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.

 

 

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.



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

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.



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.

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.

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.

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.

The Duck Family

After a long day swimming, ducking and diving and mucking about on the river, Deirdre and Diarmuid Duck spent a romantic evening standing on the river wall admiring the view

watching the sun go down and quacking about building a nest

When the nest was built, Deirdre laid 10 eggs, and after 28 days, Siobhán, Sinéad, Órflaith, Eóin and Dónal Duck arrived, and little Buí, the odd one out. All are doing very well and living happily on the river Shannon.

Mute Swan

A mute swan calmly gliding through the dark water of the Mill Stream

Frogspawn and Tadpoles

Frogspawn

Tadpoles

Back in March when I first spotted the Heron eating frogs, I discovered the pond was oozing with frogspawn. A month later the pond was absolutely alive with tadpoles and still is, I can't help wondering what the garden is going to be like when they turn into frogs. I presume there will be an awful lot of hopping going on.

Adare Manor

Had a very pleasant time to-day with my friends Audrey and Rita. We treated ourselves to Afternoon Tea at Adare Manor.

Later, we took a walk in the beautiful grounds of the Manor.