tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90501787988076327032024-03-12T22:27:30.887-06:00FirstLight Transformationscynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-58673748513261250272023-10-26T12:22:00.001-06:002023-10-26T12:22:42.325-06:00<p> Last day: Time with good friends. . .and the River Thames</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRu37rYR1ecX_VGGRkdjyKZvDGaZb7oq_OKhm5ILgHLcqm8HyvX0VgbkhwnthCx1OBCL0Abh87UK2CVzZij755C2w3VbQ2qi6k7jrK0x_sD6_kq5oY3TDqd9let8ZRLWcWFWshQYpekvr8ZeTchW6wFL9Vyu0Myl8W57YxsKYZhsKD4HBOHrtHF6pW0RE/s4032/IMG_2417.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRu37rYR1ecX_VGGRkdjyKZvDGaZb7oq_OKhm5ILgHLcqm8HyvX0VgbkhwnthCx1OBCL0Abh87UK2CVzZij755C2w3VbQ2qi6k7jrK0x_sD6_kq5oY3TDqd9let8ZRLWcWFWshQYpekvr8ZeTchW6wFL9Vyu0Myl8W57YxsKYZhsKD4HBOHrtHF6pW0RE/s320/IMG_2417.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hzvW6Dj0hpBZUQiEkvCv6G15dBxLH7S8lFKsYNRXC31QDZCzZ1rZBVPCAWjB_Sxaqob8eFMlujODr_18SLvEBkpJsZKQSXa31IxBxnHL5a_X6kCXeO64ePUaJJuscbaE4vFrcFrBolv1msNsT1-hbCWGIpZgmIzxQQJWpUJXk7-2X4jleMIAXVWuoc8/s4032/IMG_2424.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hzvW6Dj0hpBZUQiEkvCv6G15dBxLH7S8lFKsYNRXC31QDZCzZ1rZBVPCAWjB_Sxaqob8eFMlujODr_18SLvEBkpJsZKQSXa31IxBxnHL5a_X6kCXeO64ePUaJJuscbaE4vFrcFrBolv1msNsT1-hbCWGIpZgmIzxQQJWpUJXk7-2X4jleMIAXVWuoc8/s320/IMG_2424.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mAYglN3o_9bi63ycWvVYWCdNMo63YfOnS7TA5YqLDENPUyhbwZ1hViO15K2E-0CwqaiuThdb7bcmNFPkUef5qkEbOq22CG26qkSAVVVnNIJ2ocT8piBpZgVeBvK-o3e77yNHj0Gyw4q89U_w5EHNoeePm4tqj7OSHWXpNwYXzIYah4-8AP4kYs441TQ/s4032/IMG_2425.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mAYglN3o_9bi63ycWvVYWCdNMo63YfOnS7TA5YqLDENPUyhbwZ1hViO15K2E-0CwqaiuThdb7bcmNFPkUef5qkEbOq22CG26qkSAVVVnNIJ2ocT8piBpZgVeBvK-o3e77yNHj0Gyw4q89U_w5EHNoeePm4tqj7OSHWXpNwYXzIYah4-8AP4kYs441TQ/s320/IMG_2425.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-85862660829782239402023-10-26T03:53:00.000-06:002023-10-26T03:53:16.220-06:00<p> One more precious (and sometimes sunny) day at Kew Gardens. I am so so happy there, in deep love with every tree, plant, flower, bird (lots of ducks and swans), pond and blade of green green grass.. .etc.!!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiV_8SWe2m72_jRxJOMyO7kyAJwkfk0KrEgsqEjQxm9kqFi9ONq5p0LVvGVp2Wc3dYOBN37c44Ki7XKVa_mQostEkg4ddLSkQ3woeRhIunUf1LtTbfE_IDJoaPpdl9p4ZgVfJouldlxcd3jd-gZiFJ5e4NDFCi2bbhf_H6tGqK3EkYasky4NmWnYb8ok/s4032/IMG_2415.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiV_8SWe2m72_jRxJOMyO7kyAJwkfk0KrEgsqEjQxm9kqFi9ONq5p0LVvGVp2Wc3dYOBN37c44Ki7XKVa_mQostEkg4ddLSkQ3woeRhIunUf1LtTbfE_IDJoaPpdl9p4ZgVfJouldlxcd3jd-gZiFJ5e4NDFCi2bbhf_H6tGqK3EkYasky4NmWnYb8ok/s320/IMG_2415.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJLM0EEQYTe7WO4ApfUGKJf7sdRZDJAzvlS7IpJbdMlqM8AbxaB4r1eICR9dLWb4hr44AoQa66CXRXUnom_FaRL_wLLlHL6F-fzl3US5gQtzg_pnmXW06XdpkYrn_zOPUiTJEAr453BBhisW9Sv3ws-rXOJIHG0EG3bEn2dYIXgzaI6qRslyrOvO71sA/s4032/IMG_2414.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJLM0EEQYTe7WO4ApfUGKJf7sdRZDJAzvlS7IpJbdMlqM8AbxaB4r1eICR9dLWb4hr44AoQa66CXRXUnom_FaRL_wLLlHL6F-fzl3US5gQtzg_pnmXW06XdpkYrn_zOPUiTJEAr453BBhisW9Sv3ws-rXOJIHG0EG3bEn2dYIXgzaI6qRslyrOvO71sA/s320/IMG_2414.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgNMJkWgmWCdXUcH2HwVeDWNocVIj-vkwt1mQkD_HvNdqxCYmf9Goi96EkEd8a3L5hqJWamBxneLnf-5_ARcxWTPw2ke9V14lgN2zTdKTJ-WASuK8G-jwPkkyVUKgt5BSphhXKzr41HJMGUOr8GF_4nDI4nlINR8JlZoYV-eSC9yCbTqq6DDmv3dSf8Y/s4032/IMG_2408.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgNMJkWgmWCdXUcH2HwVeDWNocVIj-vkwt1mQkD_HvNdqxCYmf9Goi96EkEd8a3L5hqJWamBxneLnf-5_ARcxWTPw2ke9V14lgN2zTdKTJ-WASuK8G-jwPkkyVUKgt5BSphhXKzr41HJMGUOr8GF_4nDI4nlINR8JlZoYV-eSC9yCbTqq6DDmv3dSf8Y/s320/IMG_2408.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPaso2W56Fu2xpgWtJjttuIEFkpk-wE1u9lunGGakiNlXzQrdo-5IEvnobcwFZx3Q07IKDr_org-mbccDO1Nx_aztODvTbx0S-IA6aEQT1U7-l9XhxTAeILzQWFQb5OIOwYeT0EC-nv-q3Q6_IqMu8CIddcgCsHU15tc6u_JT7f1cjhArRBNNmPRulRU/s4032/IMG_2412.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPaso2W56Fu2xpgWtJjttuIEFkpk-wE1u9lunGGakiNlXzQrdo-5IEvnobcwFZx3Q07IKDr_org-mbccDO1Nx_aztODvTbx0S-IA6aEQT1U7-l9XhxTAeILzQWFQb5OIOwYeT0EC-nv-q3Q6_IqMu8CIddcgCsHU15tc6u_JT7f1cjhArRBNNmPRulRU/s320/IMG_2412.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hbY8VazuCu034AfmTjJ6aGTq0okKKp82LNkj7-BQuErnOGZDrjhlBivzo6L5SSj4Cfm9RJ1ui4Vfyn0I93OGigtm35DTYqPeTQ9s_m8SVr3PjPKET5qfap3ukoqoTmLECgACFhGoSwz3Uf4VsUdyTGkyzU-BKfiu-c2018AdQxdDIIim7e8UT-1dH3I/s4032/IMG_2402.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hbY8VazuCu034AfmTjJ6aGTq0okKKp82LNkj7-BQuErnOGZDrjhlBivzo6L5SSj4Cfm9RJ1ui4Vfyn0I93OGigtm35DTYqPeTQ9s_m8SVr3PjPKET5qfap3ukoqoTmLECgACFhGoSwz3Uf4VsUdyTGkyzU-BKfiu-c2018AdQxdDIIim7e8UT-1dH3I/s320/IMG_2402.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Today, my last days deeper into London proper to meet friends Eleanor Laird and Frances Knight. Tea at Fortnums (yes!) and a visit to several galleries. If I’m with Frances, it’s going to be an art day! All three of us were art students way back when, but only Frances became professional and never waivered.. It truly is dharmic for her. </p><p>Flying back to Santa Fe tomorrow. </p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-14508101381572663062023-10-25T14:22:00.002-06:002023-10-25T16:58:28.191-06:00<p>I forgot to share Saturday. I went to the Rock of Cashel, a beautiful castle (or its remains) that sits high above the surrounding countryside and can be seen for miles all around. It radiates power and authority, as I’m sure it was meant to do. Something about the architecture caught my heart. In fact, it felt strangely familiar. It was once the home of the Kings of Munster who fed directly into Ireland’s lineage of Great Kings. I am inexplicably intrigued by Bryan Boru, one of the most renowned, and have been since I first heard of him. Like many of the Great Kings, he was crowned at Tara.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-hStvXQR8f8RMLK9Ec8Lda9zeBpYevL8tbLc0P5XVRxizHZzxRPp84M9e08OuGmGG-NtPPO2ElwMDzeTKcRuS6TsNDzwRLpMq_8EStGF68qN95zjWwNrjV8MPbaXcL1uaIm_KQzre0cmqDEzdiqt9GQL8siDZsfUpXVnZS9Yq7C2vb1jVShN1a2WLEE/s4032/IMG_2334.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-hStvXQR8f8RMLK9Ec8Lda9zeBpYevL8tbLc0P5XVRxizHZzxRPp84M9e08OuGmGG-NtPPO2ElwMDzeTKcRuS6TsNDzwRLpMq_8EStGF68qN95zjWwNrjV8MPbaXcL1uaIm_KQzre0cmqDEzdiqt9GQL8siDZsfUpXVnZS9Yq7C2vb1jVShN1a2WLEE/s320/IMG_2334.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wPD8aEt_F5B8WE3RpXb4tsFYrA-L0F8kp5VcM4kOnx3dz0K-Y_m_iG_oJ-u2xJ6JrI1EHMTmO78iusMdzj8RA17IfOZNBXxvGyz_HP7J9y-ncjf0immFMs1qk50uqdgv3XHlFQ8w2ylPNuKDv-OSqmdX7Q-Vudjy3QjdAZnykl-R0LIBv9fWm-A7shU/s4032/IMG_2328.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wPD8aEt_F5B8WE3RpXb4tsFYrA-L0F8kp5VcM4kOnx3dz0K-Y_m_iG_oJ-u2xJ6JrI1EHMTmO78iusMdzj8RA17IfOZNBXxvGyz_HP7J9y-ncjf0immFMs1qk50uqdgv3XHlFQ8w2ylPNuKDv-OSqmdX7Q-Vudjy3QjdAZnykl-R0LIBv9fWm-A7shU/s320/IMG_2328.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWhLd5y8DlN9ngjzqSLxOfrQDv7Abj7DezLtsebycvS1DBJK7h-gLr2a4zyLP2snCCpVmDbPmXFf3wkR61A7mW4M51OFIkqgmAkh4sQPok5hPX3XFR05_GcoqTZXKxdPrhnkD0axL6i-G3q7zirp62oTuNkEGl00H1T1oy_2MXKWYNHmiA605y04Igm0/s4032/IMG_2331.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWhLd5y8DlN9ngjzqSLxOfrQDv7Abj7DezLtsebycvS1DBJK7h-gLr2a4zyLP2snCCpVmDbPmXFf3wkR61A7mW4M51OFIkqgmAkh4sQPok5hPX3XFR05_GcoqTZXKxdPrhnkD0axL6i-G3q7zirp62oTuNkEGl00H1T1oy_2MXKWYNHmiA605y04Igm0/s320/IMG_2331.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmSteByr1SIV5d-ogomvky4tlK-peCxHxYf2rD3ITm7M3xHrdWdT4bGYgULbxef-haHp8TFk-sMiGY_vk1P6sf6cDijFEEYitFatiey5kzzh-fb7_78t8Dxa_DMgYBaqCrdkuLYt58zu0BqFvOSFwETatoRO10423ldV67mvNpjAtVc2bQyJXMPpL0vY/s4032/IMG_2333.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmSteByr1SIV5d-ogomvky4tlK-peCxHxYf2rD3ITm7M3xHrdWdT4bGYgULbxef-haHp8TFk-sMiGY_vk1P6sf6cDijFEEYitFatiey5kzzh-fb7_78t8Dxa_DMgYBaqCrdkuLYt58zu0BqFvOSFwETatoRO10423ldV67mvNpjAtVc2bQyJXMPpL0vY/s320/IMG_2333.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>We then went to Blarney Castle. Of course, I loved the landscape best of all. More woods and streams and gardens. They are brilliantly done and maintained. I had the the thought that if I was an Irish lord with a great estate, I’d be happy to duplicate the land and gardens of Blarney Castle!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PYd_go91Z_8s64iMKFipt1ltLQUgChnYl-lMz_K6vPsFx4hv9_UXpJxGKck1fKPse-gziEfyqzuGBp6Q8qEbHbGVoYJ3roAslqPHWFgSUt1otHuz3GApFTygZUCmbAsIyMQvBHvmAxttR9CnBZKYUkjLskHykO60qCZ0dyfqEOVOAxme1-BWmul-yIQ/s4032/IMG_2349.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PYd_go91Z_8s64iMKFipt1ltLQUgChnYl-lMz_K6vPsFx4hv9_UXpJxGKck1fKPse-gziEfyqzuGBp6Q8qEbHbGVoYJ3roAslqPHWFgSUt1otHuz3GApFTygZUCmbAsIyMQvBHvmAxttR9CnBZKYUkjLskHykO60qCZ0dyfqEOVOAxme1-BWmul-yIQ/s320/IMG_2349.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXmFG9rIHYAJ91aJ2v4Bq7nL1dH04GmKRuduy_7bmu1ataJ4wrVLz-1g4Fu0rVfoUnyjtSwWVFj-MVFaomGg5ryt00N8RtKdHcHDiifBUK5_93jvu1nLwCTZFtUwwC-G_Xn9_WPcjeKLOfD9F6Er5dpgacLnIFfk6bGkaRj71bZ8aoIRx7oiKIJKDfgc/s4032/IMG_2348.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXmFG9rIHYAJ91aJ2v4Bq7nL1dH04GmKRuduy_7bmu1ataJ4wrVLz-1g4Fu0rVfoUnyjtSwWVFj-MVFaomGg5ryt00N8RtKdHcHDiifBUK5_93jvu1nLwCTZFtUwwC-G_Xn9_WPcjeKLOfD9F6Er5dpgacLnIFfk6bGkaRj71bZ8aoIRx7oiKIJKDfgc/s320/IMG_2348.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTti42FroPPlDTYC_yw7q1pUCNKooGbvER67Cn9A_Y4H89tJ2tf9Q6GiDQb9yir5OZCjifXRBsM4ia9zEd8wzMCiOYCJ_fN2H3me71110fyLd91OnB5CaAGGCG9P2ELNh8ImYKXi-uo22qhlt8f7JP897_M9a-vsWM3QdQhYPil271EWDjVByisqsMwuc/s4032/IMG_2347.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTti42FroPPlDTYC_yw7q1pUCNKooGbvER67Cn9A_Y4H89tJ2tf9Q6GiDQb9yir5OZCjifXRBsM4ia9zEd8wzMCiOYCJ_fN2H3me71110fyLd91OnB5CaAGGCG9P2ELNh8ImYKXi-uo22qhlt8f7JP897_M9a-vsWM3QdQhYPil271EWDjVByisqsMwuc/s320/IMG_2347.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-55946174998956511882023-10-24T11:27:00.000-06:002023-10-24T11:27:07.939-06:00<p> Photos of Newgrange, Knowth and Tara.