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I just love dry stone walling. This one is typical of the many walls that inhabit the Lake District and surrounding areas. I am reminded of the many Lakeland holidays that I used to have camping and then caravanning when I was a child. My Grandfather, aunties and uncles lived there for many years, so our holidays were always spent there.
These walls are built solidly from sturdy, light coloured stone. Always finished with the upturned stones on the top. They provide shelter for the animals and of course they keep them where they are supposed to be.
This one is purely ornamental and Harry & I stumbled on it while visiting some gardens. I loved it, so snapped it up.
I should imagine that in any dry stone walling, all sorts of creatures would make their home between the stones.
I think life can be a bit like a dry stone wall, sometimes. You have to have solid rocks at the bottom to support the weight of the next layer. With people, it is our roots that keep us firmly placed. People come in an assortment of sizes, shapes and colour. The stones have to work together, just like people do. If one gets taken out, the rest are in danger of going down.
However, if they all work together, then they stand the test of time and endure even the worst storm.
30 comments:
I love dry stone walling too. Such a skill. How do they just not fall over like a row of dominoes?!!
maggie, philosophy, y'bugger! I like your analogy, though, because I can see myself as an upturned stone on the top if the wall, protecting the others, and helping to keep the animals penned in. Nice pic's, our kid.
My son-in-law erected a stone wall out in front of our property along the parking area there. He did this to prevent the dirt from the parking area from washing down into the yard and across the sidewalk. Like you, I like to see the stone walls too. And also, I agree with your analogy about family/friends, etc., all being a stone wall that supports us as we move through life.
Very interesting!
My PSF is posted here. Please pass by if you have time. Happy weekends!
What a gorgeous area! Lovely, peaceful PSF!!
This is just what I love about your blog, Maggie. You see the application behind a picture, the lesson behind the ordinary. I am honoured to be added to your Blogroll m'dear.
Dottie x
Wow, that is really neat! Great captures and a wonderful story!
Beautiful photos.
Have never heard of or seen dry stone walling.
What is the average height?
Bear((( )))
very interesting!!
I love the way you said that you liked a wall so you "snapped it up". I don't know why, but it intrigues me...this idea of grabbing things and taking them home through pictures.
I love dry stone walling too...such a skill! Wonderful pictures Maggie!
In the Lakes and Northumberland this summer I pointed out to my kids exactly how these wall are made and they were gob-smacked. A feat of engineering - or something.
I just adore your eye for photography Maggie, you just always capture the beauty in every day. And I LOVE THAT!!
Building dry stone walls must be quite an art. With nothing to hold them together it is amazing that they do not collapse.
I love dry stone walls too. Plenty to see as I look out of my window and the Wall itself too (I think)!
Very philosophical. You're right too! (I think my job is keeping the 'animals' in!!
LOVELY. Seems like Family could fit in your metaphor somewhere there too? The different layers you need to stand firm/tall/something?
Lovely.
I grew up surrounded by dry stone walls in Northumberland / Cumbria and spent a good deal of time in the Lakes too. I often climbed over them rather than walk the extra distance to a stile - and do you know, if careful about the top stones, these were the sturdiest and most solid walls I have come across in many cases? Obviously no good for buildings, but steady enough as a boundary.
I think dry stone walls are so cool. Man made, but unobtrusive. That first one is really neat.
Beautiful PSF. I love your analogy of life being like a stone wall. So true... and so often I'm banging my head against it! LOL.
So beautiful. I wish I could have that around my property, I love stones. I never heard of dry stone walling, but I am now in love with it.
Thanks for sharing this.
Hope all is better with your daughter.
XXXXX
I love the way you used the photo to tell a story of an important life principle. I think I need to keep this on my desk to remind me of to be a better team member!
I have been fascinated by dry stone walls, ever since I first came across them. I didn't see many, you know, where I grew up, in the middle of the industrial West Midlands! You do have an eye for a good photo and your concluding paragraph is so true, of course.
I caught up with your previous post, too, which came as a great shock, as I didn't realise that your son in law's condition was so advanced. What a lot of emotions you have all had to cope with over the past few months. My sympathies lie with all of you, but particularly with your 2 young grandsons. My thoughts are with you.
Beautiful. I'm not sure if I've ever seen anything quite like that before.
I also like dry stone walling. Didn't really know that's what you called it. But it has a natural look - not like cement blocks.
Loved your analogy - with people. We do all have to work together in order to make things work out.
Very nice pictures. :)
Lovely pics and even lovelier philospohy maggiemay ... I only wish people would understand that we're all in it together and stop fighting each other ... sigh!
That wall does look particularly interesting. The Yorkshire Dales are a lovely part of the country for their walls.
CJ xx
In pursuit of some learning, we drove to the National Stone Centre which has fine examples of dry stone walls from all over the UK... a highly recommended centre (and we survived the car journey too, which i hope shows something!)
Hi! I stumbled here via Bear Naked, and I love your analogy on family and stone walls. It is so true. I do love stone walls, not for keeping things in or out, but to watch things grow in between each crevice. Like more branches in a tree..additions to the family strengths.
I like your blog! I wll come back when you get back from your journey to Victoria...hope the travels go easy on you and make all the right connections.
Lovely pictures, and sentiments, Maggie. I too love dry stone walls, and lived in Gloucestershire for a while before the children were born. M xx
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