Butterflies

 

Aren't I lucky?  I have a pair of Dark Green Fritillaries visiting my garden.  They are not common at the best of times.

 

Plus lots of Peacocks and Red Admirals, Large and Small Whites (always the most common), a Comma, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, and in greater numbers than the last couple of summers.  It is a joy to watch them.

With the advent of the cooler weather and rain, a pair of my desperate House Martins were finally able to quickly cobble together a nest and have their first brood.  The Swallows too, are back on the nest and on another brood - they had disappeared when they had fledged one or two nestfuls and it had gotten so hot.  I did wonder if they had left for Africa already.

There were so many happy birds on the wing on Tuesday, the Blue and Great Tits, Warblers, Goldfinches - swooping around in joy again.  It would seem it had been Too Hot for them too.

I got a tray of mince yesterday when I was out and turned it into 2 x 3 portions of two different meals, one including rice and veg and a bit of curry powder, and the other just mince/onions/courgettes which I had a portion of with some wild/red rice, which went down well.  All the rest has been frozen for quick evening meals when I am busy.  So £4.25 worth of mince (it was reduced by 70p I think) made 6 meals, which isn't bad going.

Today I had a short walk up the valley side a little way, but it was quite sultry so I didn't go far.   Then I began preparing the two downstairs doors (one is permanently shut) for painting.  I washed them both off and removed all the cobwebs and dug out the spider egg nests in the corners.  What fun!  Then I masked up the windows (there are four in the front door and then 3 over-the-door ones from when it was the entrance to the stables.  The Georgian door at the side (fixed shut) has 6 slimmer upright panes, and a long narrow one over.  Lots of masking tape.  I put a coat of white undercoat on the door surround at the front, and that seemed to take forever.  I will need more white undercoat though, as the brown takes some covering.  I put a dab of blue up and it is a great improvement though still comes up in a photo looking more turquoise than it is to the eye.  I think Keith would approve.

I've picked my first cucumber and have 6 or 7 others nearly ready to pick - can't have too many!  It tastes lovely.

I have been out and locked up the stables overnight, and shut the gate as there have been thefts already from "out of town" visitors.  I hate to see lads hammering young ponies up and down the town, especially on the hills.  The two I saw being driven this week couldn't have been more than 16 or 18 months old and that's being generous.   Slightly distressing to see a pony-shaped or large-person shaped shattered lump in the reinforced glass of the barber's shop though . . .

I am trying to keep super busy in this week running up to Keith's death last year - so many sad memories.

Have a lovely weekend all.

Boring . . . more Green Men

You will probably all be saying, but before leaving the subject altogether, I hope that Ragged Robin doesn't mind me sharing her comment, before making my own: 

A very interesting carving. I've looked at my latest edition of Pevsner to see what he says as to me it does not look like a "Green Man" or as they are called these days a foliated head. Pevsner calls it "a grotesque feline head with two dragons emanating from the mouth" which "is related to the Herefordshire School". Malcolm Thurlby, expert on the School says it is "a feline head with two dragons spewing from the mouth to either side of the head". He compares it to one of the dragons at Shobdon Arches. He also says that "The Bridge Sollers sculpture is not of the same high quality as Shobdon and Kilpeck and probably represents the work of a lesser hand, possibly an apprentice from the cathedral workshop". Hope this information is of use.

Now this is my "Green Man" - the nearest I can get to it is something similar carved into a cupboard that belonged to Ann of Cleves, at her home in Kent.  Nothing human in that head at all - but you can just see there are oak leaves around its mouth, close up below:

You can just make out the similarity to the carving in the cupboard.

Having done a little research, I am inclined to think that this carving may in a way have been a prototype for the foliated head which we now associate with the title Green Man. 

This is the one at Garway, which I believe has several similarities to the Bridge Sollars carving below, except here we have more than a step towards "foliation".    The two churches are about twenty miles apart so it is possible/likely that the same mason may have been involved, or one inspired the other.  Note, this doesn't look very leafy . . .  Thanks to Herefordshire Travel Guide for the photograph, though I hope to get there this weekend.

Above - here is another chap with ears, and more of a foliate sprouting from the mouth.  This is a tympanum at Dumbleton, Gloucestershire - heavily restored in the 19th C - but showing those ears again. Note also the lightly drawn border to this, reminiscent of the lightly drawn dog's tooth pattern at Bridge Sollers.  Thank you Creative Commons for allowing me to share.  