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK84JRilFsLa9fEDyiEYmV2bRhmY5GX8GkHujPThebk-4gLxkl9qYd4tMkCMlkbvhZYcCq5xTyose_71kzJcOqY2FSxrwSbcb9NvyQ8q8lGWJaqfdm-dT2_h1C27f08nWaYThP4aVJl2pnFCEy4Q40kZaa4mvHRXj3rkGyyt9okRwZxz-o5qBAaLslpzo/s4032/IMG_5121.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK84JRilFsLa9fEDyiEYmV2bRhmY5GX8GkHujPThebk-4gLxkl9qYd4tMkCMlkbvhZYcCq5xTyose_71kzJcOqY2FSxrwSbcb9NvyQ8q8lGWJaqfdm-dT2_h1C27f08nWaYThP4aVJl2pnFCEy4Q40kZaa4mvHRXj3rkGyyt9okRwZxz-o5qBAaLslpzo/s320/IMG_5121.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6x0d5krsnB4_iu2UOW5CBP0A1VbgbtLu5WoGAnyziXcAxTUHjiLkfgStSbWaZyUmLU_bsCwJvVWNvFf4ADTPhF49L7zMfA4stsAY__cOr230lC-NbqTujw6bKfoG0jRa0lBtzN0MyK6NBgPxDtSLibvBwLPeNdv99vLwG1ryeFsJDIophs8vHVmLK_o/s4032/IMG_2356.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6x0d5krsnB4_iu2UOW5CBP0A1VbgbtLu5WoGAnyziXcAxTUHjiLkfgStSbWaZyUmLU_bsCwJvVWNvFf4ADTPhF49L7zMfA4stsAY__cOr230lC-NbqTujw6bKfoG0jRa0lBtzN0MyK6NBgPxDtSLibvBwLPeNdv99vLwG1ryeFsJDIophs8vHVmLK_o/s320/IMG_2356.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkk0tXnFXHzvsW-KcoeZ9JlakQO5CzywWZ5Fh9ek_BiVTt4VrDDPPfoEw3F42u_smNBDIaa2-J-7yOGBXYBU260y_MhykTiUu9gb62CHVYcHmZKrGtS2FWlSyB3lqY2xHVmhHPAMsev3BsGwFCBw_IVHY75lg53hgejRCQlh3h9obcjKDoWkvfp1JAsdU/s4032/IMG_2378.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkk0tXnFXHzvsW-KcoeZ9JlakQO5CzywWZ5Fh9ek_BiVTt4VrDDPPfoEw3F42u_smNBDIaa2-J-7yOGBXYBU260y_MhykTiUu9gb62CHVYcHmZKrGtS2FWlSyB3lqY2xHVmhHPAMsev3BsGwFCBw_IVHY75lg53hgejRCQlh3h9obcjKDoWkvfp1JAsdU/s320/IMG_2378.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZQ9cVZCpqOna17l7TaGUtkUtV4mDSPPqcjpOkutjrHYzsnl7dGfKXsLaGNwpX0PcRJFfDN5TxopXT0IK8Wuxjhexm9N6vOVDZcnmTwbWie1q54Cs9os7lT9EzN-PEnaj4V8-xnT8VGbZ9Wtrc2LH_ang-2u3eNMw7TQ57V2dEByIqXWBZDM8lO0hXok/s4032/IMG_2384.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZQ9cVZCpqOna17l7TaGUtkUtV4mDSPPqcjpOkutjrHYzsnl7dGfKXsLaGNwpX0PcRJFfDN5TxopXT0IK8Wuxjhexm9N6vOVDZcnmTwbWie1q54Cs9os7lT9EzN-PEnaj4V8-xnT8VGbZ9Wtrc2LH_ang-2u3eNMw7TQ57V2dEByIqXWBZDM8lO0hXok/s320/IMG_2384.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawYnYerVkO724iEJMtRgq8bogpITecurq074bskuKd89yHDYRe4mjsgMtRGGnxZab_ycAuY5rpnlgEj-SjUi1Sn6-peonfEAlRT2cC_LTlIeeDcsqYOt1ybgMeEoo0qwcPxCCWTYktOxmkmHRcMYVXhyphenhyphenp_Xke5X3nXzBaKgrIszzrARFdsmuP3HE449M/s4032/IMG_5119.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawYnYerVkO724iEJMtRgq8bogpITecurq074bskuKd89yHDYRe4mjsgMtRGGnxZab_ycAuY5rpnlgEj-SjUi1Sn6-peonfEAlRT2cC_LTlIeeDcsqYOt1ybgMeEoo0qwcPxCCWTYktOxmkmHRcMYVXhyphenhyphenp_Xke5X3nXzBaKgrIszzrARFdsmuP3HE449M/s320/IMG_5119.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAfrdL-AV3atPhe58FS4O5-o22WMqECv7RmJG-xaRvkgV1zAb8qb5kpaoDLgpEoPOl2WHVA42cAjgLkocVNtBLLazz9LlOrAsn9dKqEh9MheC04eQuz7O4UIBXk0niQqA3oRYU0xSanoltfMc8VVyxipYwIpf3Qdnb6hOcwTGnXCGKKRYmxogVXJmYKk/s4032/IMG_2360.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAfrdL-AV3atPhe58FS4O5-o22WMqECv7RmJG-xaRvkgV1zAb8qb5kpaoDLgpEoPOl2WHVA42cAjgLkocVNtBLLazz9LlOrAsn9dKqEh9MheC04eQuz7O4UIBXk0niQqA3oRYU0xSanoltfMc8VVyxipYwIpf3Qdnb6hOcwTGnXCGKKRYmxogVXJmYKk/s320/IMG_2360.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VTFqBwInb8yCQzKNMCeHXTKAIp_eSfunxnirn0Au51o_Vy9l9ZhGG7Vt0UkiG3X3FpyElyksoaypS7RFXhPfxecDoEjKw_alrp4IaXOnT8GQnLMKNoGb00feUmjd0KOO_7XoOHvb_wBjV5WfNyjSg_GPBerKljcWpdzVJCwoXuZ_yvtLYwUwT41h3gk/s4032/IMG_2363.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VTFqBwInb8yCQzKNMCeHXTKAIp_eSfunxnirn0Au51o_Vy9l9ZhGG7Vt0UkiG3X3FpyElyksoaypS7RFXhPfxecDoEjKw_alrp4IaXOnT8GQnLMKNoGb00feUmjd0KOO_7XoOHvb_wBjV5WfNyjSg_GPBerKljcWpdzVJCwoXuZ_yvtLYwUwT41h3gk/s320/IMG_2363.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpesjfteLkHVqCcK4WIG13XZKJY2WVgLOuIF0PWyxHwAhk2fwzYHt-4Xq_1RctnxlijW8DOgHVPuZ5VVo3nR2RN3I-gLcyIENv-1DAzCyH7_t3tqypwwS7-wU9jrEzPq9P6VQO5CehFfFrYy54mgz3JN_B-QgT0CuG5yeWDsCcmJpebXxzA4ShVyLYgA/s4032/IMG_2370.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpesjfteLkHVqCcK4WIG13XZKJY2WVgLOuIF0PWyxHwAhk2fwzYHt-4Xq_1RctnxlijW8DOgHVPuZ5VVo3nR2RN3I-gLcyIENv-1DAzCyH7_t3tqypwwS7-wU9jrEzPq9P6VQO5CehFfFrYy54mgz3JN_B-QgT0CuG5yeWDsCcmJpebXxzA4ShVyLYgA/s320/IMG_2370.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyInpYs-9F7leYFcJzhPNbc_uzUFRiuwXRc0-A2Wwi3_GZkgrqF0L3JRh5K5ue08YxvoaQuCMa2SffEN8CXyiNLhxo3-Ct7vsCw_VJaXUcHU7jff3Or-KhXW-50WHP_Md1E863LAFuMTSxNiHfgBjUqb7QhxKOjzkmLLoxUyeA9jbqfHmVAcrdVlRFbFc/s4032/IMG_2357.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyInpYs-9F7leYFcJzhPNbc_uzUFRiuwXRc0-A2Wwi3_GZkgrqF0L3JRh5K5ue08YxvoaQuCMa2SffEN8CXyiNLhxo3-Ct7vsCw_VJaXUcHU7jff3Or-KhXW-50WHP_Md1E863LAFuMTSxNiHfgBjUqb7QhxKOjzkmLLoxUyeA9jbqfHmVAcrdVlRFbFc/s320/IMG_2357.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6k0WGhADCPJGwIsU6AWgyp0RxsbHUYNPo31FlNCRiFuwvpUhiIyuszmFpSz21FvUKS7F_VtHPxJ54mNudKg-tnNeAbnxwt2Ml0jb8-6WiXcecfy_MmKuWOJUixesIxPw6ogJqFvyZQxe5j7ZDVfbcKNvtimaqPkpHVyjYsEyEG_GvJB0urToVUH4mXQ/s4032/IMG_2365.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6k0WGhADCPJGwIsU6AWgyp0RxsbHUYNPo31FlNCRiFuwvpUhiIyuszmFpSz21FvUKS7F_VtHPxJ54mNudKg-tnNeAbnxwt2Ml0jb8-6WiXcecfy_MmKuWOJUixesIxPw6ogJqFvyZQxe5j7ZDVfbcKNvtimaqPkpHVyjYsEyEG_GvJB0urToVUH4mXQ/s320/IMG_2365.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-78288656522312375052023-10-24T05:21:00.001-06:002023-10-24T05:21:09.306-06:00<p> Tuesday and I’m back in sunny (for now) London. My last 2 days in Ireland were by far the best, especially Sunday. In the spirit of vast Irish hospitality, I was treated to journeys to the ancient ruins at Newgrange, Knowth and Tara by a new friend, Hilary, a friend in turn of Mary Langdon. (We became good friends in maybe the first 10 minutes and I would hope to know Hilary forever!) First, especially on Sunday, the weather was endlessly sunny and the skies the clearest blue. </p><p>The cairns, the burial chambers that are thousands of years old held so much Silence and Light. They were surrounded by 100s of petroglyphs, especially spirals of the kind you can find all over the southwest. Spirals are journey symbols and these spirals were talking about a journey home. In SW terms, home meant to the stars, to this or other galaxies. . .or dimensions. . .etc. I felt like I was in another world entirely. Like Chaco Canyon, they are built to align precisely with the movements of the sun and mark the solstices. In fascinating ways, they were able to engineer the structures to channel the sun at these most important days through narrow openings and right into the cairns. A world within a world. Then at Newgrange, we were able to walk into a the cairn and its inner chamber. Of course, I would have loved to sit and meditate there for hours. But even a brief time was a gift. It was designed, again, to allow a shaft of solstice sunlight into the chamber, which was clearly built for ceremony. It had 4 side chambers with altars and huge stone bowls. At one point, the guide turned off the electric light they had installed so that we could experience the total darkness—and then the gradual entrance of the sunlight as it must have been thousands of years ago. There was huge subtle Light (that is, not man-made) pouring in from the capstone above and I wondered if something had been built into the structure, like the series of uninhabited rooms at Chaco that reflect and maintain the underlying energy grid that is there. The guides said no, only layers of rock and earth. But something was there. . .</p><p>Built high up, both sites have a view of the entire surrounding area, which is gorgeous. But it must also have been one way to enhance the ceremony that was done there and inspire the people.</p><p>Final part of a glorious day—back to Tara—this time in full sunlight. Tara, among other things, was the site of initiation and crowning of the High Kings of Ireland. Again, built high up with a full sweep of the land, it is said that Tara, Newgrange, Knowth and similar smaller sites are all connected energetically, with Tara at the center of things. Such deep peace there and the power of Silence and the nourishing and strengthening gifts of the land, enhanced no doubt by centuries of ceremony. </p><p>I do feel changed by it all, but am still integrating. First thing I have noticed, tho, is a huge huge sense of freedom and completeness with all things to do with life on Earth. </p><p>More later on Saturday’s events, but this was definitely the grand climax of the trip.</p><p>Photos later. . .</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-41623128144363246222023-10-20T11:07:00.000-06:002023-10-20T11:07:03.493-06:00<p> Heavy rain all day today. All my prayers for rain in Santa Fe this summer seem to be coming to fruition only now and here in Ireland. Despite the cold rain, wind and thick mist—I made my first visit to Tara and Loughcrew. I would have loved to sit there and just be in both places, but rain and mud cancelled that idea. But still, even with all that, especially at Tara, I could see/feel at last some of the great Light and Love pouring out of the land. The tour guide saved the day. Another wonderful Irishman, awash in history and stories delivered with great enthusiasm. I wish I could remember even half of them. Both yesterday and Tuesday, I was impressed by strong parallels between Lakota stories and spiritual traditions and ancient Irish history. Also one piece of information some of you may enjoy—The Gaelic language has been fed by both ancient Sanskrit and—wait for it—the ancient language of Kazakhstan. No kidding!</p><p>The sun did come out for awhile on Wednesday afternoon, revealing the glowing green glories of the Emerald Isle. We drove through some lush and gorgeous countryside and visited the exquisite grounds of Fore Abbey. Photo below.</p><p>Will return to Tara on Sunday, when the outlook is for sun. May it be so.