Order Only: Here at the Sanctuary
Sep. 4th, 2009 11:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_mollyBeing at Moddey Dhoo is wonderful! It seems strange that such a busy place could seem so relaxing, but it was just what I needed. Alice, thank you so much for inviting me.
It's been over a year since my last visit, and I am so impressed with all the changes. First and foremost, of course, are the new people who have joined since the last time I was here: Stephen and Laura McGivern, John Turner and his young brother Alec, as well as the newer members of the nursery that Arthur and Frank have taken from the camps. And dear little Kevin Longbottom, who is certainly thriving. And of course the other big news is the new wands! Sirius, you would be so proud, seeing how hard Alec and Colin are working to learn their spells. They know that they are very, very fortunate indeed to have them, and never take them for granted in the least. Alec especially is showing a particular aptitude for Charms, I think. (I worried whether the children who were slightly younger would be jealous, but no—there are still a few wands from the last batch that will be assigned as the children grow. And they have a touching and unshakeable faith that the famous Sirius Black will of course provide them all with their very own new wands when they are old enough. Consider yourself warned.)
The first task as soon as I arrived was setting up the hives, at the corner of the green by the gatehouse. I brought three newly hatched queens, along with their hives and drones, and all of the gear. The children were ever so excited. (Fortunately, no one has been stung yet, which I can't help but think might temper their enthusiasm a bit.) They showed me the essays Judith has had them write, all about the properties of royal jelly and honey, techniques and history of beekeeping, the anatomy of bees—I learned quite a bit reading them, rather to my surprise! (Alice says that they found a cache of books on the subject in the island’s old abandoned library, in Peel Village.) Danny will be the one who will mostly be in charge of caring for the hives, although the children will take turns helping as part of their daily chores.
Then we were off for a tour. I duly admired the goats and exchanged tips with Danny on keeping chickens productively laying. They are very pleased with the new waterpump, which is powered by the children pushing a muggle play device, called a 'merry-go-round,' in a circle. I saw the room that's been renovated into the new second classroom, and then spent several happy hours in the kitchen, helping Victor reorganise the pots and pans bin and the pantry shelves to make the layout more efficient. I also scrubbed a layer of grease off the immensely old cast-iron stove (what with the never-ending work the poor man has, preparing meals three times a day for so many hungry people, he rarely has the time to spare for deep-cleaning like that). He was delighted with the large batch of baking powder I'd gotten through my barter network this week and brought along. I also brought a number of new recipes, for ingredients I know they usually have on hand, and Victor has promised to make some of Arthur's favourite apple crumble as soon as the apple harvest comes in.
I've tried to grab a few moments with each of the children. The youngest ones don't remember me from last time and are shy at first, but a new face is such a novelty that pretty soon they are vying for my attention and to sit on my lap. Colin showed me his latest work in his sketch book. He really is growing into quite a talented artist. I'm glad I sent him that book on drawing. I must remember to send him more parchment. Louis Barton reminds me so much of my own boys, with his shock of bright red hair and freckles. (I understood he took quite a shine to Bill when Bill was visiting, because it was the first time he'd ever seen anyone else with red hair.)
Lucinda proudly showed off the nursery. It seems odd that now that all my chicks are out of the nest I would even want to change a nappy or wipe spit-up ever again, but the instant I picked up Charlotte, all the years rolled back, and I spent a very happy hour rocking and cuddling her. Alice says that babies are good for the soul, and I certainly believe it's true.
I must go; little Felicia and Freddy are tugging at my sleeve. An expedition out with the boat has been proposed. We’re going to go check the lobster and crab traps, and then perhaps have a walk along the beach, looking for mussels. All this fresh seafood is marvelous.
