Taking the Plunge
The Friday Post
Hello again 👋🤠, it seems like it has been busy here this week. Not in a frenetic way, just full of life stuff.
The mother in law was over, some people might think that's a dread but I've been very lucky with my in laws and "granny" is always a welcome visitor and a good excuse for family gatherings.
Kate is one of 4 siblings and they all live in the area and I have 7 nieces & nephews here, so we can be quite a crowd when we all get together. Mix in a couple of glorious days of sunshine and you have a recipe for making memories.
We haven't hit the main summer season yet, it's exam season in schools, so the numbers of tourists are still low enough to find a quiet spot.
One of our favourite "secret" coves went "viral" on TikTok a couple of years ago and became so popular we stopped going. Thankfully for us, it being so early in the year, we had the place to ourselves this week and almost everyone went for a dip.
I couldn't get down the steps but I had a comfortable seat and enjoyed listening to the delight of those who braved the cold Atlantic water. I also spotted a couple of wildflowers amongst the Sea Pinks including Lesser Centaury & Ajuga reptans.
A lovely act of random kindness arrived in the post this week from my friend Linda Jackson 🌏 who is currently hosting Seamus on her yacht in Fiji. A box of beautifully illustrated cards, that have old paintings of birds with poems and words of wisdom. Such a lovely gesture & has quickly become a daily practice to read one before I start work in my studio each day. So thoughtful.
I watched Linda last night being interviewed by Soso's World & Beth Cruz
She talked about her experiences and travels and about what it's like having Seamus as one of the crew. I love hearing about how people respond to him. I have heard so many different stories over the last couple of years. I can't even begin to describe how his mad little adventures have enriched my life and I don't fully understand it. There are some things I think I just need to learn to accept & embrace.
I feel I have to mention the passing of "Goldie" our goldfish. I put up a post on Substack this week and was surprised & heartened by such an outpouring of sympathy.
Goldie was 23 according to Kate, a present from grandad to our first born. She lived in a tank in the kitchen all that time. I fed her first thing each morning and was both shocked and saddened to find her floating on the surface. I buried her in the orchard, beside Jessie our black lab who died just before Christmas. It might seem odd to mourn a fish but it is also the acknowledgment of time passing and after all, she was a part of our weird little family.
"Blessed is the person who delights in seeing the inner child in everyone & the magic in all creatures,"Maria Popova.
I'm so glad you know about Maria Popova and that someone sent you her cards. She has a similar connection to the earth like you do. I keep thinking about the Goldie embroidery and I'm inspired to embroider my black cat, Tino, who died last year. I feel that he is still around and that he doesn't mind being wherever he is. I love your posts and your stitching. They are both grounding and exciting
A pet is a pet is a pet and member of the family. RIP Goldie.