I followed Beatrix Potter's routine (cosy day in English Countryside)

Hello, it's Ruby and in today's video Hello, it's Ruby and in today's video I'm going to be living a day like Betri I'm going to be living a day like Betri I'm going to be living a day like Betri Potter who of course is the author of Potter who of course is the author of Potter who of course is the author of the Peter Rabbit books and she is one of the Peter Rabbit books and she is one of the Peter Rabbit books and she is one of my favorite historical figures. I just my favorite historical figures. I just my favorite historical figures. I just think her life is so interesting. She think her life is so interesting. She think her life is so interesting. She grew up in London but was always grew up in London but was always grew up in London but was always fascinated by the natural world and fascinated by the natural world and fascinated by the natural world and loved the Lake District where her family loved the Lake District where her family loved the Lake District where her family would go on holiday. So later in her would go on holiday. So later in her would go on holiday. So later in her life she moved to the Lake District and life she moved to the Lake District and life she moved to the Lake District and she ended up buying loads of land and she ended up buying loads of land and she ended up buying loads of land and donating it to the National Trust so donating it to the National Trust so donating it to the National Trust so that it could be preserved. Now the that it could be preserved. Now the that it could be preserved. Now the routine I'm following isn't precise. I routine I'm following isn't precise. I routine I'm following isn't precise. I couldn't find like a precise routine couldn't find like a precise routine couldn't find like a precise routine that she had, but I read through her that she had, but I read through her that she had, but I read through her letters and this day is based loosely on letters and this day is based loosely on letters and this day is based loosely on those. Of course, it did start with those. Of course, it did start with those. Of course, it did start with breakfast. I had porridge and I had jam breakfast. I had porridge and I had jam breakfast. I had porridge and I had jam on toast. There is one letter from 1942 on toast. There is one letter from 1942 on toast. There is one letter from 1942 where she says that she has porridge for where she says that she has porridge for where she says that she has porridge for breakfast. Quote, I am not coughing now, breakfast. Quote, I am not coughing now, breakfast. Quote, I am not coughing now, so I shall save your lemon juice till so I shall save your lemon juice till so I shall save your lemon juice till next winter and sprinkle the dextrose on next winter and sprinkle the dextrose on next winter and sprinkle the dextrose on my breakfast porridge. You're wanting to go too, aren't you? You're wanting to go too, aren't you? Um, she did always start the day though Um, she did always start the day though Um, she did always start the day though by doing um odd like chores. Um, she by doing um odd like chores. Um, she by doing um odd like chores. Um, she lived on a working farm and she kept lived on a working farm and she kept lived on a working farm and she kept chickens and so she would go and feed chickens and so she would go and feed chickens and so she would go and feed the chickens every morning. Such a the chickens every morning. Such a the chickens every morning. Such a beautiful fresh morning today. beautiful fresh morning today. beautiful fresh morning today. Like this is the first morning. Like it Like this is the first morning. Like it Like this is the first morning. Like it really really feels like spring. really really feels like spring. really really feels like spring. The chickens are so excited. Look at The chickens are so excited. Look at The chickens are so excited. Look at them. Hello. Hello. Hello. You've got two eggs today. You've got two eggs today. Not lots, but two. Got two eggs. Got two eggs. They're both very mucky though. They're They're both very mucky though. They're They're both very mucky though. They're very mucky. This is the notebook for the next book This is the notebook for the next book I'm working on. And that's and this is I'm working on. And that's and this is I'm working on. And that's and this is what I'm going to be writing today as what I'm going to be writing today as what I'm going to be writing today as part of this video. I'm about part of this video. I'm about part of this video. I'm about 3,000 words in and I started it 4 days 3,000 words in and I started it 4 days 3,000 words in and I started it 4 days ago. And today I'm going to try and ago. And today I'm going to try and ago. And today I'm going to try and write maybe another 2,000 words. But write maybe another 2,000 words. But write maybe another 2,000 words. But first, I'm going to do some planning um first, I'm going to do some planning um first, I'm going to do some planning um because I'm trying to do like a very because I'm trying to do like a very because I'm trying to do like