April Showers At The Cottage, Little Women And Victorian Poultry

I thought today would be a lovely day to share with you a few things about my art.

{Because everyone wants to know that, right? {Smile} I'm going to pretend you were all cheering me on after that question like those animated cartoons with the humans in a stadium background with no faces. Ya know, cause baby has conversations with self, pretends to answer self after asking self questions. Don't blame me, I have no real physical friends since lockdown, and someone's got to be my quarantine guinea pigs. Lucky you. No really though. This IS MY life 24-7, I'm just saying it's because of COVID-19 so that you won't feel pity for me. Err... Welcome to my life.}

Good Day, Landlocked, Sea Folk

My dear friends,

I won't bore you to tears, but I have been away because I have felt under the weather. I think it may be pollen. The pollen here in Florida can be ghastly. I know it perpetuates the notion and is a true testament of the law of attraction. When we notice and speak of things, even if we do not want it, the universe gives us more of it. Besides, I think I am a bit hard-headed at times, and refuse to slow down, so the only way is to become afflicted. Do you ever feel this way?

Beatrix Potter, The Tale of MerryMaid Scarlette Rose And Me

                  

Dear friends, 

I should like to visit with you and have a cup of tea. I am drinking some apple cinnamon-spiced tea. Let's have some music, shall we? I believe Pride and Prejudice soundtrack might be exquisite music for our mood this morning. I was thinking of making a playlist on Spotify of all my music that I listen to at the cottage. I'd love to hear from you. Send me a kulning siren's call if you fancy that idea {smile}.

I implored of my dear friend from England to record a real authentic video and share it with the world of how the Victorians would make a cup of tea in England. She spends her days in a little Victorian cottage in England living as authentically to the Victorian era as possible. 

This title post is Beatrix Potter, The Tale of MerryMaid Scarlette Rose and Me. I should like to talk about all the ways I love Beatrix Potter and create my little stories such as she might have done if she were here today. I feel her ever-present in my life daily. I chose to believe, and i sense it's an exact likeness to how things are beyond the veil and that the people that have long transitioned are quite capable and are apart of our lives in any moment if we choose to seek them where they are. They have an expansion of knowing and being interested in our mortal presence. I know Beatrix Potter and Tasha Tudor spend much time with me. I must confess I spend my days here at the cottage speaking and interacting with more deceased spirits than I make a living. Are you surprised? 

If you believe in the Law of Attraction, and especially Abraham Hicks teachings, Abraham well clarifies the transitioned are quite interested in our goings-on. 

I came to appreciate Beatrix when I was but 19-years old. I was married and soon to have my first child. I lived an antiquated life even then, sketching, sewing, canning and all the domesticated pursuits one would indulge in as a young, very devoted Mormon.

I collected all of Beatrix's books, especially the tiny versions of them and the movies that were out at the time. This was in the '90s. I would endlessly play them for my children as they grew and read the fairy tales to them. I was a rigorous mother in which I would only allow good wholesome television and music, and much reading. I have forever been a reader. As you well know, reading saved my dear little spirit as a young girl. The Laura Ingalls Wilder collection of books became my go~to forever and always. To this day, one of my lifelong dreams is to go to see the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum. 

I thought it to be a delight and post some photos of my storybook and talk about some of the ways Beatrix and I are similar.

She loved Rabbits as well as I.

My darling companion Oliver Twistytopsy.

Remember this from the last year when I dressed up like her at Halloween. Many of the tricker~treaters, more so the parents thought I must be Mary Poppins.

I sewed this outfit by hand. I still wear it, especially now that it's fall.

Beatrix loved sheep and cared for them in her later years. This is a photo from Carmel, California. It's apart of the Clint Eastwood called Mission Ranch Carmel. I did the travel distance from here to The Outland's where I hope to live one day, and it's 1.4 miles from what I will call "my home."

I am planning a trip to Mission Ranch Carmel, to have a stay. I thought that if I am not to live in England, the next best place to it is Carmel, California. 

And to think my dear friends I hadn't painted nor did I remember that I was capable of a stick figure if that since I was the age of 12. 

It gobsmacks me that I was so out of touch with my dreams that I absolutely had forgotten my life dreams as a little girl of being a writer and artist.

I am proof though that these type of dreams never die within us. I am also a reminder to you that if you really desire to do something, you are never too old. I am 46 as of today, and I would never let that stop me from achieving my dreams. It's so very possible. If i can be an Inspirational Orator for you and other women, I am happy to do so. 

I have so many stories within me. In the back of my very first little storybook, The Tale of MerryMaid Scarlette Rose I have all of these working titles, plus I have already added a few more since the book was published. Do any of these titles excite you?

