Yesterday the rain stopped gardening so I was on t'internet listening/watching old groups from the 60's on uTube.
One old group I dug up was Blind Faith playing an old favourite 'Can't find my way home' with a very young and squeaky Stevie Winwood on vocals Ginger Baker on drums and Eric Clapton on guitar.
Went on the Fly fishing Forum this morning and first thing I saw, a 71 year old Eric Clapton has just caught the Icelandic river record salmon for this year, last Saturday 6th August, lucky (rich) old bugger!
108cm and weighing in at 28lb and, they only operate catch and release in Icelandic rivers so it went back to fight another day.
Somebody ornithological has spotted a Kite flying over Plas Roe Meadow in St Asaph just recently, I was down there with the dogs this morning but no signs about for me. I've seen them over the Denbigh Moor last year and at Glasfryn on the A5 this year and somebody spotted one flying low over The Tweedmill earlier on this year. A pair are actually recorded by a local ornithologist at nearby Pentrefoelas, so they are established here!
I did manage to collect a few ripe Myrobolan cherry plums this morning before the birds and squirrels finished them off but all the cherries are sadly long gone.
In the St Asaph 'City Times' publication recently the Welsh Ornithological Society in partnership with the RSPB and Denbighshire Countryside Service explained about a predicament they were experiencing at the Gronant site trying to protect Little Terns.
The Little Tern, is the smallest and one of the rarest terns in UK and Gronant is the only site in Wales they breed at.
The catch 22 problem! they are being eaten by another critically endangered bird, the Kestrel!
Considering they raised 90 chicks to adulthood, the Kestrels killed 41 chicks, so now they are considering giving the Kestrels an alternative source of food.
Any suggestions?
Mine, for what its worth, Kestrels natural quarry is voles, so; provide ideal habitat for and provide lots of feed for the voles! -----is life that simple?
Spring is nearly here!
Re: Spring is nearly here!
NINETIETH BIRTHDAY
You go up the long track
That will take a car, but is best walked
On slow foot, noting the lichen
That writes history on the page
Of grey rock. Trees are about you
At first, but yield to the green bracken,
The nightjar's house; you can hear it spin
On warm evenings; it is still now
In the noonday heat, only the lesser
Voices sound, blue-fly and gnat
And the stream's whisper. As the road climbs,
You will pause for breath and the far sea's
Signal will flash, till you turn again
To the steep track, buttressed with cloud.
And there at the top that old woman,
Born almost a century back
In that stone farm, awaits your coming;
Waits for the news of the lost village
She thinks she knows, a place that exists
In her memory only.
You bring her greeting
And praise for having lasted so long
With time's knife shaving the bone.
Yet no bridge joins her own
World with yours, all you can do
Is lean kindly across the abyss
To hear words that were once wise.
R.S. Thomas
This poem, written by a welsh minister from the Llyn Peninsula, is I think, one of the best he ever wrote, a positive gem!
The Reverend Thomas was a man whose cup was always half empty and who appeared to somehow question his faith, he also wrote some soul-searching, pretty pessimistic stuff.
However he also had a very knowledgeable observation of nature and every day life through his duties as chapel clergyman and he put them to good use in a lot of his poems. Through the years, he got to know intimately his hill farm parishioners who worked the land around him, eking out a meagre existence on the sparse hills of the Llyn.
Enjoy!
You go up the long track
That will take a car, but is best walked
On slow foot, noting the lichen
That writes history on the page
Of grey rock. Trees are about you
At first, but yield to the green bracken,
The nightjar's house; you can hear it spin
On warm evenings; it is still now
In the noonday heat, only the lesser
Voices sound, blue-fly and gnat
And the stream's whisper. As the road climbs,
You will pause for breath and the far sea's
Signal will flash, till you turn again
To the steep track, buttressed with cloud.
And there at the top that old woman,
Born almost a century back
In that stone farm, awaits your coming;
Waits for the news of the lost village
She thinks she knows, a place that exists
In her memory only.
You bring her greeting
And praise for having lasted so long
With time's knife shaving the bone.
Yet no bridge joins her own
World with yours, all you can do
Is lean kindly across the abyss
To hear words that were once wise.
R.S. Thomas
This poem, written by a welsh minister from the Llyn Peninsula, is I think, one of the best he ever wrote, a positive gem!
The Reverend Thomas was a man whose cup was always half empty and who appeared to somehow question his faith, he also wrote some soul-searching, pretty pessimistic stuff.
However he also had a very knowledgeable observation of nature and every day life through his duties as chapel clergyman and he put them to good use in a lot of his poems. Through the years, he got to know intimately his hill farm parishioners who worked the land around him, eking out a meagre existence on the sparse hills of the Llyn.
Enjoy!
Re: Spring is nearly here!
