Dear Artist,
There used to be a joint in the East Village of New York called the C-Note, where you could get a gig if nobody had heard of you. During your set, the bartender would pass a tip jar, and on a good night you could recoup the cost of your cab home. An ice machine would fire up at timed intervals with a hum, then burst like a firecracker, dumping ice into a metal bin. It flanked the stage and could be heard at all five tables and out the front door, serving as a finger-wag to your art-dues still-owing.
Vincent van Gogh and Émile Bernard
I played early and then packed up to get to another gig, while the next songwriter slid behind an electric piano and started to line-check the keys. She was small, ginger-haired and wearing a cardigan, her eyelashes curled out like spiders perched on a pair of glossy rain puddles. Someone handed me her disc at the exit. At home later, listening to the recording, out streamed a tenderhearted confessional — a bit blue — over an earnest and bent, halftime melody. I sent her an email, and fell asleep with the feeling that I was not alone.
In the morning, a reply from Louise Cairns said she was from London and didn’t know anyone in New York and would be playing an open mic that evening at The Sidewalk, an historic tooth-cutting spot for future greats. I sat at the back and listened to another ice machine rumble, this time under the efforts of Louise’s borrowed 61-key Casio, her hands falling off the ends as her octaves climbed, her eye-spiders spreading with each refrain.
Afterwards, we took a corner and conspired together to play in each other’s places. In the following years, we played Liverpool, the Midlands, the pubs of Camden Town, Shepherd’s Bush and Oxford Street. I slept on the floor of her Southeast London flat and she came to play in New York’s curated rooms — The Knitting Factory, Rockwood Music Hall, The Living Room — climbing the stairs of my 6th-floor Village walk-up, sharing my futon and practicing my piano there. We took our bands to bigger gigs at the Edinburgh Fringe and London’s Bush Hall, as Louise’s melodies and grit tethered what seemed impossible to the possible.
The Buddy System: Norman Rockwell and Pitter
“You saw it, you claimed it, you touched it, you saved it.” (The Proclaimers)
Near the beginning of an early adventure, Louise mentioned a place called Ullapool. She had a song in her set about the gathering of artists there. I listened, imagining a windswept, pale-skied outstation at the edge of the world. “One day, we’ll go,” she said, “and play.”
Sincerely,
Sara
PS: “Joy prompts courage.” (Hans Christian Andersen)
Esoterica: A creative buddy system can turn a worthy pursuit into a peak experience. “Without him I would have given up,” said Renoir of Monet. Partnering for mutual encouragement, logistics and joy curbs the loneliness of climbing and reveals the hidden, sparkling Ullapools. In the same way, these letters and your responses build a remarkable and intimate friendship. Your messages regarding our new format have been overwhelmingly positive, and we thank you. As for Ullapool, next week Louise and I will play there, as well as Skye, Ballater and Glasgow. If you’re in the neighbourhood, we’d love to see you.
103 Comments
Wish the whole letter came in the inbox……our internet isn’t the fastest (nor is my laptop)…..
I agree with the above comment. This seems less “intimate”. I don’t think I will probably read til the end.
Sara, I have loved your letters, and its really great that you continued after your dad passed away. However I have to agree with others here. This format is so impersonal. Although I did read how to get to Ullapool, I didn’t read the last two letters I thought something was wrong (ie spam) and deleted them.
This letter is my favourite…..I’ve read it many times…..to me it is very intimate . Initially I was drawn to it as I’m from Scotland……but that matters not.
Agree. While I love the Painterskeys, don’t know why you changed something that worked just fine. I get it that you can ‘see’ your results each week as we have to now sort of ‘log in’ but again, we could go to your original links anyway. Old but true saying about why fix what ain’t broke applies here at least for me.
I agree, to a certain extent. The new format feels impersonal and very characteristic of the techno-savvy 21st century, when one “talks” via text message rather than real conversation. I miss the feeling (however much of an illusion it was) that Mr Robert Genn was actually talking to me. It was a great loss, losing him. Sara, your letters are lovely, and thank you for taking over.
