It's lovely to see you settling in - perfectly in the flow - your beautiful book lined study, in the smallest room of the house, seems to be woven together with the tidy magic of a robin's nest! Can you hear the lovely river Eden through your study window? What a place to dream and create!
This is lovely; it sounds like you are in a breathtaking country. The description made me curious, so I looked up Lady Anne Clifford; what an interesting lady! The books sound wonderful, and I enjoyed the poem at the end very much.
As an exiled Northerner now living in London, reading these words prompted some deep reflection on home and ancestors. Thankyou, and congratulations on arriving in your new (old) home.
Apr 6, 2023·edited Apr 6, 2023Liked by Dr Sharon Blackie
"But what is most interesting to me, in the short time we’ve been here, is an immediate and all-encompassing sense of being at home. . . An absolute sense of belonging. . . Everything here makes sense to me, for the first time, I think, in all those decades. Much as I’ve loved many of the other places I’ve lived . . . I’ve never really felt that instant sense of being known by the land, and by the people. That sense of being held by ancestors"
These words in particular speak very deeply to me and articulate my own sense of belonging and a feeling of 'rightness' that comes whenever I visit the place where I grew up - the east coast of Newfoundland, an island province on the Atlantic coast of Canada. Thank you for putting into words something I've known deep in my body and soul.
What loveliness this new post brings us, Dr Sharon! As you describe settling into home-country that recognises you, a quiet joy of mind and heart emerges, purling through your words like bubbling ripples deep in a spring brook. So suits the awakening season -- and nudges me to shake a lazy leg and step toward renewal soooon ... . A seed is planted. Thank you.
It sounds wonderful and magical; I’m so glad that the experience is unfolding that way. The sense of coming home, or being at home, in a place is special indeed. And how great to have that expansive viewscape to enrich your writing. Seeing the river - delightful!
Dearest Sharon! My heart leapt as I read the details of your new place. I felt and recognize the labor of creating a new space. Of feeling called home by the magic in the landscape. Of surprise and delight, as one goes to bed with a sense of enchantment. How the body speaks to us, after engaging the task of it all. Cheers!!! Your new home is exquisitely beautiful!!! :)
There's nothing better than feeling at home after moving. Oh, and to have a river nearby is such a gift! Enjoy your new home and surroundings, Sharon! I'm certain you will. :) 🏠
That office, it is itself magical. I love the wall covering it makes the space seem so cozy and den like and with that view, oh you have landed in a place of magic! I cannot wait for your next book as the subject matter is so close to my own heart! Welcome home Sharon, may you have many peace filled days in such a land of enchantment!
I had the same sense of home-coming when we moved here 6 years ago (a small Lincolnshire village similar to the one I grew up in, and couldn't wait to escape, all those years ago). As I wrote in my journal at the time 'Oh, I know how to BE here', after living on various continents in the intervening decades.
What a view through your window! How will you ever get any work done?!
Wonderful! I read that Mallerstang Valley is ‘among England’s few remaining wild and peaceful places. David Bellamy described this general area as “England’s last Wilderness”. ‘
Sounds rather enchanting to say the least! That’s exciting!
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! You are just over the hills from us and in one of our favourite spots. So close to the utterly fabulous Long Meg and her daughters (a lovely welcoming circle) and Castlerigg which I find much more dragonish and daunting but definitely worth a visit. If you are visiting Long Meg then the hermits cave is a lovely place to visit carved out of the red rock in the woodland above the river and Kennedy’s chocolatiers at Orton make possibly the best chocolates in the world…..
It's lovely to see you settling in - perfectly in the flow - your beautiful book lined study, in the smallest room of the house, seems to be woven together with the tidy magic of a robin's nest! Can you hear the lovely river Eden through your study window? What a place to dream and create!
Many blessings for happy years of writing to come
This is lovely; it sounds like you are in a breathtaking country. The description made me curious, so I looked up Lady Anne Clifford; what an interesting lady! The books sound wonderful, and I enjoyed the poem at the end very much.
As an exiled Northerner now living in London, reading these words prompted some deep reflection on home and ancestors. Thankyou, and congratulations on arriving in your new (old) home.
Oh that sense of belonging, there’s nothing like it. I’m so glad for you Sharon. And the Waterstones moment gave me such joy to read :-)
That has to be one of the most lyrical and evocative local pamphlets I’ve ever heard of! Just lovely.
"But what is most interesting to me, in the short time we’ve been here, is an immediate and all-encompassing sense of being at home. . . An absolute sense of belonging. . . Everything here makes sense to me, for the first time, I think, in all those decades. Much as I’ve loved many of the other places I’ve lived . . . I’ve never really felt that instant sense of being known by the land, and by the people. That sense of being held by ancestors"
These words in particular speak very deeply to me and articulate my own sense of belonging and a feeling of 'rightness' that comes whenever I visit the place where I grew up - the east coast of Newfoundland, an island province on the Atlantic coast of Canada. Thank you for putting into words something I've known deep in my body and soul.
What loveliness this new post brings us, Dr Sharon! As you describe settling into home-country that recognises you, a quiet joy of mind and heart emerges, purling through your words like bubbling ripples deep in a spring brook. So suits the awakening season -- and nudges me to shake a lazy leg and step toward renewal soooon ... . A seed is planted. Thank you.
It sounds wonderful and magical; I’m so glad that the experience is unfolding that way. The sense of coming home, or being at home, in a place is special indeed. And how great to have that expansive viewscape to enrich your writing. Seeing the river - delightful!
Thank you Sharon. Am so happy that you feel home now. Love the pictures you’ve shared! I’ve read stories about this castle.
Dearest Sharon! My heart leapt as I read the details of your new place. I felt and recognize the labor of creating a new space. Of feeling called home by the magic in the landscape. Of surprise and delight, as one goes to bed with a sense of enchantment. How the body speaks to us, after engaging the task of it all. Cheers!!! Your new home is exquisitely beautiful!!! :)
There's nothing better than feeling at home after moving. Oh, and to have a river nearby is such a gift! Enjoy your new home and surroundings, Sharon! I'm certain you will. :) 🏠
So lovely to see your magical view, thank you for sharing!
May you and these beautiful lands be mutually nourished as you re-member together.
That office, it is itself magical. I love the wall covering it makes the space seem so cozy and den like and with that view, oh you have landed in a place of magic! I cannot wait for your next book as the subject matter is so close to my own heart! Welcome home Sharon, may you have many peace filled days in such a land of enchantment!
I had the same sense of home-coming when we moved here 6 years ago (a small Lincolnshire village similar to the one I grew up in, and couldn't wait to escape, all those years ago). As I wrote in my journal at the time 'Oh, I know how to BE here', after living on various continents in the intervening decades.
What a view through your window! How will you ever get any work done?!
And thank you for the poem :)
Wonderful! I read that Mallerstang Valley is ‘among England’s few remaining wild and peaceful places. David Bellamy described this general area as “England’s last Wilderness”. ‘
Sounds rather enchanting to say the least! That’s exciting!
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! You are just over the hills from us and in one of our favourite spots. So close to the utterly fabulous Long Meg and her daughters (a lovely welcoming circle) and Castlerigg which I find much more dragonish and daunting but definitely worth a visit. If you are visiting Long Meg then the hermits cave is a lovely place to visit carved out of the red rock in the woodland above the river and Kennedy’s chocolatiers at Orton make possibly the best chocolates in the world…..