It’s ‘best foot forward’ and one step closer to the special occasion mentioned in my previous blog post , but before we get there,
One step closer, best foot forward
I want to take one step (plus several hundred more) back to a dear character who entered my life in 2012. If you are a long time follower of my blog you will have met her before but I am sure you will agree that renewing acquaintances is often as much fun as making new ones.
So, let me introduce you to ~~~~~~~~
Mrs Cockalarum
who arrived on Christmas Day , complete with name. She is, in her regular domestic life, a decorative paper weight, only, most of the time, she decorates a chest of drawers and no paper comes near her. 
She has a few animals to keep her company, including some of her own kind. However, every now and again, even a paperweight can do with a change of scenery and a new point of view, so I decided to take Mrs Cockalarum on an autumnal excursion.
Starting indoors, we tried out the floor,
then a higher peachy perch, 
but her view was obscured so we went outside, where she dusted her feathers with the light scent of alyssum and
pecked at the sweetest red berries. 
After which she looked at the world from a seat made of corn and silken tassels
and took a swing in a hanging basket.
Today, the world was full of surprises for me and Mrs Cockalarum, not the least of which was finding this in the tree outside my house!
Footnote: The berries are called New Zealand cranberries. They are delicious but are not much like any cranberries that I have ever tasted. Their real name is Chilean Guava ( Ugni molinae (Mrytus ugni)). Apparently the berries were a favourite with Queen Victoria. Mrs Cockalarum and I have given our unroyal seal of approval, too.
© silkannthreades
Another footnote: Are you wondering about the word, Cockalarum, like I was? I am not sure I would like Mr Cockalarum (wherever he is), yet Google tells me that cockalarum heroes were popular in their day. I have seen Seba Smith’s Major Jack Downing referred to as a cockalarum hero. Whether or not that is true, he is certainly an interesting character, a “beloved American hero, whose name was synonymous with Yankee Doodle…”.
silkannthreades 
Mrs. Cockalarum is divine! I love little crafts like that. I used to shop at craft fairs years ago, but since my son became hooked with soccer, his games are always on the weekends, and I miss the craft fairs! One day . . .
Yes, one day. 🙂 It’s great when a child has a passion like soccer. In NZ it is a winter sport though and I can’t say I miss those cold early morning games or cold late afternoon practices which consumed my son’s life for a few years. 🙂 Not to mention the muddy uniforms and boots!!!
The thing I may like best about your blog is that I never know what to expect! The tale of Mrs. Cockalarum and her adventures made me grin. Thank you, and I hope she will be a recurring character.
Hmm….I will have to think of some more adventures for her. Or maybe she will whisper a few ideas into my ear. 🙂
Maybe.
I like her a lot. It’s so magical to see her coming alive with great storytelling!
So pleased to hear it. 🙂 🙂 🙂
love the polish color
i have blue polished toes today
hehe
Thank you. Blue polish is fun, too. I see from your blog that you write about Kpop and K drama. My daughter is a fan, too, and we watch quite a few things together. We both love Taemin. She has been telling me about SuperM and wondering what the group will be like.
I enjoyed sharing Mrs Cockalarum’s adventure – those berries look delicious – apart from the strange multi-coloured one, not sure that would taste so pleasant!
😀 That multi-coloured one would either be very rubbery or leathery. Either way, definitely not delectable.
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Mrs. Cockalarum is so much fun. Just seeing her makes me feel more cheerful.
Yes, she has that effect on people. 🙂 She is sitting beside me now, keeping an eye on things.
Gallivanta, I am pleased to meet such a distinguished avian friend as Mrs. Cockalarum. 🙂
And Mrs Cockalarum is delighted to meet you. 🙂
this was fun – Mrs. Cockalarum and pals are artsy and enrich your life – hahh
Life wouldn’t be as much fun without them. 😀
Love Mrs Cockalarum… What a character! 😀
Thank you, Kevin, from both of us. 🙂
Such a lovely little hen deserves her outings. Thank her for taking us along on her adventure. Those berries look tempting…I wonder whether they would grow here?…
Mrs Cockalarum says you are welcome to join her anytime. The Chilean guava plants are hardy but they are apparenty frost tender so may not do well in your area. It’s a very interesting plant. I haven’t tried using it for tea or as a coffee substitute yet; maybe this season, I will. https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=Ugni+molinae
I don’t think I’ll try it here. Our weather patterns are shifting, so there is no telling what our winters might end up being like. Thank for the link.
But if you ever see any of the berries in the market or supermarket, do try them. They are delicious.
Lol! Lots of fun here. Mrs Cockalarum is very adorable!
