Lunch on Hay Bluff

 

This post will be mostly photos, as I've had a busy week and need to try and crack on out in the garden and do some tidying up.  We have had a busy two days with the carpenter here fixing the sash windows, which needed new sash cords.  I also have a long pole with brass hook which opens and shuts the stair landing windows as they are too high up to do by hand.  I feel like I'm back at school only this time I'VE got the window pole and not the teacher or her favourite pupil!  No point in taking photos as they still look the same, only they open now!  I have lots of caulking, rubbing-down and painting to do on wet autumn days . . .

Anyway today we drove up to Hay Bluff after we'd been down the town, and sat and ate a patisserie pastry whilst we looked at the amazing view.

I have been gardening a little since getting home.  I was just having a cuppa (needing a rest) and we had a call from the Lady of the Manor, with an invitation to the Annual Festival Service at our little church (it opens just once a year, specially for this) and tea and cake at their house afterwards.  All the parish goes. Of course, it clashes with the only Fair we were going to do this summer . . .  Now, tell me WHY did I have to put my knickers and socks out to dry on the old clothes horses in the yard, and why was the (clean) cat litter tray by the front door?  She was trying to peer past into the kitchen (which was also not exactly tidy, the bit she could see.  Her granny used to live here and was a keen gardener - at least I have put lots of plants in so that may have swung the pendulum in my favour! Ah well, she saw us at our most basic!  We can only improve, hopefully!

A Puffball, about the size of an Orange.  Or perhaps it may be a large Earthball.  I think it's the former though.

Had I the energy (and indeed the right shoes on), I could have climbed to the top of Hay Bluff.  A cooler day perhaps . . .

Looking across to Pen-y-Fan.

Well, this won't do.  I have more gardening to do - presently cutting back the undergrowth on the Bank and trying to find the roses!  I treated myself to a new one today, to go in the big earthenware pot I got a couple of weeks back.  It's called Lili Marlene and is a deep red, so will go nicely with Tess, which the other side of the door.   I did buy an Autumn Crocus too, but thought I would just check if it was poisonous, before planting, and it's highly toxic to cats, dogs, people etc, so that will go back and be swopped for some Tulips instead.  I just had a "gut feeling", so just as well I followed it.