More Rain, More Flowers, Monday, 6th July 09

Weather

It's rained most of today on and off. It's also dropped a bit chilly this evening and I'm sitting here in my hoody as it's warm. One flash of lightening turned off the electricity for a moment too.

Builders

The builders have been today and have put all the window sills on and covered them up ready for plastering the sun room. We had a big discussion about our gutters. There is some sort of problem with the line of the roof and guttering! I don't understand it but they keep putting it off.

Garden Work

I did get out into the garden at teatime. The sky cleared and it seemed quite mild. I had made a small rockery by our gate as the wall there had fallen down. This was last year. That section of garden from then on is very weedy and overgrown and the grass at the edge encroaches on the parking area. I decided to dig out the grass as necessary and make an edging to the bed with stone. This is how far I have got:


Please click on the photo to enlarge it. I am mattocking out the grass and putting the stone edge along until I get to Jim's car, on the left of the photo. It's much neater and tidier and I'll be able to plant some rockery plants at the front, to hang over the stones. I've already planted a golden marjorum which had seeded itself in the parking area, a dangerous choice. The photo is a bit dull, as the weather was!

I found 2 new poppies in flower today, they are beautiful:



I do hope they spread lots of seeds. We also have some of the red 'common' poppies out, but the rain squished the flowers that were out.

The sweet peas are continuing to flower:
You can see all the raindrops of the flowers.
I planted all these wild flower that Jim had grown from seed on a new rockery behind the sleeping shed, not very long ago. Now look at the weeds that have grown there! Another job to do.
A striking marigold with curled under petals (and a fly)

Another marigold, another fly!!

We'll be making up the blackcurrant jelly tomorrow so watch out for that. If there's a break in the rain I have to dead head the roses and weed that rockery. Plus lots of other jobs. I have to make my 'J' for the ABC of ATCs. Any suggestions anyone??

Rain and More Rain 21 Jan, 2008

Will it ever stop? At least it has been slightly warmer today though the rain has been incessant.
Jim emptied a wheelbarrow on Sunday and now it is almost full with water. It's like a mini water feature! Where the builders have been dumping stuff and digging holes and making little hills, all the holes are now ponds! We quite like it and are considering keeping it.

I took Buster to the wood in spite of the rain. At least it is partially sheltered in there but very muddy and slippery.

Otherwise I have been catching up on blogs and chatting to my daughter on msn. I read Leatherdykeuk's book, An Ungodly Child, which I started before I went to the UK and finished while over there. It's one of those that's difficult to put down. I'll write a proper review if I can, I'm not really very good at that sort of thing but will do my best. It's a great book, buy it! That's my sort of review! Available at Amazon UK and can be ordered from Waterstones or W H Smiths.

I did take my camera today and as usual took too many photos, but had fun playing with some of them in Photoshop. I have turned some of them into poster form, but they really need to be full size (click on any of the photos) to appreciate the change.




The water in Lough Graney has risen during the past week. These fence posts are usually on dry land.










Puddles, reflections and dripping rain pools


















The red rowing boat almost gone now. This is done as a poster







Semi submerged bushes and trees, the white house on the opposite shore can just be seen












A rather splendid rock











Lime green mosses plus a dark leaved holly









The wood, looking up from the lake. In poster form.





Beautiful, fresh mosses, rotting leaves and a single dark green ivy leaf.










Across the lough to Flagmount! I hope it's still there anyway















Moss and Fern covered trees at the edge of the Lough. Click on it and it will be clearer. The bottom branch is in the photo below, computer enhanced as a poster





























This tiny trickle has become a raging torrent











Lichen, computer enhanced as a poster





My favourite











2 lonely bull rushes and Flagmount briefly appeared

























The path turned into puddles




















I love the superb colours of this rotting fungi










































Finally, Buster computer enhanced. It reminds me a bit of 'painting by number'







Tomorrow we're off to Ennis to put down a deposit on our wood pellet boiler and get Irish number plates for the car. Exciting stuff!

