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

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

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

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!