I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.
The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow—
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
And he sometimes gets so little that there’s none of him at all.
Robert Louis Stevenson’s “My Shadow” .
As soon as I saw the title of your blog, I knew that I was going to see some more Robert Louis Stevenson. What a beautiful picture of Kezzie. Her blue eyes seem to be asking her Yia Yia for a walk in the snow.
Thank you, Janet. She was being so sweet waiting for us all to get ready to go out for a special treat. Kezzie was holding her new toy, a Dora the Explorer water toy, and she had just asked if we could go to the beach! I love her comments. We did walk in the snow, scrunch, scrunch, scrunching along. I wonder of RSL has a scrunching verse?
What a darling she is, all wrapped up like little Red Riding Hood. Are you reading these delightful poems to her? I can imagine that your collection of children’s books is soon to get plenty of use.
Thank you, Juliet. We haven’t read any of the Stevenson poems, but I am sure that will happen. Our little Kezzie has quite a collection of books of her own already and I look forward to sharing what we have here. Isn’t it grand fun to read to the little ones?
Oh, those eyes! Kezzie looks simply beautiful, like some Victorian child in one of those old portraits….
That’s so sweet of you to say, Kate. You give me an idea to try this in a sepia tone, but, I must get some work done first. tee hee
RLS is probably my favorite poet, Penny. And, I’d wear that jacket of Kezzie’s. She is adorable.
Isn’t it a great coat? I can imagine a picture of you in one just like it. Thank you, Andra. She is a sweet blessing, indeed.
An unwitting coquette… She is beautiful, Penny!
Ha! It is rather coquettish, isn’t it Karen? Thank you so much.
Wht a doll, Penny! This is an adorable photo. When did her hair get so long! I think she changed over night, or maybe it’s because now she’s the big sister! Perfect poem to place with this precious photo. How fabulous that she would stand still for the photo, with coat and scarf so well-placed. I haven’t had much luck with staging potographs for a while. LOL! These photos from Christmas should really be enlarged and framed. I think you could go far with photographing children…or maybe it’s just your love for the two particular subjects comes through!
I think I was just lucky, Debra. Ezra was just waking up in his carrier and this one of Kezzie caught her expression as I kept up the old “point and shoot” routine. She is falling quite nicely into the role of big sister and was waiting patiently for everyone else to get their coats on when I took this. She’s so much fun! I am going to enlarge them, thank you. You are too kind, Debra.
Kezzie is adorable, and I imagine shadows in the snow would be lovely to play. Last summer Liam loved jumping on Mark’s lengthening shadow as we walked down into the village, in France. Their shadows were huge, as the sun got lower and lower in the sky. He squealed with delight all the way into the village.I’m going to sort out the photo I took of him, and read him the poem…..I think he’ll love it. Thanks Jx
Thank you, Janice. Isn’t it fun to see what children do with shadows? You might want to look up the poem for Liam as there are several more verses that will add to the fun. You are so very welcome.
Love the poem – and the darling picture that accompanies it.
I have missed connecting with you these past few months – but I look forward to reading more of your marvelous posts in 2013.
Hi, Molly. It is so nice to see you here again. You made my day. I hope you are having as much fun with your grandchild as I am with mine. Thank you.
Kezzie and Ezra are delights to behold. You are so generous to share the photographs that are truly studio quality. I am smitten!
The poem is one of my childhood favorites that brought back sweet memories.
I haven’t wished you happy 2013 yet so I hope it brings everything your heart desires.
Oh, Marilyn, thank you. You are too kind – though I understand the smitten part. Me too.
Isn’t it a wonderful nod to childhood? Robert Louis Stevenson is a favorite of mine as well.
The same 2013 wishes to you as well. I’m still trying to figure out how 2012 went so quickly.
Another cutie pie, Penny.
Funny that you quoted RLS poems the past two days. He is on my list of authors to read this year…I just haven’t decided which of his adventures to begin.
Thank you, Belle. I’ll be interested in what of RLS you start with. I’m sure it will be an interesting and pleasurable adventure.
What great pictures of Ezra and this one of Kezzie, she is just adorable, and so is he. How lucky they are to have you as their Grandmother.
That is nice of you to say, Sharon, but I think it is me that is the lucky one. It is most certainly fun! Thank you, my friend.
Your granddaughter is beautiful — she does have that look that reminds me of illustrations from childhood books…a perfect winter picture. I love Child’s Garden of Verses.!
Your granddaughter is beautiful — she does have that look that reminds me of illustrations from childhood books…a perfect winter picture. I love Child’s Garden of Verses.!
Thank you, Sallie. Isn’t A Child’s Garden of Verses a timeless collection of Stevenson and childhood?
What a little beauty all wrapped in her winter wear, Penny. Kezzie is growing so quickly and I see sparks of mischief and fun in those big blue eyes
Thank you, Perpetua. She is growing fast. Sigh. She was standing there, with that little doll, which is a water toy, asking if we could go to the beach so she could put it in the water. It was about 9 degrees that day. Love it!