a home that
deeply resents it's own keeper! Some of us are all too aware of that 
scenario in real life . . . That's o.k. little house you just keep on runnin'!
Supply List:
  • scrap cardboard, both thick and thin
  • one small recycled box for the lower half of the hut
  • one large, recycled Quaker Oats paper can  or a salt box for the upper tower half of the hut
  • white school glue
  • hot glue gun and hot glue
  • acrylic paints - browns, white, yellows, black, grey and green
  • chenille stems (for chain)
  • 2 identical blocks of wood for stand
  • two identical dowel rods
  • masking tape
  • faux wooden scrapbook paper
  • dismantled pine cone scales for the chicken legs
  • giant lotus pod for the roof
  • paper mache pulp
  • one nail
  • one paper, recycled toilet paper tube
  • Mod Podge
  • wood glue

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Cut two identical wooden blocks for the base of this project. The wood should be heavy.
  2. Drill holes in the same locations on both blocks, large enough to insert two identical wooden dowels several inches apart.
  3. Insert the dowels using wood glue and let this stand dry overnight. (see photo below)
  4. Now tape and glue a small box on top of this platform. 
  5. The top part of this box should have it's upper flaps ''peaked'' using masking tape and glue to form a simple ''V'' shaped roof line.
  6. Cut the bottom of a large Quaker Oat can to fit snugly over the peaked roof top. This should be in a ''U'' shape. 
  7. Glue an up-side-down, dried lotus pod to the top of the can to assemble a unique roof shape for this old fairytale folk hut.
  8. Crush masking tape in an eyeball shape for the window attachment to the tower. Stick this on tight and shape/glue a window frame from light weight cardboard to frame around the eyeball.
  9. Smooth and fill in this window to the soul of the enchanted hut using paper mache pulp. Save the remaining pulp to shape the ''chicken feet'' of the hut at the hut's platform base. Wait for the pulp to harden and dry completely before painting these crazy features of Baba Yaga's home.
  10. Next cut the window frames and door from scrap cardboard and attach these to the hut with glue.
  11. Move on to cutting the shingles for the roof and sides of the hut walls and glue these firmly in place.
  12. Cut a hole into the side of the hut for the chimney flu using the recycled toilet paper tube, masking tape and several types of glue. You can assemble the larger elements of the hut using hot glue but then save the white glue for the finer details excluding the pine cone shingles; these must be applied with hot glue and adult supervision.
  13. At this point in the project you will need to prepare the work area to use a hot glue gun in order to make the faux stone tower. Apply the hot glue in small random lumps about the tower's surface. Let dry.
  14. Shape a large bulky chain using the chenille stems. Wrap white glue and paper about the surfaces of the stems to make these smoother and thicker. Make and attach a cuff from cardboard and attach the chain to a large nail hammered into the base of the base and also to one of the chicken legs on the hut.
  15. Hot glue the pine cone seed scales to form both the small arbor over the door and also the upper feather-like parts of the chicken legs. These scales are torn from the peduncle of the pine cone using pliers and strength. 
  16. Now you may paint the entire cardboard home for Baba Yaga using natural, weathered-looking acrylic paints. I applied thin washes of brown, green and gray on the shingles and roof.
  17. I painted the hut's eyeball green and also the platform. 
  18. Use warm yellows and orange to paint the chicken legs too.
  19. Paste faux wooden papers on the window frames and door the make these look more realistic.
  20. I painted the interior of the window flat black and grey. Later I made a bone shaped handle for the door knob at my daughter's request. However, you don't need to attach one if you wish, Baba's hut is always trying to keep both her and any visitors from entering the house anyway...
  21. Paint the stonework about the tower grey.
  22. Mod Podge every surface to seal the finished hut.

Left, the beginning of a Baba Yaga hut craft for an eccentric daughter with a passion for
everything Russian folklore. Where are you gonna buy it? Well, I can't so I guess I'll just have
 to make my own gifts for her? Right, door and window details.


