P is for ..ABC Wednesday

P is for Poet Poetry and Prose - yes it is ABC Wednesday this week across the world - and a walk today in a Paradise of wild flowers and birdsong. Mary Webb author and poet lived locally in these parts - at Spring Cottage on Lyth Hill in Shropshire-and she left a legacy of literature which celebrates her life.

The information board at the beginning of our walk today - gives a taster of the poetry of Mary Webb - click on the pic for a more detailed look - a collection of the poetry of Mary Webb can be found in her book of poems Spring of Joy

The walk tody was through Spring Coppice an ancient woodland to the south (I think)of the summit of Lyth Hill

These old trees now knarled and bent must have seen the many moods of this sometimes troubled lady

Young trees jostle with the old to show how nature rejuvenates herself in new growth

The pathways wind to and fro on the hillside - nature at her best

Bluebells breathtaking in their vivid blue

and nodding wood anemones hid under the undergrowth

The sun shone through the canopy above and birds sang - surely not much has changed since those many years ago

Oh!! thought you might like this - seen at a local cartoon exhibition in Shrewsbury - click on for the bigger Picture!! and so I end with P is for Pidgeon!! - linking this week with ABC Wednesday Our World Tuesday and Nature Notes - come along too why don't you ?

ABC Wednesday and O is for Opportunity

ABC Wednesday and O is for Opportunity - Photo Opportunity! - yes it is that time again the monthly photo shoot at the local camera club - subject -industrial architecture - a bit of a tricky one - two pics required one for OH and one for self - a bit of healthy competition here -leading to a bit of cloak and dagger action - not by me of course!! Difficult subject - off we went to Ironbridge - surely something to be found there - being the heart of the Industrial Revolution and all that - the weather was a bit inclement - so brollies were the order of the day and at the ready - not ideal - but there were shots just begging to be taken- here are a few of mine.

Ironbridge is so picturesque - the River Severn moves slowly through today - but can be a raging torrent here leading to severe flooding

The bridge was the first of its kind fabricated from cast ironand was the symbol of the dawn of the industrial age

Construction began in 1779 and the bridge opened on New Years Day 1781 - It was built by Abraham Darby - the grandson of the first Abraham Darby -( I think I have got my facts right - I have checked it out in my History of Shropshire book)

Just could not resist this last shot of the river

Moving down to the lower part of the town - the cooling towers from the Power Station dwarf the tiny houses of Ironbridge - OH remembers (before "Elf and Safety Rules were so strict ) being winched up on an open lift to the dizzy heights to do work on the structure!)- this is his shot today of memories and times gone by !!

One final dash out on the night before - to Chirk Aquaduct and Viaduct - and more shots gained - beautiful countryside - this construction and mammoth task was completed in 1806 by Thomas Telford

Colourful canal boats cross the Aquaduct and move on gracefully down the Llangollen Canal So off home to encourage a reluctant printer to produce outstanding prints for the next night!! Did we win? Ah well no but (Dah Dah ) I had third - see my pic in my header - why not pop over to ABC Wednesday and see what others have posted - I am also linking to Our World Tuesday - Thankyou for visiting

N is for Nostalgia

Hello - it is ABC Wednesday today and I was going to skip a week because I have had a mental black out - ie Nothing to blog about - I have been battling with Picasso with the intent of creating a collage of Pembrokeshire Wild Flowers - it has become an obsession and little else has been done - well I think I have cracked it so to speak - what do you think and Thankyou for all the tips I have received to help me on my way - linking to ABC Wednesday - hope you like my little Nostalgia Trip back to the flower decked lanes of Pembrokeshire

and linking to Nature Notes at Rambling Woods

ABC Wednesday and M is for ....

My My ... it is ABC Wednesday and M is for Mystery - Magic and More - and where better to tell the tale than in deepest Pembroke - Wales -UK. Wales renown for Mythical lore and Magnificent scenery and Marvellous days of neverending fun

My story is a Mix of pics - Mumblings and Madness - now down to Mundane Matters and Material things! - off we set a family group - and after 50 odd Miles the Motor developed a Mechanical faultand a Mobile call was Made to the Man who can - and after Many Moves and I Must say a few Moans from younger family Members we were relayed back to home base to Make fresh plans. Many hours later a late arrival was Made - a coastal cottage to be found down a long dark lane towards the Welsh coast - of course no torch to hand and the Sat Nav was claiming we had reached our destination - all was not lost - soon the house was found and the key under the flowerpot was retrieved.

The house looked out to the bay beyond and the sunny conservatory invited Many hours of day dreaming - book reading - and general chit chat

We walked daily - gazed at the scenery - strolled on the beach and people watched over a glass of wine outside the village pub

And then ... a stroll on the beach and around the rocky headland and an unfortunate Mishap for Bluey !! ended in a well timed escape for her and for me I suppose because I can't swim amd presume that she can! Anyone who has been to Little Haven will know the sandy stretch of beach and the rocky corner of boulders and pools reaching out onto golden sands stretching out to Broad Haven the next coastal village - where you can be lost in time- suddenly a call from OH - tides turned - earned a rapid response and a speedy return towards the headland - only to find that the rock pools were a ( best described as) a swirling mass of turbulent waters - so as I was wearing my best walking boots I tried to avoid the pools and kept to the rocks - calling for Bluey to follow and OH led the way - success! and then turning round I could see Bluey - head peering round the rocks - one ear up the other one down - head on one side seeming to say Help! I can't make it! ( she is a bit of a girl!)- we furiously shouted and bounced a ball - to no avail - OH said Oh she will follow - come on ( he had left his shoe bag at home and was wearing the only pair he had with him for the week ) -so I knew the next few minutes were crucial - so in I plunged best boot forward - and around the corner - over my knees in water - boots squelching - reached Bluey put on her lead and shouted encouragement - she refused to budge - so I gave an enormous tug - and in she plunged - we were now completely soaked - the pic above shows us just reaching dry land The wild flowers were amazing and I did so much want to post a collage but after several attempts I have given up - does anyone have any tips as to which site to use? if so I would so much appreciate any help available - so in the mean time I have posted my pics in the usual way

Bright yellow celandines

My favourite White Sea Campion

Red Campian

The Herald ofSpring the Primrose

My mothers'favourite the Cowslip

The shy violet

Just to end up I have included a pic of a favourite bird of mine - the Jackdaw - I find them so entertaining and I could watch them for hours

This a a Rook - look at that beak - a very intelligent bird

This chimney pot was a favourite perch for this seagull

To finish I am including this motto or what would you call it? - hanging in the hall of the holiday cottage . Have fun and a jolly good week - signing off until the next time! Today I am linking to ABC Wednesday and Nature Notes - join me!