The Good Earth

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Purple Loosestrife

 The river in bloom

Thursday, May 16, 2013

ROCK POOLS

 Liscannor, a coastal village on the west coast of Ireland, famous for its stone 
The rocks are a natural wonder, full of marine life
And wonderful beauty and colour in small and large rock pools
 From deep purples, pale pinks, emerald and olive greens, yellows, browns  
reds, black, white
All thats missing, is a mermaid. 

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

May Day (Lá Bealtaine)

Bealtine the celtic beginning of summer.

Summer snowflake down by the riverside
Across the road, over the neighbours garden wall



Apple blossoms in the back garden

One of the several shrubs in the front garden


Daisies glistening in the sun
and Primroses at the edge of a walking path.
To-day the hymn "Flowers of the Rarest" is usually played on our local and national radio stations. 
Here is a verse of the hymn:
Bring flowers of the rarest, bring blossoms the fairest,
From garden and woodlands and hillside and dale
Our full hearts are swelling, our glad voices telling
The praise of the loveliest flower of the vale. 
 

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

An Spideog (The Robin)


This little Spideog is singing its heart out in my garden morning, noon and night and getting more friendly with each day,  it is difficult to say if it is a male or female, as both look identical. Spideog is Irish for Robin.
Linked to : http://http//ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.ie/

Monday, April 15, 2013

LAVENDER BLUE


On Saturday morning at the market, I spotted some nice bouquets of dried lavender for sale.  
The bouquets brough to mind some photos that I had taken last summer
 
Busy bumble bees happily buzzing around pollinating the lavender

The Tortoiseshell butterflies almost queuing up to get at it 

Even the Large White butterfly, often referred to as the Cabbage White, abandoned the cabbage patch for the lavender  
 
The peacock too was very interested in the it, not for any good reason, only to eat the butterflies
 
And this little lady I thought might be nice here, but I'm afraid she doesn't look too happy.
 
 

Monday, April 8, 2013

Harry the Heron

For a few years now, this heron is attracted to my garden pond. I call him Harry, he usually visits early in the morning .  Yesterday, I heard his harsh high pitched sound, out I went with my camera, and right enough, there he was, walking along the roof .
 Harry looking happy and content and getting ready to settle down.
 
I wondered if he was just nodding off or hanging his head in shame after eating all my goldfish, again.


Sunday, March 31, 2013

Irish Thatched Cottage


Bothan Scóir, was usually a small, basic one roomed cottage of the poor landless labourer who worked for the local landlord.
 
 
The walls of the cottage were whitewashed inside and out, whitewash was a solution of lime powdered down and mixed with water.  Over the years the accumulation of whitewash helped weatherproof the cottage. In some districts a touch of colour was added.
Most cottages had half doors and earthen floors. The earthen floor comprised of gravel, straw, sand, dirt and clay, sealed with linseed oil. Because of the unevenness of some floors, three legged pots and stools were used, some stools had legs with slightly different lengths, making it easy to position them on such floors.
I took the photo's last August on a visit to Bunratty Folk Park. 
Linked to: http://smilingsally.blogspot.com

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Frozen Over

A Day for Wrapping Up and Getting Out

Believe it or not, the sun is shining



The Sky is Blue 



The trees are white

The ducks are happy



Athlunkard Bridge is looking splendid
And the river is almost frozen.



Tuesday, June 8, 2010

The Neighbours Cat


Cheeko, the neighbours cat, deciding what to have for dinner, a shubunkin, a red cap oranda, a koi or maybe just a plain goldfish


Got nothing there

A bird might be nicer


No luck


Maybe a bee or a butterfly

A quite snooze might be best.

Who would ever think, the cat, a cherished pet, is supposed to be the second most serious threat to the song bird population around the World.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Peacocks



These two glamour boys are living in our area for a few years , they are often seen walking the road and visiting gardens, they are regular visitors to my garden, at night they take off and sleep in some high trees in the area.

Last night there was consternation when a neighbour saw four boys bundle one of the peacocks into a car. She had the good sense to take the number and phone the police. All ended well, when after about two hours, the four boys were back with the police, to the relief of the neighbours, the peacock was set free. He looks none the worse for wear except for a few ruffled feathers.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Greylag Geese

Greylag Geese enjoying a family outing, swimming, relaxing, survaying the scene, vocalising with each other and having the time of their lives meandering around the waters edge.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Angling Cot Boat

Miniature models of an Angling Cot (Brocaun)

The brocaun was the traditional fishing boat of the Abbey Fishermen, a group of snap net fishermen who made their living by fishing a particular section of water on the Shannon river. The boat was a flat bottom boat, measuring twenty four feet wide and two and a half feet wide, ideal for poling over rapids and shallows. With the installation of the Hydro Electric Scheme in the late 1920's the fishermen were deprived of their livelihood.