The English serve the most delicious prunes with white grapefruit for breakfast. It is truly delicious along side muesli. I also love the toast racks that come to the table with lightly toasted to darker toasted.
In worship, I'm having a hard time quieting my mind. I'm reminded of the Korean meditation I went to with Ava. We were told to think to ourselves the words "Drop off." I will keep trying.
Today was gorgeous; sunny with the perfect temperature. However, I was only able to take a short hike. My balance has been off. I don't know if it's from the elevation, the barometric pressure, or traveling on my new meds? So, I spent two hours with my notes from yesterday, trying to remember everything. Yesterday was a big Quaker day. As is tomorrow. Roy read to us this morning, a quote from an 80 year old Margaret Fell, about modern dress. She basically said in a very spunky way, God is not in the dress.
"But contrary to this, we (are told we) must look at no colours, nor make anything that is changeable colours as the hills are, nor sell them, nor wear them; but we must be all in one dress and one colour; this is a silly poor Gospel. It is more fit for us, to be covered with God's Eternal Spirit, and clothed with his Eternal Light, which leads us and guides us into Righteousness." —Margaret Fell
Flowers in bloom: Butterfly bush, Foxgloves, Poppies (yellow and peachy coral), Red Honeysuckle, Buttercups, Montbrecia, Hostas, Hydrangea... I saw red Poppies on the coast in Dymchurch.
I went to a fabulous Tea House, Baldry's. Speaking of spunky, a spunky Scottish man worked there. He was fun to talk to. He corrected my pronunciation of the word "scones." I still can't say it the way he does. He let me use their wifi as long as I wanted. I had my new favorite thing, raspberry and blueberry scones with Kentish cream and tea. I really hope I can copy this or some version of it at home.
I also went to Wordsworth's Daffodil Garden, next to the church where he and his family are buried. Wordsworth said Grasmere was the most beautiful place on Earth.
Daffodils
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
William Wordsworth
And, to Sarah Nelson's Gingerbread Shop. This is a tiny shop with a line out the door. The gingerbread is made from a secret recipe that is 150 years old. Oh my, it is delicious. I'm going to bring some home. Going back to Jamie Oliver, he says it is the best.
Dinner- Fatoush salad, Barramundi fish, and strawberry creme brûlée. I have consumed way too many calories on this trip. And, not enough hiking. Tomorrow will be a lot of walking, a bit of climbing, and walking up 100 steps to Lancaster Castle.
Tonight at dinner we talked about favorite movies, desert island movies, and scariest movies. John and Margaret March seem to know quite a few movies, including international. I have a few to add to my list, including "Departures." John March is considering a doctorate program with Ben Pink Dandelion at Woodbrooke. I am thrilled for John and hope it happens. I adore Ben, and two of the three times I have felt spiritually held were in his presence. This would be a six month program for John because of his previous education. What a dream.
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| For my girls |
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| Baldry's Tea House |
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| Have I mentioned the English love dogs? Italian Spumoni |
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| This is ridiculous. |
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| tiny bunny in Wordsworth Garden |
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| Wordsworth's Daffodil Garden |
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| local artist- print of modern Grasmere, in Sarah Nelson's Shop |
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| Sarah Nelson's Gingerbread House |
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