Mise en place

This afternoon I cycled to Irongray Church, a couple of miles from our house. It's a peaceful place and there's a seat in the corner of the old churchyard which has wind chimes above it (lots of wind today!) and some wee stone deer behind it as well. The chatter of small birds came from the  huge conifer next to the seat and when I walked around it to have a better look, I saw this teddy wedged between branches. He's been there a long time, I'd say...

So many stories in a churchyard, and this one is no exception - reading old gravestones puts everything into perspective. Not all sad tales - I always smile at the grave of Thomas Maxwell and Helen Rogerson. They lived in our house and died in 1808 and 1807, aged 88 and 83, Having "lived happily in the married state for 63 years". Thomas's son, another Thomas, married Mary Jardine when he was in his 50s and she more than 30 years younger. Mary's sister Sarah was my Great Great Great Grandmother and she and her husband lived at the neighbouring farm, Boreland.