Tractors Galore!

Last week it was vintage cars in Mount Stewart.
Today the theme continued with around 150 tractors passing our gates on the Marie Curie Tractor Run!
The line of tractors was a sight to behold, it must have been 3 miles long.
We hope much money was raised for this great charity who provide vital care to those most in need of our help.
Congratulations to all who put in the hard work and made it the success that it was!

In the lead - Marie Curie truck

a beautiful grey Fergie

some old hands!

big and bold

a rare one

I'm loving this!

and they just keep on coming

the apprentice!

still running - along the Lighthouse road across the valley

a rake of blue Fords

so long

tail enders

that was fantastic - when can I get one?

Before and After

I was printing out a before and after shot of the Turnip House so thought I'd put it here too:

taken when we were just scouting around - didn't notice the turnip cutter lying against the wall to the left

Before

taken this morning the turnip cutter is still there!

After

Down The Garden Path

Thanks to the flail last week, and a proper grown up lawnmower that we acquired form Wilson's of Annsborough, the garden paths are shaping up,

Here is a quick journey in pictures:

top of the hill, in the Turnip House Courtyard

the path leads off from the lawn

down past the thorn trees

a choice of path 

distant glimpses, with foxgloves

down to the bogland

the far seat

the view from the seat : Slievenaboley

 e

on past the river

moving up again

along the middle of the garden

the grasslands

looking back

the far seat below Donard

the Picnic Lawn - soon to host it's first croquet match - watch this space!

back to the Turnip House - coffee is waiting!

The benefits of rain!

since we're now well into flaming June, and the rain keeps on coming, it's time to console ourselves with it's good side - that's why we're The Emerald Isle; it really is the stuff of life, and we can sit and watch the rain, imagining our well filling up! It has not run dry.

inside, looking out - nothing else for it, will have to do some knitting!

the mountains glistening with water

it's really good for the plants

we planted these back in March, they now reward us with an intense splash of colour at the door of the workshop

Summer Solstice Sunshine

Torrential rain all night and drizzle this morning - not much to wake up to on the longest day!


Still, just after noon GMT we were blessed with sunshine, enabling us to mark on the shadow of Tom's Stone almost at it's zenith.


This is the highest the sun will reach this year. 


We are going to create our own sundial to mark the time of day, and season of the year.

the shortest shadow - on the shortest day!

marked with a metal spike

no mountains today

Tom's Stone - where it was found, and lifted up by our good neighbour Tom (we couldn't lift it!)

Don't think that our dial will ever be a complex as this!

check out the Queen's College Cambridge sundial

Vehicles of Yesteryear at Mount Stewart

Had a great time at Mount Stewart on Sunday, busy - and dry!

Much admired all the cars - real classics much loved.

It is on every year - Highly recommended!

arranged in front of the Grand entrance

lovely colour!

that's an unusual configuration

MG

a BEM

ditto

clean lines

plenty of crowds

immaculate

Morris Traveller - the best!

Our effort was rewarded by plenty of customers and new contacts

Making Sweaters

We are at Mount Stewart again on Sunday 19th of June 

(and so the workshop will be CLOSED, sorry)

for the Vehicles of yesteryear event.

we've been making sweaters and felt bags all week - great fun, especially as it's kept us out of the rain!

'themed' sweaters

hanging up to dry in the washroom

as the rain finally stopped on Friday night, the mountains were wreathed in mist.

Weather Data for May

Well it's half way through June I know, but for Bloomsday, I thought I'd offer you
 May's weather statistics for here in Benraw.


A very different picture to April!



Met Éireann states:

Depressions over the Atlantic were the main influence on Ireland’s weather during the month of May, giving generally unsettled weather across the country with very strong winds at times. The start of the month was relatively warm and dry, with almost all of the highest temperatures for the month recorded in the first week. These maximum temperatures were some of the lowest May maxima recorded in recent years, however; Mullingar’s highest value of only 17.3°C was its lowest for May since 1972.

Check the link on the right to access them any time