When my lady moved to a house just outside of Holt, in Wiltshire we saw this Green Man on the church down the road as a sign. My business has operated under the name Greenman Design Studio for some years, and there aren’t a lot of green men in Wiltshire. So it was quite nice […]
Feeling like Vermeer at Philipsburg Manor
I love Vermeer, his paintings that is. This photo was taken at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, New York. The real Sleepy Hollow, which is as much history as legend. It was taken in a barn a few centuries years old, as the lady demonstrated the production of flax. Sometimes you take a photo and […]
The Devil’s Chair at Avebury
Top: One of the southern entrance stones to Avebury, with the Devil’s Chair in the center Folklore and legends abound with the standing stones of Britain, with many stones or groupings given the old fellow’s name, such as the Devil’s Bed and Bolster, Devil’s Den near Avebury and the Devil’s Chair, one of the two […]
The Rock of Cashel: Where Patrick introduced the King of Munster to a new god
The Rock of Cashel was begun in the 11th century, and became the seat of the kings of Munster. It was there that St. Patrick converted them to Christianity in the fifth century, and eventually a great cathedral was built, before the whole thing got sacked, burned and plundered by Oliver Cromwell. According to folklore, […]
The Daily Ramble: The River Chew at Pensford, Somerset
The village of Pensford is in Somerset, Great Britain. We stumbled upon it in search of the Stanton Drew stone circles, and were mesmerized by this view. A great flood of the River Chew in 1968 damaged the railroad viaduct in the background so extensively it never reopened. Also damaged was the St Thomas […]
Is it Halloween or Samhain? What’s the real difference and when is it?
I’ve written about this before I believe. Twice even. I get these questions every year about this time, so here’s how I see it. The historical record is in this case, a record of people looking at the historical record and not finding much. They find harvest celebrations around the end of October, but that […]
From the witch’s garden, Meadowsweet, a love potion as well as a balm for aching hearts
A look at Meadowsweet, a wildflower traditionally thought of as an omen of love. But with any love potion, it works best when love is already present from the start.
On Death
WE MEET DEATH IN MANY WAYS, in many guises. Sometimes it strikes quickly, openly, savage in its intensity. Mostly it takes its time, a small temptation that seems innocent – a love of sweets, a cool draught of liquor on the tongue, the rush of nicotine from a cigarette, simple pleasures that become addictions and […]
