A bow and an insect . . .

 I hope you can read it.  I will try again for a better photo later. I am thinking, it's just for a stuffed wabbit, wing it. . .

What the heck was THIS in my greenhouse?!!

Tewkesbury Abbey II - an Angel with Bagpipes

I got off lightly with the babysitting duties yesterday as after being very fractious on Thursday, she was a happy little soul yesterday, despite her snotty nose, and just wanted to be out in the garden or having a walk around the close with me.  She amused me as she seems to have invented her own little language - to which we are not party to the meaning! - and you can hear her making a statement and asking questions. by the inflection in her voice.  Bless her, she brings such joy.  Jon and I had a walk up the village with her in her baby carrier, and she went to sleep on the way back and was out for the count so he was able to put her to bed where she slept for 3 hours.  Her sleeping pattern in the day is gradually changing to one longer nap instead of two shorter ones. Anyway, I left around 1 p.m.  - just as well as she didn't wake until 3.30!  When I went into Morrisons to get some sandwiches, I couldn't resist buying her a colourful little floral sweatshirt, for cooler summer days.  If they'd done it in my size, I'd have bought one for myself!

I went into Charlies, and bought a metal archway to go in the side garden, between two pieces of fencing, and which will be smothered in Clematis, as I have two growing strongly, one on either fence.  One is a montana rubens which has really taken off this year.

Of course, having watered round mightily when I got back, it then rained in the evening which I am sure gave the plants a good soaking which they needed after it being hot and dry for weeks on end.  I just hope that it isn't pouring down on Monday when I head off to Malvern, or indeed on Sunday when Tam and Rosie are coming over and we are going to one (possibly two) Open Gardens locally.

Back to Tewkesbury Abbey now.  I don't think I have ever seen a coloured ceiling like this one above the High Altar.  Wonderful.  This is called net vaulting, and the Edward IV's emblem, the Sun in Splendour, can be seen in worked in gold in the top red area.

Keith would have loved this old chest (probably early 16th C) with its massive complicated lock set in the lid.

I wonder that all this glory survived the Reformation, but I believe the parishioners said it was their parish church, and purchased it for the price of the lead on the roof and the bells, which were melted down leaving the building ruinous.

This looks rather like an Angel with Bagpipes! 14th C apparently - found that much on-line.   I wish I'd zoomed in on the wordage. I must go back and check all the things I missed this time.

This is the cadaver effigy of John Wakeman who was the last Abbot of Tewkesbury.  However he is not buried here but following the Dissolution (of the Monasteries) chose to be buried at the nearby village of Forthampton.

A model of the Abbey beneath the tomb.

This is St Edmund being killed by arrows.

I can see, as I still have LOTS of photos left to share with you, there will have to be a Part III.  Watch this space.  Have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend all.

Still here

 Busy and not quite 100% and off to babysit tomorrow, so will check in again on Saturday with the rest of the photos from Tewkesbury Abbey. Luna Lapin's dress is nearly finished - just slightly flummoxed over the instructions for making the bow on the front of her dress.  May need to bodge it myself!

I finally got to the Library again today, and got a book that Sue in Suffolk will need to add to her lengthy list - My Animals (and other Family) by Phyllida Barstow (A rural childhood 1937 - 1956) and set in the Wye Valley.

Thanks to Sarah in Sussex, I can now attribute the wonderful triptych properly.  It was painted showing Jesus Christ, Jerusalem and Tewkesbury, at a cost of £22,000 by Bulgarian Artist Silvia Dimitrova, and took her two years.  The link will give more details.

So many things to do

 

Despite not sleeping at all well last night (still wide awake at 1.30 a.m.), I felt better when I got up this morning, and cracked on with some jobs I wanted to do.  First thing, I made a Mince Cobbler (small portions for lunch for Gabby and I, and then tonight's meal and a portion for the freezer.)  Then as Gabby loves Lemon Drizzle, I made some Lemon Drizzle Muffins (BBC Good Food website).  

Tam and Rosie were going to come over, but Rosie is full of cold so I said to stay put, and she's teething too, which doesn't help matters.  We had Tam on a video call earlier and Rosie was clearly just wanting cuddles and milk.

When Gabby arrived we worked on the next section of the Probate, as the girls and I are doing it ourselves (it's £800 - £900 to have it done by the Solicitors).  Yesterday, I had typed up the list of personal belongings, and house contents (only half of the latter are counted), so Gabby entered these today.  We've got a couple of questions we have to ask the Which solicitor (they offer a service for up to a year for about £80 or so) and have been helpful so far.  Getting there.

I bought myself a new Firestick as the old one was barely working (well, it was about 20 or 25 years old, one of the original ones I think).  Gabby installed that for me today, so up and running a bit more efficiently now.

Oh, and I also carried out a frontal labotomy on the Dyson vacuum, when I  changed the rotating roller brush bar..  Go me!

Not much work outside today - just watering round.  After some rain overnight, and a short sharp shower this afternoon, we are back to blue skies again.  Hope that they last until Tuesday as I'm off to Malvern on Monday!

I even finally managed to peel, core, chop and cook up 6 of the 8 cooking apples which have been sat forlornly on the side for the last fortnight, waiting for me to spring into action.  The puree will go in the freezer for cakes in future.

Tomorrow the latest plants will have to go in and I want to get some mulch down . . .

Not at my best

 I had all sorts planned for today, but all I got done (and that was a big positive) was to type up the probate valuations which need to be submitted with the forms, and to buy (and post) a Get Well card for my friend, who came home from hospital today, and ordered her a couple of good reads to cheer her up.

