Would you believe it is right! I thank you for those lovely memories, /the East End as it was called in London was a rough area, Docks and slums, open markets and of course Petty Coat Lane which was a market that sold everything and anything you wanted you just had to give "the nod "as they say.
In those days (late '50s) children were allowed in the Public Houses, in a special room, so I had quite the education . Sawdust on the floor, Dockers singing and a mad piano player The Pub was called the Bunch of Grapes and I have never forgotten it. Thanks again.
Liz, thank you for this glimpse of a long-ago London we'll never get to visit. I can only imagine a little Elizabeth, perched on a stool in the children's corner, listening to dockers singling along with a mad piano player and maybe even nibbling on a few jellied eels. Lovely!
Oh Lynne - I re-read your comment today and giggled, about the "perfectly normal Auntie with a hook. My Father ,a true Cockney, loved the street food Jellied eels. Sometimes he would take me and Mom down to the Isle of Dogs an area on the Thames (now long gone I think) where the docks and warehouses were. He would enjoy a small cup of eels from the stall, then I think to amuse me) would pop the bones in the paper cup in the top pocket of his jacket. Mom was horrified and always told him off making him throw them away. I remember the stall was called Tubby Issacs, is'nt it strange how these things stay in your memory. A late thought, perhaps your Aunt was good at crochet ha !
A delightful tale of Khat and Gilly. I for one did not get the allusion - but then again I have a different educational background than many others. Reading these tales is a pleasure - I still spend a significant amount of my time on the internet, researching ... so I prefer to be swept away with the tale rather than pause to do research. I suspected, since Khat was to be a "hero," that he had to "save" someone. The most likely person was the one moving into the old house.
Characters that are "beyond human" are often why I enjoy science fiction as well.
Gilly brought back to mind the Aunt Dimity series; animal characters bring to mind Rita Mae Brown's Sneaky Pie series and her Sister Jane series. Sister Jane's interactions with her horses almost ease my life-long terror of them. The animals reflect and provide insight into human dynamics.
While my current dog companion cannot "speak," she certainly knows my moods, responds to my needs, is lways by my side and makes me smile.
So right Susan, it can be a bit daunting at times - I can be talking to someone and in my minds eye I am looking at the shape of their face, the colour of their skin how their eyes are shaped, and in painting you have to get the eyes right -expression is everything.
Thank you so much for this story! I am thoroughly enchanted with Khat and all of your cohorts in Pecan Springs. I love the visual scenery your words produce, including almost being able to smell the smells. You are a treasure.
Oh I did like the story of Khat, and yes I am all for magical realism . Particularly shape shifting which of course, every self respecting Witch is supposed to be able to do, field Hares, anybody ?Selkies (Seal people). I am slowly working on a Children's illustrated book about these interesting but lethal creatures. We shall see where it goes. Despite my Christian beliefs I have had some strange experiences which lead me to believe there are unknown quantities in this world that are unexplainable. After all my Grandmother on my Father's side was a Seer So what can you expect. But I gave all that up when Christ called. I now only use some of my past life as reference for my stories.
Whatever sparks our creativity and opens our minds and our hearts to new understandings is sacred to me, Liz. And I believe (with you) that we humans are aware of only the smallest glimpse of the many magical intersections that shape our worlds.
One of the hardest things I find about being a painter and lover of illustration work is I can never look at anything as a whole, I am always seeking shape colour and form and that little spark that turns a face into something special or a leaf into beauty. I believe there is magic in everything around us, but we don't call it that anymore. Most of the modern world does not see it.
You see it with the eye, Liz, and I read it with the eye. There's a special magic in written words, and (like you) I am always peering into the text to see how the magician did it--trying to spot her favorite illusory tricks, the way she creates, how I feel about it. And yes! It's very hard to shift from part back to whole.
And when you factor in a Khat with past lives it gets exciting. Lots to think about here. I also thought of the tree spirits in the Potter stories - it’s perfectly obvious to me that they exist 😁
At last I found time to khatch up with Khat! Love it ❤️ Yes, got the significance of the Birkett house, registered the friend and wondered how she’d work her way in - didn’t expect it to be trapped under a beam 😁 Morgana is brilliant (as an Arthurian, definitely got that), also the T.S. Eliot/Cats. Do see the delicacy of introducing Gilly into life in Pecan Springs - she and Ruby might be suspicious of each other, for instance, or being an alien in more ways than one could create tension. Lots of fun possibilities - look forward to seeing where this goes. Have no problem with thinking animals, having lived with multiple critters all my life. Or past lives. Run with it!
