This will be our first late autumn visit to England and although we have been this cold in June, we haven’t witnessed the harvest festivities of autumn yet. Witches decorate the stores, and the "kids" carved pumpkins this morning. The oldest "kid" is almost 30, and the youngest is near 25, but joy fills all hearts at harvest-time. This visit to the West country of Cornwell it has been a real pleasure as I tried to pet a wild pony on Bodmin moor, and as we ferried to Padstow to eat fish and chips from a box while enjoying sunshine on our faces; watching Sally’s three girls and their good friends laugh and enjoy youth, and worshipping once again at the small Catholic church called Saint Peter in Bude. A magazine I read called Catholic Digest (November 2008 issue) explains that November is a dreary month that begins the dark quarter of the year beginning November 1 (All Saints Day) and ending February 2 (The Presentation of Jesus). To challenge the darkness and something like the fear ancient peoples felt in the dark, we escape into fantasy dressing up in funny/scary costumes and visiting the lighted houses in our neighborhoods. At this time of year, we light fires and candles to dispel the darkness, we have parties, we tell tall tales, and we escape the darkness.  The pantries are full. We have harvested the fields and killed the pigs, geese and other animals we bought early in June to "fatten up." Our friends Mervyn and Brenda showed us their little pen with 2 pigs who will dress holiday tables in late November. Brenda’s geese will probably be saved for Christmas dinner. Families gather and the feasting "provides a foretaste of the everlasting banquet of saints," and reminds us that eventually we will be "gathered" into a hospitable heaven. Chuck and I look forward to celebrating festival days on the south coast of England in Dorset in Kingsbridge, Lyme Regis, and Abbotsbury before heading for the cruise ship that will leave Southhampton on November 6. The school children will all be off on holiday for a week called "half-term" and the party week will be in high gear until November 2 when England will pull up the covers and face another chilly winter. Many thanks to our English hosts! Cheers and God bless us all!Â
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