I agree too – prefer it in my inbox.
Good to read ‘How to Get To Ullapool’.
Not too many miles from us – on the NE coast of England, but have visited and shown in Scotland a number of times.
Agreed.
Less intimate, less personal.
Yes, I liked the old format better too. Simpler.
” If it worx, fix it till it doesn’t.”
Here, Here Please reconsider breaking what your Dad so successfully built.
I, too, miss the old Painterkeys. I love your posts, Sara, but miss your father. The old format makes me feel still connected to him.
Ditto to all of the above – prefer the former format.
Ditto, ditto, ditto to all of the above!!!! It’s a shame after all these years, to give up the close personal feeling of the original format. I will probably stop reading the whole letters. I have kept a file of your Father’s letters and yours since he left us. I feel sad
I also like the old format. I enjoy the letters but can also picture your Mom in the garden even though your Dad’s not there painting. That spot is still so beautiful above the beach and the marina.
Sara, you’ve been doing a great job continuing with your father’s newsletters. however I too have to agree with the responses above, I do miss the letter in my inbox and the connections with Robert as well as yourself.
I love yr writing Sara!
I think we need to move forwards and progress. I LOVE the new format, and the new site. Now I can discover which is what we artists are supposed to be open to.
I agree. I wish you hadn’t changed the format. It’s a pain.
I agree.
You’re going to Ullapool! “Break a leg!” Wish I could be there.
Love the new format. I’m using someone’s “reply” because I didn’t
see where to comment.
I to wish it all came as an email.
Greetings, Sarah,
Thank you for continuing the Letters! I was playing the violin until a few years ago – what do you play?
– Naomi.
Hi Naomi,
I play a 1973 Fender Rhodes Stage piano, and piano, and have a trio here in NYC. Thank you for your friendship.
S
I really look forward to the Friday updates. Thank you.
This is a lovely post. It seemed like a poem–“and someday I’ll see you in Ullapool.” :)
Dear Sara,
You words are welcome here in any fashion you wish to provide. Your prose is poetic and I enjoy reading it. I hope you continue and don’t let the naysayers get you down.
I am glad Sara is there writing for all of us. To follow in her Dad’s footsteps as I did for my Dad. The late Charles Strange was a oil painter of landscapes and old farms of the Northeast of U.S.A. I was a woodcarver/framer and sculptor who made a promise to him before he passed away that I would take over where he left off as far as his paintings went! I have been painting ever since 1998 and never regretted it since!
Grant.
Creative Buddy System is a great concept, much more workable than artists group. I’ve only participated in this a few times in my art career, probably because I have a strong streak of solitary in my personality. But this reminds me how fruitful it can be, even if just for a particular project. Thx.
I agree with Ed Marshburn. You can’t please everybody. Do what feels true to you. I love your letters and your Dad’s and appreciate the sharing of art thoughts in any format. I perceive them as personal sharing. It is up to each of us to perceive them as we want. Technology is here to stay. To fight it is a losing cause. And I am 68 and realize the flexibility it takes to keep up with technology. Thank goodness younger people are gracious enough to help us keep up!
Really enjoyed this post. Thank you for taking on and finishing what your father started. I look forward to the updates and letters twice a week. I also really enjoy the new format of the website. Honestly I don’t always go to the site each week and probably would not have seen the new format had you not set your email newsletter this way. It is a big of a pain to do some extra clicking, but the times are changing! Thanks for all that you do!
Sara……. you will LOVE Ullapool and especially Skye… I am sure they will have changes little since I last visited aroun 50 years ago :)
Oh my! Are you really going to Ullapool?!! Wish I could too. Love this letter and the new format is fine, just takes getting used to change which we find unsettling as we get older. I find it takes me to other parts of your website that I normally wouldn’t bother with……good for me and for you too I imagine.
Thanks Sara
Hi ….it’s Muriel here and I am finally going to Ullapool!! Yay!
