Monday, January 20, 2014

Crystal January

Today was a perfect winter day, sharp, bright crystal clear skies

Close to the Turnip House on the Lighthouse Road is a car park and viewing point, giving a slightly different perspective, and importantly huge vistas down to Armagh, and Slieve Gullion over 20 miles away.

I took a trip over this evening to capture the spectacular sunset:

at the Lighthouse Road viewpoint - exhilarating!

snow capped Slieve Donard & Commedagh, catching the last of the sun

the lovely wee path to the viewpoint

the great whale back of Slieve Gullion, over 20 miles away in County Armagh

to the left of the picture you can see the iconic water tower of  'Rathfriland on the Hill'

back home, and a murmuration of Starlings overhead

wintry silhouette

the familiar ridge line against the sky

Monday, January 06, 2014

2013 part 3

The festivities of Christmas now over, family returned to their nests, we are now back to two - and a dog!

Here's a look at the last of 2013 - a fantastic uplifting year!

September

renovation of the roof is planned at last!



 glorious Summer blends into sublime Autumn


 the greenhouse re-erected


 October

demolition begins, with the back porch


then the roof proper


a sorry sight - very stressful, yet exciting too!


the lowest point - will there be anything left?


November

rebuilding at last


the infamous steel ridge beams!


looking pretty good now!


ready for the slates, and safe as houses!


December

a red kite soars in the crystal blue sky


music night with Ciaran Lavery - fabulous!


waiting excitedly for Christmas by the windy Irish Sea


 a dusting of snow  highlights the mountain's bones



Saturday, January 04, 2014

Spring to Summer 2013. Our Year part two

In the three years since we arrived in Benraw, we have never had a summer like it! The weather was just stunning, making all the events even more special.


May

foundations for our new greenhouse - a gift from Mary & Gary!



first steps with sourdough bread


rediscovering The White House, Annalong



June

sunny garden, with Eleanor on the far seat


potatoes in the new veg patch



on the lawn outside the gallery


sunset around the solstice


July

making felt waistcoats again!


cottage roses rejuvenated in the front garden


foxgloves by the picnic lawn


first potato harvest


August

yarnbombers strike again!


Benraw Creative Convivium

on the Bank Holiday Weekend, our first 'event' like this, and a wonderful success thanks to all our friends! These lovely pictures from Anne







September to December to come in part three

Friday, January 03, 2014

2013 part one

As the New Year sputters into life, we are beginning to get our heads around what we have in prospect - in short, another amazing year!

But before we launch headlong into the year, here's a reflection in pictures of the amazing year that was 2013:

January

we were taken over by a band of guerrilla knitters; hijacking the front garden in preparation for storming the G8 Summit later in the year


The weather year started refined and calm, with some spectacular sunsets


 but by the middle of the month we had snow - the first of many occurrences that spring

February

New products : crochet crocodile scale slippers


A visit from our dear old friend  Raymond of Kinghan Eye, with his great gift for the gallery!


First Felt Workshop of the year


Natural dyeing at the Silent Valley with Mourne Heritage Trust


March

Lemon Drizzle Cakes for Mothers' Day

lingering snow highlights the famine fields


The end of the month, and the snow is back for it's greatest appearance of the year


April

playing in the snow on top of the world


Our first music night, with Rachel Austin 


Elaine's felt work at Feltmakers North's 'Transformation' exhibition



Spring at last!


May - August to follow in part two!