Left, the painted details of the roof's wavy patterned shingles are painted in shades of brown. Right,
 the ''witchy'' stone tower has an eyeball window! Who knows what this pathetic, unhappy hut used
to be at one time, a person or a chicken, or both . . .


Left, the back of the hut. Center, details of the hut's shingled walls. Right, see the rickety stove
pipe sticking out from the side of the house.


Left, see the hut in it's basic parts. Center, the chicken's feathered legs are made using pine cone
scales and a hot glue gun. Right, the roof top is an inverted lotus pod!


Left, the hut's chicken legs are always moving the hut about the fairyland forest, so these must
 be chained down so that Baba can find her home at least some of the time anyway... Right, Baba's
 home is done and ready to be gifted to my younger daughter; she is crazy about Slavic folk tales.

Friday, September 27, 2024

Popping Corn

Popping Corn

Oh, the sparkling eyes,
In a fairy ring! 
Ruddy glows the fire,
And the corn we bring;
Tiny lumps of gold,
One by one we drop;
Give the pan a shake;-
Pip! pop! pop!

Pussy on the mat
Wonders at the fun;
Merry little feet
Round the kitchen run;
Smiles and pleasant words
Never, never stop;-
Lift the cover now;-
Pip! pop! pop!

What a pretty change!
Where's the yellow gold?
Here are snowy lambs
Nestling in the fold;
Some are wide awake,
On the floor they hop;
Ring the bell for tea! 
Pip! pop! pop!

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Through the mousehole . . .

      I will be adding more crafts for mice in late October here, 2024.

How to Craft Mouse Dolls:

Read Mouse Stories Online:

Mouse Book Read Alouds at YouTube:
  1. ''There's a Mouse in My House'' read aloud by green grass story
  2. ''Chrysanthemum'' read aloud by Storytime with Ryan and Craig
  3. ''If you give a mouse a cookie'' read aloud by 5 minutes with Uncle Ben
  4. ''Mice'' read aloud by pure star kids
  5. "Mouse Soup'' read aloud by ReadingAllowed
  6. ''Fierce Grey Mouse'' read aloud by Hubble & Hattie
  7. ''Run Home Little Mouse'' read aloud by Meredith Plummer
  8. ''Welcome Home, Mouse'' read aloud by Storytime with Judy
  9. ''The Mother's Day Mice'' read aloud by Storytime Magic
  10. "Mice and Beans'' read aloud by San Joaquin County Office of Education
  11. "Goodnight Mice!'' read aloud by The Reading Nook
  12. "A House For A Mouse" read aloud by Bed Time Buddies
  13. ''A Mouse Called Julian'' read aloud by cawcawbooks
  14. ''Brave As A Mouse'' read aloud by Doing It Right
Read Mouse Poems and Rhymes:
  • Molly and the Mouse - by Maurine Hathaway - "Five -year-old Mollie Was holding her dollie...''
  • Mouse's Tail by Helen Pettes - ''A little Mouse, so clean and neat, Would wash his face and scrub his feet..."
  • Mouse Sized Rhymes - "A little white hen, duck and a mouse, Together they lived in a little white house..."

Mice that star in short films:

Mouse Clip Art:

The Lion and the Mouse - Puppet Show
 by San Marcos Public Library

The Surprise

 'Surprises  sometimes  are  so  great
You  're  tempted  to  believe  in  fate. ' Whitefoot.

