Rainy Day in Brussels

We're talking about a return trip to Belgium; my family is mainly from the Bruges area and my husband hasn't seen anything outside Brussels so I think a trip to the greater Flemish region would be great....

Pastoral

Light and Shadow on the Beach

A lot of the shots I took in Sligo especially on Mullaghmore beach, are filled with shades of light and dark, as the sun battled the clouds (luckily the sun won that one day :) )

Crows

I have an affinity for Crows and even my husband has to admit, wherever we go they tend to turn up to say hello. On the shores of Glencar lake a murder flew overhead, then one ofthem spun off and sat on the bench beside me as I took photos of the lake. He kept us company for a good while, then we moved up to the Waterfall carpark - where his mate sat on the wall in front of the car and posed for half a dozen photos. I love the intelligence of crows and you have to respect their place in the food chain :) When we were kids, one Christmas my parents rescued an injured crow whom we nicknamed Max and nursed back to health. My evil sisters released him while I was out one day, leaving me heartbroken because he never got to say goodbye. But since then he's been around in one way or another....

Distant Hills

Another view of Glencar Lake

I liked the way this one turned out, the perspective and the light reflecting, but mostly the sense of movement. Glencar Lake in Leitrim, again, but taken from the wall at the carpark before the Waterfall one.

Glencar Lake in Sunlight

Glencar Waterfall, Leitrim

The Wind Made Me

Stunted, twisted and warped by the wind, into a strange beuaty; trees that still provide shade and shelter, a canopy over lush grazing.

Preparation

For years my husband wanted to Kite surf and on his recent world travels he took the opportunity of inquiring of some experts what would he need to be a competent kite surf dude. Well sez they, you don't have to sail but it would help. You don't need to be ultra fit but it really helps. You don't need to surf, windsurf, or be familiar with wind currents and tides and stuff - but it would help. Oh and you do need to be a very strong swimmer.
"So, " sez husband "you wouldn't recommend me to give it a bash right now? I don't swim, I'm not fit, I can't surf and I get sea sick on anything smaller than the QE2?"

However someday we're going to get fit and learn.

No Strings Attached?

Kite Surfers practice on Mullaghmore Beach as the sun (yes, the atcual sun) sets. In this shot the natural fall of the light obscures the surfer dude, leaving the "kite" flying high.

MullaghMoo

Pur B&B was right beside a field full of lovely wind blasted trees and a mixture of the strangest looking sheep I've ever seen with big handsome black cows who gathered to observe our passing every evening.

Glencar Lake, Leitrim

Beautiful part of the country, we spent a lovely weekend in Mullaghmore CO SLigo, and visited nearby Glencar Lake and Waterfall (technically in Leitrim, I was assured :) ) it's a fabulous stretch of water and the unexpected sun on Saturday put us all in great spirits. Half the wedding party ended up here at some point on Saturday; we spent a lovely hour or two relaxing by the lakeside and at the waterfall. We were joined at one point by my favourite crows, who seemed to be in as good form as we were and even posed for photos for us. So lots of shots over the next few days of here, the waterfall, the beach etc and of course, some crows!

Ben Bulben

The Last Rose Of Summer.

Just back from a wedding inSligo in the lovely Mullaghmore region; I took some nice shots of Ben Bulben ; Glencar Lake & Waterfall; and Mullaghmore itself. The scenery is beautiful but Mullaghmore has a little bit to learn about servicing the tourist/visitor industry. A great weekend on the whole though, especially as it was a truly happy wedding party. So a whole new range of photos to put up during the week - til then, celebrate the absolute miserable end to a miserable summer :)

Harvest

Tomatos grown in hanging baskets by my 8 year old nephew :) He's inordinately proud of them, as he is of his peas, cabbages, potatoes, and other crops. He's a little Farmer.

Look Both Ways

Still defying the reality of grim weather with some photos taken in the rare moments of sunshine we've had this summer !

Repose

Lily