Rambling in Glendalough

School started back today and now we're trying to get back into the usual routine again. So we decided to go to Glendalough (valley of the two lakes) last Friday with some friends as this was our last chance this summer to visit there on a week day.

Glendalough is home to a 6th century monastic site founded by St. Kevin. This is St Kevin's Kitchen\Church with the 30m high Round Tower in the background. I was thinking of Glendalough and this round tower when I made this card.


Glendalough Valley was carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age and the two lakes were formed when the ice eventually thawed. Students from the School of Archaeology were on a dig when we were there and I tried to avoid getting them in the photos but one of the guy's bright orange jacket managed to shine through the fushia bushes!


It's a wonderful, scenic place to visit and there are lots of great trails for every level of fitness.


I loved the brilliant views from the trail we took.


But the drops were a bit hairy at times!


Back on safe ground again!


With the arrival of those clouds and the rain, it was time to head for home.


I hope you enjoyed the ramble around Glendalough!

No stamping or stitching.......just holidays.

Thanks to Sandie's help I’m glad to see that my scheduled post worked this morning. I’m just back from a lovely, relaxing holiday on the north coast of Ireland. The scenery there is really breathtaking, so needless to say I ended up taking lots and lots of photos, none of which capture the full beauty of the area.

I didn’t bring any card making supplies with me (and survived!) so I’m looking forward to making cards again and catching up on lots of blogs and websites. There aren't any cards in this post but I thought I’d show some photos from our holidays.

A view of the coastline near Portrush with the Inishowen Peninsula in the distance.


On the way to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge with Rathlin Island and Scotland in the background.


Traditionally fishermen erected the bridge to Carrick Island over a 30 metre deep and 20 metre wide chasm to check their salmon nets. Crossing the bridge, the drop felt a lot more than that, especially with the wind whipping across the bridge! Originally the rope bridge consisted of a single rope hand rail and widely spaced slats but the National Trust replaced that with a two hand railed bridge made of ropes and planks of wood. I don't think I would have even considered going across the original bridge!


I'm terrified of heights but I'm delighted that I forced myself to go across the bridge and got the see the gorgeous views from Carrick Island.






The Giant's Causeway is made up of 38,000 geometric columns of basalt rock which formed from crystallised lava that erupted 60 million years ago.


According to legend the stones at the Causeway are really the remnants of a pathway which the giant Finn McCool built across the sea from County Antrim to his enemy Benandonner's lair - Fingal's cave on the island of Staffa, Scotland.






An arch and sea stacks on the Antrim coast


View looking towards Dunluce Castle, a late Medieval 17th century castle. The castle is harder to spot in the first photo but in the second one, taken about 20 seconds later, clouds came overhead and the sun was shining directly on the castle.


Part of the castle, including the kitchen, fell into the sea on a stormy night in 1639. It's said that seven unfortunate kitchen staff perished that night but one lucky person survived by being in the right corner of the kitchen.


View of the Inishowen Pensinsula from Portstewart.


Hope you've enjoyed the "visit"!

Introducing Toby

I just thought I’d show a couple of photos of my great pal Toby. He’s always happy, ready for a walk or play, eager for a snuggle and as you’ll see by the second photo, very patient!

Here he is trying to be a cool dude on the beach and ignoring the camera.

Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow.

A local charity had an appeal for used clothes and I was sorting though boxes of stuff that Mark and Adam had grown out of when I found this small jacket. The zip was broken and I wasn’t going to give it to the appeal so the lads decided to see if it fit Toby. Anyway he just looked so funny in it, I had to take this photo.



Have a great weekend wherever you are!!

PaperPlay Challenges DT

I have some really exciting news to share - I am joining the PaperPlay Challenges design team! I'm really looking forward to making cards\projects and seeing all the entries for the challenges.

PaperPlay Challenges has a great weekly challenge which is set each Thursday. So if you would like to join in the fun, you can find the current challenge (Something Old) here. I'm hoping to see you there!

My desk and supplies are covered with plastic sheeting (some painting going on) so hopefully I'll get to rummage under the plastic and post a card tomorrow!