Update 8/4 : Thanks so much for all the great captions for last weeks contest! The winner is:
“Left, right, cha, cha, cha! One, two, cha, cha, cha!”
I love the idea of him practicing his dance steps with the mirror – nice work Lourdes!
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I’m working on mostly top secret things right now – holiday stuff, 2 brand new workshops for next year and the tedious parts – formatting, editing etc. – of creating the rag doll and seed pod patterns. Since I can’t show you what’s on my work table it’s the perfect time for a caption contest.
I try to make creatures whose expression and body language imply a history – a definite point of view, a world of their own. And I like to photograph them in a way that invites you to wonder what’s going on outside the frame. This is one of my most favorite photos – taken last year in the Adirondacks. What do you think this dapper rat is up to? What’s on his rat mind?
Make up a caption and leave it in the comments to this post – an esteemed panel of judges will choose a winner to be announced next Thursday. Everybody is welcome to enter – please leave your caption comment before Wednesday 8/3.
And the prize – a Fortuny seed pod! Such a tragic flower – gone to seed – collapsed in a pretty heap.
“Oh, do come. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Shhh… the cat is finally sleeping.
Walk this way….
Shall we dance?
be vewy vewy quiet…..i’m hunting cheese…..
Caption: Wistfull Mr Alphie Rat wishes his family was with him in this lovely new home. He will send for them soon!
Tiptoeing through the house.
Intrepid Isaac seeker of truth.
Good one.
Slowly I turned … step by step … inch by inch …
Oh dear! Where did I put my top hat and cravat??
Tippy toes so no one knows…
If I tiptoe quietly…….Oh drat I think they have seen me! Time to play statues.
Greetings! This is your intrepid adventurer, Raticus Secundus, seeker of the precious and worthy Fortuny Seed Pod the source of all wonder and mystery, reporting on this first day of our most glorious expedition.
Flash! Who put that camera there!
….and all through the house, the rat was stirring, but not the mouse.
(Spoken with a British accent)
Oh dear me….I seem to have gotten some seeds stuck to my tummy while I was out blowing sweet dandelion puffs in the afternoon sun. No matter, I will just brush them under the heater and no one will ever know they are there. Squeak! squeak!
A momentary pause in a momentous journey … but why?
Buddy McRatticus slips quietly through the window and tiptoes to his room hoping against all hope that Father McRatticus doesn’t notice the tripped trap outside.
Lol
As the rat emerged from his den behind the radiator he caught himself in the mirror for the first time. There he realized his self-worth, seeing his fur made of Fortuny, giving him the courage to stand upright.
What? I like to dress up a bit when it’s my night for house patrol. Is that such a crime?
Left, right, cha, cha, cha! One, two, cha, cha, cha!
He heard the cat was away, but he had to be sure…
Yes!!
I seem to have backed myself into a corner!
“Off to the subway”
Free hugs!
I was hoping to meet the dust bunnies here. I was told they have all the fun!
“Where’s the cheese ?”
As the music played, Dapper shouted, ” Come on lets vogue! Just use your imagination!”
You can’t see me…I’m in my Invisible Tripod Pose!
Ha! You can’t see me…I’m in my Invisible Tripod Pose!
Had to add the “Ha!”…forgot he has a bit of an attitude!
Yeah yeah, I know, never fall asleep in the sun under a drainage grill. You told me that last time. Now where’d you put the aloe?
Who me, no I didn’t eat that cheese.
Did someone say “Cheese”?
Curiouser and curiouser, is that white stilton gold? Oh my, oh my…
“I’m not smug, I’m just full-ish”.
Hey, does this fabric make my butt look big…..what are you laughing at? That’s it, my butt does look big… Oh Sadness….
This Dapper Rat, one Bartholemew P. Wode is waiting for his Buttler to help him dress. He stands ready to be dressed for a night on the town, white vest and bow tie and a set of tails. He is thinking about his brushed silk hat that will roguishly tip over one eye. Which cane to take? The one with the malachite set handle or the silver topped one? What colour handkerchief to peek from his breast pocket?.Oh the decisions a young dapper rat has to make!
“So I thought I’d be the master of disguise and wear something to match the wallpaper! Perhaps the Miss of the house won’t notice me as I slip in for a midnight snack!”
Sammy hummed “I gotta be me” while looking for the Pack, Frank, Dean and Joey.
Tango with ME!
Whow! Cheese and no Cat!
…….oh great!!! The cat’s away and now this mouse is going to play…….
“Now’s my chance,heh,heh,heh!” Love this conniving rat..love him.
