a week away

I've had nearly a week away, staying with Daughter and Family.
Then having a long day heading Northwards for the first time since 1998, reclaiming my routes, renewing old friendships, but also finding I'd missed a friend by four months. At least I could give his son and widow the gift of a small bowl.
I felt at home. This probably explains why I'm drawn to the higher places around where I live, why being with Mountain Man was right. My first memory is of travelling from Capel Curig along the A5 road with Tryfan on the left, towards Idwal Cottage youth hostel where we lived in 1954/5.

I had a wander round Machynlleth as it was market day.
and delivered a box of work to Crochendy Twrog in Maentwrog. Trefor Owen always sold my work well, and had two jars left, a small one and this one.....
I must make some more of these!
It was good to see Trefor looking well at 75 and planning to do some throwing.

Then further North where I left more work...and I'm hoping to hear in a few days whether I'll have work in a gallery shop here.....
I had a day's "officialling" work at Newport Velodrome yesterday, today's work is tidying the allotment a little (weather permitting- we have a snow warning) and preparing the workshop for throwing.

Aberystwyth. stormy sea

Blorenge Mountain

For Janet...this is the mountain beginning with"B" near Abergavenny....today, with snow!

Court Cupboard Gallery. pictures

Ysgyryd Fawr (Big Skirrid) behind the gallery
Some work from courses run here (sugarcraft, painting,ceramics,basketmaking....)
Daffodils from the garden at Sioni Rhys Textiles
ceramics- Gwynneth Rixon . painting - David Haswell
Sioni Rhys Textiles from Pandy (which means fulling mill in Welsh) just north of the gallery
Y Fal (the Sugar Loaf) peeping over the top
looking down the lane towards Blorenge mountain

cat in a hazel tree

Court Cupboard Gallery

Duty day in the gallery today, 10.30 am to 4pm (Winter hours)

gardening escape!

from sorting and de-cluttering!!

We now have a large heap of brambles and buddleia in the Walled Garden, ready to be turned into potash!! I started, and now finished removing brambles from a huge forsythia bush. The buds are just showing on it and soon there will be flowers. Now it will look good and be safe to prune after flowering!

The New Mugs and New Handles have been unwrapped, and just loosely covered with one sheet of plastic. They should be dry enough to lightly fettle on Sunday.

On my way home I came over the mountain (surprise!) to avoid the traffic, and drove behind a young farmer (in his twenties-we need more of his generation to carry on, when the average age is 58) on a quad bike as he moved sheep to a field half a mile up the road.
I didn't mind waiting, and it would have helped if someone impatient had come up behind. Two large lambs got a ride on his lap, and the two dogs hopped up behind him for breaks! It was good to be thanked and pass the time of day (and to be recognised...he keeps an eye out for me on my mountain walks.)

We are back to Spring weather again, with light showers. The forecast is to stay much the same, getting a bit breezy on Saturday and colder on Sunday, although still above freezing point.

We do need a dose of Winter. Just please can it wait until I'm back from North Wales!!