Sunday Story - The Prince & the White Cat

The Prince & the White Cat

Some time ago I included this illustration in a post called Wonderful Weddings.  I think these lovely paintings are the work of Jose Ortiz and as with all my 'Sunday Stories' originally appeared in Once Upon a Time magazine.  After posting a series of selected illustrations on different topics I received a request to include the full stories. This is one of my favourites.

I'm still using a borrowed laptop (my son's) as I've confirmed my own PC problem is not recoverable.  The last automatic windows update wiped out my ethernet adaptor. It seems I'm not the only person this has happened to.  If you are lucky you can roll back the change, but in some cases like mine the adaptor is destroyed completely




To get the laptop working again I'd have to reload the operating system, but as it is almost 5 years old I'm taking it as a sign I need a new one.  The only reason I'm hesitating before buying one is that Windows 8 seems to have a few problems and a new release is due to come out later this year.  I'd like to wait until that happens but my family want me to have my own laptop again so I may have to get one sooner rather than later!

Here is the story:
 

Taken from Once Upon a Time children's magazine. Issue #141 dated 23 October 1971


Through a glass - lightly

My husband thinks this photo is a bit daft but I find it quite effective.  I'm always the one with the camera taking photos of everyone else.  I never have any photos taken of me (I'm not vain but I'm a natural historian and recorder of the progression of time. In a way this blog is an attempt to catalogue my memories.).  When I saw how well this door was reflecting the scene outside I decided to take a self portrait.  I like the slightly indistinct results - its almost like a painting. 

The garden has been glorious now winter has finally released its grip.  These flowers are finished now but I loved them when they were in full spate and looked like a waterfall of blossoms.  Now the briar rose has taken over so it is still an equally colourful corner.  

When the flowers grow in such profusion its lovely to be able to bring a little bit of the garden inside.  I always think of my mom when I do this.   She loved arranging flowers and filling her home with them.

The Star Maidens - Nadir Quinto

I was originally going to post another entry on the Bill Woggon colouring book I featured at the beginning of the year as I've always had three posts in mind for it.  But somehow I felt I needed something with a bit more colour in my life today - and this lovely story seemed just the ticket.  The illustrations are by Nadir Quinto - one of my favourite artists and someone who has featured in my blog on more that one occasion before. 

I love everything about these illustrations.  The richness of the colours, the subject matter, and the way just looking at them makes my spirit soar into the heavens where it can dance in that vast spangled expanse alongside these fairies and prancing winged horses.

Last week I was feeling very tired, demoralised and pretty glum in general.  I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who left a comment and to those of you I know visit regularly even if you don't always say anything.  I've mentioned before that blogging has surprised me by being such a two way street.  I always hoped my posts would bring enjoyment and delight to the lives of others in the same way that these illustrations have given such joy and pleasure to mine.  I never expected to find my own life enriched in return so much by the people I've met in the process.  I may not have managed to garner hundreds of followers but I've realised that each and every one of you is far more important to me than a thousand voiceless faces - so for that I'd like to thank you all for the wealth of friendship you've brought to my world.

This is another instance where I've had to split my scans into two images because I can only cope with A4 size and the original pages are much larger.  I've tried to do these so that both the illustrations and the text are included.  I may have cut a little bit off on the edges but I hope I've still managed to keep a workable balance.

This story originally appeared in 'Once Upon a Time' magazine. 

Issues 79 to 82

Published weekly between 15 August 1970 and 5 September 1970

To those of you whose blogs I normally visit - thanks again for being so understanding if I don't pop around as often as I used to.  I've found because of my new extended commute (coupled with a demanding work environment) I tend to run out of steam as the week progresses - each day gets progressively worse and by Thursday I'm capable of doing virtually nothing by the time I get home.  Its almost more than I can do to get up on Friday morning but at least then I have the knowledge that on Saturday I don't have to make a 5am start.  Its amazing how well the weekend manages to revive my energy and spirits - but then treadmill continues and its back to the same old routine on Monday again!