Meanwhile, by about 11.30 I was keeling over and had a sofa nap that I didn't wake up from until 2 p.m. and only then because my pussy cat alarm clock was yowling in my ear for an early meal!!  I woke up with a stinking headache.  Perhaps I picked some germ up in the cinema the other night as it was SO hot and airless (felt about 85 deg!).  Anyway, I  have sat out in the garden with the puzzle page from my paper and a good book.  Tea is from the freezer . . .  

Tewkesbury Abbey I - a bit photo heavy!

 I have been to Tewkesbury just once, on a coach trip probably 50 years ago, so I don't remember anything about it.  As it is only 13 miles from Malvern, it made sense to drive that little bit further and visit it.

I was looking for the "facilities" and wandered round the back.  Didn't find the cafe/toilets, but I am glad I went astray as this beautiful architecture was too good to be missed.

I will assume this is the base of an old font.  The stone on top looks to be sandstone and the base limestone.  Both have found a new way to serve anyway.

The beautiful octagonal font, beautifully carved and with an ornate cover.  It incorporates an early 8th C sandstone base.  The font is probably basalt.

What an amazing brass lecturn - that must take some polishing.

Early carvings which have been saved.

The carvings and fan-vaulted ceilings were quite breathtaking.

An amazing survival of Medieval  (14th C) stained glass.  The knights are Robert Fitzroy, Gilbert de Clare, Hugh Despenser II and Robert Fitzhamon.  The latter founded the Abbey in 1087.  Robert Fitzroy (d.1147) was the eldest - but illegitimate - son of Henry I. He took for his wife Mabel, the daughter of Robert Fitzhamon.  The Gilbert de Clare pictured was either the 5th Earl of Gloucester (d. 1314), one of the guarantors associated with the Magna Carta and he is buried in the Chancel or else the Gilbert de Clare who was the 8th Earl of Gloucester and associated with the expulsion of Piers Gaveston, Edward II's "favourite". Hugh Despenser the younger met a sticky end.  He married Gilbert de Clare's sister Eleanor and was another favourite of Edward II, and detested by his wife Isabella.  When she and Roger Mortimer (a name well known in these parts) seized power and deposed Edward, Hugh Despenser was tried for treason and found guilty, and subsequently hung, drawn, quartered, castrated and his head struck off in Hereford market place on 24th November 1326.  Many thanks to Knights of Tewkesbury for this information.  Please visit the interesting site to learn more.  N.B.  Been doing more research and found out that Hugh Despenser tghe Younger held many lands in Wales, including being the Keeper of Dryslwyn Castle (which was our local castle when we were at Ynyswen). It was in Cantref Mawr (as was Ynyswen) and that area was under his total control.

Other early stained glass.

More later in the week.  I had a nice evening out on Friday at the local History Society talk about the Army on Sennybridge Range/Epynts.  Then last night friends and I went to the cinema to see Mr Burton.  It was brilliant, and I really enjoyed it and the lad that played Richard (Harry Lawtey) really seemed to get under the skin and persona of Richard and his voice and mannerisms were amazing.  Toby Jones played his teacher Philip Burton and Lesley Manville was Ma Smith.  Afterwards, they had invited the writer Tom Bullough and director Mark Evans to talk about the making of the film and there was a Q&A session.  Do try and get to see it.

Right, now out to the garden, and later on I am off to auction and then grocery shopping afterwards.  I hope you had a lovely weekend.  I had Tam & Rosie here overnight on Saturday and then all day yesterday and we went to the garden centre.  I had promised Rosie her own watering can (a pink elephant!) and her eyes lit up when she saw a childsize dustpan and brush (she's always using mine!) and she picked it off the display and handed it to Tam!! Of course, that went home with her too.  I may have bought a few more plants though I mostly went for Cosmos seeds and a well grown Clematis to replace a small Morrisons one which snuffed it.  I also bought Clematis feed (didn't know they needed special feeding so no wonder they have failed here.)  I've lost half a dozen including a well grown to start with Clematis montana rubens - they normally thrive and take off.  I got Samaritan Joe yesterday.

What I bought . . .

 I spent too much of course, but it was the money from the cake baking,  not my pension so guilt soon left me!

The gorgeous Rose and Hubble print for Rosie's first dress by grams (me).

This was quite similar to a dark blue WM print I'd been using so I snaffled it up.  I need some more of two other prints now that I have been making up some blocks and have to get more of that now I have a theme going.

This is the sampler I bought, which has a "tea stained" look.

I want to start this straight away but am as far as putting the collar on Luna Lapin's dress, so one thing at a time.  This is the only kit I bought (hence £19.99) - the others were all patterns.

I shall start sewing this in October for Rosie's Christmas wallhanging.

One for later . . .

Now you know me, how could I resist these meeces?

This is a gift for a friend.

This one you've seen made up.  She is going to need a LOT of stuffing!!

Purchased from Ebay - a straightforward looking frock pattern for Rosie.

These items were purchased from Temu - after my quilting teacher said they were fine to buy from and so cheap because you were buying straight from the  (Chinese) manufacturers.  The triangles were £3.09.  In shops and fairs they are around £32!!

These transfers were £3.31 and I liked the whimsey of them - very folk art.

As you can see, it arrived broken across the top (hoping to glue it).  Emailed Temu and they refunded me the £4.06 straight away and told me to keep it!  I will definitely use them again.

Right, now watering round duties call (and Rosie wants to go outside again).  She loves it out there.