Knowlton 2013

I will never tire of Knowlton . . .

Beer, Book, and Candle

(What's with the wonkyness resulting from emailed posts these days? Sheesh.)

London Sky

Aunt Joyce

My Aunt Joyce, aged 90, longtime resident of London, died today. This photo of her as a child, taken by my grandfather, seems particularly appropriate; she was deeply religious all her life.
















She trained as a nurse & served in Burma during World War II. In later years she was head nurse at Mile End Hospital, where she spent her last many weeks. I don't know exactly when or where this photo was taken, but clearly she was rising in the ranks!







This is in Cornwall in the 1920s (again by my grandfather). Joyce is on the left, my Uncle Teddy on the right; I don't know the little boy in the middle. Teddy was a pilot in the RAF and died in WWII.

Oh, the bloom of youth! Here's to you, Aunt Joyce.

2010! Yes, Already!

Lately I haven't been writing much here, just posting photos. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But here it is the beginning of the new year and I'm contemplative; spending time with elderly aunts and then coming home to a very sick elderly cat has provided food for thought. And now it's the last day before returning to work after the winter break and I have that Sunday-night-before-school-on-Monday feeling, only more so.

Things I have to do today: Laundry. Dishes. Lute practice. Give the cat subcutaneous fluids in an attempt to prolong her little elderly-cat kidneys & make her feel better. Spend a lot of time with said cat on my lap.

Things I want to do today: The things listed above, minus laundry & dishes. Begin typesetting, illustrating & binding my friend Hank's first mystery story. Finish the hat I am knitting for Hugh, my second knitted hat and the first one I've knitted in the round & used double-pointed needles on. Take a walk. Make Cornish pasties. Savor this last day off (till next weekend)!

Things I want to do in 2010: Make more art and other things. Be a nicer person & complain less. Be outside a lot. Give attention to all the things in my house that are broken or otherwise need attention. Get rid of a bunch of crap. Take more photos. Limit my exposure to those who are unkind or negative, whatever their reasons for being that way. Learn to play my lute in public without visibly shaking. Enjoy & appreciate the peacefulness that my life mostly is.

The picture at top is Loretta, the ailing elderly cat. The picture below is me in a B&B in Barnes, drinking Dorset brew "Piddle in a Bottle" that Janet gave us. As Hugh is not drinking lately, had to down it all myself, darn it. More's the pity.

Happy New Year!!!

Because Who Can Have Enough of Dorset, Really?

Dorset Field, Hills, Sky

Snowy England: February 2009, Part III

So I got back Wednesday evening from 12 days in England. It was meant to be 10, but family troubles delayed the trip back, which turned out to be rather fortuitous weatherwise; Sunday, the day I'd originally planned to head to London from the country, was the day it began to snow. This is the most snow England has seen since 18 years ago! It was absolutely gorgeous and I got out in it every chance I got. I hear it is still on the ground as of today, because temperatures have not risen above freezing. The electricity has gone out twice in my aunt's village, but happily came back on quickly enough. This is the view from her morning room...much different from the last time I was there!

Snowy England: February 2009, Part II

The river


My aunt and I like to think that this is our father blackbird from last July who nested in the hydrangea on the wall


Blackbird tracks outside the back door


The river several days before the snowfall

Snowy England: February 2009, Part I

Departing from Heathrow, February 4th


The garden and the church tower


Looking down toward the Close from the top of a field


The Manor House

Father Blackbird: England July 2008

Aunt Dorothy and I speculated that the cause of the excessive little feathers on this father Blackbird might be co-parenting: helping out on the nest with eggs and baby birds.

Uncle Peter's Grave: England July 2008

More of England Last July (2008): So Green

It is unbelievably lovely to see the green of these photos when one is in the midst of "winter" in central Texas, which has been suffering drought for far too long. Everything here is dry and brown. I wish I could just step into this park from here at my computer...

More of England Last July (2008): Skies

I love the light and sky in this photo!

England Last July

As I prepare for another trip to England (and as I am on Thursday of a busy week with no time for photogs since Sunday), I am remembering that I never really finished going through all my photos from last summer's trip, so I'm going to call some of them into play now. These were taken on the day I arrived in London—Saturday, July 12, 2008—as M drove me from Heathrow to the flat.

The Green Door: England 2008

The Church Tower: England 2008

Horton's Folly (England July 2008)

Fittingly out of focus

London (England July 2008)

Bus stop


Aunt Dorothy says this building is called (at least informally) the Gherkin. I have a feeling I already posted a similar photo, but maybe not...


The Tower of England from the bridge side


Tower Bridge detail

A Walk Around the Village (England July 2008)

Aunt Dorothy says that this is called puddingstone.


I love this car!


The Running Club