Carnlough Harbour...

Wednesday 13th July 2011

Watery Wednesday

Carnlough is a village on the coastal A2 route along the edge of Co. Antrim.

It has a wonderful enclosed harbour that was built to take the stone from the local quarry away (now closed).  The quarry has grassed over and the high manmade cliffs have many birds nesting.

We went on the lovely walk along Glencloy to Cranny Falls last year.

The harbour is built using the limestone that was quarried in the area.

It is still a busy little harbour with boats coming in and going out.

We bought fish and chips and sat watching the boats and enjoying the smell of the sea.

The end of the tramline that carried the rock down to the harbour (now the walker's path to Glencloy, the disused quarry and Cranny Falls) was above the harbour (where the railings are in the photo).

Lovely views.

Just Hanging About...

Sunday 10th July 2011

Straight out of the Camera Sunday

 I loved this series of photographs of the squirrel

Showing his wonderful gymnastics skills

Nonchalantly hanging by two paws while holding a peanut with his front paws

Showing off a little?

Looking cool as the peanut feeder and squirrel sway in the breeze...

Amazing acrobatic abilities

As you can tell I really like grey squirrels

Just look at the beautiful feathery tail fluttering in the breeze...  

"Wot, moi?"

"You really think I am acrobatic and cute?"

"Cool"

All Souls' Chapel...

Friday 8th July 2011

When I was in Kent in May for my brother Paul's Memorial Service...

I walked around the churchyard trying to ease my mind...

The gate into the churchyard...  

Beautiful old door handle...  and weathered wood...

Paul is very much in my thoughts at the moment as the 12th of July fast approaches and I am sad that he will never have his 44th birthday and I think about how later this month...

We shall walk through the doors of All Souls' Chapel...

For a happy event...

When we visit for a combined family service...

When my nieces are baptised and my sister and her partner will be married in a combined service...

But my thoughts will also be with my brother Paul...

Stormy Sky Sweeping in From the Sea...

Wednesday 6th July 2011

Watery Wednesday

On a walk along the shore at Crawfordsburn the sky began to darken...  surprisingly quickly it began to hide the lovely blue sky we had been enjoying...

I loved the beauty of the dark approaching rain clouds...

I loved the contrast of the white daisies against the grey sky...

As the rainclouds neared... We picked up our pace...

Walking back towards the car park...  before it began raining...

Jeepers Creepers...

Monday 4th July 2011

Macro Monday

I particularly love the Virginia Creeper in Spring and Summer with its beautiful green leaves and blush coloured shoots...

It is an elegant plant as it drapes over the fence and across the doorway.

"Please may I come in?" 

"No" we all say in unison looking at the state of her wet muddy paws and fur after her latest excursion into the pond.

This was my favourite photo.  I loved the way the sunlight lit up the leaves and made them glow.

"Jeepers creepers, won't you let me come in?"  she says, still hopeful, "anyway, I am much cuter than those silly virginia creeper leaves that you are photographing".   "Pleeeeeease....."

St Annes Square...

Sunday 3 July 2011

Straight out of the Camera Sunday

When we woke up, it was a beautiful sunny morning, so we decided to take the camera and go for a walk in Belfast City centre.  I love walking around early in the morning on a Sunday when everywhere is so quiet and still.  As this is for SOOC I have straightened any of the photos...

Our aim was to wander around the old cobbled streets near Hill Street...  We turned a corner walked past the back of St Anne's Cathedral  and there was a route into the new Saint Annes Square.  The strange metal needle (very tall and shiny) is the replacement spire on St Annes Cathedral.  They have matched the new buildings in the Square very nicely to St Annes Cathedral (a part of which can be seen behind the trees).

As we walked around this square it reminded Neil of the plazas in Barcelona but I found it more reminiscent of walks around Bath or Tunbridge Wells in England.

Part of it is not yet completed.  The Mac will be a new arts centre/threatre.

It was a very peaceful place and many of the new very modern apartments were already lived in.  A nice addition to Belfast in the Cathedral Quarter which really needed some much needed improvement.