Lynne, you hit it on the nail, and said it better than I could. Animals and people often have the most incredible connections . Did you ever read the "The Water Babies" I can't remember who wrote it, about the Chimney Sweep boy ? Then there is" Wind in the Willows" another story where the animal world interacts with the human. Wonderful stuff!
Ah, Liz and Lynne--WATER BABIES (Charles Kingsley) is an incredible book and a major influence on the Cottage Tales (as was WIND IN THE WILLOWS). Kingsley was an early supporter of Darwin, recognizing that species are mutable and that even our species has evolved and continues to evolve (hence Tom's "evolution"). There's a free copy of the novel here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/25564/25564-h/25564-h.htm And some interesting comments on the Darwin connection here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Water-Babies,_A_Fairy_Tale_for_a_Land_Baby.
That Wiki entry quotes my favorite Huxley line: "There are some people who see a great deal and some who see very little in the same things."
Indeed, I agree with that, I'll have a peek at the sites, now Darwin was an interesting person and like many of his time was interested by the "Other worlds" I have never forgotten the Water Babies and I read it when I was about 10 or 11 years old.
Yes, Water Babies (Charles Kingsley) was a childhood favourite, and of course Wind in the Willows. Selkies are fascinating though malevolent at times - but why should their world be any different than ours? (Spellcheck changed that to ‘selfies’!) Shape shifting is also intriguing and definitely a witch thing. We had a great-aunt always referred to as Auntie Spooks who was prone to ‘see’ things, read tealeaves and so on; she lived with her sister whose right hand was a hook, result of an industrial accident. Perfectly normal 😁
Love "Auntie Spooks," Lynne, and her sister, too. Isn't life marvelous? We can't make this stuff up! I read this note after I wrote the comment on WATER BABIES. That wonderful book was never as popular in America as it was in England. I might not have read it myself as a child, but was introduced to it by my Granny, a British immigrant, who insisted that I read the English children's classics. Lucky me!
English Children's classics were essential reading as gifts for Christmas from Grandparents and Aunts. I still have most of mine and have passed a few onto the children. including my Bertrix Potter stories (don't think I've spelt that correctly)
Those are among the greatest gifts we can give children (IMO)--not just the books themselves but passing along the pleasure of reading wonderful books. All too soon, they'll have to sort out the media noise,.
Somehow I knew you'd khatch those allusions, Lynne. Yes, a bit of a rub with Ruby--and/or maybe Ramona?--might spin up a few fireworks. I'm interested in outsider/liminal characters, and there's nothing more liminal than a witch with past lives.
When I was working on that series, Nancy, I didn't think of it as "magical realism"--in fact, I'm not even sure that term was used for literature (as it was for painting) in the late 1990s, when I first began thinking about it. I just wanted to hear those animals talk--and not just Beatrix's animals, but the animals of the woods and fields. And then they had stories to tell, which led to . . . Well, you know. 💚
LOVE THIS. Of course I LOVED your "Cottage Tales" immensely and particularly because the animals were contributing characters (the stuff about Beatrix Potter was also interesting, of course). But I loved the Badger sett with the library and kitchen staffed by rabbits and the dragon and the owl. So I would love Khat becoming a real character (along with Gilly). I've taken in cats and dogs all my life. Some came to ME and of course I took them in. I've had adventures with them, always talked to them and naturally they talked to me in one way or another. Sigh...
The Cottage Tale animals were an imaginative breakthrough for me, as a writer. I'm like China, very linear and practice-centered. Writing about Beatrix's creative work inspired me to do things I hadn't expected. I'll always be grateful to her for that--and even for that dragon. 😊 So we'll see how Khat and Gilly get on. Just not sure when. Life is complicated. (As you know . . .)
Yes, I have always seen The Cottage Tales as a real departure for you in many ways. The Tales followed the life of one person - a real historical person - but the introduction of those animals as speaking, contributing characters, wearing vests (the need for pockets came into play - ha ha), carrying books around, were so wonderful they somehow LIFTED the life of Beatrix Potter in that village to a new plane. It was as if SHE was somehow transported to a world where HER animal inventions lived. It was brilliant.
Yes, I know how complicated life that get. May a badger - or dragon - come along to help you on your way!!
My family’s animals have always talked to us(most of the time using our voices)! We know their character and they know ours! So of course I loved your Cottage series and the Cat Who books as well as Rita Mae Brown’s series. I think adding Khat and Gilly to your China series would be brilliant!
