a magical place

On Sunday we spent a few tranquil but freezing cold hours on Llanddwyn Island (also known as lover’s island) on Anglesey. It’s a really special place and when you’re there you feel like you’re a million miles away from civilisation.


These tiny cottages used to be where the lighthouse keeper lived, I can’t imagine what that must have been like. Now they are all empty and one houses an exhibition of the island.

This is a very ancient, spiritual place. The view across the sea to the mountains of Snowdonia is really beautiful and the light is ever changing.

The only residents are the ponies who keep the grass down.


A really lovely place to be.
Strangely, I turned the TV on last night and there was a film on called Half Light with Demi Moore in it. She was standing in a red and white lighthouse and I said to Mr P that looks just like Llanddwyn but with a red and white lighthouse superimposed on it, and sure enough it was.

the heart of snowdonia

Photos from a refreshing trip to Wales we had one weekend recently. We're lucky to live close enough to Snowdonia to go for the day although we haven't really explored this area at all so after this natured filled walk I hope we'll be going again.

This walk had it all really... streams, waterfalls, rivers. Mountains, fields, woodland. I love these twisty gnarled tree roots. There was a rope swing over the water, an idyllic place to be.

And this tree within a tree.


This is Floss looking like butter wouldn't melt shortly before she snaffled Mr P's sarnie. Very naughty girl.


After Mr P had been lugging Floss over these ladder stiles (lovely aren't they?) she nimbly climbed over one herself which made me giggle. Ah it's so good to get out in the fresh air.

Can you feel Autumn coming? I can sense it waiting in the wings.

Something ever so exciting is happening in a couple of weeks. Can't wait to see my mum's face! I will keep it a secret for now although it is very difficult!

Now I'm off to carve some pebbles but I will be back soon.

birthday wishes and a misadventure

Look who's turned 1 year old today! And we are very very lucky to be able to say that because while we were away Floss had a major misadventure at Kynance Cove. We had been looking forward to exploring the beach all day, it's a quite isolated, wild place with lots of rocky inlets and a gorgeous sandy beach. We waited until 7pm because of the dog ban during the day but unfortunately by this time the tide was in so we decided to go up onto the clifftop instead to see the view.

Well we were just about up there when Floss saw a bird and bolted. Usually she's very good at coming back but not this time. We raced after her as fast as we could with Mr P in the lead when he shouted, "She's gone over the cliff! She's gone! She's gone!" I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing. I felt sick to my stomach. And we looked over the edge. It was about 50 ft to the bottom. Then oh my god, there she was, swimming in the waves trying to scramble onto a rock that was jutting out of the water. The next hour and a half were the darkest minutes I've ever had to endure. Mr P ran to find a phone as there was no mobile coverage and I was left to watch her struggling, trying to jump onto a tiny ledge on the sheer cliff face and then falling off into the waves again and scrambling back onto the rock. The tide was coming in and the water was rising and I really thought she was going to drown while I stood watching helplessly. I have never felt so useless or so alone.

It seemed to take forever for Mr P to come back, the Coastguard on the way. But one of us had to stay by the phone. So I went as I couldn't bear it any longer. And there I sat with tears streaming down my face, praying and hoping and wishing, all my resolve gone. The Coastguard arrived about half an hour later and I led them to the cliff edge and there we sat waiting for a team to arrive that would abseil down to get her. They did an amazing job but my heart was in my mouth. The rock that she had scrambled on by this time had big waves breaking over it so I think she would have drowned had she not been able to jump from it to the cliff face. I will never forget the haunting echoing clang of metal being hammered into the clifftop mixed with the crashing of waves from below as long as I live. It seemed to go on for such a long time. A lovely man who later got a big hug, eventually abseiled down, managed to grab her collar and gripped her under his arm before carrying her back up to safety.

How very very lucky we are. A couple of metres to the right and she would have fallen on the rocks, thank god there was water there. We are so very grateful to the Coastguard. And we really can't believe that she is still with us. We took her to see the vet and there was not even a scratch on her. The next day she carried on as though nothing had happened at all while we were counting our blessings. She is our little wonder dog and I love her so much.

peaks and troughs

Now, not to get confused, this isn't the Lake District like the last post but the Peak District, Shutlingsloe and Wildboarclough to be exact. We did a bit of driving over the weekend and it was interesting to compare the two places for they have many similarities but quite a different feel about them. They both have dry stone walls, moorland, rather large hills (although higher in the Lakes) and sheep (to Floss' eternal curiosity) but I've been trying to put my finger on what makes them seem so different. While both stunningly beautiful the Peaks seem somehow more desolate and wild, bleak even sometimes. The Lake District has a quainter, cosier more colourful feel and of course water. Lots of it. And it's just struck me what a difference that makes to me, reflecting the light, sky and mountains. Maybe it's the bracken warming up the Lakeland fells with its lovely shade of rusty orange for half the year. One thing's for sure and is the always the same wherever you go, walkers are a friendly lot, saying hello on passing.

