Playing Together

 Winter is a coming.  Plenty of time to get on with the needle work. 

Cross-stich for G

and blackwork with colour for D.

Last Rose of the Year

Brought the bloom in door to keep me company as I start a new E, a country scene drawn by Gek, and M, a Black Swan. 

Butterfly, Scenery and Pelican

 A piece to practice the different infill paterns.  

Scene of nowhere in particular, sketched by G, stitched by D.

The latest attempt. A ways to go yet.

On the Drive Home.

The White Castle, built by the Norman's, one of three in the immediate area east of Abergavenny. 

Next, a Wharf Burger at Penelope's place. Yummy.

 

Carding Mill Valley

From Stokesay we drive to the valley to take an amble up the hill followed by an afternoon cream tea. Great way to end an amazing day.

Wilson's 1939 Trip, Stokesay Castle.

In 1939, the tudor entrance to castle.

2022, now under the management of English Heritage.

1939, the castle.

Nothing changed over the 83 intervening years.

1939, the church entrance gateway.

2022, a little more lush.

Ok, just had to pose for this one.

Wilson's 1939 trip, Wigmore

 

The main road  in 1939

2022.  It took a while to match the two photgraphs. I was looking for the curved roof building, since demolished.

Brockhampton Manor

A moated Manor house completed around 1425,

Chapel in it's grounds.

Walking round the house 

To visit the orchard  of apples  pears and damson trees,

before taking a look around the dwelling.

Croft Castle

 

Through the wall, 

To the castle, owned by the Croft family for most of its 1,000 year history.

On hill behind, there is the remains of an iron age fort with a 360 view covering the Malvern Hills to the east, Herefordshire to the south,  Shropshire to the north and

Wales to the west.

We did find this rather unique, oversized bonzi on the way back down the hill🤣.

Hereford

Driving on to Hereford 

and a visit to the cathedral.

An arty photo taken by Gek. 

Llanthony Priory

Before a stroll around the Priory,  a lunch at the Half Moon Hotel.

The original church was built at the end of the 10th century, evolving into a priory

before being 'dissolved' in 1585.

It began to fall apart 300  years later. 

Autumn Dawn

 America bound trails scare the sky.

Australian Birds

 A galah, the first of 9 birds to do using the dyed veneers.