How to get rid of worry . . . Just W.O.W.!

 It was dry and a hint of sunshine this morning, so I decided I would cheer myself up with a run out to the Elan Valley (about 20 miles from here).  I had seen a photo on Facebook of Caban-Coch reservoir hurling itself over the Dam and wanted to see if it was in a similar state today.  Water levels had dropped overnight but even so, it was still tumbling over and quite impressive.  I got splashed just watching.  And it roared!

As you can see, full to the brim.

It was mesmerising watching the water cascade down.

It was just terrific!  Attached to hydro-electric power on the occasions when this overspill happens, it would power Rhayader for a bit!  I walked down to the end of the zig-zag path and couldn't hear myself think :)

Through the gates is the lovely flat walk I always take.    A great place for blackberrying in the summer.  I wanted to get some fresh air and give my body some exercise, though that gland is still up and quite painful - hard to tip my head forward as that puts pressure on it and it hurts.

Looking across to the car park.

Normally a barely noticable rill down the hillside, there was a fair bit of a stream hurtling down today.

Little steps of mini-waterfalls.

I stopped and bothered a couple of churches too - one in Rhayader (locked) but the other was open.  Last time I went with Keith when we first got here and it was locked because of Covid.  Today open - and a marvellous historical font in there.  Photos soon.

Now it is raining again but I am determined to plant my garlic (it says spring, but the longer it has to grow, the better, and also my Purple Haze Dahlia, which Tam ordered when she got one for herself.

A hint of a church now . . .

And yes, that is a standing stone in the churchyard . . .

Oh, and the worry . . . I had bad IBS last night and the symptoms gave a nod towards the Pancreas being bothered.  As my grandfather and aunty both died of Pancreatic cancer, that is always in the back of my mind.  Not a good worry to have.  Since Keith's death, my health has taken a downturn, from the worry and stress of nursing and losing him.  Grief takes a heavy toll.

The Welsh Quilting and Sewing Fair Part II

 

More hexi's. A lovely combination of colours.

Combining painted fabrics (top two), so skilfully designed and executed.

Saris and head ware.  The turbans really lend themselves to this.

Some more small quilts.  I'd quite like to try my hand at picture quilts like the little scenery one on the left.

This is one of the fabulous old quilts from the Quilt Association's stand.  They are based at Llanidloes, and I joined and volunteered when I first moved here, but it was a bit far to go weekly.  I like the 9 patch in the centre of the log cabin surround.  I've not seen that before.

I loved this combination of quilting and red work stitching.

This was one of two splendid Welsh dragons - I meant to take a photo of the other, but got distracted.

If you go to Facebook and look up The Welsh Quilting and Sewing Fair there are lots of photos of stands and quilts there.

I would like to put my own design on this little cushion.  My house, Rosie and 4 cats!!

This was Elmhirst Fabrics where I bought the little bird pictures.

Finally, Fine French Linen where I bought 3 fat 1/4s.  I wish I had bought more now to make something bigger, but may treat myself for my birthday.

I am missing my family already (and Rosie said "Miss you grandma" when we were getting her in her car seat, which breaks my heart!) and I was worrying about health issues last night.  I may take myself out to the Elan Valley today for some fresh air and to see the recent rain levels pouring over the reservoir wall.  It is currently dry with a little sunshine.  Watch this space.

The Welsh Quilting and Sewing Fair - part I

 

They had the quilts on display in a separate building, so I will deal with those first.  Lovely Hexy ones here.  The one below cleverly had hints of that pink up in the left hand corner, elsewhere in the quilt to balance it and lead the eye.

More big hexi's, this time in the form of a One Block Wonder.  This reminds me of the whimsical paintings on jigsaws but I can't recall the name of the artist.

Here is one that Ilona will recognize.  Sue Jennings' One Block Wonders were there in all their glory.

I liked this seaside themed hanging by Gillian Travis.

This is also by Gillian Travis (Journeys in Stitch is the name of the quilts in this display). So cleverly done. Nepalese women I believe.   www.gilliantravis.co.uk

There was a lovely display of small wall hangings.  This was my favourite.

What I bought.  The theme for me yesterday was blue. £5.50 each.

These beautiful pieces were from French Linens.  I was very tempted to buy a quilt pack (£60) but stayed my hand.  They are beautifully soft to touch and will be a joy to work with.  These were 3 for £15.

I have turned this within my photos, but it still insists on being sideways.  

Finally, a lovely ball of DK yarn for E/Bunny's basket, which I was knitting last night.  The actual green is a little deeper.

I am glad it was yesterday we had our outing, as I am not feeling 100% today.  One neck gland has been up and very tender for about 3 days now, so clearly I am fighting some sort of cold bug.  My legs aren't voting for a long walk today either!  A take it easy with some knitting sort of day I think.

I have no set plans yet for the new fabrics, but I couldn't resist them!!  Such pretty colours and designs.

Part II of the Fair tomorrow - a few photos of stands (there were 40) and more quilt photos.

