North Wales

Trefriw - Fairy Falls - Llyn Crafnant - Conwy - special places from our walking break up North Wales -not to far to drive approximately 60 miles and after a hectic start amd leaving our gardening project in the lurch- a perfect escape

I am posting a few pics just for the record and also to relive my memories - yes it did rain on and off - and yes the mists came down - but yes the sun did shine through in equal measure and we had a great time.

Click on the pics for a decent view - I  only seem to be able to post this size on my blogs - if anyone has any suggestions as to what I need to do to get a larger pic I would appreciate your comment.

Wales never ceases to come through with unexpected places and special moments.
 I booked with a local agency - so here is a little plug for them I have added a link - the house Llwyn-y-coed Isaf http://dioni.co.uk/llwyn-y-coed/ was adequate in comforts and the views were great - not so much for the camera though because every which way there was a huge pylon - in this pic - just on the horizon to the right !!

in the way - but after a while we adjusted to that and gazed beyond these modern day necessities - adjusting our lenses accordingly!!

The house looked out onto what appeared to be reed beds

- and when we asked we were told yes it was reeds and they were sold for thatching - apparently the ground used to be used for summer grazing but  it had become unproductive because it was a flood plain - you can see in the pic  where a patch has been cut

First day off was a tour round the little village of Trifriw - parking up and asking directions for the local walks - after a few false turns we arrived at the Fairy Falls - aptly named by the Victorians who were fascinated by these mythical creatures

- it was all very slippy and care was needed not to end up belly up in the falls below!! but even so cameras were  at the ready for a few pics of course - we continued on and the rain did its best to soak us but spirits  high and hoods up we continued the walk and ended up in Ship Inn for a spot of lunch and I must say a good day was had by all !!


What do you think of this - I think it is so pretty - I am hoping OH will make one for me he is good at working metal  this one was on the hearth in the Ship Inn in Trefriw

Up and ready for another session - and to breath in the vigorous welsh air we decided on a visit to Conway - we have touched on this area before - but never spent a great deal of time in the actual town - the castle is not that big .. see below in the distance through the arch in the town walls

and here is a pic taken on a previous visit just to give you a better look

but the town walls stretch right around the existing town - they date back to the castle era - are very picturesque and a must for a walkaround

We sat and ate icecreams and soaked up the views

Day three - again going out with a blank canvas so to speak - with definite purpose in mind - we called in at a small garden centre and bought a couple of plants and just mentioned to the owner that we were out for a nice walk - so he pointed us in the direction of Llyn Crafnant - so that was that decision made - here is the result

 

 

 how beautiful is that!

 

we walked right round the lake - quite a way  but so worth it

bye for now - have a good week - Jane x

 

Spring Flowers and a Greenhouse Skeleton

Well Spring is here - and a greenhouse takes shape - still more clutter to shift  - but things are on the up  - the garden has survived the winter deluge and the demolition remarkably well  - so I have posted a few of my favourite pics - and also a few shots of the greenhouse coming to life.

It is pretty much 4 weeks since I last posted - seems to me that this house has been flat out - with garden affairs - family affairs and general living - the fields and country walkways have been so wet and muddy until recently and so have been out of bounds for a black and white collie who loves to race back and two through  very mucky pools - also Blue has been restricted on her exercise - she has had  an operation  which left her with a wound with stitches on her side - but now things have healed up nicely and so she is able to exercise in her usual fashion - a tearaway collie.!!

Here are a few pics of our mammoth task - please say it looks better - mind there is still a way to go - staging is being made by a friend - before the plants can be moved in - yes they are all crammed into the old cedar wood house - which in its turn is coming down to make way for new paving - a line of trellis for clematis and some garden furniture - all in the distant  future me thinks - well there you are you see - now for a few pics for a clearer picture.
                   
                     Take one - corner bricks in place

   
                     Wow the bricks are down !!

 

 

Up she goes - looking good  - what do you think

 

 

glass going in - not to many breakages! 

Blue inspects the new space  ( thinks plenty of ball playing area)!

 

and this is Fred !- a garden gift from a neighbour - made locally - love him

 

 

 

 So there we are - getting there - and now just a few pics from round the garden

 

No doubt that the colours of Spring really give a lift to the garden and certainly give me a boost!!

 

 

Japonica

 

 I thought I had lost my primula sieboldii  - so sent for replacements - and then see below my plants were just a bit slow off the mark but here they are pushing through - now I had white and pink plants so now I am waiting to see if both have survived - I love primulas and intend to have more

 

 

 

 

Note the empty looking pots scattered around - I am just waiting to see what is going to shoot next  

 

Primula Gigha

 

 

 

 

 Help your self to a scone if there is not enough to go around I will make some more!!

 

 Bye until next time - Jane x

February Notes

We are one month into 2014 - where did that go ? of course 2 or 3 weeks saw us laid low with flu - yes it was official - doc diagnosed flu - hot drinks - bed rest - heh ho !! - well now a major reconstruction of our garden is underway - one greenhouse down so far and another one to go up - a second greenhouse is to come down and contents of which are to be shared between new greenhouse and local rubbish tip!

Stages of work in progress just for my records and sanity

What a mess I do declare !!

Looking a little better ..