🙂 She has a great sense of adventure and a good sense of humour. She dresses well, too!
😀
Thanks for the smile, some things in life just do that.
Indeed, indeed. 🙂
Mrs Cockalarum surely enjoyed all these places. She looks beautiful in the outdoor places like the flowers and trees. I do think though it cannot be her permanent home and she might need to go indoors again. She should go on travels occasionally though. 🙂
Indeed, she can’t be out in all weathers. At the moment she is sitting next to my desk on a nest of dried flowers. She seems content.
It seems appropriate – a nest of dried flowers suits her well I find!
It really does. I probably should add some lavender. I hear that chickens like lavender in their beds.
That will please her immensely!
🙂 🙂 🙂
Mrs. Cockalarum is adorable and especially pretty in the allysum. I’m sure she is enjoying her outings. I love the fabric you have your best foot on. I will have to go back and read the older post tomorrow. Eyes are done for tonight.
Hope your eyes are feeling better now. Your eyes ( and mine) would get very tired working on the fabric under my foot. It is fine Chinese silk embroidery. It is not normally under my feet. It is actually on a cushion cover.
The fabric is stunning. The eyes are still struggling. 😦 Oh well. we will make do.
🙂 🙂 🙂
What a delightful sense of play!
Thank you, Juliet. I hope never get too old to play. 🙂
Yes indeed! Me too.
🙂 🙂 🙂
I’m very pleased to meet you, Mrs. Cockalarum!
Thank you, Liz. Mrs Cockalarum is delighted to have your company.
🙂
What a fun post, Mandy!
Thanks Clare. I rarely reread my blog posts but when I do they usually give me a smile and a chuckle.
I remember the very first time that I met Mrs Cockalarum – shortly after we first met. Somehow she reminded me of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, the ever lovable hedgehog washerwoman. I love how you bring out marvelous truths in a few words. What came through your post was resilience, acceptance, community. In whatever situation Mrs Cockalarum was placed by an outside influence, she thrived and allowed her presence to grace wherever she went. Oh Gallivanta – may we share the spirit of the indomitable Mrs Cockalarum as we encounter the unexpected and the ambiguity in our lives. Thank you for starting my day brilliantly. Give Mrs Cockalarum a big hug for me.
Hug given. 🙂 Yes, Mrs Cockalarum and Mrs Tiggy Winkle are both women of character. The Little Red Hen is another. She might even be Mrs Cockalarum’s sister! Who knows? I am glad I added goodness to your day.
I LOVE the Little Red Hen. A profile is courage, determination and above all, wisdom.
🙂 🙂 🙂
She is at home in so many scenarios, she must be quite a heroine.
I do believe she could fit in anywhere! She has actually been in a storage box since we renovated the bedroom and ensuite in 2017. She was glad to be removed from the box last week.
Free at last. Thank Almighty God, I’m free at last. presumed thought of Mrs. Cockalrum.
Teehee! I expect that is exactly what she thought.
You are the pictorial storyteller par excellence. Thank you for your Mrs. Cockalarum story!
Thank you, Peter. I do like the way WordPress (and other social media) make it easy to tell stories largely based on images.
I really didn’t expect to be interested enough in Major Jack Downing to read that entire article, but I did. I rather enjoyed the tale, as well as the author’s sly note about decoding current political writing, but the mystery to me is why the name of Pardon Jones should be so familiar. It has to be due to my reading about Louisiana, but I haven’t a clue where I would have come across it. I’ve not read this book, or even heard about it, but now I’m intrigued.
‘Cockalarum’ has brought to mind Cock Robin, who met a sad end, as well as the phrase “cock of the walk” and the call of the rooster: “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” As for that beach ball, it reminded me that a Yale historian I follow on Twitter has an image at the top of his page of Sisyphus pushing a beach ball up the mountain. I laugh every time I see it.
Here’s the Sisyphean beach ball.
Love it!
Kevin Kruse has a very busy Twitter account but I found his opinion pieces easier to read. My eyes seem to struggle with Twitter ( or maybe it’s really my brain!). Have you read any of his books? Please let us know if you find out why Pardon Jones is familiar to you. I am curious. Wonder if Indiana Jones is related ( Just joking). Discussing Cockalarum with my daughter she suggested a modern day equivalent on social media might be a troll. She also reminded me of the letters which were part of Monty Python’s sketches. If you like Monty Python these letters may make you laugh as much as the Beach Ball. https://deadpani-ja.tumblr.com/post/45042954309/you-have-to-admit-that-monty-python-letters-were
Thanks for sharing the Monty Python letters. Their particular brand of inspired silliness makes me very happy.
