Beatrix Potter's Birthday

“I am aware these little books don't last long even if they are a success.”

― Beatrix Potter

Several of Beatrix's characters have gathered to wish her a ♫Happy Birthday♫

Today is Beatrix Potter's birthday.  Born in 1866 she grew up in the Victorian age.  She was torn between being a dutiful Victorian daughter and following her own heart.  Eventually she found a way to do both through her "little books."  They brought her the financial success she needed in order to break away from dependence on her parents while allowing her to carry out their expectations for her.  Little did she know that her little books would be so successful that she would be able to buy up over 5,000 acres of farm land in the Lake District that she would eventually give to the National Trust for preservation.  And even more so did she little know that more than 100 years later they would still be read by millions of children and adults.  

“I remember every stone, every tree, the scent of heather... Even when the thunder growled in the distance, and the wind swept up the valley in fitful gusts, oh, it was beautiful, home sweet home.” 
― Beatrix Potter

Her books were not a part of my life until I had my own children.  I loved her illustrations!  When I find an author/illustrator I love I need to learn more about their life so I read every book on her that I could find.  I am always drawn to people who dare to step out of society's box for them and pursue their dreams so I felt I'd found a kindred spirit.  It was only natural that I would include several of her characters in my children's story, Gabriel's Tale.  You can read that chapter HERE. 

Then in 2016 I used her illustrations to practice my drawing and painting.  I blogged each month about them. Jemima Puddle-duck took us on a journey each month through the Lake District pointing out the locations Beatrix used for that particular story.  You can read that first post HERE, then click on "Newer Post" at the bottom of each post (after the comments) for the next month's installment.

After spending the year researching the Lake District I was ready to jump in with both feet and visit "Beatrix Potter land" in person.  Susan Branch's picnic at Castle Cottage in 2018 was just the push I needed.  It was so exciting to visit the places I'd painstakingly drawn and watercolored.  I'd drawn a map of the area so I was very familiar with the lay of the land. . . .

I booked our room at the Tower Bank Arms. . . .

You can read my post about Tower Bank Arms HERE.

And made sure to walk the path to Far Sawrey in search of St. Peter's Parish Church that Gabriel finds on his journey. . . .

You can read that post HERE.

But the highlight was visiting Hill Top, the first property that Beatrix bought and used as her get-away abode while still caring for her parents.  She never actually lived in Hill Top because she eventually married William Heelis and bought Castle Cottage as their residence.  Hill Top was kept as her personal retreat.  It was a place she could display her favorite belongings.  A place where she drew inspiration for her stories. . . .

You can read my post about Hill Top HERE.

We also visited Hawkshead where William had his law office.  The building now houses the Beatrix Potter Gallery.  From there we visited The Armitt in Ambleside.  This museum featured Beatrix's interest in natural sciences.  Before her little books she drew and painted mushrooms and kept a nature diary. . . . 

Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead

Beatrix's Nature Diary at The Armitt 

You can read my post on this visit HERE.

“I remember every stone, every tree, the scent of heather... Even when the thunder growled in the distance, and the wind swept up the valley in fitful gusts, oh, it was beautiful, home sweet home.” 
― Beatrix Potter

What may not be very well known about Beatrix is that her favorite stories were collected into a book she would not let be published in Great Britain.  Instead she sent it to a publisher in the United States because she felt the stories were "too personal--too autobiographical" to share with her own countrymen..  She called the book, The Fairy Caravan, and wrote this in the Preface. . . .

As I walk'd by myself,

And talked to myself,

Myself said unto me--

Through many changing seasons these tales have walked and talked with me.  They were not meant for printing; I have left them in the homely idiom of our old north country speech.  I send them on the insistence of friends beyond the sea.

If you are interested in Beatrix's lesser known stories, you can find them all, including stories that appeared in magazines, in Leslie Linder's A History of The Writings of Beatrix Potter.

I think how I most identify with Beatrix, though, is with her love of the countryside surrounding her home.  It was hard to choose just one photograph from our trip to the Lake District to illustrate this.  The one I chose shows Esthwaite Water barely visible in the distance to left with the backdrop of the surrounding mountains and Moss Eccles Tarn on the right, surrounded by pine trees, where she and William would row out into the middle to fish in the evenings. . . .

As she grew older and unable to walk the fells as she once had she wrote. . . .

“Thank God I have the seeing eye, that is to say, as I lie in bed I can walk step by step on the fells and rough land seeing every stone and flower and patch of bog and cotton pass where my old legs will never take me again.” 
― Beatrix Potter

Rest in Peace dear Beatrix.  Your beloved countryside is being well cared for.