A sleeping life
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Cottage tales, Wildlife | 5 comments
Photo: Sleeping Hare copyright Celia Hart
A year or so ago I visited Celia Hart’s Open Studio – the one and only Magic Cochin of Purple Podded Peas. There on the wall was a wonderful print of a hare asleep in a burrow.
“I know that I would sleep so soundly with that hanging beside the bed.”
But I was skint and couldn’t afford the print.
I often thought about that print. Especially when I couldn’t sleep. Just thinking about it helped me drift off.
A few weeks ago a mysterious parcel dropped through the letterbox. Celia had sent me a book and a card. It was a card of the sleeping hare print that I had fallen in love with. Within minutes I’d framed the card and propped it on the bookshelves beside my bed. The book – The Road Home by Rose Tremain kept me up late, fighting sleep. I fact I was anchored to my bed until it was finished. A wonderful, shocking and absorbing book.
There was nearly a disaster with the precious card. I had put it on the garden table for Seraphina to see went she dropped by. After she’d gone I went upstairs for a rest and was woken with the sound of heavy rain. I rushed into the garden and grabbed the frame. Back in the kitchen I examined the damage, water was just beginning to soak the edges of the card. The paper was such good quality that I could just wipe the water away.
Since then the framed card has remained in the bedroom. A comforting and magical sleeping draft.
Leave a reply
I never thanked you for this post and the lovely
print I get to look at everyday.
Thank you!
Hi Cathy
It has given me so much during the past few weeks.
Hello Jane
Yes I was so lucky that it didn’t get ruined. Thanks for dropping by.
Hi Casalba
Celia is so talented. I love her work.
Just love it! What a talent. (Nearly risked sounding pretentious by going into some amateur art appreciation spiel – but decided against it. I will say again, though: love it, love it.)
Its beautiful. Thank goodness it didn’t get ruined in the rain.
Love Jane xxx
That print is heartbreakingly wonderful. I can understand how you carried it in your heart and remembered it as you did.