Sunrise with random UFO!

This image just about sums up my state of mind at the moment - e.g., brain not in residence.  In future I should remember that windows give reflections . . .  In my defence, it was jolly cold outside, I've had very little sleep lately, and I just grabbed my camera without thinking and pressed click. . .

The reason for the empty head is because we had an early start on Sunday for a Fair, and a middle of the night start the following day, as we had been messaged by our travelling son to say that he was on a plane home on Monday, and could we pick him up at Heathrow?  Well, affirmative of course, but it meant setting the alarm for 3 a.m. and driving for 3 hours in pitch blackness, which I HATE! before there was any glimmer of daylight. There was a surprising amount of traffic about too, which meant dipped headlights all the time so extra concentration was necessary, especially our end of the M4 where the road markings were faint (or invisible) and the cat's eyes seem to have been replaced by a cat with its eyes SHUT.

Anyway, he is safely home now and we have surprised both his sisters and a good few of his friends.  He had a wonderful time but isn't done with travelling yet and intends to explore more of Europe, go to Iceland, back to Thailand and Cambodia, and also Vietnam, and is hoping for a two year visa for Canada.

Meanwhile, eldest daughter T is back with her boyfriend, and happy again.  I shall see her next when she comes down for my birthday in April.  Middle daughter G is back with her long term boyfriend too, has bought a car with him, and has some fresh career options to consider, so she's happy too.

We have another Antiques Fair next weekend, and today my OH hung some painted wooden Victorian heraldic shields which have Aberystwyth written in chalk on the reverse, and we think represent ancient Welsh families as the heraldic devices are VERY obscure.  It is interesting researching them though.  We got them last weekend from a fellow trader.  I will put more detailed photos up tomorrow.  There are two small metal ones too.



Still reading The Serpent Papers, and just started on The Book Thief.  Aida and missing embroidery colours bought for my friend's x-stitch picture gift, and 100 plastic floss spools ordered on Fleabay (from China, where cheapest and from a company with good feedback).  So I'm slowly getting getting organized.

I have been doing some brain improving tests on line today, and have a couple of booklets which were free with the Weekend Telegraph.  I am useless at the ones with figures, so am sticking to the word-orientated sort.  However, I can announce I trained my memory to remember the first 10 items of the Periodic Table today.  Go me!

I'm sick of winter!

New header photo (Rosebay Willowherb - aka Fireweed t'other side of the Pond) taken near a reservoir just outside Sheffield last summer.  I am SICK of winter.  More snow on the Brecon Beacons today, including snow on Black Mountain that wasn't obvious on Friday when we drove pat on the A40.

An early start and a busy day at a Fair today, and an even earlier start tomorrow.  The reason for which will be revealed.  Meanwhile, another summer photograph to cheer us all up.

Too tired for sensible thought

I haven't slept very well this week and this morning could happily go back to bed and zzzzzzzzzzz a bit longer, but we have a Militaria Fair in the offing, so have to go and get the necessary stock from the Unit.

I treated myself to this magazine in the week.  I cannot remember the last time I bought a X-stitch magazine, but I am still enjoying my return to it after Maria's prompting (her blog is Dotty's daughter).  That blackwork Hare is beautiful, and the 3D cottage lovely.  I want to make a Christmas gift for a friend, but am torn between the cover project - wild flowers on black Aida - and this:

I just love the jade green used in this for the outlined work outside the frame.  The colour looks sludgier here but it is a bright jade in real life.  This scene really appealed to me and would make a nice evening project through the spring and summer months.  What's the betting I don't have half the colours needed?  Always the way when you start a new project.

Some of the frogspawn in our main pond.  There's lots more.  I hope the tadpoles survive this year - they all died of some virus in 2015.

A rather blurred photo of snow on the Brecon Beacons yesterday, taken from the car.

The southern flanks of Hay Bluff.  We went to auction in Brecon, and had 3 hours between lots we were interested in so went to Hay-on-Wye for lunch and a chat with an antiques friend of ours.

Have a lovely weekend.

Family

Apolologies for absence, but I had to make a mercy dash up to Sheffield to console our eldest daughter, who has problems with her relationship.  Well, SHE is fine, it's him who is giving the problems.  I shall keep my lip buttoned, but she knows my take on this matter.  Update: they're back together, so let's hope he has woken up and smelt the coffee.

I drove up on Saturday, after we had had a viewing of the house.  The couple loved it, which is a positive, but it is a BIG life changer for them if they decide to go ahead with their plans, so we will just have to wait and see what unfolds.  Meanwhile, fingers crossed.

I drove up North when it was raining in Biblical proportions, yet again.  It was dark as I passed through Ashbourne, and I had to cross the Derbyshire hills (which I know well enough in daylight) cautiously, especially as I was very tired by then.  Imagine my dismay when I arrived and discovered I had to reverse into a tight parking space, in the dark and rain, and UPHILL.  I have never been so glad to turn off the keys at the end of a journey.

Anyway, T was better once I arrived, and we had a really lovely walk above the Rivelin Reservoir the following day.  We climbed (clambered is probably more apt) up the steep valley above the reservoir, beside a brook in full spate.  A tremendous force of water was hurtling over rocks and boulders, stained rust, ginger and dead bracken brown by the peat above it.  I bitterly regretted forgetting my camera (and also taking my running trainers instead of walking boots, as it got pretty muddy underfoot towards the end.)  T has taken some photos and forwarded them to me, but they didn't turn up so I will post them after she has sent them again.

Sheffield in the distance.

