Friday Pretties: Simple pleasures - a picture and a story

Once upon a time
in Spain there was a little bull and his name was Ferdinand. All the other little bulls he lived with would run and jump and butt their heads together, but not Ferdinand. He liked to sit just quietly and smell the flowers. He had a favorite spot out in the pasture under a cork tree. It was his favorite tree and he would sit in its shade all day and smell the flowers. Sometimes his mother, who was a cow, would worry about him. She was afraid he would be lonesome all by himself. "Why don't you run and play with the other little bulls and skip and butt your head?" she would say. But Ferdinand would shake his head. "I like it better here where I can sit just quietly and smell the flowers." His mother saw that he was not lonesome, and because she was an understanding mother, even though she was a cow, she let him just sit there and be happy.
From a story by Munro Leaf

I guess, we all need these Ferdinand moments from time to time - at least i do. Just quietly enjoying something nice and coming back to our senses. Have a lovely weekend everyone!
And don't forget to look at more Friday pretties at "Pretty little things"

Aquarell painting and heart: MVS - Moi

22 comments:

  1. Good morning precious friend! (Gutten tag????)

    Your new post had appeared on my blog list early yesterday so I ran over here to comment, but I didn't SEE it until now! For some reason, it didn't show up, but HOW SWEET and what a darling illustration. I remember this story as a child, and yes, some of us are like bulls in a china shop, I know I can be from time to time, but to tame that WILD BEAST within as Ferdinand does so willfully, that is the trick! And thank you for coming to comment on my post.....looking at gracious older women is SOOOOOOOOOO uplifting and to take beauty secrets for the outer being as well as beauty tips for WITHIN! COURAGE AND GRACE....May we all age so well with the right amount of lovely patina! Enjoy a BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND!!!! Anita

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  2. Hello! I am so happy to see a new blog face on Friday Pretties! I LOVE this post. Ferdinand was always one of my boys and my favorite story's. He is just sweet.
    My two older boys have always been go, go, go, but my youngest doesn't mind being alone, he actually requires it,(along with Some social) and I would worry, but like Ferdinand's mom, I realized that is the way he likes it.
    I Love the illustration. Did you paint that? So Pretty!
    Thanks for playing along, and have a wonderful weekend,
    Joyce

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  3. Oh I love that story! Just sitting and smelling the flowers! We could all use that from time to time! What a lovely blog! Thanks for your sweet comment! May you have a lovely Day!
    Elizabeth

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  4. Pretty watercolors! Did you paint them?

    Cute story! It is good for us all to stop and smell the roses (flowers)...makes you appreciate the beauty God has given us every where we look! It is also good to be quiet at times and reflect on things too!

    Have a wonderful weekend! :)
    @}~`}~~~ Gloria

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  5. Very sweet story, and I LOVE the illustration.
    Have a lovely weekend!

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  6. Thanks everyone! The ilustration is from a set of watercolors i did - originally it was meant to illustrate the starsigns, but i didn't finish all of them.
    My oldest son, Robin is a taurus - and he is so like Ferdiand. When he was little, he loved to smell on flowers - although, when sth. runs against his will, he can get WILD!

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  7. Ohh I love this story and it made me smile to read it.
    The illustration goes perfectly:)
    Thank you Martina, have a great weekend!

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  8. Haahaha!! so cute....beautiful painting !! enjoy your weekend .......happy friday pretties.....hugs Ria...

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  9. Oh my dear this is so true...we all need to stop and smell the roses...life is to short...smile on Rosie

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  10. great post darling. happy weekend to you.

    m.fay
    http://www.amateurcouture.com

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  11. hahaha... sweet story...!! Yes sure, we all need such a Ferdinand's moment..
    Thanks for the nice story, Martina!!
    I love the painting above. Is that watercolor?

    hugs
    nensa

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  12. What a lovely story..i sometimes feel flowers do have a soul...
    Beautiful art...you really work wonders with those colours:)
    Have a colourful weekend!

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  13. So great! One of my favorite books as a child, and now I read this to my own children! Lovely watercolor!

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  14. A lovely story and a lovely lovely painting. The colors and patterns are fabulous, talented Martina!
    Today we visited Dresden. Have you ever been there? Sending lots and lots of German greetings your way (Neuhausen}
    xx

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  15. Dearest Martina,

    Thank you for coming to visit today! It is always a blessed moment to receive a kind word all the way from Germany....have a peaceful Sunday my dear...Anita

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  16. Oh, it's Ferdinand! Too sweet, your Ferdinand is even cuter than the real one! XO!

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  17. I loved this sweet little story. I like my time alone like Ferdinand, not that I get it too much these days :-)
    Blessings,
    Marcia

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  18. I love that picture! Something about watercolor makes everything look so peaceful.

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  19. What a precious story with a delightful painting! There is a difference between being lonely and being alone by choice, and this story captures that.

    Oh happy weekend with lots of flowers to smell :)

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  20. I completely forgot about Ferdinand the Bull! Thanks for posting it with the lovely picture.

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  21. I am putting up fresh Linky for Friday Pretties today. Come and link up again if you would like to play. I would love to see you there!!!
    Love,
    Joyce

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