picnic by the sea

The May bank holiday brought us to the sea. We bumped along in the Landrover until we found our perfect spot next to a wide expanse of sandy beach. We didn't let the ominous clouds stop us. We picnic~ed (in the Landy, as it happened, as of course it rained) rolls with cheese, pastrami and homemade chutney, Golden Syrup cake, apples and tea from the trusty blue camping kettle. After, with wellies on, it was onto the sand to build castles, play rugby catch, take photos, fly kites and generally be whipped by the wind. All that fresh air! We drove home through the hail showers so glad that we'd gone and always so grateful for the sea.

pumpkins

Of course it's got to be pumpkins! These ones are at Strandfield where we enjoyed a sneaky (delicious) lunch while the boys were at school. We also had a quick potter in the shop/florists and then dashed home in time for collection from school. Sometimes these un-planned for but still very enjoyable trips are just what's needed.

out and about

Last Sunday, at the tail-end of a trip to the Ulster American Folk Park, we had the quickest of quick visits to Springhill, a 17th century house. We were too late to get into the house but we had enough time to walk around the gardens and stroll up to the folly. It was charming and, at that time of the evening, peaceful with only the calls of ravens in the trees keeping us company. The boys had a great time using the haha as a trench and fighting 'the enemy' with stick guns. On the next sunny day we'll pack a picnic and go back for a proper, longer explore.

days like this

Last weekend we headed to the west coast of Ireland. It was one of those blissful September days with such welcome sunshine, all the more so as the days shorten and autumn creeps along. We made our way to the nearest beach. The tide was out and the rippling sands glistened as we walked and paddled in rock pools. The boys did their best to catch minute, black darting fish trapped in the warm puddles and we wished we had brought swimming costumes as the water looked so inviting and still. Even the small fishing boat puttering up the estuary towards Killala barely broke the peace.  It was blissful to feel the sun on our skin and to be in the company of loved ones (who looked after us so well) and to come home feeling refreshed and lucky indeed.

weekending

This weekend saw us travel along the coast where the Mournes sweep to the sea. We had a birthday to celebrate- Hugo's- and it so happened he was finishing his Four Peaks Challenge on that very special day. We decided to meet him at the foot of Slieve Donard and while we waited we picnic-ed and clambered on the rocks and took in great lungfuls of fresh sea air. His Scout troop arrived, tired but victorious and Hugo has now climbed the highest mountain in each of the four provinces, all by the ripe old age of twelve!

loughcrew

A climb up the Mountain of the Witch soon brings us among the burial stones of the past. The landscape of undulating hills and colliding clouds watch over this most ancient of places. Our feet walked where others had walked, our hands touched stones which others had carved, meanings now long forgotten. The wind that blew around us must surely have blown around those who built the cairns. We are the same, separated only by time. What will be the remnants of our culture, for future others to find?

beach combing

Although we are lucky enough to live near lakes both small and large, I will admit that the sea continues to call. We fossil hunt under clouded skies, feet on smooth washed pebbles, fingers sandy from picking up shells, always looking for treasure. Hugo finds flint and perfect driftwood and makes a stone age tool. Dinosaur teeth are uncovered (in truth white triangular stones) and memories are made among the seaweed strewn beaches.

a grand day out

The festival season has well and truly kicked off here. This bank holiday weekend it's the turn of the Drogheda Arts Festival so we took the boys to the historic town to watch some of the street circus performers. We loved the excellently moustached Star Man climbing up the rope to get a rose for his beloved (a blushing audience member who said to her son 'don't tell dad' when she got a kiss from the star man). Sir Edwin Longbottom also had everybody laughing with his juggling antics and buffoonery. We snuck in a visit to the Highlanes Gallery for their exhibition 'Re-framing the Domestic in Irish Art' but saved the best til last when we called into the Brown Hound Bakery for coffee and tarts...

The bakery is just on the edge of Drogheda town and is well worth tracking down. With dark painted walls, polished concrete floors, glass cloches and lots of quirky vintage touches you can easily while away a morning over coffee and papers. We've also enjoyed lunch there- they do fabulous parmesan and chive scones filled with vintage cheddar and apple relish or slow roast chicken with herby mayonnaise  (for example) but I think the breads, cakes, pies and tarts are possibly the stars of the show. The afternoon we called in there was a pop-up vintage shop run by owner Jeni Glasgow which had me wishing we lived a little closer to the magical Brown Hound.