Cornwall 1910, Part II

Back in St. Ives with Rose and Victoria - 

a picture from a local photography shop,

 Rose on the left and Victoria on the right.

May 20, 1910

Today we spent time in St. Ives, visiting the shops along

the High Street and several of the art galleries.  Both

Victoria and I had a brilliant time picking out lovely

little things to bring home for our families and friends.

In one of the galleries, there were beautiful small

paintings featuring local vistas of the sea shore and

white washed cottages. I picked out several as presents

and am saving a rather smashing one of the west beach

at sunset for myself as a lasting remembrance of this

time.  We also found a photography studio and had our

portrait taken.   Rose and Victoria in Cornwall!

May 21,  1910

Today we packed a picnic and took the little shuttle

train to a beautiful cove that was filled with seals! 

Such a treat to see them up close and in the sea, very

different from their cement pond at Regent’s Park Zoo.

The sun was warm, but there was a delicious cool breeze

blowing in off the water.  We dined on ham and cheese

sandwiches, scones with strawberry jam and clotted

cream, and a light Victoria sponge.  We made our tea over

a fire of driftwood and then napped in the sun. Tomorrow,

after church, we have been invited to a local sculptress’s

house for luncheon and to see her work. I know I will

sleep well tonight after our day in the open air and

sunshine.

May 22, 1910

A lovely church service – the vicar gave a good

 sermon and was very welcoming to Victoria and

me afterwards.  He spent several years in a parish

 in Chelsea and was eager to hear of news from

the “big smoke”.

Our luncheon was a real treat – freshly caught

 crab with lashing of Cornish butter,  a delicious rice

 and vegetable dish and a sherry-laced trifle for afters.

 The sculptress, Regina Worthing, is a brilliant artist and

so much fun to talk to. She’s lived in St. Ives for about 10

years now and is becoming much recognized in artistic

circles.  She studied at the Slade in London and several

times a year invites artists from different parts of

the country (and France as well) to salons at her home

here in Cornwall. 

Tomorrow we plan to find the sea marsh and have a day

 of sketching the various birdlife.  This holiday has been

such fun so far, we are both so glad we decided to come.

May 23, 1910

We splurged on a full English breakfast this morning

since we knew we have a long hike to the marsh and back

 and then lots of sketching in between.  So many different

types of sea and marsh fowl, it’s nesting time and we

were privileged to see a few nests.  Both Victoria and

I filled page after page of our sketchbooks, making

colour notes and descriptions of the marsh and sea shore.

It was a long trek back, but Mrs. Trelawney had a scrumptious

tea all prepared.  She made all the right comments about our

pictures.  An early bed tonight!

Tomorrow, the last of the holiday and the train home to London.