Making Ready

Today has been a more focussed, better day. Having been initially daunted by the unglamorous work of clearing out  all the accumulated bits and pieces - both relevant and irrelevant, it was time to gradually get stuck in.


This morning started wild and wet - a great excuse to sit in the warm with Charlie on my lap (well. his head anyway!) and finish reading Ireland a Novel by Frank Delaney

"Warm, intelligent, and unapologetically nostalgic... Delaney is as much in love with the art of storytelling as he is the story's subject." - Christian Science Monitor (Boston, MA) March 15, 2005


I enjoyed it very much. and would recommend it to all. 
As I finished, the skies cleared and it looked like a good afternoon, so I set to work.

First, the 'stuff'. Triage was in order:

• to be cleaned and put into (another) store
• to be cleaned and kept for imminent use in the gallery
• to be chucked out

I spent most of the day at this task, and the consolidation and organisation felt good. 

I also:

• fitted the phone to the gallery (so you can ring me and I've no excuse not to pick up your call!)
• did more washing
• collected and labelled the eggs
• fed various animals

So, all is ready for the floor to be laid tomorrow - an early start I think!

Damp - the outside wall is only single skin here - that we can remedy

water is seeping un under the door - some 'tanking' outside is required

this is what it's all about -

Slievenaboley

'The Mountains Create Their Own Weather'

Another of My Mother's phrases. Its true.


Exhibit 'A':

today, just before sunset, a clear blue sky, and clouds above the Mournes

Progress

There are times when nothing seems to go fast enough! 


It seems like an age since we started it, and yet the end seems far away.


Still, that way madness lies: 


This was after our conscious choice.


And the whole point is the journey.


And when you look at where we've come from since September, it is true to say that we are going in the right direction:

One corner, of one room, almost finished

the same place last September

Back to Cambridge

Eleanor and Elaine are off to Cambridge today.


I'm sure the reunion will be terrific!


But it's a bit quiet round here now

miserable job of the day: washing and drying Eleanor's things

Charlie in recovery mode

It's one of those days!

April morning

It's still cold here, but the stronger sun makes the mornings beautiful:

The Mournes quite hazy today

romantic ruin up on Slievenaboley

Eleanor on her daily tramp

an abandoned railway carriage across the river - with sheep and lambs

Charlie in the sunshine handsome as ever!

off on her travels in the Turnip House Courtyard

they may be small, but the're perfectly formed

Rowans that Vincent and Liz planted

Hollyhocks coming up strong

Furby's morning bath

Kate & Eleanor

Kate flies back to Cambridge today - we'll miss her. It's been a great couple of weeks with them both, lots of things done, people seen, paths stomped and animals loved!

One of Eleanor's many hugs for Charlie

with Julie & Steve on Tuesday

morning coffee on the greenhouse wall

Eleanor too!

fun with everything

with my Grandad

yesterday afternoon - beautiful

the faraway mountains

Kate

Eleanor on a mission

a great pair of helping hands!

sunshine in the gallery

communing with a chicken

Furby - not sure if he's coming or going

Happy Easter

Warm wishes to all this Easter time, a tradition of renewal and optimism for the future. 


The short, bleak Wintery days are (mainly!) behind us, and we look to the long hazy days of Summer


We're privileged to have Kate & Eleanor with us, and have been making the most of our time together

snow on Bearnagh on Wednesday

tramping in the garden - all wrapped up for Winter!

Charlie gazes on

the gallery - now with windows - fantastic

sunshine - but no wind!

now you can gaze at that view in a t shirt

these little ones replace the existing metal windows, the're a treat - looking up to Slievenaboley

looking down to the Mournes

with Slievenaboley behind

on the Strangford Ferry for a trip to the Aquarium Spring is back

some of the inhabitants of said place

Eleanor at large in the Aquarium

playing in the silver sands of Kearney Point

some of the beautiful shells on the beach

Easter Sunday, second breakfast