Simply a Moment - December

A moment in the Glen

Sunday - December 29th - 12.07pm

A shaft of bright sunlight through the window tempts me outside - a walk in the Glen calls methinks, - warmly clad I set off, with just my phone for company.

The leaves swish underfoot as I walk and I kick them around with the same pleasure a 6 year old might have and walk on, twigs snapping underfoot as I stride out - the high winds have wreaked havoc and everywhere I look there are lichen covered broken twigs, and signs of the forresters having been around with a chain saw to deal with fallen branches - a flash of wings and the blackbird is just where I was standing, beak busily searching out any grubs I might have brought to the surface - I smile to myself - he must have been watching me!
 I look over towards the beach - in the distance I see a couple of small groups on the shore line - tiny black figures silhouetted against the brightness.
This golden sunshine has turned the bay into a land of shining water - shafts of light make the sea shimmer and sparkle - diamond bright, flashing light back at the sky. I walk along briskly feeling my cheeks begin to tingle and my toes to get warm - it is much colder than I expected so I am aware that I need to keep moving. I turn the corner on the path and reach the headland - - the wind is rising, more storms are forecast for us later today, and it is quite chilly on the promontory here so I don't linger. In front on the path I catch sight of Robin Redbreast - and he too brings a smile to my face - I would like to stand and watch him but the chill in the wind keeps me moving, and although it it is still low tide, already the waves have white tops and are dashing against the rocks below the path. Time to head home, noticing for the first time a tree with many holes in its trunk - woodpeckers I wonder? - no matter how often I take this walk I always find something I haven't noticed before - - but then isn't that just Mother Nature all over?

This post is brought to you courtesy of Alexa's Simply a Moment meme - and she will have more "moments" linked up there - do pop over to read them.

Thanks for dropping in  -  as always you are most welcome.

'til later

Bannaghtyn, J x

Simply a Moment - September

 Stormy Weather

Tuesday - September 17th  - 9.30am

- - swirling eddy's of leaves circle my feet,  a  whirligig of madly dancing browns, yellows and greens before skittering across the road to lodge in the undergrowth of the hedgerow. The trees above my head sway wildly - their leaves rustling in an endless whisper - what secrets could they tell me if I could understand I wonder. Another gust of wind takes my breath away - it's sound wuthering and wailing and I feel as if I am fighting a battle to take my next step towards home.

 As I pass my bay I look across westwards - in the distance the promised storm is now clearly visible -- marching relentlessly across this morning's wild Irish sea where the wind whips the waves to a frenzied flurry of white horses galloping into shore and once more I am breathless as another gust catches me and attempts to trip me up as more leaves swirl round my feet.
A few small black shapes appears briefly in the churning waters - and I realise the incoming storm has driven some of the seals from the Sound to my slightly more sheltered bay. It will be wild out there I know. I smile thinking of them and am glad they are here near my home - our bay is a little less exposed to the elements and wild weather is the only time the seals come this close to shore.

The wind whips my hair round my face and I realise the shopping bags I have carried up Yn Shooylaghan are heavy and I hurry on the last hundred yards or so to the cottage. As I turn down the steps to my garden the first drops of rain land on my face - - - -

Another Simple Moment recorded - thanks to Alexa of Trimming the Sails - who once a month - invites us to stop, notice and make note a of a minute or two of our day. Many "memory keepers" from  in Blogland join her - so do drop in here to see her and catch a few more moments  from around the globe -  and perhaps share a moment of your own?

Thanks for dropping in - as always you are most welcome,
'til later,

Bannghtyn, J x

Simply a Moment - August

Blackberries

Thursday -  August 15th - 9.50am

There is a feel of Autumn in the air as I head down the path to the beach - and the earth holds "the scent of water" after last night's rain though now the sky is blue and the sun is warm on my face. Already the leaves are turning on the sycamores and everywhere underfoot my feet crunch on "helicopters" as my son used to call the seed heads from this tree. The path is steepens down the cliff here - even though it is made in steps I am very much aware that I need to watch my footing  - realising I am still "twitchy" going down steps (after a fall down stairs some 20 years ago resulted in a very nasty broken bone!) -  it is very wet after the rain and the fallen leaves are damp and slippery. The path turns sharply and seems to disappear  - though I know a sharp turn left will take me to ever steeper steps - now on a very peculiar angle - subsidence? or just the hands of time? I always wonder as I make my way carefully down them.

