Ewe-Phoria

We departed after a traditional Welsh breakfast....of which only a few things were edible.  We stuck to fruit, breads, pastries, and juice.  After another hour drive into the countryside, we arrived at a sheep farm, Ewe-Phoria.  Inside a theater, the owner of the farm gave a presentation.  He showed us twelve different types of sheep and demonstrated how to sheer them.  We

 

 

found it interesting to learn that the population in Wales is 3 million and there are nearly 12 million sheep.  It really didn't surprised us since everywhere you look you see green hillsides covered with sheep.  Lambs ranging in age 6-9 months produce the best lamb to eat.  Any lamb over a year old is sold as mutton and the meat is not nearly as tasty.  What is most unique about this farm is that they use Border Collies to help herd the sheep. By whistling a certain way, they direct the dog to collect the sheep on the right side.  It was amazing that even the slightest change in the whistle would change the command for the dog.  Antun, the owner breeds Border Collies and had a litter of four adorable puppies.  He goes around the country helping other farmers train their dogs to help run the sheep.  The  family run business served us a light snack of scones and hot cocoa.  Kelly had a cheese toastie.  

Our next stop was a small village, Best-y-coed, a heavily wooded town on the edge of the river.  It was a quaint town filled with lots of unique shops and a tasty ice cream shop.   I think even Kelly dozed off to sleep on the way back we were all so tired.   Back at the Bodelwyddan castle, we went to the museum on premise.  The castle museum's first floor was restored in the Victorian style and housed portraits from the 1800's.  Most of the portraits were by Watts who none of us had ever heard of.  When we entered the women's bedroom and Kelly imagined that it might have been like the room Jane Austen's slept in.    Upstairs, the museum had a modern collection of portraits that had been entered in a contest.   

The night was filled with preparations for the next days departure.