Monday, December 14, 2009

Illustrations of Reality

Today we go back at last to Pirate Goat’s Log of Summer Island. Goat’s Log is a record of Pirate Goat adventures on the Island in the St. Lawrence River and is one of many layers of reality that intermingle quite happily on that enchanted isle.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to dwell on those multiple realities for a moment. I have heard Monsters express confusion and some discomfort about those who treat Animals “as if they were real.” This perplexes many dwellers of Big Bed Land, who find it quite odd that Monsters treat money as if it were real. When money is just bits of paper and plastic! Furthermore, Monsters have invented a kind of Time that is also a Monster, and seems to control them. Bink, while hesitating to criticize the “Time is Money” reality of Monsters when they have clearly worked so very hard on it for centuries now, would just like to point out that sometimes less is more. Less work, more play, Bink ventures to suggest.

Here are several viewpoints of Summer Island. Mouse Fairy Goldenrod joined Goat in many of Goat's adventures and even won from Goat the rare honor of a written description of her beauty! (You will read this later.) Adele, the Monster self of Mouse Fairy Goldenrod, drew this map to the Island- called Hickory Island by Monsters- and she clearly stated that the map was how she saw Goat seeing the Island. (It's actually all quite simple if you don't think about it too hard.)

She noticed that Willabear, the only BBL Animal at the Island who did not eventually go on any of the river-swimming expeditions, had a very different point of view of the Island - mostly from the vantage point of the porch where he often sat, visiting with the Animals as they took sunbaths after swimming, and dreaming of his fair Glamora. How handsome love has made him! M. Adele drew both maps into Goat's Log, and we thank her for her generosity. Mouse Fairies are notoriously generous except on the occasions when they are not.

Here is another view of the Island from the hands of the remarkably talented Monster Margot. She herself dwells in the multi-faceted realities of being Mouse Fairy Tulip, our Beloved Queen, as well as Pioneer Woman, mother, artist, and now community social activist for the arts!

4 comments:

  1. We took a poll here at the Hyggehus and every one of us is in accord with your "Less work, more play" philosophy. Everyone-even the Monsters.

    Adele is certainly a very talented map-maker and artist. We all enjoyed these wonderful pictures to remind us of our tremendous visit. (Shingles kept some crumbs from the S'mores in a little jar and he takes it out periodically and has a teeny tiny snack to remind him of that glorious and delicious day!)

    We do appreciate all the efforts you are making, Monster-E, to keep us up to date with all the current goings-on in Big Bed Land and its surrounds.

    Much love (and fond remembrances)

    The Hyggehus Gang

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  2. Dear Poetikat,
    We are very intrigued by the story of Shingles and the teeny tiny S'mores crumbs kept in the little jar. I can see this so clearly in my mind! A wonderful image.

    Plus, I am always finding out more things about the Animals' relationship to smallness and miniatureness. These things are mysteriously wonderful to Monsters, but even more so to Animals it seems to me!

    Since M. John Hayes has started up an interest in N gauge trains, smallness has taken on a new dimension in BBL. Just yesterday, Monster J removed a tiny piece of silk (from Monster E's new project of spinning silk fibers with a drop-spindle) from Mr. Raccoon's shoulder and Mr. Raccoon happened to mention that this was an N gauge silk monkey!

    We had no idea such a creature existed. Silk monkeys are cameo characters in the absolutely delightful Moomintroll books by the Finnish author Tove Jannson - we all love her books! Do you know them?

    Thanks for being in touch. Note from Pinky: Sometimes I take out my souvenir menu from that glorious day of visiting with the Hyggehus Gang and remember what a grand time it was. Hugs to all!

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  3. How divine to see Hickory Island in its Mouse Fairy Island alias through the eyes of the animals and my daughter --- and displayed upon the omniscient screen of everlasting light! That I have not been keeping up with your blog regularly is surely proof that I am in need of Bink's prescription of Less Work, More Play. I do take some pride (perverse, my husband/accountant would say, in not mixing time or work with money. I am quite skilled at working very hard and using up great quantities of time without the least remuneration. The cause of my play deficit lies elswhere. Hmmmmm......Bink?

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  4. Dear Margot,
    Bink points out that for Monsters it often seems to be a vague and unexamined guilt (commonly called the "Work Ethic") that makes it hard for Monsters not to fill up time with goals, no matter how nonsensical. Play depends on having time with nothing to do. Bink points out that Monster E. is pretty terrible at this too.
    Love from BBL!

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