Tea with Ebony Wilder

Picked some roses for Ebony Wilder

from the Riversleigh Manor Rose

Garden, and she gave me tea

and scones at the big table

in the old fashioned kitchen,

and a tale of her adventures

on the high seas…

(copyright Imogen Crest 2008.)

Sibyl Self Portraiture – Retrospective

In the Murmuring Woods

Jumping for Joy

Meditation

Exhilaration

Empowerment

Hostess

Inner Child

Youthful Innocence

Shamanic

Housekeeper – Ebony Wilder

Ebony Wilder, the Ms Marple style housekeeper of the Lemurian Abbey, is mild mannered by day. But you do need to know that Ebony has long associations with a smuggling ring and had connections to dubious seafaring types from China who purport to have bottled the Elixir of Creativity. Ebony is none other than the notorious Captain Ebony Wilder, whose exquisite mind and swashbuckling style was the talk of the Lemurian Seas.

The Rivesleigh Stable Women

Tilly Harris

Mrs Luff – Stable Woman

Mrs Ravenwood
by Heather Blakey

The Ferry Women

The Ferry Women of Duwamish are a fascinating bunch.They are the women who row the boats across to the Isle of Ancestors where the dead enjoy eternal life. The Ferry Women are each ancestral women, women who have knowledge and wisdom that every heroine needs.

Lemurian Elders

Bridgette Hoatson never knew that it was her destiny to run the Little Red Apple Tearooms on the Island of the Temple People until she came and found the cottage in the apple orchard. Her tearooms are a favourite meeting place for travellers who stop to chat about books and tell stories of their Lemurian Adventures in her Tea House. But, of course, she also offers classic apple cider and plenty of apple pie.

Now don’t you all be thinking that all the Lemurian Elders are elderly folk. Young Rosie Duncan came on one of the journeys and revealed wisdom beyond her years. She made the Island of the Temple People home and runs the clothing exchange. You will find the most amazing bargains in Rosie’s store. In another life she worked for a big fashion house but, tired of the corporate life, a life that stripped her of spirit, Rosie came to Lemuria and now she has found the place she likes to call home.

Zinnia Edward’s hand crafted wooden horses are highly sought after. Her carousel horses can be found at the Duwamish Marina. Each horse has a ’spirit’ and becomes a spirit horse to any lucky individual who is able to acquire one. But like the Samuri sword maker, Zinnia will only permit those with artistic spirit to become a caretaker of one of her horses.

Bethany James reads Tarot and keeps the small apothecary on the island. She spends hours gathering herbs from the mountain sides and runs sessions making creative medicine bags. A mistress of all trades Bethany also runs the local film society and shows art films at the small retro theatre.

Gertrude Edwards runs the Three Little Pigs, a scrapbooking, visual art store to die for. Visit Gertrude and she will have any supplies that you need.

Jonas Shingles has run the Curiosity Shop, in the small village on the Island of the Temple People, for fifty years. From rabbit traps to weathervanes and enamel bread bins, there is nothing Jonas cannot find for you thanks to his encyclopedic knowledge of the bewildering stock in his store. Travellers will find anything they need at Jonas’s place.

Artist, Bob Boyle and his partner Betty have a small studio on the island. They have been together for forty five years and provide Bed and Breakfast for travellers who want to spend time with them.

Archie and Edna Hair live in a small cottage called the Arches, by the Freestone Creek, where they have been for sixty years. Hoardes of visitors come to join Archie on one of his famous treasure hunts.

Will Reilly, who used to sail the seven Lemurian seas has been combing the beaches of the Isle of the Temple People for more years than he cares to remember. Little has changed since he was a lad. You can find him on the beach or in the local tavern and he has many tales of the sea

Grace Harvey runs the music school on the island and organises chamber music evenings that are a joy to all who attend.

Tom and Dorothy Hill run the local nursery, renowned for its exotic antique roses.

Old Staff Back on Deck

Albert and Freda Morrow look after the rookery and the kitchen garden. Freda keeps a good supply of ‘the sister’s’ favourite grain and knows each bird by name. Albert busies himself growing vegetables and keeps the house supplied. Right now he is harvesting peas and folk are sitting out shucking buckets of the little green pearls.

Regina Stoby was a matron of a small country hospital until she came to Riversleigh. She has been here for more years than she cares to remember. Guests often just call Reggie ‘Matron’. She has big arms and is ready to wrap a weary traveller up in a rug and bring them a nice cup of cooks chicken soup.

Colleen Andover is one of the housekeepers at Riversleigh. She keeps the vases filled with fresh flowers. At the moment the roses are blooming at Riversleigh and the perfume is drifting through opened windows.

Loretta Walsh is the in-house herbalist and acupunturist at Riversleigh. She spends hours sourcing herbs and root plants from the nearby hills with her companion dog, Walter.

Hannah Oakes tends the seed beds and regularly plants new seeds as residents arrive.

The Westover Triplets look after the old stables and the mares that take residents on night rides.

Artist Workshop – With Denise West

Denise West is just one of the very artists who opens her studios and works with guests and residents at Riversleigh.
You might decide to open yours as well and invite everyone to visit.

Completed work is often displayed in the Riversleigh Art Room.

Heather Blakey March 07

Martial Arts in the Gardens

At Riversleigh Manor there are many diversions. Brenda Clipstone offers martial arts and training with Chi in the gardens most days. Take your time to enjoy working with her. It will enhance your feeling of well being.

Heather Blakey March 2008

If I Close My Eyes

If I close my eyes

I can hear it

The faery drum

Following along

My mistress Muse deserves it

Coming on with the setting sun