“Step on a crack, break your mother’s back!….Oh my, I’m ever so clumsy!”Charles thought to himself.
“Put on your red shoes and dance the blues”
“But it was an accident, darling”
So sad ! One of my friends hit the dust, he ate all the cheese on that stupid mouse trap ! He should have asked me first !!!
It’s a perfectly rainy day. I had hoped to play “drowned rat” in the puddles with all the fellows. Mother however had other plans for me. She was anxious to try out her new knitting needles so guess who had to hold the yarn? Oh my aching paws!!
I spy some cheese crumbs and I will tip toe to the prize.
Do you think I can make it without being caught?
Hello honey, I’m home!
But I haven’t had my tea yet. Bother!
RATS! I missed the last episode of Downton, and my cousin had a cheesy bit part in the pantry!
Love it!
Mr Rata-to-he , practicing his famous dance steps on the dance floor.
RATS!! I thought I could sneak by! Well, how’s everyone doing today? ( smile and wink)
careful……careful…….. topweight to the left ……and a little to the right…… and…. YEP….. I can manage this. I can stand up at two legs. And wo… wo… aaaah…… (falling and shakes head) the…. tail ..did …not …help….. either…… . . And another try ….. . . .
If the sun
Ain’t shinin bright
And the moon the moon
Won’t shine for you tonight
If the stars in the sky gone away
And you feel
Feelin real slow down today
If life gets hard to understand
And the whole thing is getting out of hand
Come to Poppa
Come see your poppa
And then he saw her……
Oh joy!! Oh boy!! The family has gone to the park for the day
I shall go to the pantry and see what delights I can find
The suspense is euphoric, it’s like Christmas in May!
A fig, a cookie, a doughnut? Some cheese and red wine?
I’ll relax on the tea towels and stuff til I puff
Then I’ll carry more back to my nest, where I’ll rest.
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Whoops, I didn’t think this went through, so it’s posted twice.
If You follow me there will be something cheesy!
Mother May I take 2 steps forward?
Dancing with the Stars contestant, Tiny Twinkle Toes!
Shhhhhhhh………!
OK…I got this…
Is this the way to the kitchen, Mr. Cat?
Oh joy!! Oh boy!! The family has gone to the park for the day
I shall strut to the pantry and see what delights were left behind.
The suspense is euphoric, it’s like Christmas in May!
A fig, a cookie, a doughnut? Some cheese and red wine?
I’ll relax on the tea towels and stuff til I puff
Then I’ll carry more back to my nest, where I’ll rest.
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
You can’t see me, right? Right?
“I’m not joking – it was THIS big!”
It’s seems Cinderella’s coach had left with out me !
“I do not have to make noise”. A fairy mouse. “I do not have to make noise”. A fairy mouse on the cheese way. Not a thief, just a serial cheese keeper. “No noise at all”. A fairy mouse thief.
For Hire: Aloyisius Ronald Dack ( aka A. Ron Dack ) , squeaky floor inspector. Low hourly wedge, mere crumbs.
love it!
Monsieur Raymond Rat decides to venture out in broad daylight only to find that now they’ve acquired a cat!
Another lap around this hallway and that metaphor I’m needing to complete my sonnet just might materialize. God willing!
“That was a good night last night…now to find a quick exit!”
Dressed to the nines Ronald still wondered if he should have chosen the larger size…..
Time stood still, as Dapper rat gazed longingly at a huge crumb of food on the floor in front of him… could he get to it, without being noticed? Quietly does it, slow but sure gets there, but wait… what was that sound?…
“I kid you not guys, the cheese, it was this big and shaped like a fish!”
“My Darling…come…let us watch the sun set over the mountain as we sip our Dandelion wine.”
“now what was it I came in here for?………”
Did his eyes deceive him or was there really a chocolate truffle under the sofa?
“Now if I can just find my embroidered waistcoat, I shall be ready to join my guests for high tea!”
” Tell me something Annie, and be honest.”
Don’t mistake the nonchalance of snazzy Mr. Rat!
He’s a radiator gladiator when it comes to ‘scaping cats.
“If I tiptoe ever so softly and quietly, maybe I can see what is on that work table….”
Wee Graylee wonders where everyone has gone, as he toddles off in search of a goodly nibble of cheese.
With morning light streaming in…I must get home quick!
Rat-a-tat-tat – who is that?
Is it ol’ Tomcat
in his denim top hat
sittin’ on my doormat
waitin’ for a chat?
Dancing like Fred Astaire–without a top hat, but with a very fine tail.
