The Country Mouse
November 16, 2017
A Town Mouse went on a visit to his cousin in the country. Country Mouse loved his town friend and offered him heartily welcome. Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all that Country Mouse had to offer, but he offered them freely. Town Mouse rather turned up his long nose at this country fare, and said: “I cannot understand, Cousin, how you can put up with such poor food as this.” He continued, “but of course you cannot expect anything better in the country.”
Country Mouse design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.
Country Mouse scurried about beneath some nearby ferns trying to find some more elegant provisions. Then his urban cousin suggested, “Come you with me and I will show you how to live. When you have been in town a week you will wonder how you could ever have stood a country life for so long.”
No sooner said than done: the two mice set off for the town and arrived at the Town Mouse’s residence late in the evening. The polite Town Mouse offered, “You will want some refreshment after our long journey.”
He led his rough and ready cousin into the grand dining room where they found the remains of a fine feast. Soon the two mice were eating up jellies and cakes and all that was nice.
Suddenly they heard growling and barking.
Country Mouse asked, “Ieck!!! What is that?”
“It is only the dogs of the house,” his companion responded.
“Only!” squeaked the Country Mouse. “I do not like that kind of music at my dinner.”
Just at that moment the door flew open. In ran two huge mastiffs, and the two mice had to scamper down from the table and run off.
“Good-bye, Cousin,” said the Country Mouse.
“What! Going so soon?” said the other.
“Yes,” Country Mouse replied: “BETTER BEANS AND BACON IN PEACE THAN CAKES AND ALE IN FEAR.”
Happy Thanksgiving!
Bee and berries
November 14, 2017
A Bear roamed the woods in search of berries. He happened upon a fallen tree in which a swarm of bees had stashed their honey. The Bear began to nose around the log very, very carefully to see if the Bees were at home.
Just then one of the swarm happened home from the berry patch with a load of sweet pollen. Guessing what the Bear was after, the Bee flew at him, stung him sharply. Then he disappeared into the hollow log.
The Bear lost his temper and sprang upon the log attacking tooth and claw, hoping to destroy the nest, but this only brought out the whole swarm. The poor Bear took to his heels and ran. He only saved himself by diving into the nearby stream.
The weakest united may make for a strong alliance of protection. Overlooking the fact that many bees united can make even the strongest creature uncomfortable, it would be wiser to bear a single injury in silence than to provoke a thousand by flying into a rage.
Note: No animals were actually stung in the telling of this fable.
Meanderings 4… re-LAX
November 5, 2017
“wa-ter-writes-sun-lights-writes-wa-ter-writes-sun-light-writes-sun-light-sun-light-writes-on-the-wa-ter-wa-ter-wat-er-writes-in-the-light” poem by Robert Lax, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.
Water writes, sunlight writes notecard
Meanderings 3
November 3, 2017
Then the winds came and a fire that made the sun change its hue.
I could not breath… for thinking of those in the path of the firestorm.
My prayers are with those who were touched by last month’s fires… for truth, love, and renewal.
Meanderings 1 & 2
November 2, 2017
It was an uneventful summer…
Before the winds kicked up…
Nevermore in costume
November 1, 2017
Last night I saw Nevermore in his Halloween costume circling my neighborhood, he did not stop to tell me what he was trying to be, but he called out to me and I told him to send my regards to the conference of birds.
Meanwhile, I have been busy working on a writing project about the San Francisco SPCA in advance of their 150th anniversary next year and it has tapped my extra time when I would normally do my drawing. I hope to get back to my artistic explorations soon.
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