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It Looks Like Spring!

24 Jan

The sun shone all morning and there was a hint of Spring in the air.

Mr Toad…not a real toad, you understand…caught the rays of the late winter sun and looked quite animated.

Spring is officially welcomed into the west of Ireland on February the 1st, Imbolc, Brigid’s day.

I would not be surprised to see it arrive early!

Certainly here at Bealtaine Cottage, the Daffodils are ready to open flower and Primroses are out.

Clearing the polytunnel formed part of this morning’s work, one of the first dry, sunny mornings in some time.

This involved scraping the weeds off the paths and composting them.

Then the top layer of last year’s straw was cleared from the topsoil and spread on the beds. it doesn’t take long and the result is worth the small effort.

I use an Oscillating Hoe, which although expensive to buy is a great investment, as it saves a lot of hard work.

The winter has been mild and most of the herbs in the tunnel have kept their leaves, with Fennel beginning to grow already and broccoli making a good show.

The garden took on a mantle of life in the sunshine and the birds all appeared to be very lively.

A beautiful fox has made an appearance over recent nights and even sauntered along the front of the cottage in broad daylight yesterday morning.

I think it’s a vixen as I hear her calling at night from the hill of Ballyfermoyle behind the cottage.

Meanwhile, indoors, Sam continues to eat, drink, play and sleep.

I make sure that little Flo stays in the lodge with Sam and Che, as being white furred and young, could fall prey to a very beautiful but hungry fox.

I lost a beautiful marmalade mouser called Ossian to the fox some years ago and it was a dreadful experience.

Flo is very territorial and chases all comers!

Jack, as you can see, is very hen-pecked by Flo…he always gives in!

Tags: Ballyfermoyle, cottage, daffodils, fox, herbs in tunnel, Imbolc, Sam, tunnel, vixen

Comments 5 Comments
Categories Cats, celebrations, Cottage, Garden, Imbolc, Lifestyle, Permaculture, Saint Bridget Cross, Sustainable Living, Uncategorized

Bealtaine Cottage and Permaculture Gardens Photo Album 2012…February!

29 Dec

Looking back at the year…February photographs

February was mild and the Daffodils in the gardens of Bealtaine came up without damage

Ribes bushes throughout the gardens filled the air with a heady scent, enticing the Bees out from hibernation.

Mizuna flourished in the tunnel, providing a green salad for the table throughout the winter months.

Missy showed her first signs of being unwell and began a course of steroid treatment.

We thought we would loose her, but her spirit stayed strong.

Weaving baskets from willow began in earnest at Bealtaine Cottage, putting newly acquired skills into practice.

The water barrels kept filling and filling as the rain poured from the skies…

We had sunny days too…all the more appreciated for the previous rain!

We went out walking and found old ruins from past lives, now stark and dramatic against the bright, February sky of 2012.

The greening of the Bog Garden started in mist and frost.

The heavily misted mornings were a beauty all of their own.

And the early sun of 2012 crept into the cottage…

Tags: Bog Garden, cottage, daffodils, February 2012, Missy, misted mornings, Mizuna, old ruins, photo album 2012, sick cat, sun, Thornhill, water barrels, weaving baskets

Comments 2 Comments
Categories Animals, Cats, Climate, Cottage, Country Living, Crafts, Food, Garden, Growing Food, Inspiration, Ireland, Life, Permaculture

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Magical Driftwood and Happy Cats

As the weekend draws in, the clock tells me it’s time to make dinner and settle in for the evening…it’s Friday evening!

The day has been wet and grey and much of my work has taken place in and around the cottage.

Days like today are welcome though, as it allows a little bit of a slow-down and a time for reflection and making plans.

I have decided to tile the kitchen floor, using broken tiles from the local tile shop, Carrick Tiles.

It is a long task, but the best approach is to a little each day and try not to work too long, as this can inhibit the desire to return to the task the following day!

Missy has kept warm beside the stove.

This is the longest period of time without a visit to the vet.

It appears that keeping really warm by the stove eases her symptoms.

Doesn’t she look well?

Some friends visited last weekend and Nick brought me this lovely mirror he made using driftwood.

There is something so beautiful about driftwood.

Even the scent of this wood evokes the ocean.

It is magical to live this close to the Atlantic Ocean…about a 45 minute drive to Rosses Point.

I’m happy to tell you all that the “We Will Not Comply” petition now has over 4,200 signatures…not bad for a mere 8 days.

If you would like to add your name then here’s the link…

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/We_Will_Not_Comply/?cCgoWbb

Have a good weekend everyone!

