The Glory of thy Creation

Boxing day at Hoggies we went sightseeing, showing the new visitors some of the sights of this enchanting village... as we left the Chapel on the Hill this greeted us!








What is amazing to me is the way the sun fell on the tree.. which has a resemblance to a Cross. Coincidence? I do not believe that for one instance.
God is always with us and has given us the greatest gift of all.







Plaque at the Chapel...
The words say it all...



















I believe this is the message we should take with us in the coming year...
Here the rest are amazed by the sight of sun on trees...

Inside the chapel... each one with their own thoughts...

G&A in a stolen moment...


Before the Chapel we took a walk around the Labyrinth and then took a peek over the Edge...
The Labrynth

The Edge

A looking very pensive as she sits on the Edge.

On the Edge...

More edgy stuff...

G&A on the edge...

MD and M on the edge...


G&MD admiring the vista


Of course I could not resit taking some pictures of the flowers that crossed our paths...
Pelargoniums... all at the Chapel, these are new to me.

Another pelargonium.

Pelargonium in pink

Budding Aloe at the Labrynth.

Fittingly this came to mind as we drove back to the house in Hoggies.
"Genesis Chapter 2
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,"

Boxed in

Still no sign of sunshine...
The steps up to the rest of the establishment...

Four days of rain can be a bit much, I am itching to go exploring on Shrek but in the meantime we will chill out and wait for the weather to clear. The quite and peacefullness is what one needs on Boxing day. Most of us spent time reading, listening to music and browsing the web... we are spoiled with having an ASDL wireless network... you could blog from the bath if you wanted to! So being online I was able to look up why it is called Boxing day.
Boxing Day is so called because on this day it was the customary for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for good service throughout the year. Also, it included giving money and other gifts to charitable institutions, and the needy.

The holiday may date from as early as the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is not known. It may have begun with the Lords and Ladies of England, who gave Christmas boxes/gifts to their servants on December 26, or maybe by priests, who opened the church's alms (charity boxes), and distributed the contents to the poor and needy.

I trust you all had a Blessed Christmas out there...
"Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. It falls on December 26th, which is also St. Stephen's Day.
St. Stephen was a little known saint who achieved eternal fame by being the first Christian to be martyred for his faith, and he met his death by stoning."

Christmas day - 2007

Woke up to the sound of rain once again... the forest is covered in mist...

Got dressed for the Church service at the Hogsback Inn, weather did not permit it to be held at the open air auditorium.
A view of the garden at Nutwood's.
Then we went for Christmas lunch at Nutwood's... the gazpacho was delicious but not appreciated by all but at the end it was a most enjoyable gastronomic event. Much later we got back to the cabin and had to take a nap...
The day reminded me that the greatest gift of all we can give is Love and that one day the giver of Love will return, I believe it will be on a Christmas morning... reminds me of the song by Dido...
Christmas day - Dido
A young gentleman came riding past,
On a snow blue winters day,
He asked to drink by our fire
And I was pleased to let him stay,

He drank there quietly for a while,
And then he turned and said to me,

Your eyes are green,
Like summer grass,
Your lips are red,
Like a fresh cut rose,
Your hair is soft,
Like an Irish stream,
And your voice,
Is filled with sweet beauty

And the last words I heard him say

Were I shall return,
For you,
My love,
On Christmas Day

And the night will come,
But I won't sleep,
As I watch the stars that lead him,
I cannot place where he is,
But still my heart goes with him,
I'm saving all my Sunday clothes
For the day that I'll be leaving,
Father knows,
My sister knows,
And my friends,
They're happy for me,
And the priest he says,
You should thank God,
For the blessing,
Of such beauty

And the last words
I heard him say,

Were I shall return,
For you,
My love,
On Christmas Day
I shall return,
For you,
My love,
On Christmas Day

(On Christmas Day)

(I shall return for you my love)

And the last words
I heard him say
Were the last words
I ever
Heard him say

I shall return,
For you,
My love
On Christmas Day
I swear,
I will return,
On Christmas Day,
And yes,
I shall return,
On Christmas Day,
I shall return,
For you,
On Christmas Day
My love,
I will return,
On Christmas Day
I shall return,
My love
On Christmas Day

On Christmas Day

[via FoxyTunes / Dido - Christmas Day]

So I hope you all had as wonderful a Christmas day as we have had here in the enchanted forests of Hogsback...
"If you can get nothing better out of the world, get a good dinner out of it, at least."
Herman Melville (1819 - 1891)

Toadstools, misty glades and Christmas eve

We took a walk today and found enchantment at every step down the misty pathways...

Toadstools...

Hidden cabins in the forest mist...

and misty glades where ghostly dogs played...

When we got back it was time to wrap the last presents for the tree...

and our hostess was preparing for a scrumptious Xmas eve supper...
An day that will remain engraved in my soul for ever.
"Each day provides its own gifts."
American Proverb

Green Mountain

We arrived at Hogsback! I never knew places like this existed in South Africa... more to follow. The Amatolas are greener than green! I got wetter than wet getting here though... as the weather caught me out I was not able to take pictures on this leg of the trip, however here are some from yesterday. Had a surprise in Pick&Pay while waiting for Moondancer to hook up with me for the drive to Ilifu in Hogsback where we were to stay in Camerons Cabin. KatieB was down visiting her parents for Xmas.
This is where I spent the previous evening in Queenstown,

The nearby NG Church...

And a looming storm making a glorious sunset, a perfect end to the day as I prepared to rest for the final leg to Hogsback.

"Mountains are earth's undecaying monuments."
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 - 1864)

Heading for Hoggies

Packing to go...

Chicks and Shrek... the chicks at Smithfield were not even frightened when I parked right next to them.

Steers and Shrek... Getting a bite to eat in Aliwal North...

The Pass... awesome, I plan to do the "up run" on the way back from Hogsback.

The decent from the Drakensberg. The pass winds down the mountainside in the middle of the picture. The ride itself was most enjoyable.
Left Bloemfontein at around 10 am heading for Reddersburg, Smithfield, Rouxville, Aliwal North, Lady Grey, Barkly East, Elliot, Dortrecht and arrived at Queenstown at around 6 pm. A leisurely day's riding.
"Little by little, one travels far." J. R. R. Tolkien (1892 - 1973)