Making chestnut animals

Yesterday we had some bad news about our house purchase and it made me feel quite upset, then ... I felt somehow detached. I went for a walk. I wanted to be in nature. I started collecting  chestnuts and leaves, and I remembered how, as children, my sister and I used to make little toys with them. With this memory, I was transformed into the state of contentment, a feeling so familiar and at the same time, so rare. As adults we have glimpses into the state of child-like innocence, when we feel unconditional joy of being alive. This happens when we are exactly in the present moment, not thinking about the future or the past.
 

So I decided to make some chestnut animals. I used chestnuts to make animals' bodies and heads, and  matchsticks to make their legs, necks and tails.
 

I pierced the chestnut with small sharp scissors to insert matchsticks.
 

I made two grown-ups and two children:
 

And here is one animal baby going to sleep in a bed made out of a match box, lined with soft leaves:
 

This post is dedicated to my little granddaughters Savanka and Zoe who live in the USA.   

Happy chestnut animal making :)  
Yolanta

Making chestnut animals