Freedom, or sort of!

We’ve waited for what seems like a lifetime for this moment! Finally, we are allowed to do what used to seem the most normal thing of all. At long last, we are allowed to get into the car and drive. Not far, admittedly, as we are still under ‘stay local’ restrictions here in Wales, but drive, all the same. And lets face it, round these parts, staying local is pretty darned beautiful!

Sunday saw the four of us, and the dog, pack walking shoes and a picnic and hop in the car (which until recently has been doing roughly three months to the gallon) and vroom off to the fabulous Pengelli Forest.

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Just a short ten minute drive from here, with the Iron age fort of Castell Henllys for a neighbour, is this national nature reserve which forms part of the largest block of ancient oak woodland in West Wales, and is home to wildlife including badgers, polecats and doormice. We even saw deer hoof marks on our walk.

With a variety of paths to follow, or varying lengths, we whiled away a good three hours with our three mile walk and picnic, and never saw a soul. Social distancing at its finest!

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The great Troedyrhiw bake off

Not much else to do but bake in this weather. By the time we're allowed visitors again, I won't be able to get out of the door! These little gems were requested by my ever chocolate-hungry nippers, and went down a storm. Thank you BBC Good Food!

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#baking

#Chocolatebiscuits

#bbcgoodfood

www.bbcgoodfood.co.uk

As long as there is chocolate….

As long as there is chocolate….

The sun still shines

Finally, a beautiful frosty day in our little valley. Long overdue after weeks of rain, at a time where the last thing we need are grey skies, it put me in mind of one of my favourite Welsh sayings. “Daw haul eto ar fryn” or the sun will come again on the hills, is a beautiful and poetic sentiment for the world in which we find ourselves these last few months.

It's awful odd here these days without our lovely guests too share this beauty with, but we have to keep moving forward. As Annie says “the sun'll come out tomorrow". We hope….

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Count your blessings

It's a crazy mad world at the moment, but in a dry moment this morning it struck me that nature is carrying on as normal. This tranquil haven was full of birds and squirrels, going about their business as usual.

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#welshwildlifecentre #wetlands #ceredigion #selfcateringcardigan #wildlife

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When it rains, look for rainbows

Lots of dark skies lately, and it is hard to feel positive in these strange times we find ourselves in, but mother nature still takes her time to remind us to stop, breathe and find something to appreciate and be grateful for. However small.

This was a wet, cold, windy coast path at Aberporth this morning. The sun broke through, there was the beginnings of a rainbow on the horizon and a robin was eating on the path right next to me.

A gang of pigeons (or are all groups of things called a bubble nowadays?!) were clearly flouting all covid rules, sheltering on the cliff!

Nature is beautiful, and this place we live in is beautiful.

Rainbow in a dark sky at Aberporth


Rainbow in a dark sky at Aberporth

The sun shining on Aberporth

The sun shining on Aberporth

Hiding from the wind, safety in numbers!

Hiding from the wind, safety in numbers!

lockdown #2

In Welsh we have a saying: "Fe ddaw eto haul ar fryn" 🌄 . . "The sun will rise again over the hills" and shine over beautiful Cardigan bay. And when it does our welcome will be warmer than ever 🙏 . . Wales officially goes into full lockdown for 17 days from this Friday. Many people's half term plans are shattered but remember Wales will be there to enjoy again when it's safe to do so. . . #waleslockdown #firebreak #lockdown #covid19 #westwales #westisbest #wales #stayathome #visitwaleslater #mwnt #nationaltrust #mwntbeach #

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Late summer sun

Making the most of the late summer sun at Poppit Sands. Almost exclusively ours today, so social distancing was very easy!   Time spent in the sea works up quite an appetite, so a delicious lunch and an ice cream at the cafe at Poppit Sands was just the ticket.

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#westwales
#holidaycottages
#selfcatering
#beaches

Poppit Sands

Poppit Sands

Beach Tour

Beauty spots just a stones throw from us here. Wales will be open to visitors again soon, and we promise you that it's worth the wait!

Firewood

Business might have been on stop here at Troedyrhiw due to Coronavirus, however we have been putting our extra time to good use, processing lots of firewood logs, now seasoning happily ready for delivery for winter. Contact us for details on price and delivery. 🔥

Happy St David's Day

Today is the day that we celebrate our patron saint, David, here in Wales. Our national flower is the daffodil, and it also symbolises the beginning of Spring. I love this time of year when the days are getting brighter and new life and optimism is everywhere. A pair of frogs have arrived in our pond ready to spawn and fresh and green shoots are on the trees. We even managed a lovely chilly, sunny walk on the lanes today. What's not to love? It’s my very favourite time of the year!

We’re still here!

Phew, it’s been a windy February so far! Ciara and Dennis have made their mark on 2020 but luckily we have survived the storms relatively unscathed this year, and our thoughts go out to those who have not been so lucky. A sunny day today puts us in mind of spring and I find myself daring to dream about summer days at the beautiful beaches all around us here in West Wales. Bring on the longer days, we’re ready for them now!

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New furbaby coming to join us soon!

So, after losing our beautiful Meg a few weeks ago, we have realised we don't want to be a family without a dog. Even the cats are missing her. We've trawled the puppy pages and found our new canine child, and she will hopefully be joining our clan on the 30th of March.  Here she is, all we need now is to collect her, name her, and overcome the fact that our girls scream every time a dog that isn't Meg comes near them...! Wish us luck! 

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