Hi Sarah. I don’t mind the new format. I look forward to your letters as I did those of your father. They make me feel like I don’t exist in a void. I live in a rural area with few professional or amateur artists. I paint many things but like to focus on our ever changing and vanishing rural landscapes. I also like to paint historic buildings, antique farm equipment and flowers. I’m in love with colour. I have been painting for over 45 years. I had a cat that would critique my work but she has passed on. My main support comes from my husband who bought me my first oils and canvas and has always encouraged and supported me with his can-do attitude. Thanks for all the work you and your staff do. Keep up the good work.
Please share your impressions when you return. There is something magical in a name such as Ullipool that makes me want to go there…. I felt the same way about Telegraph Cove for example, just a name of a place … but when I walked down the winding road towards the Cove and finally arrived, I was glad I went.
I would like to hear from artists who have found places that inspire painting … and allow one ‘s creative juices to flow.
Thanks
I’m heading to Ullapool tomorrow. Returning to the wonderful Bridge House Art the week after next and the town will be hosting an exhibition of paintings from their Portfolio alumni. This first week doing Textile Translations, with Jan Kilpatrick out at Elphin. Magical work with textiles. She has a great website called wildtiles.
Penticton, British Columbia has it all. Located on the shores of beautiful
Lake Okanagan nestled in a valley of voluptuous foothills and mountains. Orchards and vineyards cover the lower slopes. The pace of life is slower, the people, kinder.
I like the new format and I liked the old one just fine
I like your new look! And a dreamy post. You can still read the full letter in you inbox if you right click on the little pre-view arrow (at least on my Mac). To comment I had to come here.
Thank you.
Lovely … I have just returned from a virtual tour of Ullapool. I thought immediately “I want to be there, now.”, then I heard your father’s words in my head, some of the best advice he gave me: “Go to your room!’.
Right, there is that commission unfolding slowly in my studio … I will go to my room, and I know something good will happen today.
Thank you Sarah for keeping the energy, everyone’s energy, topped up.
Claudine
I like the new format just fine. I understand the frustration of always having to correct bounced emails – it’s not fun and a big time waster for whoever ends up doing it. Plus you lose people that way. Also it means you can concentrate on making the online version the best it can be with the most appropriate visuals. Keep up the good work!
Love today’s post about buddy systems and love the new set-up.
Sara- I always clicked through to the online post- really never reading the email- because I always wanted to read your reader comments! And then make a few of my own! So your format shift made perfect sense to me. Change happens. However- we all remember when we could get a post posted with our own art pictures- and that doesn’t happen anymore. So here’s the dumb question…
On FB I can post pictures along with my comments- but not here. Here it would seem that being able to do that ourselves would mean an even greater level of sharing going on- of the real art we’re all making. So why is that possible or not possible- considering your basic format change?
And actually- I think that if we artists could do that- each letter would also be filled with your reader’s art- and that could be a beautiful thing- since your group is international.
Hi Bruce, great question and it is something we thought long and hard about, to balance everyone’s needs. The new format now will link your name to whatever website you put in, as well as put your picture with your post if you log in. But you don’t even need to log in to have your name linked which is a new feature that we hope will encourage sharing. For example I just went to your Facebook page as it was linked automatically to your comment. The Premium Artists section has also been improved for those wishing to have featured images. Thanks everyone for your feedback, we read everything!
Thank you for asking about this, Bruce, I had the same thoughts. Before the Painter’s Keys were linked to the FB, the featured art beautified and enriched the page, and gave us a feel of a closely knit art community because everything was contained within the Painter’s Keys. I got to know work of artists all over the world here. My comments and images of my paintings were featured many times between 2005 – 2014. People who I’d never be able to reach on my own saw my art here and accepted me in the art community. For me, this was huge. I can’t imagine what kind of storage and processing demand all those images had on maintenance of the site. I will always be grateful to everyone who ever worked on Painter’s Keys, and of course to our dear Bob. Thank you Sara and Peter for your efforts to find the best format going forward – the searchable archives are wonderful and so are the letters, always interesting illustrations and inspiring quotes. I assume that the things we lost just simply weren’t sustainable.
http://mirkov-popovicki.blogspot.ca/
Hi Sara:
I don’t know what everybody’s complaining about. Creative people are supposed to be risktakers and open to everything new. Both you and your father have written eloquently about that. Don’t listen to the complaints.
