Friday 23 October October 27, 2009

Friday morning shoppers in Llandeilo

 

Prince Charles leaving Heavenly..his chocs have already been taken to the car

Do you know..you never know who you are going to bump into when you drop into Llandeilo for a bit of Friday morning shopping. Prince Charles was just popping into Heavenly to collect a few  delicious chocolates- very low key and very lovely. Heavenly is an amazing confectionary shop..chocoholics keep away- obviously Prince Charles has tasted their delicious chocs and couldn’t resist coming back for more!

Speech bubble: Hope I've chosen the ones with the soft chewy centres!

Friday October 16 October 16, 2009

Another wonderful autumn day- the cottage is all ready clean and tidy for the new visitors arriving tomorrow so we have another day to explore our locality. Today we set off on the A40 towards Brecon- we were off to an exhibition of Art and Sculpture at Penpont Estate about 20 minutes drive . ‘Penpont is one of the finest houses in the Brecon Beacons National Park. It has been the home to the Williams family since it was first built in 1666 and remains in the same family today.’ The place is being restored and repaired and is only open to the public on these exhibition days although one can call in to buy from the organic shop at weekends between June and December.

Penpont House and grounds

Anyway we were unprepared for the wonderful surprise of finding such a glorious property in such a fantastic setting..with such special, interesting people to chat to ..owners, artists , authors…it was magic!

The conservatory

The elephant hedge

Part of the brilliant elephant hedge

Looking through into the courtyard

The walled garden

View from the bridge

 

Inside  and outside the house there were paintings and sculptures to look at and enjoy. This exhibition ends on Sunday but hopefully there will be more so that even more visitors can enjoy such a great day out.

October 10 Visit to Pembrey Country Park and beach October 10, 2009

Looking over towards the Gower

Another wonderful and sunny day and although there’s lots to do in the garden we decided on a trip to the seaside!

About an hour away from Lletty Cottage we have the choice of going North West-ish to the coast and visiting Aberaeron and New Quay and all the other lovely seaside villages on the Cardigan Bay coastline .(The visitors staying in Lletty Cottage  visited these seaside towns today and had an excellent time in the sunshine and ate some very delicious icecream too!)

But today we decided to go South West-ish not to  Tenby(an old Favourite) but to Pembrey Country Park.

We entered the Park and drove down to the beach…parked up and went for a long walk along the 8 mile sandy beach. it was fantastic…especially my paddle in the sea!

The view along the beach

Where is everyone?

After walking along the beach we turned inland and did a spot of bird watching from the hide

In Wales most signs are bilingual!

Monday September 21 Walk to Aberdeunant September 21, 2009

On our way to Aberdeunant we passed this field of sheep

This afternoon we went for a walk from our house through the country lanes to visit  the National Trust property: ABERDEUNANT . The property is a traditional Carmarthenshire farmhouse with a thatched roof in an unspoilt setting.

Our first glimpse of the farmhouse with its thatched roof and lovely setting The back entrance into the farmyard During the walk home through the lanes we noticed how many trees were autumnal in colour. We stopped, picked and ate some juicy blackberries  and passed the field with the black faced sheep again.

Monday September 12 -Mystery visitor! September 14, 2009

We have had a mystery visitor to the garden! At the base of the old  telegraph pole where we hang the bird feeders- niger seed and peanuts- our mystery visitor has scrabbled away and dug up all the turf leaving a near perfect circle  of soil/seeds and mess.

Who has done this? ..a fox, badger or squirrel!

Anyway..I’m grateful to whichever animal has done it as I shall now make it into a feature and plant  the daffodil bulbs that I bought at Aberglasney yesterday.

Cyclamen hederifolium under the trees at Aberglasney

The Upper Walled Garden at Aberglasney in September sunshine

September 9 09/09/09 September 10, 2009

Corn Du looks a long way away from the start of the path!

Today the sun shone so brightly that we thought we would go for a long walk. Only 40 minutes away from our front door  by car is the start of the path up the highest mountain in South Wales -Pen Y Fan.

At the start of the path..Pen Y Fan looks a long way away!

