Today our morning walk turns into a two-hour hike around the countryside. We pass two churches going back to the 12th Century and also enter a school that was active in 1178. The tall ancient door, window frames etched with children’s names, outside walls and indoor floors are all original and loaded with history. I don’t know where to look first. I can’t help imagining people living, eating, and congregating in the main room. The fireplace is the best: 7’ high by 10’ across, all stone. This is the image that goes with the word "hearth." It’s still black with soot from fires that roared here centuries ago. I shoot a few pictures of the school to try and capture the aura, but don’t know if they will.
