Work Like An Egyptian

We've been moving a lot of stones these days - last week it was 5 tons of 14mm stone to act as hardcore for the floor. We only actually needed 2 tons for the floor (calculations in haste at the builders merchants!) but the rest had to go somewhere, so we put a very nice gravel area at the back of the washroom, workshop and chicken house - covers a multitude of rough patches and looks OK, and we have lots left over in just about draggable bags to go as topping for the vegetable paths (when we get around to them).


Yesterday the screed was laid on the workshop floor - a truly beautiful piece, smooth and pristine. We've not walked on it yet, but it will be so good to have most of the heavy structure in place! There was at least a ton of that left over, which was great for seating the big stones around the new lawn in the courtyard.


Today we move the last of the big granite stones away and into some sort of place. They are the vestige of the grain stores and threshing house that was in the courtyard before, sadly demolished before we arrived.

a very big beautiful piece of faced Ballymagreehan granite

the largest stone

These are fine pieces of stone, Ballymagreehan granite from not far away, and a great resource, but so heavy! When James was over, we managed to drag most of them away from the workshop, to make it accessible, but now was the time to put them in place.

moving gear 

it's like being an Egyptian, but without the 10,000 slaves!

the perfect seat!

Stones

As if we've not got enough about, we got delivery from Turleys of 5 tons of stone for the Turnip House floor (we've not got the right kind you see!)

Turleys lorry outside

a great little contraption, the fork lift truck that fits itself on the back of the lorry

stones DPC, insulation, sand and cement

I know what we'll be doing today - all this has to go in there!

Chickens!

Last July we spent an idyllic month up in Clonachullion looking after our dear friends house on Trassey Lane (see the July 2010 posts) We were honoured by the presence of lots of (not so rare up there!) red squirrels:

I can fly like a bird?

While we were there, 14 new chicks hatched under the watchful care of Elaine.

some of the 14 newcomers

And they survived to grow big and healthy.


This February,  4 of them came over to us - to their new home. Not too impressed  by being bundled into a sack and taken in the boot of the car; they were a bit loath to come out for a while.


When they did - day 3- Charlie came home with John after a hard days computer work and unknowingly stumbled upon - chickens! a favourite sport for Charlie!


To cut a long story short; after many days chicken rustling, we ended up with 3. Not bad I suppose.


Now a few weeks on, our new charges are out in the field enjoying their new free range life:

cockerel and one hen in the chicken house

out in the field

two brown banty hens

ruler of the roost

result!

We are now looking forward to the gift of some 'rescued' battery hens promised in the next few weeks. Watch this space!

Getting There

We're still aiming to open the Turnip House by Easter, and have been working flat out to get things ready - hence the lack of posts.


This weekend brought a fine day - the new windows and doors fitted and glazed:

Back in 2010

windows and doors

finally there is life back in the old house

February Weather

I've posted the February weather data up to our website - free to use for interest or research, please credit Turnip House though.


From what I remember of it (it went in such a flash!) it was a good month; lots of clear days, and little snow. You can see if my memory is correct by downloading the stats, data every 15 minutes of every day.


This month sees the anniversary of our leaving Trassey Road - (check out the posts from last year) and it snowed like never before while we were trying to get shifted! 

great for Christmas, but not for moving out!

It was such a relief do finally get to our temporary home in Newcastle, by the sea with our friends.

Still, we remember with great fondness the beautiful townland of Clonachullion, and delight in the prospects given to us in Benraw!

Work in progress

 Work goes on a pace in the New Turnip House here's some pics of what we've been doing

ready to dig up the concrete

a hint of things beneath

underneath the concrete, and 3 inches of stones, appeared a beautiful red brick floor!

bricks worn rounded by years of traffic 

the roof truss, supported originally by a low header

old wood taken out - must have been reused from somewhere else

hand tooled fixings - no idea what this was!

The new brick support

header and stone in place

the bottom of the pillar - no foundations!

the entrance window before

new slate window sill in the entrance window

hand wrought gutter supports

and when you look up .....

Felt Workshop at Delamont Park

Saturday morning found Elaine at Delamont Country Park running another felt making course for Down Arts Centre.
A select group enjoyed inspiration creativity and craic at the Heron's Nest
Here are the fantastic results!

The next workshop is on Saturday 9th April 2011. Go to the Down Arts Centre Website for information on this and many more great opportunities.

Turnips - places, artifacts, and serendipity

When we were in our old place, many people asked "why the name Turnip House?" We would tell them that the first workshop we had was called 'the turnip house' by tradition, being the building where the turnips were stored for animal feed in the winter months, when the grass is poor.


We did not have a name for our knitwear business at first, but we did become accustomed to going "across to the turnip house to do some knitting" and so the name grew on us


It is not widely known that the turnip has a noble place in the history of agricultural development (I didn't know either!)


The British Agricultural Revolution in which Charles "Turnip" Townshend (2nd Viscount Townshend)1674 – 1738 played such a large part, did not have the same impact here in Ireland.


But growing turnips (and swedes and beets) had a vital role to play in agriculture, enabling productive feed to be grown on normally fallow ground.


In older times, the turnips would have been cut up by hand, and spread across the fields or in troughs for the livestock to eat. As agriculture became increasingly mechanised, cutting and pulping machines were developed.


On hearing that we were called 'Turnip House' some would say "you need to have a turnip mangle then" This was the machine for cutting up the vegetables.


We never did get one - until now. 


When we first looked at this place, one of the 'gifts' that we saw was this turnip mangle, lying outside the outbuildings. 


It stands to reason: if there's a turnip mangle..... there must have been a turnip house!


Our name, chosen 23 years ago, - a bit idiosyncratic - has been good to us, and we had already decided to keep the name.


Serendipity!

Made by Powell Brothers and Whitaker Wrexham probably made in the early 1900's

Impossible to lift by hand; But after restoration it will have place of honour!

The New Turnip House - to work!

Since the weather has been (a bit) better and the days are longer we are moving on with our plan to reopen the Turnip House for Easter 2011


We have ordered the windows and doors, so now the pressure is on to make the building ready for them. We are currently digging up the floors, backbraking job but a great workout.

Raw material; as we found it. Note the turnip mangle against the left wall - must be an omen!

doorway and internal wall removed, ivy taken of walls; cleaned and re-pointed; massive stones (mostly) moved away - thanks to James! Digging up of floor in progress.

Flowers

We've been doing more clearing in the front garden, and more dormant flowers have appeared

The Hellibore, now free of ivy is now standing proud

bunches of crocus have come up - this white flower is the first 

Furby by the crucus

first bloom from dozens of snowdrops

snowdrops in the fields - evidence of where once was the fruit garden!

So Long

James was over for a few days this week - great to spend some time with him, to see him well and happy, entertaining  Eleanor.


Took him up to the daybreak ferry to Scotland and walked Charlie along Loughshore Park at Whiteabbey, catching the dawn:

at the end of Belfast Lough - and on to Scotland