At least thinking about all these ideas has made me realise the root of my current creative practice. A sense of place for me is also about a sense of belonging or situatedness. Feeling right in an environment is about familiarity - the right smells, light and space. I suppose being 'home' is also about hearing the garden gate creak and bang in a certain way, the smell of real tomatoes...
I came across a copy of Grandma's tea loaf recipe in her cupboard while I was staying at the weekend. She wrote me a recipe book when I was younger but I haven't been able to find it for a while so this was a great discovery. A little taste from my childhood when Mum used to make this for Sunday tea.
I also collected some plant material from Mum's garden; hydrangea petals, hawthorn leaves, tomato stalks and a few hornbeam leaves, all plants I associate with the garden. I wrapped them in some worsted wool fabric to bring back to Yorkshire as a souvenir.
I would be interested to hear what home means to other people - Where is home to you? What reminds you of home when you are away? What makes you feel 'at home'?
I always notice how differntly peoples homes smell. I can always remember a friend from Junior school house smelling like TCP which I thought was fantastic....my Ganny's smelt like boiled cabbage or soap!
ReplyDeleteI moved 4 years ago and only recently does the house smell like us...
Unlike you Hannah because my father was in the forces we moved every 2 or so years so houses didnt mean the same to me. My parents & especially my sister and twin brother mean "home". But Yorkshire reminds me of my nana whom we used to visit. I love old handbags, red lipstick, rose petals in jam jars and the smell of an old face powder compact - all "my nana". Now my home is my husband and daughters, but also the house "home" we live in. if I am away I miss the smell of both my daughters hair! Thinking of you. The recipe will always be great to share with family and friends.
ReplyDeleteeach journey is simply a long loop to home
ReplyDeletebut
when i'm away i travel with a teabowl, tiny teapot
and
my travel blanket
so
with a bunch of windfall flowers
anywhere can be made homelike
if need be
I think the idea of creating a 'home from home' is an interesting one, and perhaps something to explore in more depth.
ReplyDelete