Sunset through new hazel leaves
I have a thing about Beech trees. In spring they are one of the most beautiful sights and in the autumn they are one of the most beautiful sights. I love the smooth grey of their trunks and the sinuous strength of their limbs stretching out to the sun. If you look at the way a Beech tree twig grows it is asymmetrical, elegant and.. erm... pointy. :)
Hazel bud burst on the trunk of the tree
Once I went to Avebury at Samhain. I got chatting about Beech trees to the head Druid of the area before the ceremony started. He had a loathing of splintery Beech Trees and we debated heavily about whether they were native or not. It was brilliant!! He had a point about them being splintery, the only close encounter with a falling tree I've ever had was the huge limb of a Beech tree ripping the tree in half in Savernake Forest. Leo and I had just passed the tree a few moments before. It sounded like the largest thunder clap I'd ever heard. Scary stuff.
Not quite as scary as my church and graveyard explorations during this walk...
I was getting sucked into the stories behind the gravestones. Fantasing about the lives these people may have had. I came across the oldest gravestones, some dating to 1615! It was in this patch that the Entrance to the Vault was. Strangely compelling. I think my irrational desire to be able to lift that stone and go down the beetle covered steps into the vault is what led me to go into the Church instead.
Willow and I opened the huge heavy oak door and were hit by the damp stone and dusty wood smell that is peculiar to churches. Willow was having none of it. She was not going in! I finally managed to coax her in and I closed the door. No lights. It was creepy but beautiful! It's what the windows were made for.
This window was behind the altar. Check out the masonic symbol in the very top window.
The church was full of shadowy pews, arches and churchy paraphernalia. I was heading towards the altar when I saw the shadow of a person. A huge person, with a perfectly defined head. I nearly poo'd my pants. there was an unexpected room off to the left with a huge statue of a man in it lit by the stained glass window below.
About 10 years ago I used to live in a semi converted church in Capel Curig, North Wales (only half of it had been done, all the pews were still in place and the telly sat on the lectern!). So being able to explore a church, in the dark, with noone else being there brought back memories of that crazy, wonderful time!
Sweet Woodruff
The woods are looking spectacular. So many new plants and signs of nightly scurrying. I found some more moschatel (Old town clock) by the woodruff. Pretty, pretty, pretty!
I came up with many stories during this wandering of mine. It was great fun. You can't help it when you come across entrances..
The Entrance
I think that the Entrance had something to do with this poor giant frog. He obviously tried his chances and leapt out into our world at the wrong time of day. Now he's petrified in wood forever. Poor thing.
Before my willow went disastrously slimy I managed to make some baskets for people and here they are...
I can't use the pond anymore to soak the withies as it's too full of life (I feel awful shaking out the newts, dragonfly nymphs etc...). So in the meantime I'm using a green wheelie bin filled with water to soak them in. It's not really deep enough, but will have to do until I'm finished building my soaking trough!
It's a magical world we live in!
hen
x