Rain Rain Go Away...

What a dull, dark and wet day it's been. The rain has been whooshing sideways across the land and battering the window in front of me. None of the animals showed any inclination to get up today or venture outside!! It would have been easy to hibernate ourselves, but I suggested we take Buster for a walk to get some 'fresh air' and give him, and us, some exercise.

The rain seemed to have petered to a small drizzle as we left and we walked to Dillons' wood, through and out the other side and along to where Paul lives in his caravan. The road at that end is full of deep holes which were like small lakes. Luckily I wore my trusty red and white spotted wellington boots. The water was rushing down the hills in torrents, amazing considering it's been dry for 2 weeks. We called at the caravan, looking forward to the prospect of a hot cup of tea. The lights were on and smoke belched from the chimney, welcoming us inside. Sadly Paul wasn't there, so we headed back home. My legs were already tired before we set off back home. The rain was coming down in a thick persistent drizzle and my waterproof raincoat struggled to live up to its name. Rain ran down my face in spite of the hat and only my feet kept warm and dry. Jim was in about the same condition and even Buster looked a bit fed up and bedraggled. 'This was a good idea' I said to Jim! I started to feel a bit sickly and cold but we managed to drag ourselves up the hill to home. It seemed a very long way.

We both stripped off and donned warm clothes then downed a big mug of hot tea. Excellent revival tactics and before long felt much better! I suppose it did us good but maybe we shouldn't have ventured quite so far!

We've slobbed about much of the evening, watching 'Time Team' and a new series of Dancing on Ice. Hoorah!

Jim has rigged up a shower using the mixer taps in our remaining bathroom, making life much more civilised in the washing department! I wonder whether the builders will turn up in the morning given that the site now looks like a scene from the Somme. They dug a 'soak away' for our 'grey water' which now looks like a pond. So much for soaking away.

Do you ever forget what day it is? Yesterday, Jim and I were both convinced it was Sunday and therefore I was off to the UK today. Lying in bed, we debated whether it had, in fact, been Saturday, thus giving me another day before my trip. Jim actually had to get out of bed and go and check. Indeed, it was Saturday, today is Sunday and I'm off to the UK tomorrow, which should be Monday by my reckoning!

A good, if Blustery Day 10th Jan, 2009

The weather changed drastically today. Gone was the frost, to be replaced by rain and a strong wind. The house isn't quite as cold either, which is a blessing. Jim and I had a good wood sawing session in the barn then I headed up to the allotment area again and sawed down an overgrown fuchsia then cleared a lot more brambles (story of my life) and nettles. The area above the allotment looks twice the size now and will be easier to maintain, either by mowing or strimming. I worked until it was just falling dark and Buster kept me company for the last half an hour.

Yesterday Jim went into Ennis and taxed the car, which is now registered in Ireland and will have new plates when we get them made. That'll be very odd and I'm sure I'll never remember the number now. Tescos in Ennis had many many Christmas bargains and Jim returned with lots of goodies! Roasted peanuts, chocolate eclairs, a very posh Christmas cake (also very small), and several packets of mini Snickers. Not at all good for the waistline, but most welcome so my taste buds and tummy.

The mood here is now much more 'up'. When Jim returned from the UK we were both in a bit of a dark place and talked ourselves miserable! Today we wandered around our land in the buffeting wind and it was wondrous.

I watched a splendid film tonight starring Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver. I missed the beginning ( and the name) but Sigourney Weaver played a high level autistic and Alan Rickman an emotional wreck of a man who had spent time in prison as a result of killing the driver who had run over and killed the son he was on his way to meet, for the first time. They struck up an odd, but very rewarding relationship while Rickman also found solace in the arms of an attractive neighbour. The acting was superb and I couldn't drag myself away after ten minutes of viewing. I'll try and find out the title on the net. It is called Snow Cake and was make in 2005.

I'm off to the UK on Monday afternoon for a quick visit to see Jason, Sam and Jack. Back Wednesday evening.