Nothing exciting can happen without change. Continue your wonderful creative path and take us along with you. I’ve been to Ullapool. It felt a little like the end of the world and there was no music….except bagpipes. Glad you are taking some there.
Brian Care
Toronto and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Sara, It’s great you are trying something not only new but uniquely yours. Cheers!
I’ll see you in Glasgow. Just let me know if you need anything in terms of accom, or any other help.
Remember your midge repellent for Skye. Seriously.
And you’re going to Ballater! As a painter, I’m hoping you get some time to gaze at the hills and make some work. It’s so beautiful in Aberdeenshire.
L
Wish I could come to hear you in Ullapool. I’ve been there several times – and it is the most wonderful, atmospheric, legendary, far-away place I’ve been to. I’ve heard fabulous music there too, including a recital of Scottish harp. Have a wonderful time! Best wishes from South West England.
The Village continues to be the spot to generate creative ‘things’. From my first visits in the early 60’s to my brief rsidence in 20012-13. The community is alive and vibrant.
Dear Sara, your letters were far more intimate before. I agree with all the above. Sometimes a change is not necessary.
Community building was better with an email as an intimate outreach.
Hi Sara
Yes, I’m sure you will love Ullapool – there’s something magical about it; no doubt you will be performing at The Ceilidh Place! My wife and I first visited a few years ago when we were walking from Fort William to Cape Wrath. I have a couple of photos I’d like to include but can’t see any method for attaching!
best wishes
Frank
My dear Sara.
I am so happy you are creating this place.
You are making it your own and it is the way it should be…..
Thank you.
I agree with those who prefer to get the letter straight to my Inbox. This just makes me click to get to your website, which is sometimes slow. I may quit reading, as I am a printmaker, not a painter, anyway.
Great job, Data. Keep up the great work. I look forward to both your messages and the repeats of your dad’s. Blessings to you and safe travelling! I look forward to hearing about your trip and adventures!
Hi , once again you do it!!! You are your father’s child, creative, innovative and not afraid of change. GOOD FOR YOU and hurrah at all this enchantment you paint for us in words , that we can do it if we just DO IT..and roll with our creative passions and find the LIFE we are meant to live in spontinaiety and joy! Hit up Jeffrey Hinder on line and see what HE does…he is afriend who is , like you , way out there and artist , writer and creator…. and has a new book you will love Metaphysical Warrior on Amazon. I have a review there hit it up..get one, you will LOVE LOVE LOVE it…and write to Jef7rey and tell him Me8ri sent you—-KEEP UP YOUR IDDDENTIFY IN FRESHNESS…Merri
I like the new layout. I have promised myself to not go “all dinosaur” about technology, so I am determined to exercise maximum effort to keep up. I envy you for your trip to Glaskow. I would like to go there someday. I’ve been told that a distant relative of mine has some sort of gallery there.
Cheers, William Burrell
Sara,
Thank you for the time you take to write these beautiful letters. I am sorry I spent any time reading through the complaining replies. The letter is beautiful and clean and I am thankful for your poetic writing. Yes, this sounded like a poem and it was a joy and a balm for the day. Thank you so much and please continue in your father’s footsteps. Many of us are so grateful … especially those of us who create but are not surrounded by people. Sincerely, Marybeth
I have been reading your Dad’s words and yours now for years. I will take you any way I can get you! Your letters are printed and posted throughout my studio. When I can’t be with my in-person painting buddies I am with you. Thank you for all the inspiration. Priscilla in Texas, USA
I am okay with the change, it doesn’t take long to get here. However, I’m a little sorry I won’t be able to collect the letters anymore–I’ve kept the ones that make me think, and I have some as far back as 2006. I re-read them randomly from time to time.
Hi Linda, soon we are going to introduce a print functionality on this page that will make it easy to save the letter as a PDF.
