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Maria Lalic

@marialaliccymru.bsky.social
267 followers 103 following 406 posts

Textile Artist/Doll-maker/Writer/Mentor/ Wayfarer/Cottage Gardener/Clinical Lead at Scarecrow Cottage Teddy Bear Hospital www.marialalic.cymru

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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Fed up with AI & big tech companies, I'm doing a social media declutter & this account is about to hibernate. For Simple Living/Cottage Life, go to @ scarecrowcottagewales on Instagram & for textile art/doll-making my website is www.marialalic.cymru . So long and thanks for all the fish.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Doing the prep work for a doll based on the Welsh princess Hafren which will be part of an exhibition in The Workers Gallery this autumn. @workersgallery.bsky.social #TextileArt #DollMaking #ArtInWales
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Robbie the rescued teddy bear & I are doing the 12 mile,1200' ascent Walk the Wye Challenge for Breast Cancer Research.Obviously we're less likely to chicken out if people sponsor us. Will you give us £1 to make sure we do it please? This is our Go Fund Me page. Many thanks. gofund.me/593e86e8d
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Part of today's training for the Walk the Wye Challenge along the fab new Tywi Valley path. I've actually walked 28km today so passed my target. Best of all, saw the Cross of Elmat in Llanarthne & after 6 years of waiting, finally met the original Vorteporix Stone in Carmarthenshire Museum.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Very decent of the Romans to build a road leading from the garage where my car gets serviced to within a few hundred yards of my house. #historyonyourdoorstep #WelshHistory #LoveWhereYouLive
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
I have just lime plastered the attic walls and ceiling of Dunvegan House ready for the bathroom floor to be tiled and a stud wall erected. Nan Shepherd would be very satisfied with the results I'm sure. #smallhouses #thelivingmountain
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Preparation for May's Wye Valley Walk for Velindre Hospital is going according to plan. Got the train from Tondu to Port Talbot and walked back. Didn't get a photo but today's excitement was that there were lots of Brimstone butterflies in the woodlands at Parc Slip. #WalkingInWales #Wales
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
The Hot Cross Buns have been made so Pasg Hapus Bawb/Happy Easter Everyone! #Baking #Easter #Wales
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
This is brilliant! I have had the privilege of visiting Chris's workshop and seeing the cross go from the early stages to the end result. Chris documents the process here: youtube.com/@masterwoodc... . Make yourself a cup of tea and watch skill and talent come together. #art #sculpture #heritage
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Some fool has entered the Walk the Wye Valley Challenge event to raise money for Breast Cancer charity. And they chose to do the 16 mile, 2700' option that starts with a 365 step staircase to a place called The Eagle's Nest. Then it gets challenging apparently. Robbie & I have been training. #wales
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
One of my favourite International Women's Day Dolls - part of a Welsh Regional Group Heritage Crafts exhibition at The Turner House in Penarth in 2022 and The Protest Dolls exhibition at The Workers Gallery, Ynyshir later. @workersgallery.bsky.social #IWD2026 #InternationalWomensDay #Dollmaking
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
They're all finished and ready to go back to their owner! Yippee! #dollrepairs #scarecrowcottagehospital #vintagetoys
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
@marilynl.bsky.social ... You know what's going to happen next, don't you?
