Branching out

I was recently asked to make a willow coffin for someone, something I have never done before and to be honest I hadn't a clue where to start.  After some very helpful tips from a fellow basket maker, and from the guys at Somerset willow, I embarked on the project.......

First the base, strengthened with wooden battons:

Then the uprights....

One of the challenges is to weave the sides straight so they don't cave in or dome out...

I used old fishing rope for the handles...

The only body of water deep enough to soak the uprights before weaving a top border was Pwll Pellaf!

Here's the finished top border..., next the lid.

Thankfully the lid fits!

Finishing touches...

Ready for export!

Traditionally willow baskets and structures have been used as containers from the "cradle to the grave", so maybe I'll try a moses basket for the next project!

Nearly November Already!

Where does time go?!  It was back to school for Ben in September, tackling the last year of his A levels (in between disappearing with his camera to "record the autumn migration").  Both he and Rachel are currently in Kenya volunteering with A Rocha (see http://www.arocha.org/ke-en/index.html) Rachel is doing some wildlife illustration for them and Ben some photography.
They just managed to get off Enlli in a narrow weather window last week and Steve took them to the airport. Since then another autumn storm has passed through so he is still on the mainland waiting to get back.

Steve managed to get a pre winter break in September, achieving his paragliding pilot's license, so he has since been exploring Enlli air space (on the rare calm days!)

When he gets back there's plenty of fencing on the agenda for the next couple of months...

Meanwhile, tupping has begun with some handsome new Welsh mountain rams, and the cows are just about to move from the lowland pastures to the mountain where they will stay for the winter.

And a few random photos....

Summer catch up

Once again summer on Enlli has flown by and the summer busyness has now begun to slow down.  As it is "back to school" tomorrow (for Ben at least) we thought a summer resume would be appropriate.....as usual a photo round up of our June holiday will have to wait for sometime in the autumn.

It has been a fantastic summer, crammed full with activity, both work and play, punctuated with precious moments spent with friends and stunning moments to stand still and capture the beauty on display all around us.

Silage was harvested throughout July and August, whenever the weather was suitable, with 320 bales now stacked ready for feeding the cattle in winter.

What would it be like without the machinery challenges thrown in?!

The ewes and lambs have frequently needed attention in one form or other.....now they are weaned and being fattened on some particularly lush clover rich pastures:

"Miss Piggy" arrived in July - another pig with character.  She especially likes going for walks with Steve:

(with instructions not to touch the Autumn Ladies Tresses!)

One of my projects has been to monitor the lowland and maritime heath.  The heather is particularly beautiful this year, filling the air with fragrance, despite becoming quite drought stricken in the dry period during July.

The honey bees are busy

The heath suffering from drought in July

The cafe and craft shop has been busy, with a few boat-loads of day visitors most days.  We have just about kept up with demand for cards, prints, honey and other shop items, and  I've enjoyed making a few extra commissions, like this particularly large wool rug:

Day visitors enjoying tea and coffee:

We've all had some summer fun, whether underwater.....

.....in the air

.....or on land

Ben's 17th birthday barbeque on Traeth ffynnon

It's always sad to say goodbye to so many precious friends who become part of the summer Enlli community...

And some views to round up:

We had some lovely views of noctilucent clouds a week ago. These are made up of ice particles in the upper atmosphere ( approx 80 km altitude !) They tend to occur in Northern lattitudes ( above 50 degrees) in the summer months and during late twilight ( after about 11p.m.)

Spring Flowers

A frequent question we are asked is "what was your winter like?".  My response this year is that it feels like we have had three consecutive winters!  The cold temperatures persisted well into May...finally it feels like spring (or is it summer?) has arrived and the warmth this week is balm to the soul.
Consequently, most of the spring flora has been held back (as well as the vegetables!), with many flowers just bursting out of their buds this week.
Here is a round up of some of the wildflowers that are decorating Enlli at the moment...some bold and brilliant, like the golden Gorse; others hidden and delicate, like the tiny blue starry Spring Squill.

The European Gorse (Ulex europeaus) has been spectacular this year, apparently a sign of a good summer to come!

 Each head of gorse is full to bursting..

Bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) lining the track

The foxgloves are only just starting to open

  

 In sheltered spots the Thrift or Sea Pink is flowering well, but the usual carpet of flowers amongst the maritime heath on Pen Diban is lacking this year.

 Spring Squill (Scilla verna)

 Bluebells flowering at the edge of Ty Pellaf wetland

 Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi)

 Cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis) another delicate flower found in the wetlands

 Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga - great Latin name!)

 Dandelion clock - so pretty (as long as it's not in my polytunnel!)

Great Horsetail (Equisetum telmateia)

English stonecrop (Sedum anglicum)