Mid Wales

St Davids,

 I love all these old stone houses. 

 Strumble Head Lighthouse

 Cardigan, Castle visit

 Newport beach

We stayed in a cottage in Dinas Cross, Pembrokeshire, with Will, mummy and daddy, it was a week to relax and slow down, mummy is just past her 6 months stage in her pregnancy, so just a few days out.
At Cardigan castle, there was a dressing up box at the entrance and Will wore a helmet, carried a sword and rode a hobbyhorse, with shouts of I'm a knight, he ran around the grass area. It's a lovely place to visit, not to big, and for me a wonderful kitchen garden area, which was brimming with harvest. We did not see the king who lived in the castle, Will said he was visiting the queen in London.
Will loves the beach and water, so his visit to Newport beach, was a pure joy to watch, he was quickly drenched, but very happy little boy.
We have Will most Mondays, but it was very different to all be in the same house, with calls of I'm bigger, or I'm grown up, he was a joy to be with, such a good little boy.
The owner of the cottage gave me a succulent to bring home, which was very kind, his holiday cottage was very well stocked and had everything we required for a good break.
I watered the garden last night, and will deadhead this morning, later we are at Daughters, for birthday cake, Will is very excited and loves happy cake, daughters MIL and FIL will be there as well, so loads of chatter and catching up.

Reading

Loved this book, kept me guessing, the end came in just a few pages, would have loved a bit more drama here. 

 I'm not to sure about this book, the story line was good, it kept adding clues along the way, I just found the style of the writing a bit hard to start with.

Two books in 4 days, I must be on holiday, Pembrokeshire, mid Wales, weather is kind, sharing a cottage with Will, mummy and daddy. 

Relaxing

I enjoyed Never Greener, it's a good 1st book by Ruth Jones (Nessa in Gavin and Stacey)

Believe me by JP Delaney, was a bit of a struggle to start with, just the style of writing, but I kept with it and enjoyed the story.

My stitching is out again, 

I am still loving this, so simple and so effective. 

 Well over half way through, closer to the end line. 

I love this view so neat. 

I got some different (for me) bulbs to plant, these were from our local posh garden center. I also got a few packets of flower seeds for next summer. These were added to my stash list. 

 It's our anniversary soon and we were gifted some money, so we spent it on the garden, I already have another lamp like this, so I already love this one. Will loved the owl, and was cuddling it, so it came home with us, and hubby liked the bird feeder, we are having huge problems with squirrels. These items have not been added to my stash list. 

We had a lovely trip to the garden center, after visiting their house, mummy and Will came with us, we stopped for a cream tea each and found time to play in the kiddies area. I did look at the plants, I have 2 pots by our side door (main entrance) which I would like matching plants which have interest all through the year.
The sale was not that great, most of the items I was looking for was still at full price, not a price I want to pay. We spent afternoon relaxing at home, I did some sewing.
Thursday we had to pop to garage in town for tyre checks, we were sent away in May, being told our tyres would stay legal and good until September, we are on a trip to Wales soon, so it was time to get them changed, but again we were told come back early next year. We walked around town for about an hour, popping into Robert Dyas and Wilko's, again checking their sales, there is nothing I need, but it does not stop me looking, and nothing purchased.
This morning I have ironing to do, not too much, but I'm happiest when it done, a bit of housework and then another relaxing afternoon.
It's much cooler now, normally in early September it's very warm and sunny here along the south coast. I have started wearing light jumpers, and slippers at night, we are using lights insdie most evenings.
Autumn is early this year, I am looking at my tender plants and planning their move back in my greenhouse, I am leaving my summer plants in the ground to allow them to form seed heads for the birds and wildlife, I did this last year and loved the look in my garden.

Green success

At the end of May, I repotted this Olive plant, we had damaged the roots whilst  getting it out of a smaller pot, I trimmed the top as all the leaves fell off. I am very pleased to see new growth, It would have been hard to lose a plant after 5 years of care.

 I am not good propagating succulents from leaves, 

but I am pleased with this small plant. 

Last week Sam and I planted more spring bulbs, I have never grown Fritillaria Imperialis before, I have high hopes for these bulbs. 

 More free flowers, this Orchid has loads of buds and will last for ages. I have another 3 plants I am hoping I can get to flower again. 

 Saturday I was given these flowers, 

I love white flowers, these are stunning.

I have been online to check how to progress my amaryllis seeds, which are now growing, now is the perfect time to repot them, but it can take from 3 to 14 years before flowers appear, and the colour of the flower will not normally be the same as the mother plant. I have about a dozen shoots to nourish, my hope is they all flower in different years, as you know I do like a challenge.
Autumn is starting early this year, loads of my flowers are past their best, it has been a great year in the garden, so I am not complaining, it's just I'm not ready for the end of summer, but then who ever is. I have just 3 pots along the side of the house to fill with winter plants, but I will leave them for a couple of weeks. 
It's been a busy time, I have not done much crafting or reading, I have not missed it, having so many family and friends here made the time fly by quickly. 
I did see the last of Handmaids Tale, which I enjoyed, and I watched the 1st of A Confession and The Capture, which I also enjoyed, drama at this time of year is always great. Plus soon Downton Abbey the movie. 
We are now back to our slower pace of life, just the two of us, I have done laundry for 2 days, so today I'm going with hubby to visit Will and Mummy, and pop into a local garden center, in the hope they have started their summer sale, I did see a couple of things, which are always overpriced, so my hope to to see them reduced.