Thanks to DG Hoosen, at Flickr.com

At Kilpeck, whilst the face doesn't have ears, it is quite a bestial face, and very similar to the one at Leominster Priory.  Reminds me of a fish with Dennis Healey's eyebrows!

There are other animals from which spew forth branches - the Tree of Life one wonders - and the tympanum at Llanbadarn Fawr (which I so NEARLY went in search of yesterday but didn't because I had daps on and not trainers) shows the tree sprouting out of a "cat's" head as well as emanating from/being attacked by monsters - some 34 miles between that church and Bridge Sollers, by modern road. 

At Lullington in Somerset the 12th C font has a feline head again, with foliage sprouting from its mouth.

At Sampford Courtenay in Devon, there is a dragon devouring its own tail, which has developed into a vine.

Perhaps the earlier carvings had a more animal basis, which gradually in the later Medieval became a human face.  We know that there was influence from Oliver de Merlimond, who worked extensively at Shobdon, and who was influenced by his visit to Santiago de Compostella and the iconography there.  Who can say where else ideas came from?

Right, I'll shut up now. 

St Andrew's Church, Bridge Sollars

 The name Bridge Sollars derives from Simon de Brugge (b. 1272) who married Mary Solers (c.1297).  St Andrew is a reasonably common dedication in this area of Herefordshire.  The church dates from the mid-12th C, with later 12th C extensions, and 13th and 14th C additions.  The nave is 12th C, the tower late 12th C, and the north aisle and chancel 13th C.  It was (heavily one imagines) restored in 1889.

As you can see, the yellow meadow ants have taken over the churchyard and have humps of their nests in many places.

I'm not sure if this is St Andrew or not.  

These turn out to be the  forerunners of the Herefordshire school of  Romanesque Architecture, which excited me.  In doing some research at bedtime last night, I discovered that a very similar cat-headed Green Man is to be found at the Templar church at Garway.  Until I do some more research, this green man with dragons may well be unique.  I wonder was the Mason told to make the carving like this or did he have a degree of artistic licence.  Was he paid a set amount for so many hours?  I ask because, 4 photos down, the Norman dogtooth motif seems to have been a little modified!

The Garway example has definite foliage though.

"So, you want the door arch to have a zig-zag round it?  Yeah, no trouble.  I can do that mate, but it might cost ya . . ."  "Oh, the money for the carvings includes this too? "  "Never mind, I'll do my best . . ."  I have to say, this rather tickled me, and no, I have never seen this elsewhere!

The Victorian rafter roof, with the glass window over the ledger slab, and a fairly plain wooden reredos behind the altar table.

A fairly unremarkable stained glass window.  Perhaps this was part of the Victorian restoration.

I was so distracted by this abomination stuck behind the Medieval arches, I didn't notice the memorial on the left hand arch.  This is a Grade I listed building - aesthetically this is a disaster.  I don't even know what it is for, but it would seem this half of the church is the community centre area, so perhaps it is a kitchen.  The memorial is to husband and wife, Eliza and William Meats, of The Marsh.  The left hand pillar looks a little squiff, judging by the new flooring around it. They aren't a pair so perhaps this one is a replacement.

The Marsh was clearly the local Big House, as this memorial is to its earlier occupants the Makeams.

One of several ledger stones, but more were beneath the modern flooring.  One had a little window over it:

A plain-as-a-pikestaff brick and slab chest tomb.

An old church this, which I have driven past many times, thinking, I must stop and look at that sometime.  As I intended to visit Madley, and this was right on the corner of the Madley turning, yesterday was the day.

And there he was, leering at me . . .

 

Just a very quick post to get anyone going who is into Green Men.  This, I think, could possibly be unique as it's a Green Man with Dragons emerging from his mouth.  Plus Green Man has animal type ears - or are they horns?  Must do some more research on him.  Pevsner: "a head wih two dragons emanating from the mouth."

"A dragon in profile" according to Pevsner, who attributes them to the "so-called" Herefordshire school!! but he was writing in the early 1960s.  

I'll do a proper post on this in the morning.  Meanwhile, I am short of several hours sleep and a bit less money than I began the day with, having spent £100 on the house (primer/paint/masking tape and a new perfectly matching almost raspberry pink lampshade - which has made it obvious it is going to have to have a new base too and I will sell the other table lamp).  I need to rest.   I visited 3 churches today - Bridge Sollers, Madley and St Mary's, Tyberton.  Tea was something I froze earlier (mince and beans) from the freezer, so I am gradually getting more room in there.  

