Monday 12 August 2024

Olympic Foxes!

Anyone who knows our family knows that we are really not sport people.  Playing it or watching it.
My daughter and I in particular, are REALLY not sport people.  It doesn't even matter very much what sport it is - we are just not interested.

Except during the Olympics.  

For about two weeks, once every four years, the people who do know us look on in bewilderment, as Caitlyn and I suddenly become sports fanatics.  We watch as much of the Olympics as we can.  There are some exceptions, mind you - still a few sports we just can't get into - but there are so many we get genuinely excited about - gymnastics, swimming, beach volleyball, diving, water polo, equestrian events, archery, trap shooting, high jump, sailing, the marathon, cycling - the list goes on!  Once the Closing Ceremony wraps though, the shine fades, and we go back to our sport-less ways.

We are the first to admit that this is very weird.

So anyway, we enjoyed the canoe slalom during the last Olympics in Tokyo, and yes, admittedly, we probably paid it more attention than we might have because Australia had a medal chance in it:  a young woman named Jess Fox.  This time around, Jess returned for the Paris Olympics, and this time she won gold medals in both the C1 and K1 slalom events!

Sometime around this time, I had mentioned that the Sylvanian Family Collectors Forum had an "Olympics" themed creative challenge happening, and Husband said, "Hey, do you have any foxes?  You could make a kayak!"  I loved this idea, and set about making a "Jess Fox" costume for one of my fox figures.  Here she is, sporting the Aussie green and gold:


Interestingly though, the best was yet to come:  a new sport was introduced this year, called the Kayak Cross - or, as Caitlyn described it, "Canoe Slalom: Melee Weapons Edition" (this may perhaps make it sound slightly more brutal than it actually is.  Slightly.  But it is SO much fun to watch).  And the cool part is, this is when we discovered that Jess Fox's little sister Noemie was also an Olympian!  And she did well - not only beating her big sister, but everyone else too, winning gold in this new event.


I just had to make a Sylvanian version of her, too!

So this is my entry for the "Olympics" creative challenge, and it is a Sylvanian tribute to all the amazing men and women who have competed as Olympians.  Whether they won medals or not, they all fought so hard to be there and represent their countries.

Of course I think especially of our Australian athletes (because that's where I'm from), and in this case, if only because their last name is just so perfect for this, especially our golden Foxes, Jess and Noemie!




Sunday 9 June 2024

Sylvanian Pride and Prejudice - Part Four

Here is the latest instalment of my long-term project, to cast and photograph Jane Austen's novel, Pride and Prejudice, using Sylvanian Families.  A bit more story this time!

If you missed the earlier parts, I recommend reading Part One first.  (I also highly recommend seeking out Austen's original book and reading it - it is great fun!).

Obviously, the words that follow are not my own, although I have heavily abridged the original text.  I do hope you enjoy it.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton;  a most convenient distance for the young ladies, who were usually tempted thither three or four times a week, to pay their duty to their aunt, who had married a Mr Philips, and also to a milliner’s shop just over the way.

The two youngest of the family, Catherine and Lydia, were particularly frequent in these attentions;  their minds were more vacant than their sisters’, and a walk to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish conversation for the evening.  At present, they were well supplied with news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the neighbourhood;  it was to remain the whole winter, and Meryton was the headquarters.

Their visits to Mrs Philips were now productive of the most interesting intelligence.  Every day added something to their knowledge of the officers’ names and connections.  At length they began to know the officers themselves, and they could talk of nothing else.

After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject, Mr Bennet coolly observed,

“From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country.  I have suspected it some time, but I am now convinced.”

Catherine was disconcerted, and made no answer;  but Lydia, with perfect indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter.

“I am astonished, my dear,” said Mrs Bennet, “that you should be so ready to think your own children silly.  They are all of them very clever.  I remember the time when I liked a red coat myself very well – and indeed so I do still at my heart;  and if a smart young colonel, with five or six thousand a year, should want one of my girls, I shall not say nay to him.”

Mr Bennet was prevented replying by the entrance of the footman with a note for Miss Bennet;  it came from Netherfield, and the servant waited for an answer.  

