Photo Scavenger Hunt - September

I'm sorry that I didn't manage a Five on Friday post last week or a Monday Miscellany yesterday.  I sort of ran out of time and inclination to blog about anything as I've been feeling a bit low and uninspried for some reason.  However, I have managed to complete the list of this month's Scavenger Hunt, as most of the photos were taken when we were in Wales at the beginning of the month.  So once again I'm joining in with the September Photo Scavenger Hunt kindly organised by greenthumb at Made with Love  just click on the link  to find other participants.

Woven

Lovely wool blankets in the gift shop at Harlech Castle in Wales.

Repeating

A row of keys tied to a rope on the Arboretum island at Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire.  It was part of a display called 'The Key to my Heart'  - I imagined once one person had attached a key others would repeat the process.  Much like the love locks you see on bridges.

Greedy

I struggled with this topic but then a little group of about six long tailed tits visited our feeders and almost completely demolished the fat balls in them. I thought this would pass for greedy although they weren't really greedy just hungry.

Flowers

Flowers in St Hywyn's Church at Aberdaron on the Llyn Peninsula in Wales.

Curly

The little Gloucester Old Spot piglets in the walled garden at Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire had curly tails.

Adventures 

It felt quite adventurous to climb up the tower at Harlech Castle and gaze out at the wonderful views from there.

 Line

A train on the railway line which runs along the coast in Wales.  View of the train from the top of Harlech Castle.

Mesmerising

The whirpool of light in the sound gallery at Porth y Swnt visitor centre, Aberdaron, Gwynedd, Wales.

Triangle

A triagular display plinth at the new Wedgwood Visitor Centre, Barlaston, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire.

Dreamy

View from The Deep gallery at Porth y Swnt visitor centre, Aberdaron.  The Deep was set in darkness and swirling mists and had a very dream like quality about it.

Day

The early morning sun shining though the window of Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, Llanbedrog, Gwynedd, Wales - we'd popped into the gallery for morning coffee before walking along the beach.

Whatever you Want 

We found this unusual sand sculpture on the beach at Borth-y-Gest.  It reminded me of an ancient burial mound but also a motte and bailey castle with the wooden castle structure missing.  It also looked a bit like an alien space ship.  What do you think?

Monday Miscellany

A few days before our recent trip into Wales we met up with some friends from Nottingham to have lunch first at the Denstone Hall Farm Shop and Cafe and then to have a look at Croxden Abbey which isn't very far away.

I've taken you to Croxden a couple of times before  - here -  and - here - but this time it was great to share the experience with friends.   

We wandered around together and then on our own just taking in the beauty of it all.

We thought about those early times as the Abbey welcomed its first few monks to the area.

We thought about and indeed talked about how it must have been for them.

We spotted masons' marks and marvelled at how hard they must have worked to provide a suitable place for those monks to worship and to live.  Sometimes the building of these places would span a whole lifetime.

We also thought about those who had passed through the buildings as residents or visitors, about the farmers, labourers and animals who had sheltered here and about those who had walked this way when the building became the ruin you see today.   

My friend Robert wrote a post, wonderfully called A Tapestry of Stone, about Croxden on his blog - here - is a link to his thoughts on his visit.

Five on Friday

It's Friday so I'm joining in with  Amy at Love Made my Home for this week's Five on Friday.  Click on the link at the bottom of this post to find others who are joining in too.

This week has gone by so quickly and I feel as if I'm running late with my Five on Friday post but better late than never.  We had a walk around the grounds and arboretum at Shugborough this morning so below are five of the photos that I took along the way.

 1.  Swan on the river which runs through the estate between the Mansion House and the Arboretum.

 2. Gloucester Old Spot piglet in the walled garden

3.  Robin in the formal gardens
 

4.  English Longhorn cattle in the meadow near the river.
 

 5.  Tortoiseshell Butterfly in the flower gardens.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Porth y Swnt

Porth y Swnt, is a brand new visitor attraction at Aberdaron on the Llyn Peninsula.  It is a wonderful  place of learning, reflection and inspiration.

Owned by the National Trust it was opened in April this year and tells the story of the Llyn Peninsula by exploring and interpreting the landscape, history and legends of the area through the eyes of local artists and poets.  The journey through the centre reflects the journey you will make and those made by thousands of people in the past along and around the peninsula.

The centre is divided into five sections The Deep, The Way, The Light, the Sound and The Fold.

The Deep tells the story of the area's connection with the sea which was an abiding aspect of life for the people both local and visiting and the wildlife in and around the bay and under the water too.

The Way tells of the rich geological and human changes in the land and how it was utilised by the people who lived and worked on it over many centuries and of the pilgrims who travelled down the peninsula to Bardsey Island.

The light and colour of the peninsula are reflected in the coloured glass.  Pilgrims in the early days would have travelled to Bardsey Island guided by the stars.  Later pilgrims and mariners have used the reassuring light from the lighthouse on Bardsey to guide them on their way.

In the sound you can create your own whirlpools and currents by placing your hands in the 'water'. I loved doing this although that is Paul's hand in the photo.

The Fold is a place to reflect after the end of your journey and to leave behind your thoughts on the visit and to decide where your next visit on the Peninsula will take you. 

Monday Miscellany

A quick post today as we have just got back from Wales and there are things to catch up on especially commenting on and visiting all your blogs as well as the normal washing and ironing which results from a week away in a caravan,  things like extra towels and bedding.

We popped into the city centre this morning and I was thrilled to see the Waxwings that have been appearing on the local news and on social media over the last week. I hadn't had chance to see them until today.

 The paintings, by Sheffield Street artist Faunagraphic, are part of the New Horizons Mural Project.

 It is called Abundance

 I think the colours are stunning and vibrant against the rather grey background

 It is certainly a painting that makes you smile

 It's part of Appetite Stoke's Big Fest 15 and you can find it on Bethesda Street in Hanley (the City Centre) opposite the Bethesda Chapel just across the road from the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.

I think it's wonderful.

Five on Friday

Firstly thank you for your lovely comments on my Monday Miscellany post.  As you can see from the photos I'm in Wales with very limited access to the internet so I'm very quickly joining in with  Amy at Love Made my Home for this week's Friday five. I'll get catch up with you all in a couple of days.   Click on the link at the bottom of this post to find others who are joining in too.

The weather in Wales has been wonderful, warm and sunny and we've sat on and wandered along lots of lovely beaches on or near the Llyn Peninsula.

Below are photos of five we've visited so far all of them favourites from previous visits.

 1. Criccieth

 2.  Llanbedrog

3. Aberdaron

4.  Harlech
 

5.  Borth-y-Gest

Monday Miscellany

Enjoying the sights, colours and sometimes the tastes of September

Rose hips

Elderberries

Apples

Rowan Berries

Blackberries

The plums on the tree in our garden are beginning to ripen now

Lovely to eat as they are but I've also made an apple and plum crumble for tea or dinner depending on which part of the country you come from.
 Happy Monday.