Good Morning Everyone,

What a fabulous morning it is. As I look over our fields from our self-catering cottages here in Amroth, the sea looks spectacular. It is calm and the patterns of the light giving the sea its appearance of different colours is wonderful this morning. There are a few sailing dinghies out on the bay and the tide is going out at the moment, so I can see the beach emerging.

Our guests in the cottages are certainly waking up to a perfect day and the children will be able to play on the sands and the guests who have bought their dogs will be able to have a wonderful walk along the beach.

I have just returned from my daily walk in Colby Woods, just down the valley from Amroth Cottages and the bluebells under the trees are still glorious. The colours in the rhodedendrons are fabulous and the scent from the yellow azaleas is a real treat.

Colby Woodland Gardens has a couple of interesting events for children this week, beginning tomorrow (Monday) with a ‘Grow your own Veg.’ event, where the children will be shown how to plant and nurture some seeds and then on Wednesday and Thursday they can forage with the head gardener for plants from the wild, that can be eaten, and then cook them over a camp fire. Sounds really good, if I have time I might go along.

Today I am planting up my flower tubs to put outside all the self catering cottages and then I will be in the veg. plot. Hope you all enjoy the Bank Holiday. It is a super day here in Pembrokeshire

 Regards

Ann (Amroth Cottages)

Good Morning Everyone,

Well we are fully booked again this week and it is very windy and showery today and I am no longer looking at the calm blue sea with the sun twinkling on it this morning. Instead the waves and ‘white horses’ look spectacular. The ever changing view of the sea from Amroth Cottages is wonderful. I am sure our guests won’t mind the weather, as they have dogs and are used to going out in all weathers, and a walk on a windswept beach can really be rewarded with a hot chocolate or coffee in the Pirate cafe on Amroth Sea front.

For those of you who knew I was taking part, I am pleased to tell you that I completed the Pembrokeshire Dawn Walk on Sunday (13 miles) to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support in 3 and 1/4 hours and I felt as good at the end as when I started, so I think the walking and running I had done prior to it really helped my fitness. It was a lovely walk and the country lanes, many of which I had never been along ,were beautiful with all the spring flowers and wild garlic. Hopefully next year I will do the full marathon!!

News of the animals 

Sadly Stella our tabby cat, who lived in the barn died just before Easter and Charlie her son pined for several days. He now seems to be coping O.K. with lots of extra fuss. Now Smudge, our black and white cat, is not well and had to have an operation last week when the vet discovered a tumour in his jaw. So I guess we won’t have him much longer.

The sheep were all shorn 2 weeks ago and are sheltering under the hedge this morning. They do have access to a shed but seem to prefer being outside unless the weather is extreme. They are a tough bunch! Dick and Harry,the goats, of course love their shed as they have no lanolin in there coats.

Wilson, our beloved retriever, is still plodding along despite his arthritis and although can’t walk very far any more he still loves greeting all the guests. He has thoroughly enjoyed seeing the dogs we have staying this week, as he has met 2 of them before when they have been to stay.

Well I must away to muck out the stable and let the horses out and then off to the vets again with Smudge.

Regards

Ann (Amroth Cottages)

Hi Everyone,

 I walked up the lane from Amroth Cottages early this morning and the bluebells, pink campions and cows parsley looked fabulous and have now replaced most of the primroses and violets. I then crossed a field and dropped down into Colby Woods for my daily walk/run as I am trying to get fit for the Pembrokeshire Dawn Walk on May 18th to raise money for the Macmillan Nurses. While I was walking I was thinking of the lovely day we had yesterday at the Botanical Gardens, just the other side of Carmathen. There was a special Welsh Food event being held but we also got chance to walk around the gardens.

We went there when it first opened 9 years ago and the development that has been achieved in that time is fantastic. The planting has matured to make really interesting and varied garden areas but the most amazing change for me was in the Glasshouse Dome. The plants have grown beyond recognition and made walking round a wonderful experience.

Some of our guests went to an Owl Prowl event at Colby Gardens yesterday and said how much they learnt about the Owls and also managed to see a tame barn owl at close quarters. A great experience for the children.

The Sunday before we had gone to Picton Castle Gardens for a Plant Fair and again we walked around the gardens. The colours in the azaleas and rhodededrons were spectacular and the walled garden gave us several ideas for planting in our new area at Amroth Cottages. We then visited all the plant stalls and came home armed with several new plants. Now I just have to keep them alive. Work on the veg. plot is progressing well just never enough hours in the day, as I’m sure most of you find!

Tomorrow the sheep are being sheared, so lets hope the weather stays dry. I’ll let you know how it goes

Regards

Ann (Amroth Cottages)