Mrs Bennet’s eyes sparkled with pleasure and she was eagerly calling out, while her daughter read, “Well Jane, who is it from?  What does he say?  Make haste and tell us.”

“It is from Miss Bingley,” said Jane.  “She asks me to dine with her and her sister.  The gentlemen are to dine with the officers.”

“Dining out,” said Mrs Bennet, “that is very unlucky.”

“Can I have the carriage?” said Jane.

“No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain;  and then you must stay all night.”

Jane was therefore obliged to go on horseback, and her mother’s hopes were answered;  Jane had not been gone long before it rained hard.  

Her sisters were uneasy for her, but her mother was delighted.  The rain continued all evening without intermission;  Jane certainly could not come back.

“This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed!” said Mrs Bennet, more than once.  

The next morning, however, breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from Netherfield brought the following note for Elizabeth:

‘My dearest Lizzy,

I find myself very unwell this morning, which I suppose is to be imputed to my getting wet through yesterday.  My kind friends will not hear of my returning home till I am better.  They insist also on my seeing Mr Jones – but do not be alarmed – excepting a sore throat and head-ache there is not much the matter with me.

Yours, &c.’

“Well, my dear,” said Mr Bennet, “if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness, if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr Bingley, and under your orders.”

“Oh!  People do not die of little trifling colds.  She will be taken good care of.  As long as she stays there, it is all very well.”

Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her sister, and declared her resolution to walk there.

She set off, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing over puddles, finding herself at last within view of the house, with weary ancles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.

She was shewn into the breakfast-parlour, where her appearance created but a great deal of surprise.  

That she should have walked three miles so early in the day, in such dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley, and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt for it.

Her enquiries after her sister were not very favourably answered.  Miss Bennet had slept ill, and was very feverish and not well enough to leave her room.  

Elizabeth was glad to be taken to her immediately, and Jane was delighted at her entrance.   She was not equal however to much conversation, and could attempt little beside expressions of gratitude for the kindness she was treated with Elizabeth silently attended her.   

The apothecary came, and having examined his patient, said that she had caught a violent cold, and that they must endeavour to get the better of it, advised her to return to bed, and promised her some draughts.

The advice was followed readily, for the feverish symptoms increased, and her head ached acutely.  Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment.

When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go, and very unwillingly said so.  Jane testified such concern in parting with her, that Miss Bingley was obliged into an invitation for her to remain at Netherfield for the present.  Elizabeth most thankfully consented.

~~~ o ~~~


Saturday 27 April 2024

Sylvanian Pride and Prejudice - Part Three

For those who do not know, it has been a long-term project of mine for to cast and photograph Jane Austen's novel, Pride and Prejudice, using Sylvanian Families.  I am sorry it has been so long since the last instalment - sometimes real life gets in the way!

Anyway, here is Part Three - just a short one this time, but I promise the next part will not be too far away (and will get into the story a little more than this one does!)

If you missed the earlier parts, I recommend reading Part One first.  (I also highly recommend seeking out Austen's original book and reading it - it is great fun!).

Obviously, the words that follow are not my own, although I have heavily abridged the original text.  I do hope you enjoy it.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield.  

The visit was returned in due form.  

Miss Bennet’s pleasing manners grew on the good will of Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley;  and though the mother was found to be intolerable and the younger sisters not worth speaking to, a wish of being better acquainted with them, was expressed towards the two eldest.    

By Jane this attention was received with the greatest pleasure;  but Elizabeth still saw superciliousness in their treatment of every body, and could not like them. 

It was generally evident whenever they met Mr Bingley, that he did admire Jane...

... and to Elizabeth it was equally evident that Jane was in a way to be very much in love.  She considered with pleasure that it was not likely to be discovered by the world in general, since Jane united with great strength of feeling, a composure of temper which would guard her from the suspicions of the impertinent.

Occupied in observing Mr Bingley’s attentions to her sister, Elizabeth was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of some interest in the eyes of his friend.  

Mr Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty.  But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes.  


Of this she was perfectly unaware; - to her he was only the man who made himself agreeable no where.


~~~ o ~~~


Ready for more Pride and Prejudice?  Click here for Part Four...