A Pattern in Stone

I gathered an armful of tiny white quartz pebbles from along the garden border and carried them over to a wide, flat flagstone. Kneeling down carefully so my skirt wouldn't touch the damp mulch, I set the roundest stone firmly in the center. Working outward with steady fingers, I placed six matching pebbles in an orderly ring around it. From each point, I lined up three more stones in neat radiating spokes until the pale points formed a crisp six-pointed star against the dark slate. Stepping back into the cool morning air, seeing the symmetrical design resting so tidy and still brought a quiet warmth.