I think there's a lot more interspecies communication going on than scientists know anything about, Cynthia. Bill and I spend a lot of time in conversation with Molly, the heeler who lives with us. As you say, our animals know us very well. Thanks for the encouragement to go in that direction!
More please! Khat and Gilly will always be welcome in my book! (See what I did there. 🤗) I think Texas and the US could use a magical cat or two, not to mention an herbal hedgewitch! Certainly, Ruby will not be surprised that China has a bit of ESP going for her, as well. How ever the new stories are told, I am all for your use of allusion via the Internet to enlighten the reader!!!! Fabulous use of the medium! (Old Marshall McLuhan and Buckminster Fuller fan here.) 🤩
Isn't it great to be old enough to remember Marshall McLuhan? 😉 And wouldn't he love to be around now, when the media ARE the messages in many more ways than he guessed? These days, I'm thinking of print as *flat,* with only the power of the words on the page (plus the reader's imagination). This richer mode has far more potential. I can see that you appreciate that, Sandy, and thank you!
Yes more, please
Ha Ha! yes it was an interesting early life, but sadly I was only allowed lemonade and Crisps (chips)
Would you believe it is right! I thank you for those lovely memories, /the East End as it was called in London was a rough area, Docks and slums, open markets and of course Petty Coat Lane which was a market that sold everything and anything you wanted you just had to give "the nod "as they say.
In those days (late '50s) children were allowed in the Public Houses, in a special room, so I had quite the education . Sawdust on the floor, Dockers singing and a mad piano player The Pub was called the Bunch of Grapes and I have never forgotten it. Thanks again.
Liz, thank you for this glimpse of a long-ago London we'll never get to visit. I can only imagine a little Elizabeth, perched on a stool in the children's corner, listening to dockers singling along with a mad piano player and maybe even nibbling on a few jellied eels. Lovely!
Oh Lynne - I re-read your comment today and giggled, about the "perfectly normal Auntie with a hook. My Father ,a true Cockney, loved the street food Jellied eels. Sometimes he would take me and Mom down to the Isle of Dogs an area on the Thames (now long gone I think) where the docks and warehouses were. He would enjoy a small cup of eels from the stall, then I think to amuse me) would pop the bones in the paper cup in the top pocket of his jacket. Mom was horrified and always told him off making him throw them away. I remember the stall was called Tubby Issacs, is'nt it strange how these things stay in your memory. A late thought, perhaps your Aunt was good at crochet ha !
Liz, would you BELIEVE? https://spitalfieldslife.com/2013/06/13/so-long-tubby-isaacs-jellied-eel-stall/ Ah, the magic of the internet!!!
A delightful tale of Khat and Gilly. I for one did not get the allusion - but then again I have a different educational background than many others. Reading these tales is a pleasure - I still spend a significant amount of my time on the internet, researching ... so I prefer to be swept away with the tale rather than pause to do research. I suspected, since Khat was to be a "hero," that he had to "save" someone. The most likely person was the one moving into the old house.
Characters that are "beyond human" are often why I enjoy science fiction as well.
Gilly brought back to mind the Aunt Dimity series; animal characters bring to mind Rita Mae Brown's Sneaky Pie series and her Sister Jane series. Sister Jane's interactions with her horses almost ease my life-long terror of them. The animals reflect and provide insight into human dynamics.
While my current dog companion cannot "speak," she certainly knows my moods, responds to my needs, is lways by my side and makes me smile.
As for magic, I don't know ....
So right Susan, it can be a bit daunting at times - I can be talking to someone and in my minds eye I am looking at the shape of their face, the colour of their skin how their eyes are shaped, and in painting you have to get the eyes right -expression is everything.
Exactly. It's the sum of the small things--viewers/readers see the whole, artists/writers the parts. Sometimes the most miniscule.
I absolutely adored this story and would love to see Gilly and Khat have more adventures with China and Ruby of course.
Thank you so much for this story! I am thoroughly enchanted with Khat and all of your cohorts in Pecan Springs. I love the visual scenery your words produce, including almost being able to smell the smells. You are a treasure.
Thank you, Karen. I count myself lucky to have readers who indulge my fantasies!