Shhh…whiskers do tickle when treats are sweet…trail my tail and follow my feet, together we’ll share what’s good to eat.
What a time for Mrs. Rattly to decide she needs some buttered toast! This pregnancy craving thing will be the death of me!
*Gulp* If I stay really really still the cat might not notice me………….
I came in this room for something…now what was it? Hey! who moved my cheese!
Step away! I am not a Pokémon.
“Tiptoe, towards the two chips…”
“I’m Stuffed”
“I’m steppin’ out, my dear,
To breathe an atmosphere
That simply reeks with class” (Irving Berlin)
I’m not hiding anymore. I will find her even if I’m still scared!
If I tip toe maybe I won’t wake the cat.
“Rat-a-tat-tat”
Upon the ancient floorboards
I find my way into a past Full
Widening
Rat storytale ambles secretly
Edges of the Riverway
hold me captive.
I seek
“Nobody puts Baby in the corner”. I’ve just got to dance!!!!!!!!
He looks sweet, but a bit guilty, and unsure of himself. So, He might say, “That went well…(I think?)”
Must remember the third board from the left wall is the creaky one. Oh and no stepping on the gaps -don’t want any bad luck on the way out! Got caught by that fairy godmother last time and turned into a coachman for the night!
‘Samuel Whiskers got through a hole in the wainscot, and went boldly down the front staircase to the dairy to get the butter.’ From The Tale of Samuel Whiskers by Beatrix Potter …In celebration of her work as she was born 150 years ago.
Shhhhh… was that a bell I heard?
It was the “tippy toes”
I chose…
Because the cat was near.
If I can only reach my cheese…
before I start to sneeze!
Please dear, do have a seat whilst I put the kettle on and plate some biscuits.
Now where are those tulips I tippy toed through yesterday?
“I’m no model lady. A model’s just an imitation of the real thing.” Mae West
“that was some buffet, im stuffed”!
“I’m a rat…I ain’t twee. Oh, you said you’d made ratatouille. Well, can I have some?”
Uh-oh
My hat…my gloves…I must be off!
“Wait, did you hear that? Who’s there!”
Doughhhh….nuts…..Where do they keep the doughhhh…nuts….?
Time for a quick getaway, but it was worth it!!!!!!!!!!!
“Look away…you didn’t see anything.”
“Captain Rastus Ratorolio” pirate captain on the high seas. He has faithful crew next to him and a strong Caribbean breeze behind!
“Hello, I’m home”. Where is everyone?
Dang! I forgot the creaky floorboard…
Ladies, form a line please!
“I have a rumbly to fill in my tumbly…”, quietly with feather fine steps to the pantry for a sublime little morsel; or two.
“Who loves you baby? I was the original member of the Rat Pack before Dino, Sammy or Frankie!”
oh my I’m quite stuffed!
Mr. Dap R. Rat paused as the dust motes sparkled, momentarily causing him to forget what he was looking at.
It looks to me as if this adorable little guy is doing Tai Chi; finding inner peace, tranquility of mind and body. He’s being very mindful of each movement and breath. ” Just breathe.”
‘Oh, I’m hurrying…do wait for me…”
(…theme music from Mission Impossible…)
Drat! Forgot to wax my mustache again…!
I’m a very smart fat-rat! Not afraid of any ol’ scardy-cat!
Cat runs from me and hides under the lilac bush where I can keep an eye on his calico tush!
Her…..her calico tush.
“Come –dance with Me!”
A cup of tea and cheddar cheese? I’ll just creep down and have some please!
Harriot…quick…Come see what the cat’s dragged home!
‘Griffin prayed the floor boards wouldn’t squeak on his way to the kitchen’…
“if I just move very very slowly she won’t notice”
Dapper Rat has love on his mind. He is tiptoeing into his lovers bedroom dressed in his finery. Ooo la la!
Burp, I feel sick….too much cheese; can’t find the barhroom!
“….here kitty,kitty…”
What ! I’m too big for my door?
Waiting for the other shoe to drop.
who,s on first?
Whats the score?
Nine Fortuny rats sliding into home. Radiator is a cool rat. Up at bat, radiator loves to play the outfield. Radiator roots for the home team.
Well, hello there……. err, do I know you??
Oh bother… I knew I should have clipped my nails! I’m going to wake her up with all this clattering about…
I didn’t do it!
The Great Fortuny … Having a moment of repose between shows.
At last my love I have found you! (Of course he is singing it).
Thanks for the captions everybody – winner announced tomorrow evening!