Thursday 23 April 2015

Spring and the Cheshire Cat


I had a beautiful weekend in Herefordshire with a friend who also has a large and very useful collection of Lewis Carroll and "Alice" material. I was researching unpublished material on Carroll, but it was really too nice to stay indoors so I spent a lot of time outside in the garden. 

   Something about the light in that part of the world appeals to me so much - it's hazy and yet bright, colourful and almost luminous at times. I often notice it and wonder what causes it.  Perhaps the shape of the landscape, with the distant hills blue and misty but the foreground so bright. And at this time of year the countryside is a great shout of green, with all the leaves opening and the blossom on the trees. 


Pretty sure these are apple blossoms - not that I'm a great expert.


 And here is my friend's magnolia tree....but do you notice the silent and (I think) rather creepy onlooker in the shed?  I don't know why the Cheshire Cat is so disturbing - he is friendly enough, after all.   Maybe it's the idea of a disembodied head that's a little bothersome.  What do you think?

Incidentally the idea of the Cheshire Cat is supposed to have been inspired by this ancient carving in the church of Croft on Tees, Yorkshire, where Lewis Carroll spent his teenage years as the rector's son.  He and his 10 brothers and sisters would surely have spent many hours listening to their dad's sermons while sitting in the nearby pews under the gaze of this ancient creature.  


50 comments:

  1. I think it's a combination of the eyes and the smile on that particular Cheshire cat. They all have the eye-smile thing going on but this one is a bit creepy -- no arguments there! That countryside is gorgeous. We had snow yesterday (though fleeting, but still below freezing). I fear for my daffodils and cut a few to bring inside. Longing for that fully green spring but I suspect it's just around the corner.

    I know what you mean about light quality. It's hard to describe, isn't it, why it's different when you aren't all that far from another spot where the light is less perfect. I don't get it -- but I understand completely what you mean.

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  2. I love your vivid description of Herefordshire, and the Cheshire Cat is amusing. The fact that it's a disembodied head has never bothered me - - but now that you mention it, it does seem a little disconcerting. I never heard the story about the ancient carving that inspired Lewis Carroll. I like that photo - thanks for sharing it.

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  3. Research on Carroll? Why are you researching? A biography? Lovely countryside, and ours is much like that here now.

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    1. There has been an awful lot of stuff published recently about Lewis carroll so I would be looking ahead a couple of years.

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  4. Yes. The Cheshire cat is creepy and now we know why.
    Light is different everywhere, isn't it? And it's so hard to describe and it's so easy to never realize the difference in the quality of light depending on where we are. Beautiful pictures!

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  5. Hello Jenny,

    The Herefordshire landscape is so very pretty. We loved the years we spent there. A piece of England as unspoilt as one is likely to find these days and long may it remain so.

    What fun you must have had immersing yourself in Wonderland with the Cheshire Cat grinning at you from his shed.

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  6. That is a creepy face. I know nothing about trees, just the words of an old song, "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White".

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  7. Amazing the things we see as children that remain with us and even inspire us later!

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  8. Perhaps the cat is a wee bit creepy. Did the eyes follow you as you walked around? LOL. That would have made me run. And ya know, I don't run.

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  9. Wow, a very impressive carving it is. How fun to meet with an old friend and go over such interesting readings, and be among all that beauty too! Marvelous adventure for the heart and soul.

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  10. Interesting to think the future author sat looking at this stone carving. It is kinda creepy.

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  11. Does this mean you're planning another book about Carroll? That Cheshire cat on the garden shed is certainly disturbing... The size of it, for one thing; but I don't think it is looking very friendly either. But I guess any head without body would seem rather disturbing! Interesting to learn about that carved head in the church having been the inspiration for the C.cat.

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  12. Spring!
    It feels like yesterday reading your blog with beautiful photos of spring in the UK.
    I thought then, must make a dream to be there next year. Dreaming of next year.

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  13. You are right about the light--the distant haze and foreground brightness is a charming effect. I've never considered the Cheshire cat except on a page. He is spooky, looking from the shed.

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  14. OMGosh! Yes! You can see where the Cheshire cat idea came from.
    Interesting that the light seems different in different places on the earth. I never thought about that.
    Have a wonderful weekend. :)

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  15. Lewis Carroll certainly had a creative mind. Researching the places that inspired his writing is fascinating.

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  16. Yes, you're probably right about the blossoms being apple. Such beauty!

    Of course you know that Ripon Cathedral has carvings on its wooden choir that are supposed to have inspired Lewis Carrol, too; a rabbit disappearing into a hole, for instance. Sounds familiar, doesn't it :-)

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  17. Alas, I have missed out on so much when it comes to Lewis Carroll.

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  18. Super Spring filled pictures.
    The light is interesting there.

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  19. You would love the light hereabouts, Jenny. Yesterday and this morning, in particular was and is quite stunning. Of course, we're in autumn as opposed to your spring.

    The cat doesn't disturb me. I think he's quite humorous. :)

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  20. I adore the cat carving . What a great little bit of history.
    The cat painting on the shed is very creepy. I think it is the huge eyes and the teeth showing.

    cheers, parsnip

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  21. Greetings human, Jenny,

    Ah yes, such wondrous images captured. This green and pleasant land and the blossoms doth bloom in glorious splendour.

    I'm not far from Cheshire. If I see that grinning cat, I'll let you know. Arf!

