It's Curtains for Me and A morning out in Abergavenny

 I ran away for a few hours yesterday morning.  I desperately needed a break.  Abergavenny isn't too far and is a nice little town, and on a Wednesday they have a Fleamarket.

There was a detour as the A479 road across the Black Mountains was closed for maintenance.  I had to go via the Llangorse road to Bwlch, and stopped to take this photo of the Brecon Beacons.

Above and below - lovely hanging displays.

The best stall - some good Welsh blankets for sale here.

There were no items of any interest to me, although the bookstall there had some tempting books.

Some good plants here.  I bought a tall Peachy Yellow Geum (far left) which is now in a corner of the long flower bed.

So pretty along the stream.  I think this is probably Hemlock Water Dropwort.

Beside the stream, this glorious bush of Dog Roses in full bloom.

Looking across from the car park at Morrisons, to the Blorenge.  I did have a quick look in the Craft shop but nothing there for me - no fabrics I would use.  It was mainly elbow patches, needles, threads, scissors - that sort of stuff.  Run by a bloke - I rest my case!

Here's the view the other way,

I also went to St Mary's Priory Church, but more of that another day, along with more garden photos.

The morning off was lovely, but the afternoon was a bit fraught - K can be a little un-co-operative at times.  D. Nurse was here again, and back tomorrow.  Emma has got a part time job down in the town, so that will help their finances.

Today I forced myself to make bread (an oven loaf, which is more than half gone already as everyone likes good fresh bread), and a Dorset Spicy Apple Cake.  That made for LOTS of washing up.  I have tidied up a bit in the garden (dead heading Water Avens and the like.  How they got that name I know not as they are thriving on the very hot dry Bank!)  I rescued some plants that E had put to grow in the deepest shade (the former owners put plant containers on the walls of the summerhouse, which is shaded out by the Beech trees.)  She's very much got "L" plates up as she's not gardened before.   Two Have Probably Had It. I have put them in the gravel bed at the back by the rhodies, and reckon I will just plant it up.  I have ripped up some of the overhang of grass which has been creeping across the gravel with great determination but it needs edging properly.  I have put a Rose Campion in there, E's rescued plants, and will bung some home-grown Cut-Leaf Geraniums too.

I changed and remade my bed, got two lots of bed linen washed, hung out and dried.  Last year I was given some lovely curtains which were intended to be useful in Tam's new home (she hadn't bought it then).  These are big curtains - too big for her house - and so now I am stuck with them.  One set is a Laura Ashley yellow stripe and the really enormously wide ones (4 of them) are in green and biscuit William Morris Chrysanthemum pattern, and once went round a sun room. They have a 65" (1.65m) drop and widths between 144" (3.65m) to 160" (4.06m).  That is a LOT of good fabric, no fades anywhere. I made myself stagger downstairs with them (V. heavy), take them outside and display them for photos, then measure them, and weigh them.  Heavens - that was a job and a half.  I will try and get them listed on Fleabay tomorrow.  

I did make myself sit outside with a book in the sunshine too, for about 10 mins each time, and that was very pleasant although there is a frisky wind which called for an extra layer.

Of course, the caring day isn't over yet, and Keith will need his evening medication, teeth cleaned etc.  No peace for the wicked.