SGC Spring/Summer Travels 2015…. Ludlow, Shropshire UK & London UK

SGC Admin: They say that a change is as good as a rest… Yep, that’s true… although sometimes after traveling a rest is sorely needed… :) just to recharge the batteries after flying, walking, watching and sight-seeing… :)

Hubby and I were fortunate to visit Jolly ole’ England this past May and the high peaks of the Adirondacks in July… Each vacation bringing its own unique set of memories to add to the Vacation Journal… :) Today we share some photo’s of our England Trip… :) along with links to the interesting fun places we visited. 

Links:

Ludlow, Shropshire UK . An absolutely lovely old town/village. Explore the local shops, lots of charity shops, along with an old-fashioned sweet shop, various butcher shops, book shops, grocery shop, places to eat and rest. This place has tons of history and goes back hundreds of years… check out the “black and whites” the old Tudor buildings still in use today… There is a local market that takes place 3 times a week… Check the days, but think they maybe, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays… 

Ludlow Castle  A fabulous example of how castle’s were built, there are changes to architecture as it changed hands through the years.. it was left to go to ruin until it was bought and saved… There is a nice little gift shop (purchase your tickets to the castle here) and somewhere to have tea and cakes, (we didn’t get to that this time around)

St. Lawrence Church, (11th century) Ludlow, UK A must see while in the town of Ludlow, this is a gorgeous church, there are local volunteers available to help you with any questions. 

St. Bartholomew Chapel, Richards Castle, Herefordshire, UK A very old Chapel located close to the ruins of Richards Castle, (not to be missed, let your imagination play). This Chapel is still used a rare occasions. A must see, it’s in fabulous condition. 

Richards Castle Inn, Richards Castlethe local pub, stop by for Kath’s Sunday Lunch… :) Pub is open in the evenings… 

The Roebuck Brimfield, Ludlow.. Serving Full Sunday Lunch… a local with a store attached

The Church Inn, Ludlow This place has some fun items on the menu.. along with beer (of course), cider and more

The Boot Inn Orleton (Annual Beer Festival July 24 to July 26 2015) Perfect Village Local

Iron Bridge Shropshire The First Iron Bridge in the world… An influence on the Industrial revolution

Blists Hill Victorian Town  don’t forget to check out the local pub for an fashioned sing along, and the chips are a real treat. Featured on t.v.

Acton Scott Working Farm Museum Featured in T.V. Series 

Westminster Abbey: Location of many a royal wedding and royals at rest… yep lots of burial chambers

The Tower Bridge Exhibit We missed doing this one, there is a glass bridge to walk on.. let us know if you do it… :)

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©Greta McKenzie 2015: Pretty country road in Richards Castle … yep this is a two way roadway folks… :)
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©Greta McKenzie 2015: A beautiful window from the inside of The Boot Inn… another traditional English Village Pub, Orleton, UK… Annual beer festival held mid July 2015
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©Greta McKenzie 2015: Beautiful Stained Glass window inside St. Lawrence Church, Ludlow UK, 11th Century.
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©Greta McKenzie 2015: Iron Bridge, The first Iron Bridge in the world..And a huge boost to the Industrial revolution… Close by is the fabulous Victorian Village at Blist Hill
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©Greta McKenzie 2015: Staircase inside ruins of Ludlow Castle… Note, this are very narrow and steep, not recommended for folk who have trouble with stairs…
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©Greta McKenzie 2015: Inside St. Bartholomew Chapel, Close to Richards Castle Ruins, Ludlow, Herefordshire, UK
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at the Acton Scott working farm museum ©Greta McKenzie 2015 ..
©Greta McKenzie 2015: The Church Inn village pub, Ludlow,

For the London part of our trip, we purchased the 3 day London Pass and found it was economical for our needs. We rented a flat for 3 nights, and still didn’t have a enough time to do all that was included in the pass. Transit is expensive but it is the recommended way of getting around London… No money is used so you need to purchase an oyster pass… (there may be other pass’s but we didn’t explore them this visit and encourage you to do some research to find the best deal for your budget and needs) We haven’t included our photo’s of Windsor Castle, which can be reached via the tube, then rail train leaving from Waterloo Station.. if traveling in a group it might work out cheaper by getting a group pass… (4 people and up?). When you reach Windsor Castle you will be required to go through a security check (like at the airport), certain items will not be allowed through the security check. Windsor Castle and the town of Windsor are fabulous…