Getting there - fence will need a lick of paint

Spring has nearly been washed away in these parts by the deluge of storms but today I took a look around the garden and found that nature is doing its best to fight back

Heleborous - first plant to flower from a purchase last year - I bought six - mixed colours - not all have survived

This hyacinth bulb looks to be on track for an early flowering - and snowdrops are pushing through the sodden soil

and of course the camellia flowers on regardless of weather conditions - it surely is a beauty

 Header pic is of the river at Attingham Park

 Best wishes to you all  and have a good week

 Jane

A Snapshot Away

Hello again - a snapshot around town - main aim a picture for camera club - subject Xmas lights. A late afternoon walk around town (Shrewsbury)and these were the outcome.
I  could not resist this shot I love lanterns

 

- taken outside the Golden Cross in Milk Street

As we approached the main centre of Shrewsbury - we passed by this passageway leading to St Alkmunds Square and gazed back along the Wyle Cop

 

Walking around we took random shots - my header pic is taken in the Shrewsbury Market Square - with  the Charles Darwin statue in the foreground - I like this part of town it is full of atmosphere - Wyle Cop the picture above - click on the pic for more detail and a better view - again  late of an evening the Cop comes alive with visions of the past it does not take a great imagination to visualise how it was back  in the day

 

Picture hunting has been the order of the day this past week - so several excursions have been made into Shrewsbury - some time was spent down by the river and although these pictures are not Christmas lights - well I am going to post them

 

 The night was cold but the colours and reflections on the water were perfect

 

 In the background you can see the church tower of St Chads - we walked on up there - they have a decorated christmas tree event - the church looked spectacular 

 

 

 

Walking down again to the main shopping streets - these were the shots we took - Pride Hill lights

 

 this year there has been a new addition a giant reindeer

 

A close up

 

Well I doubt we have taken a winner but we had a fun time !!

 Best wishes

 

 Jane

 

Go West

Hello again - just a few flash backs from the past weeks - it has been a busy time - so as they say'
Lets Go West' and so that is what we did - up to Wales - and we chose a very dark night with howling winds to travel - not intentionally you see -  but due to personal commitment - like that thing called work and hospital appointments that was the first available time slot.

;"> We had booked accommodation with Wales  Holidays -http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/barmouth/256238 and so with Sat Nav loaded with the post code off we went - the run was pretty uneventful -you know- dark and wet and as we neared our destination we passed through Barmouth a little coastal town - usually nestling quietly on the Mawddach estuary - not that night the sand was swirling surely 10 metres high with waves rushing up over the road - with not a soul in sight - we quickly swung the car up into the town and on through to Dyffryn Ardudwy and to our holiday cottage  Hen Feudy -welsh translation the old cowshed it is barn conversion

 

 

 

 

The plan was to have breakfast and then hit the road so to speak - and hopefully avoid the rainy spells - and see a little bit of this part of Wales - the first day was unplanned ! - we walked into the village and a local dog walker sent us off on a walk through the woods towards Talybont -' quite a way ' he said looking us up and down doubtfully - we thanked him and he walked with us for a while and then bid his goodbyes - our friend was quite right it was a bit challenging especially helpng 2 not so nimble dogs over the stone walls - the one in the pic was an easy one - most were like 8-9 stone steps high on both sides - anyway we achieved and went on to enjoy the ramble through the woods - kicking up the leaves - kids stuff - enjoying the changing scenery - - old gnarled trees http://www.tonysrestaurant.co.uk/-

 

- waterfalls and streams - such is woodland art. We chose the coastal road route back to Hen Feudy -OH was a birthday boy today so we had been told of a local Italian restaurant in Talybont - see the link -somewhere above care of blogger !! we had a fantastic meal - definitely to be recommended

Day 2 - we caught the local train to Harlech - plus 2 dogs - not a problem we were told - the dogs understand that they need to remain as inconspicious as possible on public transport so they  hid under the seats - Harlech was cold and windy with the odd flash of sunshine but none the less full of history and interest - we have not been there before only driven through so there was a lot to see - we walked up into the town past the castle taking  pictures from every angle

- the town is well worth a visit - we will call there again at some stage because there are many walks leading from the town along the coast and up into the mountains.

I am really into garden art and as we strolled along the streets we spotted these little fellows - what do you think - they are sort of magical - like they belong to their own little secret world

 

After a very large hot chocolate we walked down to the beach I suppose about a mile and a bit over the dunes and the golf course - more pics including my header pic - probably only 2 people and ourselves on the beach - total isolation

 

We walked back across the sand dunes and gazed up at the castle and wondered how many times the castle had been stormed by invaders from the sea - what a formidable sight

 

Day three - our last day on this mid winter break - and a trip out to the Blue Lake at Fairbourne - OH had first visited the lake when he was 16 and now a few years on !! wanted to revisit - we drove to Fairbourne and parked up - and followed the roadway - taking a sharp right up a steep track - the scenery was amazing on the walk up - the day was a bit hazy but we were able to get some reasonable shots

 

 

The trees lined the track all shapes and sizes - now bare of leaves but elegant and determined to survive all that winter could throw at them

 

everywhere there was evidence of the old slate quarryhttp://www.aditnow.co.uk/documents/Golwen-Slate-Mine/Golwern_2658.pdf - the colours of the slate

 shone through catching the weak rays of sun - and crumbling walls which had formed the workings still held their own -

 

 

 

bits of the  old machinery lay around

 

 The blue lake - the purpose of our visit -  was a brilliant blue - something to do with the minerals in the water it is approached through a tunnel -

 

 

the pics I have taken are from the hill top looking down - amazing well worth a visit

Best wishes to you all

Jane