"Shall I compare thee to a Summers day"
This is the well known quote of Shakespeare's, but, what is a summers day?
A warm pleasant sunny day in June, July, or, August, or, a memorable day spent on your summer holidays in really good company in a memorable place, regardless of the weather!
Three such 'Summer days' occurred this week, each completely different, yet each unique for the pleasure aspects evoked.
Tuesday an enjoyable warm pleasant evening spent at our club meeting in Llanrhaeadr in pleasant company with a very generous spread put on by Daniel and his wife, I'm certain everybody enjoyed the evening, I certainly did.
THANK YOU
For helping us out!
Wednesday I went fly fishing with Nigel to Llyn Cyfynwy on Llandegla moor, a warm pleasant day with little breeze, it was sunny with the occasional cooler cloudy intervals.
Driving slowly up the steep winding rough stone track to reach the lake, I saw spread out around me one of the best shows on earth, the late summer spectacularly beautiful display of the Northern Welsh mountains!
Simply hundreds of rowan trees, their lightly bronzed leaves just on the turn, dotted around the steep hillside, laden down with eye catching bright orange berries, these were surrounded by great swathes of purple heather interspersed with splashes of yellow gorse and dark stunted Scots Pine stretching off across the valley and up the hills to the distant Berwyn's.
Everywhere along the track, rafts of bracken turning a shining burnished pale brown in the sunlight, clumps of red, tan and green leaved Bilberries, interspersed with tall golden yellow Hawkweed finished the colourful natures canvas off, what a beautiful experience, and all free for us to see!
The day's bonus! we had a really enjoyable days fishing topped off at 7.00pm by sitting enjoying a coffee and chat before we left, gazing across the flat calm Llyn Cyfynwy to the West at a spectacular blazing golden red sunset over the Clwyd's.
Friday saw us teaming up with my sister-in-law and her husband up from their home in Kent, we'd arranged a day out at Erddig Hall near Wrexham, a time warp of a place that is grossly under visited for all that's on offer there.
My in-laws are really good company as we have a lot in common, like, going to the Wales Rugby matches together, etc. and they're also both keen gardeners to boot.
This was a summer's day out of a different kind as we spent most of it wandering through the large eighteenth century house, a truly unique, fascinating place.
Well worth the visit, though to do it justice, you need at least two days to see everything as the exterior grounds are extensive, over a thousand acres apparently!
This is the well known quote of Shakespeare's, but, what is a summers day?
A warm pleasant sunny day in June, July, or, August, or, a memorable day spent on your summer holidays in really good company in a memorable place, regardless of the weather!
Three such 'Summer days' occurred this week, each completely different, yet each unique for the pleasure aspects evoked.
Tuesday an enjoyable warm pleasant evening spent at our club meeting in Llanrhaeadr in pleasant company with a very generous spread put on by Daniel and his wife, I'm certain everybody enjoyed the evening, I certainly did.
THANK YOU
For helping us out!
Wednesday I went fly fishing with Nigel to Llyn Cyfynwy on Llandegla moor, a warm pleasant day with little breeze, it was sunny with the occasional cooler cloudy intervals.
Driving slowly up the steep winding rough stone track to reach the lake, I saw spread out around me one of the best shows on earth, the late summer spectacularly beautiful display of the Northern Welsh mountains!
Simply hundreds of rowan trees, their lightly bronzed leaves just on the turn, dotted around the steep hillside, laden down with eye catching bright orange berries, these were surrounded by great swathes of purple heather interspersed with splashes of yellow gorse and dark stunted Scots Pine stretching off across the valley and up the hills to the distant Berwyn's.
Everywhere along the track, rafts of bracken turning a shining burnished pale brown in the sunlight, clumps of red, tan and green leaved Bilberries, interspersed with tall golden yellow Hawkweed finished the colourful natures canvas off, what a beautiful experience, and all free for us to see!
The day's bonus! we had a really enjoyable days fishing topped off at 7.00pm by sitting enjoying a coffee and chat before we left, gazing across the flat calm Llyn Cyfynwy to the West at a spectacular blazing golden red sunset over the Clwyd's.
Friday saw us teaming up with my sister-in-law and her husband up from their home in Kent, we'd arranged a day out at Erddig Hall near Wrexham, a time warp of a place that is grossly under visited for all that's on offer there.
My in-laws are really good company as we have a lot in common, like, going to the Wales Rugby matches together, etc. and they're also both keen gardeners to boot.
This was a summer's day out of a different kind as we spent most of it wandering through the large eighteenth century house, a truly unique, fascinating place.
Well worth the visit, though to do it justice, you need at least two days to see everything as the exterior grounds are extensive, over a thousand acres apparently!