Back in the morning.

First walk in ages

 It has been far too hot to consider going out for a walk recently.  Perhaps I should have gotten up very early to go out, but the pollen is low in the air then, another no-no.

I went along the old railway line - flat and for the most part shady.  There were a couple of fishermen in the river.  When I walked back later they had moved towards the bridge (which marks the border between Breconshire and Radnorshire - well, I suppose it's actually the river that does that) and one was nearly waist deep in the river.  

You can see the river is quite low.  That shingle spit is normally under water.

There was a lorry and a couple of bods sorting out some of the parking for the Royal Welsh.  They were marking the layout for the metal trackway laid down.  (Just in case it rains . . .)  I asked where they had come from, and it was Sheffield.  Took them four hours, the chap said, so they must have left early.

The clouds were a welcome sight after day on day of clear blue skies and scorching heat.  We had one sharp shower later, and it has been raining overnight, a fact which will have made my garden VERY happy.  My pink Hollyhocks are flowering, but one of this year's young Hollyhocks further along the border had a couple of flowers browning right at the top of the stem.  Hopefully it will recover a bit now.  Trouble is I can't water everywhere.  

The big white flowers of Convolvulus, also known as Bindweed.  This reminds me of childhood, as it used to grow amongst a wild old hedge opposite our house.

Pretty pink Musk Mallow.

Yarrow.

Woody Nightshade in a hedgerow.

Himalayan Balsam - generally known as "touch-me-not" Balsam.  I have a vague recollection of reading about someone visiting Thomas Hardy and his wife, and she was concentrating on making the seed capsules explode and gave the visitor scarcely a glance.  I think he was rather peeved by this.

Some very happy Wormwood (Artemesia absynthium).  One of its uses is in its Latin name as it was used to flavour Absinthe as well as Vermouth.

Looking back towards home (you can just see the wooded hill central to the photo at the top.)

The Royal Welsh showground is starting to fill up.  Machinery is starting to arrive now.

I now have confirmation that new neighbour's friend will be able to come and do the woodwork painting outside on the house for me, one day a week.  I am going to do the ground floor windows and doors and he will be the one up the ladder, so I have to go to B&Q in Hereford to get primer, top coat and masking tape.  I shall also pop into Doughty's whilst I'm about it as I need some fabric for binding the Baltimore quilt.  I may go to a couple of the closer-to-Hereford-than-home churches which have been on my list for a while.

I put the border on the Christmas kitten squares yesterday.  Need to get a cushion for it now.  I also idly started sewing together a charm pack of William Morris fabrics which has been kicking around in my stash for years.  Not sure what it will end up as but probably a lap quilt.  I will miss my sewing class this week as Tam is here on Wednesday to finalise the Probate papers, which are all assembled and signed now, and then it can go in the post and that is a weight off my mind.  I hate anything with a deadline hanging over me. 

Right, I am droning on about nothing in particular, so time to end.

It is currently 3.10 a.m. and I've been awake since 1.30.  After an hour I came downstairs - pointless tossing and turning.    

Butterflies and Buddleias

 

I woke at 5 a.m. this morning, needing a wee, but couldn't settle when I got back into bed as it was too warm.  I had spent most of the night uncovered/just a sheet on.  The kitchen's the coolest room in the house - I would have been more comfortable on a camp bed in there.  Anyway, this photo was taken about 5.20 or so.  I missed the best bit - when it threw orange light along the top hall.  By the time I'd run downstairs for my phone, it had gone behind the branches a bit.  Lots of clouds moving about today and rain has been forecast (hooray).  I am fed up with hiding inside.  Keith, many years ago, once said he'd love to retire to Cyprus as he loved the Med and had been in Cyprus with the Army.  It wouldn't have done for me . . . 36 deg. C there at the moment, and 40 next week!  Eeek.

Yesterday I had Christmas in July and sewed together the little Christmas Kitties charm pack I bought - more Christmas than Kitties and annoyingly, I can see it going off on the last two squares bottom right, so out with the stitch ripper shortly.  Then I will put the wide borders on - Christmas Kitties Frost and Midnight colourways.  It will be a little cushion for Rosie at Christmas.  Nothing too arduous in the way of sewing.