       One  never-to-be  forgotten  evening Whitefoot  met  Mrs.  Whitefoot and  she  invited  him  to  come  back  to their  home.  Of  course  Whitefoot was  delighted.
       ''Sh-h-h,"  said  little  Mrs.  Whitefoot,  as  Whitefoot  entered  the  snug little  room  of  the  house  they  had built  in  the  old  nest  of  Melody  the Wood  Thrush.  Whitefoot  hesitated. In  the  first  place,  it  was  dark in  there.  In  the  second  place,  he had  the  feeling  that  somehow  that little  bedroom  seemed  crowded.  It hadn't  been  that  way  the  last  time he  was  there.  Mrs.  Whitefoot  was right  in  front  of  him,  and  she seemed  very  much  excited  about something.
       Presently  she  crowded  to  one  side. ''Come  here  and  look,''  said  she. 
       Whitefoot  looked.  In  the  middle of  a  soft  bed  of  moss  was  a  squirming mass  of  legs  and  funny  little  heads. At  first  that  was  all  Whitefoot  could make  out.
       ''Don't  you  think  this  is  the most  wonderful  surprise  that  ever was?''  whispered  little  Mrs.  Whitefoot.  "Aren't  they  darlings? Aren't  you  proud  of  them?''
       By  this  time  Whitefoot  had  made out  that  that  squirming  mass  of  legs and  heads  was  composed  of  baby Mice.  He  counted  them.  There were  four.  ''Whose  are  they,  and what  are  they  doing  here?''  Whitefoot  asked  in  a  strange  voice.
       ''Why,  you  old  silly,  they  are yours, yours  and  mine,''  declared little  Mrs.  Whitefoot.  ''Did  you ever,  ever  see  such  beautiful  babies? Now  I  guess  you  understand  why  I kept  you  away  from  here.''
       Whitefoot  shook  his  head. ''No''  said  he,  ''I  don't  understand at  all.  I  don't  see  yet  what  you
drove  me  away  for."
       ''Why,  you  blessed  old  dear, there  wasn't  room  for  you  when those  babies  came;  I  had  to  have  all the  room  there  was.  It  wouldn't have  done  to  have  had  you  running in  and  out  and  disturbing  them  when they  were  so  tiny.  I  had  to  be  alone with  them,  and  that  is  why  I  madeyou  go  off  and  live  by  yourself.  I am  so  proud  of  them,  I  don't  know what  to  do.  Aren't  you  proud, Whitefoot?  Aren't  you  the  proudest Wood  Mouse  in  all  the  Green Forest?"
       Of  course  Whitefoot  should  have promptly  said  that  he  was,  but  the truth  is,  Whitefoot  wasn't  proud  at all.  You  see,  he  was  so  surprised that  he  hadn't  yet  had  time  to  feel that  they  were  really  his.  In  fact, just  then  he  felt  a  wee  bit  jealous  of them.  It  came  over  him  that  they
would  take  all  the  time  and  attention of  little  Mrs.  Whitefoot.  So Whitefoot  didn't  answer  that  question.  He  simply  sat  and  stared  at those  four  squirming  babies.
       Finally  little  Mrs.  Whitefoot gently  pushed  him  out  and  followed him.  ''Of  course''  said  she, ''there isn't  room  for  you  to  stay  here  now. You  will  have  to  sleep  in  your  old home  because  there  isn't  room  in here  for  both  of  us  and  the  babies too.'' 
       Whitefoot's  heart  sank.  He  had thought  that  he  was  to  stay  and  that everything  would  be  just  as  it  had been  before.  ''Can't  I  come  over here  anymore? "  he  asked  rather timidly.
       ''What  a  foolish  question!"  cried little  Mrs.  Whitefoot.  "Of  course you  can.  You  will  have  to  help take  care  of  these  babies. Just  as soon  as  they  are  big  enough,  you  will have  to  help  teach  them  how  to  hunt for  food  and  how  to  watch  out  for danger,  and  all  the  things  that  a  wise Wood  Mouse  knows.  Why,  they couldn't  get  along  without  you. Neither  could  I.''  she  added  softly.
       At  that  Whitefoot  felt  better. And  suddenly  there  was  a big swelling  in  his  heart.  It  was  the beginning  of  pride,  pride  in  those wonderful  babies. 
       ''You  have  given  me  the  best surprise  that  ever  was,  my  dear," said  Whitefoot  softly.  ''Now I think  I  will  go  and  look  for  some supper.

