Look at that face. Does it make you smile? It's the face of my favorite piece of sculpture, Frog Baby.
I first met Frog Baby when I was living in Myrtle Beach, SC. She stands in the center of the pool in the small sculpture building in Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, SC. She is the creation of Edith Barretto Parsons 1878-1956 and she is a most delightful little girl, totally naked, with her head thrown back and a look of sheer joy on her face as she holds her froggy friends in each hand. It is impossible not to smile back at her.
As many of you know, I suffer from seasonal depression. It begins in the fall and peaks in January. It's often accompanied by severe migraines. Anti-depressant drugs don't work for me and I've had to learn how to cope on my own. One of the best things is to surround myself with things that bring me joy. Frog Baby does that. I can't help feeling happier when I look at her.
Edith Barretto Parsons sculpted a number of pieces with small children and animals. here is Duck Baby.
Very similar to Frog Baby is this piece called, what else, Turtle Baby. Besides the gleeful face, look at the toes and the chubby knees. If you don't smile at these little girls, you definitely need help.
I try to surround myself with happy things and Samba is one of them. Samba feels my moods and stays close by when I need her.
Fudge is a little less attuned to my moods, but he's a clown and will try to make me laugh, even if he does wind up stepping on me or knocking something out of my hand in doing so.
When it comes to irresistible faces, Morgan wins. How can one not feel better when looking at her.
Last year at Christmas I was trying to find something special for Rob. I try each year to surprise him with something totally unexpected. I hit it big.
I found this fountain for our fish pond. This is Snail Baby. Obviously, it's a copy of Edith Parson's work, and the face isn't quite as sweet as her pieces, but I love it and it's going to have a place of honor in our pond when it's completed.
It has the same effect on me that Frog Baby does. It makes me smile.
When I feel blue, I'll be able to walk into the back yard, sit by the fish pond and look at Snail Baby's joyful face and I know I'll feel better.
17 comments:
That's a really cool collection. I do smile when I look at them. And I'm not much of a kids person! But those smiles are contagious, especially with the cute little animals to accompany them.
I hope your blues aren't too bad this year. Have you tried light therapy? I know there's some kind of device you can buy that provides artificial light when turned on at dusk.
frog baby is lovely - you're right you have to smile at her. And your dogs faces - Morgan is just precious! g
Sorry to hear of your SAD. I, too, suffer from SAD, but meds seem to work for me. That's why I was so sorry to leave the Museum for the season. I knew how it would affect me. I'm glad to hear you have learned how to cope. Knitting really helps me. And Milo. Always Milo.
Thank you for sharing those adorable babies with us. I need to work harder on surrounding myself with things that make me smile, aside from Sissy and Gretchen.
I am also a sufferer too Sue. In fact I am sitting in front of a special light box as I type this. At this time of the year in the Pacific Northwest it is especially bad. I should have moved to Arizona I think. I just sdore your little snail baby. What a wonderful gift for Rob and how great it will look in your pond. I had not heard of them before. They are just beautiful.
x
Definitely better than prozac, I found myself smilng too! At the dogs expressions and smiling sculptures!
Hope winter won't be too harsh on you. Perhaps one with loads of bright sunny (but cold) days!
T
Smiles are the best!
I have SADD, too, and have found that vitamin B complex and B12 shots are really a big help. I get them from my doctor and my insurance pays for them. They get me through the summer months in better shape than i the past.
Have you ever tried one of those sun lamps? I've heard they work great, too, but haven't looked into them yet.
Snail Baby should surely do the trick. And with all those adorable pup faces, you will have a smile on your face for a long time.
You must be very happy this week with all the wonderful sunshine we are having.
woos, the OP Pack
being a prozac girl, i am so very lucky this gets me through the sad that i get too. i hear that those lamps work very well, and also vit b6 and b12, so hope you can try some of these this year as well as your frog baby, snail baby too, they are adorable. i know that having snuffles around me when i am down does help so much too. yes sue, it is a continual fight and we have to just keep on battling. thinking of you dear one.
I love your statues, but the furry faces make me smile the most. They exude love and happiness.
They are absolutely adorable. I'm not going to give up Prozac, though. :-)
Snail Baby is wonderful! All of the "babies" made us smile! How could you not!
Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch
All three of your babies are cute! It's amazing how different their personalities are isn't it? Love the sculptures too how original.
I just love your dogs! They look soooo cuddly. The sculptures are absolutely gorgeous and touching in their innocence and joy.
:)
Aaww...look at all the adorable faces!
You know what? I finish reading the blog and sort of formulating what I want to say about it, but before I get there, I see the You Might Like This section and off I go! Then after I read three of those (or more!) I try to remember where I was . . . oh, yeah, the adorable statuary! I love it all and the new one you got for Rob. Its just perfect. It will be great fun to see the completed pond.
Cheers!
Jo and Stella
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