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4kRisIHlmHldd6CqmKhllc_tErwUb-UwHWmpGwdE7fNodb-ggpa_ykrkNhC12JuDD9FBX7VquDqW9XzSDCu7uQlwfnDye0jMYrWAm0xoLTNem8zbUexbZmlB3m5UxvRJqvvNd24NPyRXIeTHfqyZxTVZBZrIS_sCllkMjJjQXx9yscUbMIal4LSP10w/s4032/IMG_2317.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4kRisIHlmHldd6CqmKhllc_tErwUb-UwHWmpGwdE7fNodb-ggpa_ykrkNhC12JuDD9FBX7VquDqW9XzSDCu7uQlwfnDye0jMYrWAm0xoLTNem8zbUexbZmlB3m5UxvRJqvvNd24NPyRXIeTHfqyZxTVZBZrIS_sCllkMjJjQXx9yscUbMIal4LSP10w/s320/IMG_2317.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim503j6MbVLucDNg6-PQovYWPtJMKIMSZg00yFlf3ETArIRxfowbp6uzeMjdnv6f_whccJhiTNv57L28WTEJXk2-KBAb1ZDtJrjYTabwV9NnleS9Anrd3DA-5pqfjqnjt6bSlpon3nDltJTrODPAilT8-7BUy_31HwkCztfYFI5C3dj1tsw2uZC8OFSbA/s4032/IMG_2318.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim503j6MbVLucDNg6-PQovYWPtJMKIMSZg00yFlf3ETArIRxfowbp6uzeMjdnv6f_whccJhiTNv57L28WTEJXk2-KBAb1ZDtJrjYTabwV9NnleS9Anrd3DA-5pqfjqnjt6bSlpon3nDltJTrODPAilT8-7BUy_31HwkCztfYFI5C3dj1tsw2uZC8OFSbA/s320/IMG_2318.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-47897984019808463612023-10-17T13:39:00.001-06:002023-10-17T13:39:27.052-06:00<p> It took almost all of Monday to get to Dublin, alas, but I have landed well. I can walk most anywhere I want to go, which is what I hoped for. This morning a great historical walking tour with a guide rich with knowledge. He shared it brilliantly and enthusiastically in many stories, and, most appealing to me, a wild sense of humor. A guy with a well-developed sense of the absurd! Then wandered a bit, getting to know my way around. A brief tour of Trinity College, and most important, The Book of Kells. Beautiful and still overflowing with the skill, focus and profound inspiration that created them more than a thousand years ago. And finally, the ancient Irish harp (once thought to belong to Bryan Boru, one of the most famous of Ireland’s high kings). I felt like I could almost hear its divine music still flowing into the world.</p><p>Rest of my journey—lots of cold and rain—but onward I go!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEido1wROkOcbF8v2Q3JQa2_DNnTvXUUx-J1AQEGC9VLn89gM8G9CYm0qkp6Ullfox0U9wSXFl-5EeaPBfxNqtG6KJLmTZgbF185QIFbdT1YCxGgGSc4QpPMZvzgUCL5IjW1cqnS2e_awQJBDCDke6xNvl5ogfzVIytOS8ZRIk-pe1nZB1nDMGNNPHEXOdM/s4032/IMG_2286.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEido1wROkOcbF8v2Q3JQa2_DNnTvXUUx-J1AQEGC9VLn89gM8G9CYm0qkp6Ullfox0U9wSXFl-5EeaPBfxNqtG6KJLmTZgbF185QIFbdT1YCxGgGSc4QpPMZvzgUCL5IjW1cqnS2e_awQJBDCDke6xNvl5ogfzVIytOS8ZRIk-pe1nZB1nDMGNNPHEXOdM/s320/IMG_2286.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-JjRl2oe6aCJDBakvf3dskjnPuW7-eYsa2i0DpndbDPUm6EsAPC2VIi3-DKa84AdmHU8KNDji19rfq4h-VlfvlI-KoOrkvU3oNtbNvRgIm1PFpBN2IJRr276sy24xUBfgk85hzC_DS0yEjVHs6mL-Xqvtjf32EJqpTUaeUBgr8WlZtKA-dvycP7Jc20/s4032/IMG_2288.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-JjRl2oe6aCJDBakvf3dskjnPuW7-eYsa2i0DpndbDPUm6EsAPC2VIi3-DKa84AdmHU8KNDji19rfq4h-VlfvlI-KoOrkvU3oNtbNvRgIm1PFpBN2IJRr276sy24xUBfgk85hzC_DS0yEjVHs6mL-Xqvtjf32EJqpTUaeUBgr8WlZtKA-dvycP7Jc20/s320/IMG_2288.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHkj0hy6PV-AyWpTFzJEJFHGWdlFNgu4QDmyR91m_5J9JtsUB9nMBlSTBk9891SyzFnE_SL-5zoLL_nS1zhOWgmHJRM6Dkx2YmF6DuUIZ9K-QVo4o-6MbeeToQRe4DZhkqbhdn7F4vpvZg0UWCcbMa1xI0bHsdy0tVWzC1qJuKN6KI_TA-qFdrbhUmZ4/s4032/IMG_2296.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHkj0hy6PV-AyWpTFzJEJFHGWdlFNgu4QDmyR91m_5J9JtsUB9nMBlSTBk9891SyzFnE_SL-5zoLL_nS1zhOWgmHJRM6Dkx2YmF6DuUIZ9K-QVo4o-6MbeeToQRe4DZhkqbhdn7F4vpvZg0UWCcbMa1xI0bHsdy0tVWzC1qJuKN6KI_TA-qFdrbhUmZ4/s320/IMG_2296.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDQT8-ZiBQMMu2bwBwSNMmcXh0LcTELNrkFEUO_QyMq9BEAtMHfyHYp1NXWEQTZkka_Su4E1eTIMd76nccxouPW2ZkZfE7EcLIuU8dYDMUS_MbGok9SQdRN9u94svMuXq893P16jdrGnnQGXxzZq_vhFzgBuFNI6O9REaJqCkB6Z0beAwbSed5ZV3oTE/s4032/IMG_2299.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDQT8-ZiBQMMu2bwBwSNMmcXh0LcTELNrkFEUO_QyMq9BEAtMHfyHYp1NXWEQTZkka_Su4E1eTIMd76nccxouPW2ZkZfE7EcLIuU8dYDMUS_MbGok9SQdRN9u94svMuXq893P16jdrGnnQGXxzZq_vhFzgBuFNI6O9REaJqCkB6Z0beAwbSed5ZV3oTE/s320/IMG_2299.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FgW3Oha0wlu29deAObnMnaXMD5-FhQUh6ye_mdwWxKdug8wmG3QiD8JDOch46UJ4hxL6iJdDDLoYkO03BnxQ6MGTzIArclxfjLxlu3SV0VVA2UDRFnB59AebvKzNmO9gWWKKaFY4R6RF7vMXWiYjfhGLI9I8zZ9W6wMfQXqBPddvIo79A08pTxsjclo/s4032/IMG_2306.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FgW3Oha0wlu29deAObnMnaXMD5-FhQUh6ye_mdwWxKdug8wmG3QiD8JDOch46UJ4hxL6iJdDDLoYkO03BnxQ6MGTzIArclxfjLxlu3SV0VVA2UDRFnB59AebvKzNmO9gWWKKaFY4R6RF7vMXWiYjfhGLI9I8zZ9W6wMfQXqBPddvIo79A08pTxsjclo/s320/IMG_2306.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-18419169731906361042023-10-15T13:29:00.001-06:002023-10-15T13:29:27.933-06:00<p> My first ever attempt at a selfie. The whole idea of selfies feels pretty foreign. But here it is:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGcaulMHluQv_PNkCpCgDIDLIZ6nl6zMWJn5UIhTj_uLsnR2PVSJLaQHumDVezAO2t02VhhJehDDrl8Q5NIt1ul321LACWujY7_x-zFh0Dj0smT6I-mzz8NBneGlzlHmx1x5ygKI0EW654R_i8fpqz7E6QteEzvG3oKTTnT2FD6HADoTSa-6Uj78VqMI/s3088/IMG_2244.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGcaulMHluQv_PNkCpCgDIDLIZ6nl6zMWJn5UIhTj_uLsnR2PVSJLaQHumDVezAO2t02VhhJehDDrl8Q5NIt1ul321LACWujY7_x-zFh0Dj0smT6I-mzz8NBneGlzlHmx1x5ygKI0EW654R_i8fpqz7E6QteEzvG3oKTTnT2FD6HADoTSa-6Uj78VqMI/s320/IMG_2244.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Plus some pictures along the Thames Walk, where I go each evening.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWJW7pDzbMK0HugGjfZzgp406dMaa6GtHCAiDvX2bCa8cpNYwdK7mr3iwkZxImOIJYUbGtGL8gcuz6xed7qclKIvjM7Bwdknytvtab7EGhq9F7-jyGc2tsj0iRwvHF-D9nRnNvxS99Xf8OO3hNLCXdA9flPuqsgAKe_NWG6A6hv1h2qxBXjNSNhoySZk/s4032/IMG_2281.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWJW7pDzbMK0HugGjfZzgp406dMaa6GtHCAiDvX2bCa8cpNYwdK7mr3iwkZxImOIJYUbGtGL8gcuz6xed7qclKIvjM7Bwdknytvtab7EGhq9F7-jyGc2tsj0iRwvHF-D9nRnNvxS99Xf8OO3hNLCXdA9flPuqsgAKe_NWG6A6hv1h2qxBXjNSNhoySZk/s320/IMG_2281.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSc0vQd1y5_tBh8hzkm_gREzJX085Vfbn3awB2zRFiISrsCHFm3nbFz9qzXcuy6UkS4NfXbhBgG_VGbyW8wyZQWCpHvhZ09un3S4q4KCmCE-DIvyJIM1s-mt9-uj1qoAYTDGzEFldP2yli3LWKkl7MBk6U_kdtA0Flb2tJIuIiBxSqrIyhVmhD5Rt6K3E/s4032/IMG_2282.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSc0vQd1y5_tBh8hzkm_gREzJX085Vfbn3awB2zRFiISrsCHFm3nbFz9qzXcuy6UkS4NfXbhBgG_VGbyW8wyZQWCpHvhZ09un3S4q4KCmCE-DIvyJIM1s-mt9-uj1qoAYTDGzEFldP2yli3LWKkl7MBk6U_kdtA0Flb2tJIuIiBxSqrIyhVmhD5Rt6K3E/s320/IMG_2282.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPdo1D0lBkT9W2C7SYJWsLUAywhdwB6m5H8TvsQYckS1lu2X0Ketp5oqc5phtngebL4AXQcs1j_6zs3WSicX31vC7-7IumKAXzW_s923d6_Wc_7uWFSBYwhAXFsE-XS34R0PPuJ6DaTO2jGFLRAZlBOqGJcjykCzM8VHfS6cqT66Itz6wAD_gErjGOSw/s4032/IMG_2283.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPdo1D0lBkT9W2C7SYJWsLUAywhdwB6m5H8TvsQYckS1lu2X0Ketp5oqc5phtngebL4AXQcs1j_6zs3WSicX31vC7-7IumKAXzW_s923d6_Wc_7uWFSBYwhAXFsE-XS34R0PPuJ6DaTO2jGFLRAZlBOqGJcjykCzM8VHfS6cqT66Itz6wAD_gErjGOSw/s320/IMG_2283.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-38995788446684342642023-10-15T13:24:00.001-06:002023-10-15T13:24:24.426-06:00<p> Yesterday a visit to Chartwell, Churchill’s family home and the place where he wrote many of the powerful and eloquent speeches that truly helped win WWII. Chartwell is phenomenally beautiful, both in terms of location—rolling green and forested hills and a view that stretches for miles—and in the exquisite gardens the Churchill family planted there. Everything about it filled me with so much joy—and I like to think the land itself helped nourish, strengthen and inspire Churchill through dark times. Last Churchill quote you see as you leave the tour of his house: “Go out into the sunlight and be happy with what you see.”</p><p>I think the British trees and gardens are the very best part of their cultural heritage. . .OK, along with poets and writers and. . .</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5At0_4x3ckop3fLPAdBLgv-q8C0Ruw7GxiAa-lXMovSeps3XvPKq4la0g7QaOPaj29zluH3yekdlqFHgHElwYcB2HT8tMqtKwEoeZqpnRApQq21LDqe6_tgZOceAQVa78C91IFmlbTINHjFDnPLHCVCCxgz5tJKLhd1JiUmfWuvfRoRNZoL7R6_EMYq8/s4032/IMG_2183.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5At0_4x3ckop3fLPAdBLgv-q8C0Ruw7GxiAa-lXMovSeps3XvPKq4la0g7QaOPaj29zluH3yekdlqFHgHElwYcB2HT8tMqtKwEoeZqpnRApQq21LDqe6_tgZOceAQVa78C91IFmlbTINHjFDnPLHCVCCxgz5tJKLhd1JiUmfWuvfRoRNZoL7R6_EMYq8/s320/IMG_2183.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA22GkPRVHynX_DWs9NKXppTYoIsD0SbNIi9qYJnng2v46pJ3hb7oI_kBOHGpi-4K_pEbsohZDbDJ6sRGoWP1B8UAKZddVQhYw6HejukMr5NSscS2sK9-N7gCGOn563B3iEOn3PfGd_ybqZxZqNuq36NhZnmXScvG5CJoUtVZayeNR3Vssu4sgjlnW1VI/s4032/IMG_2198.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA22GkPRVHynX_DWs9NKXppTYoIsD0SbNIi9qYJnng2v46pJ3hb7oI_kBOHGpi-4K_pEbsohZDbDJ6sRGoWP1B8UAKZddVQhYw6HejukMr5NSscS2sK9-N7gCGOn563B3iEOn3PfGd_ybqZxZqNuq36NhZnmXScvG5CJoUtVZayeNR3Vssu4sgjlnW1VI/s320/IMG_2198.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJByMMQb_h1WLrTwY6k4CPmZvMBNi8Npqynqm9ObO9haBn9UNekEPD1JCqXXVWbM45eZHXB1hLfWz-NGlrzZw8OIrvBJjIP1VOSDDfWhZ1M6KV3BLz0olfc2mRxYv2sGJw8tQfdDAHt1obdptDHX74anZ2F3W-RNr9VZFdKL60yfExpW-h_ZNiaQ_BxI/s4032/IMG_2202.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJByMMQb_h1WLrTwY6k4CPmZvMBNi8Npqynqm9ObO9haBn9UNekEPD1JCqXXVWbM45eZHXB1hLfWz-NGlrzZw8OIrvBJjIP1VOSDDfWhZ1M6KV3BLz0olfc2mRxYv2sGJw8tQfdDAHt1obdptDHX74anZ2F3W-RNr9VZFdKL60yfExpW-h_ZNiaQ_BxI/s320/IMG_2202.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx4XefxzH-ocuQNT92FOqhtBdJ1aZE1H61kTj144lAYAKH_mNDC6YuGKKnaigGOMcNm9MaTw91vuhaWO7T4Ylgf85cdQJM9Mzl-fZ2jnHsIzx6z4Pa4vkhwkqTFDwwPVKYFErA8NhRIqiCuLYb6fxO2502-WcciARi-N5zL_6w5fndSaGNkTMj8d-BPM/s4032/IMG_2216.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx4XefxzH-ocuQNT92FOqhtBdJ1aZE1H61kTj144lAYAKH_mNDC6YuGKKnaigGOMcNm9MaTw91vuhaWO7T4Ylgf85cdQJM9Mzl-fZ2jnHsIzx6z4Pa4vkhwkqTFDwwPVKYFErA8NhRIqiCuLYb6fxO2502-WcciARi-N5zL_6w5fndSaGNkTMj8d-BPM/s320/IMG_2216.