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Whitefoot Is Hurt

'The  hurts  that  hardest  are  to  bear
Come  from  those  for  whom  we  care. ' Whitefoot

       Whitefoot  was  hurt.  Yes,  sir, Whitefoot  was  hurt.  He  was  very much  hurt.  It  wasn't  a  bodily  hurt; it  was  an  inside  hurt.  It  was  a hurt  that  made  his  heart  ache. And  to  make  it  worse,  he  couldn't understand  it  at  all.  One  evening he  had  been  met  at  the  little  round doorway  by  little  Mrs.  Whitefoot.
       ''You  can't  come  in,"  said  she. 
       ''Why  can't  I?"  demanded Whitefoot,  in  the  greatest  surprise. 
        ''Never  mind  why. You  can't, and  that  is  all  there  is  to  it''  replied Mrs.  Whitefoot.
       ''You  mean  I  can't  ever  come  in anymore?" asked  Whitefoot.
       ''I  don't  know  about  that'' replied  Mrs.  Whitefoot,  ''but  you can't  come  in  now,  nor  for  sometime.  I  think  the  best  thing  you can  do  is  to  go  back  to  your  old home  in  the  hollow  stub."
       ''Whitefoot  stared  at  little  Mrs. Whitefoot  quite  as  if  he  thought  she had  gone  crazy.  Then  he  lost  his temper.  ''I  guess  I'll  come  in  if I  want  to,"  said  he.  ''  This  home is  quite  as  much  my  home  as  it  is yours.  You  have  no  right  to  keep me  out  of  it.  Just  you  get  out of  my  way''
       But  little  Mrs.  Whitefoot  didn't get  out  of  his  way,  and  do  what he  would,  Whitefoot  could  not  get  in. You  see  she  quite  filled  that  little round  doorway.  Finally,  he  had to  give  up  trying.  Three  times  he came  back  and  each  time  he  found little  Mrs.  Whitefoot  in  the  doorway. And  each  time  she  drove  him  away. Finally,  for  lack  of  any  other  place to  go  to,  he  returned  to  his  old  home in  the  old  stub.  Once  he  had thought  this  the  finest  home  possible, but  now  somehow  it  did  not  suit  him at  all.  The  truth  is  he  missed  little Mrs.  Whitefoot,  and  so  what  had once  been  a  home  was  now  only  a place  in  which  to  hide  and  sleep.
       Whitefoot's  anger  did  not  last long. It  was  replaced  by  that  hurt feeling.  He  felt  that  he must  have done  something  little  Mrs.  Whitefoot  did  not  like,  but  though  he thought  and  thought  he  couldn't remember  a  single  thing.  Several times  he  went  back  to  see  if  Mrs. Whitefoot  felt  any  differently,  but found  she  didn't.  Finally  she told  him  rather  sharply  to  go  away and  stay  away.  After  that  Whitefoot  didn't  venture  over  to  the  new home.  He  would  sometimes  sit  a short  distance  away  and  gaze  at  it longingly.  All  the  joy  had  gone out  of  the  beautiful  springtime  for him.  He was quite as unhappy  as he  had  been  before  he  met  little Mrs. Whitefoot. You  see,  he  was even  more  lonely  than  he  had  been then. And  added  to  this  loneliness was  that  hurt  feeling, which  made it  ever  and  ever  so  much  worse. It  was  very  hard  to  bear.
       ''If  I  could  understand  it,  it wouldn't  be  so  bad,''  he  kept  saying over  and  over  again  to  himself,  ''but I  don't  understand  it.  I  don't understand  why  Mrs.  Whitefoot doesn't  love  me  anymore." 

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The Whitefoots Enjoy Their New Home

'No  home  is  ever  mean  or  poor
Where  love  awaits  you  at  the  door. ' Whitefoot.

