FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN

My grandson took these photographs last night,they are a bit out of focus but I have posted them to show the extent of the fire.
Every year the local sheep farmers set fire to the mountain,they do this to clear bracken,to make more grassy areas for sheep grazing.It is totally illegal !! but they do it anyway.There is a road running just down from the fire also some houses,very dangerous to drivers and house holders.My son ,who is a fire officer,(see blog-follow me' ome )  or known as Kipling,      was out for hours with his crew risking their lives to fight this needless fire.
The mountain is almost in our back garden,but thankfully the fire was well away from us,but near enough for it to light up the sky around us and I am sure my grandson,who was staying with us last night,must have been worried about his father,fighting the flames.
This morning,the fire is out,aided by some timely rain and the fire fighters are all home,safe and well,till the next time and there will be another fire because there always is this time of year.

D I Y ,USEFUL SEATING.

In this day and age where we are constantly reminded to recycle,this pouffe is not only practical,but is made from recycled materials.It is in the sitting room ,and sits at least 4 adults,is easy to make and can be covered in any material and pattern to suit you.Ours is covered in heavy gold brocade with gold tassel trim.

You will need 1 tractor tyre,scrubbed clean,any farmer or garage will be glad to give you an old one for free (how we got ours )
A wooden base,we used some left over marine ply.
6 /8 wooden bun feet,we used small wooden door handles.
plenty of old pillows,cushions,blankets,douvet /quilt or any thing clean and dry,suitable for stuffing.Family and friends will be happy to off load unwanted items,(as in our case )
Large old curtain(s) for cover
Old douvet(s)/quilt to make padded ,inner cover.
8 to 10 screws with washers,depending how big the tyre is.
screws for the feet
length of elastic
trim of your choice.

Having cleaned the tyre,cut a circle of wood to fit .
Screw tyre to base through the inner rim,use the washers over screw ,so that the screws do not cut into the rubber.

Stuff the inner tyre rim as tight as possible with pillows (THESE ARE BEST )though anything else will do.Then start padding out the middle.Make sure it is stuffed as tight as possible,or it will sag after a while.(i also put a couple of old blankets over the top,to cover the tyre tread )
Cut 2 circles from douvet/quilt to fit top of tyre,remember to add enough for the seams.
Cut 1   length of  of douvet /quilt to make skirt round the tyre,allow enough depth to skirt to fit under tyre base.

Stitch the 2 circles together,then sew on the skirt.
Fit this over the tyre and pull under the base.I used a staple gun to attach the material to  the base.Trim excess material.

Make a cover,as above,from the material of your choice,leaving enough depth to the skirt to go under the base and to make a hem for the elastic as this cover will be removable.
Add trim,screw feet to base,make a cup of coffee,sit on it and relax.

Please let me know if you do have a go at this ,as I would love to see a photo of it.

click on photo to enlarge.

FEBRUARY's PHOTOGRAPHS

LOOKING UP THE  BOREEN,IRISH MEANING ,LANE OR DRIVE.

LITTLE  FOUNTAIN WHICH THE DOG USES AS HIS PERSONAL WATERING HOLE.

LOVELY OLD TREE.

WINTER TREE STUDY.

THE ROAD TO THE MOUNTAIN,ONLY PASSABLE ON FOOT !!!

I have been out and about all last week practicing with the new camera.The weather has been dry but bitterly cold,I think snow is forecast again soon.
Photo's will enlarge if you click on them and scroll up and down,left to right to see bigger picture.

INTERESTING TRIVIA

This is a bit of trivia that was printed in to days newspaper,THE EXPRESS.It is apparently an email ( author unknown ) that has been circulating the globe.You may have seen it before,but I found the facts interesting.

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946
John F Kennedy was elected President in 1960
Abraham Lincoln was elected President 1860
Both were concerned with civil rights
Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.
Both Presidents were shot on a Friday
Both Presidents were shot in the head
Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy
Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln.
Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.
Andrew Johnson,who succeeded Lincoln,was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson,who succeeded Kennedy,was born in 1908.
John Wilkes Booth,who assassinated Lincoln,was born in 1839
Lee Harvey Oswald,who assassinated Kennedy,was born in 1939.
Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are composed of 15 letters.
Lincoln was shot at the theatre named Ford.
Kennedy was shot in a car called Lincoln,made by Ford.
Lincoln was shot in a theatre and his assassin hid in a warehouse.
Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and his assassin hid in a theatre.
Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

and here is the kicker----

A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe,Maryland.

A week before Kennedy was shot,he was with Marilyn Monroe.

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How does one follow that for coincidence.!!! Amazing.