Tuesday, August 20, 2013

At Large Among The Dreaming Spires


What's this you say? Mollybawn? Who is she, who's been absent so long from these pages? She's having a completely lazy few days and thought she'd drop in here to report that she is alive and very well, and to see what you're all up to.

She has been wandering in the UK, sleeping in a variety of beds, enjoying the company of a vast variety of hospitable people more or less related to her, or to those she loves.  She's woken many mornings to the sound of the rooster calling lie-a-beds, such as herself, to order, and  kept up with the high jinks of a four year old steam engine enthusiast, who could run rings around her with the detailed knowledge he has of said engines. She has shared with his baby sister a fascination with the guinea fowl who roam around his (other) grandparents' farm, and eaten vegetables and eggs grown there that couldn't be fresher if she got down on hands and knees and ate them off the vines, or staked out the broody hens in the chicken coop. Once in a while she's even caught a fleeting glimpse of the OC and Britboy. But best of all, she's had lots of cuddle time with that beautiful baby girl.

There's also an unconfirmed report circulating that she huffed and puffed her way to the top of a mountain in Wales. It may just be a wild rumor, but you know what they say ---"No smoke without a fire." And she is, after all, the acknowledged conqueror of Croagh Patrick.

The same Mollybawn has been spotted roaming around downtown Oxford; gasping in awe at the beautiful architecture and the plantings and flowers in the various college gardens; marveling at the multitude of spires soaring up around her; nipping in occasionally to the quiet oasis of a chapel to silently give thanks for her many blessings; soaking up the history and stories of the place like one who's been lost in the desert; she's been seen strolling in the town's beautiful Botanic Gardens and been swallowed up in marvelous bookstores where she's had to remind herself that the very same books causing temptation are also available at home, without the weight and bother of carrying them there.

She has taken hundreds, nay, thousands, of photos which she promises to organize as soon as she gets home, even though she has yet to organize the collection from last summer, but optimism is key. It will get done.

As for "morning pages," mention them and her brow knits in puzzlement. Her memory is extremely short, like the tail of a Manx cat, and just as there is no hope that such a cat will ever grow a longer tail, there is little or no hope of her memory improving. But perhaps, when she returns to her natural habitat, the familiarity of the surroundings might jog her memory and she'll start up with Julia once again.

What England is this she wonders? Where the skies are blue and the sun shines all day? Her mind is awash with roosters and chickens, guinea fowl with their beautiful feathers and hare-brained ways, groaning baskets of home grown vegetables, Pippa the pig, all grown up from babyhood last summer, a quartet of black pigs obligingly lined up for a photo shoot; a small herd of woolly sheep, led by Riley the ram of impressive hornage, and two very territorial geese.....

Like those geese, she needs someone to gabble with.....And, as luck would have it, the Little Blister will be showing up in a couple of days. Ah Bliss! That Mollybawn, whoever she is, is one lucky lady.



17 comments:

Gillie said...

Well....about time too, we are leaving for the small island tomorrow!, missed you, don't leave it so long next time! Morning pages, you've lost me?

molly said...

You'd have to have read the last one Gillie!

Elephant's Child said...

Welcome back. You have been missed but I am so very glad to hear that your days have been full of love, magic and beauty.

Ali Honey said...

Good , you are having a wonderful time. That's how it should be!

dianne said...

excellent!!! Mollybawn is exactly where she needs to be!!!

Thimbleanna said...

Yay!! You made it to the UK! (Did you manage to meet Isabelle?) It sounds like you had a wonderful time. Will we be seeing any pictures???

persiflage said...

What an interesting and enjoyable post, after such a long time between drinks. I am so glad your trip has been so wonderful, and long enough to give ample time to all the varied things you do. looking forward to some photos and to more reports. Photos, however wonderful, cannot replace the written word.

Relatively Retiring said...

Aaww, shame. We could have wandered around those botanic gardens together - and even had a punt!

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Oh, I loved reading this.
What a wonderful tima and now
continued memories.
Wish I could do
but alas
I just do not want to leave
my cottage..

Julie's Journey said...

You are missed when you go AWOL dear person. One of the best blogs I read. Always brings a smile to my face.

Pam said...

I'm still thinking we could maybe meet in the middle somewhere... but now you've got Blister so I suppose you won't have time. Sigh. Have fun with her anyway!

David Oliver said...

Really terrific! I'm late as usual getting here but glad I checked in. I'm a great believer in there's no place like home but you have done a very good job of convincing me otherwise. :)

I have a dozen little guineas myself now. They are great little birds - a pure joy to have around.

Dee said...

Dear Molly, truly you are one blessed human being. You are surrounded with nature and family and history and the wonder of simply being there. Enjoy and let Julia Cameron and her artist's way sit on your kitchen counter, awaiting your re-entrance into those morning pages. You'll begin anew and find your thoughts growing into ideas for postings and for growth in the human spirit. Peace.

Wisewebwoman said...

Just got back from the wilds of West Cork myself and could have written your post...
XO
WWW

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

As a similarly engaged Visiting Relation , I can testify to the beneficial effect of small grandchild cuuddling this summer . Mind you , I'd have prefered wrestling with a model train or two . I was left to demonstrate a pathetic inability to air-guitar to the six year old ... and as for Street Dancing !

Pauline said...

How much longer will you be there? Sounds marvelous, every bit of it! Leave no chickens unturned ;)

jkhenson said...

Yes, I continue to love your writing!! :)