Stones and stuff

Monday was a blustery day with the trees in the garden swaying the whole day. In the afternoon there was a downpour at exactly the time we decided to go to Newcastle so I could go to a Woolen Shop (yarn). The lady was quite accomodating and showed me all kinds of new yarns and threads. Some are craft styles that I haven't seen in the US. The unfortunate thing is that it appears that they are only suitable for knitting. I may have to relearn that skill as I love the way it works up!

The day was spent in resting from the weekend and getting caught up with Bible reading but I did get outside when it was only misting to take a few photos. There is one flower that looks much like our Mystery/Resurrection/Surprise Lilies. I asked Richard who gave me the Latin name for it first. Then he said it is called Autumn Crocus so I google'd it and here's a pic.

Richard is quite an interesting fellow. He is the gardner/driver/handyman. He has an extensive vocabulary and keeps us entertained with his droll sense of humor. He is working on the C.S. Lewis Garden in his spare time. When the garden is leveled and ready for plantings, he will add a door as in the wardrobe to Narnia and you will go into the forest through the garden. I did spent a few minutes in the Amy Carmichael Garden yesterday. Lots of delicate flowers.

Richard the Gardener

Not a useful pic with the darkness and no perspective.

Bebe had asked about the hawthorn tree a few days ago and Richard said he could take us to see one. We were too tired on Sunday but said we'd go today. He said there is also a circle of stones where the hawthorn is located so we were up for the journey! He preferred to go at about 6 so he could finish the outside work and because he felt that the site was even more lovely in the waning light. That proved to be about 30-45 minutes later than optimal. We drove to Downpatrick and then out to the rural area, parked along the side of the road and walked up a cow path that was about 5 feet wide. This fact will become more important as the trek continues! Keep in mind that it has rained most of the day with that torrential downpour in the afternoon. The cow path was bordered on one side by a stone fence and the other by a wire fence and there were trees growing in the fence rows. Between and on the trees were brambles and thorns. The beginning of the walk was easy enough and we stopped to see the hawthorn tree. Then we continued down the path and the slosh in the middle became softer and softer. I opted to walk in the twelve inches to the right of the path steadying myself by grabbing hold of the tree limbs occasionally. Too often my gloved hand grasped the briars! And more than once the overhead briars caught in my hat. Richard noticed and pulled out his hand shears and began clearing a bit. The trees and briars made a canopy over the path and we could tell even in the 'tunnel' that darkness was falling. I asked the ubiquitous question, "how much further?" and received the "not so much" answer. We continued. And then there was a small turnstile gate and we entered the field that held the Ballynoe Circle of Stones. As Richard said, "it is no Stonehenge". Yet it is an impressive sight, about 100 feet in diameter with stones from two feet to two metres high arranged in a circle. There's a mound in the center and the outlying stones. It is believed that they were placed over 5,000 years ago. It would be a spectacular sight to see as the sun rises...but you won't find me making that trek!!

We made our way back through the turnstile and now UP the path. We slipped a bit from time to time but again grasping the foliage and using the stone fence for balance, we managed to make it without sinking too much in the sludge in the middle of the path. It WAS worth the fifteen minute walk to and fro. It is an incredible sight to see. I cannot imagine how a people with no machinery other than the basics of a lever, etc., would have been able to move such stones. This site is compared to Cumbria (for those of you who are archaologically inclined).

Richard drove us to Asda, a grocery in Downpatrick now owned by Walmart. Our expectations were too high. They did have a few appliances so we could tick a couple more things off our list. They have a very interesting way of trolley management. In order to get a cart/trolley, you insert a pound coin(worth about $1.40 USD) which unlocks the chain. When you return the cart and lock it up, the pound is returned. There were no stray carts in the carpark (parking lot). There was however a raised curbed area. Bebe was walking ahead of me with her purse and a bag. I saw her stumble and thought she was going to recover and not fall but she didn't. She continued to stumble and then tumbled scraping her face on the curb as she rolled onto the asphalt. She sat up and was bleeding. Richard went back into Asda to get tissues and we went on to the car. The bleeding stopped but there was a mess. It didn't seem bad enough for an emergency room visit. We got back to Murlough House to a cleanup and some ice. Today (Tuesday) her eye is swelled a bit and already bruised to a black and purple. Her cheek is just green. Her elbow is swelled a bit and bruised as well. However, we are grateful that she didn't break an arm or a hip!

Pray that our stumbles and tumbles will all be minor! Pray for healing and rest.