(Pre) Tombstone Tuesday - Welsh Tradition

I am just starting to really sort through the almost 900 photos from our trips to Wales, the UK and Ireland in March and earlier this month.  And this does not include the 500 or so generations-old family photos that hubby brought home to scan, which we returned a few weeks ago. 

I have spoken here in the past about hubby's Welsh heritage, and the Welsh tradition of wearing leeks (for the men) and daffodils (for the ladies) on March 1, the feast of Wales' patron saint, St. David's Day.

This tradition continues in many forms throughout life, including the final farewell.  We visited the family plots in Aberduar Chapel burial grounds in the village of Llanybydder, Wales, where my father-in-law lived as a child.  His mother's family is from the area and generations are buried in the chapel's churchyard. 

While walking through the grounds, I came across these relatively fresh graves. For me, this was a different treatment of a fresh grave, something I had not seen previously, and I was touched to see the leek and daffodil taking pride of place on this (I can only presume) native Welsh person's site.

Another fresh grave in the churchyard, more modestly decorated.

Images of Wales - Travel Tuesday

Recently we visited family in Wales.  Soon, we'll be going again.  We're very fortunate in this way.  This doesn't happen every year, this doesn't happen every other year.  But for some wonderful, unknown reason, this year, within the space of a few months, we will be going again. 

I thought I'd share some of my favorite images from our March trip.  We were there for less than a week, so didn't take that many photos.  Of the remainder, most are actually more appropriate for a Tombstone Tuesday post than anything else.  I'll get to work on that soon.

These are the views from Meridian Quay, a new 29-storey building in Swansea.  At 29 floors, it is the tallest building in Wales.  Seems almost miniscual compared to the grandeur of buildings in the U.S., but it's a big deal in Wales.  And it is beautiful.  The top three floors consist of The Grape and Olive Restaurant, which provides incredible 360 degree views across the marina, bay and city.  These are our own photos, taken when we stopped in for tea one afternoon.



I love the coastline here: wide, white beach, and the city just springs up right next to it!

  



Shore on one side, mountains on the other,
with a city squeezed in between!

  

Looking across the bay.

 

Swansea Marina.

 

You Are Here!

This shot of a window at the restaurant is, for some odd reason,
my favorite of the whole bunch!

Thrifty Thursday - Keeping Warm in Wales

It's not yet Springtime in Wales.

My feathers are bare, coolness abounds.

A creative recycler adopted me,

Now warmth and fashion surrounds.

My sister-in-law, a talented seamstress and diligent recycler, used an old fleece jacket to create little vests for her two newly-adopted hens.  Their feathers are a bit thin due to stress from their previous living conditions.  Apparently, the girls are happy to have the extra warmth and do not mind wearing the garments.  This one even modeled quite nicely for the camera, don't you think?!!

Beth assures us that both of the girls are doing well and their feathers are coming in beautifully.  I'll have updated photos when we visit again next month. 

Tombstone Tuesday - Thomas

St. Dogmael's Cemetery

Dyfed (Pembroke), Wales 

SACRED

The memory of

Timothy Thomas

Late of the Bridge-end Foundry Cardigan

Who Died February 20, 1898

Aged 69 Years

Also, of the children of the said

Timothy Thomas and Anna his wife

Thomas,

Who Died Sept. 9, 1869, Aged 9 Months

Edith,

Who Died August 27, 1877, Aged 1 Day

Albert,

Who Died February 25, 1881, Aged 1 Day

Lizzie,

Who Died Sept. 19, 1893, Aged 26 Years

Henry,

Who was lost at sea off Madeira Island

November 30, 1896, Aged 21 Years

Also, of

David Thomas,

Brother of the said Timothy Thomas

Who died December 1885, Aged 64 years

Also of Anna Thomas,

Wife of the _____ (said?) Timothy Thomas,

She passed...Newport Mon

...

This photo was among the many that my in-laws have collected over the years.  We don't know who it is, and there are no family members that we know of with the surname Thomas.  

Neither of my in-laws know of anyone in St. Dogmael's Cemetery in the county of Dyfed, formerly known as Pembrokeshire.  They also cannot remember taking the photo or seeing this headstone.  So, this interesting stone remains a mystery to us.  The last two lines, which might provide some clues, are unclear; I've included what we can decipher above. 

Sunday Sweet - Welsh Cakes

Over the holidays we got together with our friends from the (unfortunately, now-defunct) St. David's Welsh-American Society.  This is a group of locals who are either Welsh-born, like hubby, or of Welsh ancestry.  When the Society was active, we met monthly and enjoyed Welsh foods while listening to a speaker, usually on a topic of Welsh culture or history.  My father-in-law was always a favorite speaker on those occasions when they were in town from across the pond. 

When the group got together in late November to kick off the holiday season, hubby used his mum's recipe for a favorite dessert, Welsh cakes.  Cooked on a griddle, they are flat little treats, about two inches in diameter--the size of a regular cookie, but not as sweet.  Lots of butter, some sugar, the somewhat crumbly texture of a scone.  Delicious!



Welsh Cakes - makes 16-18, use medium cutter

8 ozs. S.R. [self-rising] Flour

4 ozs. butter

1 ozs. ground almonds

2 - 3 ozs. Caster Sugar*

3 ozs. Dried Fruit**

1 egg

Pinch Salt

A little milk if needed.

Rub butter into flour.  Add other dry ingredients.  Add beaten egg and a little milk if necessary.  Rest mixture in refrigerator for a little while [about one hour].  Roll out and cut into rounds 3/8 inch thick.  Cook on griddle on one side.  Turn over and repeat.

*Caster sugar is sold as "super fine" sugar in U.S. supermarkets.
**Golden raisins work well.

Welsh cakes cooling on the rack,
soon to be devoured.



Eating Welsh Cakes Makes You Happy!



Wordless Wednesday - Mitzie the Dancing Dog



About 1967.
Hubby with big sister Beth and grandmother's dog Mitzie.
Probably in Swansea, Wales.

Sunday Sweet - Honey Tea Loaf

This Sunday Sweet recipe comes from my Welsh mother-in-law, Marion Jones.  She made Honey Tea Loaf for our party of Welsh friends the last time she visited us in America.

It was a spur of the moment decision to bake this loaf and include it in the party spread.  It was Thanksgiving weekend, and I was working on my annual Christmas cards.  As we chatted, she hastily wrote the recipe on the back of a Christmas card liner.

(Mum's) Honey Tea Loaf 

Ingredients:

8 ounces dried fruit

1/4 pint cold tea

4 tablespoons clear honey*

1 tablespoon water

1 egg

1/2 lb. S.R. Flour**

Honey to glaze

  *Clear honey--the regular honey found in grocery stores is suitable for this recipe.

**Self-rising flour.

1. Place fruit in basin.  Mix tea, water and honey together and pour over fruit.  Leave to soak overnight.
2. Prepare moderate oven.  350 Degrees F / Gas mark 4.  Grease a loaf tin.
3. Stir egg with fruit mixture and beat well.  Add flour and mix thoroughly.  Turn into prepared tin and cook for 1 to 1 ¼ hours until firm and browned.
4. Leave to cool in tin for 10 minutes. Turn onto a wire cooling rack.  Brush top with honey to give a sticky glaze.  Serve loaf sliced and buttered. 

NB:  This loaf will improve in flavor if stored for up to four weeks in a closed tin.

Try this yummy recipe!  With a steaming cup of hot tea, it makes a traditionally British afternoon snack.