The Heart of England THURSDAY JULY 22

   We spent the day today in the Cotswolds, a range of hills that runs about 90 miles from north to south just a little west of Oxford.  They are called "The Heart of England", because of their natural beauty and the fact that most of the countryside has remained rural, rustic, and well... quaint.  Most of the buildings are built of the native stone, which is bright yellow-orange when first quarried but over the years fades to a mellow dun color.  And since most of the buildings are at least 75 years old (and some much older) they are all that oddly pleasing hue.  The many small villages—each built around a manor and its farm—have mostly remained outwardly the same.  The many wealthy people who have purchased cottages as second homes have upgraded the interiors, though.  This includes some Americans, but you are more likely to spot British celebrities in the local pubs.  It's a desired honeymoon location as well.
   We were visiting LaGard Smith, Law professor, author, and consultant for the new CS Lewis College that has acquired the old Northfield-Mt. Hermon campus in Massachusetts.  Check out his page at Amazon.com.  Especially note the title on Cotswold meditations...  LaGard took us to lunch at a pub in a nearby village called the Fleece Inn which is over 600 years old--and very little changed.  The room we ate in had a rack displaying a set of pewter—and the display is 300 years old!  Note the 3 circles painted in front of the fireplace in the picture above—they are supposed to prevent witches from coming down the chimney.
   We then wandered from village to village, catching a glimpse of the highest gravity-fed fountain in the world, driving through the midst of lavender fields, and finally ended up back at LaGard's cottage for an incredible 'high tea'.  Lavender scones with whipped honey anyone?

   As you can tell from his book titles, LaGard is an interesting guy—and if you have a million dollars or so that you would like to invest in CS Lewis College he'd probably invite you to come and stay awhile...

The pictures below are the Smiths with part of the High Tea goodies they prepared, and their stone cottage and garden.