Wednesday, 18 February 2026

Of Your Charity

 Please pray for my lovely mum who is currently on a coronary care ward and is close to dying.  

Our daughter Sr Emma made it home from Spain yesterday and late last night were called to the hospital back home which was a fifty mile drive.  We spent the night with mum and have just returned back home.  I could well be called back to be with her if it’s God’s Will.  I will miss her dearly but she has suffered continued deteriorating health these past eighteen months and her body cannot take anymore. 



From left to right: Mary Grace, Mum H and my Mum x 

Monday, 2 February 2026

Blackwell Arts and Crafts House

 Last Thursday we visited the Blackwell Arts and Crafts House in the Lake District and declared it the best Home Ed Day Out.  Our visit was very fortuitous as the work of Francis Priest was on display throughout the property.  There is also an opportunity to meet Francis in person at Blackwell  in March so a return visit is definitely on the cards.


Such a beautiful, light and airy room and you would never tire of that view.


Even though this was a fairly dark room it was not oppressive to be in unlike other Stately Homes that we've visited.  The house certainly had a very welcoming feel as we moved from room to room.



I particularly loved this yellow room which also included a lovely adjoining dressing area housing the boots and the mirrored dresser.  When I saw the embroidered coverlet I thought about my friend Eva's daughter Veronika, who is currently studying fashion design at JP Catholic University in California.




The museum showcased information about the Arts and Crafts Movement alongside a beautiful display of Francis Priest's ceramic designs.



We finished the day with a well deserved treat from the cafe and a little wander around the shop, where Pip was able to purchase a pottery book which will help enormously with her work.