a very rough first draft just all handwritten. rough first draft just all handwritten. rough first draft just all handwritten. Bitrix Potter wrote and illustrated her Bitrix Potter wrote and illustrated her Bitrix Potter wrote and illustrated her book. So she did did these most book. So she did did these most book. So she did did these most incredible watercolor paintings which incredible watercolor paintings which incredible watercolor paintings which were anatomically correct for the animal were anatomically correct for the animal were anatomically correct for the animal she was writing about. So she wrote 23 she was writing about. So she wrote 23 she was writing about. So she wrote 23 of these animal tales which are the ones of these animal tales which are the ones of these animal tales which are the ones that so many of us remember fondly from that so many of us remember fondly from that so many of us remember fondly from childhood. Now Bitrix Potter lived until childhood. Now Bitrix Potter lived until childhood. Now Bitrix Potter lived until 1943 but most of her books were written 1943 but most of her books were written 1943 but most of her books were written between 1902 and 1913 which was her most between 1902 and 1913 which was her most between 1902 and 1913 which was her most productive period of writing. So I've productive period of writing. So I've productive period of writing. So I've handwritten a whole load of that and handwritten a whole load of that and handwritten a whole load of that and also done some plot planning. when I was also done some plot planning. when I was also done some plot planning. when I was reading Bitrix Potter's letters, um she reading Bitrix Potter's letters, um she reading Bitrix Potter's letters, um she did speak about going on morning walks did speak about going on morning walks did speak about going on morning walks and so I'm going to go on a very short and so I'm going to go on a very short and so I'm going to go on a very short walk now and then I will come back and walk now and then I will come back and walk now and then I will come back and I'm going to do some more writing. So I'm going to do some more writing. So I'm going to do some more writing. So far I've just had a perfect day. This is far I've just had a perfect day. This is far I've just had a perfect day. This is like my ideal day walking, writing, like my ideal day walking, writing, like my ideal day walking, writing, feeding the chickens. Um like I don't feeding the chickens. Um like I don't feeding the chickens. Um like I don't know, it's it's great. It's very simple. Look how pretty. Look how pretty. I'm back from my walk and I'm now going I'm back from my walk and I'm now going I'm back from my walk and I'm now going to type off a chapter. Um, I've been to type off a chapter. Um, I've been to type off a chapter. Um, I've been doing handwriting this morning, of doing handwriting this morning, of doing handwriting this morning, of course, but my book is typed. I also course, but my book is typed. I also course, but my book is typed. I also don't think I've ever been this excited don't think I've ever been this excited don't think I've ever been this excited about a writing project. like this just about a writing project. like this just about a writing project. like this just I'm loving every single moment of this I'm loving every single moment of this I'm loving every single moment of this and it feels very refreshing cuz I've and it feels very refreshing cuz I've and it feels very refreshing cuz I've not fell out of love with writing when I not fell out of love with writing when I not fell out of love with writing when I was writing my last book but I felt a was writing my last book but I felt a was writing my last book but I felt a lot of self-doubt for I'm feeling so lot of self-doubt for I'm feeling so lot of self-doubt for I'm feeling so much more positive about it and it's much more positive about it and it's much more positive about it and it's really lovely to feel so positive. really lovely to feel so positive. really lovely to feel so positive. Anyway, let's write the next chapter. Anyway, let's write the next chapter. Anyway, let's write the next chapter. I'm going to I've got a call in 20 I'm going to I've got a call in 20 I'm going to I've got a call in 20 minutes, 25 minutes. So, I'm going to minutes, 25 minutes. So, I'm going to minutes, 25 minutes. So, I'm going to try and write maybe like 400 or 500 try and write maybe like 400 or 500 try and write maybe like 400 or 500 words. After my call, I made some lunch. I had After my call, I made some lunch. I had scrambled tofu because I don't eat eggs, scrambled tofu because I don't eat eggs, scrambled tofu because I don't eat eggs, but Bitrix Potter kept chickens and did but Bitrix Potter kept chickens and did but Bitrix Potter kept chickens and did eat eggs. So, this felt like a perfect eat eggs. So, this felt like a perfect eat eggs. So, this felt like a perfect lunch and it was so sunny. So, I did eat lunch and it was so sunny. So, I did eat lunch and it was so sunny. So, I did eat this outside. The thinking is here. this outside. The thinking is