There is so much going on, most of which I really don’t even want to think about: the ongoing surge in coronavirus, brought on, at least in part by the unwillingness of a sizable portion of the population that could get vaccinated, but won’t. The cancer death of another acquaintance, the continuing (and escalating) dangerous lies about the election and subsequent attempted coup.
And MAYBE I did not acknowledge a certain little panda princess’s birthday on the actual day…
Sigh…
Meanwhile, it is now birthday month for the trio from DC, the offspring of the Xiang Tian Clan, so I guess all of the Sunday roundups for the entire month will have to be about them!
Gee…I wonder if I have any ‘toons about Pinky...#ClapLouder
Pinky tests her powers….oops.Oh Princess Pinky, mom has a trick or two up her paw, I think…Pinky is VERY powerful. Be afraid, be very afraid, Mr Wu.You say you want a resolution, well, you know, it is hard to change a bear….
And, of course, one of my personal favorites…
Pinky answers difficult questions from the press in her own way.
Maybe by the time this hits the cyber waves, Huan Huan will have gifted us with a pair of cubby siblings to BeBe Maurice! If not, this will give you some reading material while you wait!
I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner, but you can’t have “Zoom Meetings” without the ZOO!
Six and Sebben have gotten their first Panda Scout merit badges!!!
There are so many stories to get to! And I’ve left Frank and Mikey wandering around Alaska, looking for their family. Sigh…I’m sure I’ll track them down…eventually.
Meanwhile, western Washington is experiencing record temperatures! Stay cool, everyone!
It’s been a year, hasn’t it? And that doesn’t even include the previous 4 years as we descended into madness of the former guy’s reign of terror.
Fezbook likes to sideswipe you with memories from years past, and so my post about the passing of the real life Mehitabel popped up, from January of 2017. She put in her time and then some, living almost to her 21st birthday. She managed to avoid coyotes, owls, and raccoons that call my woodland their home.
Mehitabel at 16. Still a beauty…
I will miss you forever, my beautiful kitty girl.
During that month, as we anticipated the incoming former guy, with a lot of trepidation, we also experienced a day of solidarity and joy as all over the world we marched to say, we are watching you. Even my little town of Langley had a massive turnout, despite many people (4 bus loads if I remember correctly) headed into Seattle for an even bigger march.
Women’s March, Langley edition!
In the final year of the former guy’s assault on democracy (is it the final year? Seems like he is still assaulting us;) we lost over 600,000 to a worldwide pandemic, which, among TFG’s many crimes, the crime of letting the pandemic run almost unopposed was one of his worst. So many families were torn apart as their loved ones died in hospitals, unable to be together or mourn their losses with family members.
The panda community lost one of our own, not to Covid, but to a bad heart, which is kind of ironic, since Jayelle had one of the biggest hearts I’ve come into contact with on these interwebs.
I made this series of ‘toons in her memory:
Who will win? Six and Sebben battle it out on the track!What WAS that stuff Six dumped in front of Sebben’s car?That’s one heck of a lot of ear wax!!!
2020 did have one bright spot…well, at least two that I can think of. The first was our own little miracle cubby born at the Smithsonian National Zoo in DC, who just made his public debut about a month ago, and is already wowing the crowds.
Is there anything more fun than watching Bike play wit Mommee or even just roll around in the den by himself?
And the real life Bao Bao (Princess Pinky to her Panda Chronicle fans)had a cubby in her new home in China. alas, as an inexperienced mom, they decided her cubby would do better with an adopted family with an experienced mom and a brother. Fortunately for us, they have their own panda cam, so we can watch her antics.
It left me with a dilemma, since I have chosen to keep Pinky a perpetual teenager, living at home with her family. Hey. It’s fiction. I can do anything I want. I mean Charlie Brown was six for like 75 years, okay?
But there is more than one way to..um… well, you know.
What could be more delightful than ANOTHER baby Pinky?
It’s been a very hard year for so many, and a hard lifetime for so many more. I’m not sure where we go from here when so many people are so insistent on denying the reality of the former guy’s loss. The events of January 6, 2021 weigh heavily on my brain. The centuries of racism and the continuing assaults on Black, Latin, and Asian people in this country hurt my very core. The GOP led states who are even now passing voter suppression bills to amplify the harms done, make me wonder if there is any hope for humanity.
