Planting Onions

Good Morning!
I've spent the last couple of days planting the garden (in between the much needed rain showers)! As I planted onions, I thought about the beautifully painted studies of onions that I was able to see at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Beatrix painted onions at Fawe Park during the summer of 1903 for The Tale of Benjamin Bunny which was published in 1904. If you don't know this story and the important part that the onions play in it...GO FIND A COPY AND READ IT (and look for the onions on page 31)!

We were able to see the garden at Fawe Park...but only through the fence boards as it is not open to the public at this time.
Here I am acting like a real tourist!


Today I will finish planting more beans and some flowers. None of Jemima Puddleduck's rhubarb can be planted until spring...she will have to find somewhere else to lay her eggs! Tomorrow I am off on a treasure hunt for old pickets, gates, and watering cans! Wish me luck!!!
Your aff friend,
Kathy Hawkins

What Are You Reading This Summer?

Dear friends,
I have to admit that not much progress has been made in Peter's Rabbit's garden. Too hot, and too much to do after being gone for 16 days. But not to fret--this week's forecast is pleasant and mild--perfect gardening weather. So...I hope to soon report significant progress in terms of planting, weeding, and growing!
I do hope you are all reading loads of good books this summer--I was able to get in lots of reading where ever I went in England. That's the wonderful thing about Beatrix Potter's tales, you know--those little books are so portable and easily tuck in a purse or backpack! (Beatrix herself wanted the books just that size so that they would fit into little hands--isn't that lovely?) I will leave you with some of the places I found that were perfect for reading (the couple in the last photo are my wonderful British cousins, Steve and Jean Boettcher)!
Your aff friend,
Kathy Hawkins

The Journey Continues

As many of you know, or might not know, though my trip to the land of Beatrix Potter is complete, my journey is far from over. The "back end" of my grant is to create a garden reminiscent of Mr. McGregeor's in The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and The Tale of Benjamin Bunny. Prior to my trip, we had laid out the plot, and planted a few things (with the asssistance of Mr. Hawkins and my wonderful first graders from MES).


Today the work begins again with the planting of carrots, onions, and beans, and the thoughtful planning and design to create something that might one day resemble something like this!


Your aff friend,
Kathy Hawkins
P.S. Yesterday Zach treated us with lemon cream scones...oh my!

Roses at Kew Gardens

Good Morning!
I was obviously way too tired last night and managed to muddle up the roses from Kew Gardens. So let me try it one more time! Have a wonderful day!

Flowers, Flowers, Everywhere!

Today was spent working outside in an attempt to shake off my lingering jet lag, and to help the yard look not so neglected (what should I expect after being gone for almost 3 weeks) ! While I was weeding, watering, planting, and shooing cats away (they thought I was preparing a fresh litter box just for them)--my thoughts wandered to the glorious gardens of England that we were able to see.
These climbing clematis were outside the front door of our lovely Bed and Breakfast, Holly Villa, in Bath.


The roses at Kew Gardens in London...OH MY!



One of the gardens at Hilltop...can you find Peter Rabbit?
The rainbow of flowers at Buckle Yeat Guest House in Near Sawrey!

Good morning Indiana!

Good Morning! Sarah and I returned safely to Indiana last night, with memories to last a lifetime and way too much luggage! Our cousins were kind enough to provide us with an extra suitcase to take home all our treasures!


The farm is bustling this morning with HOPE CSA pastors here for the day, loads of laundry, and an overwhelming amount of garden work...I don't know where to begin. BUT...I refuse to allow all that to distract me from my purpose.
So...LET THE LESSONS BEGIN!
Please let me introduce you to Helen Beatrix Potter. This is a photograph of Beatrix taken at her beloved Hilltop at the age of 47.

This is a picture of me at the age of 50 taken at Hilltop just last week!

There are so many stories, and so much information that I want to share with you about this amazing lady. One of the most important things that you need to know is that she was so much more than author and and illustrator of the wonderful little books. By the end of her life, she was a respected landowner, estate manager, and sheep farmer. She owned over 4,000 acres of of land in the English Lake District that she had purchased with her book earnings to protect from development. When she died, the land was willed to her husband, and upon his death, all went to the National Trust. It was Beatrix's foresight, by protecting the Lake district landscape through ownership, that makes it possible for all to enjoy today. I will leave you with just a few of my favorite subjects from the English Lake District to enjoy for yourselves.
Stone Walls and Fells


A Herdwick ewe and her baby lamb...


and Moss Eccles Tarn (notice the huge Rhododendrons!)
Until tomorrow I remain Your aff friend,
Kathy Hawkins

Are we in Manchester (UK) yet??

