Local Wildlife

My dizzy ear sea sickness lasted into October - nearly seven weeks of feeling drunk was not a pleasant experience ! The doctor told me not to go on a boat again, advice that I had already figured out for myself !!



Now that I'm on dry land (and have a day at home) I thought I would update this poor blog...


We went out for lunch at a local pub by the side of the Wye last week. Noticing a huge number of swans on the river we decided to take a closer look on the way home... this is some of the 50 that I counted !!

















And a lone one showing off - there is a reason for his puffed look....





















It wasn't the cat who was enjoying some fuss when we got home..... one of these days he will fall off the step and roll into the pond...


















This was the worry for the swan - if you click to enlarge you should be able to see an otter swimming in the river !!



He was not easy to photo, but did enjoy diving and resurfacing where you didn't expect him to...



We think we saw his holt, so might go and sit and wait to see him again....

Sunsets

Last night on the way to Hereford I had to stop at the bridge to take photos of the sunset.

As I hadn't taken any of the River for a while - here is a 'Wednesday Wye' photo..

Levels are up a little and the reflection an amazing colour..







These next few are similar...













This is the village church - yes it is Italian looking...











And a far away view...













I drove off (probably after getting some very strange looks from the people in the cars that went past - it was rush hour, kids being picked up from school !)

Then I had to stop again on another lane...

The sun just going down in front of me...







And then tonight as I was on the phone I saw this from the conservatory... sun sets dont usually happen in this part of the sky...

Not as bright as yesterday but equally pretty.

I've had a lovely day meeting Gill & Sue at a wicked shop. We did take over the cafe with lace books and samples - there was frogging, discussing, and enabling... and cake eating...

I look forward to seeing the results :-)

Wye not go down to the river .....

The usual view from the bridge was different this week - the first week of the school holidays and there was paddling ;-)


It just goes to show how much the level has dropped since the heavy rain of a few weeks ago.







On Monday I met some friends in Hay on Wye that were walking Offa's Dyke.

This is the bottom of one of the bridges over the river. The levels looked really low, we tried to work out where the flood level was but it wasn't obvious...








And an arty shot of shadows ;-)












There was a man standing in the river, we watched for a little while but decided to move on before one of us sneezed and made him wet his trousers....




I'm off to Leighton Buzzard Canal Festival on Saturday, I'm hoping that they are better at moving their barges than they were in Worcester a few weeks ago ;-)

And then it is a cake making day on Sunday for the Air Ambulance sale in Ross on Monday morning. Boy is due to have his stitches out on Monday as well. He is being a good boy, and not being a too demanding patient....

I seem to have been doing too much clicking recently, on their way to me are two sheep fleeces - I wonder what the postman will make of them ;-)

Reasons not to knit

At Woolfest I bought a bag of "City Lights", here is the first bit spun up and plied with some Jacob that was waiting to be used.

There is 100g here, and as I've managed to spin a near DK weight there 'should' be enough to make a jumper ....



And there is a sheep that is touring the countryside wanting to show off British fleeces..

At the top - Leicester Longwool,

At the bottom Dark Masham, this was in a kit I got when I was a teenage to learn how to spin with a drop spindle - it was unwashed and no instructions to wash or card - no wonder I didn't get it then...




This is a view of the river from a couple of weeks ago - a lovely summer's day as you can see.... it was raining, it had been raining a lot in Wales...

Yesterday when I ventured out the level was down, and no where as high as it was this time last year, thank goodness...




And look at the boy - half a thyroid and four teeth lighter... he was not a good patient for the first few days, bandages didn't want to stay on (I had to tie something round his neck to keep the remains of the original in place). Then he decided in the middle of the night that he didn't want to go downstairs to the litter tray, so the bath hole was were he poo'd...

Since he has been allowed out again he is behaving better, hopefully he will not lick the scars too much and the stitches will be ok when they come out in just over a week...

And now I'm going to see if I can actually knit something, I seem to be froging more than knitting these days...

