Wednesday, January 9, 2013

hakuna matata


meet pumba





i love this warthog pattern recently released by the incredibly talented south african designer linda dawkins.  and i've been in love with the comically personable ngiri, that is swahili for warthog, or as more commonly known, pumba, since first seeing it in east africa! linda has a pattern for a meercat as well, pumbas pal timon. oh though maybe you haven't heard of timon and pumba? they are characters from disney's movie, the lion king. knitting the little toy, while watching the movie, while singing hakuna matata, which means no worries, made for one lovely afternoon of day dreaming and remembering...



....it was twelve years ago, we were in kenya, having just gotten out of our vehicle to take a short walk to view hippos in a nearby river, my first time in africa and i must have had a little worried (terrified!) look on my face, when one of these gentlemen warriors escorting us said 'hakuna matata mma'. tee hee, and it worked! no more worries! 



here is my warthog tusk given by a zimbabwean friend, it measures over seven inches in length and is very heavy. even though warthogs are cute they are best admired at a distance. to make your own pumba, you can find the pattern here. thank you linda for all the good memories and fun! joining with ginny and the yarnalongers here.

p.s. oops, forgot to share the book part of yarnalong, i'm reading san miguel by t.c. boyle, it is a historical fiction written about the channel islands off our shores here in california. interesting. at the same time, reading the lord of the rings, beginning with the dear hobbit. :)


48 comments:

  1. What an adorble little critter and the perfect mantra to live by, no worries sounds great to me!
    Thank you for the link, I know my wee one would love one of her own.
    PS- I finally made it to the LYS and found yarn to cast on Leaves of Grass!!!

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  2. Knitted Pumba and Timon?!?!?! I'm in heaven! Seeing the stage show of The Lion King was simply one of the most memorable things we did in Singapore, it was AWESOME! I think my kids need a couple of these wee guys ASAP...

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  3. He is tooo cute!!! Love the fleck colour yarn and wild yellow hair.
    Linda's patterns are wonderful, I've made a few and they've all turned out great.
    Hope your Leaves of Grass is coming along nicely.

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  4. What a perfect reminder of grand times. And yes, Linda's patterns are fantastic.

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  5. love, love, love this little pumba!! and the photo of you i kenya is super cool :)

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  6. Oh I love this! (also how is it you don't look any older than your daughter in that photo--and no older now, either??)

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  7. What a cute beastie. You used perfect yarn with just a touch of fleck.

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  8. Dear Lori! It's amazing to see you among those strangers! Some of them look as worried as you! Little pumba is so cute! Linda makes so wonderful knitted items.
    Hugs! x Teje

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  9. I watched the lion king movie about a zillion times when the kids were little!! Love the toy and it is so nice that it brings you fond memories!!

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  10. Perfect, I have to make him! I have seen him and his family recently, but they are fast, no chance to capture them on film (yet)! Thinking of you as I enjoy yet another African thunderstorm...

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  11. what a doll that pumba is - literally and figuratively. and the foto of the trio of warthogs running is sublime. your creativity never ceases to amaze me.

    p.s. you look like a school girl with the gentlemen warriors :))

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  12. Oh he is the cutest!
    You you haven't changed at all Lori, have you!

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  13. This is what I love so much about you and your blog:

    1)the places you go
    2)the things you make
    3)your beautiful photos
    4)your cozy craft room
    3)that you watch the lion king and sing while knitting : )

    I always feel happy & inspired after visiting here.

    Love you, Lori!
    Susan

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  14. absolutely adorable!! (never thought I would say a warthog was adorable!!!!!!, but when you call it a pumba----it makes a ton of difference!!!) isn't linda's collection of african animals amazing? I'd love to make them all! special memories....I'm hoping we are able to make a few this summer on our Kenyan trip!!!

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  15. Lori ann, I'm working hard to get some final preparations done for the trade show I have to attend in California, but when I see you've done a new post...I have to scurry over and see what you're up to. You never disappoint me with your creativity; how I love that little wart hog. It's a reminder that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover:-D Much happiness being sent your way, XOXO

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  16. Oh! He is sooo cute!!!

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  17. My now 17-year old son adored Lion King when he was a wee one so I'm very familiar with pumba ... and adore him. I absolutely love your knitted guy!

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  18. tee-hee :)

    How wonderful, every single bit of this post!

    xoxo
    Lo♥


    and yes, now I'm singing it too.

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    1. The words hakuna matata really exists?!
      Wow! I am need it!
      I love your Pumba! And where are Timon?
      The lion king is one of my favorites movies!
      The lord of the rings too!
      Have a nice week!

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  19. Such a cutie!!!! I love all "these memories coming back" thing.....!!!!!
    Have a nice day, xxx Ale

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  20. I love puma....wonderful ! Great pics !

