The Hawkins Women are in London!

The Hawkins women are in London!!! Arriving yesterday afternoon, after a delayed flight from Chicago and Dublin, we checked into the simple, yet charming, Garden Court Hotel in the Bayswater area of London. Though absolutely exhausted and jet-lagged, we made ourselves clean up, look around, eat supper, and stay awake until around 8:OO and then fall into bed and into a deep sleep. (it was still light out!)
Awoke this morning to the birds singing,refreshed and ready to go, had breakfast (included in the price of the hotel--with great coffee...yea!)), and then had a lovely walk through Kensington Park (past Kensington Palace, home to the late princess Diana) to The Victoria and Albert Museum to view Beatrix Potter items from the Linder Bequest. I have been in contact with the curator of the collection, so there were numerous items ready for me when we arrived at Blythe House, Gate A.
I cannnot begin to tell you how moving it was to view and hold in my hands, original pencil drawings and watercolors by Beatrix Potter, including background sketches for The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of Peter Rabbitt, and The Tale of Tom Kitten. To be able to see her brush strokes, pencil marks, and her amazing attention to detail was a true privilege.
The highlight of the day was reading and holding(with gloves on) one of the 'picture letters' that Beatrix wrote to Norah Moore, daughter of her governess, on September 25, 1907 , that was the original idea of the The Tale of Squirel Nutkin. (MES first graders...you will remember this is the tale about the impertinent squirrel who teases Brown Owl with riddles and ends up in the owl's waistcoat). Sarah and I spent about four hours in the Reading and Archive Room ...what a way to begin my journey!
Have to go now...time is up on this computer...we are seeing Mamma Mia tonight (I know that has nothing to do with Beatrix Potter...but what can I say? THE HAWKINS WOMEN ARE IN LONDON!!! More tomorrow...
Kathy

Sarah and Kathy Travel Together

How it started...

I was awarded a 2006 Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Grant called "Searching for Peter Rabbit in My Own Garden." I'm traveling to England to study the life and work of Beatrix Potter, and returning to my Indiana farm to create a "Peter Rabbit garden" there. My first grade students will assist in this, and have already planted lettuce! I'll use this blog to "journal the journey." Stay tuned!