here. this outside. The thinking is here. Bitrix Potter loved to be in nature and Bitrix Potter loved to be in nature and Bitrix Potter loved to be in nature and she loved to be outdoors and so I she loved to be outdoors and so I she loved to be outdoors and so I imagine that she would have enjoyed a imagine that she would have enjoyed a imagine that she would have enjoyed a meal outside. So, again, her letters meal outside. So, again, her letters meal outside. So, again, her letters indicate that she did go on lots of indicate that she did go on lots of indicate that she did go on lots of walks. I didn't go on a really long walk walks. I didn't go on a really long walk walks. I didn't go on a really long walk this morning. So, instead I went on a this morning. So, instead I went on a this morning. So, instead I went on a long 2-hour walk in the afternoon. I long 2-hour walk in the afternoon. I long 2-hour walk in the afternoon. I didn't listen to music. I didn't do didn't listen to music. I didn't do didn't listen to music. I didn't do anything during this walk apart from anything during this walk apart from anything during this walk apart from just observe the natural world around me just observe the natural world around me just observe the natural world around me because Bitrix Potter was fascinated by because Bitrix Potter was fascinated by because Bitrix Potter was fascinated by nature and she kept meticulous field nature and she kept meticulous field nature and she kept meticulous field note journals when she was young. She note journals when she was young. She note journals when she was young. She did research into mushrooms and micology did research into mushrooms and micology did research into mushrooms and micology and her drawings of animals are of and her drawings of animals are of and her drawings of animals are of course anatomically precise and so it course anatomically precise and so it course anatomically precise and so it felt only appropriate to be very felt only appropriate to be very felt only appropriate to be very receptive to the natural world on this receptive to the natural world on this receptive to the natural world on this walk. And then later after my walk I sat walk. And then later after my walk I sat walk. And then later after my walk I sat outside and I did some nature outside and I did some nature outside and I did some nature journaling. A couple of springs ago, I journaling. A couple of springs ago, I journaling. A couple of springs ago, I kept a very meticulous nature journal kept a very meticulous nature journal kept a very meticulous nature journal every day and it's such a wonderful every day and it's such a wonderful every day and it's such a wonderful practice to do. I would highly practice to do. I would highly practice to do. I would highly recommend. So, I basically documented recommend. So, I basically documented recommend. So, I basically documented some details from my walk and I find some details from my walk and I find some details from my walk and I find that nature journaling encourages you to that nature journaling encourages you to that nature journaling encourages you to be more receptive to uh the natural be more receptive to uh the natural be more receptive to uh the natural world around you. Of course, Bitrix world around you. Of course, Bitrix world around you. Of course, Bitrix Potter also did do a lot of watercolor Potter also did do a lot of watercolor Potter also did do a lot of watercolor painting and so this did feel very painting and so this did feel very painting and so this did feel very appropriate. This wasn't, however, the appropriate. This wasn't, however, the appropriate. This wasn't, however, the only thing that Bitrix Potter did. even only thing that Bitrix Potter did. even only thing that Bitrix Potter did. even though she was a writer and she was a though she was a writer and she was a though she was a writer and she was a painter, she also uh was very involved painter, she also uh was very involved painter, she also uh was very involved in her local community in the Lake in her local community in the Lake in her local community in the Lake District. So, she lived on a working District. So, she lived on a working District. So, she lived on a working farm and even though she didn't do the farm and even though she didn't do the farm and even though she didn't do the more laborious farmwork, she also in her more laborious farmwork, she also in her more laborious farmwork, she also in her letters always makes a point of how much letters always makes a point of how much letters always makes a point of how much there is to do and how busy she is and there is to do and how busy she is and there is to do and how busy she is and the way that she is very involved in the the way that she is very involved in the the way that she is very involved in the local community. I however did do a local community. I however did do a local community. I however did do a little bit more writing and then again according to her letters and then again according to her letters we know that she wrote letters after we know that she wrote letters after we know that she wrote letters