 |
| Jack Frost by Arthur Rackham from "Arthur Rackham's Book of Pictures" published by Heinemann, London in 1913 |
Jack Frost has come and strung tiny fairy lights and icy jewels in the hedges and trees. All glistens with a dewy irridescence. The Autumn lanterns, spider webs and fence posts, just every day things, are made magical with a wave of the long icy fingers of just one of his his frosty hands.
It is very cold outside but beautiful and so eeriely still that you can hear the sound of your own footfall. You do not have to imagine very hard to think that the tinkling upon the wind is the bells from the carriage of The Snow Queen in the distance in the woods. We put out food for the birds each morning and take it away each evening or it will freeze.
 |
| Gerda and The Reindeer by Edmund Dulac Poem, "Reindeer Presence," by Mario Milosevic. cards available from Endicott Studio, Here: |
My favourite characters in the story are Gerda and the Reindeer who is her big friend. Edmund Dulac captured his tears at the distress of his little maiden. This image was dear to me as a child, and then almost forgotten until someone sent me a Christmas card bearing it. So many years after reading the story it still made my heart glad. In this poem by Mario Milosevic the spirit of The Reindeer is captured beautifully. I am as glad today as I was some 50 years ago when I discovered that Reindeer are in fact very real.
"Reindeer Presence," by Mario Milosevic
Reindeer, you are keepers of time, your souls always moving. You eat lichen and moss, swallowing the magic of the Earth. You know nothing of us but we see your other–worldly ways, and we know your wild heart is the only gift we ever need. —an excerpt from Reindeer Presence by Mario Milosevic. Art by Edmund Dulac.