    Pawsitive wishes,

    Penny

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  22. The brightness of your lovely pictures picked up my spirits. It is spring here, the trees and the early flowers are out, but it is cold and grey, and my mood reflects what I see.

    The story of Lewis Carrol and the Cheshire Cat is very interesting.

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  23. I love your description of Herefordshire light, living next door as I do.
    Thinking of church carvings, do you know the church/restaurant in Hereford town centre? A clever piece of modern architecture which reveals some splendidly rude carving up in the roof.

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  24. Yes, it is apple blossom! And good to know there are a few of us who can't settle behind a computer screen when the weather is wonderful (sunshine is precious!)

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  25. Definitely apple blossom, and in my favourite part of the world, too. If I had my way I would move to Herefordshire - and Brockhampton where I spent many happy times as a young girl.

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  26. Herefordshire is a lovely part of the world. I never knew that about the Cheshire Cat, but I can see how it could be.

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  27. Spring has come and do it hard, many wildflowers now found in gardens and roads. I like the photo of the cat in the church, curious, if curious. Greetings.

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  28. To be in Herefordshire at blossom time is best - they have such wonderful orchards with great varieties of apples, plums and pears.
    Now that grinning cat does look rather disturbing, but I don't know why.

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  29. Ah, glorious Herefordshire. But if you’re that close to Shropshire (depending on whereabouts in Herefordshire you were), do come over to us. No Cheshire cats but lovely blue remembered hills.

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  30. I love you friend's magnolia tree! If it isn't a Japanese magnolia tree, it certainly looks a lot like one. They are also called tulip trees, because the blooms resemble tulips. They bloom in January here in the South, and they are such a beautiful sight to look at. One of my favorite trees!

    And then there's the cat grinning from the shed...

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    1. He told me that it is called "Susan" and his sister Sue gave it to him! He is close to her and so I imagine he thinks of her every time he looks at it. I thought that was very nice. I wonder if there are any plants called "Jenny" I can give to people :)

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  31. Beautiful photos and description of the countryside. Sounds like you were productive, too. A lovely working holiday.

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  32. What a perfect landscape in your first picture Jenny. I could sit there all day looking at it...
    The magnolia is a beautiful tree, but yes, the Cheshire cat on the shed is rather creepy, isn't he? However, the stone head cat is interesting, and definitely has an unusual smile. I'd like to think it was certainly an inspiration to Lewis Carroll.

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  33. Thank you very much for all the comments. I am glad that the pictures reflected Spring for so many people. haha, for me too since it is a grey day here in London now. :)

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  34. I like the stone cat better than the creepier painting. And I love the light of spring - it's softer somehow that summer's light.

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  35. I think the Cheshire Cat is a bit creepy. Did you ever see a 1970s version of Alice in Wonderland with Fiona Fullerton as Alice? The best, yet creepiest version of the film.

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  36. Oh my, had i ten siblings and a sermon saying father I most likely would disappear into make believe land! The stone cat head is not as disturbing as the Cheshire cats depicted in Alice. Looks docile and friendly. Lovely blossoms! Our apple trees are all bloomed out! Already turning into little apples. The cherries are already as big as your pinky nail. SPRING!!!

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  37. Gorgeous blossom Jenny. I also love Herefordshire. It's lovely there. The cat on the shed does look a bit spooky, but the original inspiration isn't really a model of feline friendliness either, is he?

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  38. OMG! LEAVES! and FLOWERS! Spring is not that far advanced up here in the great white north. Some shrubs have green buds which are just starting to open but that's as far as we've gotten. I <3 those magnolia blossoms.

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  39. There's a distinct similarity between the carving in the church and the Cheshire Cat. I would say the carving was definitely the literary inspiration. And yes, the disembodied head is very spooky. Like the disembodied head in the book.

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  40. Beautiful scenery. The cat in the church is indeed creepy. I can see the inspiration for the Cheshire Cat.

    Darla

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  41. Spring is here and the cats are grinning!
    Sorry I haven't visited here for some time Jenny - but life is full of hiccups at present.
    Anna :o]

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  42. The English countryside is so pretty in the Spring

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  43. Love the carved cat! I have been away from your website for far too long!

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  44. There is something about that Cheshire Cat smile - sends a chill down your spine. It is annoying to note you have had such good weather while I was away in Spain, yet when I return we seem to be back in the middle of winter.

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  45. I loved this post so much. The photos are great. Creepy cat, though.

    Greetings from London.

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  46. I love the deep pink of the magnolia but the cat should go! It is a lovely part of the world and we are always tempted when we visit, but we need to be closer to our children and to London, so East Anglia works for now - it is very beautiful too. And thanks for your comments on Hemingford Grey - if you feel kind enough to give me a link on that post do, as I know Diana is struggling to keep things going and any publicity helps.

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  47. Thank you Marianne for your kind words. I am afraid I didn't post about Hemingford Grey. Part of the problem was I couldn't take photos inside the house, and I like to illustrate what I blog about. I will see if I can work in some images of the garden and mention it in a later post.

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  48. Hello Jenny, I'm slowly working back through your blog... so much still to see!
    I love the beautiful blossoms - yes, I think they may be apple blossoms, so pretty.
    Interesting to perhaps know where the inspiration for the Cheshire Cat came from, I could understand it... he always seemed a tiny bit creepy to me too :D)

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