Sarah and I said good-bye to Near Sawrey yesterday morning with photographs in the garden with the]Kirbys, hugs, and handshakes. We took the ferry across Lake Windermere and boarded the train to Manchester.
A quiet train ride South ( get those maps out!) through Kendal, Oxenhlome, past a bit of the Irish Sea, and on to Manchester where my cousin, Steve, greeted us. He gave us a quick walking tour (in the first real rain shower that we have had in England, and of course we didn't have a bit of our rain gear along) of Manchester. We saw the Manchester Cathdral and The Royal Exchange Theatre. We also saw the ground zero site of the the 1996 IRA bombing. No one was killed in that attack, but property damage was massive. After the rubble was cleared away, a red, English Post Box was the only thing still standing, which we saw (I don't know if that was the same postal box, but we used our imaginations!)
Steve and Jean treated us to an amazing 3 hour dinner last night at a restuarant called Franc's, with Sticky Toffee Pudding that rivaled that at Tower Bank Arms! We spent the night in their lovely home. I was amazed to discover that Jean and Steve actually get their milk deliverd to the doorstep in glass bottles. I was going to take a picture of the milkman, but I slept through his 4:30 a.m. delivery! Oh well!
Back on the train this morning continuing South to London. We will stay at the Garden Court Hotel one more night (It's Mary Poppins night!) This is especially exciting for me, as Mary Poppins was my all time favorite movie when I was growing up. I used to lay in bed at night and sing the entire score--honestly. Don't worry--I will not sing out loud tonight! After the pastoral quiet of the Lake District, London seems very busy and bustling. I am heading to the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square now, as it is my favorite museum in London and I haven't been there yet!
Cheerio, see you soon!
Your aff friend,
Kathy Hawkins

Standing in her pictures

The last two days have been fantastically full--

Yesterday, Sarah, my cousins, Jean and Steve, and I, traveled up and down the narrow, winding roads Of The Lake District with a British Blue Badge guide that I hired for the day. Val Abraham is an expert in the Lake District and was able to take us to a multitude of sites associated with Beatrix Potter. We visited Wray Castle, an impressive Victorian Gothic home, the first of the Lake District summer homes that Beatrix's family rented as she was growing up. We saw Derwentwater and the woods where Squirrel Nutkin lived, and Saint Herbert's Island, the home of Old Brown. We drove high up to Little Town and The Newlands Valley where Mrs. Tiggy Winkle lives. We also took a hike alongside Fawe Park (the inspiration for the garden in Benjamin Bunny) but the estate is private with a tall board fence around it, so we just peeked over and through the fence boards like paparazzi! (if you don't know who Mrs. Tiggy Winkle, Squirrel Nutkin, Old Brown, or Benjamin Bummy are--please go immediately to your nearest bookstore or library!) Time and time again yesterday, I found myself in the middle of a Beatrix Potter tale--face to face with a landscape, a tree, a path, a garden, that I had seen before on a page in her tales! What a wonderful day...we collapsed into bed and slept so soundly that we didn't hear a drop of the rain shower that fell during the night.

In her journal dated November 17, 1886, Beatrix Potter wrote of her impression of Near Sawrey, "It is as nearly as perfect a little place as I have ever lived in, and such nice old-fashioned people in the village..." Sarah and I will be leaving Near Sawrey tomorrow morning, and though I am ready to be getting home to Hawkins Family Farm, I will truly miss this special place. I wandered around the village today using a pictorial map from the Society that illustrates the village as it is now, and contains notes about what it was like in Beatrix Potter's time. Since many of her book illustrations are from places she loved (and she loved this village), you never know when you might find yourself looking at, (or standing in) one of her pictures. Fields, tarns, footpaths, foxgloves, stonewalls, cottages, gardens...It is all truly magical! I finished the afternoon with tea and a warm scone topped with cream and jam...oh my!

Dear friends, I feel so privileged to have received the Lilly fellowship that has enabled me to begin this journey. I have learned so much about Beatrix Potter, her work and her legacy these last few months...and there is so much more to learn. It has been rewarding to write this blog, knowing that so many of you are enjoying it and learning along with me. I want you to know that Sarah and I have taken loads of photographs which I will post (when I get back to my computer at home) throughout the summer along with information and stories I have learned along the way. Then we will ALL be able to discuss "all things Beatrix" when this summer is over!

