Sunday 2 June 2013

Cats and dogs...and Peter Rabbit

Postcards from my collection;

My postcard collecting habit isn't confined to any particular subject. I like cards with cats or dogs just as much as cards with fairies or children. If there is an interesting message and a pretty picture, it makes them twice as nice, but it only needs one of those things to grab my attention.

A hand coloured card produced by E.W. Savory of Bristol.

I’m not sure what ‘the joke’ is but this happy looking dog certainly seems to be enjoying it.

You Naughty Bird! By Louis Wain. Posted  January 11th, 1905. 
Message reads - Dear May, what is the matter, are you ill, how is your face? Please write soon as we are so anxious. Hoping you are well, I am your loving friend Gwen. 

Oh dear I do hope May replied to poor Gwen! How much easier it is now with email and mobile 
phones!

Oh! I've got a pane! Illustration by A. E. Kennedy. Published by C. W. Faulkner and posted in 1943.

I can’t make head nor tail of the handwriting on this one so although there is a message, I’ve no idea what it is!  I may not be able to read the message on the back, but I love the message on the front! It reminds me of a poem called English is a pain! (pane?)

Rain, reign, rein, English is a pain. Although the words sound just alike, the spelling's not the same!
Bee, be, B, I'd rather climb a tree than learn to spell the same old word not just one way, but three!
Sight, site, cite, I try with all my might. No matter which I choose, it's not the one that's right!
There, their, they're, I almost just don't care. Too many ways to write one sound, I just don't think it's fair! To, two, too, so what's a kid to do? I think I'll go to live on Mars and leave this mess with ewe! (you?)

The unchained dog. Come any nearer if you dare.  By Cecil Aldin. Published by Raphael Tuck in their "Oilette" series. Message reads - Have got address elsewhere. Let me know if you have sent. 

Interesting! I wonder what that's all about. 

Have landed safely here, having a good time.
Published by E. T. W. Dennis. Posted to a Miss Elizabeth Webb on the 25th August, 1954. Darlings, here is a pussy to bring my love. Hoping you all are well and will have a good holiday with some nice warm weather. Such love to you all. K & G.  

I'm fed up waiting! Art and Humour Publishing, London. A & H Funny Dogs Series.
Posted on the 20th March, 1920. 
Message reads - Say Siss, do I owe you a letter, or do you owe me one? I dinna Ken the noo; but I hae ma douts. Anyhow I'm fed up waiting so you may expect a six page letter soon. From Yours Truly Pearl.

The last card is my favourite, more because of the message than the illustration. ”From Yours Truly Pearl” is a great way to end, but I hae ma douts about her Scottish Ancestry!


Peter Rabbit;


A week ago yesterday this little rabbit appeared looking dazed and bewildered. We watched for ages in the hope that another rabbit, preferably his mum would come and fetch him, but by the time it got dark he was still sitting in the same spot in the corner of the garden. We thought about trying to catch him but each time we made a move his ears shot up and his nose started to twitch, so with sinking hearts we went to bed not expecting him to survive the night. But on Sunday morning, he emerged from under the shed, took a look about and proceeded to explore.


We so enjoyed watching him meandering around, but the threat of the neighbourhood cats gave us more than a few sleepless nights. We have been on rabbit watch all week!  On Friday night, the security lights came on and lo and behold there was not one but two cats prowling around the garden. Opening the bedroom window and shouting proved pointless but the sight of a mad woman (me) in PJs careering around the garden was enough to make them scat! Yesterday morning the little rabbit once more emerged from under the shed looking none the worse for wear.

Spot the Rabbit!

In the Peter Rabbit stories by Beatrix Potter, Peter was partial to some lettuces and some French beans and some radishes. Not so with ‘our’ little rabbit – first he ate some London Pride (Saxifrage umbrosa), some daises and some grass. Then he explored the rockery and the bedding plants and tried a little nibble of each. And that was the last we saw of him. We keep going to the windows and the back door, but the garden is quite empty. Has he moved on to another garden with nicer things to nibble? We hope he is safe, but don’t suppose we will ever know. It may be that one of the cats carried him away or maybe one of the buzzards that are always around, or perhaps bedding plants and saxifrage were his undoing.   It was such a privilege to meet you little rabbit – be well!

I saw this the other day; The Little Things That Separate andUnite Cat Owners vs Dog Owners.  It’s well worth a read.

31 comments:

  1. I SEE THE RABBIT! I SEE HIM on the lower right hand side (my right hand side) sitting up on his haunches! I am very good at spotting a rabbit since we have TONS of them here, and count them on our morning walks! It would be accurate to say that we can count up to 50 rabbits on a three-mile walk!

    And nothing says charm so well as these vintage postcards. Somehow, I just find that people in those days saw nature in a different way, maybe because they had less technology, cars and such that wipes away nature's presence.

    HOW LOVELY of a post as always, dear Barbara! Anita

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    1. Well spotted Anita! Seeing 50 rabbits on a three-mile walk would be my idea of heaven! We occasionally see them when we are out and about, but it’s the first time one has visited the garden. You can see exactly where he’s been by following the nibbled leaves, so although I hope he comes back I also hope he doesn’t bring too many of his cousins! Barbara xx

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  2. What a great selection, I especially liked the You Naughty Bird card as the look on the cats face is so funny.

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    1. Hi Tracy, Louis Wain was a master of comical cat expressions, and like you; I loved this one!