I sat and composed a conciliatory letter to E.  With some advice from Tam (you can't say THAT!)  I do hope that she might understand my state of mind when Keith was dieing, but with her problems, she may not.  In which case, that's it.  

How I hate it when labels go missing (probably buried when I planted this Buddleia.)  This is the one on the bank that I thought was Dark Knight, but is clearly a red or pink named one.  The butterflies don't care, they love it.

Here's the standard one, which was covered in Peacocks and Red Admirals this week.  There has clearly been a hatching and they are doing well.  There were the usual Small/Large Whites, a couple of Tortoiseshells, Meadow Browns and some Ringlets on it too.  I was standing by the door to nowhere, watching them.

A comfortable temperature here this morning, just 15 degrees, and it feels cool and fresh outside.  Pippi-cat will be out hunting all day today I suspect - the last few days even she has been inside by preference and flopped under my bed to keep cool.  The boys have pussy cat couchets under bushes up on the bank.

I will get a walk in today, probably when I nip down to town to get my prescription.  I will try a bit more tidying up in the garden too - I cut back some of the cranesbills in the long border yesterday - I hate trimming them even when they are down to just the last flower, but they had flopped everywhere and needed the haircut, and should come again.  I tackled the tangle of ivy and spent Dog Roses on the fence by the gate too.  The Dog Roses start putting out long feelers reaching right to where I sit and watch the world at my patio set, so those were the first to go.  

Nothing I am "into" on tv at the moment, so watching random stuff.  Watched 3 Bargain Hunts the other evening and couldn't help thinking time to knock it on the head, same-old same-old and their experts don't really help them that much!  Some of the crap they buy!!

Books on the go - downstairs The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo and several Medieval History books, and upstairs, A Column of Fire by Ken Follett, a real doorstop of a book.

Right, crack on with the machine sewing, and then I shall get back to doing neater seams on the back of the Baltimore quilt.

Crushingly hot

 I can't do hot.  It was up around 30 deg. here yesterday - no good for man nor beast.  I made a pizza topping early, and a base for it, but in the end a lighter snacky lunch was eaten as no-one had much of an appetite.  Danny and "I" were late getting here as they has shut the A483 - but not put up any obvious diversion signs and Danny ended up coming across the Mynydd Bwlch-y-Groes and onto the Epynts, before getting spat out onto the same road that the cars competing in the Nicky Grist rally were using.  They were setting off outside the Strand in Builth.

A bit of excitement for the town, in the count-down to the Royal Welsh show.  The showground is starting to sprout tents and marquees and the Fountain Inn has set up it's hospitality bar marquee at the rear and mammoth deliveries of beer will be being delivered in the next week or so. Next week the gleaming tractors and farm machinery will start setting up on the showground. The show is HUGE - thousands of Young Farmers alone, and exhibitors and stalls selling anything from a sandwich to a tractor.  Our town's population is 2,500.  During show week, this swells to 250,000!!!  An adult ticket is £34, and £10 for a child.  I shan't be going and doubt I will even go into the town as I wouldn't get parked and the logistics of trying to get to the shops with the queues of cars gridlocked at busiest times (despite out-of-town parking) isn't worth it.  I will go to Brecon for the grocery shopping that week.

I moved all the tomatoes and the two cucumber plants which had been on the left side of the greenhouse over onto the right, where I have the shade-cover so I am hoping they will benefit from not being in full sun all day.  A couple of the tomatoes were suffering from shrivelled leaves, despite being watered twice a day.  Tomatoes nearly over now but cucumbers have LOTS of flowers and 8 cucumbers growing nicely.  I've tied them up to the roof.  They seem to love the heat.

Umbellifers enjoying the shade of the top paddock/orchard.  It's very overgrown up there now so I will have to borrow the strimmer back from Tam and sort it out once it's cooled down a bit.

It was lovely having Danny and "I" here - gosh, she has shot up and is really tall (6 in December).  She loved making a fuss of the cats.  Sadly, the situation with E and me is no better.  She still expects me to apologize - my outburst of terrible grief over the phone was seen as anger and screaming and not raw gut-wrenching pain.  It seems this impasse will continue forever.

I sat out in the garden with a glass of wine and my newspaper once it had cooled a bit.  I'm getting my money's worth out of that little patio set.

Right, one final photo, of the pizza - I had some for tea and cut the rest up and froze it.  

We have some rain forecast and Wednesday will be COOL! Thank heavens.