Footpaths, Flowers, and Fisherman's Smocks

Hello Friends!

Day Seven of Walk 100 Miles For Parkinson's challenge under my belt, and I broke the £500 fundraising barrier this morning!  I am still quite side swiped by the generosity of everyone!  

Evening seems to be my optimum time to go, and this evening my friend Charlene came with me. We are both taking Wild Welsh Herbalism Foundation in Botanical Wisdom {and my friend, Julie is taking her second year . . . it's a small world} and now that I have planted the It's A Small World earworm for you, I shall move on . . . 

From the path we trod, on the distant horizon across Saint Bride's Bay, the dark sliver of silver grey is Skomer Island, famous worldwide for it's Puffin and Manx Shearwater colonies.

Despite the unseasonably chill of this day in May, we had a lovely walk, taking a bit longer than I normally would, but we took every careful step {I nearly went over twice tonight} recording many of the countless plants along the way.  Memories of Sunday walks with my Nanna came flooding back!  She taught me more about the flora of Wales than I can remember now.  Bounded by high, Pembrokeshire stone hedges, we had a magical hour, and just in time for supper, we went to our separate homes to scroll through our photos on this journey of discovery into the wonders of the byways of the Shire we call home.

Here are some of the flowers and trees that we discovered, some of which we will be studying and learning about with Salena on our course.  I cannot wait, for, as those of you who know me well, I am at heart a wild Welsh woman of the western shores, and am like a little sponge, waiting to absorb all the information, and in particular, the Welsh folklore that surrounds these herbs and magic that lies therein.

Previously, I have spoken about the resurfacing of the once uneven bridle paths that circumnavigate the village {which is a city, as we know, but I always say if I wanted to live in a city I would have moved to Cardiff} This now gives a lovely, even surface for people with mobility issues, from those who are just a little unsteady on their pins, to people such as myself who use a rollator, or wheelchair and scooter users.

So, come with me, my Faerie Friends, and we shall while away the hours, here amongst the hedgerows high, in the kingdom of the Flowers 

Campion pink and Borage blue, with Buttercups of yellow hue

Germander Speedwell shines like tiny stars of brightest Peter Rabbit blue

Hawthorn flowers tightly wrapped up in their swaddling buds.  My mother taught me that the seeds were known as Bread and Cheese, but oh! there is a massive seed so many must be eaten if you are a tiny, hungry bird!

The ancient Elder tree, revered, most sacred of all trees, yields palm sized sprays of tiny florets that make the most amazing Elderflower Champagne in Spring, and a perfect drink to quaff on a balmy Summer's evening . . . followed by the shiny, tiny, darkest purple berries make an excellent cordial to ward of Winter chills and colds . . .

Did you hear the soft pad, pad of Mr Tod, as he stately strutted by last night? No, I didn't think you did, for his paws were wrapped in soft pink gloves.  The hedges are now full of the leafy rosettes that will soon be sending spikes of deepest pink towards the cotton candy cloud filled sky of Spring

The Bracken Dragon bares it's gnarly teeth, enough to scare away the snakes that long to lurk beneath it's shady canopy

Sow Thistle, Prickly or Common, my guess as good as yours, but such a statuesque stem of many flowering buds, it is a sight to behold

Sweet Cicely, a Summer treat, will give you something sweet to eat

Torpedo shaped, those lime green seeds will soon be turning black, and then in jars of honey, steeping slowly, will impart their liquorice sweetness to enhance my warming winter drinks

My friends, the day is done, 'tis dark outside, the moon behind the clouds her silver smile does hide. The candles are lit, and warming chamomile tea, sweetened with honey from the hive of a thousand bees, sits on my table waiting for me to take a pleasing sip.

For those who liked my plum coloured Fisherman's Smock, with which I am most pleased, I have another one, this time in teal, and look what was found in the pocket, dear Lucy Locket . . . 

It's one of those 

LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE LIFE

BIG!!!

In other news, Vinted is still one of my latest obsessions and I am looking out each day now for more of these Fisherman's Smocks in as many colours as I can find, for I am smitten with them, and love them over my other "smitten with" find, Llama Leggings {and before you ask, no, I don't wear the shorts!} as the quality is second to none, and they come in many lovely, quirky colourful prints!

