A Long Time Coming

Its been a long time coming. It is now into the first week of May, a time when normally the country would be in full bloom. Lush grass in the fields and boasting rights to the first farmer in the parish to cut his first cut of silage.
This year has been different. Its been cold and windy. The North wind has seldom stopped blowing. Average temperatures are many degrees below normal. Growth is 3 to 4 weeks behind. As are flowers.
Our early Tulips, which normally would have returned to slumber at this time, are in full bloom

We would often have sweet peas in bloom now, but they are as below

And carrots have just been sown, over 4 weeks late.

Farmers have had a really tough time. Fodder has been imported from the UK and France and milk yields in particular, are down significantly. This is really unfortunate as once dropped they are unlikely to recover. Hense loss of earnings.

On the positive side, the dawn chorus is now majestic. The days are longer and the light is much brighter. I really think the light has an affect on the psyche. The bright, vibrant light of late Spring into Summer brings a new energy. Young men feel the sap rising and old men are reminded of the memory.

So on we go.  Forever hopeful, looking forward, grateful for the support of neighbors and friends.

Surely the Summer will be long and warm. Like it was in the old days.

Water

I took a walk last week on forestry paths running along the base of the Knockmealdown Mountains.
The weather had been very wet for the previous few days. New streams had popped up, and older established waterways were in an extra hurry.

Amazingly these mountains were formed 260 million years ago          ( give or take a few years). Locals say it happened on the 14th of October, though proof is scarce.
At the foot of the highest peak, called Knocnmealdown lie two corrie lakes. And they have been around for a few years as well ( about 12,000 years, locals are unsure of the  exact date.)
The photo above shows the Knockmealdown, while in that below, hopefully, you can see where the stream leaves the lake.

I stood on a pathway, watching and listening to the stream as it rushed to-words me, under my feet, then off to meet the River Tar which in turn meets the River Suir and on the to great reunion of the Three Sisters,  Rivers  Barrow,  Nore and Suir,  in Waterford Harbour.
What a great reunion that must be.

Under my feet flowed billions of molecules of water. Each molecule identical, one Oxygen atom combined with two Hydrogen atoms. Complete.
I wondered if there had been a great celebration when that marriage had occurred. Did they recognise one another in the distance and did they celebrate at their union.
How long have they been together, what have they experienced, solid , liquid, gas. Was being  gas much more exciting that existing as ice. Is liquid a good compromise.
Is their being, older that the Knockmealdowns themselves or are they young things, only a couple of million years old.
What would it take to separate them.
Where have they been. Have they travelled the globe as clouds. Were they really disappointed when they met a cold front, and fell as water to the ground below. Or was this the beginning of a new adventure.
Do they have friends and do they miss these friends when they part. Or are they nuclear in outlook, caring only for their own experience, in total obedience to the  forces that determine their being.

Thats just one of billions of molecules of water passing under my feet in  a split second of time.
All with their own story, all perfect in formations, all in total obedience to natures laws.
Even River Dance was never this good.

Makes me think there must be something out there, a phenomenal organiser.

Busy Birds.

 Our Bird Table holds 3 containers of Peanuts.  These have come all the way from Argentina via Germany. Not sure how eco friendly that is, but the birds have not raised any issues.
We also have one container of Niger Seed. Don't know where that has come from, but definitely not " Éirin go Brá"

The birds get through 2 containers a day of peanuts and one of Niger Seed.
Since adding the Niger seed to the menu 2 years ago we have had a huge increase in Gold Finch numbers. This morning I counted 23.
Last year, for the first time we had red poll arriving. We also have great tit, coal tit, chaffinch, green finch ( much reduced in number this year), siskin.  Floating in and around we have blackbird, thrush, robbin, wren, rook, jackdaw, grey crow, pigeon and recently some doves.

The bird table is directly outside the kitchen window. Using a telescope, its possible to really get up close. Add a camera and "walla" some lovely photos.  I intend using some of these photos on our 2014 calendars.

Minutes of Emergency Meeting of Residents Assocation

A special emergency meeting of the local residents association was held on Monday night last 7th January 2013.

The meeting was called at short notice, caused by a rush of blood to the head, by our Chairman MMMattie.
The only item on the agenda was the official name change of the area .

Our area from hence forth will be known as  Lanzarote, Co Tipperary.

MMMattie's proposal was based on the fact that Christmas day produced one of the highest temperatures recorded in 2012. Evidence  supported by  the above photo.

Now being a quick mover, MMMattie reckoned that with the community hall recently painted, it was only a matter of convincing the local pub to wash the glasses before filling them, and , to periodically sweep the floor. Then add in the sunshine, the natural charm of the locals and we could legitimately boast of a tourist mecca.
The icing on the cake would be the new address, Lanzarote, Co Tipperary.

It was a no brainer.  MMMattie was thanked profusely from the floor   ( Tommy , drunk again), the motion was passed and all went on their merry way mumbling " Lanzarote, Co Tipperary.....by gob "

Next meeting will discuss how to get grants to build a B&B.