after supper and this would be the time that supper and this would be the time that supper and this would be the time that she'd sit and reply to letters. This is she'd sit and reply to letters. This is she'd sit and reply to letters. This is the Victorian the Edwardian period like the Victorian the Edwardian period like the Victorian the Edwardian period like people are sending lots of letters. It's people are sending lots of letters. It's people are sending lots of letters. It's the way that people communicate the way that people communicate the way that people communicate remotely. Um so there would be like remotely. Um so there would be like remotely. Um so there would be like normal correspondence here but also she normal correspondence here but also she normal correspondence here but also she famously wrote letter stories to famously wrote letter stories to famously wrote letter stories to children. Okay, this is going children. Okay, this is going children. Okay, this is going everywhere. I might have to forgo everywhere. I might have to forgo everywhere. I might have to forgo the fountain pen and use a different pen the fountain pen and use a different pen the fountain pen and use a different pen just because I don't want to get it all just because I don't want to get it all just because I don't want to get it all over my night dress. And so I decided to over my night dress. And so I decided to over my night dress. And so I decided to write a story in a letter for the write a story in a letter for the write a story in a letter for the children of some family friends. I just children of some family friends. I just children of some family friends. I just wrote this as two pages and it was wrote this as two pages and it was wrote this as two pages and it was honestly so much fun to do. Thankfully I honestly so much fun to do. Thankfully I honestly so much fun to do. Thankfully I have an Edwardian have an Edwardian have an Edwardian ink blotter. I can never believe how well these work. I can never believe how well these work. Mine looks very rough around the edges Mine looks very rough around the edges Mine looks very rough around the edges as well from where I've slotted the as well from where I've slotted the as well from where I've slotted the blotting paper in. Okay, I've just written this letter. I'm Okay, I've just written this letter. I'm going to post it early tomorrow morning. done. That was really, really fun. Um, done. That was really, really fun. Um, and I really want to do stuff like this and I really want to do stuff like this and I really want to do stuff like this more often. Funny enough, I have more often. Funny enough, I have more often. Funny enough, I have actually been writing a serialized actually been writing a serialized actually been writing a serialized story for some family friends, and it's story for some family friends, and it's story for some family friends, and it's been so fun. I read it to them every been so fun. I read it to them every been so fun. I read it to them every week. And um I've never written in that week. And um I've never written in that week. And um I've never written in that way before, like actually writing for way before, like actually writing for way before, like actually writing for somebody specifically, but a lot of somebody specifically, but a lot of somebody specifically, but a lot of children's stories came out of uh like children's stories came out of uh like children's stories came out of uh like stories that were written for one stories that were written for one stories that were written for one particular person. And actually, there particular person. And actually, there particular person. And actually, there is this one letter where she says, "I is this one letter where she says, "I is this one letter where she says, "I hope I shall write Winfred lots of hope I shall write Winfred lots of hope I shall write Winfred lots of letters. It is much more satisfactory to letters. It is much more satisfactory to letters. It is much more satisfactory to address a real life child. I often think address a real life child. I often think address a real life child. I often think that that was the secret of the success that that was the secret of the success that that was the secret of the success of Peter Rabbit. It was written to a of Peter Rabbit. It was written to a of Peter Rabbit. It was written to a child, not made to order." But anyway, child, not made to order." But anyway, child, not made to order." But anyway, thank you for joining me on this day thank you for joining me on this day thank you for joining me on this day living like Bitrix Potter. It was living like Bitrix Potter. It was living like Bitrix Potter. It was actually genuinely so similar to my actually genuinely so similar to my actually genuinely so similar to my normal daily routine, but it was also normal daily routine, but it was also normal daily routine, but it was also basically my perfect day. I very much basically my perfect day. I very much basically my perfect day. I very much enjoyed this and I hope you have a enjoyed this and I hope you have a enjoyed this and I hope you have a wonderful day.