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeRFA7wyx-oS7yDdzhhV42eXmRBipdXTwnEYAc1mU5HeaD8edUaLjSIQ5T1IJ1FXhpxoVjNhEoBonLMSzPrKvifTHYlpYGW_HZtWpjdljtgS0PN3qgEQQ2UhkBZhiPJcA9L8sEgzls-IZ4v4pivjdoIYUij5JeX2Os2Zs8R_yrgTQZZuDrOGCyeBYWmo/s4032/IMG_2220.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeRFA7wyx-oS7yDdzhhV42eXmRBipdXTwnEYAc1mU5HeaD8edUaLjSIQ5T1IJ1FXhpxoVjNhEoBonLMSzPrKvifTHYlpYGW_HZtWpjdljtgS0PN3qgEQQ2UhkBZhiPJcA9L8sEgzls-IZ4v4pivjdoIYUij5JeX2Os2Zs8R_yrgTQZZuDrOGCyeBYWmo/s320/IMG_2220.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitX6WRe6Uz_W0IU2teD55KQxD-terYEjQvvheGCmVWpFbFRfPRulfSxcTH_RRV-mFM2Eph6ACjPvDNzeW1q9QNjhltg1RS225qVMmVVRw1dHaCjykcaAeqYj1w50sLl_ydZ27rN6hyEJ_xdZ-PWKvLgCEGL5wVN_MbhJKan5j2iSqiI07wVAigcUDdNEI/s4032/IMG_2232.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitX6WRe6Uz_W0IU2teD55KQxD-terYEjQvvheGCmVWpFbFRfPRulfSxcTH_RRV-mFM2Eph6ACjPvDNzeW1q9QNjhltg1RS225qVMmVVRw1dHaCjykcaAeqYj1w50sLl_ydZ27rN6hyEJ_xdZ-PWKvLgCEGL5wVN_MbhJKan5j2iSqiI07wVAigcUDdNEI/s320/IMG_2232.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCcfjaljleGrPncOTZ-FIMqE65lngF4L_wGH0U9FiOrI-UqZzirxUgtAlJywoAgvn_eQScleanQ2r2K0JyGYY6A9U3bqIJqYkclnO64pmzMQwiISkAkkBu9SFJUZI2ZpXEHm2h7wV-X6IQHYZjG7Zz1_X0yRHM1EmJ-Bju14vmE8I1ClAIgfMtsk1gy8/s4032/IMG_2241.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCcfjaljleGrPncOTZ-FIMqE65lngF4L_wGH0U9FiOrI-UqZzirxUgtAlJywoAgvn_eQScleanQ2r2K0JyGYY6A9U3bqIJqYkclnO64pmzMQwiISkAkkBu9SFJUZI2ZpXEHm2h7wV-X6IQHYZjG7Zz1_X0yRHM1EmJ-Bju14vmE8I1ClAIgfMtsk1gy8/s320/IMG_2241.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpNi3F66JCHB2tx0CCxNkkNq_nEAhleLH8ScQFVDWsDjeCvhY2obmcL2j8JA7PAKijpI0Oz9YmJMHT-wt9XInZrW0inGQNme26gIyjNI32AmgnfxcsiZtnFRKzKDM3nEMSYKxsv96eMzTXVDlxY-WrdHMar9qEHLK6xWxq9uycHVzN9v9jr-M5vT16mo/s3088/IMG_2242.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpNi3F66JCHB2tx0CCxNkkNq_nEAhleLH8ScQFVDWsDjeCvhY2obmcL2j8JA7PAKijpI0Oz9YmJMHT-wt9XInZrW0inGQNme26gIyjNI32AmgnfxcsiZtnFRKzKDM3nEMSYKxsv96eMzTXVDlxY-WrdHMar9qEHLK6xWxq9uycHVzN9v9jr-M5vT16mo/s320/IMG_2242.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Off to Ireland tomorrow. Mucho rain predicted. We’ll see what the gods have in store! </p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-78692885299798061692023-10-13T13:54:00.003-06:002023-10-13T13:54:46.643-06:00<p> Two days in various parts of central London—the first to meet wonderful artist and dear friend Frances Knight at the Tate Modern. Then we wandered through Belgravia and Mayfair, very upscale neighborhoods, to reach our destination, a lovely gallery with paintings by Christopher Baker, whose work was definitely worth seeing. Today, because I thought it would rain a lot more than it did, I wandered downtown again to go to the National Gallery. I love getting up close to the paintings and sinking into the brushwork. I got especially into Constable. So many layers of color and care to yield that lushness. Worth the visit for sure, but the area is intense! I was sooo happy to get back to my lovely, quiet neighborhood by the Thames. Tho I’ve shared photos, I don’t know that they can ever fully convey how deeply happy and at home I feel walking along the Thames. I will deeply miss being here. Tomorrow—Chartwell, Winston Churchill’s home. He is a great hero of mine and I am long overdue for this visit. </p><p>One possibly useful piece of information should you find yourself in London some day: The food at the museums and other public venues is wonderful! Healthy and delicious. I am not tempted to eat anywhere else.. ..</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgzJ61-9L5kRy50M87yUlbqLK0Wn2oEJTnrhfuIDt2LlUgyxGAIwMyISLZYtWfXYdDZuCmQtWxL1tGREtKPdFviJhm10Ejz2_drDRAhO5Pen3SVP8W5DYoarf9mLc6VDjBBjIS0F-YDlib_uvqm5zIOICHnhU9ikIr176cuxAoPrRuURLIspcyu9myM0/s4032/IMG_2171.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgzJ61-9L5kRy50M87yUlbqLK0Wn2oEJTnrhfuIDt2LlUgyxGAIwMyISLZYtWfXYdDZuCmQtWxL1tGREtKPdFviJhm10Ejz2_drDRAhO5Pen3SVP8W5DYoarf9mLc6VDjBBjIS0F-YDlib_uvqm5zIOICHnhU9ikIr176cuxAoPrRuURLIspcyu9myM0/s320/IMG_2171.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoV2_GIhRFx9lC7r48jjVtu9MA7C84NaNc2U7iaSjk9ciHU1-CX1lZFAh2DUMrBqVEOs-j5CLQ5-p_L5X2kzgIEXzKynXmXRHGIoXVCf_MdPbX7m8Nzs7HNtoE-suSEp8jcOOkr-p8x6aRWsfox0gOdpc5FVsv8Zjhh9qiln5fffKBPtX2E784yaxP40/s4032/IMG_2168.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoV2_GIhRFx9lC7r48jjVtu9MA7C84NaNc2U7iaSjk9ciHU1-CX1lZFAh2DUMrBqVEOs-j5CLQ5-p_L5X2kzgIEXzKynXmXRHGIoXVCf_MdPbX7m8Nzs7HNtoE-suSEp8jcOOkr-p8x6aRWsfox0gOdpc5FVsv8Zjhh9qiln5fffKBPtX2E784yaxP40/s320/IMG_2168.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><p></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-40459023438555024742023-10-11T13:47:00.000-06:002023-10-11T13:47:09.108-06:00<p> What a special gift it has been to be able to spend so much time with old friends, in addition to being in a place I love. Yesterday, yet one more trip to Kew gardens, this time to meet a friend from college whom I haven’t seen for 30 years at least. How magical that we met in London and not California, where he lives and I often visit. As it always is with dear friends, no gap in time seems to exist. It’s like walking into the middle of a conversation that was briefly interrupted. And Kew of course wrapped Dan and his lovely wife in her enchantment. So nice to share that with them.</p><p>Today, my first museum on this journey, a pilgrimage to the Tate to see Turner, master of the sky and sea and light in general. Tate is beautifully located by the river, so always a joy to visit, in addition to viewing its great collection. More art tomorrow with another wonderful friend and gifted painter, Frances Knight. </p><p>The weather is finally cooling a little and we even got some rain tonite. How I love the rain!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FKJ7-SDAGRR_jiiCe5acfN2dPj_Mwjbc30cWHAsqnXbIpKubmjtL1sCg6xoRXyhraq4ffVcYQ9i87S249us38oPcth-Cnp8KdSqDRB65TC05Qwv865etDctrHXi-3ms93ENOlZ-YxCVdVfm_X1CKiQUME_aBl5OMGemVU8Js45dzD7YYP3sEs_CzpFU/s4032/IMG_2147.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FKJ7-SDAGRR_jiiCe5acfN2dPj_Mwjbc30cWHAsqnXbIpKubmjtL1sCg6xoRXyhraq4ffVcYQ9i87S249us38oPcth-Cnp8KdSqDRB65TC05Qwv865etDctrHXi-3ms93ENOlZ-YxCVdVfm_X1CKiQUME_aBl5OMGemVU8Js45dzD7YYP3sEs_CzpFU/s320/IMG_2147.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQ982wf7-wmWFth18zCKdqlOf6w7Bcg8xlnKdSEz-oOxEacdSz1cbjeIYQsj8O18jejYSXG7lxuiwfzq-MJvBUqTLe90jbyeyjk1MzsY1g1TQpSQzy-DkoIDWYWkmbfSS8_ra7_AI9xhvtjBj1RsEwIhs9oeF2aofZlEV9DXxQAWtEb-GUHfE9NmnTuA/s4032/IMG_2152.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQ982wf7-wmWFth18zCKdqlOf6w7Bcg8xlnKdSEz-oOxEacdSz1cbjeIYQsj8O18jejYSXG7lxuiwfzq-MJvBUqTLe90jbyeyjk1MzsY1g1TQpSQzy-DkoIDWYWkmbfSS8_ra7_AI9xhvtjBj1RsEwIhs9oeF2aofZlEV9DXxQAWtEb-GUHfE9NmnTuA/s320/IMG_2152.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8H9y5isK90DSv9EIlNtQXwVpAGAdhUTXcfWjT1BaaMeZUt-tqv7cojrSohSkYneVT-2Gqw5fyxrySScKg7xlUc0DFtoxZPttWLmDIr74OaN8sR1faj1FADVqgIG7zcGZzilQqD0pnfPu-ar3XZSGbXWftgtePvf5MLOlxPiIYK4zGkcvTB2v8qmp6COY/s4032/IMG_2153.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8H9y5isK90DSv9EIlNtQXwVpAGAdhUTXcfWjT1BaaMeZUt-tqv7cojrSohSkYneVT-2Gqw5fyxrySScKg7xlUc0DFtoxZPttWLmDIr74OaN8sR1faj1FADVqgIG7zcGZzilQqD0pnfPu-ar3XZSGbXWftgtePvf5MLOlxPiIYK4zGkcvTB2v8qmp6COY/s320/IMG_2153.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1IcNQidpZEPEq4_8pPMP5GIKt-pGjcQJ76a63Au2UOmEpn13xN9CAwAJ41yIiQ6wCZojozoAMMMhYh-HCHduLCPesNKRgbj2Fas-T_F9euOrBkBpGJuo1MMEZSbDmIKdRPTG4ccsXUNRT1BCeeHWE5MwGADJEUgnDJOUtNLW2DZE1_I-lbyKR1Osfgg/s4032/IMG_2159.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1IcNQidpZEPEq4_8pPMP5GIKt-pGjcQJ76a63Au2UOmEpn13xN9CAwAJ41yIiQ6wCZojozoAMMMhYh-HCHduLCPesNKRgbj2Fas-T_F9euOrBkBpGJuo1MMEZSbDmIKdRPTG4ccsXUNRT1BCeeHWE5MwGADJEUgnDJOUtNLW2DZE1_I-lbyKR1Osfgg/s320/IMG_2159.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-41682667927397706192023-10-09T12:47:00.001-06:002023-10-09T12:47:20.979-06:00<div style="text-align: left;"> And 2 days later. . .Mostly getting to spend wonderful time with old friends, tho this has included 2 blissful trips to Kew Gardens, one of my favorite places on the planet. The reality lived up to the memory. It’s been summer-hot here, so it has been perfect weather to wander through the huge and ancient trees. One glorious tree being after another. Groves of trees in endless variety. Even a small patch of redwoods. The silence is deep and everything smells and feels so lush and delicious. And nourishing. And a small lake with swans and geese and ducks. Also discovered a new green space treasure—Wimbledon Common. I continue to be joyfully amazed at the amount of well-loved and well-cared-for green spaces in and around this great city. I’m just so happy here. . .</div><div style="text-align: left;">And ending each day with a walk along the Thames. Londoners are celebrating the good weather big time—runners and walkers and bikers and boaters and . . .</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplDXxb4ZLenknStZKkLo1z_VzFV6-TvLMzJvLbGAEbSGSsLIyjKwZHjPGpsrygqQcBfYpguADfcwIyw3DBQi_60N8gmjo2NK9q6PUQmhD6ocVypuW1W3-A3_z0y1u9aaEvOSLhzZIBaCw8dqxXhzFdSeFmB7q6oHVsR4Aw4KoJr1C9g4oTlF-mBSyWjg/s5712/IMG_0264.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4284" data-original-width="5712" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplDXxb4ZLenknStZKkLo1z_VzFV6-TvLMzJvLbGAEbSGSsLIyjKwZHjPGpsrygqQcBfYpguADfcwIyw3DBQi_60N8gmjo2NK9q6PUQmhD6ocVypuW1W3-A3_z0y1u9aaEvOSLhzZIBaCw8dqxXhzFdSeFmB7q6oHVsR4Aw4KoJr1C9g4oTlF-mBSyWjg/s320/IMG_0264.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxT95UPXD6y7yOmMz2UANyI_LjQ7LuhHKp69Nz9TSBRZM_eblSm6VUvyOUjRrRNY38P60jYS08z43KqT81jJ3ONT3e3D4ltIts-jWaEk6d-unKSgtK2YvMxTpNoFZAsinwh_zyzGGWhFKBKZrnr62qYjHLzT64TuTTlaQDHwxGGeOUl-C4LMqWpbvbqTg/s4032/IMG_2121.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxT95UPXD6y7yOmMz2UANyI_LjQ7LuhHKp69Nz9TSBRZM_eblSm6VUvyOUjRrRNY38P60jYS08z43KqT81jJ3ONT3e3D4ltIts-jWaEk6d-unKSgtK2YvMxTpNoFZAsinwh_zyzGGWhFKBKZrnr62qYjHLzT64TuTTlaQDHwxGGeOUl-C4LMqWpbvbqTg/s320/IMG_2121.