Tuesday, September 01, 2015

Back to School...in the rain!

The new House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge is Back to School. A card or other project must feature any of the House Mouse & Friends, Gruffies, or Happy Hoppers, and Anything Goes is the alternate subject.



Maxwell, Monica, Mudpie, and Muzzy are on their way to the first day of school. They don't seem bothered by the deluge, semi-protected as they are by the last of the summer's flowers. Mudpie seems a little hesitant about getting his feet wet, while Monica is happily splashing, Muzzy is soaking his tail, and Maxwell is leaping from rock to rock.

The scene reminds me of my first days at kindergarten. My house was not far from school, so after a couple of days being accompanied by my Grandmother, I was to walk there and back--an adventure in itself--and had a shiny new pair of red rubber boots for rainy days. When the first rainy day came, I set out, joyfully splashing in every puddle I could find. I was later told I was to avoid the puddles, which totally boggled my mind, because I couldn't see the point of boots if one was to avoid puddles.

I remember, too, my two sons' back to school days. I always saw them off reluctantly, because it meant the end of more relaxed time together. They were a joy to be with, not perfect, but full of energy, ideas and thoughts that could surprise and amaze. To keep them entertained during family vacation trips, while my husband did the driving,  I made up stories, which the boys haven't forgotten.  It's not so much the stories themselves, I'm sure, which stay in their minds, but the feeling of the four of us being woven together by the magic of imagined worlds.

Rainy Days and Back to School, what treasured, bittersweet memories!

The card base is Stampin' Up Lovely Lilac, overlaid with SU Sheer Perfection Vellum. The stamp is House Mouse Rainy Daisy Day. To watercolour, I used various SU watercolour crayons, markers, and ink. I used Judikins Diamond Glaze on the raindrops.

13 comments:

Vicky said...

what a beautifully colored card :) the image is adorable also .

America said...

Oooh what gorgeous and detailed coloring. Love this House-Mouse Rainy Day for back to school. Thank you so much for joining us again at HMFMC. LOVELY WORK!

Carol L said...

What a fun card, and I enjoyed your fun stories too, especially your new boots! ;)

Dixie Cochran said...

Lovely card and terrific story! Great memories.

Lorraine A said...

Gorgeous card :-) such a great take on the back to school theme! I LOVE it and I really enjoyed your write up too, you are a great storyteller! your explanation about what the little mice are doing really made me smile, you brought them even more to life :-)

thanks for joining us on the House Mouse and Friends Challenge :-)
luv
Lols x x x

Kristie Goulet said...

Very cute! Great coloring!

Sue said...

These little mice don't seem to mind at all that it is raining, in fact they look like they are enjoying it. What a wonderful scene and you have colored it up beautifully. Thanks for joining us for the House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge.

Hugs
Sue

Beth Brovold said...

How cute are these little darlings...hope that they make it to school without getting too wet...fabulous card!! Thanks for playing along with us at HMFMC...good luck!!
Take care,
Beth

Sue from Oregon said...

Thank you for joining House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge!

This is such a fun image...you really should have drawn in some red boots on the meece,,,a great memory for your sons! Super card!


♥ Sue Kment

cotnob said...

A fabulous card, they look like they are having such fun splashing in the puddles and you have coloured them beautifully.
Pauline
x

Snoopy said...

Beautiful card! Love the colors you've used. Thanks so much for joining us at House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge. Hope to see you again on the next challenge!

Hugs,
Snoopy :D​

Diane said...

Such wonderful memories Kathleen and what an adorable card !! Glad you could play along with us at HMAFMC and good luck sweetie !!

hugs Diane xx

Christine said...

Awww these cute guys are having so much fun "Puddle jumping" lol lovely colouring. thanks for sharing your memories..


Thanks for sharing with us at House Mouse & Friends Mon. chall.

Smiles Christine mousey DT xx

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