Now I'm back at home and looking at the jobs that need to be done here.  We have found some stuff which you paint on algae on walls, and it works very efficiently at getting rid of the stuff.  We just need a good dry day to go round with a paintbrush.

I bought a copy of The Book Thief from a Sheffield Charity Shop, and have just started reading - the first few pages are . . . different!  I have just finished The Miniaturist, which I greatly enjoyed, and am still reading The Serpent Papers.

There's a frost here this morning, but the skies are now looking rainy, which isn't a good combination - sleet later perhaps?  It was sleeting and snowing over the Brecon Beacons when I drove home on Tuesday.

All change

These pine trees overlooking our paddock have been our neighbours for years.  Yesterday a bod turned up to reduce them to firewood and woodchips.

He was obviously a very skilled tree surgeon and had no fear of heights.  He cut the branches off as he climbed (he was well attached by ropes to the tree.)  His chainsaw dangled, purring, from his waist as he manouvred, ready to be picked up and used again.  The branches were dropped to his man on the ground, who fed them straight into the chipping machine.

Up the tallest of the trees (two smaller ones had already come down).  He would lower himself ten feet or so at a time down the tree, and slice through the trunk, which had a rope attached held by the guy on the ground.  As he cut right through, the chap on the ground would pull it out of the way (and hopefully not onto his head!)



A close-up of the procedure.  Level with his left should is the starter cut he had made with the chainsaw.

After - a different skyline.  Fortunately there are still two pine trees left which we can use as a weather gauge for how blowy it is out there.

We had friends round for tea and cake and a good chat yesterday.  Most of this home made (bread, Apple gingerbread cake, Sugar Biscuits and some more Dark Raspberry Chocolate and Cranberry Bisuits.  It was lovely to catch up on their news.

We discussed areas we were consider moving too, and the dearth of interesting properties on the market at the moment, especially in Herefordshire.  I hope this will improve a good deal come March, when the market traditionally kicks off again.  They asked what we would do if we got a buyer but couldn't find anywhere.  This is our last move, and the property HAS to be right for us.  We would rent somewhere and put our stuff into storage - although putting the cats in a cattery isn't ideal whilst we did that - but at least then we could look at leisure and be in a very strong position when buying.

The bias binding for the hexy runner arrived yesterday so I spent a good while yesterday evening pinning it in place.  I'm now tacking it whenever I am sat down long enough.

We have a house viewing this weekend, so have been busy tidying up inside and out.  I went to Matalan for scented candles - £3 each -  I was not prepared to pay £18.99 for a Yankee candle!  Whilst in Matalan I saw this duvet set - SO pretty, and I couldn't resist it.  I had been looking for a new one for a while now and this was just perfect.

I hope I can sleep tonight - I have had two VERY bad night's sleep and feel quite desperate.  I was still awake at 2 a.m. last night.  My mind was just going round and round about all sorts of worries and lists, and a rather petty comment from someone I had considered a friend - it was the last thing I needed on top of other worries.  Time to move on I think. . . . all change.

I'm glad it's February

One month closer to spring and our last month of winter.  The daily walk is very enjoyable - at least half an hour a day, and some longer ones interspersed.  We have sunshine today, so I had best get out quickly!

Here is yesterday's half and half loaf (using a tasty seeded wholemeal flour and white organic).  I was watching For What It's Worth on tv and nearly forgot it so it had an extra 5 minutes baking time and is very crusty!

When I was in the Range recently, I couldn't resist these beautiful little butterfly labels which I will be using for pricing the smaller items in my Fleamarket stock.  The necklace kit I got with the idea of making stitch markers, but it hasn't worked out - the nylon thread doesn't tuck away neatly.  Ah well, I'm sure I'll put the beads to good use.

I am finally nearing the end of this table runner.  I did some stitching on it when I was on the train down to Hampshire recently which was a mistake as I shall have to unpick and restitch most of what I sewed as the light wasn't very good (I work under a blue daylight bulb at home) and trains are bumpy!  I have some maroon bias binding in the post to me from Fleabay and am just turning under and hemming the edges.  It was much bigger than I realized and has taken a lot of work.

Other than that, not a great deal happening here.  A Fleamarket later in the month to sell at, and the first Malvern for us since October - I have been having terrible withdrawal symptoms this last week or two.  It is always such an enjoyable day out for us.

Right, this won't do.  I have some baking to do (a Blueberry and Banana cake and biscuits) and I need to clean the kitchen as we have friends round for coffee and cake tomorrow.

2nd half of the Colomendy Walk

Back again, half way down the Colomendy hill, and looking across the wooded Towy Valley in the distance.  This is where the wild flowers were in full bloom.

At the bottom of the hill, having turned left and looking back the way I had come.   Colomendy farm in the foreground, and the lane climbs up to the other buildings at the top, by the tall tree.

Another bit of a hill.  I had forgotten quite how many little bits of hill there were walking it this way round (which avoids having to climb UP Colomendy hill).

The Black Mountain in the far distance, half shrouded by clouds.

If you look carefully just in the gateway you will see a big dog fox.  I watched him cross the field and follow the sheep paths in the next field, before disappearing from view over the next hill.

Ponies at Allt-y-Ferin farm.

Above and below, winter trees.  I like the one below, which is managing to grow another crown, having lost its first in a storm.

Allt-y-Ferin with, just behind it, the Norman Motte and bailey.

A nice old wall covered in small ferns, ivy and navalwort.

Another steep bit of hill (this one finished me off).

Another beautiful tree outline.

Winter landscape across our river valley.

Finally, the downhill road home.

Sorry this is short on words, but I am fuming at the moment, about a certain person in my eldest daughter's world, who does NOT deserve her.