Fairybridge Summer

I got really lucky recently. I moved house. And not to any house but into a real fairy tale.

I guess no none will believe me until  I post some photos ;)

It has been a fantastic spring so far, I foresee an amazing summer!!

The place is called Fairybridge and this is how it looks like:

The first glimpse you get when you arrive from the road

 

Living in a 280 year old house is the most incredible experience for me so far. 

It simply a dream...Think of all the photos coming up....

Spring is on its way

Spring is on its way...

I certainly hope so because it is the middle of March now and we have been deluged by constant showers, blown away by the ice cold wind and totally frozen in despair while waiting for the good weather.

Yes, 2016 weather is so very disappointing so far. At least here in the West of Ireland in the beautiful Galway county. I won't be surprised if in Dublin and the East parts the birds are singing and the weather is all nice and rosy. 

You can not imagine how many times I have traveled to Dublin and back witnessing and enjoying fantastic lovely sunny weather over there. Then on my way back half way across the country clouds appear out of nowhere and slowly and menacingly swoop down until by the time I arrive in Galway it's cold and rain is pouring like there is no tomorrow. 

So it is really time for spring. Nothing is blossoming yet, which is so strange, I am waiting impatiently for nature to be revived and reborn. 

Come on sun!! Stop hiding!! I need some light and colour!! 

 

For the time being the daffodils are one of the few flowers blossoming... But spring is on it's way, soon there will be more ;)

UNDERCOVER DOG

My dog has extra special training. He goes undercover. All the time now. 

He starts from one side of the sofa, dives under the covers and crawls all the way through until his nose shows on the opposite side. Then he is snug and comfy for the night. My boxer dog is so clever. He really has special training.  

We are so proud of him and we love him so much ;) 

sorry about the bad quality photos

Lights in the Darkness

Once Christmas is over, New Year's Eve is almost forgotten and we have totally recovered, I don't want to feel cold anymore, don't want to see snow, don't want to look at the rain (tough luck on that one) I yearn for the first green leaves and the spring flowers and the weak winter sun smiling from somewhere up there among the clouds (hopefully).

But well, I am perfectly aware that it is far too early for that anyway. There is 3 to 4 more months of cold and rain and possibly frost and snow (depending on where you live, here in Ireland we don't really get snow) 

So what I am going to do is, post some of the images I captured in December and never had the time to show you because I was so outrageously busy baking away at The White Gables. 

The only thing that keeps us going during the long devouring darkness of the long December days and nights is the hopeful and colourful twinkling of all the Christmas decorations everywhere. 

Tell me now, who doesn't like to see Lights in the darkness??!!!

 

I hope you can indulge my weakness for abstract photography and taking photos at low light without tripod. I find the effects rather striking and quite fitting the season of darkness...

Thanks for being here 

Me and the Old Boys

You all know I am a nature walker, I love my little hikes in the Connemara hills, but I am also a dog lover. I love my boxer dogs and for me it is not a good walk if they are not with me. 

You have no idea how cool it is to go out with the boys.
We all walk with the same pace, it is quiet and peaceful on the road, it's just us and mother nature.

I usually let them go in front of me, but most of all they love to fit me in the middle, so I am save and sound between them. You never know, someone might try to talk to me...Not a very wise idea if you are a man, my boys get a bit cranky and don't really let anyone come close. Otherwise I keep telling everyone they are just a pair of sofa cushions. 

I know that no one believes me though, especially when I see people crossing the road, afraid to walk past us.

I feel sad sometimes knowing how misunderstood boxers are. Because of their size and the unusual amount of energy, people believe them to be scary beasts.
This is so not true! There is no one more loving and gentle than my two boys.

Once I was asked "Are they wicked?" by a woman with crazy eyes who run fast down the road in case they decided to eat her. The Old Boys didn't even look at her. They simply know who is not fit for consumption ;-)

Anyway, I can not blame anyone for being afraid of dogs. I have great experience with mighty beast (haha) but I still know when to be cautious. I have been beaten by a dog before and I know how it feels. Strangely enough it wasn't any of mine, but one of those sheep dogs that like to bark a lot at passers by, every time you go past their house (you know one somewhere for sure) One day this particular guy didn't just bark but decide to sneak behind me and bit me on the back of my leg. OUCH!!

I am proud to say that my boys have much better manners than this, they would never do anything like that!! They don't bark, they don't jump at people, they are perfectly behaved simply because we walk them every they for 2 hours no matter the weather, we love them, we hug them all the time and we live in harmony.

We love each other very much