A PDF option will be great! I do appreciate these letters, however I get them :)
I, too, like to be able to save the letters in a file as part of my mail. I do this both with the ones I really like and know I will reread and with the ones I haven’t had time to read yet. I liked the old format a little better too. I guess I am a little lazy and don’t like to have to perform more actions on my laptop.
Sara:
I loved your recent missive. It’s tone and content was great. It was you.
People will eventually catch up and realize that what you are saying is valuable and instructive.
Bob was great and sensitive and of his time. He has, sadly, moved on (as have you in your own way) and I have hitched my wagon to your star. Please keep up the ruminations because they are new,
instructional, whimsical and you remain true to yourself. Couldn’t ask for anything more. It is nice to see you evolving your talents in a fresh manner.
Robert from Ottawa
How can it not be “intimate” with that sweet pup welcoming us? I love your writing Sara. YOU are what’s intimate here. Take her as she is folks and be inspired!
Thanks for the photos of Vincent van Gogh and Émile Bernard (I read all Vincen’t letters) and for the photo of Norman Rockwell and Pitter. Everyone needs a buddy – mine is my hubby :-). The old format felt like Bob’s studio, the new one is Sara’s. I like both. Thank you.
http://mirkov-popovicki.blogspot.ca/
I love the fact that you were brave enough to face your fathers loss and step up to make the rest of us, feel less sad. I don’t care how you send it, I hope you will keep writing and keep sharing. You are an amazing Woman and your Dad is Proud of you. Thank you for all you share and for sharing the good and the hard too. I feel blessed to be a part of this experience, Whatever works for you, works!
Please return to the old format!
Sara, what a lovely image! have a great trip.
(my website is very out-of-date and nothing seems to fix it, so. If you are interested, follow the links to archives and check out Grays Harbor College Spellman Library Gallery archives, and you will find my stuff, the older, but rather successful $wise, alas)
I am delighted to find you are a musician too, besides being an artist. I play viola, classically trained, and Irish trad fiddle, Celtic Fusion/jazz with my keyboard player/best friend, who lives 8 hours away, so we don’t get much of a chance to perform together anymore. We have found working with other people not nearly as good as what we have together. My husband is a very fine jazz trombone player, and he is doing fine subbing in at least 5 bands here in our “new” town of Grants Pass, Oregon. While I am redundant, and have not clicked with anybody here, except a wonderful Irish flute player, we hope to get a session started here, as it is too far to do Ashland every Sunday afternoon (and they don’t like me much there anyway) What sort of things are you doing musically? I have not seen anything about songwriting, until this post, so please fill me in, maybe? Cheers to you, and thanks for carrying on. I love the new format, actually ;) LSH
I am returning to art from long time ago with a different career in the middle. I realized after your post I have an artist ‘buddy’ who has been immensely helpful to my development and new start. Thanks for the post.
Thank you Sarah,
I have fond memories of Ullapool, Camden town, Oxford street, Edinburgh fringe and a whole host more. We visited Ullapool in mid winter over 20 years ago. Fond memories . . . And I agree creative buddies are precious and should be treasured.
Leslie
Dear Sara thank you for all your posts. The only thing we are sure of in life is change…. the new format is ok! And as for Ullapool I was there a year ago. Huge magical skies despite the rain. And we stayed at The Ceilidh Place, v atmospheric and fun. If you go to Lewis try and visit beautiful Uig country, my favourite part of the Isles. Good luck to you and LC. Ros B
How amazing! I used to live there. I hope you have a brilliant time as you tour the islands, and get an audience who celebrate and deserve you. All the best.
You will love Ullapool. It’s a very beautiful little place and the botanical gardens are great too.
Sara..I embrace your making change, in fact I celebrate it for you. “Ullapool” is a wonderful post & Bravo to you for collaborating musically!
Painterskeys, like all living things, must evolve and fit your creative outreach style. ( No way I’d know for sure, but thinking your Dad would agree and cheer you forward). Your ideas and creative inspiration are mighty valuable..Thank you for taking the time to write, remind, share with, and challenge your readers to growth.