On to Manchester (UK) by train tomorrow, and then London on Wednesday to see Mary Poppins on the London stage...Oh My!

Thanks for reading, I hope you are well.

Your aff friend,
Kathy Hawkins

Never Say Never

Well, you know what they say...NEVER SAY NEVER! I did something today that I told you all I would never do...I ATE BLACK PUDDING! My new friend, (the one who took us to the Pigling Bland signpost yesterday) asked me if I would try just one bite of hers, and I did. It actually wasn't bad, tastes kind of like spicy meatloaf, but you just don't want to think too hard about what you are actually eating. Anyway...that was my culinary adventure for the day!

A very special day today as Sarah and I had visitors from Manchester, England! My cousin Steve Boettcher, whom I haven't seen in over 40 years, and his wife Jean came to spend the weekend with us. After catching up on the past 40 some years over tea and Helen Kirby's amazing scones (truly melt in your mouth...oh my!), we drove to Hawkshead. Sarah and Steve watched the England-Paraguay World Cup Soccer match (England 1-0...hooray!), while Jean and I went to the Beatrix Potter Gallery and the Hawkshead Grammar School. We then traveled on to Ambleside for dinner. Upon returning to Sawrey, I took them up to Moss Eccles Tarn for an evening walk. Beatrix Potter and her husband, William Heelis kept a boat on the tarn, and would walk up to go fishing in the evening. I just have to smile when I realize that I am truly walking on the paths and roads that she walked.

On our way back to the village, we came upon a confused looking lamb standing on top of a stone wall trying to decide whether to jump into the lane or not. After some discouragement from us, he decided against it, and jumped back into the field with his friends (I was thinking of all the times Mr. Hawkins has to chase cows, pigs, chickens, etc. that wander away from where they are supposed to be!)

I hope you are well, thanks for reading.

Your aff friend,
Kathy Hawkins

P.S. MES FIRST GRADERS....I MAILED YOUR POSTCARDS AT THE RED MAILBOX TODAY!

A Love Story?

Another wondeful day! This morning after breakfast another guest and I were chatting. She is a member of the Beatrix Potter Society and is a wealth of information about the area and "all things Beatrix". She asked if Sarah and I had time to take a short walk as she wanted to show us something. We headed out of Buckle Yeat and walked up a narrow, winding road toward Esthwaite Water. We passed lovely purple foxgloves by the side of the road, and fields full of golden buttercups. As we approached a signpost and crossroad, I realized that we were looking at a scene from one of the tales (though I wasn't sure which one). When I asked, Vicki smiled and said, Pigling Bland. Sure enough, we were looking at the place where Pigling Bland is gazing wistfully over the hills and wishing he could have a small garden and grow potatoes. I am not sure which page...I will have to check. The tale is a lovely one. Beatrix used her own pigs which she loved, as models. It is almost a love story, and at the end when Pigling Bland and Pig-Wig dance "over the hills and far away"...well, some people say that was Beatrix herself and her husband, Mr. William Heelis, but she denied it. Anyway...once again, we found ourselves in the middle of a story!

Later, Mr. Kirby took us to the ferry site (check out the Buckle Yeat blog link) where Sarah and I took a small launch boat across Lake Windermere to Bowness. The boat trip was lovely, complete with swans and cygnets swimming alongside the boat. Some of the guests had described Bowness as "tatty", but Sarah and I liked it. We visited The World of Beatrix Potter (a tastefully done Disney-like attraction), did some shopping (sorry Mr. Hawkins), and found a great Swiss Itailan Pizzaria. We finished up our afternoon with ice cream cones....black currant and cream and death by chocolate...oh my!

That's all for today, thanks for reading. I hope you are all well, and your gardens are not too full of weeds! (I hear mine are pretty bad...oh well!)

Your aff friend,
Kathy Hawkins

Wandering...as a Cloud

Another full and wonderful day in the English Lake District. I haven't mentioned that Sarah and I get to begin each day with a delicious breakfast at Buckle Yeat (freshly baked rolls, fresh fruit, eggs, toast, full English breakfast if we choose--the only thing I absolutly refuse to try is BLACK PUDDING--that is sausage made from dried blood. Can you believe that--No thanks!) The table is beautifuly set, and there is more silverware than I know what to do with! Helen and Robery Kirby, the owners are so kind and hospitable. Many of you were aware of how I struggled making a decision about accomodations. Well...I have to say we hit the Jackpot at Buckle Yeat!