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
I'm back! And at the moment busy restoring 10 vintage peg dolls for a customer. The first 6 were straight forward new costumes, the next 3 needed new clothes, re-stringing & face painting too. The last one is almost irreparable. Almost. @sallyrose.bsky.social #dollshospital #vintage
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Well, it's been an adventure -filled few weeks but in amongst it all, I have finished this year's collection of "Fat Fairies - for the more MATURE Christmas tree" in time to be part of Joanna & Friends exhibition at Aberglasney Gardens in a couple of weeks. @helyg.bsky.social #handmadeinWales
Doll in orange dressDoll with blue hair and black dressDoll with yellow hair and shiny green dressDoll in pink dress
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
I have started planning winter at Scarecrow Cottage. For the 3rd year it's the Log Burner Experience when a select group relax in front of our lit log burners & are waited on hand, foot & finger with tea, coffee & as much cake as they can eat, Christmas wreath making, Annie's Emporium & the annual
A Father Christmas doll sitting in front of a lit log burner.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
For those of you with not much to do this weekend, here's my latest blog: marialalic.cymru/paul/. @helyg.bsky.social @sallyrose.bsky.social @crikeys.bsky.social @workersgallery.bsky.social @masterwoodchip.bsky.social @julieinstitches.bsky.social #writing #blog #teddybearhospital
Teddy bear with array of surgical instruments.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
Paul is about to be discharged from Scarecrow Cottage Hospital with advice to avoid face chewing dogs in future. @helyg.bsky.social - you won't believe what's next on my waiting list. Clue: put vintage wooden dolls & dismemberment in the same sentence. #tedfybearhospital #scarecrowcottagehospital
Mid brown teddy bear with cream ribbon tied in bow around neck. Brown teddy bear with large black patch on face.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
It's 3 weeks since Paul was admitted to Scarecrow Cottage Hospital with multiple injuries. Some treatment was simple, some - like his facial reconstruction - has been more complex. If it's successful, no-one will be more amazed than me. @helyg.bsky.social @sallyrose.bsky.social #teddybearhospital
Light brown but very worn teddy bear with pale coloured snout and pads.Ginger brown teddy bear with large black patch where his nose should be. Teddy bear with large hole in centre of face showing stuffing. Blue gloved handbto right. Scissors in foreground.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Harvest progressing nicely. The shelf is filling with bottled tomatoes & blackberry cordial. Today I am blanching & freezing rhubarb, sweetcorn & peas then pickling beetroot. Tomorrow is Bean Day, Saturday is Start Giving Away Apples Day. @robbiehg.bsky.social @suecowley.bsky.social #CottageGarden
Apples in baskets Shelf with filled jars.Collection of garden produce
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
After volunteer training in Cardigan Sunday & a lovely time with @marilynl.bsky.social bothering burial chambers & eating too much ice cream yesterday, today I'm heading home via an exhibition meeting in Llandeilo & a stop off in Brecon. I make that in or through 9 Welsh counties in 3 days. #Wales
View from rocky outcrop with gorse and bracken undergrowth. Sea in distance, light cloud in sky. Cap stone and support stone of Garnwnda burial chamber.View over coast near Fishguard. A cluster of white cottages nestle in green field, middle distance.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
Been waiting for delivery of prosthetics for Paul's continued treatment. There was a knock at the door & this was waiting outside. Apparently he's heard it's only 3 months till this year's Scarecrow Cottage Hospital Adoption Auction & wants to be included. @helyg.bsky.social @sallyrose.bsky.social
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
Just admitted Paul for elective rhinoplasty & hand surgery. Paul is 61 yrs old with multiple co-morbidities complicated by previous botched surgical treatment & what looks like a bullet wound in his right leg. @sallyrose.bsky.social @helyg.bsky.social #ScarecrowCottageHospital #TeddyBearHospital
2 hands in blue surgical gloves on teddy bear legHand in ble surgical glove holding toen teddy bear hand.2 hands in blue surgical gloves holding teddy bear face.Teddy bear next to array of surgical instruments.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
@welshbigguy.bsky.social or @sonsiethescottie.bsky.social - do you want some figs? Today, tomorrow or early next week? Reply if possible. No DMs sorry cos I'm not giving age verification data.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
Apple maths: if 1 bowl of Bramley apples makes dessert for tea, 4 cartons of stewed apples for the freezer & 2 bottles of apple juice (1 for freezer & 1 for fridge)but today's pick hasn't made a dent in the available fruit from this & 4 other laden trees, how many cups of tea do I need to stay calm?
Bowl of green apples4 cartons of stewed apples, 1 bottle and 1 glass of apple juice to right of photo.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
We had a great day at our Open Garden on Sunday. Big thanks to Chris & Gayle of @workersgallery.bsky.social for the Art in a Box 'Outsiders' exhibition; Ruth, Annie & Angela managed Rock Bottom Tearooms & everyone enjoyed not just the cakes but the 1940s vibe. 70 visitors, £521 raised for charity.
