For some years now, I have been a regular reader of Yorkshire Pudding's blog. Like many of his readers, I particularly enjoy his great photos of beautiful Yorkshire (and elsewhere) countryside. But there is lots more to his blog, and I find his posts nearly always entertaining or thought-provoking (or both).
As early as 2009 (when I didn't know his blog yet), YP mentioned seeing foxes in his neighbourhood. Some remarkable encounters with foxes took place in 2012, but it was not until 2015 before Fred started to appear on the blog.
In the spring of 2015, he became a regular visitor to the garden at Pudding Towers. He even wrote a guest post on YP's blog, for the benefit of any other foxes who might happen to read it.
Later the same year, it was Fred's picture that won YP a first place in a photo competition. He (Fred, not YP) was already in a bad state, limping and balding.
And then, one day, Fred was gone.
But when YP took up painting, one of the first works he showed us on his blog was Fred's portrait based on one of his photos.
It was upon my request that he produced several more paintings of Fred, and I had the honour to choose one which was then sent to me just in time for my birthday.
When all my friends and family were gathered at the party, I introduced Fred to them.
I had already bought a matching frame earlier that same week, and a few days later, I gave him his rightful place of honour:
Even as I am typing this, I only have to turn my head to the right to look at the painting. And whenever I walk from one room to the other or leave or enter my flat, it is one of the first things I see. The door to the left is the entrance door to my flat. To the right is the kitchen, and I was standing in the doorway to the bedroom when I took this photo.
Once again, thank you, YP!
Fred definitely lives on.
I would put that in a spot where I could see it most often too. It's very, very good.
ReplyDeleteI think so, too!
DeleteThis portrait of Fred is a treasure, now part of your world linking you to other worlds.....YP has a generous heart.
ReplyDeleteHe does, doesn't he!
DeleteThat's so beautiful and I know you will treasure it forever!
ReplyDeleteI certainly will, Jennifer!
DeleteWonderful painting. We had a fox who visited us when we first moved in, but he/she has since moved on.
ReplyDeleteI get the occasional squirrel, and most frequent visitors are magpies, doves and tits, but no fox will be able to climb up to my kitchen window :-)
DeleteLucky you to have that painting. We get foxes in the garden, and a few nights ago the dogs went out for their last wee, and the schnauzer was grunting and growling around the garden, and the yorkie was yapping all around......I thought that maybe a fox had been there. Next morning my husband got the chip from the motion activated camera in the garden, and sure enough, a fox had been there about 20 mins before the dogs went out. I think they are beautiful creatures, but would prefer if they gave my garden a miss !!
ReplyDeleteThe painting looks so perfect in its place on the wall, almost as if it had always been there!
DeleteI can imagine your dogs (and you) are not too pleased to have foxes visiting your garden. But what with humans encroaching more and more on the habitat of what used to be wild animals, I guess they don't have much choice but to adapt to semi-urban life.
Lord Pudding's contest-winning photograph of Fred Fox and the painting that captures Fred are both excellent, aren't they? And I know exactly how you feel about having received the painting, as we have a painting of grapes on our kitchen wall that was given to us by New Zealand blogger and painter Katherine de Chevalle.
ReplyDeleteThank you for popping over and leaving a comment!
DeleteYes, it is an excellent painting, based on an excellent photo.
I don't know Katherine or her blog, but I am sure you are reminded of her every time you look at the grapes.
Her name in the real world is Kate Steeds, hence the blogging moniker Katherine de Chevalle (a multilingual funny). Her blog is called The Last Visible Dog and may be found at this address:
Deletehttp://www.delphine-angus.blogspot.com
Note of connectivity: Yorkshire Pudding visited her in person while on vacation in the Pacific.
Thank you for this additional info! I'll have a look at her blog.
DeletePS: The link does not work for me, I get the "Blog not found" message (no typo, since I have copied & pasted the link, not typed it).
DeleteIf you could see me now you would think you were looking at a beetroot. I am blushing with pride and so delighted to see Fred upon your wall. Fred has gone and one day I will be gone too but there are always echoes of what once was.
ReplyDeleteYou are rightfully proud and delighted, and I like what you say about there being echoes of what once was.
DeleteThe connections and friendships that emerge through blogging are really special. Fred looks right at home on your wall.
ReplyDeleteHe does, doesn't he!
DeleteWonderful!
ReplyDeleteI think so, too!
DeletePictures can be such powerful reminders and it's good to see where Fred has settled.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Graham, I think the same!
Delete