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

💙🌷💙

The Colours of Days

Hello Friends!

November sits, suspended midway between the glory days of Autumn and  the bone chilling cold of Winter; a no man's land of dull November grey when all the vibrant leaves of orange, yellow and red have fallen from the trees and branches brown hang down, empty, dull and bare, against a leaden sky where December snow has yet to form.

Light is scarce in the sky, a dull grey gloom wraps itself around the horizon and wild clouds scud across the sky.  Cracks in the clouds let slivers of silver light push through, a reminder of what once was, and a promise of what is yet to come.  Houses, curtains tightly drawn across windows, glow with light, beacons that guide us home.

We have time to stand and stare.  Our harvests are gathered home. We are ready for the winter hibernation that will come.  Let the season of hygge commence!

 

Wrapped up warmly against the chill and bitter wind, wearing our mittens and scarves, woolly hats and chunky Fair Isle socks, we take brisk, invigorating walks out into the Welsh countryside.  

Berry picking time is over. There is nothing left to harvest now other than a scant handful of late fruits that we leave for the wildlife, for the birds, for the squirrels, for the mice.  

If we are lucky, there are piles of leaves dry and crunchy through which we stomp and kick. But in this November gloom the rain has fallen hard. The spent leaves are a squishy squashy mess of muddy brown. Are they not in decay? No!  They are making the food for next year's plants.  The Circle of Life rolls on 

Soon , much sooner than we realise it will be December. The snows will come and all will look different again, dusted in powdery white.

And so the seasons turn.  The days that not so long ago were warm with summer sun, now cold and chill us to the bone with withering winds.  The time has come to withdraw inside. Let us sit by the fire cosy and warm with books and hot chocolate for our companions.  

My friends I have been doing more art. Here is my latest effort by an online course offered twice a year by the renowned Danish artist Ida Anderson Lang, called Wish Upon A Star. 

Until next time

Stay safe. Stay well.

Debbie xx

It Shouldn't Be So!

 

November days have come and gone,

The light of summer spent,

The winter solstice fast approaches

And Christmas, too, is nigh.

 

Well my friends, the weather is atrocious. This first photograph was taken on this week in 2016. What a difference! If it wasn't for the tree being so bare it could be a beautiful summer or spring morning, but no, this was taken in late autumn six years ago. 

Fast forwarding to the present and I cannot state strongly enough how much I am already fed up with the hand dealt to us by the weather this past week.   It's been wild, wet and windy every day, with those dreaded little black circles on the weather map indicating winds constantly well over 45 and 50 miles an hour, torrential downpours, and plenty of hail.  It certainly hasn't been weather for going outside, and the two lovely people who have been helping me with my garden I've had to cancel for it is not fit for man nor beast out there.

 

Appalling weather aside, all is not well in the garden. Things are in bloom and flowering that shouldn't be for a few more months yet, in fact they shouldn't be in flower until May or June.  As for finding strawberries in fruit I think that's unheard of.  this is the price we are paying for climate change.  Everything is out of kilter everywhere.

Here are just four photos of things that should not be in flower now. Violets, Verbena bonariensis, a neighbour's Cordyline palm, and some strawberries.  Madness, utter madness!

On a happier note, the pink camellia seems to be absolutely chock full of blooms, I don't think I've ever seen so many so come January and February I'm hoping it's going to be spectacular!  The buds are plentiful and look healthy and strong.

Until next time

Stay safe, stay well

Debbie xo

Spot the Spider

Hello friends

No, not a game, that's its name, Spot the Spider.  LoL.

Those of you who know the size of the Sycamore seeds will appreciate the miniature size of Spot the Spider who appears in the first photo.

Both of these photos are very pleasing to me because they have that natural bokeh effect which I enjoy and it's all the more rewarding when it occurs naturally as it does in these two images.

My latest online art course is another one hosted by the brilliantly accomplished fine artist, Ida Andersen Lang, from Denmark, who specialises in using watercolour pencils in her art.

I think I'm going to be a little while longer before I finish this piece so I'm sharing a snap of it in progress today. I'll be doing a more detailed blog soon, when it's finished, showing more of the detail and obviously the finished piece. It's a real challenge for me and one of the reasons why it's taking me a lot longer is it's my first A3 piece. 

I have had some very positive feedback on this painting, not only from my peers but also from Ida herself!!! I confess when I read what she said I had a bit of a squee moment!!!

The weather here in the west continues to be abysmal. We are constantly getting winds now of 40 miles an hour and we have had torrential rain, sufficient to mean that a hose pipe ban was lifted on the 25th of October, mind I can't see anyone wanting to use a hose pipe to water their garden at the moment with all the rain we've been getting. It's gone from the sublime to the ridiculous.

To try and keep warm without turning up the thermostat, I have just bought myself one of those oversized hoodies in a teddy bear fleece. It seems to do the job. Last night I actually got warmer than I'd been in a long time. However, the downside is I do look rather like a pink version of Uncle Fester. Then, if you're keeping warm, do you really care what you look like if nobody else can see you? However, before anyone asks, I will take the jump on this and say no, there will not be any photographs.

This morning I had my flu injection so will be taking it easy for the rest of the day and sitting mostly at my painting desk.

Until next time
Stay safe stay well
Debbie xoxo

Pumpkins Galore!

Hello friends!

Warning. If you don't like pumpkins, look away now!!!

Once again, it's Autumn and pumpkin season is upon us. My friend owns a sunflower farm, which at this time of year becomes a pumpkin patch farm. I'll be putting a link in later if you're able to go, but I know for most of you will it will be impossible.  I'm sure you'll find your own wonderful attractions near where you are.

Imagine my delight to be able to photograph some freshly harvested local grown pumpkins on a warm Autumn afternoon. I jumped at the opportunity. Those of you who know me well, know I have a bit of a thing about pumpkins. The more patterns and the gnarlier, the better!!  These are beauties. The varieties here are: Turks Turban, Harvest Moon, Sweet Lightning, Harlequin, Crown Prince, Casparita, and Kabocha.  

Could anything be more versatile? Firstly, you decorate with them. Secondly, in my case, you paint them. And thirdly, you eat them, turning them into delicious soup, stews, breads, pies, risotto. And more. My friend says they make excellent crisps, or chips depending which side of the Atlantic you're on!

Before I forget, here's the link to the Facebook page, which has all the details if you are in the area and wish to visit.  Pembrokeshire Pumpkin Farm.  There's loads of seasonal attractions. A haunted barn. A hay bale trail. And other things to do besides picking out beautiful pumpkins to decorate or eat.

Here are my photos. The first batch are taken with my Panasonic. DMC FZ45. The second batch which follow that are all square are taken on my phone.

Taken with my phone

Well, my friends, I hope you've enjoyed the trip around the pumpkins. I hope to get more photographs again. There are long lasting fruit and it's nice to take advantage of the different levels of sun light at this time of year. Also, they'll be popping up in my seasonal decorations, which I'll share later.

How do you like to use pumpkins? Do you use them just for decorating or purely for culinary purposes? Do you have a favourite recipe? Are you like me? Your pumpkins will be decorating your home from now until the end of November. I'd love to know.

Until next time. 
Stay safe, stay well.

Debbie.