My photographic Skills Required! Thursday 16th -Friday 17th

Jim was off to the UK at 5am on Wednesday and I hadn't gone to bed! I soon went when he had left and got up at 10.30am, but I was still pretty tired. I gave Sandy his medicine in his food. I'm happy to say he's much improved today in particular. His paw is looking much less raw thank goodness and he's back to his old self.

In the afternoon I popped down to Hilary's to let her know we'd given her telephone number to eircom (the Irish phone company) as our phone hasn't been working for a few days. Neither had hers!! Apparently a tree had fallen on a line and we were all without a phone. As we spoke, her phone rang, so it was back on. I also took a bag of salt and vinegar crisps (a carrier bag full), as neither Jim nor I like them! Danny is like a hoover with food and will eat anything. As we were chatting, Cassie, Hilary's daughter, appeared and her hair was all coiffured and beautiful. It turned out that it was her prom night and she and a friend Noelle were being picked up by their 2 escorts in a limo at 6pm. Hilary invited me to come down and take some photos as 'my camera is better than hers.' Never one to miss an opportunity, I thought I'd make the effort to return at 5.50pm.

I did quite a bit of gardening, moving plants around and planting the 'bargains' Jim had rescued from B & Q yesterday. I also did some more staking as the wind had been strong and yet more plants were toppling. At 5.45 I went down the road as promised and Buster was there. I took him home as I was worried he'd jump up on the girls in all their finery. He wasn't pleased.

So I took some casual photos of the girls, then Hilary's son Tom appeared in a suit and said 'Mum says can you take some photos of me'!! Of course I obliged and he was a great model. Unfortunately it poured with rain at that point so the light wasn't wonderful.

The parents of the daughter arrived with a huge bunch of flowers for Hilary. Then at 6 the limo and the two very smart gentlemen appeared. They brought chocolates and a corsage for each girl. Oh so romantic. We didn't have prom nights in my day. Sad. I would have loved it.

Here are a few of the photos. I'll start with Tom:
Isn't he cute!! He was so little when we moved here.
This is Cassie's friend Noelle. The dress was her sister's bridesmaid dress and was just gorgeous.
This is Cassie. She is a really lovely girl with a great personality, in fact all 3 children are great.
Some last minute dress fixing! Brother Danny is on the left, irritating his sister as only younger brothers can.
Here are the two couples. Look how the boys both had their hands in their pockets!! I had to try and move them together but it was difficult. We couldn't take the photos right outside because of the rain.
This is the best shot of the girls. Noelle and Cassie

The youngsters were getting agitated as they wanted to leave but Hilary wanted a photo of her and Cassie! It was hard as Cassie just kept saying 'we've got to go', but one of them turned out ok.
I really like this one. So off they all went, bottle of wine and chocolates in hand, boys in the front and girls in the back can you believe!

Hilary invited me in and the other parents and we had a very large glass of splendid red wine each. I asked Danny and Tom if they'd like a photo together and I got the 'never' from both of them. A bit of persuasion and one of the three I took wasn't too bad. Aren't boys funny?
It's a pity Tom wasn't looking at Danny but it was the best I could do with them.

An hour later I made the first move to go and the others left too. Having not eaten, I felt quite tipsy. I managed to do a bit more gardening all the same, then, after the photos I took below, it was time for a couple of sandwiches and computing until Jim returned at gone midnight.

An unexpected turn of events but fun all the same.

Wednesday Evening Sky

The rain had stopped and the sky was blazing red in one direction and black in the other. I took a few photos of course:
Red Acer and Red Sky at The Deenery
I stood up on the wall to take this one.
On the other hillside, the wind farm was just visible. This was taken with the telephoto.

I made this joiner of all the turning machines. Do click on it to enlarge for the full effect.


I also took a few with flash and I really like the results:
Grasses and the waters of Lough Graney under a moody sky.
Grasses and barbed wire
Wild flowers, Grasses and the waters of Lough Graney
Bracken, barbed wire and red sky.
The last shot and the red was fading.


Today it was fine and windy. I filled the motorised barrow with our compost and spread it about hither and thither and planted more plants. I also did a bit to my 'wicker project'.

Buster

You're not going to believe this but Buster has a large hole in his side! Well, not enormous but big enough for the flies to be taking an interest yesterday. He was also due his one year booster inoculation so it was off to the vets again for the 5-6pm surgery. I had only driven a short way when the road was blocked by the Garda (police). An accident had occurred and I had to try another route to Gort. This entailed a very long journey and it was 5.30 before I arrived there, having left at 4.30! It's a half hour journey normally.

Buster was jabbed and didn't even notice. We have a super spray for the hole which forms a sort of antiseptic skin over the wound. Seems easy enough. I also collected a worming tablet and a flea treatment for him. Cost? Fifty Euro!! We'll have to take out a loan soon to pay the vet's bills. I made the vet laugh by saying 'and we don't even like them' (the animals). Oh, I also had him weighed and he was some 40kilos!! He is a little overweight, but not too much, so we have to cut down on his food a bit. The trouble is, he scours the countryside for food of any sort so it might be difficult.

I took the risk that the road would be open on the return journey. Nearing Killanena (where we turn to go down to our cottage) and there was the Garda again. Still, I was diverted over the other side of the lake via Flagmount, so it wasn't quite as bad as the journey there. It was quarter to eight by then! Crazy.

Builders

The builders have been putting in all the door frames. A positive step I feel. Jim upset them a bit by mentioning that we'd like a door in a place where we weren't going to have one before!! It's really a 'keep Buster out' door as, without it, he would have access to the spare bedroom, our bedroom and the new bathroom. Bad idea.

That's about all the news for now. Have a great weekend everyone.