Pink roses growing over an arch in garden Orange flowers with paths and garden in background Daisies growing in garden
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Great news! The signs for the pop up tea room have arrived! And from an independent, local small business too! (Sweet& Nostalgic) @sallyrose.bsky.social @helyg.bsky.social @workersgallery.bsky.social #NationalGardenScheme #GardensOpenForCharity #PopUpTeaRoom
Yellow poster with back text with details of opening garden. Open stable door, white wall and sign to left. Sign with "While there's tea, there's hope"
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 20/07/2025
We have swapped our spare/surplus wheelbarrow wheel for an ongoing supply of 10 year old horse manure. Just collected the 1st consignment so the roses are in for a treat today! Radical economics in action (which is probably where the world is heading). @robbiehg.bsky.social @sallyrose.bsky.social
Heap of fine brown compost in front of rose border. A picket fence runs left to right in front of a greenhouse. There's a spade sticking up from compost on left.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
That's 4 hours of my life I'll never get back but on the plus side, there's now 20m of bunting made from donated, recycled fabric up in the conservatory. A couple of your FQs up there @helyg.bsky.social ! All adds to the 1940s look we are making for our NGS Open Garden on 27th July.
Lines of coloured triangular bunting flags hanging from rafters in a conservatory or garden room.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
Lots to do before we open the garden for the NGS on the 27th July & you might ask is this a good time to start knitting cakes?Well, it is if you've got 15 patients from Scarecrow Cottage Hospital who will be having a picnic in the garden on the same day. @sallyrose.bsky.social @marilynl.bsky.social
Knitted brown and pink cake with squirly white wool on top and a red knitted cherry.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Molly would like to offer a more nuanced description of the current temperature near Crickhowell. There's hot and there's falling down and having no shame under the table hot. @sallyrose.bsky.social
Cat stretched out lying on back under a table.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
I am delighted to say Maisie and Ptolemy Corncockle, the scarecrows who live at the bottom of the garden, have both had a makeover & are looking quite smart. I have altered their seating angle so they are now waving at passengers on the bus that goes up the road instead of car commuters going down.
Two scarecrows sitting in a shelter, hands raised.Scarecrow in brown trousers, brown pullover and hat, right arm raised.Scarecrow with long yellow hair in green dress with red and white striped legs, left hand raised.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
I ran out out characters to tag local/potentially interested people in my post. No offence meant. @amandahoperogers.bsky.social @huwirrancadaviesms.bsky.social @stubo37.bsky.social @llangattockvillage.bsky.social@mythwelsh.bsky.social @robbiehg.bsky.social
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
Here we go again! If you're in the area & have £4 to spare for NGS Gardens Open For Charity we'll let you through the garden gate on the 27th July. For another £4 we'll give you tea & cake. More info on us here: ngs.org.uk/gardens/rose... . @workersgallery.bsky.social @sonsiethescottie.bsky.social @
Yellow poster with black writing in different fonts & sizes giving details of opening time/date of Rose Cottage
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
For @welshbigguy.bsky.social , @sonsiethescottie.bsky.social & anyone else who is invested in the scarecrows who live at the bottom of my garden, Maisie has had a makeover and Ptolemy has ptotally collapsed. Scarecrow surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. #Scarecrows #MakePeopleSmile #A4061
A collapsed scarecrow on ground.A scarecrow with yellow hair, dark green dress and red and white striped legs sitting with her left hand raised as a wave.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
My new (used) book has arrived in the post in the same week as I've been booked to do a 2 week exhibition in the autumn on condition I take THE dolls. Some people know the ones I mean. Time to source sequins & feather boas. @helyg.bsky.social @serendipitysilver.bsky.social #IfYouKnowYouKnow
Cover of book on dollmaking showing a multi coloured fabric doll.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Big thanks to Chris @masterwoodchip.bsky.social for his donation of oak sawdust for the garden paths. Love a bit of recycling, love the fact that slugs don't want to cross it. #wastenotwantnot #ngsgardensopenforcharity #cottagegarden
Vegetable patch in cottage garden. Path newly covered with sawdust. Cottage in background.Pea wigwams in vegetable patch. Cottage in background.Newly laid sawdust paths around vegetable patch. Nasturtiums in foreground.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
This time last year I didn't even know what a data logger was. #ForeverFriends #BlueskyMuseums
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Reposted by Maria Lalic
Chris Williams @masterwoodchip.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
Had a go at steam bending in the woods using a fire pit. Happy with the results. youtube.com/watch?v=8zdi...
youtube.com
Steam bending wood on a woodland fire
YouTube video by Master Wood Chip
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 29/06/2025
4 weeks till we open the garden at Scarecrow Cottage for charity (it will cost you £4 to the NGS to get in). Today I have been colouring in the mother of hand drawn garden maps AND doing some early baking auditions for the pop up tea room. The vegan shortbread has passed quality control.
