Overnight

We had our first 'sleepover' on Saturday night Elaine Kate and John. We fund a big iron lid to make a fire pit, and assembled the barbecue. Very civilised and much fun, despite the rain. We did put the tents up inside the Turnip House though, so not quite wild camping,- more slightly annoyed actually!

Morning mists precede a stunning, sunny day

3 Cats

Our strays have become regulars now - despite dog visits, large vehicles and many humans invading their territory. Still very shy - looks like mother and two kittens:

Mother (very like Elsa, one of our most favourite cats) Kitten, like Thomas, Kitten, the image of Jaffa

Cats

3 kittens have come to join us! Only one caught on camera so far

Water

there was a metal door covered in grass and cow muck at the edge of the field - this was the well, the only source of water at the moment. We set about uncovering it without great expectations, but were amazed by what we found - a very high spec concrete lined well, 20 foot deep with 3 feet of clean, cold water.

Pictures from the past

We've been given these fantastic snapshots of the house and garden from over 40 years ago!

The front of the house - that door is still there - check out the previous post

The front garden - so open The laurel by the gate is now as high as the house!

What an opportunity to see into the past to what was there. At the moment the debris of decade covers the ground to a depth of at least 6 inches. We are slowly making our way through it though, and once on site, will be able to do more.

Tea Break

Doors and Gates

You'd think there were better things to do, but we counted all the doors and gates yesterday and found 35!

Here's a selection:

Front Door - only just rediscovered.
See the newer post for what it looked like in it's heyday!

piggery doors - we've loads of these beauties

front gate detail - hand wrought

After The Storm

We had a big thunderstorm yesterday - the mountains completely disappeared only to return in magnificence half an hour later:

The Mournes after thunder

Gates - and doors

Having come back to Newcastle, looking at the pictures, I realise that we are now the proud owners of an incredible variety of doors and gates, in many vernacular styles.


Tomorrow I'll present an inventory, in the meantime, Elaine has uncovered the front gate to the garden:

uncovered for the first time in decades

nearly half way to the front door!

Charlie not too keen on being stuck on the outside

New Friends

We met our new neighbours across the road today. A more kindly and generous couple you could not hope to meet. We count ourselves very lucky to have been welcomed so readily and look forward to growing a long friendship with them.

Friends

We had a visit today from Helen and her family - to survey the wreckage and supply moral support!

the (extended!) family group

and one stargazer

Secret Garden

We've been at the house today - beginning to uncover just what is there.
In front of the house is what looks to be a traditional cottage garden - at some 45 feet square it is pretty substantial. It is so overgrown that it has begun to take over the house, with ivy rising over the roof.It's really hard to get a feel for the size of it from the outside, and impossible to get into it.


There are three garden gates, one in each wall We have started to fight our way in.


We didn't think much would have survived the overgrowth of 33 years of neglect, but amazingly, plants are staring to appear!


We have roses, laurel, ornamental grasses, and more - a list will follow!

It is so exiting to work our way through

the jungle

a glimpse

still preserved: the formal path edges

like a sleeping beauty

hidden away - a secret garden

more to discover!

Legananny

less than two miles away is Legananny Dolmen; one of Ireland's finest prehistoric monuments.It has been standing for over four thousand years.

The New Beginning

We are delighted to report that we now have bought our new renovation project; the home to the new Turnip House.

It will need a new roof to begin with - of course!

We are on the Dromara Road out of Leitrim Village in County Down. Still in the Mournes AONB, and only a few miles from Castlewellan Forest Park.


In the foothills of the Dromara Hills, Slieve Croob rises behind us, giving some of the best views in Ireland.


There's an awful lot to be getting on with - which was the point really!


Keep an eye out - we will be blogging our journey toward the new Turnip House


Here are a few tasters:

The House from the road -

 yes we are on the road this time - no long lane to negotiate!

From the back - what a sight!

The Views!

 Charlie in the yard - in clover!

Charlie: Back in Newcastle

Well, we're back in Newcastle again for a little while, whilst the acquisition of our new project proceeds at a snails pace.


Still, with the weekend just gone, it cant's be said that we're not in the best place to kick our heels.


Sunday Morning Murlough:

Red Arrows over the Mournes

What a fantastic weekend here in Newcastle!
The centenary of the first official powered flight in Ireland, made by engineer and inventor Harry Ferguson across the sands from Dundrum to Newcastle was marked by a festival with the Red Arrows flying in a perfect summer sky.

read the story in the Mourne Observer

Red Squirrels in Tollymore Park

We're spending time back in our old Turnip House haunt of Clonachullion, whilst feverishly working away at our next big thing - like wading through treacle at the moment!
Hopefully we'll be in a position to move onwards very soon.
Still we're not complaining as it is so good to be up in the Mountains again.
Thanks to the great work of the Tollymore Red Squirrel Group there is a resurgence of these beautiful creatures around here.
We were sitting after lunch and saw this one helping himself to the bird's food right outside the kitchen:

David Mitchell: are smug Apple users losing their cachet? | Comment is free | The Observer

David Mitchell: are smug Apple users losing their cachet? | Comment is free | The Observer

I always love David Mitchell on radio or TV, now he's writing in the Guardian - too much of a good thing? Not yet anyway judging by the standards of this piece!

A Walk In The Park

This is Charlie with his new 'master' for the afternoon walking around the Lake at Mount Stewart yesterday

now you behave yourself 

I'm in charge!

Mount Stewart

Busy week making stuff - We have Mount Stewart Garden and Craft fair this weekend. 


We've been doing it since about 2004, not every year, but whenever we go,we enjoy it - it's a great event in a wonderful place!


Well worth a visit. Mount Stewart has one of the finest gardens, don't miss Tir Na Nog by the lakeside. 


With a whole host of Craft, food and garden related stalls, There will be lots of other things to see and do this weekend.


The weather is set fair; so make it a date!

21st Century Man � One Straw: Be The Change

21st Century Man � One Straw: Be The Change

Looking around the internet for ideas and came across this blog; some really practical and thought provoking stuff.

Read this article to see what I mean

Tollymore National Outdoor Centre

We went to the AGM of Bryansford Village Committee yesterday (we are of course now only 'honorary members'!)


The meeting was particularly memorable as it was held in the newly completed Tollymore National Outdoor Centre.


This is a truly landmark building worthy of any setting in the world, and made even more spectacular by it's setting in the Forest at the foot of the Mournes.

It was heartening to hear that the centre was fully booked this week.

A real triumph for Consarc Design, and brilliant to see vision elegance and quality all put into practice

The Mound Of Down