inspired by crochet

We were in Cockermouth today, visiting the house that Wordsworth was born in. This rather austere Georgian house had been brought to life by making it into a place where you could sit on the chairs, play with the toys or chat to the kitchen maid.

Then we went down into the cellar and discovered that the house and garden had been severely affected by the floods of 2010. The photos said it all. A garden, which had recently been restored, was in total ruin. We went into the garden and looked for signs of destruction but instead saw a garden full of life. Tall sunflowers were in full bloom and the red apples looked ripe for picking. There were some lovely touches of humour too. The scarecrow wore a flower-brimmed hat and carried two woolly mice in his pocket. Large wooden toadstools had bright red knitted caps and woolen parachutes hung from the apple trees.

I climbed the steps to the upper garden, attracted by cheerful crocheted flags on a small summerhouse.There was a clockwork powered audio guide inside. I turned the handle as instructed and heard the story of how one of the guides had been involved in rescuing some artefacts on the day of the great flood, in spite of the fact that her own home had been flooded.

This is our second visit to Cockermouth this year. Again we saw work being done on the river banks to prevent future flooding, and once again I have been inspired by the resilience of the people, demonstrated in their colourful and creative environment and their friendly and welcoming manner.