A hand drawn and labelled map - half coloured in - of a garden with central path leading to a house at the top. Collection of home baking with a large round shortbread in the centre of the picture.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Shearing over for another year. Before and after pics of Leroy Brown and Prince Arthur. Welsh Units. @sallyrose.bsky.social @helyg.bsky.social @olgapecorelle.bsky.social @welshbigguy.bsky.social @sonsiethescottie.bsky.social @themerl.bsky.social #DaftSheep #ReadyForHeatwave
Sheep with black face and thick brown fleece.Two newly sheared sheep walking across grassy field. Sheep in front is white and approximately 1 metre in front of black sheep.White faced sheep with thick white fleece.
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Reposted by Maria Lalic
Sally Rose @sallyrose.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Anyone on here live in #Somerset near #BishopsLydeard?
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
I saw this in a garden in Cefn Cribwr yesterday and now I want one going around my vegetable patch. Would it deter the pesky squirrels? @sallyrose.bsky.social @helyg.bsky.social @masterwoodchip.bsky.social @welshbigguy.bsky.social @lifeisamazing.bsky.social @romanpalace.bsky.social
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Visited some gorgeous local NGS Open Gardens (Llangeinor & Cefn Cribwr) over the weekend: beautiful gardens, lovely people, amazing cakes. @sallyrose.bsky.social @helyg.bsky.social @welshbigguy.bsky.social @sonsiethescottie.bsky.social @huwirrancadaviesms.bsky.social #NGS #GardensOpenForCharity
Open sided garden room with plant to left, overhead beams & tiled floor. Two low wooden coffee tables and a benched seating area against back wooden wall which has signs and a star decoration on. A vegetable plot with grass paths crossing. To left a wigwam of sticks, a metal arch to right. Table with china tea set and two iced buns on plates. Open countryside in distance.Gravel paths winding around rose garden with low hedges.  There is a small bird bath in centre. Trees in distance.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
This what happens when the local nursery (that offers work opportunities to adults with ALN) decides to do buy one, get one free on bedding plants and you pop in for a single tray of marigolds. #BLeaf #BryngarwCountryPark #ShopLocal
Multitude of different coloured flowers.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Just went to put bread in the freezer and realised that Jimmy has been in the Decontamination Unit since his rescue from Treorchy last Thursday. He's had a good fur brush & is now sitting outside in the sun. @sallyrose.bsky.social @helyg.bsky.social @marilynl.bsky.social #TeddyBearAdoptionAuction
Teddy bear wearing blue and white striped pyjamas sitting in freezer drawer
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Sketch of the woodland garden at Bryngarw Country Park is now half done. In other news I walked 5km to the library and back, weeded the garden for an hour then spent the afternoon writing 1931 words on making braid with a lucet. I declare the vertigo experience over & done with. #FieldSketching
Black and white drawing of woodland in sketchbook. Felt pen lies diagonally across page bottom right.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
There being a first time for everything, for me this weekend it has been vertigo. What an unpleasant sensation. Even though I have stopped swaying, I am having a writing /stitching/gardening- free day and sketching in sun dappled woodland instead. #BryngarwCountryPark #LoveWhereYouLive
Ink drawing of trees in woodland.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
I declare the garden at Scarecrow Cottage is now back on schedule. I also declare that never again will I work away from home for most of March & all of April.Now, back to writing about that unlikely combination - early medieval women pilgrims and lucets. #cottagegarden #craftwriting #heritagecrafts
Vegetable garden with lawn leading to whitewashed building with 3 windows.Vegetable garden in front of wooden fence. White netting to right side. Bean canes to left.Flower borders with bushy yellow and purple plants. Grass lawn with border. Greenhouse in background.
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Maria Lalic @marialaliccymru.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
Many people were sorry to lose Virgil the fig tree last year but his demise has led to a renaissance of the old rose he was smothering. In other news between some dry weather & a man with a strimmer, I am now just one week behind schedule in the garden. @helyg.bsky.social @sallyrose.bsky.social
Salmon pink rose in full bloomGarden path leading to stone cottage.Earth garden with bamboo canes.
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