high up in the trees

The mechanics of a badger's jaw does not allow for yawning.

{Let me take your picture... a wooden mouse pauses for a moment.}

The first thing I saw this morning was a hot air balloon balanced a little above a thin slither of a faint crescent-shaped moon in the early morning sky. Balanced as if anchored there, perfectly symmetrically, and barely a cloud in sight. Two perfectly framed forms seen as I opened the curtains and looked out at the world. Through the windowpane it appeared as though the arc of the moon was supporting the balloon, enabling it to hover. A moment later they had separated. The balloon headed up and over to the left and the moon gave way to the day.

Two coffees and an hour later, I am sitting by the computer, preparing to make comfortable a host of wooden animals. Louise and I have decided to put several of the smaller wooden animals for sale on our store (and etsy, too, for those of you who prefer it). Our animals long to go to new homes, both near and far. They long to dart around a local corner or cross a wild and hazardous sea. Several may hanker to journey by hot air balloon, I shall ask.

Yes, they wish to fly the nest to meet new folk. Perhaps it is you they desire to meet.

{A squirrel rests for a spell... beneath him, a handsome pile of books (thanks, Brita).}

{A small beaver perched ontop of a familiar book, Lisa S?}

Find a tiny turtle, a small beaver, a house mouse, a badger and a squirrel here.
Find a pair of Egyptian bats, a smiling platypus, an American beaver, two aardvarks, a small leopard, a badger, a field mouse and a long-footed potoroo here.

{Long-eared Eleanor is a keen traveller.}

{All rabbits love Charlie Harper, don't you find?}

To those curious souls, our little bird giveaway is still open and we shall draw and announce the results early next week, should all go to plan. We're chuffed that so many of you wish to call one your very own.

And to those who prefer something soft and cuddly, two new Thelma's rabbits, with decidedly long ears, have recently arrived. You'll find them here, should you seek them. I, for one, don't wish to part with them.

A winged giveaway.

{Birds, randomly grouped.}

{Would you like one?}

Fifty linen-fronted birds have recently been made (as part of an order for Lee Mathews). Fifty linen birds plus two. Two extra loves, the fetching Hester and the beguiling Hennie, made to give away to two kind blog-reading souls.

All you need to do to be in the running is to leave a comment below or over here (or both to effectively double one’s chances). Crossing your fingers also helps, or so I hear. Leave mention of your favourite common bird name and you may find you’ve tripled your luck. The spine-tailed log-runner, the spotted nightjar, the rainbow-bird with its fondness for dragon-flies and robber-flies both, the budgerigar, and the spotless crake… are any of these a favourite of yours? Perhaps you prefer the speckled warbler, a bird who favours a small, hooded nest.

(Should your inner ornithologist prove too hard to summon and you don’t know a snow goose from an azure kingfisher… you’ll find a handsome list of birds here and here.)

Best of luck, friends.

{A scene viewed in the distance.}