Until next time

💙🌷💙

I Have Found My Tribe {at last}

Hello Friends!

I have, at long, long last, after so much searching, found my Tribe!  Yesterday evening was the first Zoom meeting of my year long Wild Welsh Herbal Medicine course.  I cannot throw enough synonyms for the incredible feeling of having come home to my Tribe to describe how I feel. Ever since I was a child, I have picked leaves and made "tea", dabbling in hedgerow medicine, but never taking it any further.  So overwhelmed was I that I couldn't even speak to introduce myself, other than stuttering a few incomprehensible words between my blubbing.

This morning I made a nettle smoothie using the nettles I harvested last evening. I stuffed my Ninja goblet about 2/3 full of nettles, added a ripe banana, a handful of walnuts, a tablespoon of linseeds, a teaspoon of pure cocoa powder, and topped off with oat milk.  Whizzed it up and enjoyed every drop!  Tomorrow I shall attempt some sort of savoury with them.  

I have just completed my sixth day of the Fundraiser for Parkinson's.  I did one of my usual routes this evening.  I took a few photos of some more of the kinds of obstacles that I never used to notice before I developed mobility issues.  Things such as:

badly finished repairs that leave gutters across the pavements

or hedges that are not clipped back leaving very narrow pavements on a blind corner that has oncoming traffic:

But on to the prettier things I see, the flowers!

Three days ago, this grassy area was full of yellow dandelions, now it's covered with the silvery white seed heads

and the lilacs are in bloom again

Google Lens informs me that this is Weigela {over to you}

I did misjudge the angle of the evening sun and as I came down the homeward stretch I found myself dazzled as the road traverses a due west aspect.  What didn't I have with me?  Why, my sunglasses of course! 

My Tee shirt for having raised over £100 arrived today, so if the weather is good, I shall be wearing that in future to help raise awareness.  I will take photos tomorrow as it's in the wash right now.

I have to say, I expected my legs to hurt but it isn't my legs, it's my arms and shoulders.  It can only be the pushing of my rollator.  It weighs about 18lbs, so a bit of a weight to be pushing out in front of me, especially going up hill!

Until the next time

Debbie xx 

A Peculiar Sky

Hello Friends

I must start with the photos I forgot to share yesterday, of last evening's spookily strange sky.  It was as if someone had drawn a line across the sky just above the distant horizon and coloured it in grey.  In the lower photo, it looks like the distant ocean, but it isn't at all, it's the low cloud.

There was something quite unsettling, maybe because it looked like a sandstorm as one is approaching from the desert?

I must get my act together today!  I got up with my usual routine, then just after 9:00 a.m. I remembered I needed to revert to Welsh Dragon mode to phone the Council yet again over the bin.  If for one moment I thought I was in the wrong I would drop it, but I do not like to be accused of something that I don't think I did.  Also, it was the patronising "we will do you a favour and overlook it this time and send someone out to collect it, but don't let it happen again" attitude that has got my back up too.  So I sent off the email, and phoned up to spend over an hour and nine minutes on hold. I was originally number 48 in the queue. A complete waste of time, I am now waiting to be called back.  We all know what that means.

Then, having got up with such bounce, I suddenly found myself two hours later waking up from a long nap.  What a disappointment, I really thought I'd be awake all morning.  Sigh.  Oh, well, it could have been worse.  Vinted sales packed, labelled and on their way.  Last night I "favourited" two more Sea Salt tunics {they do the same style in many different colours}and both sellers had come back offering to sell them to me for lower than their original prices.  This pattern seems to be a thing on Vinted.  *Note to self: don't pay full price without offering a lower one first!

Bank Holidays always throw me, so it will be of no surprise that I forgot today is Tuesday and it is the first of my Zoom meetings with my Herbal Medicine group.  It's at 7:00 p.m. and it's going to be a proper squish to get everything in so that I can eat, take my meds at the proper time, get my walk in, and tie up other loose ends that need to be done before it begins.  I might have to make couscous for tonight as it can be done in under ten minutes and is quick to eat too.  I have halloumi or tempeh to pick for my protein, and also some rather small fresh figs which will be a nice addition.