Oh I did like the story of Khat, and yes I am all for magical realism . Particularly shape shifting which of course, every self respecting Witch is supposed to be able to do, field Hares, anybody ?Selkies (Seal people). I am slowly working on a Children's illustrated book about these interesting but lethal creatures. We shall see where it goes. Despite my Christian beliefs I have had some strange experiences which lead me to believe there are unknown quantities in this world that are unexplainable. After all my Grandmother on my Father's side was a Seer So what can you expect. But I gave all that up when Christ called. I now only use some of my past life as reference for my stories.
Whatever sparks our creativity and opens our minds and our hearts to new understandings is sacred to me, Liz. And I believe (with you) that we humans are aware of only the smallest glimpse of the many magical intersections that shape our worlds.
One of the hardest things I find about being a painter and lover of illustration work is I can never look at anything as a whole, I am always seeking shape colour and form and that little spark that turns a face into something special or a leaf into beauty. I believe there is magic in everything around us, but we don't call it that anymore. Most of the modern world does not see it.
You see it with the eye, Liz, and I read it with the eye. There's a special magic in written words, and (like you) I am always peering into the text to see how the magician did it--trying to spot her favorite illusory tricks, the way she creates, how I feel about it. And yes! It's very hard to shift from part back to whole.
And when you factor in a Khat with past lives it gets exciting. Lots to think about here. I also thought of the tree spirits in the Potter stories - it’s perfectly obvious to me that they exist 😁
At last I found time to khatch up with Khat! Love it ❤️ Yes, got the significance of the Birkett house, registered the friend and wondered how she’d work her way in - didn’t expect it to be trapped under a beam 😁 Morgana is brilliant (as an Arthurian, definitely got that), also the T.S. Eliot/Cats. Do see the delicacy of introducing Gilly into life in Pecan Springs - she and Ruby might be suspicious of each other, for instance, or being an alien in more ways than one could create tension. Lots of fun possibilities - look forward to seeing where this goes. Have no problem with thinking animals, having lived with multiple critters all my life. Or past lives. Run with it!
Lynne, you hit it on the nail, and said it better than I could. Animals and people often have the most incredible connections . Did you ever read the "The Water Babies" I can't remember who wrote it, about the Chimney Sweep boy ? Then there is" Wind in the Willows" another story where the animal world interacts with the human. Wonderful stuff!
Ah, Liz and Lynne--WATER BABIES (Charles Kingsley) is an incredible book and a major influence on the Cottage Tales (as was WIND IN THE WILLOWS). Kingsley was an early supporter of Darwin, recognizing that species are mutable and that even our species has evolved and continues to evolve (hence Tom's "evolution"). There's a free copy of the novel here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/25564/25564-h/25564-h.htm And some interesting comments on the Darwin connection here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Water-Babies,_A_Fairy_Tale_for_a_Land_Baby.
That Wiki entry quotes my favorite Huxley line: "There are some people who see a great deal and some who see very little in the same things."
Indeed, I agree with that, I'll have a peek at the sites, now Darwin was an interesting person and like many of his time was interested by the "Other worlds" I have never forgotten the Water Babies and I read it when I was about 10 or 11 years old.
I had a quick peek at the e-book and had forgotten how wonderfully Kingsley writes.
He has such a comfortable, favorite-uncle voice (in this book), quite apart from his politics.
Yes, Water Babies (Charles Kingsley) was a childhood favourite, and of course Wind in the Willows. Selkies are fascinating though malevolent at times - but why should their world be any different than ours? (Spellcheck changed that to ‘selfies’!) Shape shifting is also intriguing and definitely a witch thing. We had a great-aunt always referred to as Auntie Spooks who was prone to ‘see’ things, read tealeaves and so on; she lived with her sister whose right hand was a hook, result of an industrial accident. Perfectly normal 😁
Lynne I liked your comments on the Selkies I think we all know of present day real world folk who like to lure people onto the rocks
Hi Lynne, I liked the Secret garden too. I smiles at your note about your Great Aunt. Seems we all have "someone special" in our families
The Secret Garden is another top fave children’s book - plants, gardening and acceptance of life as it is.
Agree--have you read her bio? There's a decent short version here
Longer, but you might have to get it via interlibrary loan: https://www.amazon.com/Frances-Hodgson-Burnett-Unexpected-Author-ebook/dp/B0013IDD3Y/ref=sr_1_1 An eventful life for a woman of her era. She was enabled by her writing career (NOT by her choice of husbands). 🙄
No, that’s good to know! Do enjoy biographies!
