Well, how did the viewing go you are probably all thinking. This couple were looking at houses all over - Devon, Shropshire, Wales and have no set notion of where they want to be. I don't know if it will be the house which dictates, or the outbuildings (those were an essential) or the area. Anyway, they liked the house, though it was blowing an absolute hooley all the time they were here and rain was being flung at a high rate of knot onto - and into - the walls. We had a couple of leaky moments and I had to quickly go and hide the wet towel from where rain was being blown through a window which isn't as tight a fit as it should be on the side of the house that gets the weather. That will be remedied tomorrow. Anyway, I was incredibly stressed at the end of the day (from other problems I shan't mention) and had to have a brandy shandy to calm me down afterwards. I never want another day like that again .. .
Today we had sunshine and a heavy shower whilst we were out for a walk. We went up around Colomendy to do a wild flower count. We saw Snowdrops, Primroses, Wood Sage, Wild Strawberry, Dandelion, Gorse, a Periwinkle, a Violet, and Red Campion.
The end of the rainbow - wonder if there's any gold up there?
Ivy has been pollinated and set seed.
Looking towards Carmarthen.
Another rainbow, seen as we sheltered from a heavy shower, crammed in a barn doorway with a good overhang.
Flooding of the Towy down in the valley.
The cottage above Colomendy, going to rack and ruin now. A big crack is in the gable end wall and quite a few roof tiles missing off the back.
The first Snowdrops.
Cow Parsley which always flowers somewhere in all but the coldest winters.
The first Primrose.
Looking towards Carmarthen and Merlin's Hill again.
One of the steep fields with a covert of gorse in bloom.
Looking back towards the Brynamman ridge.
First (or last!) Violet. We also saw the first Butterfly of the year - a very hale and hearty looking Peacock.
Towards the mountains again.
The first spring lambs too!
Navelwort growing in a wall.
Wood Sage in flower on a sheltered bank.
Dryslwyn Castle in the sunshine.
Looking up our valley again, and below, across towards Llanfynydd and the Italianate tower of Pantglas (all that remains of the old hall).
Finally a Dandelion . . .So, a good day. A 3 1/2 mile walk and some fresh air and exercise, plus I did some cooking this morning - a beef and sweet potato curry, a huge pan of stewed apple and a vat of spicy Beef and Barley soup.
Lovely photos. Seeing things grow always good. Any idea what the two soaring birds were? Red Kite?
ReplyDeleteThis walk was a joy with the wild flowers and thinking Winter's half done, the days are lengthening and only 6 weeks of winter until spring is here. Two soaring birds were, I think, Crows. We get LOTS of Red Kites, but they're devils to photograph - it's almost as if they see you point the camera at them and think, nope, not today thankyou! I will keep trying though!
DeleteBeautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteI always preferred viewing a potential home in bad weather! Not always good when selling!!
It makes sense to see a potential home at its worst but it was not very reassuring for us as sellers!
DeleteThose first wildflowers did my soul good - thank you.
ReplyDeleteGlad to share them with you Pat.
DeleteWhat a wonderful area you get to walk in. It brings joy to my soul.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Glad that you enjoy the photos of the scenery so much Jackie.
DeleteI enjoyed seeing your photographs of the beautiful area where you walk. I'm in the Midwest USA, so it was good to see that the spring flowers are starting to bloom where you are. If we don't have extremely cold temperatures in February, there may be crocus, my small early daffodils, and dandelions blooming here by the end of February. We have about 3 inches of snow on the ground here right now, but it will probably be gone by tomorrow afternoon or Tuesday. I won't miss it one bit. I also loved seeing the cottage at Colomendy.
ReplyDeleteI hope your winter doesn't carry on too long (we had one here a few years back when it was still cold and hardly spring still in MAY!) We rarely get snow, which is a blessing. Glad you liked seeing the cottage.
DeleteYou are having an early spring!
ReplyDeleteWe always have these flowers in a mild winter - it has been mild but v. wet here. Sometimes there have been quite a few Primroses flowering along that lane on Christmas Day!
DeleteWhat absolutely beautiful, stunning photos of your walk. Really needed this this morning. We just have below 0*F here, pretty bleak now.
ReplyDeleteI want to cry at the once beautiful cottage you showed. I see a beautiful cottage, not a derelict building, so very sad.
Thank you for sharing. I will be back blogging soon.
Denimflyz
Denim - SO good to hear from you again. I am glad that the photos cheered you up. Much warmer here - 8 to 10 deg. and it's been quite mild all winter, but VERY wet :( It's a shame about the cottage but the end gable wall onto the road has a big crack down it now and it is fast going beyond the stage of doing up. We, too, see a beautiful cottage . . .
DeleteNot the best time of year to look for houses, but you seem to be getting more visitors with this new agent. You are such a wild flower expert, it was a joy to see these early flowerings.
ReplyDeleteIt is so lovely to read of the wild flowers you saw on your walk and your first butterfly of the year :) Stunning photos of such a beautiful area. Hope some good comes out of the house viewing.
ReplyDelete