Cwmcarn Forest Drive

P3 for a look back the way we just came.

P5 for a view of Pen y Fan, some 30+ miles to the north.

Bathed in sunshine.

As was this house in the forest.

On to P6 and a short walk,

passing the growing young pines,

to see the long view south over the Channel towards Devon. Clouds make the picture.

A short rest before the walk back to car. 

Well, What Do You Know

I must be a late developer.  Dad did these 100 years ago, aged 8/9 years.

Llandegfedd Reservoir Visit

There is a lowering of the water level due to maintenance work being done on dams overflow tower.

The water is also lower due to the current drought Wales is suffering.

But that did not stop us enjoying a lunch on the cafe terrace. 

Gek's Next Exhibition.

"The Arts for Health and Wellbeing Programme support a variety of creative projects across a range of artistic mediums for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board staff, patients and service users. We are proactive in using art to improve health and wellbeing and aim for our work to be inclusive and representative of our community."

One of the four spaces in the Llandough University Hospital dedicated to displays of 'art'. Gek has this plaza area booked for a display of her work in July 2023. 

Blackwork Piece 4

Making progress.

Efforts and Rewards

Our neighours who live in the hedge found the pea plants, and stopped by for lunch. It has taken them 6 years to notice them. Off to B&Q for an emergenct visit. That will teach them!!!

A further bit of maintenance.  Been rather dry of late.

On the bright side,

and the productive side.

Blackwork in colour

Second piece in black finished,

 first colour one started.

Six days later, finished. Apart for some sort of border, that is.

Parc Porthkerry

Amazing to think that this was once a very busy quarrying area and was used as a military storage place for D-day in WW2.

 A vistorian era post box on a 17th century barn wall.

Sun Flower

 

Grown from seeds meant to feed to birds.

The opening.

Artisan at Work

With Gek restarting her painting endeavour, a larger drying rack is needed.  Improvise, also improvising!

The artist's corner with work in progress.

Embroidery First Piece

 A work station put together,

to make the first piece, which took 5 days to do with many undoings.

The DMC order from France with 11 peices of paper just to clear customs!!!  37 pounds only with no delivery charge and took only 3 days to arrive in Hengoed. 

A New Challenge, Embroidery.

 The first crack.

Blackwork first appeared in England during the reign of Henry VIII. I do like the symmetry and 'simplicity' of this type of embroidery. Once you have worked out how to do a part of the pattern, you can more easily complete the whole design.  Of course, this is intended to lead to an exhibition of miniature blackwork pieces.  Watch this space!

Aberglasney Gardens

 A Grade II listed, 16th century mansion, recently restored,

with richly flowered, formal gardens.

Gek having a word with the foxgloves,

after doing a nonchalant pose. 

Not sure what was on these hoops, but not roses.  Grapes? Is in the veggie garden.

Then to lunch at the tearoom by the pond.

Rhossili

Worms Head viewed from the Head. Well, three quarters of the way up the head. We ran out of puff.

The Old Rectory, a bookable National Trust holiday stay accommodation.

Waiting for our lunch,

courtesy of Polly for Fathers Day. Thank you, thank you my lovely.

Strange to find these wall hangings behind Gek's seat. 

Botanic Gardens

Inside the glasshouse. Built to simulate a Mediterranean climate, was more like a tropical one this day.

With bro, Mark

 The original 200 year old Middleton House stable block, now hosting the gardens visitors centre and tearoom.