Sara – the story is ideal – Ullapool indeed! You inherited your Father’s winning spirit! God bless you! As for the format- let’s be real. The “Painters Keys ” is still amazing and offers the same range or goodstuff. YOU are doing the work now, and so the format must be one YOU can do, integrated into the rest of your life. I think you and Peter are “Just grand” to keep it up at all. Good luck!
IF you find that you must end it……can you please be sure to make a permanent archive for our reference “…in age after age forever” your fan, ELLE FAGAN
Sara~ I am happy you have kept the Painters Keys tradition alive and vibrant. You did what you felt best to updated it – it’s clean and easy to read and feels like a new era. I love your letters, and will read them if they’re upside down and backwards! (OK, I do paint like that sometimes!) I feel that our artistic buddies are whispering from the other side: Dream you life and paint your Dream– in in Ullapool!! Many thanks, as always.
I do not like the new format, but there are two things I particularly don’t like.
One, I prefer to read the newsletter in my inbox. I only go the Website when I want to see images associated with a particular post.
Second, I made a comment several weeks ago, just before the format changed. I deliberately did not check the box to post the comment on Facebook. I do not want Facebook looking over my shoulder or trying coordinate my life. Imagine my surprise when a friend saw that comment on Facebook and responded to it. Now, I don’t even see the Facebook check box , so I suppose it is simply automatic.
For that reason, this will be the last time I comment and I likely will not be reading the posts much anymore either.
Hi Jean, unless you use the login here to connect to Facebook, nothing goes on Facebook. In the past the only choice to comment was Facebook, now it is 5 options plus you can simply post without connecting to anything if you wish. Hope this allays your concerns.
Thank you Sara for a very inspiring post, you are an amazing writer! I find some poesy in your texts:)
It is a difficult task taking over the painter’s key newsletters going and you have really done great, keeping the same spirit but with your own touch.
There is some strong resistance happening whenever you try changing something that people like, and it takes courage but sometimes it is for the best, I am glad you are taking those risks.
Sara you are a risk taker – and I applaud your moving on. Yes we loved your Dad and his letters. But I think you have to do it the way you need to. You may lose some readers but you will gain new ones. Sometimes change is difficult. You are a great writer and a wonderful creative person in your own right. I am getting used to the new format. Keep up the good work I think your father would be proud of you.
I don’t always have access to high speed internet and the cut off on the email letter is frustrating when I cannot connect to the web. How about finishing the letter and providing the same connection for more?
Sara,
Loved the connection your Dad created and love your writing as well. The new format don’t bother me at all as I usually started reading the e mail and then switched to on line. Great stories…..
Rich Mason
I don’t understand the complaints. It’s just another mouse click — not exactly like jumping off a cliff. You and your dad, were and are great with the written word. Keep on. It would be a shame to deny the world your insight and experience.
Thank you sara.
i didn’t understand the five ways you can comment though. .
God bless you.
Mary Thomas, to post a comment, you do not need to connect through any of the 4 icons above the form. Just fill out your name and email address in the form, and write your comments in the comment box. When you finished, click on the “Post Comment” and you’ll see it posted in seconds. I just did. tina :-)
Hi Sara, I’ve enjoyed the Painter’s Key letters for 7 months now and really appreciate the wisdom your father left behind. Thank You for continuing the tradition, in any format. I usually don’t visit the website, but the new format now made it so easy for me to open the website. Yes, can’t wait to hear about your trip to Ullapool. Blessings! May you be safe and protected; May you be healthy and strong; May you be happy and live with ease. tina :-)
I REALLY DON’T LIKE THE NEW FORMAT.
No need to shout, Bill.
I LOVE the new format :)
Hi Sara, have been so relieved that you have continued with the posts. I like the new format, as you need readers who only read the emails to engage in the website more, so that you can track engagement. Keep up the great work!