Thanks for that, Susan 😍
Love "Auntie Spooks," Lynne, and her sister, too. Isn't life marvelous? We can't make this stuff up! I read this note after I wrote the comment on WATER BABIES. That wonderful book was never as popular in America as it was in England. I might not have read it myself as a child, but was introduced to it by my Granny, a British immigrant, who insisted that I read the English children's classics. Lucky me!
English Children's classics were essential reading as gifts for Christmas from Grandparents and Aunts. I still have most of mine and have passed a few onto the children. including my Bertrix Potter stories (don't think I've spelt that correctly)
Those are among the greatest gifts we can give children (IMO)--not just the books themselves but passing along the pleasure of reading wonderful books. All too soon, they'll have to sort out the media noise,.
Somehow I knew you'd khatch those allusions, Lynne. Yes, a bit of a rub with Ruby--and/or maybe Ramona?--might spin up a few fireworks. I'm interested in outsider/liminal characters, and there's nothing more liminal than a witch with past lives.
I love magical realism, which is probably why your Cottage Tales are some of my favorites. More from Khat and Gilly, please!
When I was working on that series, Nancy, I didn't think of it as "magical realism"--in fact, I'm not even sure that term was used for literature (as it was for painting) in the late 1990s, when I first began thinking about it. I just wanted to hear those animals talk--and not just Beatrix's animals, but the animals of the woods and fields. And then they had stories to tell, which led to . . . Well, you know. 💚
Another wonderful read!! I so enjoy your books and stories and look forward to whatever you write!
I am very much looking forward to the story installments for May! Thank you again for your wonderful storytelling!
Thank you, Judy. Love having this closer connection to readers. You are very much appreciated!
Loved Khat's adventures Susan, I am sure he can get himself into even more adventures!!
LOVE THIS. Of course I LOVED your "Cottage Tales" immensely and particularly because the animals were contributing characters (the stuff about Beatrix Potter was also interesting, of course). But I loved the Badger sett with the library and kitchen staffed by rabbits and the dragon and the owl. So I would love Khat becoming a real character (along with Gilly). I've taken in cats and dogs all my life. Some came to ME and of course I took them in. I've had adventures with them, always talked to them and naturally they talked to me in one way or another. Sigh...
The Cottage Tale animals were an imaginative breakthrough for me, as a writer. I'm like China, very linear and practice-centered. Writing about Beatrix's creative work inspired me to do things I hadn't expected. I'll always be grateful to her for that--and even for that dragon. 😊 So we'll see how Khat and Gilly get on. Just not sure when. Life is complicated. (As you know . . .)
Yes, I have always seen The Cottage Tales as a real departure for you in many ways. The Tales followed the life of one person - a real historical person - but the introduction of those animals as speaking, contributing characters, wearing vests (the need for pockets came into play - ha ha), carrying books around, were so wonderful they somehow LIFTED the life of Beatrix Potter in that village to a new plane. It was as if SHE was somehow transported to a world where HER animal inventions lived. It was brilliant.
Yes, I know how complicated life that get. May a badger - or dragon - come along to help you on your way!!
Certainly looking for that beneficent dragon this week. Hope he brings a satellite dish. No internet!!!
WOW! Hope the problem is fixed soon!!
Still waiting but expecting a tech on Monday. Frustrating.
My family’s animals have always talked to us(most of the time using our voices)! We know their character and they know ours! So of course I loved your Cottage series and the Cat Who books as well as Rita Mae Brown’s series. I think adding Khat and Gilly to your China series would be brilliant!
I think there's a lot more interspecies communication going on than scientists know anything about, Cynthia. Bill and I spend a lot of time in conversation with Molly, the heeler who lives with us. As you say, our animals know us very well. Thanks for the encouragement to go in that direction!
More please! Khat and Gilly will always be welcome in my book! (See what I did there. 🤗) I think Texas and the US could use a magical cat or two, not to mention an herbal hedgewitch! Certainly, Ruby will not be surprised that China has a bit of ESP going for her, as well. How ever the new stories are told, I am all for your use of allusion via the Internet to enlighten the reader!!!! Fabulous use of the medium! (Old Marshall McLuhan and Buckminster Fuller fan here.) 🤩
Isn't it great to be old enough to remember Marshall McLuhan? 😉 And wouldn't he love to be around now, when the media ARE the messages in many more ways than he guessed? These days, I'm thinking of print as *flat,* with only the power of the words on the page (plus the reader's imagination). This richer mode has far more potential. I can see that you appreciate that, Sandy, and thank you!
Love seeing how easily you are keeping up with the times and bringing us along, too! ✨🥰