walking

Last weekend we went walking by the sea. We chose an easy 4km or so loop which brought us to the Cooley peninsula near Carlingford. We passed golden fields and oyster shell strewn beaches. The distant purple hued mountains kept a quiet eye on us. It was warm. And we only had one mutinous child about half way along. Our trail started and ended at Lily Finnegan's pub, which by the time we got back there was thankfully open... never had the packet of Tayto crisps and glass of Bulmers tasted so good!

bladderwrack

Oh the pull of the sea and its swishing tides and clacking pebbles and wind in the sails and smell of chugging diesel engines and maybe, if you were lucky, fish and chips with the calling of seagulls and the wet slop of bladderwrack. To the sea we must go.

Wonderful linocut seascapes and more to be found on artist Melvyn Evans' website

reminders

Sea finds. Smooth grained driftwood, delicate laced seaweed and opaque seaglass. A little collection to remind us where we come from. The sand has been washed from our clothes, the kites and barbecue have been put away and the boys have finished their first week back to school. In the middle of the week I got the sudden longing to be off exploring, away from routine and work and all the thousand little things that make up our days. Fling essentials into the car, buckle ourselves in and just go... But like the kite that swoops and dives in the seashore wind there are lines that tether us to our place, we can't just leave. Can we?

weekending

At a little cove on the edge of Cushendun, there's Cave House which is only accessible down a little path and then through a....cave. We walked through its drippy darkness (you can't see much of the house as there's a locked gate when you get through the cave) but how Famous Five is that??

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside! Look at those blue skies. And of course it's fresh enough to blow away any cobwebs. We played in the park, ran down the steep hill where the bunnies live and walked along the prom, watching out for pirates (them) and ferries (us). Love, love, love the sea.

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.

made by the sea

If you need to be lulled by gentle sea-sounds, the wet slap of clay dug from the beach and watch an artist at work this video of potter Judith Rowe might be just the thing... I love the opening sequence with the cry of the sea birds and the sound of feet across sand...

Judith Rowe - Made by the Sea from Alun Callender on Vimeo.






Wrapping your fingers around a hand-thrown mug as you drink your warming tea connects you to the person who made it, connects you to their creativity, connects you to their wobbles and finger pressure as the clay is turned and formed, connects you to their time and place.

If you want to buy any of Judith's ceramics go to the lovely Made in Hastings shop.

seascapes

This Easter's warmth has put me in mind of pastel coloured gabled seaside houses, bunting zigzagging down to the water's edge, masts tinkling in light breezes and the safety of the harbour...







You can almost smell the seaweed and taste the tang of salt from these wonderful seaside paintings by St Ives artist Emma Jeffryes available here

life's a beach

A much needed break from routine- a trip to grandparents and the sea where the wind whipped our faces and left salty kisses behind, where we ran screaming from foaming waves which still lapped over into Wellington boots, where rock-pools lay glistening in the sun ready to catch with a splash the smallest one who fell in. The north Antrim coast and glens glinted in the March sunshine and held us as willing captives.

just because

Just because it's February and things are still a bit grey and blustery it doesn't mean we can't have something a little floral, a little Spring like, a little colourful to remind ourselves that the gloom will pass, eventually. Actually in the garden some bulbs are already peeking through the soil and the snowdrops are out so it's not all a lost cause and today there is sunshine enough to hang some winter woollens outside to dry.

The lovely paintings are by Scottish painter William George Gillies, and I for one wouldn't mind that white cottage by the sea with flowers filling every vase, pot and jug to ease those winter blues.

out and about

I suppose there can sometimes be an element of 'familiarity breeds contempt' in all our lives. Certainly living in Ireland we are surrounded by all sorts of special features in our immediate landscape, making them common-place, comfortable and consequently, perhaps, not-much-thought-of. We went to Monasterboice monastery founded in the 6th Century to look at the high crosses and round tower which date from the 10th Century. We showed the boys the crosses deeply carved shafts depicting biblical stories and also their wonderful swirling abstract designs. They ran about, perhaps not caring too much about anything except the sun on their faces, while we marvelled at what has gone before us in this land of ours.

I loved the beautifully engraved late 18th century grave stones, full of plump cherubic faces with fanned wings and curly mops of hair and elegant lichen flecked angels blowing long trumpets. Here also are reminders of time passing in the hourglass...use it wisely!

We then took a windswept walk along the beach where we all gathered shells and pebbles and watched the antics of swooping seagulls and sandpipers dashing out of the waves reach. It was lovely to walk on that sandy expanse listening to the crash of water on land and to watch their carefree souls finding joy in the world.