Later on now, MUCH later on as it will be after 10:00 p.m. when I post this.  I got side tracked then I got my act together and went for my walk, taking a slightly different route again.  Here is some of the lovely bucolic scenery that surrounds me.

Here is an example of another hazard.  Narrow pavement {sidewalk} and someone has spotted traffic cones which block the path just to stop people parking in front of their house. 

oh, stop your moaning, Minnie!  Look at this . . . only in west Wales where the wild wind whips and withers wutheringly will you find the trees tell you the direction of the prevailing gale force winter winds!

Moving on, I bumped into a friend who is taking the same "witchy Welsh wisdom" Wild Welsh Herbal Medicine course as I am, we had a chat.  Then I made a new friend, Pat, who lives very nearby, and I eventually got home with just enough time to cook some quick cook couscous and to burn my tempeh. Bah! Humbug.

It was time for my zoom meeting.  It was AMAZING.  It was WONDERFUL. It was MAGICAL. It was like FINALLY COMING HOME TO MY TRIBE.

I have just been out in the garden in the gloaming, picking a few fresh Danadl Poethion for my breakfast smoothie tomorrow.  Danadl Poethion, or Stinging Nettles are full of vital nutrient and I am going to make sure I eat plenty of this free food crop that grows in profusion in my unkempt, wildlife friendly garden.

The gloaming over the Shire

A strange leaved plant on my way

My humorous attempt at a "self portrait"

Me on a Very Bad Hair Day squinting into the sun.  I am getting my hair cut tomorrow.  The Parkinson's drugs have made it a horrible mess.

and finally for tonight, little fatty me in my new Fisherman's Smock bought from Vinted for just £15.00 and I confess I am rather smitten with it and have put in an offer of £13.00 which was accepted on another in Teal, which I love that colour.

Off now to the gegin {kitchen} to get a late evening snack in lieu of the burnt tempeh.

Until tomorrow

Debbie xx

Tonight's total, with several more promises of support to follow!

Where Do I Begin?

Hello Friends!

Well, it's been a bit of a day today, hence the late update.   After seriously overdoing the distance yesterday, I woke up this morning, if you can call it waking up, so tired and achy I went back to bed and slept away most of the Bank Holiday Monday.  

From the garden, I do love the mill stones

I muddled through the day. Let's deal with the garden waste bin.  The Council will be hearing more about this, I am now an enraged Welsh woman on a mission, breathing fire!  Your input is invited, but does this look like an overfilled bin?  Do you think the clippings would have come out so easily just by tipping the bin over?  I don't.  I think the bin men didn't even try!!!

They will also be hearing about the potholes

I dealt with some Vinted sales, and today I wore the plum coloured Sea Salt "new without tags" tunic I bought for a snip at £15.00 on Vinted. I just bought a second one in teal, offered £13.00 and it was accepted.

Then, some cheeky chap wanted to buy my Thunderbirds charm bracelet for next to nothing, trying to make out it is damaged {which it isn't} but when I learned he wanted to cut it up for parts, I sent him packing with a flea in his ear!

I did a couple of modules of my Herbal Medicine course and then decided I'd better get my act together and go for my walk, so off I went.  I opted for a shorter route this evening as I don't want to overdo things, as so many of you are reminding me not to do!!!

It was so lovely to go out in the fresh, evening air, and following the westering sun slipping toward the horizon.

I multi tasked and voted on my way!  It is now in the hands of Royal Mail

Now here's the wonderful news! {Sara, I hope you are reading this} I made it to the post box in one go without taking a break on the way!!!  On Friday when I took this route, I had to stop several times for air!

The Council is doing something towards less clinical cutting of the grassy areas by leaving some uncut

Around the corner and I stopped to chat with two neighbours on my way while the sun shimmered on the distant sea.

 At the bottom of my drive is a wild patch of prettiness 

including a moss garlanded salt lick

and to finish up, some of the flowers growing in my borders

On that note, I am tired but just getting ready to watch the Met Gala 2026 which is broadcasting live on the Vogue channel in an hour.  I love the Met Gala if only for its ridiculousness, something as an antidote to the world today.  

Heartfelt thanks again for all the donations and support, I couldn't do it without you!

Until next time

Debbie xx

Link to my Fundraising Page