~A Real Life Mermaid's Transformational Tale: A Voyage Back To Self-Love (An Autobiography)
~The Tale of Oliver Rabbit, 2019
~The Tale of Sybrena Ewe
~The Tale of Henny Penny Goody Two~Shoes, 2019
~The Tale of Diggety~Diggety Dave
~The Tale of Melinda Little Mouse
~The Tale of Squirrel Sadie
~The Tale of Hoppity~Hoppity Little John
~The Tale of Captain Jack
~The Tale of Patsy Violet
~The Tale of Ms Nevermore Raven
~Deceit & Dissension {A romantic drama that depicts a naive young lady from an English family of landed gentry as she learns to deal with morality, deception and hypocrisy.}

 In my little story of Scarlette Rose, you'll notice I named the character names that had significance to Beatrix. Warren the love of her life, and Bertram was her brother's name. I also think I was impressed by Beatrix to name the stories like hers, and they are actually a play on words for me, ya know... because I am a Mermaid "The Tale". Isn't that extraordinary!

I seriously felt inspired by Beatrix as if she was sitting right next to me, chatting it up like a little church lady. 

A few more things that I am similar to Beatrix is in the way I still love to wear Victorian clothes, I call my art room "The Treasure Room" such as Beatrix's room at Hilltop. She published her own book because no one would publish it for her, I did the same thing. There are so many more things that I have in common with her, but this post must be split up. I am weary from lack of sleep, and I have much work to do still for my little storybook release. I hope you'll collect a copy for yourself and I'd love to see photos of you reading it. That would delight me more than you could imagine. Please swim over to my social media and have a visit. I spend much time on Facebook and Instagram. My links are on my sidebar.  

I shall leave you with this little drawing. 

"DOUBLE-DOUBLE TOIL AND TROUBLE FIRE BURN AND CAULDRON BUBBLE."

I made this just for you. If you'd like to print this off and use it as a colouring sheet for trick or treaters. Enjoy. 

I wanted to remind you that if you haven't yet signed up for my newsletter, please do so. I am going to choose the winners of my storybook and Scarlette Rose doll in the next two weeks. I a wishing you each good luck my dear friends! The newsletter sign up form will either pop up, or you can seek it out on the sidebar.

Most affably yours til my next swim, Raquelxxx

The Significance Of Tea Time

I began the little tradition of tea time when I was nineteen years old. I had moved to Mississippi to start my life as an aspiring homemaker. I lived in a historic 1900's Victorian Colonial one block from the beach. The home that had been turned into small apartments and a studio. The studio I lived in was the servants quarters at one time. The kind lady that was my landlady was from Denmark. I was immediately drawn to her as I have the Dutch heritage as well. Every day at 3:00 p.m. she would invite me over for tea and crumpets. It was the beginning of a lovely sentiment that I have carried with me henceforth.  

Taking tea can be anywhere. I am often found in the garden taking time for tea, while painting and spending time with my bunny, Oliver.

 Taking tea makes life beautiful, no matter the circumstances. Meaning that everyone can make time for tea. It matters not of wealth, poverty, class, or status. Living in the most humble of homes is often times the loveliest to share in tea time.

 Usually, on Sundays, I will make a cookie of my liking to have for the week with my tea time. Two of the favourites that I've been making for decades are my Magical Mermaid Peanut Butter cookies and my Pirate's Pecan and Cranberry Biscotti. I am mostly a loner when I take time for tea, but I much prefer it. However, on occasion, I go to a little place called Whistle Stop Garden and Tea Room that's a few miles from my home. The lady that works there is from Cotswold, England, and she serves tea, scones, jellies, treats and fresh English finger foods she makes herself. I thoroughly enjoy spending time with her, we talk mostly about gardening.

 I actually schedule my tea time according to my little painting below.

 Here are a few tea remedies. Chai Tea is lovely for a boost to the immune system, especially for the flu and colds. Lemon and honey tea is gentle and relieves a sore throat. Ginger tea settles an upset tummy. It's also fin'tastic for nausea. Peppermint tea is excellent for digestion and bloating.

 Having tea in "My Treasure Room" is a daily ritual. I set time aside to spend quiet time with myself and of course, my bunny Oliver. I spend the tea time making lists, planning little projects, reading my selected literature for the week, or looking through magazines to encourage my creativity.

 I always have a candle going during tea time. The ambience is perfect. I make tea a special time. I use pretty cups, spoons, teapots, flowers fresh from the garden, and embroidered linens that I've collected. There's always some beautiful little inexpensive cups and linens at the thrift stores for pennies. The dollar tree has beautiful small candles too for that perfect romantic lighting.

 I have found that having tea time really energizes me and encourages my daily tasks for the day to be completed. My children growing up always knew that they were more than welcome to join me during tea time, and if they chose not to join me, they weren't allowed to interrupt my tea time. I made a stringent decision to take that time for myself. I truly believe with all of my heart that because I chose to be selfish with my desires, It taught my children to have respect for me, as well as, themselves. We are all individually significant, and self-care is essential to our life's vitality.

Here I am creating a list of inspired blog posts to write for my blog.

 A few paintings for your enjoyment.

Most affably yours til my next swim, Raquel