Wye more weeds

I remembered to take the photo yesterday but yet again I forgot to post it .. must do better..

Here we have a fisherperson and two swans.

Taken from Ross towards Wilton Castle (which is open this Sunday 22nd June) Not sure if I will make it, depends on how the surprise knitting goes for next week.

(I'm hoping for a new backdrop to the stand..)

And this is for a friend I was talking to today - I have the implements ready, say the word and I'll be there...

Don't mess with knitters ;-)

And it does look like the broad beans from my veg box look a bit blotchy...

And remember those long weeds.

This is how long it was - nine foot from root to tip.

I think it was a form of hog weed as suggested. It is now no more - I really didn't think I should let it seed everywhere ;-)

The cow parsley growing next to it and it was only 40 inches long.

The main plant has a lovely colour of stem..

And now for the knitting - it is a cousin for Daffy and a magenta colour - I've not taken any photos yet, and it is probably not going to be as big as the pattern says, time is against me... I'm hoping that I will get her off the needles over the weekend..

For those who love patterns have a look here lots of patterns that we cant get easily over here (and I shouldn't have looked just now, they have uploaded more ... I better go and check them out...)

In the last two weeks

I went to Manchester - this is a familiar sign to all those tv watchers in the North West.

Taken from a museum in the city centre.

I went to the BodyWorlds exhibition - it reminded me of bacon....









I stopped with friends who live near here (Hilton hotel) very strange shape...

And I went to see the Osmonds - they were brilliant as expected, I sang a lot, danced a lot and was very quiet on the Sunday morning (sore throat from shouting...)

Manchester on a Saturday night with drunks that had been to a boxing match was not fun for a country living girl ;-)












And I did take some photos of the river on the Wednesday after meeting a very soggy Rae for lunch... and she was wet after push biking from Welsh Bicknor to Hereford...

That is the A49 the only ring road to go through a city...















And there was a gun on the opposite bank - as it was still raining there was no way I was going to walk round to see why...


And you can see how much rain there was by the lovely brown colour of the water....







What a contrast with today - the sun was out :-)

I walked the streets while my car was being serviced - he only needs some new tyres in a little while... probably next week after I come back from Devon...
















And another view of the A49 - there is a zippy van going south...













And there is a Herefordshire Bull Society...












And apart from knitting that I cant show you (but will be in a book and my own designs..)

I have mainly been knitting this (sorry Lixie)
I cast this on while I was in Manchester - so in two weeks I've nearly finished the body of my Mermaid. It has been really good stress reducing knitting for the beer situation is getting worse - this page has some better quotes (not for those that are easily offended)


And now I really need to go and pack and sort myself out, it's going to be a long weekend methinks ;-)

Wednesday Wye

I went to the vets again today, which meant another view of the river...

More tablets for the boy, he is putting on weight but his thyroid levels are still off the scale...


In Ross by the river side...







This chap was not a canoe, but had just been for a swim to get his ball...

His humans were trying to get him to come away from the river, but he stayed there long enough for a 'where have they gone photo'








And up stream looked like this,

Very green and no sight of the yellow stuff (it's going to seed and I'm hoping they will cut soon!!)










The Riverside Inn had been painted - notice they have even painted the shed to match!!!













And do you know were I parked the car ?

I'm off up North tomorrow - missing Eurovision for something far better/worse the Osmonds 50th Anniversary tour - that means that I was minus eight when they started !!

And who knows next week I might actually be able to show some knitting or spinning... it does depend on the 'p*** up in the brewery' situation that has taken up most of my time for the last two weeks... things are improving, hopefully next week they might know what beer is .... or rather they will do ;-)

Wednesday Wye

If you drive down the A40 just past Ross Labels there is a lay by going down the hill...

I thought it was good place to stop to take some photos... A good view but not easy to drive away, good job my car picks up speed really well !!

For the wildlife spotters there is a swan on the river...






And there hasn't been much rain recently...

