what a difference 12 hours makes!

Today Summer temporarily halted up here in Benraw. The day dawned murky and cold.

Warnings of thunderstorms and tornadoes abounded on the internet.

But, without incedent, the day passed over into glorious evening sunshine - 

murky gloom this morning

clarity - this evening

the Mournes majestic:

sun has returned!

Eleanor

This May and June we had the delight of having Eleanor on holiday for almost month - happy memories!

The Return of a Classic

We first started making felt waistcoats over ten years ago. A happy coincidence has revived them!

Back in January our old friend Raymond came up to see the new Gallery, wearing his waistcoat which was still looking pretty good.

Steve, our friend from the Lacken Bog was around, saw it, and commissioned another one.

So, here they are again!

flashback: Eurocraft 2002

source material

knitting

Furby knows where it's soft!

ready to felt

pattern templates

Elaine sewing

finished!

Steve's one

neck and selvedge detail

pocket detail

thanks Steve!

If you want one, you can buy or order on our website!

26 Degrees

The hottest weather we have had since moving up to Benraw, a trip round the garden shows the effect of the sun and heat - wonderful!

The Turnip House Courtyard; scene of a great family party yesterday and looking resplendent in the sunshine

a forest of foxgloves

wise move charlie!

potato patch and greenhouse -

an abundance of beans - broad and runner

broad bean pods coming

under planted with beetroot

potato flowers - not long until harvest

harvested onions 

one of our few surviving Alder trees

through the grasslands

a fuchsia taken from cuttings, now thriving

sadly, I think we've lost this wee oak

a foxglove across the fence miraculously survives the herbicide spray!

across to the greenhouse

sweet peas

our old favourite

fuchsia and foxglove - a great combination

gallery, slide, sun canopy foxglove - summer!

tropaeolum  in the front garden

delphinium

making hay whilst the sun shines

our old implements, with fennel against the wall