Random Thoughts

As I write tonight’s blog, the bells of St. Deiniol’s are ringing again. I believe tonight is the night they ordinarily practice the bell ringing – last week, the practice rang on for hours as the royal birth was announced. On the other hand, the ringing may also be related to a group that is presently staying at the Gladstone’s Library: The Cycling Bell Ringers of Great Britain. Actually, I am not sure that is their official name. However, I do know that yesterday some 35+ people, mostly young adults, checked into their rooms here. They are, literally, a group of people who ring church bells. I am not sure if it is an association or a club or a professional organization. I do know they ring church bells and they ride bicycles. So this week, they cycle their way from community to community and ring the church bells of the places they visit. They had five stops today and returned to the Library quite exhausted . . . from the cycling or from the bell ringing or both. They also drink a lot of beer – but they seem to do that mostly after they have cycled and bell rung – which is probably a good thing!

Saturday morning, I took Lyle and Nancy on my favorite walk through the Bilberry Wood. We passed the Old Hawarden Castle and continued through the area marked ‘permit holders only.’ that led us through a shaded walk that opened on to a field. That day, unlike days past, the field was full of cows. Lots of them. We proceeded over the cattle guard, staying on the path – which the cows also seemed to be doing! The idea was to make it to the other cattle guard and go over it to the awaiting wood and path. The cows were not going over that. When we got to the other side, I noted this sign . . .

We did not have a dog and so there was no chase and no excitement. I think the cows were happy about that!

And this one in particular seemed to give the message: …and let’s keep it that way!

And then there was this bit of sidewalk art I found just outside the library. Amazing, isn’t it, what beauty there is in the simplest of things? A few twigs and leaves and stones and stuff – and a vision for the beautiful and look what can happen!

May the simplest of things brighten your day today. May you delight in a roadside sign or meet a cycling bell ringer . . . one just never knows what surprises await!