Paddington, Scout and the Naked Trees
SCOUT: “Paddy! Paddy?”
PADDY: “Yes Scout?”
SCOUT: “Paddy, will all these pretty Autumn leaves fall off the tree?”
PADDY: “Yes Scout. This is an English maple, and they are deciduous.”
SCOUT: “Gesundheit, Paddy!”
PADDY: “Oh that wasn’t a sneeze, Scout.” *Shakes head.* “Deciduous is the word used to describe trees that lose their leaves.”
SCOUT: “Oh poor dec… deci… poor tree!” *Rubs bough lovingly.*
PADDY: “Why Scout?”
SCOUT: “Well, when the tree loses its leaves, it will be cold!”
PADDY: “Why Scout?”
SCOUT: “Well, because when the tree loses its leaves, it will be…” *Looks around and lowers voice.* “It will be naked, Paddy.” *Gasps.* “It would be like you and I losing our plush and woollen fur!” *Blushes.*
PADDY: “Oh, please don’t worry about the tree, Scout. The reason why deciduous trees….”
SCOUT: “Gesundheit, Paddy!”
PADDY: “No, no, Scout! Decid… oh never mind! Thank you!”
SCOUT: “You’re welcome Paddy.”
PADDY: “Anyway, when a tree loses its leaves, it just means it is going to sleep for a few months. Therefore, whilst it is sleeping, it can’t put any energy into holding onto its leaves, so it lets them go.”
SCOUT: “Oh!” *Puts paw to mouth.* “But Paddy! That means that they will be cold whilst they are sleeping, because they are sleeping…” *Looks around and lowers voice.* “They will be sleeping in the nude, Paddy.” *Gasps again.* “Bbbrrr!” *Shivers.*
PADDY: “Oh at alright, Scout. They don’t mind the cold because these trees are out in all weathers, winter and summer, sunshine and rain.”
SCOUT: “Well that may be true Paddy, but I still think it is a bit sad that the poor trees have to sleep in the nude! Maybe that is why those yarn bombers knit lovely colourful blankets to tie around their trunks: to help keep them warm in winter time.” *Nods seriously.*
PADDY: “Hhhmmm…” *Ponders.* ‘Maybe, Scout.”
My Paddington Bear came to live with me in London when I was two years old (many, many years ago). He was hand made by my Great Aunt and he has a chocolate coloured felt hat, the brim of which had to be pinned up by a safety pin to stop it getting in his eyes. The collar of his mackintosh is made of the same felt. He wears wellington boots made from the same red leather used to make the toggles on his mackintosh.
He has travelled with me across the world and he and I have had many adventures together over the years. He is a very precious member of my small family.
Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.
Being colder here, both Paddy and Scout are wearing hand knitted scarves and Paddy is wearing hand knitted hat by Lorna's Lovely Looks. Paddy sports a heart pin and Scout insisted on wearing a pink cupcake one, which seems most appropriate considering his perpetual grumbly tummy. Both were gifts from a good friend who is very fond of both Paddy and Scout.
Paddington, Scout and the Naked Trees
SCOUT: “Paddy! Paddy?”
PADDY: “Yes Scout?”
SCOUT: “Paddy, will all these pretty Autumn leaves fall off the tree?”
PADDY: “Yes Scout. This is an English maple, and they are deciduous.”
SCOUT: “Gesundheit, Paddy!”
PADDY: “Oh that wasn’t a sneeze, Scout.” *Shakes head.* “Deciduous is the word used to describe trees that lose their leaves.”
SCOUT: “Oh poor dec… deci… poor tree!” *Rubs bough lovingly.*
PADDY: “Why Scout?”
SCOUT: “Well, when the tree loses its leaves, it will be cold!”
PADDY: “Why Scout?”
SCOUT: “Well, because when the tree loses its leaves, it will be…” *Looks around and lowers voice.* “It will be naked, Paddy.” *Gasps.* “It would be like you and I losing our plush and woollen fur!” *Blushes.*
PADDY: “Oh, please don’t worry about the tree, Scout. The reason why deciduous trees….”
SCOUT: “Gesundheit, Paddy!”
PADDY: “No, no, Scout! Decid… oh never mind! Thank you!”
SCOUT: “You’re welcome Paddy.”
PADDY: “Anyway, when a tree loses its leaves, it just means it is going to sleep for a few months. Therefore, whilst it is sleeping, it can’t put any energy into holding onto its leaves, so it lets them go.”
SCOUT: “Oh!” *Puts paw to mouth.* “But Paddy! That means that they will be cold whilst they are sleeping, because they are sleeping…” *Looks around and lowers voice.* “They will be sleeping in the nude, Paddy.” *Gasps again.* “Bbbrrr!” *Shivers.*
PADDY: “Oh at alright, Scout. They don’t mind the cold because these trees are out in all weathers, winter and summer, sunshine and rain.”
SCOUT: “Well that may be true Paddy, but I still think it is a bit sad that the poor trees have to sleep in the nude! Maybe that is why those yarn bombers knit lovely colourful blankets to tie around their trunks: to help keep them warm in winter time.” *Nods seriously.*
PADDY: “Hhhmmm…” *Ponders.* ‘Maybe, Scout.”
My Paddington Bear came to live with me in London when I was two years old (many, many years ago). He was hand made by my Great Aunt and he has a chocolate coloured felt hat, the brim of which had to be pinned up by a safety pin to stop it getting in his eyes. The collar of his mackintosh is made of the same felt. He wears wellington boots made from the same red leather used to make the toggles on his mackintosh.
He has travelled with me across the world and he and I have had many adventures together over the years. He is a very precious member of my small family.
Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.
Being colder here, both Paddy and Scout are wearing hand knitted scarves and Paddy is wearing hand knitted hat by Lorna's Lovely Looks. Paddy sports a heart pin and Scout insisted on wearing a pink cupcake one, which seems most appropriate considering his perpetual grumbly tummy. Both were gifts from a good friend who is very fond of both Paddy and Scout.