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©Greta McKenzie 2015: View from the top deck of a double Decker bus going towards Westminster Abbey, in the heart of London
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©Greta McKenzie 2015: London Close by Westminster Abby… No admittance for the regular folk…
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©Greta McKenzie 2015: Canal boat on the canal in Camden Town, London UK
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©Greta McKenzie 2015: Westminster Abbey, London UK
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©Greta McKenzie 2015: The Tower clock… or Big Ben… Big Ben refers to the Bell inside…
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©Greta McKenzie 2015: London from the Thames tour boat
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©Greta McKenzie 2015: One of the many bridges over the Thames River London.. view from the Thames tour boat
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©Greta McKenzie 2015: The Tower of London from the Thames

Lavender Errands & Personal Services…. “how can we help”

SGC Admin: There are times when we need a little extra help, some folk don’t have family to help take care of everyday chores when they are recovering from surgery or ill…. Some folk feel safer while away when they know there is someone checking on the house for them… some folk are swamped with work, taking care of immediate family matters and may need an extra pair of hands when they are called upon to take on extra, such as helping with an elderly relative… Happily there are companies out there who can offer (for a fee) the support that is needed… We came across such a company in our local paper and are happy to share the information with you… :) Please note SGC staff have not used the following company, if you or a loved one has, we would love to hear how things went for you… :) 

Helping hands to friend ,Vector cartoon business Stock Vector - 28450675
http://www.123rf.com: Copyright : icoolphoto

 

Company Name: Lavender Errands & Personal Services

What they do:

  • Running Errands:
  • Check in on loved ones:
  • Vet or Grooming Appointments:
  • Companionship:
  • Accompaniment to appointments (including medical):
  • House monitoring while house is unoccupied:
  • Assistance with odd jobs while recovering from surgery: 

Contact information: 905-436-3046: www.lavendererrands.com: email: info@lavendererrands.com

 

source: Whitby This Week July 8 2015 Edition.

Oshawa Senior Center looking for used jewelry donations…

Silver jewelry with stones Stock Photo - 40006617
http://www.123rf.com: Copyright : Viorel Stanciu
  • Donations Needed: used, vintage and costume jewelry
  • Who needs it: Oshawa Seniors Citizens Centres
  • What’s it for: Annual Used Jewelry Sale Fall 2015: Donated items will be cleaned and repaired for public sale
  • Benefits: Funds raised will go to supporting the local centres. 
  • How to Donate: Call 905-576-6712: Visit one of the four OSCC locations at:
    • 43 John St, W:
    • 150 Beatrice St, E: 
    • 1661 Harmony Rd, N:
    • 115 Grassmere Ave. 

source: Whitby This Week July 30 2015 Edition

Second Chance Wildlife Sanctuary’s 2016 calendar: Time to submit your photo’s folks.

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http://www.123rf.com: Copyright : Наталья Соголаева
  • News: Second Chance Wildlife Sanctuary’s 2016 calendar:
  • Submission: Please submit photo’s of your pet via email to: scwscalendar@hotmail.com
  • Photo Requirements: Please send the highest possible file size for sharp pictures as a jpeg, tiff, or pdf: Include name of your pet: Upon submission of your photo you will receive a confirmation number via email. 
  • Cost: Please send a cheque payable to: Second Chance Wildlife Sanctuary in the sum of $10:00 per photo. Please remember to list your confirmation number on your cheque. 
  • Deadline for Submission: Tuesday June 30. 
  • Benefiting: All proceeds go to the cat shelter. 
  • For Information: Please click here to visit their website: 

Summer Solstice June 21 2015… Happy Summer Folks… Lots of ideas from Patti Wigington AboutPagan.com

A Blessed Solstice to You All!
June 21 is Litha, the summer solstice, for our northern hemisphere readers. The gardens are blooming, and summer is in full swing. Fire up the barbeque, turn on the sprinkler, and enjoy the celebrations of Midsummer! This Sabbat honors the longest day of the year. Take advantage of the extra hours of daylight and spend as much time as you can outdoors.

