On the beach...

I have been stuck all day in the office catching up on office work. Normally this does not really bother me... today, however, was a beautiful crisp winter's day, which is a rare thing indeed! I left the house around 4PM to run down to the post office before it closed at 5. I left a bit early with the camera and hoped to catch the sunset around 4:30. As I drove down to the shore I ended up speeding faster and faster in an attempt to find a good place to pull over and capture the amazing sight unfolding before me before it was too late. The sun seemed to light up the sky and water with forty shades of orange. I parked on the beach and ran down to the shore. I quickly fired off shot after shot all the while brake dancing over the rocky beach. After a few moments I started walking down the shore line in hopes of getting a better angle on the light show going on over the water. It was then that I saw him. A little seal pup lying up on the rocks looking out over the water. He seemed to be enjoying the sunset just as much as I was and didn't seemed too bothered to pose for a few pictures. I ended up watching the sunset with my little seal friend... all the while counting my blessings for being able to live in such an amazing place.


























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For my mother in law

We have had a request for more pictures of ourselves... so this one is for my mother in law. It was taken yesterday during a brief but glorious sunny spell.







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Today's Random Pic...

There is just something magical about holding the camera up and knowing that you have just gotten a good picture. The photo below was one of those moments. I often run across an individual that looks as if they have just traveled here from a different time. This young guy was playing the pipes in the pedestrian center of city... and boy! does he look like he just stepped off of a postcard! I know that he was 'playing the part' and trying to earn a few bucks, but I could not help but see him as one of these timeless characters. I could not wait to get home and see what he looked like 'in print' (on the computer screen).







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More Red Deer...

Just a few more pictures of the red deer...








'Looking for a girlfriend'





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Hunting Season

This post is for all of those hunters out there. I know back in the states right now many of our friends and family are sitting out in the cold woods waiting for a deer to stumble into they cross hairs. These are red deer the largest and the only native species to Ireland. They are believed to have had a continuous presence in Ireland since the end of the last Ice Age (circa 10,000 BC). At this time they roamed freely through out Ireland, however as a result of deforestation, over hunting and the Great Famine (1845 - 1847) many populations became extinct.








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Today's Random Pic...

Taken at sunset







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The Walls

I love the rock walls here. I love that everywhere you look these lumps of history seem to hug the contours of the landscape. Many of the fields here still don't have proper gates that open and close. In stead, farmers have small gaps in the walls or certain spots that they dismantle and rebuild on a regular basis. I often look at these walls and think of the generations it took to reclaim this rocky land by clearing the small fields and building these walls...




This picture was taken a few days ago while on a walk with a friend...



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Goodbye flowers...

It is late on Sunday night... and I am home and sitting next to the fire...

The last two days have been unusually sunny and beautiful, but it is wild and wet outside tonight. The weather is promised to be especially harsh the next couple of days. Winter time is always wet and cold, but it is the wind that keeps us housebound and inside. Wind blowing up to 60mph isn't unusual... and it turns the rain and hail into missiles.

Our poor little fuchsia bush in the front garden is holding on to a few last blooms, but I fear that they will be gone after this windy week. I took a few moments this morning to enjoy the last of the blooms... hope that you enjoy them too!







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2010 Calendar

That is right! We have a calendar available for 2010! We have collected some of our favorite photos of Ireland and published a 2010 calendar. Many of the photos have not yet been featured on this website, but have been kept for this special calendar.






Each 11" x 8.5" calendar is coil bound for ease of hanging and is printed on bright white 100# paper for clear, crisp, and bright printed photo. The calendar includes pre-printed holidays and plenty of room to note your own special occasions.







Each calendar costs 15EURO and will be shipped directly to you within a few days of ordering.






To order simply CLICK HERE, or go to:
http://www.lulu.com/content/lulustudio-calendar/ireland-2010/7908406





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Today's Random Pic...

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Winter

November 1st is the first day of Winter in Ireland. Let me just say.... winter has truly come and it has come with a vengeance!! We have (over the past week) had a few moments of sunshine... but only for a moment or two at a time... most of the weather has been extremely wet and gray. The change in weather has really played games with my sinuses. I never had these problems in the states, but here I seem to get these sinus headaches that can last all day. So.... needless to say the last week has not been full of a lot of photo opportunities. I took the following photo a while back on a very wet and gray day (just like today). I love the trees here. I love how their shape paints a picture of the strength and shape of the wind.








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More cottages...

Just a quick update with a few more old cottages.







Dee and our friend J





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Today's Random Pic...

The old thatched house







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Across the road

One of our neighbors keeps a small group of cows in the few empty fields on our road. Several times a week they are moved around from field to field, and from time to time they are put into the small field directly across the road from our house. I really enjoy looking out of our office window and seeing the small band of hairy ladies staring back at me. Their moos always fool me into thinking that my mobile phone (cell phone) is vibrating somewhere. In fact, I actually got out of bed an hour early this morning because of the cows' mooing.

Today I was entertained by watching the cows make a new friend. A new puppy that lives a few doors down discovered the cows. At first the cows seemed threatened by the overly playful pup... and they chased her off. Later, however, I witnessed a friendship being formed.

I think that the pictures speak for themselves...














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A ghost story - For Halloween

Leamaneh Castle - County Clare





This stately house was originally built around 1480 as a Norman Castle (you can see the original castle bit on the far right side). Over the centuries it has housed many Lords none of which is more famous than "Máire Rúa" (Red Mary). Máire was a fiery red headed woman who was a direct descendant of Brian Boru (the last high king of Ireland). It is said that her clan (The O'Brians) were very fair and loved by all the people that lived on their lands.

There is an interesting story about Máire and this castle. In her youth she was madly in love to her husband, but her husband made a fatal mistake. In 1651 he supported the Irish revolt against the English. The revolt was brutally put down, and Máire's husband was killed in battle. Fearing that her lands and wealth would be stripped away she quickly traveled to where the English army was camped. It was there that she quickly found and seduced an English officer. The two were soon married, and Máire's fortune was secure. Some time after their marriage, however, Máire overheard her new husband mocking her dead love. In a fit of rage Máire shoved the second husband from the third story window.

Máire went on to marry again.... and she also outlived her third husband. It is said by some, that on occasion a faint shadow of Máire Rúa can be seen passing by the empty window on the third floor... still watching over her lands and missing her true love...




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