Camera mad.

Saturday I bought myself  a new camera.I went up to Cork with my son and daughter in law,to look round the camera shops to see what would suit me.David bought me my first camera,which I broke,then he loaned me a camera.This served me well to learn,but I recently sent some bird pictures to the Irish bird watch site and they published them.They have asked me to send more,but needed better quality shots .So I decided I was doing well enough to go more professional with my equipment.
I have purchased a Canon EOS 1000D,complete with additional zoom lens.I also got a SLIK 300 DX tripod.
My photography is now much improved,as the camera is so easy to use,not light with the big lens but the tripod is a boon.

MOORHEN ON THE LAKE

FLY CATCHER

CHAFFINCH
So watch this space and my photo blog for some much improved pics.

THE GARDEN IN SUMMER

After the long very cold winter,the garden is now a blaze of colour and is a credit to John,who keeps it so beautiful. The Rhododendron is in full bloom and dominates the garden and the hedge rows,as it grows wild here.The mountain is pink and purple with it as well,it draws the tourists here,to see the hundreds of acres of Rhododendron.

It is raining like mad today,that will make the weeds grow,still it will keep John occupied !!

 UP THE MOUNTAIN

AN OBSOLETE ADVERT

http://www.tourismresources.ie/cht/doddard.htm

 I found this link to the castle on the internet.We used this site when we were running the guest house,unfortunately we no longer do this and miss the guests very much.I had no idea the ad was still  up.
Any of you who come to Ireland on holiday are welcome to have a look round,though we can no longer
take guests,we can still spoil  you and make you welcome.

SPORTS DAY

Yesterday, Friday was a lovely day.The sun was out but there was cool breeze up here in the mountains,cool enough for me to wear a light jumper and jeans.In the afternoon I went off to my grandsons school for the annual sports day and prize giving.As usual it turned out to be a blistering hot day,I should have known better !! there was me in a jumper and everyone else in summer tops and shorts etc,I thought I was going to die from the heat.I could not take my jumper off because I had no top on under it,stupid or what !!
Anyway I had a lovely afternoon,I bought some plants that the pupils had grown to raise money,had strawberries and cream ,also  a roast hog salad put on for the parents and visitors,the best pork I have ever tasted.
Oliver won a shield for his cricket achievements ,at the prize giving and my son won the fathers race and got a box of chocolates that he gave to me,he knows my little weakness !!

The sack race

The wheelbarrow race

The fathers race,my son on the left in the navy T shirt.

No,he did not hit the other man over,even though it looks like it !! He went on to win the race,very funny watching grown men in a sack race !!

Oliver getting his cricket award.

I did take photos of the proper races but only captured the field,they ran too fast for me to get them in the frame.