After breakfast, we took an adventure of a bus ride to Hawkshead and Ambleside. The adventure being that the roads are so narrow and winding, that if one bus meets another bus or truck along the way , one of the vehicles has to stop, back up, and wait for the other to carefully pass. WHAT FUN....I am sooo glad that we are not drivng over here.

I went to the Armitt Museum and Library in Ambleside which is home to over 300 of Beatrix Potter's watercolors of fungi. What many people don't know is that Beatrix Potter, besides being a children's book author and illustrator, was also an expert naturalist who had great interest in mosses, fungi, and lichen.Her watercolors are exquisite, and she donated them to this small village museum. Unfortunately these drawings (and her scientific ability) were not recognised by scientists of her time becase she was a woman.

After my time at the Armitt, Sarah and I headed back to Hawkshead, where we visited the 400 year old grammar school that William Wordsworth attended (google his name and find the poem that begins, 'I wandered lonely as a cloud...'). I am constantly reminded that we don't really know what 'old' is in the US--especially when I see a bible that is 500 years old!

After supper this evening, Sarah and I followed a public footpath to Far Sawrey (pronounced 'sorry') for our evening walk. The path took us past baaaing sheep, frolicking calves, a babbling brook, and up to a beautiful old church and graveyard on a hill. Honestly...I don't know how much more charm I can take! One can certainly understand why Beatrix loved and was so inspired by this corner of the world.

Thanks for reading, I hope you are all well.

Your aff friend,
Kathy Hawkins

Having a go of it

A perfectly pleasant day in the Lake District...

Beginning with a trip to Hilltop which, of course was Beatrix Potter's farm. She actually lived at Castle Cottage in the village, but Hilltop was where she went to write and find sanctuary. Hilltop is today, as she left it. Six small rooms,a hall, parlour, bedroom, treasure room, siting room, and new room, filled with her belongings and treasures that she loved. I especially enjoyed seeing parts of the house and pieces of furniture that she included in her little books. Hilltop garden planted to overflowing with flowers, herbs, fruit, and vegetables. (Oh Mr. Hawkins...we have lots of work to do when I return!) I plan to visit the gardens more on Friday when the house is closed and there are not so many tourists! :)

This afternoon, Sarah and I went to the village of Hawkshead and visited the Beatrix Potter Gallery, where we saw numerous pieces of original drawings for the little books. WE had a lovely lunch with 'jacket potatoes'and Victoria cake for dessert! Oh my!!! The highlight of my day was almost accidental! This evening, I was taking a short walk on a footpath when I saw a signpost for Moss Eccles Tarn. A 'tarn' is another name for a pond. and I was trying to decide if I wanted to have a go of it.(Sarah was not feeling well and was laying down--I think she got a bit dehydrated but she is fine now). An older British couple was walking by and asked If I wanted to join them. I accepted and we walked on the winding footpath that took us through sheep fields and wooded areas, along the shore of the tarn, up and down the gentle hills. We saw rabbits, pheasant, huge bumble bees, coots (a kind of bird!), and sheep, sheep, and more sheep.The gentleman is a member of the Beatrix Potter Society, and shared all sorts of fascinating information about the area and Beatrix Potter herself. I felt very lucky to happen upon this opportunity!

Tomorrow we hope to go to Ambleside where there is a library that houses a large number of Beatrix Potter's scientific drawings.

I hope you are all well,

Your aff friend,
Kathy Hawkins

In the Middle of a Storybook

JUNE 6, 2006

WE'RE HERE!!! After a 2 day side trip to Bath that included a walking tour through the city, high tea at the Pump Room, a lovely B an B called Holly Villa run by even lovlier people, and Sarah purchasing yet another pair of shoes--we are here in Near Sawrey. (Time to get out those maps!!)

We rode the train north today starting at Bath to Bristol,Crewe, Wolverton, Lancaster, Windermere, then took the 50 pence car ferry across Lake WIndermere where Mr. Kirby picked us up and brought us to Buckle Yeat (pronouced yate) Guest House. Dear friends, I have to tell you that I feel like we have been droppped into the middle of a storybook. Rolling hills dotted with sheep, narow, winding roads, charming houses,gardens, gardens, gardens... all right outside our window. Buckle Yeat is right next door to Tower Bank Arms and Hilltop Farm. Sarah and I had a delicious supper at Tower Bank Arms and allowed ourselves a splurge of desserts...STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING AND BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING...OH MY! Tomorrow we will visit Hilltop and then take the bus to Hawkshead where the Beatrix Potter Gallery is housed in the building that was her husband's (William Heelis) office. Tonight I need to start reading the literature that was sent to me by the Beatrix Potter Society so I will know what I am seeing!