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PF8KHeji0tyQqYzUFx1Wv25mIsGCkB0MFar7M6cPuAxD_tw8ttWIViKmXXiEoytCO5AwhlA6uHrEoaPPI7FISdObIQeE0jjF8CspVRVAk0WQeW093KZSLNntA5G0AbSq2411HzVrtK794pIEnX-lcKNl_vvqvsFL3Qe4oIGgeCATMnJ_oKFR7nxmso8/s4032/IMG_2128.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PF8KHeji0tyQqYzUFx1Wv25mIsGCkB0MFar7M6cPuAxD_tw8ttWIViKmXXiEoytCO5AwhlA6uHrEoaPPI7FISdObIQeE0jjF8CspVRVAk0WQeW093KZSLNntA5G0AbSq2411HzVrtK794pIEnX-lcKNl_vvqvsFL3Qe4oIGgeCATMnJ_oKFR7nxmso8/s320/IMG_2128.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWr4jwEU_4UUI6N3eDRzxZhMiRy_GOP-GSzPCIN3-NgL50rg81BJMFGdoEwqSOzPRhvcPzwQX7CnYVZGZrwD13IFiPItWj-xrulZlIC4o-o6OqlJaLL0lur7cRl0s1ohwinBnInERBeTTEyjSSJRsAIhyp7VxAOolNwV74fOaH-Kx0H9XqbV47VfTr_o/s4032/IMG_2132.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWr4jwEU_4UUI6N3eDRzxZhMiRy_GOP-GSzPCIN3-NgL50rg81BJMFGdoEwqSOzPRhvcPzwQX7CnYVZGZrwD13IFiPItWj-xrulZlIC4o-o6OqlJaLL0lur7cRl0s1ohwinBnInERBeTTEyjSSJRsAIhyp7VxAOolNwV74fOaH-Kx0H9XqbV47VfTr_o/s320/IMG_2132.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> </div>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-49513025104088517782023-10-06T13:39:00.001-06:002023-10-06T13:39:50.925-06:00<p> First day in the UK—unless you count yesterday, which was more like a jet lag dream! Woke up this morning feeling almost fully here, from a time zone perspective. I took off along the Thames to walk a couple of miles to Chiswick Park with its lush collection of trees and gardens. I did manage to get briefly lost, but enjoyed all of it. A beautiful trail to be lost in. </p><p>You may not know, but I have a truly terrible sense of direction and can manage to get lost most anywhere. In fact, just ask me for directions any time you want to end up somewhere you never planned and find yourself on an unexpected adventure! </p><p>My favorite part of Chiswick—the Kitchen Gardens. Three hundred years of love and care make it a place full of joy. Today, local residents look after the gardens and give more than half the food they produce to local food banks. A passing thought as I luxuriated under the ancient shade trees—wouldn’t it be wonderful if the primary concern of all governments was the planting of huge food and flower gardens and trees? Such richness would pervade our lives!</p><p>Mainly, I am sooo happy just to be here. Gardens everywhere, huge trees everywhere and the beloved Thames. Everything smells and feels so lush and rich and nourishing. Photos below: the Thames and the Kitchen Gardens, including a veritable forest of zinnias.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8P2OqCxjlhsW0DVUQPok5jq-FjYHPZtC0GbHdZkU_pJ3RuAu40kWBCRMpKhqjBEgOvHhHDijF7n_xpFMV0UK5FbadRHG-TJj45LEWld8smWqivGQByTQnBc9HS7dDichaYumRrUTR6pn2savAoNl8hEbd1ZpKg4gLX7iLslBc40QGhMUhHtnPxEIg-Q/s4032/IMG_2101.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8P2OqCxjlhsW0DVUQPok5jq-FjYHPZtC0GbHdZkU_pJ3RuAu40kWBCRMpKhqjBEgOvHhHDijF7n_xpFMV0UK5FbadRHG-TJj45LEWld8smWqivGQByTQnBc9HS7dDichaYumRrUTR6pn2savAoNl8hEbd1ZpKg4gLX7iLslBc40QGhMUhHtnPxEIg-Q/s320/IMG_2101.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnDF9qcR04G388xe2-Q-fv2PgxKhm02jVEnOaOYxLPMDjlsJN0rdFTT5DzzbeD2e0h-gljUjutGMprTSYMKZIh-ZZYHjnpQ0YKEFxEZG2Brqb9gYSJS5jeuff4Sp-hyoQ6Ki1jgOW5bAmKGGWAQIUK_tjyI3ZIN3hpHvVFnw4RjyT-Sv9OfurCtwwwH8/s4032/IMG_2104.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnDF9qcR04G388xe2-Q-fv2PgxKhm02jVEnOaOYxLPMDjlsJN0rdFTT5DzzbeD2e0h-gljUjutGMprTSYMKZIh-ZZYHjnpQ0YKEFxEZG2Brqb9gYSJS5jeuff4Sp-hyoQ6Ki1jgOW5bAmKGGWAQIUK_tjyI3ZIN3hpHvVFnw4RjyT-Sv9OfurCtwwwH8/s320/IMG_2104.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3C-H24QJSjBIlDZPdcCSlLqk1lBDvRuXSp-JUNxduMn3KOWtp5auL7oGZ_dlnE-5K_WrtSM6omilyrGbrpenE05Ej4KT0SbZ_qodUUPWBBpNiwnf4XqPz-JYmlHGsvOnsIkX9KfBDrJJq8FHTIwuQx-pFeaFRLu9rFTA77PG3qlnDV_QDcxL4PDPMARA/s4032/IMG_2113.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3C-H24QJSjBIlDZPdcCSlLqk1lBDvRuXSp-JUNxduMn3KOWtp5auL7oGZ_dlnE-5K_WrtSM6omilyrGbrpenE05Ej4KT0SbZ_qodUUPWBBpNiwnf4XqPz-JYmlHGsvOnsIkX9KfBDrJJq8FHTIwuQx-pFeaFRLu9rFTA77PG3qlnDV_QDcxL4PDPMARA/s320/IMG_2113.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-55197318590610720612022-10-26T11:32:00.001-06:002022-10-26T11:32:55.966-06:00<p> Having considered lots of more culturally-oriented possibilities, I voted (solid majority) to spend my last day in the UK in Kew Gardens. So glad I did. Everything was so exquisite, so perfect— I was so in love with every aspect of the landscape— I could have spent the whole day crying, my heart melted into an ocean of love. How I will miss all this! I feel so deeply nourished by the trees, flowers, rivers, all of it, awed by all the love, celebration, beauty and peace the plants and trees (the root families and standing tall ones) pour freely into the world. Sad to leave, but off I go tomorrow! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWP7yT72YfdbOgDjNrLcc1Cts-pOmFPOS7sTxuXbIYjjfzR-AI9KzEB-GWVXCk2hWUdA482NoFmMQcx24qqleHKQzrx8T3oSQb_GO7u40UU6nzOG6UbRCzwm3Vpv_ik94o3RXdRZuVVTLCSQ9SKOuBj27sGC3ssCdm9kYklXC7bVqFdERMR1blIyV/s4032/F8654646-257B-4BBC-8726-E6A5C706977D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWP7yT72YfdbOgDjNrLcc1Cts-pOmFPOS7sTxuXbIYjjfzR-AI9KzEB-GWVXCk2hWUdA482NoFmMQcx24qqleHKQzrx8T3oSQb_GO7u40UU6nzOG6UbRCzwm3Vpv_ik94o3RXdRZuVVTLCSQ9SKOuBj27sGC3ssCdm9kYklXC7bVqFdERMR1blIyV/s320/F8654646-257B-4BBC-8726-E6A5C706977D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAfhjvlWl5ZyRF4KcYrTr0oQAsxXz7nza9CcqmOiStr_v7o5etjQaG-KHCklVjUJnAGTZBw41hAmFl5lGQCaeZ8cvfHimqDVRgE1SuJrLOtA0A16MAPNak3Oj8rYNumC9U1iXEEvv_wpaR44r3HlNYxodBLMVZQSIh-3meunpXQjrCxO8qB2QZDVq/s4032/D2FAB5BB-8DC4-4104-81DF-7CF7AC0DD3E6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAfhjvlWl5ZyRF4KcYrTr0oQAsxXz7nza9CcqmOiStr_v7o5etjQaG-KHCklVjUJnAGTZBw41hAmFl5lGQCaeZ8cvfHimqDVRgE1SuJrLOtA0A16MAPNak3Oj8rYNumC9U1iXEEvv_wpaR44r3HlNYxodBLMVZQSIh-3meunpXQjrCxO8qB2QZDVq/s320/D2FAB5BB-8DC4-4104-81DF-7CF7AC0DD3E6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjMolijV5ISw2JoHpQoj2aVqpnUVxXVsioFW3x8EIeE3U-RXz9rKhb8yEiPyIpQM6HMFCTb24ysCKdpxx3m1fJ5W9L4KlRTo1MZQ1dbE2K-4v9oAcCxpJJ-s94ggzB1n31Qz-FBcAKv8lHmvcNrNFr-j76Kv3tVLaOMvhmbMIlMBRRi0p358OpjAz/s4032/554DA693-9A68-4C94-A84C-EDB720CB8C01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjMolijV5ISw2JoHpQoj2aVqpnUVxXVsioFW3x8EIeE3U-RXz9rKhb8yEiPyIpQM6HMFCTb24ysCKdpxx3m1fJ5W9L4KlRTo1MZQ1dbE2K-4v9oAcCxpJJ-s94ggzB1n31Qz-FBcAKv8lHmvcNrNFr-j76Kv3tVLaOMvhmbMIlMBRRi0p358OpjAz/s320/554DA693-9A68-4C94-A84C-EDB720CB8C01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fppxvXoI0i4cPrO5s9HYPzPB66z9A0q-FBdxmzkKIHP9JSCiMz_t4kXMonhIEhye8np30vR1EjLAltPqX7VZfEL2Q-A7Tck3Bg9JhKF0KCkNIzsvSej543DL_IFKVJDtBS-CnxXXsjMqNjHPlGt5n-FHbfnEGIqhbi_NNGP4JDUykOV6OpvISCWv/s4032/82BF4F2C-201F-4099-828C-B3C478EF8CE8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fppxvXoI0i4cPrO5s9HYPzPB66z9A0q-FBdxmzkKIHP9JSCiMz_t4kXMonhIEhye8np30vR1EjLAltPqX7VZfEL2Q-A7Tck3Bg9JhKF0KCkNIzsvSej543DL_IFKVJDtBS-CnxXXsjMqNjHPlGt5n-FHbfnEGIqhbi_NNGP4JDUykOV6OpvISCWv/s320/82BF4F2C-201F-4099-828C-B3C478EF8CE8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7D1zvJEDFEIszQvWVpmAeju1mpW15fqikJyKy_iZvIsozJeO_ygibzWHN3fHIs0ykCeN8BOinE27rqB8VLMmXHZdtEA3JGHu5MtnKkWvPvA5SE50GO4ugE7CG45Rov7SUfzifhjTMafnko5JY6xGcn8scMAEG7O6epdLjefKWS249mI9NuVjcg3t/s4032/12A4AE22-FA53-4FFB-BB7C-97416FAAA2CD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7D1zvJEDFEIszQvWVpmAeju1mpW15fqikJyKy_iZvIsozJeO_ygibzWHN3fHIs0ykCeN8BOinE27rqB8VLMmXHZdtEA3JGHu5MtnKkWvPvA5SE50GO4ugE7CG45Rov7SUfzifhjTMafnko5JY6xGcn8scMAEG7O6epdLjefKWS249mI9NuVjcg3t/s320/12A4AE22-FA53-4FFB-BB7C-97416FAAA2CD.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-52010010105118608812022-10-25T13:19:00.000-06:002022-10-25T13:19:32.995-06:00<p> Monday was tour day in Glastonbury, hosted by the gifted musician and lover of local legend and earth knowledge, Michael. Two other completely delightful women were in our small group. Both from Miami, and one was big into the Earth. I’m hoping I tempted them to come to Santa Fe some day. In the morning we climbed up Wearyall Hill, where Joseph of Arimathea planted the first thorn tree. Also fantastic 360 degree views of the surrounding countryside and the Tor. It was wildly expansive up there. The Tor was once an island, surrounded by wetlands, which I found fascinating. You could only get there by boat. Then back into town, with stops at another ancient chapel and the local goddess temple. Then back to the abbey, with much discussion of ley lines and earth energy lines and the patterns they form throughout Glastonbury. I am sorry to report that I did not retain much of that. Then ducked into lunch just before the rain started. By the time we finished, the rain had stopped and the sun came out. So, essentially I enjoyed a rain-free day. Then off to the profoundly beautiful and peaceful Chalice Well and gardens. Drank the red water and then just enjoyed being still. Finally, another steep hike back up to the Tor to see the sunset from there. A perfect way to close the journey. The light, both subtle and visible, was amazing. What a special place! I am still kind of integrating all that I absorbed. Back to London today. A walk along my beloved Thames. Tomorrow—back to Kew Gardens. Yaaayyy!~</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbH2KgVh2QDMW8HLFDJtfB7GlNrd3y-0dpJQlsX58sFNYbgMfw71ZxmSFj_BpUGSXDKDpsNvWfU9ERFH3wWSBb1DWgdJQL8Hr_41j89n53rUamr7eagHXEyn5bDEuAy2OMN8xDeOXKp4hMHJ5-AfduKn7J7H4T3DNhUR2StUCE9ymW2r_0jDZo9X8/s4032/C0FE643A-DABC-4338-A93D-C2F577C2E67A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbH2KgVh2QDMW8HLFDJtfB7GlNrd3y-0dpJQlsX58sFNYbgMfw71ZxmSFj_BpUGSXDKDpsNvWfU9ERFH3wWSBb1DWgdJQL8Hr_41j89n53rUamr7eagHXEyn5bDEuAy2OMN8xDeOXKp4hMHJ5-AfduKn7J7H4T3DNhUR2StUCE9ymW2r_0jDZo9X8/s320/C0FE643A-DABC-4338-A93D-C2F577C2E67A.