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| I may be very shy, but when you see me, it's always a treat! |
A blog of events ideas and thoughts from Turnip House - a craft business in the Mourne Mountains
Friday, December 17, 2010
Relaxation - Tiggy Style
Meanwhile, Kate saw Tiggy taking advantage of the sunshine in her own inimical way:
Just as well bearing in mind what we were due for - again
Rowallane Yuletide Market
A date for your diary next year. Usually the penultimate weekend before Christmas, Rowallane Yuletide Market is the perfect blend of Outdoor exercise shopping and good food - all with Christmas in prospect!
For us, over the 20 odd years that we've been doing it, it has represented the gateway to Christmas, being usually the last craft fair that we do before finishing all our orders and getting ourselves set for the festivities.
It did not disappoint this year, with a welcome respite from the weather making it cold and crisp.
Of course, Rowallane is a great place to go at any time of year
For us, over the 20 odd years that we've been doing it, it has represented the gateway to Christmas, being usually the last craft fair that we do before finishing all our orders and getting ourselves set for the festivities.
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| Rowallane: The gateway to the courtyard, where you will find a cornucopia of crafts, foods - and even Santa! |
Of course, Rowallane is a great place to go at any time of year
Monday, December 13, 2010
More Snow?
It's gone green again here, but apparently only for a few days, still not getting above 3 degrees C during the day. But a chance to regroup and have a good weekend in Rowallane - pics when I find the camera in all the Craft Fair stuff. Meanwhile a picture of Molly in the recent (and perhaps future) past:
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| What am I Thinking - suggestions please! |
Friday, December 10, 2010
The High Line New York: A Year in Pictures
A Year in Pictures
We haven't travelled the world a lot - mainly because of our choice to work and live as we do. In some ways that is a regret.
One place we did get to in 2005 was New York - so different from our 'rural idyll' yet so appealing. A delight and inspiration, which was a surprise! I have been following the developments of the high line - a really amazing adoption of space by people. If you want to see more, look at this slideshow and the website.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Sean Lennon on John Lennon: 'My dad was one of a kind' | News | NME.COM
Do you remember where you were when you heard the news?
I was a student at Leeds University living near to the Headingley Cricket Ground, in a house of 13 students and 'associates'.
I remember waking up to the news. It was particularly poignant and immediate as he had been so high profile with the radio 1 interviews and the upcoming release of his first album in ?? years.
We all just went to the bar. The world was never the same.
Monday, December 06, 2010
Winter Animals
Like most of the UK winter has a grip on the land.
This morning we woke up to temperatures of -5 C and the sun was beaming brightly. I've not seen such a day since I was in Austria 35 years ago.
Our various creatures are doing their best to get what they need to survive.
This morning we woke up to temperatures of -5 C and the sun was beaming brightly. I've not seen such a day since I was in Austria 35 years ago.
Our various creatures are doing their best to get what they need to survive.
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| One of two robins share the garden |
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| Molly in a winter wonderland - I don't think she is all that impressed! |
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| Furby: "I'm cold and I want in NOW!" |
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| A Great Tit garnering much needed energy from the peanuts |
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| A Blue Tit sits in the queue! |
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| I know there's grass here somewhere |
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| The ground has been frozen for over a week now; the ice crystals have grown so big they look like diamonds sown across the field |
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| Charlie: I can be a pony too! |
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
A Murmuration of Starlings
We are seeing huge flocks of birds flying roughly East to West across the sky at sunset - where are they going?
They are starlings flying to their roosting site we think - but not sure where that is. Anyone know?
The sight is amazing, but not as mind blowing as these on the BBC Website:
BBC - Earth News - How starling flocks create their aerobatic displays
They are starlings flying to their roosting site we think - but not sure where that is. Anyone know?
The sight is amazing, but not as mind blowing as these on the BBC Website:
BBC - Earth News - How starling flocks create their aerobatic displays
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Snow Scenes
We had temperatures on minus 9 degrees C last night - one of the coldest November on record. What a time to be living in a mobile home!
Still, our water did NOT freeze,and the insulation round the caravan helped to make it a reasonable night - so all us well - at the moment.
Our reward is the stunning snow scene
Still, our water did NOT freeze,and the insulation round the caravan helped to make it a reasonable night - so all us well - at the moment.
