Precious

"Did you bring any hippo jewelry?" I asked my dear friend Jen, when I met her a few weeks ago. "Sorry Lien, this time I did not, the only thing I have is this one I am wearing." And she pointed at a cute little hippo, hanging upside down from a chain. The reason I asked, was that space to display my collection is becoming a little bit of an issue. So I love "anything-hippo" I can wear. Unfortunately, cute looking, hand made items are hard to find. When we were saying our farewells a few days later, Jen asked me "Would you like to have this one?" She probably saw the shock on my face, and added "I can always make myself another one!" It was enough to make me feel less overwhelmed and more ready to accept this beautiful present with increasing excitement. Dear Jen, thank you so much for your generosity, and most of all for your company and friendship. I am wearing my pressious little friend with pleasure and pride!

Lil Snoozer

Doesn't this lil fellow make you wonder what he is dreaming about? As you might know already, I so happen to have a huge weakness for sleeping hippos (see posts: Bubbles and Sleeping Beauty). This figurine is hand cast and hand painted in San Diego - California, USA, by a company called Sandicast. He measures about 3,5 inches or 9 cm in length, and according to a sticker on his belly, he is called Lil Snoozer. A very suitable name indeed. Despite the fact that he has only 3 toes on each foot (toe police here), his adorable face makes more than up for it. 

OK... move on quietly, we wouldn't want to wake him up, now would we?

Hippos in Golden Sunrise

Just recently, I came across a wonderful article on the website of the Huffington Post, published on the 25th of March, 2015. The title: 10 Wildlife Photographers You Should Follow On 500px Right Now (please visit link Huffington Post - 10 wildlife photographers). All featured pictures are absolutely stunning. No need to tell which photograph is my favorite :-). I am proud to be able to share this masterpiece, made by Sergey Ivanov. Once in a while, I see a photograph that makes me jealous, making me wish I made that shot... and be only half as good a photographer. To see so many in just 1 article, blew me away. Wildlife Photography at its finest!

Hippos in Golden Sunrise, by Sergey Ivanov on 500px.com

Rolf

This cute looking fella looks a bit like a little brother of William, the unofficial mascot of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (see post: William). Although they are not brothers, they do have a lot in common. Origin, color and papyrus flower decorations to begin with. Both original pieces, have their legs broken / damaged, to prevent them from chasing and attacking people in the afterlife. And both can be found in a museum, only the museums are miles apart. William's home is the Metropolitan in New York City - USA, while this hippo can be found in the Dutch National Museum (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden)  in Leiden - The Netherlands. 

Dear Rolf, I am very sorry you too are infected with the "looking for hippos" virus. But without it, you and Klaas would not have found this beautiful figurine, so I am not that sorry ;-). Thank you for thinking about me, and I can't wait to formally introduce you to William, when you visit us next spring!  

(from the website of the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden: information about the original figurine: Object: votive figurine, Dating: 2000 - 1800 BC, Material: faience, Measurements: height 10 cm (3,9 inch), length 20 cm (7,8 inch), Origin: Egypt, Collection: Egypt, Object number: AED170)