Spring walk at Rowe Woods

Monday
We were just starting on our walk at Rowe Woods, around lunchtime, when I got a text from my friend E, telling me Notre Dame was on fire! I have been heartbroken seeing the images on the TV upon returning home. Having lived in the Fontainebleau area, about an hours drive south of Paris for 13-14 years in total, we have seen it, visited it, attended organ recitals there many times. We’ve visited it with friends and family - so many memories! As I write this in the evening, there seems to be some slightly encouraging news, in that the stone structure and the two towers seem to be safe, and some of the art and relics were rescued, but at the same time, so much is lost forever, such as the stained glass, and many treasures inside. When you think of all the history it has witnessed over 800 years, and how it survived the Revolution and two World Wars, and now it’s gone up in flames, possibly as an accidental result of restoration work - so bitterly ironic! For it to have happened during Holy Week makes it even more tragic. Prayers for the people of Paris, and for all the brave firefighters who put their lives at risk to save what they could.
Thinking of the fire put a little bit of a damper on our walk, but there were many beautiful things to see - many banks of daffodils, some slightly past their best, trees coming into their fresh garb of Spring, many kinds of wildflowers, beautiful reflections in the ponds, and birds to be seen and heard. After our walk, I had a hair appointment - got it cut a bit shorter now the warmer weather is coming!