We made it! On the summit of Pen Y Fan...the view was breathtaking

Stunning vistas all around

All this on our doorstep…the Brecon Beacons are just fantastic!

September 8 September 8, 2009

Red Admiral

The weather has not been too good but visitors to the cottage have all managed to get out and enjoy their visits to this beautiful part of Wales.

The field has now greened up again and the lambs will be put on it shortly with the ram. The lambs have all been taken back to the farm this week for a ‘wash and scrub up’ by the farmer who dips them all and checks on their health.

View from the top of the field over Yew Tree Farm with the Brecon Beacons in the distance.

Jim has made a new bench for the top of the field so everyone can sit and enjoy the view.

The hanging pouches and hanging baskets outside the back door of Lletty Cottage have been really pretty this summer and well worth the effort.

I’ve just taken some cuttings from this fuschia- hopefully to grow some more- but I’m not too successful with things like that..it is really lovely though.

Yesterday the sun was out and the garden was full of butterflies, bees, dragon flies, moths – all flying creatures..it was humming!

Peacock, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Tortoiseshell

The dragon flies  and damsel flies wouldn’t stay still for a photo  over the pond but honestly they were stunning!

Thursday August 13 August 13, 2009

Such a beautiful day today..went over to neighbour’s house to feed their chickens and then went for walk over the fields and took some photos of the house from the pond field.

 

The busy lizzies in the hanging pouches look really good around Lletty Cottage front door and  the lilies in the pot are spreading their scent all around the garden.

Not quite sure if the apples on the fruit trees are ready for picking yet but they look so good and we think we’ll pick them soon before the wasps get them!

 

The farmer has finished hay making and managed to get 28 bales of hay off the field before the rain came.

The field is already greening up again. Jim has made a seat for the top of the  field  so we can sit in some comfort and look at  the  stunning views over the Brecon Beacons.

Thursday August 6th August 6, 2009

It must be the sunshine…so many new things are happening. The lovely farmer has brought the lambs and ewes back. On the first night there was a great deal of bleating as the lambs had just been separated from their mums but they have settled in now and just getting on with their most important  job…eating all the grass!

I’ve dug up most of the potatoes, onions and garlic as they were all getting  a bit soggy….the dried potatoes are now hanging up in a sack and the onions etc are hanging up to dry. The broad beans have finished and the peas  will be finished soon…well they will be at the rate we are enjoying them!

The veg plot ready for planting leeks and purple sprouting broc!  The lambs are in the pond field beyond.

Yesterday the farmer began hay making..two tractors and cutters mowed the field ( about 5 acres) in 18 minutes. As soon as they started the Kites arrived looking for their lunch.

Jim took all these photos of kites:

 

Last evening the hay was all in neat rows  up and down the field and the air was full  and heavy with the sweet smell of hay.

Today the farmer has been back many times with his tractor to turn the hay over  to dry it all out. Fingers crossed the sun shines over the next few days so the hay can be baled…if it rains it will just be silage!

We are helping  looking after our friend’s chickens again so we have lots of lovely free range eggs  to eat and give to visitors to Lletty Cottage.

Saturday July 18 July 18, 2009

The rain has gone and the  hebe  bushes are all in  glorious flower. The air is filled with the sound of the bees on the  bushes…there were at least fifty bees buzzing on each bush.

There are two hebe bushes in Lletty Cottage garden and the third is on the entrance drive next to the visitor’s car parking space.

The hebe bush next to Lletty Cottage patio

 

The other hebe at the other end of Lletty Cottage garden

 

The same hebe through the garden gate

Front drive sitting area with hanging pouches filled with Busy Lizzies

View from Lletty Cottage front door looking at hebe bush and in the far distance the Carmarthen Fans ( part of the Brecon Beacons)

View from the front garden looking back at Lletty Cottage

Although it has been  showery today  the garden is drying out quickly after all the rain storms last week. The forecast for next week is much better. It is too wet to mow the grass but this weekend I will dig up some more potatoes..the first lot were delicious , dig up some onions  and pick some broad beans. I love it when you can pick  and eat your own vegetables!