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.

Yes, Snow Again

Took this photo of the big freeze, a few weeks ago.

Enjoyed lovely Spring weather since.

Woke up this morning, to see snow again.

Grey Heron Visit

I was surprised this morning when I looked out my window to see a Heron in the garden. I went for my camera straight away and quickly took this photograph through the window. At first I though the Heron might be fooled by the ornamental lopsided heron near the pond and I thought he might be thinking of starting up a romance, but no, he had another interest in mind, it was food. I discovered there were lots of frogs in the pond.

I decided to sneak out to try and get a closeup photo, but as I anticipated, he took to his heels and flew off over the wall.

No doubt, he was enjoying his frog meal as he was back again in no time, so I managed to get a better photo of him on the ivy clad wall.

Happy St. Patrick's Day - 17th March 2010

The Dear Little Shamrock

By Andrew Cherry

There's a dear little plant that grows in our Isle,

'Twas saint Patrick himself sure that set it;

And the sun on his labour with pleasure did smile,

And with dew from his eye often wet it.

It shines thro' the bog, thro' the brake, thro' the mireland,

And he call'd it the dear little Shamrock of Ireland.

CHORUS:

The dear little Shamrock, the sweet little Shamrock,

The dear little, sweet little Shamrock of Ireland.

That dear little plant still grows in our land,

Fresh and fair as the daughters of Erin,

Whose smiles can bewitch, and whose eyes can command,

In each climate they ever appear in:

For they shine thro' the bog, thro' the brake, and the mireland,

Just like their own dear little Shamrock of Ireland.

That dear little plant that springs from our soil,

When its three little leaves extended,

Denotes from the stalk we together should toil,

And ourselves by ourselves be befriended.

And still thro' the bog, thro' the brake, and the mireland,

From one root should branch, like the Shamrock of Ireland.

Anna Jarvis Founder of Mother's Day

Sunday 14th March - Mother's Day, Ireland

Miss Anna Jarvis was the daughter of Anna Reeves and Granville E. Jarvis, born May 1, 1864 in Webster, West Virginia. Miss Jarvis' mother prior to the Civil War, organized what she called, "Mothers Day Work Clubs". These women did charitable work in their communities, including providing medicine for the poor, milk inspections for sanitary instructions to families in which the mothers were tubercular. The ladies provided professional nursing services for sick soldiers, who were mostly suffering from typhoid fever. It was a greatly needed service at that time.

Anna Jarvis' mother was her Sunday School teacher and one day as a memorial for soldiers killed in service, was discussed, Mrs. Jarvis said, "I hope someone, sometime establishes a special day as a memorial to our mothers". Young Anna Jarvis never forgot her mothers wish, and after her mothers death on May 9, 1905 she began to pursue diligently the establishment of a Mothers Day, in memory of her mother's words. She worked unceasingly at this task, holding meeting, talking to every available, influential person, of her mother's idea. she wrote letter by the hundreds and finally the first official Mother's Day service was held in her mothers own church, the Andrew Methodist Episcopal in Grafton, West Virginia. On that special day Miss Jarvis sent 500 white carnations to the church, one to be worn by each person attending the service. Anna Jarvis died in 1948 in a Philadelphia rest home, blind and penniless. Though she was founder of Mother's Day, she herself was never a mother, since she remained a spinster all her life.

Mist, Fog, Frost

Mysteriously beautiful, freezing, Mist, Fog, Frost.

Blog Award

Thank you Hilde for giving me a Blog Award, back in November 2009. I appreciate it very much, sorry for not posting sooner. Take a look at Hilde's lovely garden blog. http://hagenpagranheim.blogspot.com

I would like to pass the award on to:
A Hazy Moon
Moments of Mine
Artic View
Hagemor
Mike and D's Life in the Hosier State and Beyond
Elcmae's Countdown to 65

Mushrooms

This is the time of year when lots of different types of wild mushrooms are found popping up in the fields and forests, but overnight, in a shaded area, under a conifer tree, in my garden, this little crop of mushrooms pushed their way through the earth and weeds. I quickly went for my camera, fearing they might be "magic mushrooms" and do a disappearing act. I know that some mushrooms are poisonous and with names like "death cap" and "destroying angels", I decided NOT to make a meal of them.

Early Morning

A delightful, calm, tranquil, early morning scene on the River Shannon at Corbally.

Sunrish - Sunset

Sun rising over the Sonoran Desert, Arizone. Sun setting over the river Shannon, Limerick, Ireland.