Charles Lutwidge Dodgson

CLD, better known as Lewis Carroll, has been a favorite of mine since childhood.

My earliest engagement with his work arrived through the Disney Animated version – Alice in Wonderland (1951).

I later read both of CLD’s books – Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland (1865) & Through The Looking Glass (1871) before my teens and then his most famous poems, a brief Jabberwocky (1871) and a long The Hunting of the Snark (1876) when I studied English in College. Both poems appealed to my idiosyncrasy.

Indeed, CLD’s latter poem got a mention in an earlier and important blog – Claire’s Theorem (for any of you fine, five readers who wonder why there is only 5).

Claire’s Theorem – The Wise Novelist

[FYI, you can click on these embedded links to get the full reference]

Once I became a writer, I found that I shared other commonality with CLD.

For example, we are both Ministers.

Reverend Thomas – Never Saw That Coming – The Wise Novelist

Dodgson was ordained a deacon in the Church of England on 22 December 1861.

I was ordained through the Internet.

One hundred years before I was born, 1856, CLD first published a poem under the name Lewis Carroll.

It was also that year that CLD met and befriended Dean Henry Liddell who arrived at Oxford University, along with Liddell’s wife, Lorina, and their children, a boy, Harry, and three sisters, Lorina, Edith, and Alice Liddell. Here’s a shot of Alice from 1858.

Now CLD and another adult, a Reverend Duckworth, used to take the kids on regular rowing expeditions where they would tie up and picnic along the Thames. It was during these excursions that CLD used to create and tell stories to the children. Oral tradition. Alice being a bit more precocious, urged CLD to write the stories down. The rest, as they say. . . .

Similarly, at different times, I have shared Casa Claire with all of my grans and always tell them stories. One time in particular, all four grans appeared at once.

A Delightful Day – The Wise Novelist

Casa Claire is a place where I encourage flights of fancy and unbridled imagination among the children.

It really is the most important thing I can do for them.

Anyway, as part of our continuing efforts, Lisa and I try to encourage them to read the classics of children’s literature.

Indeed, Lisa was the parent who taught all of our children to read before they entered Kindergarten.

Anyway, beside my constant narrations (threats?) about the mystical creatures, dangers and magic lurking around every corner here at CC, we also try to come up with visual cues to trigger our grans’ love of reading, with hopes that we will ignite their own creativity and genius. Again, Lisa has taken the lead on that. She gets that from her Dad, Norb, who used to create cartoons for our children that included them in fantasy vignettes. Here is the only one I was able to save.

(Note the cheeky reference to the “F Word” proof that its use is genetically predisposed. Norb like to regularly comment on the fact that McCaffrey’s were all born saying the word “fuck”. And we are Scotch-Irish.)

The cartoon hangs as historical inspiration on the wall of my office where I have written all my novels.

The general process must work because my oldest, Luke, now has published his own series of novels, Lebanon Red and Bullet Proof:

Luke McCaffrey and Lebanon Red — Kerry Fryar Freeman

Amazon.com: Luke Mccaffrey: books, biography, latest update

Check them out, they’re exceptional. He’s a much finer writer than I am.

Anyway, it’s no wonder that, like CLD, I would build a fantasy world around my grans and base it here on CC.

Now, Scarlett has been demonstrating a rising talent in theatre.

Shake It Off, Scarlett Rose – The Wise Novelist

Savanna has been demonstrating a blossoming talent in art.

Life Fills Your Day – The Wise Novelist

And Stella has proven to be a natural at being a pain in the ass.

When Is Soup A Meal? – The Wise Novelist

Lucian has also demonstrated an artistic bent.

Well Done Lucian Bear – Legacies – The Wise Novelist

But please don’t call him “Bear,” he hates it.

So, yesterday, while doomscrolling FB local sales, I came across a wonderful piece that would be perfect for Scarlett, Savanna and Stella. It invokes that wonderful white rabbit that has changed so many lives.

No, not the druggy one. . . .but there is no denying it is an amazing introduction to Alice in Wonderland.

Side note, I saw Jefferson Airplane perform at Gaelic Park back in the 70s – had a huge crush on Grace Slick – read FJM.

My FB find is equally cool. I have been following that rabbit my whole life.

Indeed, I have a comparably magical rabbit here at CC – right out by The Old Man.

So, Lisa sent me on a quest to acquire the table – and all of its collective mystical mojo – while she went online to acquire the combo and classy looking LC book you see in the opening photo which will sit eternally on the table’s striped lower level – most likely in Scarlett’s room as she is the one of the siblings who regularly reads to her sisters – like the character Scarlett reads to the young Claire in TCS. The book should arrive today.

Lisa also went looking for just the right quote to hang above the table and book.

115+ Inspiring Alice in Wonderland Quotes to Spark Imagination (2026)

She is going to surprise me with her selection.

I’m going to attempt to read the books to the grans, if they ever actually sit still while they are here, but I also want Scarlett to carry that obligation forward.

So, years from now, when the grans look back on their magic visits to Casa Claire, hopefully they will understand that it is their family legacy to continue spreading Claire’s magic in the real world by whatever creative outlet they can find.

And for my fine, five readers –

“Remember what the dormouse said, feed your head, feed your head.”

And no matter what else we get up to, let us make today a great one.