Don’t let the negative comments get to you! It’s only one click, for crying out loud, to get to the new completed letters. What really amazes me is what a wonderful wordsmith you are. I thought your dad would be a tough act to follow, as his words would always take me to other places, and indeed – other worlds. But you are drawing us into your world in the same way, by painting your environment with words that make it come alive, and also bringing a fresh young perspective to it. I, for one, am so very grateful. I sit here in a windy, warm, high desert studio, and am drawn to wish I were sitting in a quiet corner of the Ullapool place you will grace with your music, remembering the last time I was in England – late 60’s. I’m sure much has changed. Make some great memories, girl, and thanks for taking us along for the ride!!!
I really want to read these in my e-mail.
Hi Sara!
LOVING this new format. I tend to feel swamped by the emails in my inbox and I would always put off reading these letters until I had time. Yeah, right!
Now I find I click to read right away because I DO have time to scan the first few lines and then I’m intrigued. Way to go. I love the clean white format of the site too.
Thanks for your wonderful missives,
Holly
Sara,
THANK YOU for continuing your Dad’s wonderful letters tradition with his AND yours, now! We all love them. I don’t have time to read them during the day, so I print them and save them when I can spend more time thinking about their content. BUT, In case you don’t know, your new format does two things now that drive me CRAZY!! When I print, a box pops up saying SUBSCRIBE HERE, etc. that did not show up until I hit PRINT, and it blocks 13 lines of your first page, so after it is printed, I have to try to reposition the cursor, and REPRINT the area that it blocked out!!!! PLEASE GET RID OF THAT POP-UP BOX!!!!!. Secondly, when I printed the letter before, it would be 2 sheets. NOW, the printing includes ALLLLLL the replies, and my last printing was 16 pages, so I did prefer the initial format, so it could be a fast print, and I do want to keep the letters in a notebook, but not the hundreds of comments!!!!! BEFORE, I could go see the other replies if I wanted to, but did not have to PRINT them WITH the letters. Maybe you can put a HIDE button to hide all the replies unless you want to see them, maybe then, they won’t print with the letter. Thanks, Sara, for all your efforts. We do appreciate what you are doing for us!!! Just know that we are happy to still have you here!!! Kimberly
Sara,
Your letters are wonderful, and a respite from the treadmill world we tend to have. Thank you for all you do and in particular the reminder of how we are in this together!!
Jodie
While I am still missing your father, I am loving the fact that you are carrying on with his spirit of generosity, but with a style all your own. I adored this post about Ullapool, a place my husband and I got lost trying to find, about 20 years ago. It was well worth it though…it is a gem of a place at the edge of the world, and I loved it. The reason I wanted to go there??? Because I loved the sound of the name. It doesn’t take much to intrigue me. I came home with memories of a day of wandering…and a t-shirt! I hope you enjoyed your trip to Ullapool, and came home with your own memories too.
Hi Sara,
With no disrespect to your late father, it troubles me when your readers thank you for keeping him alive through your letters. It’s lovely that his letters continue to recirculate, and I want you to know I prefer reading yours – in any format. I love that you are keeping pieces Of what he created and forging your own way too. May these letters never be a burden to bear, but rather be a structure to inspire your own growth and creativity which in turn inspires ours. Thank you for your gift and enjoy the hell out of Ullapool!
Yes!!
Ullapool – I like that! Enjoy your time together and thanks for the vision. Helene
I’ve just read Ullapool for the umpteenth time ❤️. I’m wondering if Sara and Louise have continued their friendship? I really hope so! I’m planning to visit Ullapool next year. I will write a blog post from there (iampilgrim3.blogspot.com) and maybe a drawing plein air.
Hello,I log on to your blog named “How to get to Ullapool” like every week.Your story-telling style is awesome, keep up the good work! And you can look our website about powerful love spells.
I’m writing from the future, March, ’21. I had to express my joy at reading your moving recollection, so beautifully written, which instantly whipped me back to those special years. You captured the freedom in the air and the limitless possibilities and surprises around every corner. Exhilarating reading! Thank you for sharing your experiences and reminding me of our luck at having been freed by that unique era. We only have to remember it, when we lose lose our way or sense of self to re-energize.
You’re such a clever writer !
Nina, waving from Toronto (just out of lockdown).