Happy in Hay-on-Wye

 

We went to the market in Hay-on-Wye again last Thursday - it was a nice morning out and we enjoyed a stroll around the town after we had made our purchases.  Above and below: lovely new window displays in the antiques centre - the blue and yellow one was very pretty.

Down near the clock tower (below) was a beautiful illustration from artist Jackie Morris's book "The Lost Words: A Spell Book" which seeks to put back words from Nature into children's lives, words which are being lost.

I love this crowded little window above one of the shops.

Our friend Rob's shop window display.

Across the lane and up a tiny way is a new shop which will be able to throw its doors open to customers soon.

The Castle is gradually having its final titivations and there is only a little bit of scaffolding on it now.

I didn't shop in here last week, but love to see what heritage apples they have in season each autumn.

Finally, mouth watering goodies from the Patisserie stall. Mine was the lemon tart topped with white chocolate and strawberries.  The one to its right was almond and apricot, and below - this one had pistachios, cinnamon, plum and a couple of other ingredients.  All were scrummy.

A recent day out in Hay-on-Wye

Some recent photos from a walk around Hay.  Most are self-explanatory.  The house part of the Castle is currently undergoing restoration (I bet that will cost a pretty penny), so you can't walk past it or in the grounds.

I can recommend Barbara Erskine's novel, Lady of Hay, which is a wonderful read and will drag you into the early part of Hay's history - although the castle then was on the motte and bailey by the church (back of the Livestock market) not this one.

I have several of these lovely baskets, the smallest of which I use for bits of shopping, and the larger ones for craft bits and pieces.  One had all my quilting bits to take on a Wednesday for my class.  These are being sold at the old Cheese Market.

These lovely house plants are on offer in our friend Kath's shop.  She has a selection of period ceramics and glass too.

Something I'd not noticed before - details of plaster design at the top of a pediment.

This is the Butcher's, which has a notice telling you exactly which farms the meats on offer were sourced at.  They make lovely pies too.

The Greengrocers.  I love visiting this shop in the autumn, when all sorts of unusual varieties of local apples are on offer.

Clouds - but no rain.  This has happened a lot recently, but last night we had a thunderstorm and heavy rain for a little while.  Now it is raining again and tomorrow it is meant to pour all day. We hope so - we may risk a deeper bath if so - at the moment it is about 2 inches of water and after the bath, it is used to flush the upstairs toilet . . .  Any left over water when we have been out for the day, goes to water the young orchard or the vegetables.

When our kids were small, this would have been called a "hairy house"!!

The view from the top of the car park.

Have a lovely weekend.

Hay at Halloween

Yesterday we were in Hay.  Of course, I had my trusty camera with me, so here are a few of the photos taken on an amble round the town.  This creamy ginger cat was so friendly.

The short cut down behind the shop - originally an ironmongers - but now it stocks all sorts, including this selection of large wicker baskets for wood, and it has a fab kitchen shop inside too.

Our friend M's shop, The End.  It always has a wonderful collection of really unusual things inside.

Aren't those Nautilus shells lovely?  The window display had lots of Physalis (Chinese Lanterns) in it.

Upstairs, this taxidermy lion's head was wearing a pretty wreath of flowers.  M was telling me how she dares the children to put their hand in the lion's mouth!!

A stuffed Duck.  No home should be without one!

Pretty leaves in the pub wall, where most of the larger Virginia Creeper leaves had already blown away.

Above and below: at the shop which sells all sorts of wonderful crystals, were these little houses and duck pond, and there was a good selection of Green Man faces on the wall. I had a wonder round inside, but as always, got a bit overwhelmed by the room which is full of crystals - you are bombarded with energies!

Above and below:  the view across the car park to the beautiful hills beyond.

Coming back through the Backfold cut, and about to order lunch at the little Sandwich Cellar there, I stopped to take a photo of the display outside the Flower shop.

Above and below: Hay is still about Book Shops, and here is the window display in one of our favourite shops, opposite the Castle.

I just loved this Bookhouse!

(Yet!) another wander round Hay-on-Wye

I have a busy day ahead, so you will have to forgive me for just a few more photos of Hay.  As I took them, I wanted to share them with you.  I did the footpath walk the other way round last week.  It is Hay Literary Festival, so many shops have special window displays.  The final photos are from The End, which is run by M, who has wonderful taste in unusual things.  Enjoy.

P.S.  Yesterday was a Malvern Day, so we need a while to get over the incredibly early start . . .