If you’re one of our readers below the equator, it’s Yule, the winter solstice, and the longest night of the year. Be sure to scroll down for info on how you can celebrate the return of the sun.

No matter which of these you may be celebrating this weekend, may your solstice be a magical and blessed one.

Litha Rites & Rituals
Depending on your individual spiritual path, there are many different ways you can celebrate Litha, but the focus is nearly always on celebrating the power of the sun. It’s the time of year when the crops are growing heartily and the earth has warmed up. we can spend long sunny afternoons enjoying the outdoors, and getting back to nature under the long daylight hours.

Here are a few rituals you may want to think about trying — and remember, any of them can be adapted for either a solitary practitioner or a small group, with just a little planning ahead.

Midsummer Night’s Fire Ritual
Midsummer Sun Celebration
Hold a Backyard Barbecue Ritual
Amergin Nature Meditation
Celebrate Fathers
Tool Recharging Ritual
Prayers for Litha
Seven Ways to Use Beach Magic
Ten Great Ways to Celebrate Litha
5 Fun Ways to Celebrate Litha with Kids

Customs, Traditions and Folklore of Litha
Interested in learning about some of the history behind Litha? Here’s some background on Midsummer celebrations – learn who the gods and goddesses of summer are, how they’ve been honored throughout the centuries, and about the magic of stone circles!

Litha History
Deities of the Summer Solstice
Litha Folklore and Customs
Setting up Your Litha Altar
Litha Altar Photo Gallery
The Oak King vs. the Holly King
Germanic Pagans and Aerra Litha
The Romans Honor Juno and Vesta
The Vestalia Celebration
Ra, the Sun God
Sun Magic, Myth and Folklore
Sun Worship
The Sun Dance
Stone Circles
Sacred Springs and Holy Wells
Firefly Magic & Folklore
Wildcrafting Herbs
Summer Reading: Witchy Fiction

Craft Ideas and Projects for the Summer Solstice
As Litha approaches, you can decorate your home (and keep your kids entertained) with a number of easy craft projects. Celebrate the sun’s energy with an elemental garden, a fiery incense blend, and a magic staff to use in ritual!

5 Easy Decorating Ideas for Litha
Create an Elemental Garden
Sunflower Candle Ring
Midsummer fire incense
Summer of Love Incense Blend
Handfasting Basket (13 Blessings)
Make a Set of Ogham Staves
Make a Magic Staff
Stone Circle Sundial
Lavender Dream Pillow
Litha Blessing Besom
Make a Summer Solstice Herb Pouch

Feasting and Food

No Pagan celebration is complete without a meal to go along with it. For Litha, celebrate with foods that honor the fire and energy of the sun. Enjoy light summery snack wraps, some fiery grilled salmon, spicy and sweet candied ginger, and more.

Lemon Balm Tea
Savory Snack Wraps
Fresh Fruit Fennel Salad
Fiery Grilled Salmon
Grilled Summer Veggies
Candied Ginger
Brew a Batch of Midsummer Mead

For Our Southern Hemisphere Readers: Celebrating Yule
For people of nearly any religious background, the time of the winter solstice is a time when we gather with family and loved ones. For Pagans and Wiccans, it’s often celebrated as Yule, but there are literally dozens of ways you can enjoy the season.

Rituals and Ceremonies
Yule Magic
Yule Traditions and Trends

Celebrating With Family and Friends
Crafts and Creations
Feasting and Food

MORE FROM ABOUT.COM
10 Things Pagans Want You to Know
Make a Summer Solstice Herb Pouch
Are Pagans & Wiccans Devil Worshipers?
Make a Set of Ogham Staves for Divination
Do Pagans & Wiccans Recruit New Members?
Legends of Litha, the Summer Solstice
Create an Elemental Garden for Lith