The visitors have gone so back to work.

First job was as washing machine repair man! A rubber hose was leaking but it is very easy to get spare parts thanks to Google!

A new flowerbed is needed to cope with all the cuttings that have turned into healthy plants. 

The location is at the far end of the car park so it will help brighten up a dull corner. 

Walking with Steve and Sally

We took them up to the top of the hill this morning...

Then after lunch we took them up to Llyn Brianne..

Visitors ......

I stand corrected...in my galoshes.

Technically speaking they are not galoshes as they are not overshoes but I wear them all the time anyway!

Galoshes (from French: galoches), also known as boat shoes, dickersons, or overshoes, are a type of rubber boot that is slipped over shoes to keep them from getting muddy or wet. The word galoshes might be used interchangeably with boot, especially a rubberized boot. Properly speaking, however, a galosh is an overshoe made of a weatherproof material to protect a more vulnerable shoe underneath and keep the foot warm and dry.

Downgraded.

My waders, that let in excessive quantities of water, have been downgraded to galoshes!

A grass day.

All day cutting the grass in glorious sunshine. 

Far too many courgettes. 

This herbaceous clematis is wonderful - it is thriving in e corner by the alpine house. 

A pond and ditch day.

I have been clearing the pond and ditches of the over exuberant growth. This has shown up some interesting signs of the wildlife. 

The moorhen, now a regular on the pond, has obviously been nesting on the island and has had several attempts at raising young. Sadly there are several broken eggshells, signs that a mammal has found them. We are hoping that the feathers are from nesting material and not signs that the moorhen has been taken too. 

Nest. 

Eggshells. 

Further down the ditch maybe the home of the culprit. 

The hole is three to four inches in diameter and has an obvious path down to the water. 

There is one possible paw print, about 3/4" across. I have put down some sand to try to get a better print. I will keep you updated!

The other thing that clearing the ditch showed up was a substantial leak in my waders!

Getting ready for the big celebrations tomorrow.

The marquee is up...

The cake has been made...

And I have bought a new suit....

because tomorrow is our silver wedding anniversary and we always make a big thing about our anniversaries. 

Not.

Finishing a job Steph started...

Many years ago Steph painted the pig sty black to try to hide it. Today I got around to finishing the job!

The summer house will disappear soon under the creeper so I thought I ought to get on with it. 

The pumpkins and butternut squashes are coming on...

Weeding and pruning.

Today has been a day of weeding all the flowerbeds. Gravel paths make excellent seed beds. This was the days collection of seedlings that will get potted up.

It was also time for the pruning of the apple trees. 

Harvesting.

The onions have dried and so have been strung up. 

So many tomatoes and corgettes I have turned them into ratstwee for the freezer. 

And the blackberries in the cage are very fruitful...

Sioe Cil y Cwm Show

Today was Show Day and of course it rained. 

I entered two woodturning sections and two photos in each of two sections. There was very strong competition. 

The sheep dog trials were great fun. 

and there were plenty of tractors...

The judging took longer than usual so we all had to wait.....

Finally we were let in to the tent. 

As is traditional I will announce the results in reverse order. 

In second place (I didn't get a third) was my entry in the Snow Scene photography class...

In second second place was my entry in the Woodturned item class...

And in First place.... Wait for it.... Was my entry in the Four Woodturned items ...... And I got a trophy and Five Pounds too!!!

The Four items class was a very tough fight but I was in a class of my own. Or was it a class on my own? Yes, the only entry. And only two in the other woodturning class. But the photography was a real contest - there were about forty entries so I definitely worked hard for that one!

Show day..

Today was the Rhandirmwyn Show, the next village up the valley. We took the visitors along, mainly so they could see the tractors and also sheep close up. They can't run away when they are in a pen... The sheep that is.

Noah has also learnt how to use the fireman's pole...

Life is wild!

I don't like to go on and on about how wonderful it is here but......
Before 9.00 this morning we had seen a feral cat eating a bank vole, a kingfisher taking breakfast at the pond, a rabbit dining off the football field and a sparrow hawk flying off with a young sparrow.
Amazing!

Bella, Anth, Noah and Joseph are here.

Lookin' good Bella. 

We spent a productive afternoon...

making Lego cars. 

The boys took it in turns driving the tractor....

Bella working hard...