Our reward is the stunning snow scene
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| The silhouetted trees against the mist down the valley |
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| two red kites swooping in the twilight |
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| 'snow devils' on Commedagh |
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Early Snows
Like many other places we've had an early start to the cold weather, with temperatures as low as minus 3 degrees C at night.
Not as much snow as many others though, but we had enough last night to transform the Mournes
Not as much snow as many others though, but we had enough last night to transform the Mournes
Friday, November 19, 2010
Textures
I've been meaning to catalogue the delights of our place - like the doors blog in September.
The structures and materials are a source of intrigue and delight; the construction, wear and decay has left a unique record of place.
This is hopefully just an early montage of what it means to me.
The structures and materials are a source of intrigue and delight; the construction, wear and decay has left a unique record of place.
This is hopefully just an early montage of what it means to me.
Flood!
On Tuesday evening we had torrential rain - all night, We woke to a river running through the front garden - and into the kitchen. It's not that there is any work done to the house as yet, but it still is scary to see even more potential damage.
The water was flowing from the road - running down like a river.
Nothing to do but get stuck in and try to divert the water away form the house, and into the drains.
An hour of soaking, cold work and all was well - and still not as bad as barrowing stones up the Trassey Lane!
Pictures a bit burred - it was v. early and I was feeling a bit blurred myself!
The water was flowing from the road - running down like a river.
Nothing to do but get stuck in and try to divert the water away form the house, and into the drains.
An hour of soaking, cold work and all was well - and still not as bad as barrowing stones up the Trassey Lane!
Pictures a bit burred - it was v. early and I was feeling a bit blurred myself!
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| The River |
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| The Flood |
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| In Through The Front Door! |
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| The river at the bottom of our filed - in full flood |
Children In Need
Well done to all of Elaine's Helen O'Grady Drama Academy Studio stars who raised £442 for Children In Need this week.
We were taking our part - wearing the spots!
We were taking our part - wearing the spots!
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| Elaine, Eleanor and Kate: Ready for action! |
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| I've got my Pudsey! |
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| It's been a long, happy day |
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Windy Gap Pad
Recently we went for a Sunday walk!
Not something we've done for quite a while what with one thing and another(!)
The Windy Gap, a nick in Slievenaboley Mountain is 1.1 miles up the hill from us. There are spectacular views of the County Down countryside in every direction.
It was a bright sharp day. we were well rewarded for our efforts:
Not something we've done for quite a while what with one thing and another(!)
The Windy Gap, a nick in Slievenaboley Mountain is 1.1 miles up the hill from us. There are spectacular views of the County Down countryside in every direction.
It was a bright sharp day. we were well rewarded for our efforts:
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| looking across mid Down towards County Armagh |
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| Fantastic clouds looming over the Dromara Hills |
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| The Windy Gap Pad |
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| Cave Hill, beyond Belfast |
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| The Distant Mournes against the horizon |
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| A patchwork of fields - and an unusual view of Legananny Dolmen |
Mournes by SamCampbell
Looks familiar!
I have a Google alert for 'Mournes' and this came up today - check out this picture of the Mournes by Sam Campbell - beautiful
Not a bad job on the house either!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
New Dawn, New Flowerbed
This morning we woke up to this:
So instead of making a door for the washroom - exciting but more or less indoors, we made a flower bed in the garden (first find or make your garden!)
The Magnolia that we planted last week has lead to a place to put bulbs a and summer flowers.
Here's the result; we are very chuffed! Small beginnings but what a difference:
So instead of making a door for the washroom - exciting but more or less indoors, we made a flower bed in the garden (first find or make your garden!)
The Magnolia that we planted last week has lead to a place to put bulbs a and summer flowers.
Here's the result; we are very chuffed! Small beginnings but what a difference:
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| Feels like a bit of home |
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| Our 25th Anniversary Magnolia |
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| the pipes in the foreground are the temporary water supply and pump power |
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| Charlie stressing out again! |
Monday, October 11, 2010
The Clear October Air
We've had days of mist and low visibility - no mountains, but every change in the view brings forward new parts to observe, that would be hidden or overwhelmed at other times
Today saw a change - with blue skies and razor sharp light:
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| no mountains but a parade of great trees |
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| This morning - a misty start had intimations of the beautiful day to come |
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| Our new neighbours enjoying some October sun! |
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| Trees on the slope above show signs of Autumn |
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| Sunset - cold and sharp |
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| good omens for tomorrow |
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