-
roselanekoi
- Posts: 322
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:38 pm
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Glad to see you all enjoyed your day out at Erddig, as you say it's like time's stood still. It has some excellent gardens to wander about in as well the hall itself. If you can get there before the hall itself opens you can often get a guided tour which give some of the history of the place.
Have you visited the nearby Chirk Castle which has a very long history. Other National Trust properties of note in North Wales include Powis Castle near Welshpool, Plas Newydd in Anglesey and Penrhyn Castle near Bangor and of course don't forget the wonderful Bodnant Gardens in the Conwy Valley. The annual membership is very good value for the frequent visitor.
- Erddig.jpg (113.81 KiB) Viewed 14141 times
Re: Spring is nearly here!
The water course in front of Erddig in your picture Colin, it has a lot of Mirror Carp all of a similar size of about 15" to 18" long and nothing else in the fish department it would seem.
I saw children feeding the ducks with bread and the carp were grabbing what they could, it's very shallow and muddy though, just about choked with Canadian pondweed and waterlillies, not ideal for carp!
I should mention that we all had a most delicious home made lamb cawl lunch followed by a relaxing hour or so in the late afternoon sun on deckchairs on the lawn near the clock garden.
Keep meaning to visit Chirk Castle and it's on my 'must see' list. I've been past the front gates a dozen times at least this last couple of years on my way to Chirk fly fishery and it has aroused my curiosity, as has a visit to Powys Castle.
Went around Penrhyn quite some years ago back in the 70's and also Plas Newydd about 10 years ago so they must be due another visit soon.
I saw children feeding the ducks with bread and the carp were grabbing what they could, it's very shallow and muddy though, just about choked with Canadian pondweed and waterlillies, not ideal for carp!
I should mention that we all had a most delicious home made lamb cawl lunch followed by a relaxing hour or so in the late afternoon sun on deckchairs on the lawn near the clock garden.
Keep meaning to visit Chirk Castle and it's on my 'must see' list. I've been past the front gates a dozen times at least this last couple of years on my way to Chirk fly fishery and it has aroused my curiosity, as has a visit to Powys Castle.
Went around Penrhyn quite some years ago back in the 70's and also Plas Newydd about 10 years ago so they must be due another visit soon.
Re: Spring is nearly here!
LODGED
The rain to the wind said,
You push and I'll pelt.
They so smote the garden bed
That the flowers actually knelt,
And lay lodged--though not dead.
I know how they felt.
Robert Frost.
Another delightful day at Llandegla last Friday, not as sunny or warm but a very pleasant Autumn day, fish weren't interested but the water levels were down quite drastically, about two or three feet from last visit.
Surprisingly still crystal clear though and still thousands of Minnows swarming around our feet as we disturbed the shale bottom walking through the shallow marges.
This very low water level and recent warm weather was quite possibly the reason for lack of interest from trout, one take all day, result, one rainbow of about one and a half pounds, Nigel totally blanked!
Stopped at 2.00pm for lunch then because of none participation from trout, we spent a half hour picking and eating perfectly ripe and surprisingly large bilberries amongst the heather, result, purple lips and hands!
Oh boy; does that take me back to my childhood, as a Boy Scout picking bilberries on the same moor with my brothers.
The rain to the wind said,
You push and I'll pelt.
They so smote the garden bed
That the flowers actually knelt,
And lay lodged--though not dead.
I know how they felt.
Robert Frost.
Another delightful day at Llandegla last Friday, not as sunny or warm but a very pleasant Autumn day, fish weren't interested but the water levels were down quite drastically, about two or three feet from last visit.
Surprisingly still crystal clear though and still thousands of Minnows swarming around our feet as we disturbed the shale bottom walking through the shallow marges.
This very low water level and recent warm weather was quite possibly the reason for lack of interest from trout, one take all day, result, one rainbow of about one and a half pounds, Nigel totally blanked!
Stopped at 2.00pm for lunch then because of none participation from trout, we spent a half hour picking and eating perfectly ripe and surprisingly large bilberries amongst the heather, result, purple lips and hands!
Oh boy; does that take me back to my childhood, as a Boy Scout picking bilberries on the same moor with my brothers.
Re: Spring is nearly here!
'Cool mists in the morning
And the call of wild geese
Days quickly shortening
Ends summers 'Brief Lease'
P.L
Yes, It's that time of year again; Suddenly, there's too many apples and pears to cope with, it's going dark mid evening, there's wasps and daddy long legs everywhere and you're testing out the central heating system already!
It's now officially--- Autumn!
I've noticed quite a few trees colouring up and the recent dry spell has seen a lot of leaves withering off the trees, especially my plum trees. My Victoria had larger plums overall than usual this year, but it also quickly de-nuded itself for as the plums ripened; so the leaves fell off!
Picked the last of the Victoria plums last week, on the 9th September, quite late really and today the tree is about 80% leafless.