It's been over a year since my last visit, and I am so impressed with all the changes. First and foremost, of course, are the new people who have joined since the last time I was here: Stephen and Laura McGivern, John Turner and his young brother Alec, as well as the newer members of the nursery that Arthur and Frank have taken from the camps. And dear little Kevin Longbottom, who is certainly thriving. And of course the other big news is the new wands! Sirius, you would be so proud, seeing how hard Alec and Colin are working to learn their spells. They know that they are very, very fortunate indeed to have them, and never take them for granted in the least. Alec especially is showing a particular aptitude for Charms, I think. (I worried whether the children who were slightly younger would be jealous, but no—there are still a few wands from the last batch that will be assigned as the children grow. And they have a touching and unshakeable faith that the famous Sirius Black will of course provide them all with their very own new wands when they are old enough. Consider yourself warned.)
The first task as soon as I arrived was setting up the hives, at the corner of the green by the gatehouse. I brought three newly hatched queens, along with their hives and drones, and all of the gear. The children were ever so excited. (Fortunately, no one has been stung yet, which I can't help but think might temper their enthusiasm a bit.) They showed me the essays Judith has had them write, all about the properties of royal jelly and honey, techniques and history of beekeeping, the anatomy of bees—I learned quite a bit reading them, rather to my surprise! (Alice says that they found a cache of books on the subject in the island’s old abandoned library, in Peel Village.) Danny will be the one who will mostly be in charge of caring for the hives, although the children will take turns helping as part of their daily chores.
Then we were off for a tour. I duly admired the goats and exchanged tips with Danny on keeping chickens productively laying. They are very pleased with the new waterpump, which is powered by the children pushing a muggle play device, called a 'merry-go-round,' in a circle. I saw the room that's been renovated into the new second classroom, and then spent several happy hours in the kitchen, helping Victor reorganise the pots and pans bin and the pantry shelves to make the layout more efficient. I also scrubbed a layer of grease off the immensely old cast-iron stove (what with the never-ending work the poor man has, preparing meals three times a day for so many hungry people, he rarely has the time to spare for deep-cleaning like that). He was delighted with the large batch of baking powder I'd gotten through my barter network this week and brought along. I also brought a number of new recipes, for ingredients I know they usually have on hand, and Victor has promised to make some of Arthur's favourite apple crumble as soon as the apple harvest comes in.
I've tried to grab a few moments with each of the children. The youngest ones don't remember me from last time and are shy at first, but a new face is such a novelty that pretty soon they are vying for my attention and to sit on my lap. Colin showed me his latest work in his sketch book. He really is growing into quite a talented artist. I'm glad I sent him that book on drawing. I must remember to send him more parchment. Louis Barton reminds me so much of my own boys, with his shock of bright red hair and freckles. (I understood he took quite a shine to Bill when Bill was visiting, because it was the first time he'd ever seen anyone else with red hair.)
Lucinda proudly showed off the nursery. It seems odd that now that all my chicks are out of the nest I would even want to change a nappy or wipe spit-up ever again, but the instant I picked up Charlotte, all the years rolled back, and I spent a very happy hour rocking and cuddling her. Alice says that babies are good for the soul, and I certainly believe it's true.
I must go; little Felicia and Freddy are tugging at my sleeve. An expedition out with the boat has been proposed. We’re going to go check the lobster and crab traps, and then perhaps have a walk along the beach, looking for mussels. All this fresh seafood is marvelous.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-04 07:16 pm (UTC)I envy you the seafood and all the rest of it. But especially the lovely fresh food! It's been a bit of a re-adjustment to return to our rather limited fare here at the castle. Not that there's any shortage of it, and the elves do a remarkable job, but I can't bear to think what we'll face on our plates once the gardens give up the ghost and we're left with transfigured turnips and beets.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-04 08:04 pm (UTC)They do stuggle so, however, with the issue of the lack of a really good, reliable source of carbohydrates. Victor can do wonders with potato flour, but Stephen talked with me a bit about his plans to try sowing a larger patchwork of fields next year, where they'll rotate the crops on a seven year cycle: wheat, oats, then vegetables, then grasses and clover to feed the goats. It sounds ambitious, but he thinks it will help. The question in my mind is whether they really have the manpower to do the work without cutting into the children's time for lessons too much.