       ''There''  said  Mrs.  Whitefoot,  as she  worked  a  strip  of  white  birch bark  into  the  roof  of  the  new  home she  and  Whitefoot  had  been  building out  of  the  old  home  of  Melody the  Wood Thrush, ''this  finishes  the roof.  I  don't  think  any  water  will  get through  it  even  in  the  hardest  rain.''
       ''It  is  wonderful''  declared Whitefoot  admiringly.  ''Wherever did  you  learn  to  build  such  a  house as  this?" 
       ''From  my  mother.''  replied  Mrs. Whitefoot. "I  was  born  in  just such  a  home.  It  makes  the  finest kind  of  a  home  for  Wood  Mouse babies.''
       "You  don't  think  there  is  danger that  the  wind  will  blow  it  down, do  you?''  ventured  Whitefoot.
       "Of  course  I  don't, "  retorted little  Mrs.  Whitefoot  scornfully. 
       ''Hasn't  this  old  nest  remained  right where  it  is  for  over  a  year?  Do  you suppose  that  if  I  had  thought  there was  the  least  bit  of  danger  that  it would  blow  down,  I  would  have  used it?  Do  credit  me  with  a  little  sense, my  dear."
       ''Yes'm,  I  do," replied  Whitefoot meekly. ''You  are  the  most  sensible  person  in  all  the  Great  World.''
       I  was  not  finding  fault.  You  see,  I have  always  lived  in  a  hole  in  the ground  or  a  hollow  stump,  or  a  hole in  a  tree,  and  I  have  not  yet  become used  to  a  home  that  moves  about and  rocks  as  this  one  does  when  the wind  blows.  But  if  you  say  it  is all  right,  why  of  course  it  is  all  right. Probably  I  will  get  used  to  it  after awhile.''
       Whitefoot  did  get  used  to  it. After  living  in  it  for  a  few  days,  it no  longer  seemed  strange,  and  he  no longer  minded  its  swaying  when  the wind  blew.  The  fact  is,  he  rather enjoyed  it.  So  Whitefoot  and  Mrs. Whitefoot  settled  down  to  enjoy their  new  home.  Now  and  then they  added  a  bit  to  it  here  and there.
       Somehow  Whitefoot  felt  unusually safe,  safer  than  he  had  ever  felt in  any  of  his  other  homes.  You  see, he  had  seen  several  feathered  folk alight  close  to  it  and  not  give  it  a second  look.  He  knew  that  they had  seen  that  home,  but  had  mistaken it  for  what  it  had  once  been,the  deserted  home  of  one  of  their own  number.
       Whitefoot  had  chuckled.  He  had chuckled  long  and  heartily.  "If they  make  that  mistake''  said  he  to himself,  "everybody  else  is  likely  to make  it.  That  home  of  ours  is  right in  plain  sight,  yet  I  do  believe  it is  safer  than  the  best  hidden  home I  ever  had  before.  Shadow  theWeasel  never  will  think  of  climbing up  this  little  tree  to  look  at  an  old nest,  and  Shadow  is  the  one  I  am most  afraid  of.''
       It  was  only  a  day  or  two  later that  Buster  Bear  happened  along that  way.  Now  Buster  is  very fond  of  tender  Wood  Mouse.  More than  once  Whitefoot  had  had  a  narrow escape  from  Buster's  big  claws as  they  tore  open  an  old  stump  or dug  into  the  ground  after  him.  He saw  Buster  glance  up  at  the  new home  without  the  slightest  interest in  those  shrewd  little  eyes  of  his. Then  Buster  shuffled  on  to  roll  over an  old  log  and  lick  up  the  ants  he found  under  it. Again  Whitefoot chuckled.  ''Yes,  sir''  said  he.  ''It is  the  safest  home  I've  ever  had.''
       So  Whitefoot  and  little  Mrs. Whitefoot  were  very  happy  in  the home  which  they  had  built,  and  for once  in  his  life  Whitefoot  did  very little  worrying.  Life  seemed  more beautiful  than  it  had  ever  been before.  And  he  almost  forgot  that there  was  such  a  thing  as  a  hungry enemy.

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Making Over An Old House

 'A  home  is  always  what  you  make  it.
With  love  there  you  will  ne'er  forsake
it. ' Whitefoot.