More of that evil yellow stuff - it is everywhere I'm hoping that it will be harvested soon and then I can walk outside my front door without sneezing !!!

Wednesday Wye

The river (and sheep in the very background)

I dont know what the 4x4's were doing in the distance..... didn't like to get any closer to ask !










And I thought some might like to see the colour of the fields round here - and there are a lot of them, and the smell :-( I think I would rather have chicken muck - at least that doesn't make me sneeze !!

And the stupid thing I did this week ..
I borrowed Gone with the Wind, I was told it was on two dvd's but there was only one in the box - I put it in the machine and settled down with my lace knitting. To be fair I wasn't really watching more listening - I was a bit confused with the story, they were mentioning things that I couldn't remember seeing/hearing.. Then I got to the bits with the quotes I'd heard - good thought me I'll get to know what happens after he walks out...
Now I had been watching for two hours, I pressed the menu button and saw 'side b'
So I did what anyone who has never sat through the whole four hours - I turned the dvd over and watched the first half !!! It did make a bit of sense but I really wanted to know what happened after he walked away ....

Lace knitting is growing slowly, I'm hoping that I can have a clicking day tomorrow and get nearer the end....

Wednesday Wye

Did I say it had been raining ?

Look at the colour of that water... and the sky..

And yes it has rained/hailed again this afternoon.

I have nearly got everything out of the car from the weekend - tables dont matter do they ?







I found this on the road by the photo bridge..

And now I'm off to knit another Silken Leaves Shawl - I think I've just about got the pattern sorted...

Any guesses on how long it will take me to knit 600m of silk ?

Wednesday Wye

A view from Ross at 8.30 this morning...

I had to drop one of the boys off at the vets first thing, he is having his teeth done and blood tests for a suspected thyroid problem.










And last week I went round Powis Castle with some friends (and the gardener)

They have rather a large compost heap...











And at least one free range chicken !!

I had one of the quickest visits to Liverpool I've ever managed - total of 14 hours and I was asleep for 8 of them !! As you can probably tell I would much rather be in the countryside with crafters, than in a city with family...

I'm beginning to worry if I have everything ready for the weekend - there is rather a large pile of knitting ready to be displayed and I think all the necessary paperwork....

If you are coming to Wonderwool do come and say hello, I'll be on the stand with the knitted knickers and the rather yellow daffodil (and there might be a Welsh dragon as well - after all we will be in Wales !!!)

Wednesday Wye

There is a ruined castle at Ross on Wye - honest it is behind the trees !!

And this is the nearest I've been to it... It looked interesting, perhaps I should try and visit it soon (I'm not even sure if it is open...)









The river is fairly low at the moment - in 1881 it was higher, I assume that is why the date is at the top of the gauge...
















And when the river is in flood a lot of stuff gets moved about - I could see a tennis ball, several car tyres, a hub cap...

The height of the rubbish (mostly natural matter..) was huge...

The purple socks were finished last night. After Daffy I'm now having problems with plain knitting - perhaps I need to go and practice !!

Welsh Wednesday Wye

Because I was in Wales yesterday a picture of the Wye in Monmouth.

Being in Wales is not much of a big deal really, I get my water from Wales Water, I'm not that far from the border (especially in a straight line...)

And as usual I forgot to post the photo on my return last night, I blame Daffy - only 30 rounds left, 912 stitches each round, over an hour to do two rounds... and I want to finish her as soon as I can so I can concentrate on other things...

I only have the ribbing left to do on my purple socks. Before Wonderwool I would like finish them, to start (and finish) a tank top, a jumper and maybe another pair of socks... Do you think I can manage it ?

Wednesday Wye

There is a rabbit in the field (honest!)

And there is an Italian Church - Cant remember why it was built but there was a good reason...

Most of the other churches round and about look English (or Welsh )












And I have a new playmate...

On the plant outside my kitchen window, for the last three days, this little fellow has been there everytime I've looked....

The plant is looking a bit eaten !

Tomorrow will see photos of the long awaited gorgeous shawl...