Day Twenty Seven, Ballynelligan (2)

As I wrote in yesterday's blog, the walk to Ballynelligan fills my mind with all sorts of creativity and gratitude. No more so then a few weeks ago, when during a walk, I was thinking about the Family Tree Project I am doing with fellow artist Spark Deeley.

During the last time we worked together, we talked about possibly using a real tree branch as part of our project....

There it was. Lying on the side of the path!

I dragged it across the path to hide it, just in case anyone thought it to be a nice piece of firewood.

Days later I drove my scooter over the path... a painful, bumpy ride... and of course had the misfortune to be greeted by a group of about fifteen teenagers. All laughing at me.. Ok it must have looked funny, to be carrying this rather large piece of wood, in between my legs, bumping over the path on a scooter...

I am now working on that piece of wood and am creating our 'ancestors' that I see hidden in the branches and twigs.

Day Twenty Six: Ballynelligan (part one)

Last night I went on a short walk to Ballynelligan. This is the area adjacent to my house, and is part of the so-called Lady Louisa's walk.

Within two minutes of leaving my house, I am on a gravel path and am almost instantly overjoyed with being among such beauty. Here is where my creativity flourishes; my writing fills my head; where I see the beauty of nature, and feel this intense gratitude that I am 'allowed' to live here.

The first sight of nature's wonder are the Himalayan Balsam flowers. The scent emanating is that of a sweetshop. The flowers are like orchids.

I can not help but touching the seed heads.

They are explosive, so say the least.

When you gently touch the seed head, within seconds the seed head jumps open and scatters the seeds all around you. The seed head becomes a 'delicate sculpture'

Day Twenty Five: Funny lady

Just a rather short blog today, but one that I hope will make you smile.

(text: Still can get totally outrageous!)

It certainly works for me!

I came across this eccentric lady in an antique shop in Kenmare,

My visiting cousin kindly bought her for me.

Thank you Ton!

While she is standing proud on my desk,

I try to work out if/when I can re-print Hatched

Day Twenty four: Republishing Hatched?

At the bottom of every new blog-post I add a label: Photography; Writing; Nature, Day, M.E. etc, to note the main topic of the blog. Some have more than one label. There are now more posts with the label Day, then there are posts with the label M.E. Just a little observation!

Anyway...

The recent (renewed) interest in my book Hatched- A Creative Journey Through M.E. is touching me deeply. The comments bring me closer to what I love best, and would like to continue to do; writing and creating. Thank you all!

Some comments:

"Have finished reading "Hatched". A few pages in, I found tears rolling down my cheeks. Not necessarily bad tears, but tears of both empathy and relief - somebody (you) has shown me, by having the courage to publish, that others experiences are so like mine. At times we feel as though we struggle on trying to explain how it is... and you have done that Corina in a simple, beautiful, and human way.

The spider moving in the room, wondering whether to shower, achieving goals like walking down the road, when years ago that would have meant nothing. I have been in the midst of those thoughts, observations and feelings. Not fitting in the illness box - I don't belong there either. I think I would place myself in the Fledgling chapter - getting there, but a way to go yet!"

"This book has touched me Corina, as I'm sure it has many others, in places only those who have truly been there could touch. Thank you.'"

"Reading Corina's little book 'hatched". It is beautiful. Really beautiful . She has inspired me to pick up my poetry pen and find a special writing pad, then I may be able to put pen to paper again after these mind numbing years. The first will be the hardest. Thanks Corina-you give me courage."

"U took me on a journey and I almost felt like I was standing nearby watching U go through a life changing experience. I can only hope that one day U will be well again. U have such an amazing talent and its heartbreaking that U can't enjoy as U should. Life can be so cruel, but maybe one day that will all change for the better!!!"

As I said, I am touched, really touched!

...But.. this leads me to a minor dilemma. I only have about twenty Hatched books left, and am now debating if I can republish. In my mind, the next edition will have some additional pages/introduction and I probably won't include the DVD. But... where do I find the money to print? Unless a publisher is interested to take on the book.

Any help/suggestions gladly accepted!

And if any of you would like to own a copy of the first edition of Hatched, please go Shop or to "Two Book deal" for the current offer.

Thank you for your support and interest.

Day Twenty Three."If I knew your were coming...

...I'd have baked a cake, baked a cake..."

Well I DID bake a cake, a sugar free one, and will gladly share the recipe with you.

Just before you think this is a 'too big a job', I can assure you, this is a very easy cake to make!

... and... the sugar free recipe doesn't stop sugar lovers from enjoying this cake.

Corina's (Sugar Free) Apple Cake.

• 8 ounces white flour *
• 2 teasp. baking powder
• 2 teasp. speculaas kruid (which is a Dutch mixed cookie spice)- or a mixed cookie-spice
• 3 to 4 ounces of butter or margarine
• 4 ounces of sultanas
• 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of apple concentrate. (equivalent of 3 ounces of sugar)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup soyamilk, or ricedream (or cows milk if you prefer)
• 2 apples cut into small pieces

( *you can also use gluten free flour, but in this case increase the amount of baking powder to 2 and 1/2 teaspoon and add more liquid)

• Sieve flour and, baking powder, and spice into mixer bowl
• add butter/margarine and mix until the consistency resembles course cornmeal
• by hand: mix in (sugar), raisins, apple
• mix egg with half the milk, and add the apple concentrate
• mix this with dry ingredients to create a wet-tish dough that easily falls of the knife
• put into greased and floured 2lb loaf tin and level on top.
• bake in centre of oven 350-375F or gas 4, for 1 hour.

• Eat and enjoy!

Day... lost count, twenty one and twenty two!

The saying goes, 'if you do something for 21 days, it becomes a habit'

So, blogging and the new wellness regime must be a habit by now, although I didn't get to write yesterday, as I was away!

Mariela brought my Dutch cousin Ton, who is visiting for a few days, and myself to visit my brother in Kenmare. A two hour journey by car... I settled into the backseat and 'rested' when I could. Arriving in Kenmare, we went for 'coffee and treats' before taking little stroll/scoot around town.

My brother had lunch ready, and brought the three of us into the mountains along the coast to visit a bronze-age stone-circle.

I was deposited at O'sullivan's bar at the pier in Kilmackaloque, while the others went for their hike up the mountains.

For once, I didn't mind not being able to partake in this pursuit, as I very much valued my time alone at this glorious spot.

I sat in this ancient bar, and looked through the open door at the mountains rising up from the bay. I wrote...

...and went for a walk.

I wondered what it would be like to spend a few days in the beautiful desolate location and focus solely on writing. No distractions other than the sea, the seagulls, a few tourists, and the boats coming in with fresh salmon and mussels.

cousin Ton and me