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April weather is always unpredictable. Snow fell this morning…in between rain and brilliant sunshine! It was like a convergence of all the seasons in one morning! This time last year we were swimming in the Atlantic Ocean down by Mullaghmore Pier. Legs and arms, uncovered for the first time in months, looked a sickly white […]
The Drama Unfolds…

The rain has fallen for 48 hours. Heavy, relentless rain, that has washed down the hill behind the cottage and into the ditches, I constructed for such a deluge. The water is carried around the ditches and into the stream bed that flows down through the Fairy Wood and on, into the ponds. This is […]
Ivy, Euphorbia, Angelica and more Orchids at Bealtaine Permaculture Smallholding, Ireland.

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Ecosystems, Stability, Wild Orchids and Cuckoos @ Bealtaine Permaculture Smallholding, Ireland

Working in the tunnel this morning I heard the first Cuckoo of the year calling from the hill behind Bealtaine. This is extraordinarily early to hear the Cuckoo…usually in May, or at the earliest, very late April…the seasons are coming earlier here in Ireland. The flowers on the first Wild Orchid of the year are […]
From Monoculture to Permaculture…Beyond Organic in Ireland!

From monoculture grass and cows to Pear blossom on an April evening…Permaculture. Where once was a field covered in grass and rushes, there is now an orchard and…permaculture. Blackthorn blossom through the arch… The barbed wire that once bordered this area by the cottage is gone, replaced with a new border…of plants and trees…permaculture! And […]

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The sun shone all morning and there was a hint of Spring in the air.

Mr Toad…not a real toad, you understand…caught the rays of the late winter sun and looked quite animated.

Spring is officially welcomed into the west of Ireland on February the 1st, Imbolc, Brigid’s day.

I would not be surprised to see it arrive early!

Certainly here at Bealtaine Cottage, the Daffodils are ready to open flower and Primroses are out.

Clearing the polytunnel formed part of this morning’s work, one of the first dry, sunny mornings in some time.

This involved scraping the weeds off the paths and composting them.

Then the top layer of last year’s straw was cleared from the topsoil and spread on the beds. it doesn’t take long and the result is worth the small effort.

I use an Oscillating Hoe, which although expensive to buy is a great investment, as it saves a lot of hard work.

The winter has been mild and most of the herbs in the tunnel have kept their leaves, with Fennel beginning to grow already and broccoli making a good show.

The garden took on a mantle of life in the sunshine and the birds all appeared to be very lively.

A beautiful fox has made an appearance over recent nights and even sauntered along the front of the cottage in broad daylight yesterday morning.

I think it’s a vixen as I hear her calling at night from the hill of Ballyfermoyle behind the cottage.

Meanwhile, indoors, Sam continues to eat, drink, play and sleep.

I make sure that little Flo stays in the lodge with Sam and Che, as being white furred and young, could fall prey to a very beautiful but hungry fox.

I lost a beautiful marmalade mouser called Ossian to the fox some years ago and it was a dreadful experience.

Flo is very territorial and chases all comers!

Jack, as you can see, is very hen-pecked by Flo…he always gives in!

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February was mild and the Daffodils in the gardens of Bealtaine came up without damage

Ribes bushes throughout the gardens filled the air with a heady scent, enticing the Bees out from hibernation.

Mizuna flourished in the tunnel, providing a green salad for the table throughout the winter months.

Missy showed her first signs of being unwell and began a course of steroid treatment.

We thought we would loose her, but her spirit stayed strong.

Weaving baskets from willow began in earnest at Bealtaine Cottage, putting newly acquired skills into practice.

The water barrels kept filling and filling as the rain poured from the skies…

We had sunny days too…all the more appreciated for the previous rain!

We went out walking and found old ruins from past lives, now stark and dramatic against the bright, February sky of 2012.

The greening of the Bog Garden started in mist and frost.

The heavily misted mornings were a beauty all of their own.

And the early sun of 2012 crept into the cottage…

Share this:

Like this:

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As the weekend draws in, the clock tells me it’s time to make dinner and settle in for the evening…it’s Friday evening!

The day has been wet and grey and much of my work has taken place in and around the cottage.

Days like today are welcome though, as it allows a little bit of a slow-down and a time for reflection and making plans.

I have decided to tile the kitchen floor, using broken tiles from the local tile shop, Carrick Tiles.

It is a long task, but the best approach is to a little each day and try not to work too long, as this can inhibit the desire to return to the task the following day!

Missy has kept warm beside the stove.

This is the longest period of time without a visit to the vet.

It appears that keeping really warm by the stove eases her symptoms.

Doesn’t she look well?

Some friends visited last weekend and Nick brought me this lovely mirror he made using driftwood.

There is something so beautiful about driftwood.

Even the scent of this wood evokes the ocean.

It is magical to live this close to the Atlantic Ocean…about a 45 minute drive to Rosses Point.

I’m happy to tell you all that the “We Will Not Comply” petition now has over 4,200 signatures…not bad for a mere 8 days.

If you would like to add your name then here’s the link…

Have a good weekend everyone!

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