       Whitefoot  climbed  up  to  the old  nest  of  Melody  the  Wood Thrush  over  the  edge  of  which  little Mrs.  Whitefoot  was  looking  down at  him.  It  took  Whitefoot  hardly a  moment  to  get  up  there,  for  the nest  was  only  a  few  feet  above  the ground  in  a  young  tree,  and  you know  Whitefoot  is  a  very  good climber.
       He  found  Mrs.    Whitefoot   very much  excited. She  was  delighted with  that  old  nest  and  she  showed it.  For  his  part,  Whitefoot  couldn't see   anything   but   a   deserted    old house  of  no  use  to  anyone.  To be  sure,  it  had  been  a  very  good home  in  its  time. It  had  been  made of  tiny  twigs,  stalks  of  old  weeds, leaves,   little  fine   roots  and   mud. It  was  still  quite  solid,  and was firmly  fixed  in  a  crotch  of  the  young tree. But  Whitefoot  couldn't   see how  it  could  be  turned  into  a  home for  a  Mouse.  He  said  as  much.
       Little  Mrs.  Whitefoot  became more  excited  than  ever,  "You dear  old  thing, "  said  she,  "whatever is  the  matter  with  you?  Don't you  see  that  all  we  need  do  is to  put  a  roof  on,  make  an  entrance  on  the  under  side,  and  make  a  soft comfortable  bed  inside  to  make  it a  delightful  home?''
       ''I  don't  see  why  we  don't  make a  new  home  altogether.''  protested Whitefoot.  "It  seems  to  me  that hollow  stub  of  mine  is  ever  so  much better  than  this.  That  has  good solid  walls,  and  we  won't  have  to  do a  thing  to  it.''
       ''I  told  you  once  before  that  it doesn't  suit  me  for  summer''  replied little  Mrs.  Whitefoot  rather  sharply, because  she  was  beginning  to  lose patience.  "It  will  be  all  right  for winter,  but  winter  is  a  long  way  off. It  may  suit  you  for  summer,  but  it doesn't  suit  me,  and  this  place  does. So  this  is  where  we  are  going  to live." 
       ''Certainly,  my  dear.  Certainly'' replied  Whitefoot  very  meekly. ''If  you  want  to  live  here,  here  we will  live.  But  I  must  confess  it isn't  clear  to  me  yet  how  we  are going  to  make  a  decent  home  out of  this  old  nest.''
       ''Don't  you  worry  about  that.'' replied  Mrs.  Whitefoot.  ''You  can get  the  material,  and  I'll  attend to  the  rest.  Let  us  waste  no  time about  it.  I  am  anxious  to  get our  home  finished  and  to  feel  a little  bit  settled.  I  have  already planned  just  what  has  got  to  be done  and  how  we  will  do  it.  Now you  go  look  for  some  nice  soft, dry  weed  stalks  and  strips  of  soft bark,  and  moss  and  any  other  soft, tough  material  that  you   can  find. Just  get  busy  and  don't  stop  to talk."
       Of  course  Whitefoot  did  as  he was  told.  He  ran  down  to  the ground  and  began  to  hunt  for  the things  Mrs.  Whitefoot  wanted.  He was  very  particular  about  it.  He still  didn't  think  much  of  her  idea of  making  over  that  old  home  of Melody's,  but  if  she  would  do  it, he  meant  that  she  should  have  the very  best  of  materials  to  do  it  with.
       So  back  and  forth  from  the ground  to  the  old  nest  in  the  tree Whitefoot  hurried,  and  presently there  was  quite  a  pile  of  weed  stalks and  soft  grass  and  strips  of  bark  in the  old  nest.  Mrs.  Whitefoot  joined Whitefoot  in  hunting  for  just  the right things,  but  she  spent  more time  In  arranging  the  material. Over  that  old  nest  she  made  a  fine high  roof.  Down  through  the lower  side  she  cut  a  little  round doorway  just  big  enough  for  them to  pass  through.  Unless  you  happened to  be  underneath  looking  up, you  never  would  have  guessed  there was  an  entrance  at  all.  Inside  was a  snug,  round  room,  and  in  this  she made  the  softest  and  most  comfortable of  beds.  As  it  began  to  look more  and  more  like  a  home,  Whitefoot  himself  became  as  excited  and eager  as  Mrs.  Whitefoot  had  been from  the  beginning."  It  certainly is  going  to  be  a  fine  home,"  said Whitefoot.
       ''Didn't  I  tell  you  it  would  be?'' retorted  Mrs.  Whitefoot. 

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