Strange really because the Denbigh plum close by has just about all its leaves on though they are mostly changing to a darker sort of bronzing shade as the cooler nights pull the chlorophyll from them.
One sad note this last few weeks is the demise of the very large pine woods next to the A525 at Trefnant. Workmen have been at it from 6.00am every morning for the past fortnight, cutting hundreds of trees down with machines and chainsaws, now they are stacked in huge log piles alongside the main rd. awaiting transportation to the sawmill.
The ecological disturbance this causes can only be imagined, the mangled devastated wasteland left has to be seen to be believed!
The landowner/businessman who owns the trees just looked upon them as unrealised capital. To the good folk of Trefnant and district who lived near and enjoyed the aura, the spiritual presence of the woods, or who daily journeyed past the pine woods and enjoyed the view, or, to the many creatures who made it their home including a pair of buzzards, -------------it was something else, far more important!
And the call of wild geese
Days quickly shortening
Ends summers 'Brief Lease'
P.L
Yes, It's that time of year again; Suddenly, there's too many apples and pears to cope with, it's going dark mid evening, there's wasps and daddy long legs everywhere and you're testing out the central heating system already!
It's now officially--- Autumn!
I've noticed quite a few trees colouring up and the recent dry spell has seen a lot of leaves withering off the trees, especially my plum trees. My Victoria had larger plums overall than usual this year, but it also quickly de-nuded itself for as the plums ripened; so the leaves fell off!
Picked the last of the Victoria plums last week, on the 9th September, quite late really and today the tree is about 80% leafless.
Strange really because the Denbigh plum close by has just about all its leaves on though they are mostly changing to a darker sort of bronzing shade as the cooler nights pull the chlorophyll from them.
One sad note this last few weeks is the demise of the very large pine woods next to the A525 at Trefnant. Workmen have been at it from 6.00am every morning for the past fortnight, cutting hundreds of trees down with machines and chainsaws, now they are stacked in huge log piles alongside the main rd. awaiting transportation to the sawmill.
The ecological disturbance this causes can only be imagined, the mangled devastated wasteland left has to be seen to be believed!
The landowner/businessman who owns the trees just looked upon them as unrealised capital. To the good folk of Trefnant and district who lived near and enjoyed the aura, the spiritual presence of the woods, or who daily journeyed past the pine woods and enjoyed the view, or, to the many creatures who made it their home including a pair of buzzards, -------------it was something else, far more important!
Re: Spring is nearly here!
'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness'
Keats.
Did you know?
The Autumn Equinox otherwise known to the Druids as Alban Elfed is traditionally the last week to pick blackberries in the UK.
The 29th September in the Christian calendar is St Michaels Eve or Michaelmas.
It was on this day the Archangel St Michael defeated Lucifer in battle and cast him from Heaven back to Earth were he landed in a bramble patch.
Lucifer or 'Old Nick' as he was better known to his mates back in the Cellars of Hell wasn't a happy bunny at being forcibly evicted from his cushy number in Heaven by 'St Mick'.
He roundly cursed the brambles and; apparently, he also spat on them, this according to Yorkshire or Northern legend and he also pee'd on them, this according to Cornish or Western legend, either way they're taboo after September's out as they won't taste too good!
It's tradition to bake a pie with the last pickings so as I've not long picked a load it would be good to combine them with some nice baking apples for a lovely apple and bramble pie, one of my favourites, with custard of course.
The good news is, with the invention of the freezer we can all enjoy our autumn fruits anytime,---------- still, tradition is nice!
Keats.
Did you know?
The Autumn Equinox otherwise known to the Druids as Alban Elfed is traditionally the last week to pick blackberries in the UK.
The 29th September in the Christian calendar is St Michaels Eve or Michaelmas.
It was on this day the Archangel St Michael defeated Lucifer in battle and cast him from Heaven back to Earth were he landed in a bramble patch.
Lucifer or 'Old Nick' as he was better known to his mates back in the Cellars of Hell wasn't a happy bunny at being forcibly evicted from his cushy number in Heaven by 'St Mick'.
He roundly cursed the brambles and; apparently, he also spat on them, this according to Yorkshire or Northern legend and he also pee'd on them, this according to Cornish or Western legend, either way they're taboo after September's out as they won't taste too good!
It's tradition to bake a pie with the last pickings so as I've not long picked a load it would be good to combine them with some nice baking apples for a lovely apple and bramble pie, one of my favourites, with custard of course.
The good news is, with the invention of the freezer we can all enjoy our autumn fruits anytime,---------- still, tradition is nice!
-
roselanekoi
- Posts: 322
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:38 pm
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Interesting comments about the blackberries. I was picking some earlier this morning and thought these would be the last as there are very few still to ripen. I've still got plenty of cooking apples though, guess what I'm having for pudding this evening.
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Rice pudding? with jam!