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKb3C7MAD7_YgWxx1uyJozz0BKpgQdVE7S4kL-qGhV4sPRz5S1jUiRM1OLJQ8iKNg7qkXM05f8R-pGk9KxLtyzykIgjq82pdVM8joj7HZ5LWLaRyzIb5XwxBQm9ZzgTNvNLpNyDeFr-b9ZYnNwIh9miXRB2Z6sTSBb_AgY4lvjWRa9oBpUlxGllCMS/s4032/B50668D6-EF6F-45EF-9C33-C8D5FCCB294D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKb3C7MAD7_YgWxx1uyJozz0BKpgQdVE7S4kL-qGhV4sPRz5S1jUiRM1OLJQ8iKNg7qkXM05f8R-pGk9KxLtyzykIgjq82pdVM8joj7HZ5LWLaRyzIb5XwxBQm9ZzgTNvNLpNyDeFr-b9ZYnNwIh9miXRB2Z6sTSBb_AgY4lvjWRa9oBpUlxGllCMS/s320/B50668D6-EF6F-45EF-9C33-C8D5FCCB294D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhxsi4HZPZ4zEIB-mIv0gl7tJ1W7KUkYyjfh0h0wlJyiQdgXUCFbDbK2tIwc6Ub6H0-cxOL3CVJQPHBZYd-zCyBZTwzGhi8ZhSwrZ8Wjm1BlfxZFNvsN8d1niu0TW1XgXbGZ7CW26d-1dMsqztj6TVqKfNuAt4DpD7BxRG7c_zQeBGRyGyxub8XJs/s4032/8229084F-8A54-4FB7-9EA3-FEDEAB2A7C95.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhxsi4HZPZ4zEIB-mIv0gl7tJ1W7KUkYyjfh0h0wlJyiQdgXUCFbDbK2tIwc6Ub6H0-cxOL3CVJQPHBZYd-zCyBZTwzGhi8ZhSwrZ8Wjm1BlfxZFNvsN8d1niu0TW1XgXbGZ7CW26d-1dMsqztj6TVqKfNuAt4DpD7BxRG7c_zQeBGRyGyxub8XJs/s320/8229084F-8A54-4FB7-9EA3-FEDEAB2A7C95.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vOutCz8v2xDmmOyBoBhWyrpYe0B_ny6NJ6z5amw-Eip5FNPP__gYgEMwXFPjxBtPGdExvP9gBaHLTHMwbQrIWkZDMuJt7ganIPKw2nM05j4lFH792IBub80QsbFqkvDKdqQcriSH5VIrmqXK3nTaXBM6Y2iJ_9az572iJ0F0i_UTrIlY_Zpef3J4/s4032/69719AC9-E78A-4B46-B49C-399A68492103.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vOutCz8v2xDmmOyBoBhWyrpYe0B_ny6NJ6z5amw-Eip5FNPP__gYgEMwXFPjxBtPGdExvP9gBaHLTHMwbQrIWkZDMuJt7ganIPKw2nM05j4lFH792IBub80QsbFqkvDKdqQcriSH5VIrmqXK3nTaXBM6Y2iJ_9az572iJ0F0i_UTrIlY_Zpef3J4/s320/69719AC9-E78A-4B46-B49C-399A68492103.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoThojlFlJLgBcmpS-x1bimy8M0jXmjPqClq4_7-oz2TiBV9AWoPnA3HHn9ELmtaNcJepPZKONigEqXwEZ6pmJCE95z7vQgea1H-cb3Rrjwm3Kn_LrhCx0pMnJJZFM6joYzu3Kuv8GRgZ0PmIc-7LrPBKkO3MmnkmjBx1vJmXbRqSWrByf1xsSJhC/s4032/616E34F4-1097-4CBE-B68A-B513E714CE6C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoThojlFlJLgBcmpS-x1bimy8M0jXmjPqClq4_7-oz2TiBV9AWoPnA3HHn9ELmtaNcJepPZKONigEqXwEZ6pmJCE95z7vQgea1H-cb3Rrjwm3Kn_LrhCx0pMnJJZFM6joYzu3Kuv8GRgZ0PmIc-7LrPBKkO3MmnkmjBx1vJmXbRqSWrByf1xsSJhC/s320/616E34F4-1097-4CBE-B68A-B513E714CE6C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-70455014633626056932022-10-25T12:51:00.002-06:002022-10-25T12:51:22.231-06:00<p> On Sunday, I wandered around the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey. Housed in lush parkland, with the now usual array of ancient and huge trees (I never tire of them). The earliest version of the church was built on the site where Joseph of Arimathea built the first church (wattle and daub) in the UK. Many local legends around all this—including— visits by both the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene, and Jesus’ burial somewhere in the abbey grounds It burned down twice—once by accident and once courtesy of Henry VIII, who was busy destroying all the abbeys and acquiring their wealth. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBonqyzUTzsvau5nsrTenGDV8MA3slfEWPEdBgg2tFxQPehm3tgb8PeyVZuX7KbmpkRFlj5trqG6B7BAaKYId8iplDZCNNcDIA0u3tK61zj2YWQ6ARtEQ1UN0AE8Gh7xxDQi9eQC2MsA_PaNrqMvuzRMDk4gjZEZDg04oBOv3uY4_OzsqoEcNtQc1B/s4032/90439D33-E935-4E54-840A-637BEA7FDF73.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBonqyzUTzsvau5nsrTenGDV8MA3slfEWPEdBgg2tFxQPehm3tgb8PeyVZuX7KbmpkRFlj5trqG6B7BAaKYId8iplDZCNNcDIA0u3tK61zj2YWQ6ARtEQ1UN0AE8Gh7xxDQi9eQC2MsA_PaNrqMvuzRMDk4gjZEZDg04oBOv3uY4_OzsqoEcNtQc1B/s320/90439D33-E935-4E54-840A-637BEA7FDF73.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAHnzkCJy_eBeLcuW0xkCh2frcp3qbr0YhGoHH9Eg9pviMCcGIYXDuLPB_YY7igokHwOz-1s33wVsiT6X12N64DSKJiTQxfEWzeGBncMLgCP-onB6KDX4dIAA5b293yp9hSitbQSglK8GUAHvknR5e3Su5ji_pOYHXMJQZ4DS0OexylrxernLl1YO/s4032/30BE68BD-E6C3-4955-8D81-3F9ED0CA31E4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAHnzkCJy_eBeLcuW0xkCh2frcp3qbr0YhGoHH9Eg9pviMCcGIYXDuLPB_YY7igokHwOz-1s33wVsiT6X12N64DSKJiTQxfEWzeGBncMLgCP-onB6KDX4dIAA5b293yp9hSitbQSglK8GUAHvknR5e3Su5ji_pOYHXMJQZ4DS0OexylrxernLl1YO/s320/30BE68BD-E6C3-4955-8D81-3F9ED0CA31E4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5M_TcxHtaKif8E2-atkrmltBsr6Q65X7M2ThQRem4IZDR_p3UBIbk_MAzfzlhWGszKhiJNmMA9hihNxnnpH9L4fk-zHpXalV6tbCJyOsV0cA0r0y9hf3jREdWKxVRo2SRjs-uHYrYab_NEOdFhGKf4KIpfAtgiTj4fdAuwBnHLixm-Qyw4WiFDUN-/s4032/8BC844F9-5093-4C4F-A9A1-9BF2E7B35C08.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5M_TcxHtaKif8E2-atkrmltBsr6Q65X7M2ThQRem4IZDR_p3UBIbk_MAzfzlhWGszKhiJNmMA9hihNxnnpH9L4fk-zHpXalV6tbCJyOsV0cA0r0y9hf3jREdWKxVRo2SRjs-uHYrYab_NEOdFhGKf4KIpfAtgiTj4fdAuwBnHLixm-Qyw4WiFDUN-/s320/8BC844F9-5093-4C4F-A9A1-9BF2E7B35C08.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The site now holds a Lady Chapel, where I had a love-saturated meditation. Then wandered through the remains of the rest of the abbey. Tho little is left, each remaining wall and structure has a grace and sculptural beauty against the sky. The church claims that Arthur and Guinevere are also buried here. And then, guess what? It rained! Hiked back up the hill to my truly lovely airbnb. <p></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-58623574752066402872022-10-23T12:24:00.000-06:002022-10-23T12:24:22.997-06:00<p> Photos of Glastonbury Tor. Got to Glastonbury (which the locals call Avalon) in time to climb to the top of the Tor—quite a steep </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZZq9UdQQpyh9rb8HfosUFb8OqckrJ5XxN12UOKAUSNOt6p6Oy-AKArYXaubYfmRL3_yigKKEBGwyrPuueDf4ELcyA2EgqUn-ITM_73qSdX0nkW8_6DX4nC2u9E6zuiJGjicLFM0mGnwW2GA6wUznRamGUKsfWauZ3wMzXs2hD3U6HsiI9sHsn5Eg/s4032/953523D8-B917-4552-B77E-6C54756F985D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZZq9UdQQpyh9rb8HfosUFb8OqckrJ5XxN12UOKAUSNOt6p6Oy-AKArYXaubYfmRL3_yigKKEBGwyrPuueDf4ELcyA2EgqUn-ITM_73qSdX0nkW8_6DX4nC2u9E6zuiJGjicLFM0mGnwW2GA6wUznRamGUKsfWauZ3wMzXs2hD3U6HsiI9sHsn5Eg/s320/953523D8-B917-4552-B77E-6C54756F985D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6taifj7YSRDtDOr5Y1tSkMNFOZl9fwtoRyv-9r7R1Dlxug6jYfXvJfuXr1V8PBrOjvXn7hxal8OWhl8f9KTb6vMmyfeDyTG4ykuEWzTgtCbTXiWglBNh-d9ObezLc-PyzDF97r19lHG6Oc7GPBu14UQXem-yOvwjgwxj2ys_aotEIswyd4SP8s1CT/s4032/49DA1A28-79B1-46F8-8533-4F23E3FC9D60.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6taifj7YSRDtDOr5Y1tSkMNFOZl9fwtoRyv-9r7R1Dlxug6jYfXvJfuXr1V8PBrOjvXn7hxal8OWhl8f9KTb6vMmyfeDyTG4ykuEWzTgtCbTXiWglBNh-d9ObezLc-PyzDF97r19lHG6Oc7GPBu14UQXem-yOvwjgwxj2ys_aotEIswyd4SP8s1CT/s320/49DA1A28-79B1-46F8-8533-4F23E3FC9D60.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26_pmyY6MVtv73Uwm9aBc-jhUEYhqYcBJs32OawEP334CfxHIg65HEGAPH_FDy5JFrWw1T8kmwd_ua5jKdvLGLCzrlAmC9VA9ool3nN0VYvn8vYhQ5b6U-EIV6-kmVK1Rq3eOE54r4tVR9YvHspOBC02OruBqH7mYMcMwMy540jD2mrqwhFNid_Mc/s4032/2C35E18A-EDB7-45DA-8DBB-76607E2D09AD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26_pmyY6MVtv73Uwm9aBc-jhUEYhqYcBJs32OawEP334CfxHIg65HEGAPH_FDy5JFrWw1T8kmwd_ua5jKdvLGLCzrlAmC9VA9ool3nN0VYvn8vYhQ5b6U-EIV6-kmVK1Rq3eOE54r4tVR9YvHspOBC02OruBqH7mYMcMwMy540jD2mrqwhFNid_Mc/s320/2C35E18A-EDB7-45DA-8DBB-76607E2D09AD.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Trail. No rain but a cold wind and lots of people at the top. I had some interesting memories and a deep dive into the expansive and loving energy there. But I am still sorting through all that. Locals are pretty far out. Haight Street in the 60s and then some. They were having a fairy festival this weekend and lots of people were dressed up in their fairy best! The climb to the start of the trail to the Tor was once again thickly green and filled me with bliss. The people who live in these countryside towns are so fortunate and they work to maintain their sublime environment.<p></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-46798349625134328382022-10-23T12:05:00.004-06:002022-10-23T12:05:57.811-06:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtH-RAHi75vXTFtHPCAaqpuXxV2x3zYviL3fE2Xa0vMPLF4QuDBIQo1TtHKx6vQTljLGQxjI9a5fqZZn8ZWrwcwoaspYNg3LjiDIysV4u3UikQd0MDISnezI06OpJ_UfrbOgnMh54JuGQrWc83esUwnMc0-V-TSZaI7Rc-HlFOV3_vqhH7ZGlwFl5/s4032/1DB365CE-AC9C-45DB-AEE9-F273919E509D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtH-RAHi75vXTFtHPCAaqpuXxV2x3zYviL3fE2Xa0vMPLF4QuDBIQo1TtHKx6vQTljLGQxjI9a5fqZZn8ZWrwcwoaspYNg3LjiDIysV4u3UikQd0MDISnezI06OpJ_UfrbOgnMh54JuGQrWc83esUwnMc0-V-TSZaI7Rc-HlFOV3_vqhH7ZGlwFl5/s320/1DB365CE-AC9C-45DB-AEE9-F273919E509D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgRmNjWoAfkIBPbSSFm7iV4QpCrJqSgsRJCKNwBigxxi8VVmLySuaDaif7gsG_1Ywf_1bmd6Xd2C_QPTxqLUU57NEDsMkoLwz_ssK3eC5sQcDaijpqYBSnVb81wlLXBdl60nHpsmGOT4rRJ9A4c_1gREfTZg9T2J1fxIIodYWKmdsvoCqXdL461Dm/s4032/75949952-B5CA-44A0-8412-88DC484E0A20.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgRmNjWoAfkIBPbSSFm7iV4QpCrJqSgsRJCKNwBigxxi8VVmLySuaDaif7gsG_1Ywf_1bmd6Xd2C_QPTxqLUU57NEDsMkoLwz_ssK3eC5sQcDaijpqYBSnVb81wlLXBdl60nHpsmGOT4rRJ9A4c_1gREfTZg9T2J1fxIIodYWKmdsvoCqXdL461Dm/s320/75949952-B5CA-44A0-8412-88DC484E0A20.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTHRMs21t62sNECxoeKfqyxlIJfjPBDjuzsV5gNgw-vowfyTOUSZKg8T7jhpaT5osk-7Tu9wVX35br63ap-ubyYYvSDQ-ZsJ7Snhw4EEzg-vslaeLGGkL5FUf6NHBJ9MKd7F4eUuW8rDK709yOus6CAqaVQ8sH5BRgrInmCkja74bY9vzUMPIyl0q/s4032/AE12860D-B2F0-471E-B46A-BBCB2908854B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTHRMs21t62sNECxoeKfqyxlIJfjPBDjuzsV5gNgw-vowfyTOUSZKg8T7jhpaT5osk-7Tu9wVX35br63ap-ubyYYvSDQ-ZsJ7Snhw4EEzg-vslaeLGGkL5FUf6NHBJ9MKd7F4eUuW8rDK709yOus6CAqaVQ8sH5BRgrInmCkja74bY9vzUMPIyl0q/s320/AE12860D-B2F0-471E-B46A-BBCB2908854B.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> Friday—the day for Stonehenge, Avebury and 2 charming Cotswald villages—Lacock and Castle Coomb. It rained and poured and the cold wind blew. Much as I had wanted to hang out with the stones at Stonehenge and Avebury, I was wet through and through from the first 15 minutes of the journey and the cold wind gusts didn’t help. Not the best conditions for contemplating the mysteries of the universe! Did get to see filming sites for several Harry Potter and Downtown Abbey episodes, albeit in the rain! I was sooo saturated by the time I got home—wet down to my skin and through it to the internal organs!