Becky’s Book

Sunrise
The sun, peering across shrubbery on our lawn through the trunks of naked trees, rose into a clear pale slate-blue sky, ready to dry the dew this morning.
Becky's book frontispiece
Sometime in 1973 I began to make a book for Becky, then my youngest daughter. It was planned for her fourth birthday the following year. I used water-colour pencils on a pad of thick cartridge paper, leaving the spiralled spine in place and binding the boards with a William Morris furnishing fabric, sealed by a press-stud on a flap. Taking a wee bit longer than anticipated, this labour of love was not finished until my little girl’s seventh birthday by which time she could read it for herself.

Here it is:

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Tonight’s dinner consisted of perfect slow baked gammon, crisp carrots and cauliflower, a tangy melange of tomatoes, peppers and onions, and mashed potato and swede with a cheese sauce, followed by lemon and lime jelly. I drank more of Lidl’s Bordeaux.

68 comments

  1. I hope you will publish this or at least have copies printed so your children and grandchildren can have a copy each. I appreciate the metaphor.

    1. Thank you Mary. It has often been suggested that I publish it, but I’ve never thought it polished enough. But it has now been published on WordPress 🙂

      1. And of course lucky Becky has the original 🙂 Maybe it’s up to her to follow up. I often wonder about the future of online publishing. Will they one day disappear into the ether? Well, I guess if they do they won’t pollute the atmosphere, hopefully.

  2. This is so deep, Derrick. I love what you did for your daughter. I think Becky was and is so proud of her dad. It was a wonderful gesture of you.
    You are very talented, too. Thanks for sharing this with me, my dear friend. I know you love your all kids very much 🙂
    Hugs and kisses <3

  3. This is so beautiful and sweet, Derrick! Joy-tears are in my eyes. What a treasure this book is to Becky and all of your family. Such a wonderful story and artwork. You are so talented.
    HUGS!!! 🙂

  4. This is a very sweet book, Derrick — Becky is fortunate to have a Daddy like you who can make such a sweet gift for her birthday! I’m sure she will always treasure it!

  5. I did read this post two years ago, albeit I did not leave a comment. Rereading it I find it a beautiful healing project, and a layered store of the circle of life, and a God’s grace and protection. Thank you for resharing you are a wonderful artist. I hope Becky still owns Beccy’s Book of Seasons.

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