The Rain Returns

Well, we've had some weather the past few days. The rain has returned with avengeance. The little stream I had uncovered from all its weeds and brambles had stopped running. Look at it now:






To help get your bearings, the fairy hill is at the top of the bank on the right hand side of the stream!



























Our mini waterfall













We have done a lot of wood sawing to help keep warm. Stanley has been behaving very well thankfully, not belching out too much smoke.

I've been making for Christmas and finishing the bag for Sherrie. Jim's also making exciting things but I can't say what any of it is as some of the 'recipients' read my blog!!

Buster's been under our feet a bit as he doesn't much like going out in the rain. I took these 2 snaps of him on Jim's knee this afternoon while we watched 'Strictly Come Dancing'.




















I've kept meaning to take some photos of the Liquidambar, or Sweet Gum tree in it's full glorious Autumn Colours. Fearing most of the leaves will get blown away I took some as it was getting dark a couple of nights ago.




It is too dark, but you can still see the colours. Most of these leaves have now gone with the strong winds we've had the past couple of days.













This little offshoot has sprung up from a root that's above the ground























































Sandy was sitting patiently waiting for his tea














The Ginkgo on the left has turned a beautiful yellow. The one on the right has lost all its leaves already.









Jim's busy typing away upstairs doing unpaid work for the Institute of Horticulture. What a hero. Next Thursday we head over to the UK to spend a few days with our children. Jim's daughter Ali is getting close to having her baby, Jim's first Grandchild. It's so exciting.

Must get on with some more making now.
Hope everyone's keeping warm. Especially Rima at The Hermitage in deepest Scotland!

Sat, 25th October, Torrential Rain, Coole Park

We knew it was going to be hideous today and the weather men were right. They always are when it's going to be awful! Rain, wind, floods all over the place. Shall we stay in or take Buster for a walk in Coole Park? We'll go for a walk! We set off about 2pm and headed for Coole Park, which is the other side of Gort. The roads were covered in water and streams and waterfalls sprouted from everywhere.

We stopped at a yard to buy some peat blocks to burn on Stanley then arrived shortly afterwards at the park. In spite of the rain, the colours were magnificent.

A real carpet of leaves











There are a lot of beech trees and oak too. We walked down to the Turlough to see how high the water was. I took my camera in a rucksack to keep it dry and Jim took some photos. The Turlough rises and falls according to the water table and it was a very full lake today.


You can just see Buster in the foreground. The last time we walked here, it was a little river in the middle!









This shot is a bit dark and the raindrops on the lens show up, but you can just see the trees' feet underwater!









We walked around the various paths and there was some shelter from the rain under the trees - that was until the wind gusted when all the large raindrops bombarded us. However, it wasn't cold and we still enjoyed ourselves. Buster did too, although he looked a bit sorry for himself towards the end of the walk. Maybe he was getting a bit cold.



Within the wood it was pretty dark. Beach leaves cover the path and Buster snuffled about among them. If you click on the photo and enlarge it, the detail shows up better.
















A better, if more dull shot of the path, with Buster waiting for us. His eyes look like little lights!








I'd brought a towel to dry Buster a bit and he didn't need much persuasion to get back into the car. We had a mini picnic of coffee and biscuits in the car then headed off to look at an auction not too far away.

It's the first time we've ventured into these auction rooms. In the UK, Jim used to buy books and I bought china and odd little mixed lots at our local auction rooms in Worthing. We both sold on eBay and did quite well. I learnt a lot about pottery and china and Jim about books. That was half the pleasure. The worst part was wrapping the tea sets and other china and trusting them to the post. I became something of an expert and am pleased to say very few of my goods ever became broken en transit.

Jim also bought quite a few 'lots' of postcards, which we have brought with us. He's started sorting them and hopefully they'll be on eBay before too long.

