Jamie Tales

Have just read the proof of "Jamie Tales" which comprises four tales and illustrations describing a collie dog called "Jamie" who is full of fun and energy. Written for children, this will be for sale in February or March 2011. Buy it and see the delightful stories written in rhyme and beautifully illustrated by Wendy Duffin. Order from Amazon or good bookstores.

Being part of a group

Being part of a group can bring all sorts of rewards. It doesn't matter whether it is learning watercolour painting, attending church, or being at a football match. It is the feeling of BELONGING! Being in a group is like being part of a family - you may argue - but bonds are strong and you share experiences. For example, if you belong to the watercolour group, you may argue among yourselves about the correct colours to use, but looking at each other's work you can help and advise each other. Some people hate groups. They would rather be solitary. We all want to be alone at times though to refresh our minds and to stimulate ideas. If you want to join my groups you can. I run two through Friends' Reunited - one is called "Writers" and the other is "Creativity" (Hobbies.) Look them up and feel free to join.

glut of tomatoes

We have so many cherry tomatoes in our greenhouse that we made tomato soup yesterday. Handpicked ripe tomatoes plus our own grown onions made this a delicious soup. (Took one and a half hours to cook though.) The other ingredients included one strip of bacon, herbs, carrot, water, milk, sea salt and pepper, cornflower. After an hour, the mixture was strained, the cornflower mixed with milk added to thicken at the end in the mixture. However, what to do with the pulp left. I wonder if Jamie Oliver uses left over pulp after making soup. The soup served with a little cream was delicious.

Visiting famous writers' homes

We have been lucky enough to visit Chawton, Hampshire - home to Jane Austen and it was inspirational. Her garden was beautiful including a patch of medicinal herbs that she would have grown. It showed the small table she worked on in the dining parlour and various other rooms such as the bedroom she shared with her sister Cassandra, the kitchen and personal items such as a prayer she wrote, a lace collar she made and a lock of her own hair. We have over the years visited the homes of the poet Wordsworth - four of his in the Lake District plus John Ruskin's home (he patronised Rossetti) and also Howarth Parsonage, home to the Brontes in Yorkshire. I can add "Lawrence of Arabia's home" in Dorset plus two where Thomas Hardy lived - Maxgate and Higher Brockhampton cottage. All these are in beautiful places and truly inspirational. Have you visited any? It would be interesting to know.

Should I go down the Kindle road

I am reluctant to go down the Kindle road and have my books read in plastic covers, not to mention all the work and expense in using modern technology. And can or does modern technology reveal all the lovely illustrations, pictures, maps that are in beautiful books that I read? I doubt it. If you want to see samples of my work, see my website www.marianbythell.com and read for free!

Watching the birds and bees

How funny and lovely it is to watch the antics of birds and bees in spring, the mating season. And by that I will include humans! Just take a walk in the park and watch the male pigeons follow the females about until they finally attract their attention. And have you noticed long kisses by youngsters in the town parks? It is what makes the world go round.

Too dry

Whilst parts of the world are flooded, here in England and in my county, we are having a very dry period. I hosepipe the flower and vegetable beds most evenings now when it is cool. I heard that one lady in Wales lives on land with a spring and that is drying up. Plants are dying. I would hate to see my plants die - some seeds were started in January and I have sown ones I've not tried before like delphiniums. If it's not the lack of rain, then frost may kill them. We can't control the weather but we can help nature by nurturing it. Look after nature and it will reward you - our lilac, azalea and rhododendren bushes smell beautiful. How is your garden? Are you lucky enough to own one? If not, try small pots on the windowsill or invest in an allotment. But have a water supply handy!

Trying to keep your head above water

No, I can't swim but I do think in these fraught financial times, that many people struggle to make ends meet. Some I know have two or three jobs in order to pay rent or a mortgage. Will matters improve - well you can only hope and try to keep the wolf from the door. However, I do believe most people have too many possessions. Do you really need them? Sell them on EBay or hold a table top sale with a friend (to share costs) - a friend I know regularly sells items for under £l. Pray - God will find an answer.

The law of cause and effect

The law of cause and effect means that whatever you say or do affects someone somewhere. You can lift a person's spirits or you can dash them to the ground. In other words "think before you leap" and "look before you leap". During this period of Lent, try to be more patient, calm, kind, understanding, good, tolerant, loving, sympathetic. Look around you and observe - someone may need help; your animals may need care. Be aware of others and the world will respond.