Every now and then I watch them again and can’t stop laughing. Inspired silliness is an excellent description of their work.
Thanks!
So charming! I really hope that Mr Cockalarum is out there somewhere, but am happy that in the meantime, Mrs C has such a lovely friend in you. 😀🐔
Liz, I am sure Mr Cockalarum is around somewhere. In fact, if we don’t fuss too much about sensible time lines, I have an idea where he ( or perhaps one of his forbears) could be. (hint: in an old folder of memoir pieces) 😀
I was wondering where Mr. Cockalarum might be, but I didn’t want to bring him up in case he was no longer in the picture.
He certainly hasn’t been seen for awhile. But I do have another couple in my house. Chantecleer and Pertelote. They appear from time to time on my IG account. I believe Pertelote would be happy if Chantecleer absented himself from time to time. She has to put up with him sitting next to her, day after day. https://www.instagram.com/p/BuOY8OxA6Dy/
I always liked Chanticleer . . .
🙂 🙂 🙂
Oh, your introduction to Mrs Cockalarum is so cute. I like how you arrange her with different settings.
Thank you, YC. It’s always intriguing to see things we are used to in a different light or a different place. We learn more about them, in that way, I think.
Indeed.
With a little change in the stressed vowel, cockalorum has this etymology in the American Heritage Dictionary: “Perhaps alteration (influenced by Latin -ōrum, genitive pl. ending) of obsolete Flemish kockeloeren, to crow, of imitative origin.]
Here’s more about Ugni molinae: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugni_molinae.
I can see that cockalorum and cockalarum go well together. Thank you.
Like Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
Ha! Yes.
Always good to have a friend nearby – no matter what their name, eh?
So true, GP. A rose by any other name….etc, etc must apply to a friend as well. 🙂 🙂 Your comment reminds me of a lovely post by Lady Budd where she writes of friendship with commas, which ” means that, no matter how much time has passed, we pick up our conversation where we left off. There are no “periods” in our friendship timeline.” Names are almost an incidental part of the nature of friendship. https://ladybudd.com/2019/07/15/friendships-with-commas/#comment-17340
That happened to me when I went to central Florida to finally see a childhood friend. The years apart vanished and we talked for hours!!
So wonderful, isn’t it!
It really is the best!
Mrs Cockalarum is amazing. 🙂
😀 She is a bold adventurer. I expect she started life in China. How far she has travelled.
My goodness, she really gets around! I bet you had lots of fun with this post. I, for one, have never heard the word cockalarum before!
I did have lots of fun when I first wrote this post, Kerry, and it was a lot of fun to revisit it. Sad to say, Mrs Cockalarum still doesn’t have any paper to weight down. Perhaps I need to shred some paper and make a comfy resting spot for her. 😀 Cockalarum is an intriguing word. Its origins may be as mysterious as cock- a- hoop and cock-a snook. Who knows? Not me. https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cock-a-hoop.html
glad, honoured and thankful to have met lovely, generous and hospitable Mrs Cockalarum in person last February; “she” offered us those NZ “cranberries” aka Chilean Guava we hadn’t seen elsewhere… ❤ btw, we'll need to come back someday, but it's YOUR turn to visit us asap! 🙂
A visit to La Ville Rose, accented with violets and lavender, would be a pleasure. By the way, did you see that Christchurch has been nominated as the friendliest city in New Zealand, and the 7th friendliest in the world? Well, it’s just a poll, but it’s nice to believe we are friendly. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/travel/2019/08/christchurch-crowned-new-zealand-s-friendliest-city.html
yes, I did and feel sooo lucky to have been there; in fact, we met friendly, nice, pleasant people all over NZ the UNIQUE! ❤
🙂 🙂 🙂
I love how her colourful surroundings complemented her beautiful plumage.
Thank you. Autumn days were made for her, methinks. 😉
same here, Mandy dear! ❤ à propos, Monsieur Chantecler(Edmond Rostand's play!) says "bonjour!" to Madame Cockalarum! 🙂
Madame Cockalarum returns Monsieur Chantecler’s greeting. 🙂 I think she might be blushing a little at his attention to her.
Who wouldn’t want to go adventuring with you, Ann? 🙂 🙂
Come along, please do. Mind you, your adventures are always fascinating and are inclusive of cake! Cranberries and peaches and sweet alyssum are delicious but cake takes the cake, if it is on offer. 😀
That is one fine hen on her big day out. Great fun.
She had fun. No chance to lay any eggs for me, It was autumn though, so perhaps she wouldn’t have been in the mood for egg laying. 😀