The auction warehouse was vast and packed with a motley collection of furniture, china and all sorts of strange items taken from 2 houses. A large stuffed bull's head took my fancy!! We may go to the auction proper on Monday but probably not to buy. A lot of the furniture was very attractive, but we really don't need any just now. There wasn't a lot of china and what there was didn't appeal to me much and as for books, there were very few.

Having said all that, it was great fun poking around but Jim was beginning to get cold as his trousers were soaked from our walk, so we headed off home, via Lidl to pick up some spaghetti, a paper and some kidney beans. Unfortunately they didn't have any of those! A quick nip into 'Centra' where we managed to get the spaghetti. Kidney beans? No call for them in Gort, obviously!!

I had a great hug on the settee with all 3 animals! It's not often they all cuddle up together, so Jim ran for the camera:



BlackJack sitting on Buster (he really is too big to go on my knee now) and Sandy at the side. Me underneath!










BlackJack likes to bash me under the chin! Buster's fallen asleep again and Sandy is washing, as he so often is.













Sadly, Buster disgraced himself later on by weeing on the rug. I don't know what came over him. He had been sent out while we ate, then allowed back in but he seemed to get all excited and then just stood there as large as life and proceeded to wee! We couldn't believe it. He was booted out pretty quickly, I can tell you. The rug has been washed and we caught him before he'd managed to wet the carpet too much. What a dog. He's been in disgrace for the rest of the evening and has stayed firmly in his bed. I don't know what the answer is..

Ah well, it had been a good day until then!

Saturday, 23.8.08 Rain Stopped Play

For once the weather man got it right and it's poured it down almost all day. I managed to run round the meadow path with Buster twice before the rain came again and just before our evening meal I walked along the path to Kevin's farm. The sky was very threatening but the rain stayed away just long enough. I've often worried about how Buster might react to cows and whether he would chase them. The cows were right next to the fence today and Buster was very curious. He headed towards them, but as soon as they turned to him, he fled back under the fence. When one of them 'mood' he didn't like it one bit. Long may that continue.

I always take some little treats with me to encourage Buster to come back to me if he's wandered off. On our woodland walk, he discovered a taste for blackberries! I was eating them and he was curious, so I gave him one. Yum. He then got the whole bunch in his mouth and chomped away. What a strange dog. The blackberries on Kevin's lane weren't as ripe and juicy but we still managed to find a few to eat. On the woodland walk, I took this photo of the first blackberries we found. Very shortly after I took it, they were gone!












The rain today was that thick, heavy drizzle. It was also very windy, which blew the rain sideways. All very unpleasant, unless you're inside looking out, which is where we were most of the day.

I watched various relay races on the Olympics, boxing and diving. Jim watched some cricket from Gloucester, but even there, rain stopped play. A very relaxing and lazy day in all. I'm making a couple more ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) and must put them on a swap site.

Not a photo was taken today, so I'll put on a couple I haven't posted before.


I took this shot of a great tit on the nut feeder. I just caught his wing beat.



















These are the berries from Arum lilies or Lords and Ladies, as they are sometimes called. Not quite ripe yet. They were in the hedgerow. Such a striking contrast against the rich greens
















Montbretia is now officially classified as a wild flower in Ireland. It seems to get everywhere. We have huge swathes of it on our land. This one was down by the lake, the first I have seen there.














This wonderful old tractor belong to one of the Dillon family as in 'Dillon's wood'. I don't think it goes any more! Taken yesterday, as were those above.









This is the view from the highest point of our meadow to Lough Graney and the hills of Tipperary beyond.



By way of a change, I'll put on the photos of the ATCs that I have done so far. Or rather the ones that have been scanned. Just to cheer the place up a bit!








Roxanne














Be Afraid






















Cat in a cage 3rd of 3


















Behind the curtain







I have done a few more, but they haven't been scanned yet. It's a real challenge to make a picture so small, they are only 6cms x 9cms. I am trying out various ideas as I'm new to this adventure. I love working with material mostly.

Thanks to my daughter K who has just put my favourite blogs on for me as I'm not the most computer literate person in the world. See you soon K.