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  3. I love your rabbit story. The poor little thing must have been so scared with those cats stalking it. I hope it got away safely. It took a while but I did finally spot the bunny.

    I wish I had some of those parachuting kitty postcards to give my daughter to send back to me whenever she goes somewhere (she just back in China this week).

    What a wonderful postcard collection you must have. Thank you so much for sharing them and starting my day with a smile.

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    1. I hope so too Alex, we had become quite attached to that tiny spark of life. I’ve searched the garden several times today, and scanned the neighbour's gardens but there is no sign of him. I hope he is in a field somewhere eating ‘proper’ rabbity things and enjoy some time with his family.

      You should take a screen shot from the postcard and have some printed. You could then address them all to yourself and just ask your daughter to drop one in the post each time she arrives somewhere! Our children are such a worry aren’t they?

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  4. How good to see you come by; I know you would enjoy our little urban paradise. We certainly have a duty to create as much loveliness as we can in this sometimes concrete and cold world....enjoy a cup of tea or refreshment for me dearest Barbara, and think of me! Anita

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  5. Thank you Anita, you always brighten my day! xx

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  6. ~ I loved this 'wee' post Barbara! ~ The post cards are delightful, but little bunny has stolen my heart....I do wish him well! the lettuce in Mr MacGregor's garden made the flopsy bunnies go a little soporific .....so maybe he is having a snooze in some one else's garden... ~ I remember our kittie's used to be chased around my garden by our rabbit.....( she was most certainly the boss)~ Ooh I do hope they let him be...~ Happy new week, lovely Barbara! ~ Love Maria x

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    1. Thank you Maria, you just made me feel a lot better! Little Peter Rabbit stole our hearts too. If it's not me looking for him, it’s Terry! We have been around the garden on our hands and knees looking under all the shrubs, pots and buildings, but there is just no sign of him! That must be a good thing, because if he had been ‘got’ there would probably be some evidence. I love the idea of him bossing those pussy cats around – I do hope that’s how it is. xxx

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  7. LOvely postcards. I am one of the few peopel that still sends postcards. Everyone seems to love getting them so I will not stop. Perhaps someday a collector will be happy to have some of them. I love the bunny and do hope he is safe.

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    1. Hi Darlene, Terry and decided to start sending them to our two little granddaughters in Australia. We’ve only sent one so far this year (from Dunster Castle) because that’s when we had the idea! However, if we send one each time we visit somewhere new they should end up with quite a collection. We also need to look for some pretty ‘artist drawn’ cards or something funny, as at one and two years old they might get fed up with castles and such!

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    2. What a great idea. Thye will be delighted to get a postcard in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa no matter what is on it.

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  8. I can see the little rabbit sitting under the leaves , I too hope that he is safe and living a happy life :)

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    1. Hello Aunt Mary, he's not easy to spot because he's really tiny. We are still checking the garden every few hours but there have been no more signs of him.

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  9. Lovely postcards! And I love the rabbit's story...so sweet! I laughed imagining you in PJs running in the garden. I see that cute little one kept you entertained these past days.
    Besos!

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    1. I must have looked like someone demented! The cats haven’t been back so I’m sure the little rabbit is gone. The sun is shining in the UK today; I hope it’s shining for you too! Barbara x

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  10. Oh it's so funny, but it doesn't matter if it is a real dog or an illustration, they always make me laugh!
    -Jamie
    ChatterBlossom

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    1. Hi Jamie, glad it made you smile. Thanks for calling in. Barbara

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  11. Lovely postcards, Barbara, the illustrations are very charming and sweet.
    And I loved the photos and story of the little rabbit in your garden. I hope he is safe and happy now :)

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    1. Thanks Hilde, I'm glad you enjoyed the illustrations. Still no sign of the little bunny, maybe he's found love and set up home somewhere else. Well, I hope so anyway.

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  12. Found the wee rabbit even before reading the comments! So much cuteness packed in this post, I don't know where to even start. I think I am just going to have to pin that cute black kitten onto one of my boards though!!

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    1. Well spotted Diane, it was quite hard keeping on eye on him in the garden while he hopped around at great speed!
      Please pin away I’m very happy for them to be shared.

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  13. I love the poem about the window 'pain' Barbara - it's one I will teach to my grandchildren.... x

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  14. Hi Marilyn, I love it too but had forgotten about it until looking at that card. It's strange how something can jog a memory that has been hidden for years.

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  15. Post cards are so fun. I love that you collect an eclectic bunch! I always love to receive postcards in the mail and recently found two oldish (not sure how old) post cards in my attic. They weren't written on- but they were fun to see! My guess is they are from the 50s or 60s.

    Love the rabbit/garden photos. What a fun visitor!

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  16. Barbara, I hope the little grey rabbit is well, too! What a nice summer you're entering. Love the animal postcards here, and I'm especially enjoying the poem 'English is a pain.' When I was very much younger, I used to think the same!

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    1. Hi Claudine, yes, we’ve had a few beautiful days, so much nicer than wall to wall rain! I still think the same! Many of those words regularly trip me up!

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  17. Claudine, I forgot to thank you for calling in. I know just how busy you are at the moment so really appreciated your visit. Barbara

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  18. I promise to look and see if I still have my fairy postcards. Looks like you've been busy. The pop up books in the next post are amazing!

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    1. Hello Eve, it would be lovely to see a fairy postcard post on your blog. I’m nearly always busy but as I’m doing something I love I’m pretty happy about it! Thanks for calling in.

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I really appreciate your comment. Thank you!
Barbara xx