In other news, we are heading off to a land of ocean, cream teas and pasties for a while so I will be pulling the shutters down on my shop for a couple of weeks. When you have been looking forward to something for so long it seems surreal when it is finally upon you. Our first trip away with Floss... I'm sure it will be a challenge but hopefully rewarding too! I stupidly got the dates wrong with regards to the dog bans on the beaches, I am kicking myself for this. So we will be getting up early to visit our favourite haunts (as the bans tend to run from 7am/8am til 7pm/8pm) and also hunting out dog friendly pubs and tearooms. Any suggestions please leave me a comment won't you. I can't wait to see the cottage, it looks beautiful and is tucked away down a lane with views over the ocean just outside St Ives. To hear the waves crashing and smell the coconut scent of the gorse and see the high hedges filled with Spring flowers, it's my idea of heaven.

over ambleside

A few photos from yesterday's hot and sunny visit to Ambleside in the Lakes. After exchanging some trousers bought up here on Mr P's birthday a few days ago (yes, good excuse to come back!) and munching on some lovely sandwiches eaten in the little hideaway courtyard of the Apple Pie Cafe where Floss crunched on ice cubes, we decided on a short but steep walk up to an idyllic little spot called High Sweden Bridge. The views over Windermere, Ambleside and the surrounding fells were stunning, totally worth the effort and Floss enjoyed swimming in the stream under the quaint old packhorse bridge. What gorgeous weather we've been having here for the last week. Let's hope it continues!

dog whistle necklace

More often than not I have a whistle round my neck these days and I thought, why not make it into a proper necklace with beads and a leather cord. So that is just what I did. I have a green whistle too that's waiting with my jars of beads to be matched up. I can see so many possibilities with this! I will have to get busy.

Floss is pretty good at coming back most of the time when you blow the whistle or shout her name. Further and further she runs now she's getting older (11 months now), and if it's twilight then she just goes crazy, sniffing out all the different animals that emerge when the light starts to fade. She's currently lying on her bed, having a dream. Her paws keep twitching and occasionally her tail wags! I like to think she's dreaming about squirrels and chasing sticks.

Look how grown up she is now compared to how she was.

We've recently discovered the joys of having a retractable lead. Walks are so much less stressful now that she has a little bit more freedom when she has to be on the lead. We had a circular walk around the Cheshire plain on bank holiday Monday starting near Beeston castle. You can just see it on the hill there behind the bridge.

Floss made me laugh when a black plastic bag caught in the hedge was fluttering in the breeze like a bird. She stood on her hind legs like this for about a minute trying to figure out what it was, reminding me of a little bear.

We wandered along the towpath for a couple of miles, soaking up the relaxed holiday atmosphere. Then we hurried home for tea with my mum and dad, finishing the walk in record time. I think I must be getting fitter.

Bye for now :-)

weekend wanderings and giveaway winner

Always trying to think of new places to walk Floss where we can let her off the lead for a good run, we spent an hour or so at Astbury Mere yesterday.

Although it was bitterly cold I liked it straight away as it reminded me of the seaside with it's little sandy beaches.

Floss decided that she's scared of swans. The swan wasn't scared of Floss.

Any sticks in the water must be fetched out and if there's bread around you'd better be quick before Floss eats it.


Now, onto the giveaway results...

I just want to say thank you to everyone who entered. It was fun reading through the comments with some clever and funny suggestions which I never would have thought of.

I'm using random.org. I have given each comment a number from 1 to 20 (if you commented twice your second comment will have a number but won't count if it's drawn). And the winner is....

Julie!

Julie Whitmore Pottery said...

Penelope, because she held so many keys, to Odysseus's heart, to patience and to being an amazing weaver. Even the hair is right!
xx
julie

Thanks for playing everyone! Julie, I'll be in touch.

weekend wandering

Pictures from our amble through the countryside.
The walk included:

• Friendly, inquisitive sheep much to Flossie's delight.
• Floss being a good girl and not chasing any sheep, which might have had something to do with her being on the lead but all the same!
• A glorious sighting of Mr Fox. I did get a photo but it was rather blurry although good enough to use as a reference for making a design.
• Happening upon an ENORMOUS tree and the discovery that it was hollow and big enough to hide inside. How old must it be?
• Floss falling through some ice, shallow but deep enough to give her a good shock. Now she stays away.
• Watching and listening as a gaggle of geese flew round and round the lake.
• A steep climb with a stunning view over the Cheshire plain and a beautiful sunset.

Ah I do love to play with my camera. I've become slightly obsessed with light I think.

Speaking of obsession I've been reading Twilight. I heard so much about it that I wanted to experience it for myself. Well I'm about halfway through I think, and this isn't going to win me any popularity contests, but I'm just not that enamoured by the characters and am finding it a little bit slow. It's aimed at a young age group (not that I've grown up yet!) so I'm not complaining. I joked with Mr P that the next DVD rental to pop through the letterbox would be Twilight because I hadn't finished the book and guess what... yep... I think I must have tempted fate. I've just watched it! And for the first time I have loved a film more than the book it's based on.

Good night all, I'm off to bed to dream of vampires.

Floss bags her first fell

Yesterday we decided we needed some fresh air and a change of scenery so we went to the Lake District. Halfway up Catbells it became apparent that it's far better to have 4 legs than 2! The view was worth it though, you can see in every direction for miles as you walk along the ridge.

Then Floss decided to chase some sheep. Within a couple of minutes she was tiny at the bottom of the fell, the whistle had no effect and we were furious. Luckily for us there was no farmer around to shoot her. They were much faster than her but from now on she will always be on the lead when ever there's temptation. It's a shame as it's the first time she's ever shown any interest other than wagging her tail at them. Bad dog.

Here's our little terror at the top. I think it's safe to say that we won't be going back to Catbells!

Back soon with a new pebble to show you. Bye for now.