Off to the Quilt Fair today

 It is down on our showground, so no lengthy journey.  Yesterday was the first day, and it closes at 3.30 today, so Tam got the afternoon off work and travelled over yesterday.  Rosie was being very loving and delighted by the new farm animals I bought her.  I did some baking and made a chocolate apple cake and pineapple upside down cake, though being a dozo, I forget the brown sugar over the pineapple slices.  Many years since I last made it.  Never mind, it will still be nice with custard.  I made a big dish of cheesy potatoes too, Rosie's favourite, and she had a big portion for her tea, but carrots were Off the Menu for her.  One chomp and then the carrot was put back on the plate!  She was relatively early to bed and Tam and I watched Small Prophets (she'd not seen it yet) and we enjoyed a glass or two of wine.

Bathroom window view on Thursday morning.

I don't know how big the Fair will be today.  The entrance is where we go as stall holders,  around the back, so they are clearly keeping folk off the grass which must be literally floating over on the showground after 6 weeks of non stop rain.  I shan't spend much but will check what colours I needed from Doughty's - I think I needed some more cream and some soft greens for a project.  Not that I have touched quilting for months - since coming back from NZ.  I have done lots of embroidery and knitting though.  I definitely need stuffing for Elderberry Bunny, who is a lot more labour intensive than I realized!!

Anyway, I am really looking forward to going.  It's nice to have something to look forward to.  I had best wash my hair now.  Enjoy your weekend.

P.S.  L. Whale mending but steadfastly refuses to eat food with his medication on.  The paw/claw area looks to be healing well anyway.

I laughed until I cried

 . . . and that's not something I have done many times in my life.  I can remember watching a programme with my dad about the old silent movies, the ones so ludicrously daft that you couldn't keep a straight face. It was Bob Monkhouse's Mad Movies. Buster Keaton was it? where a house falls down and he escapes being flattened by being where the window falls.  Was it Laurel and Hardy who were at the end of a fire-engine ladder as it went around a bend, fast, and the ladder swung out with them hanging on practically by their teeth? Or was it the Keystone Cops?  So many stunts - and they didn't have stunt doubles in those days.  Anyway, dad and I were both crying with laughter and this was how I was last night when I watched a compilation on Instagram of people falling over on ice. By the time it got to people (in Japan?) slipping on a long flight of steps outside in a forested area, and one went from top to bottom, knocking others down on their way, I had lost it completely.  I went to bed still giggling!  Laughter is so good for you.

I woke up to snow, but only this much and the other side of the lane, in the fields, there was none.  Apparently Brecon town and the Beacons had about 5" and, if you check my photos from my walk this morning, we had more on higher ground.

Home-made soup for lunch.  It used up a small portion of Spag. Bol from the freezer, a tin of Canneloni beans, a tin of tomatoes, an onion, a manky carrot which needed cooking or chucking, and some fresh green beans and cauliflower.  Very tasty and hit the spot on a cold day like this.

I've only been down the town for a prescription, some choccy bars (cold weather demands treats!), a gift for a friend's birthday, and some expensive cat food to try and tempt L. Whale into eating his medication as he left it at breakfast time . . .  He ate the new stuff, eventually, but I rather think had been hoovering up leftover biscuits in the night, so was stuffed anyway.

Now I will bake something as I have two ageing bananas to use up or compost.  Roll on Spring, say I.

Baking done and bananas used up, along with some blueberries from the freezer.  I will take half a dozen down to my friends 2 doors away, as a thank you for inviting me down for Shrove Tuesday pancakes (nice to be cooked for!)  I think I need to do a Quality Test first though!  Tomorrow I will bake Chocolate Apple Cake as Tam and Rosie here for the weekend.

A worrying day

 I didn't sleep well last night, as I had L. Whale shut in the living room with an ablutions tray, as he was due at the vets this morning, to have his claw treated.  He didn't want to go in the car carrier and I had to upend it and pour him in.  I've just picked him up now, and he was yowling for sympathy on the way back, but the moment I let him out in the kitchen, he hobbled (he has a dressing on) across to the nearest feed bowl and stuffed his face.  I have now lifted him up onto the sofa.  He has a limp but not surprising as the outer claw removed and proud flesh treated, under anaesthetic.  I asked them to trim all his other claws too, as he's not keen on letting me near!!

We have a threat of snow.  I do hope they are wrong!  I want spring!! 2 minutes later - it's sleeting!  

I have hardly been at home all day as I have been backwards and forwards to the computer repair place as well as the vet's.  My computer had acquired a pretend McAfee threat, so needed sorting, and I have had to move to Chrome for browsing as for some reason Google Blogger had had a hissy fit and we couldn't work out why the photos wouldn't present as they should so I could load them.  So I spent the hour or so I did have at home knitting and have done E. Bunny's other ear and sewn the inner and outer together and now I'm on the other arm.  I watched another repeat of Ben Fogle's New Lives in the Wild, and was just starting on the 2nd half of the Great British Throw Down when I had to go and collect my computer.  Some more of that tonight and carrying on with the Roman Empire by Train with Alice Roberts.

Tea tonight is the other half of last night's boughten chicken curry.  Just the thing for this perishing weather.  

Anyway, one more photo from Brecon Museum and I will put some more up in the morning.

This modern carving of Red Kites in flight, has Ogham on the side (the straight bars) and is a nod to the Early Christian Monuments upstairs.

Be patient!

 

I am still having to guess at what picture is what.  Plus I can't get into my Google account until the computer is fixed.  Taking it to Tam's when I go to help out today and hoping Jon can fix it for me.  Hoping to be back to normal soonest, as I am lost without my computer.