Thanks to all of you who are leaving comments...I love reading them. I wish you were here!
Your aff friend,
Kathy

The Tailor of Gloucester

Good Morning!
Ok...get out your maps. Sarah and I left Paddington Station in London yesterday morning and traveled west and north by train through the Stroud Valley to Gloucester and Cheltenham. A perfectly pleasant journey through rolling hills and fields filled with cattle, sheep, and stone walls. After reading parts of her journals, I realized that this was the route that Beatrix took to visit her cousin Caroline.
Once we arrived in Gloucester, we located the Shop of the Tailor of Gloucester. It is currently closed to the public, and the city is in the middle of a fund raising campaign to reopen the site. I had been in touch with the tourism council and had made arrangements to be let in by Mr. Ivan Taylor, the jeweler from next door.







You can see the front of the shop as Beatrix saw and sketched it for her story. Behind me is St. Michael's Gate which leads to Gloucester Cathedral. I read that though it is a winter scene that she drew, it was in the hot summer that she did her sketching. My reading also said that her proper Victorian mother would have been shocked to see her daughter sitting on the step of the shop drawing.






Beatrix based the her story of the Tailor of Gloucester on a true story that she heard while visiting her cousin, Caroline. Of course, there really weren't magical mice that could sew, but there really WAS a Tailor named John Pichard, and after leaving work unfinished one weekend, he came back and found it completed! You will have to ask me what really happened...because I found out!





We traveled to Chleltenham to spend the night at a beautiful B and B called the Mooreend Park Hotel and guess who we met up with? Sam McFadden from Manchester who is studying here at the University! What fun!



We leave for Bath this morning.
Your aff friend and teacher,
Kathy Hawkins

The Headmaster

Dear family and friends,
The last two days have been full! I was able to spend some hours yesterday and today in The Victoria and Albert National Art Library reading more about Beatrix Potter and her work. The book that I found that was especially exciting was about Lakeland (Lake District) Walks. I made some copies of maps, so that I might be able to find my way to parts of the Lake District that Beatrix Potter used as inspiration for The Tale of Mrs. Tiggywinkle and The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin. How exciting!
Sarah and I went to Westminster Abbey for Evensong last evening.How beautiful and worshipful, hearing the male Westminster choir in that glorious church.
We were seated in the pews of the 'Quire', and I was actually seated in a pew labeled 'headmaster pew'!!! HA!
Today I walked through Kensington Park to get to The V and A museum once more.
A beautiful walk on a sunny morning...I had another 'moment'
realizing that I am so lucky to be here!
After a few hours of study, I got on the tube (Sarah went her own way today) and traveled out to The Royal Botanical Gardens (Kew Gardens) where I met up with Denise Stouffer, another Wabash County Lilly Grant Recipient. We explored the gardens of Kew, Kew Palace (home to George III) and then returned to London. We talked and talked, and if
you listened closely, you could often hear us say...Thank you Lilly!
Returning on the tube,
We met up with Sarah and had a delicious dinner of fish and chips (finally) at the Prince Alfred Pub in Bayswater. (YUM!) Tomorrow will be our first British rail ride as
Sarah and I head to Gloucester to find the shop of the Tailor of Gloucester.
Remember MES first graders??? NO MORE TWIST!
Hope you are enjoying this travel blog...I will try to post more pictures tomorrow.
I will sign off tonight as Beatrix often signed her letters.
Your aff (affectionate)friend,
Kathy

London Pictures!

Some pictures from yesterday . . .

Here I am, in the Reading and Archive Room of the Victoria and Albert's Blythe House, reading Beatrix Potter's picture letter to Norah Moore dated September 25, 1907, which is the first writing of "The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin"! Notice the gloves on my hands!


















Entrance to the Blythe House. Such high security! We had to be let into the gate, sign in and wear Visitor passes, and scan the passes at multiple places!




















A background watercolor of lettuce for "The Tale of Benjamin Bunny". Farmer Hawkins, does YOUR lettuce look like this?


















Mrs. Hawkins and Sarah have a night on the town! We were dancing in the aisle at "Mamma Mia!".