In the heart of the hills in Snowdonia of North Wales, there’s a remote chance you will drop down into the small village of Beddgelert. This quaint village stands in a valley at the confluence of the Glaslyn and Afon Colwyn rivers. Many of the houses and hotels are built of that rich, local dark stone that really pops out against those green hills. Right in the center of the village, there is an old stone bridge with two arches. Near that bridge is an odd statue of a hound that raised many questions. After some exploration, we found a stone monument/tomb in a nearby field that marks the resting place of the medieval Welsh Prince Llewelyn the Great’s Hound of Gelert. BTW, don’t ask me how to pronounce any of these Welsh words. Supposedly, thousands of people visit this village every year to pay their respects to this forever faithful hound. We just ran into it by circumstance. And the story behind it all is both sad and majestic. As it reads on the tomb: "In the 13th century Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales, had a palace at Beddgelert. One day he went hunting without Gelert, ‘The Faithful Hound’, who was unaccountably absent. On Llewelyn's return the truant, stained and smeared with blood, joyfully sprang to meet his master. The prince alarmed hastened to find his son, and saw the infant's cot empty, the bedclothes and floor covered with blood. The frantic father plunged his sword into the hound's side, thinking it had killed his heir. The dog's dying yell was answered by a child's cry. Llewelyn searched and discovered his boy unharmed, but nearby lay the body of a mighty wolf which Gelert had slain. The prince filled with remorse is said never to have smiled again. He buried Gelert here.” Aiyiyi! As you stand there quietly reading that and then look around at this lush green valley with the sound of the river flowing under the stone bridge, you know you will remember this story and place forever. So yes, I had to make a bracelet that is a shout-out to Llewlyn and his mighty hound, Gelert. The Green and Gray/Green Recycled Glass does resemble the mist and colors of the hills in that valley. The Hand-Carved Water Buffalo Bone and Ox Bone give this piece a very organic and antique feel. The Giant Ox Bone Skull represents the Prince of North Wales and the Antique Edwardian Dog Coat Button is of course the hero Gelert. Both are connected forever. The dog on this button really does look like a hound and it’s what rekindled this memory. This is a very cool piece of bling and you’ll have a wonderful background story to tell. It makes a big statement on the wrist and if you’re a dog lover, then there ya go. It might also spark you to jaunt off to that piece of Snowdonia for a visit yourself to pay your respect.