Xmas 2009 in slane

warm and sunny in west cork

Apple pressing

Outdoor chicks

We put the chicks outside today. The big hen was not impressed.

Chick weed Chick Flick

The chicks have an extension on their house and are starting to fly around and eat, appropriately, chick weed.

Cheep cheep: we've got chicks

Holly and Seamas

Holly and Seamus are back from Fuerteventura

The Hanora

Boating has gone up a level. Nigel took us out for a spin in his fabulous Hare Island lobster boat that he rebuilt. Sorry about the background cackle.

Messing about in boats,

Peggy kindly offered us the use of her boat while she's away. We made it to Sherkin yesterday but Nigel reckoned we needed a tutorial on how to manage it.

Summer

We have had the first week of summer weather this year and you never know here it could be the last. so, we made the best of it.

2009 Fiddle Fair

The Fiddle Fair is like a summer holiday for me, with the advantage that I don't have to go away. When you live in the best place in the world, why would you want to? The Fiddle Fair brings the world to us.
 Here is a little bit of the American musicians that brought us a taste of Old time, Cajun, Country and Jazz. They seemed to  be in different bands but all played together just the same. That was the best night for me with all the dancing which kept us warm.

Well done Declan and all the team. Can't wait for next year.

Well done Clonakilty marketeers

The Clonakilty Market re-opened today and inspite of the weather looked greatJohn Devoy was up at 1am to get ready.

There was plenty of local produce, like Alan Hassett's giant plaice.
and plenty of vegetables considering it is April.The market should knock off a few food miles, support local producers, connecting them to their consumers, be an attraction for tourists, keep money within the community, create competition with the supermarkets, in a good way, act as an incubator for small food processors, be a social focal point in the town, and lots more. Why then is the town council taking all the traders names and threatening prosecution under the Casual Trading Act? Has the act been implemented in Clonakilty? Has anyone seen the by-laws? Have the Market Rights been extinguished? 

We popped into Scally's on the way home where YOU KNOW WHOSE organic beef is for sale. Scally's are supplied with organic beef  by Good Herdsmen They enquire whose beef is available and if it is ours they take it. It is a pity it has to travel so far, first to Watergrass hill to be killed and then to Cahir to be cut up and then back to Clonakilty. 

My  good friend Eric has just published two books. He is such a sensitive and intelligent soul that I am looking forward to reading them. He always has an interesting and different slant on all subjects, from climate change to relationships. The first is a novel called "The King, Father and Mother - Trinity Revelation" and the second a book of poems called  "Oasis of Love" They are available through Lulu.com.  http://stores.lulu.com/booksbyericrhodes

Anyone can upload their writing or pictures to Lulu and have them printed as a book. There is no minimum print run. I have been thinking of writing a pocket gardening book and diary so I was intrigued that Eric's novel fits easily into a back pocket. I shall take it with me to the polytunnel and have a little read between projects. 

Autumn and Aiden

Autumn and Aiden came for a spring visit. It doesn't seem so long ago that autumn and Holly were making dens and having tea parties in the 'forest'. 

Mad Aquarians on 14th of February

At dawn on the 14th of February the planets were alighned in some way that I (a mere Leo) don't understand, but it seemed important to the Aquarians so I went with them to Cunnamore point to eh celebrate...

Notabouthorses

Especially for the antipodean followers.

 Claudia, Michael, Finbarr and Ewan, (sorry if I spelt your names wrongly), came over on Sunday with their ponies. So we did a bit of horsing around.

Kinmoth ponies

We went up to Millstreet for a outing to celebrate Mike's Birthday on the 1st of February. Here's a little bit of video of the Irish Draught showing its versatility, and a big bird. I thought this might amuse at least one of the followers of the BES blog.