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  21. Oh Lori, let me combine comments on a few of your posts. That Pi shawl/coverlet is so beautiful and has clearly found a fine home in equally beautiful Brooklyn (I lived there in the early 1970's...last time I had a garden.)

    Your knitted warthog is amazing, as is the photo of you amongst folks who knew the hakuna matata lyric.

    Is this not an amazing world in which we live. Yes, we can connect with so many folks all around the world, yet sometimes have a bit of bother with connecting off the ether closer to our own zip codes. Yes, I do know about the difference.

    Let's champion this emerging new year and watch for all the possibilities it sends us.

    xo

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  22. That little warthog is actually cute!

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  23. Yes! So happy to hear you are reading LOTR! I encouraged everyone to read them today in my yarn along post. ;)

    My kids are in love with Hakuna Matata - although they've never seen The Lion King. They would love your little Pumba! Maybe I'll have to try that pattern - I've never been able to decide which of Linda's patterns to try first.

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  24. Happy New Year! What a sweet and cool saying. I love that story too. That has got to be the cutest warthog I have ever seen!
    xo,
    Ang

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  25. Hi! so much fun and real story in this post!
    I love who is addicted to nature......

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  26. Cute!! I think I should get some friends for Mr Jones ...
    xx

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  27. Lori, my girls would be beside themselves if they saw this. Lion King is the current favourite, and listening to them sing Hakuna Matata ( or 'A poo and a Tata', as Pearl does it) is the cutest thing ever xx

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  28. Such a sweet story, Lori! I love that little knitted warthog :) And 'hakuna matata' is a very good thing to be remembering.....
    Sending hugs
    Helen x

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  29. What fun! I love that you continue to share your adventures with us. The warthog is great!

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  30. My goodness, seeing that warthog makes me smile. I Will add it to my list of future knits. I am also reading the Hobbit at the moment & am really enjoying it.

    All the best to you & lots of hugs.

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  31. Squee! I love the teeny tusks on him. Aw. :)

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  32. So very cute this warthog!
    And you look so great on that photo with the gentlemen warriors!
    xoxo
    Mina

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  33. What a pictorial, the imagined to the real. So very sweet, seen by eyes that travel both worlds.

    The photo of you is to me eirily spectacular. I had the same feeling: from the imagined to the real. All the contrasts: skin color, culture, dress, I alwAys think your life experience has prepared you for something very large, and your gift, Lori, is that you know how to show large by honoring small.

    Yes....

    Love
    kj

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    1. Oh, I love kj's comment too. She nailed it.

      And I love the thought of you singing while knitting.

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  34. Lori, I love what KJ said and I echo it. This is a wonderful post and just what I needed on this cold, snowy morning. xoxo

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  35. Lori,
    My sister and I used to sing hakuna matata all the time. :) We watched that movie together so many times. :)
    Love your knitted pumba.
    I love the hobbit and lord of the rings!

    Love,
    Taryn

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  36. Such a sweet little animal! Great photo of you.

    Wish you a happy weekend!

    Madelief x

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  37. Your warthog is so cute! The Lion King is one of my favorite Disney movies, so I am very partial to warthogs. That is a wonderful picture of you, too!

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  38. Hi Lori. Wishing you a very happy New Year, and I hope you are feeling lighter of heart than I read of recently in my marathon catch up of your posts... I have been so enjoying my virtual travels with you and your stunning photos, as ever! Alaska is incredible, enjoyed all the detail, and of course those Redwoods, and seeing Chuck's home away from home in the Channel Islands, and all the pictures of your family, and Owen, and all the most impressive knitting projects! What a wealth of information to read through, now that I have a little time to do so.. This little warthog is just so beautiful - you know how I love them! Also enjoyed the old pic of you and the Masai. I hope to be back sooner, and maybe will be a much more frequent blogger this year.. xxx

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  39. Your little Pumba is so absolutely adorable. Great photo with the warriors, too. Lion King was the first movie Yusef watched in full when he was about 2 years old (he's now 17). He loved it so much, he would watch it over and over and over again for days and weeks on end. Wishing you a wonderful day. Tammy

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  40. Oh Lori, you always come up with the most wonderful things. Pumba is fantastic. And I just checked out the link and found many other great african animals that are native in Uganda as well, so my next little knitting project is set, a ugandan herd of animals for Aaron and his little sister. Thank you so much for showing me!
    Love, Gesche

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  41. Heart stopping love for the warthog. I've been dabbling in the knitting of tiny animals that fit inside Altoid tins... Love this little guy.

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  42. That photo of you is amazing! What an adventure. And that warthog - so cute!!!

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xoxo lori