Could we learn to be better people? It sure doesn’t seem like that’s the direction we’re headed in. I’m waiting for those who have the power to make laws, to practice justice, to do their jobs and use their power to help people and not just find ways to hold onto that power.
Sorry to be kind of down tonight.
Call your Congress folks, Get your vaccine, Work for social justice.
Animals have been in the NooZ again! Elephants rampaging in China, bears cavorting in streams on bear cams and bears getting locked in cars! Where will it all end?!?!?
Well, it’s late and I don’t have a plan for today’s collection of ‘toons, so I’m just going to randomly make some selections and maybe a theme will emerge. Or maybe not. I can’t always be brilliant!
Babette has ..um…toned her wardrobe down in honor of this important occasion.Panda Talk! My favorite show!Bubba is such a smart little pandaI don’t think Mei is buying the homework thing.Of COURSE Pinky has a secret tunnel!Well, she does have a valid point…
Well, I hope this will keep you entertained until I post a new ‘toon on Tuesday!
Meanwhile, back at the real SNZ, Bikkie seems to be taking the throngs of real life visitors in stride, or at least in cubby trot! So just remember, when real life gets too surreal, there is always the panda cam!
Who would have guessed my creative journey would have taken me into the realm of needle felted pandas, or even Panda Satire? Certainly not me! When I was in art school, back in the days when you could get a college education for less than the price of a house, if you were a painting student, you PAINTED! Nothing else was acceptable! You did not “waste” your talents on such frivolous pursuits as Panda Satire, for crying out loud!
For some number of years, I held to those principles. Eventually the realities of a more regular cash flow lead me down the path of printmaking (etching to start). Eventually I embraced other forms of printmaking, such as lithography, monoprint, and monotype. One of the universal truths I discovered was that all forms of making art have something to offer, and each technique you add to your tool box, circles back around and makes the other forms you practice stronger.
Working on black and white etchings made my paintings much stronger, with greater attention to composition and light an dark values.
This all has a point
The recession of 2008 hit me hard, and I needed something to cheer me up. Pandas were the answer. I don’t know what the question is. What I do know, is that one thing leads to another: panda satire lead to starting to write children’s book (another pursuit which has a long way to reach its conclusion) and it also led to making needle felted pandas.
Every bear has a story
Some of the stories are mine, but the felty panda troop inspires stories in the people who welcome them into their homes. I am honored to be entrusted with some of these stories, and rather than my usual dive into the archives today, I am going to share some of the photos sent to me by a lover of the felty bears. They have added their own touch to the settings, and as one who has always loved dollhouse miniatures, the exquisite details they have added to the scenes thrill me no end!
Enjoy these Felty Dioramas!
Frank ponders the readiness of his toasted marshymallow. Fortunately, ice cream sandwiches, lemonade, and hot dogs provide a back up, should the marshmallow be burned beyond recognition!Pinky ponders the speed limits of her new cubvertableThe Meihems attempt to catch a ride! “No room!” Pinky says! “you’ll crush my tutu” “Where to,” says Frank!Bert: well, if Pinky won’t give us a ride, we’ll have ice cream without her! Ernie: and some cuppycakes!Mikey prepares a treat at the Panda Chronicles company Picnic, while Larry looks on and gives toasting advice!Frank and Mikey have nabbed the cubvertable, but not for long!Frank and Mikey, kicking back at the company picnicMeanwhile, Pinky is off on a joyride! I wonder how fast this thing goes?After the party, some of the cubbies settle in for a slumber party!
I hope you enjoyed these felty dioramas! It’s never too late to have a panda party at your house!
Imagine! I could be taking a nap on the couch, and just when I need to wake up, it would come over and nudge me, bringing me a cold drink and a snack! I realize these inventions are created for people with mobility issues, but what a boon for the laziest among us!!! I think I need another nap! Binky! fetch me a soda!
Have a favorite ‘toon you want to see again? If you can describe it to me, I’ll try to find and post for next week!
By popular request….
Well *bleep* and take your *bleep* and stick it *bleep*!!!!
It was Bikkie’s Debut weekend this week, so, even though I just ran this one recently, it’s always time for the Cute-o-Meter!
See? I told you it was broken!I didn’t THINK that Pinky knew the “share” word.Well, it is kind of funny, isn’t it?My! You are quite the good looking fellow!