<p></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-1536741909550031442022-10-23T11:56:00.001-06:002022-10-23T11:56:53.180-06:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHvJOBDFt-s3wPJDcnxYoVxD1_FOOkMr2ohTSgezqEChS19AHn5om-baCMHvhZTEXZcs3KkhYYmENg7Hl59hLsczLprOL0rPsH4ruehSxi-WOaIzLZx9KOBMePf6uXI_dH7_4D5fpESPBgbvbzIeBoiijX30Rdo1l5f6k2Hc8S-P6TnoQZ6m9-dRE/s4032/B09914C0-4CA9-4541-8D30-F35FA8B08BA3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHvJOBDFt-s3wPJDcnxYoVxD1_FOOkMr2ohTSgezqEChS19AHn5om-baCMHvhZTEXZcs3KkhYYmENg7Hl59hLsczLprOL0rPsH4ruehSxi-WOaIzLZx9KOBMePf6uXI_dH7_4D5fpESPBgbvbzIeBoiijX30Rdo1l5f6k2Hc8S-P6TnoQZ6m9-dRE/s320/B09914C0-4CA9-4541-8D30-F35FA8B08BA3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJoT1a2kWND1QZHtBrwR0OSOJGyryNGNj2lJD5UXW5AbmnmWTSfBovwnE1WLC_s4b4lFdsOEvA9HiYn_mrkIhRvtOs5xMYouPAKZ-JyufGyBqo3o1jBgNkBLFN4knc347_ExGX964iQXuVVKK5m6FTyK3rcRGJCrs-C74WwkXct6bSvgsP76VqJ3c/s4032/C7226A7B-FD86-4203-AFDE-CB2598BFE1F9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJoT1a2kWND1QZHtBrwR0OSOJGyryNGNj2lJD5UXW5AbmnmWTSfBovwnE1WLC_s4b4lFdsOEvA9HiYn_mrkIhRvtOs5xMYouPAKZ-JyufGyBqo3o1jBgNkBLFN4knc347_ExGX964iQXuVVKK5m6FTyK3rcRGJCrs-C74WwkXct6bSvgsP76VqJ3c/s320/C7226A7B-FD86-4203-AFDE-CB2598BFE1F9.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> Bath proved to be surprisingly (becos I didn’t remember it that way) beautiful. The river Avon runs right down the center and it is surrounded by green hills. The Bath Cathedral had a long series of intricate and large stained glass windows. I found a small but powerful chapel towards the front. Just one big candle on the altar at the front and I had it to myself. Such powerful divine love, very feminine in nature. I didn’t know how I would ever get up to leave! But then off to the Roman Baths. I discovered that the springs that filled the baths were well known to the early tribal peoples as a source of healing. The structure built by the Romans attracted thousands of visitors, many of whom had great faith in the healing waters. The healing was attributed to the goddess of the waters. <p></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-83886913933472200362022-10-20T12:03:00.005-06:002022-10-20T12:03:54.267-06:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwu8-SjgkDicw1A-Wp-kegNy5TQGSaq9PZecqbhRH96v-4qKjDnUFE3IP9WIc7lSbjM68OJ7u-9B-pY1sMgyBh3nwHyhxbzS6aBfvdnWrrnfFEin6qMFc4ert5pa6v4EJwMMOliwNvNxXWRcJbmOF76F5j5RgPGQccRlGbnEup2UVSzGyo7lCyXQtZ/s4032/96149281-702F-4861-A90B-94D70550DE13.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwu8-SjgkDicw1A-Wp-kegNy5TQGSaq9PZecqbhRH96v-4qKjDnUFE3IP9WIc7lSbjM68OJ7u-9B-pY1sMgyBh3nwHyhxbzS6aBfvdnWrrnfFEin6qMFc4ert5pa6v4EJwMMOliwNvNxXWRcJbmOF76F5j5RgPGQccRlGbnEup2UVSzGyo7lCyXQtZ/s320/96149281-702F-4861-A90B-94D70550DE13.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>A happy day in the lush and ancient beauty of the Cotswolds. I felt like I was in another world, entirely, a heavenly realm. And part of it all, a visit with my dear friend Vesey and his delightful wife Emma. Sharing this photo in case you might not believe I’m really in England. It does feel like a dream sometimes.<p></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-72081453255753803452022-10-20T02:33:00.000-06:002022-10-20T02:33:11.469-06:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpd1jeSTS0pl7xtA9z9zUQFBjKKnKP1upL1x_hxJIBzlGv1neONK4cQnLV7p3V_XIl_W5uF0z5WYOY5QAMqlZmLx8pogO-X9ma5LngAN5wfkDq0xI_qFLWLqL2Pjz2hGjxL_SXgiWXRPkBO40WHHRuD2WziPqIoPTuYWtx18UjptM7TCTb8sI60VZx/s4032/30833BA7-34B6-4BD7-A9D9-C452064E8DAB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpd1jeSTS0pl7xtA9z9zUQFBjKKnKP1upL1x_hxJIBzlGv1neONK4cQnLV7p3V_XIl_W5uF0z5WYOY5QAMqlZmLx8pogO-X9ma5LngAN5wfkDq0xI_qFLWLqL2Pjz2hGjxL_SXgiWXRPkBO40WHHRuD2WziPqIoPTuYWtx18UjptM7TCTb8sI60VZx/s320/30833BA7-34B6-4BD7-A9D9-C452064E8DAB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaX7cK4jrBHJpXwncSL5ZJ5pWclZQMCl4FUp5DysWz5OMMFn2loZs7WE2Dq4mwYwS_QwQj4lrGB2aZqcp5Z-kJYlVZNFi0UNECHHeJ-wY-596eXEcjmwmL_IGOD8mdP7ESDvH16UWYo-coruQHH1DUdrN1ramjOKwTE966VGFXDZEjOt-JIjb7hqbh/s4032/63102BB7-48F0-4072-AF6E-3A075C2303E8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaX7cK4jrBHJpXwncSL5ZJ5pWclZQMCl4FUp5DysWz5OMMFn2loZs7WE2Dq4mwYwS_QwQj4lrGB2aZqcp5Z-kJYlVZNFi0UNECHHeJ-wY-596eXEcjmwmL_IGOD8mdP7ESDvH16UWYo-coruQHH1DUdrN1ramjOKwTE966VGFXDZEjOt-JIjb7hqbh/s320/63102BB7-48F0-4072-AF6E-3A075C2303E8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6diXz-f6HqusS0DEQBmBTbIW8r9bYPjKtvrwJDtrIzkGDZ006LNabLgduHwKMECxtwRut6ATzbctn-sj701iU_M1WMVYk2gkI2u4M0TFJ2uGD978xa_xNm6zB--NR_4glvqk7ZCtm5RfvePxaeYF_elIbY-VQz5RV3Rx_uHlGpfmpCARHwWOSakVL/s4032/C478D7A2-7B99-45AD-8936-DD334BEFA3EA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6diXz-f6HqusS0DEQBmBTbIW8r9bYPjKtvrwJDtrIzkGDZ006LNabLgduHwKMECxtwRut6ATzbctn-sj701iU_M1WMVYk2gkI2u4M0TFJ2uGD978xa_xNm6zB--NR_4glvqk7ZCtm5RfvePxaeYF_elIbY-VQz5RV3Rx_uHlGpfmpCARHwWOSakVL/s320/C478D7A2-7B99-45AD-8936-DD334BEFA3EA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Last day in Cambridge. Brilliant walking weather. Found the “Backs” of Trinity and other colleges (where they back on to the River Cam). All so exquisite and perfect in the autumn light. Last photo is of the Wren Library, famous for its light-filled architecture. Wandered through Pembroke College as well. I wonder if the students get lost in the beauty and forget to study. This is the atmosphere I was looking for, away from the chaos of the city streets. <p></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-18885098691365738282022-10-17T13:07:00.000-06:002022-10-17T13:07:13.505-06:00<p> Saturday’s train ride through the countryside to Cambridge was gorgeous, as the leaves were turning under the autumn sun. My first afternoon in Cambridge was very disappointing, as I seemed to have wandered through the main part of town on a shopping day. It was more crowded and intense than London, not at all what I had expected. The day was redeemed by the evensong service at Kings College Chapel. The many stained glass windows were exquisite, but the stone ceiling, designed by Wren, felt so light, it seemed it could lift off and fly away. The Kings College choir is world famous and they lived up to their reputation with gorgeous harmonies, amplified by the church acoustics. Totally inspiring. On Sunday, with the continued good weather, I wandered through a more inspiring version of Cambridge—more like the one I had hoped for. I headed for the River Cam, walking happily along its peacefulness. Nearly all of the Cambridge colleges back onto the river. Eventually I took one of the punt boat rides, which was heavenly. The boat person (punter?) shared a zillion stories, both historical and fun, as we sailed along beneath the many bridges (each had a tale to tell) and along the richly green shores. Walked awhile more—it’s very hard for me to stop walking and exploring! Today, the day started with a 90 minute tour of some of Cambridge’s colleges (the exterior), which gave me a great orientation to the meandering narrow streets that house so many of the colleges. I did get to wander through Pembroke College, which had beautiful gardens and just the ivory tower atmosphere I had imagined. The academic work here is extremely demanding, but the colleges do provide a sublime environment for their students. One more day here, then a mad dash back to and across London, to catch a train to the Cotswolds, where I will visit an </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i6uYDTX5DXbRQD7Be6TYgAEe_TlFi4hNvPT3UZaG8o0XFh867XLXu4Y46pC70LdvhMOVbbkAsv3JLRt4jr3p1NDigXdOt4fwLRyi_mtZbRB1c8lg-7y7lhzBmi5HU3DNOABb8ZD7QvDHPpar-Cixugo3J_43_yGoovIIhCKfi2YMqSi0lW88zsvE/s4032/D1F81876-44AE-483F-9CFF-E8AD8A4049BE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i6uYDTX5DXbRQD7Be6TYgAEe_TlFi4hNvPT3UZaG8o0XFh867XLXu4Y46pC70LdvhMOVbbkAsv3JLRt4jr3p1NDigXdOt4fwLRyi_mtZbRB1c8lg-7y7lhzBmi5HU3DNOABb8ZD7QvDHPpar-Cixugo3J_43_yGoovIIhCKfi2YMqSi0lW88zsvE/s320/D1F81876-44AE-483F-9CFF-E8AD8A4049BE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC0tVKvWRalyqNFN5RUmWcnT31fHMX-02d8X7S-7xOm97qHczSCyjlAM7kfJAa-2SzcwYonFGExzfJu9KsZxf0q2Li9v2_IHLAL8GK4T-jj4Ew38zpCFdfSN_7YvTEpFh9pudUJcF8gxPdyAhYr1hajZrS35WEyKZsQuNXF_z1OjeeuYU5kDaU7QV/s4032/ACEDA1E8-B9B3-47E4-926D-353DD026BB8F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC0tVKvWRalyqNFN5RUmWcnT31fHMX-02d8X7S-7xOm97qHczSCyjlAM7kfJAa-2SzcwYonFGExzfJu9KsZxf0q2Li9v2_IHLAL8GK4T-jj4Ew38zpCFdfSN_7YvTEpFh9pudUJcF8gxPdyAhYr1hajZrS35WEyKZsQuNXF_z1OjeeuYU5kDaU7QV/s320/ACEDA1E8-B9B3-47E4-926D-353DD026BB8F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hWMfNLgcfwCpMHyuZUkgicW_USjWryuz1iL2RM4hUkk32yReIfRw_e8x0UbCzyBNyk6QDaAAreiVeUelUp8zxb3Epbt3zQcI2l4BTQswfZJgxjiMSsIEaEuD_SjeECwYby_zMVL1ZXklL1VhOhVSJAeO8H_CXsIJgtJYoi_byM1jjAmUtd9_8lUi/s4032/A02038FE-6AF4-48FD-92D4-6E5DC040120D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hWMfNLgcfwCpMHyuZUkgicW_USjWryuz1iL2RM4hUkk32yReIfRw_e8x0UbCzyBNyk6QDaAAreiVeUelUp8zxb3Epbt3zQcI2l4BTQswfZJgxjiMSsIEaEuD_SjeECwYby_zMVL1ZXklL1VhOhVSJAeO8H_CXsIJgtJYoi_byM1jjAmUtd9_8lUi/s320/A02038FE-6AF4-48FD-92D4-6E5DC040120D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMLGhb6oxDDqhalF44PKfh-apmBn6LF8CAbPDIVOHUIR8uf64OaB74fPJpQikrpap10Hp-u7FH5boiQhb6LRbbB0kMEdCp65UBM7alzltOXWeh4QvyC8N3Is97pfXZaF7UikXD6Nro4k9IDGewHg_7ZFvGoA934K9qDn-XvLrYYGDOW2Kshj6Q1A3/s4032/1F76E08D-284C-46AB-8795-DBBD0EB146C1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMLGhb6oxDDqhalF44PKfh-apmBn6LF8CAbPDIVOHUIR8uf64OaB74fPJpQikrpap10Hp-u7FH5boiQhb6LRbbB0kMEdCp65UBM7alzltOXWeh4QvyC8N3Is97pfXZaF7UikXD6Nro4k9IDGewHg_7ZFvGoA934K9qDn-XvLrYYGDOW2Kshj6Q1A3/s320/1F76E08D-284C-46AB-8795-DBBD0EB146C1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />old friend. The day will end in Bath. And now some photos. <p></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-40502175379550375972022-10-14T13:25:00.001-06:002022-10-14T13:25:32.227-06:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1G726Y2x2epOwMqiOGaW8Nju3K3XQ5FP_LJnklBZkKFsPPNxkesJNol05HEX2phz_6adDQdZ-SOGUifN6Zk9t4SDcp-J96QZyxvYJXUFQo1WSsSkau5ee2pYI0ca69bYXnb0WGALNNVMtIGVgKKEdDHF7iLMNjiAHdi6h6kXnHdFnPUDXThnJF4v/s4032/2C24490B-69A8-48C8-8250-36327D74DA10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1G726Y2x2epOwMqiOGaW8Nju3K3XQ5FP_LJnklBZkKFsPPNxkesJNol05HEX2phz_6adDQdZ-SOGUifN6Zk9t4SDcp-J96QZyxvYJXUFQo1WSsSkau5ee2pYI0ca69bYXnb0WGALNNVMtIGVgKKEdDHF7iLMNjiAHdi6h6kXnHdFnPUDXThnJF4v/s320/2C24490B-69A8-48C8-8250-36327D74DA10.