Since Hitty Geneva is by nature (no pun intended) a naturalist, we decided some outdoor activities were in order.
She had overheard Mister discussing the local labyrinth and decided that she would enjoy having the experience herself, since she had never been to one. I of course, have been to this one and also to the one at New Harmony, IN. The day was sunny, but windy, so we bundled her up in a shawl we loaned to her and her bonnet and sent her off with Person and Mister. The best labyrinth walk is perhaps best experienced solo.
This labyrinth is in a park-like setting, surrounded by an exercise track with various stations along the way. It is on the grounds of Union Theological Seminary.
The first stop was at the informational signs where Geneva could read all about the labyrinth.
This labyrinth is modeled after the famous one at Chatres Cathedral near Paris, France.
Wishing to get the most from her experience, Geneva carefully read the suggestions for walking the labyrinth.
Geneva sets off along the marked path. Interestingly, the way in is also the way out. On the way through to the center, one contemplates something for which she hopes to find a solution.
Having been there myself, I can attest to the fact that, while the labyrinth seems to occupy a fairly small plot of land, the path is long and winding, much like life. There are twist and turns, places where one must pause, moments when we can find ourselves off the path as easily as on it, and times when we think it is endless. There are the moments when we need to remember that the path is more steady than we are, and we simply need to put one foot in front of the other to eventually arrive at our destination.
Progressing through the maze, Geneva encounters a turn.
At last, the center is reached.
The center is where Geneva is enlightened about the problem she had upon entering. She remains here until she feels ready to walk the same path back out in order to return to the world.
After her labyrinth experience, Geneva rests on the nearby bench to consider what she has learned about life and herself as a result.
When Geneva was ready, we started back to our conveyence, but she now took notice of the exercise stations positioned along the walking track that bordered the grounds. She asked to stop at one of them.
She thinks exercise is a good thing, and despite being rather tired, both mentally and physically from her arduous walk through the labyrinth, she is determined to try just one of the exercises.
Geneva Grace performs a pull-up on the fitness bar.
We thought our day had ended at this point, and we headed back across the street to our vehicle. However, we saw a woman looking at something. Whatever could it be? we asked. Nobody knew. And then, we spotted something very small indeed, on the grass right next to the sidewalk where we had parked.
It had moved forward slightly by the time we got the camera out to take the picture. See it at the crack in the sidewalk near the tree?
Oh my, it's a baby squirrel that must have fallen from its nest or been blown out in the wind.
We obtained this close-up of the baby, which clearly needed to return to its nest. Hitty Geneva Grace to the rescue.
We could not leave the area until Hitty Geneva Grace had quite literally climbed the tree to ensure that the baby squirrel got home.
It was an exhausting but rewarding experience, as told to me by Hitty Geneva Grace upon her return. She declared that it was perhaps most gratifying to be both among natural surroundings and also to have been of assistance to a wee critter unable to help itself.