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-zc4DMH48DJA9xBm7nNgEALOw1AxAZ3XZn1-jJP9ud6Klk_pU2GvDj4RjhTRcumHyamfPYv9XQPrhYIrQoGuKESSlJaQW_VWM97Oh5LFvDWYEZcIfgY0dndwKmXJIdKCXrvieCETAkqF-5zszixfBY02vyrz0hlWFwiJTcI98typ1h9QU2IONA_N/s4032/819F919F-22B2-4632-BC70-F9AEDB907673.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-zc4DMH48DJA9xBm7nNgEALOw1AxAZ3XZn1-jJP9ud6Klk_pU2GvDj4RjhTRcumHyamfPYv9XQPrhYIrQoGuKESSlJaQW_VWM97Oh5LFvDWYEZcIfgY0dndwKmXJIdKCXrvieCETAkqF-5zszixfBY02vyrz0hlWFwiJTcI98typ1h9QU2IONA_N/s320/819F919F-22B2-4632-BC70-F9AEDB907673.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9TU_48uuiRqi0GLDiMXbwkU2yb96G4uyjAReJmbBglbdoCQ0dadLxHSK3-IiyOYhRcUqOh9P24utCOK4zeDk12kGo3BrvTZ7h6zwsI8QX7Maf8tgcsgAwuJgsVZ_19lxDiYDmCC0YUMgECr34IyQ0Wx6uB8C218BE0D0fp_d6XGX9Ny09XO2RmlY/s4032/AD62D882-140E-4F2B-9DBA-71150AAEE730.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9TU_48uuiRqi0GLDiMXbwkU2yb96G4uyjAReJmbBglbdoCQ0dadLxHSK3-IiyOYhRcUqOh9P24utCOK4zeDk12kGo3BrvTZ7h6zwsI8QX7Maf8tgcsgAwuJgsVZ_19lxDiYDmCC0YUMgECr34IyQ0Wx6uB8C218BE0D0fp_d6XGX9Ny09XO2RmlY/s320/AD62D882-140E-4F2B-9DBA-71150AAEE730.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> I can’t believe it, but today was my last day in London (except for one day at the very end). It feels like it should go on forever. I am so grateful for my green and graceful neighborhood and the easy proximity to the Thames, where I have continued to walk almost daily. With time passing so quickly, it’s time to write again, or I will surely forget everything I have done. Wednesday, guess where I went again! Kew Gardens of course. I can’t quite seem to get enough of the place. It really was a perfect and perfectly beautiful day. I discovered more paths through their varied woodlands, more truly magical trees and groves of trees, and spent time in at last some of them, to soak in their specialness. Came home feeling totally fulfilled. Next day, I finally went back in to central London to meet another dear friend, Frances Knight. I will include her photo for those of you who know her. What a divinely sweet and beautiful being. We started at the Royal Academy (of art), visited a gallery and wandered through Green Park. Green Park holds Buckingham Palace, but you know me. I was more deeply impressed by an effulgence of huge and happy trees. A cool and rainy day today, I headed out to the National Gallery and remembered that I really do enjoy looking at art. Constable is my favorite for English landscapes and Turner my favorite for skies and the sea, especially stormy skies and seas. And then an array of Impressionists, whom I always love. Spent a bit of time at the love-filled church called St. Martin in the Fields, famous for its concerts. And finished the day by having tea with another wonderful friend Eleanor. This morning as I walked to the tube station, I could feel that a lot of transformation has taken place, tho I don’t have words for it yet. Stay tuned. Off to Cambridge tomorrow.<p></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-68805988238959460112022-10-11T12:18:00.000-06:002022-10-11T12:18:14.716-06:00<p> Continuing with a fantastically fortunate run of perfect autumn walking weather. I’m continuing to ignore all indoor options such as museums and historical spots, as I only long to walk and walk in the gorgeousness that is here. Yesterday a lovely time catching up with an old friend, including her input on many old English friends whom I have not seen for 30 or 40 years. Great fun! Today, decided to sample the London city parks, especially Hyde Park and Green Park. I know I am being a boring person, but I was once again caught up in the huge and ancient trees and flower gardens. I seem to have lost all interest in the human history part, which is interesting because I used to find it fascinating. Now—it’s trees—and the Thames. Well, so be it. The good weather may run out at the end of the week when I go to Cambridge. Oh well. I will celebrate the rain as best I can. Got to watch the late afternoon rowers on the Thames. What a nice way to live!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNEBw0XmpSzRxRq9kB2jNqQvoGVCLpgJJQEKorrq6cCtyHUlpgfuEkIRC-nSgcOcX8tkuLGpz_Sg7-cDeq8GX-yFXnG7cTApgK-1JrFWFrrUURxMaH0m8ag6qOszYwSuLeOljIJmpIwjIT7pIu6VBTA8LihxMkUes5rP4ajwGotemkXeS9EI7TIVo/s4032/E10C59DD-3711-4E21-AFC5-2E5AABEF6461.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNEBw0XmpSzRxRq9kB2jNqQvoGVCLpgJJQEKorrq6cCtyHUlpgfuEkIRC-nSgcOcX8tkuLGpz_Sg7-cDeq8GX-yFXnG7cTApgK-1JrFWFrrUURxMaH0m8ag6qOszYwSuLeOljIJmpIwjIT7pIu6VBTA8LihxMkUes5rP4ajwGotemkXeS9EI7TIVo/s320/E10C59DD-3711-4E21-AFC5-2E5AABEF6461.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NSXrC8ijVbXH3-ZrQdLj6DMiWLCwg7kZR3wGtnaZJhrDMyGn1jV6bH76iZ4mba-xUb5OcgaRSlLQ8PZAoXahWCl2CTY8qYducG6plZ6I4khXKtoR4DqTGXh-DDy9kEkUYgcdCgzyMS5Jac-CwHxnQro-gEDdDRcqAsEq-T01h0eB50z9e5AyzuEO/s4032/AA1EEB19-478C-42BF-BB59-F16FA3E6DED0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NSXrC8ijVbXH3-ZrQdLj6DMiWLCwg7kZR3wGtnaZJhrDMyGn1jV6bH76iZ4mba-xUb5OcgaRSlLQ8PZAoXahWCl2CTY8qYducG6plZ6I4khXKtoR4DqTGXh-DDy9kEkUYgcdCgzyMS5Jac-CwHxnQro-gEDdDRcqAsEq-T01h0eB50z9e5AyzuEO/s320/AA1EEB19-478C-42BF-BB59-F16FA3E6DED0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE96j_rp7Iqyfp-puaJHgkiNci4-3FUMX0ebrEoPT8APOobyDdLECWXgQx7lejqa3bjOSLHR89pgv-swS4t18_5VNRNtvzo2yQYpFisQnOENi-e-UtWjYdFENnJKY2GXkV3O7n48WBcuqNDrC1FHEq2uvjfPTHNqbv9oDyTx61Co0nxYkUAN6Gz81/s4032/0B8AA53E-4693-4107-BF42-7BBC168E900D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE96j_rp7Iqyfp-puaJHgkiNci4-3FUMX0ebrEoPT8APOobyDdLECWXgQx7lejqa3bjOSLHR89pgv-swS4t18_5VNRNtvzo2yQYpFisQnOENi-e-UtWjYdFENnJKY2GXkV3O7n48WBcuqNDrC1FHEq2uvjfPTHNqbv9oDyTx61Co0nxYkUAN6Gz81/s320/0B8AA53E-4693-4107-BF42-7BBC168E900D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050178798807632703.post-41194111678646357512022-10-09T12:22:00.000-06:002022-10-09T12:22:03.301-06:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2NnqoOg6u6KFXh43BJ9ARPiCk2-t20i2niraRI-O3PgGf7DrC2nWMJYThcxPNaKiMzFA49VwdXwmN3mjBVTlh11qmBq6YXXGm2L9OoFjnIfmRE2zf5EZgTtP11HA8hvPBz93qBhTRvjR4sgI-QJsbFPCw9fV2HkYtwwWDZ9ZbrBLzzRgA_OJaNVV/s4032/D0820224-8E3A-4718-960D-1AE12FDDBC4E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2NnqoOg6u6KFXh43BJ9ARPiCk2-t20i2niraRI-O3PgGf7DrC2nWMJYThcxPNaKiMzFA49VwdXwmN3mjBVTlh11qmBq6YXXGm2L9OoFjnIfmRE2zf5EZgTtP11HA8hvPBz93qBhTRvjR4sgI-QJsbFPCw9fV2HkYtwwWDZ9ZbrBLzzRgA_OJaNVV/s320/D0820224-8E3A-4718-960D-1AE12FDDBC4E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhZFgvsTxmIDbhcVo1ZEXYAG-AWasO5m1G2ApZfdiQFhWkJZR7RMCXc6wFacKWnLKXudwyVy18Zlsr8gTzpJKl5JQapIrCneoTCwV9qrRmWTUizBQhyGdURyZQTt7ylTka_geDph5tVbGOub-XOAqs8fAXPXb3gYX0QqkY_fBiPxrqAn0Yg_8Y1wT/s4032/9C1C47DE-25A6-4BFC-BED0-4B846C3353D2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhZFgvsTxmIDbhcVo1ZEXYAG-AWasO5m1G2ApZfdiQFhWkJZR7RMCXc6wFacKWnLKXudwyVy18Zlsr8gTzpJKl5JQapIrCneoTCwV9qrRmWTUizBQhyGdURyZQTt7ylTka_geDph5tVbGOub-XOAqs8fAXPXb3gYX0QqkY_fBiPxrqAn0Yg_8Y1wT/s320/9C1C47DE-25A6-4BFC-BED0-4B846C3353D2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBvKvASgHBBXBhGSqsMWgtk7tFaX7f67QJdV5h3Tq08lCI_i1s5nUYuGshIPfATXEyMdHusYUryDkYP0md7Gnd40p9iZNW9LaBD_lusNHzNaAK_lvuGaWCi2wDQC6zVAzprCwqRps935JEJwzK-NyIhy3jTv-zYN8Yzp3OINgsYUDkpjjAgMKHokt/s4032/84026435-627E-48F1-BBDE-D34A6DF76287.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBvKvASgHBBXBhGSqsMWgtk7tFaX7f67QJdV5h3Tq08lCI_i1s5nUYuGshIPfATXEyMdHusYUryDkYP0md7Gnd40p9iZNW9LaBD_lusNHzNaAK_lvuGaWCi2wDQC6zVAzprCwqRps935JEJwzK-NyIhy3jTv-zYN8Yzp3OINgsYUDkpjjAgMKHokt/s320/84026435-627E-48F1-BBDE-D34A6DF76287.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> This is definitely becoming a pilgrimage to trees, gardens and water—the Thames in particular. Blessed with perfect autumn weather, I cannot even consider doing anything indoors—no museums, not even Westminster Abbey. I am soooo loving wandering among the trees, found most everywhere. Yesterday, I went to Hampstead Heath. Acres and acres of trails and thick forest. Huge, ancient trees. Sometimes a grouping that calls me to sit among them. So beautiful and nourishing and magical. Hampstead has no trail markers whatsoever, so getting lost was inevitable. This opened the door to conversations with at least a dozen people, about three-quarters of whom were also lost. So many good-natured, funny and helpful people. The fabulous British sense of humour is always waiting for a chance to show itself! Then today, a long walk along the Thames—what a great river—to a place called Chiswick Park. Again, acres of woods, with the occasional sculpture appearing out of nowhere. A huge conservatory and large and complex kitchen gardens that were first planted in 1742. Imagine if you had started your garden 300 years ago. These days it is care for and enjoyed by the local community. Saw gorgeous flowers and very happy looking vegetables. Then a delicious walk home along the Thames.<p></p>cynthiawriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283028184774266571noreply@blogger.com1