I am greeted by a fresh breeze as I step onto the pebbles of the beach at the bottom, blowing my hair away from my face with more strength than I expected -  I am fond of this pebble beach on my door step - my home is named for this small cove and often I am the only person on it - as I am at this moment today. I make my way carefully across the pebbles - - Mother Nature ensures there is life everywhere - even on a salty seashore  - bindweed,  nettles, wild mustard, dock (witches fingers I always called it), ox eye daisy, and tangled brambles all scramble through the pebbles.
I catch the aroma of freshly washed seaweed here on this shore as I seek my first blackberries of the season, and the hush, hush, hush of the waves rolling the pebbles on the tide line - its timeless rhythm brings its own tranquility, disturbed only by the soft scream of the whistle of the first steam train of the day from the village station. I smile at the thought of the small steam engine setting off on its' frst commute of the day. The sun is warm on my back - my fingers stained purple with the blackberry juice as I add them to my pyrex bowl - just enough for a crumble will do nicely I think  - - - - -

a yapping dog disturbs my peace - - - - a small family has joined me on the beach and are at the tide line with 2 dogs, a black labrador? gambolling in and out of the waves on the shore - the other a small yappy terrier - - - I look at my bowl's contents - - standing up straight - I realise I have been longer than I thought so pick my way carefully across the pebbles to climb the steep path home - - -

Just around the middle of the month - Alexa at Trimming the Sails pauses to take stock - just for a moment - to look, listen and be aware of the moment -  then record it -  and invites us all to join her and record our own moments - this is my August moment - and if you follow this link you will find many more magical moments - - and perhaps you too have one to share??

Thanks for dropping in
'til later

Bannaghtyn, J x

Simply a Moment - July 2013

In the Garden
Tuesday - July 16th - 9.47pm

A movement across the room catches my attention and I look up from the computer screen and my letter writing, the Artisan has switched the TV on - must be getting time for the news  - - the clock ticks softly behind my head and I glance out the window. The light in the garden now is dimming gently as dusk creeps ever nearer to darkness and this light has all my white flowers seeming to be lit from within - a host of soft white moons against the green  - - they pull me outside - - the garden is cool and still - - the red rose which opened fully this morning is aglow in the fading light - richly coloured and tempting to the touch - if only I could reach it!

In the hedge I am aware of soft chirpings and rustlings and realise that our families of sparrows and great tits must be back to roost for the night so I cross the garden to the white rose -  the perfume drifts over me as I stroke the velvety petals gently, so many blooms - each one perfect, those still in bud have a pink tips to the petals -  - no dead heading needed yet - - I love the long summer evenings - they are the gift we have, in exchange for the very short winter days in our northern climes, and I realise I notice them so much more here - being just a little further north than our previous home makes an amazing difference .

a voice from inside the cottage disturbs this moment of tranquility - "Tea??" he asks from the door - I smile and head back indoors - -

Once a month Alexa asks us to take a moment - to observe - using all our senses and note it down -  so once again I'm linking up with her at Trimming the Sails where she runs this meme each month - if you pop over to visit her here- you will find lots more "moments". Off you go - you know you want to - and maybe you have a moment of your own to share too?

Thanks for popping to my garden -
'til later

Bannaghtynn,  Jen x

Simply a moment - - - June .

Tuesday - 4th June - 9.42am

Heading to the Harbour
The sun streaming through my window drags me outside - - and I realise that such a beautiful morning should not be wasted indoors. I hurry back in to change my shoes, put on a jacket, and pick up my camera. The garden is basking in the warmth of the sun and before I leave its shelter I snap a shot of my flowering cherry- now clad in pale pink clematis -  -
I know from past experience that the wind will arrive with a vengeance and scatter more pale pink confetti all over before I have time to blink! I climb the steps out of my garden, and turn right down towards the shore and ultimately the village.
 Cresting the top of the hill - I stop to survey the Bay - - the sky is such an intense blue that the sea turns turquoise, shimmering and sparkling - almost irridescent in the glorious golden light. Small peacock coloured waves lap gently on the shore, and I start moving once again, along Yn Shooylaghan, down towards the harbour. Small groups of people - bikers, sailors at the Yacht classes and families basking in what might prove  to be our only taste of summer, are scattered across the beach and a handful of children are already gambolling happily at the waters edge.

The soft golden honey coloured curve of the bay draws me ever down - I see the temporary stage in front of the Bay Hotel, reminding me that it is TT week, and as I get closer to the village I can see the bikes parked up from our visitors.
A soft breeze blows my hair away from my face and the sun is warm on my skin and I find myself not really needing the light jacket I wear  - -  the warm, spicy, slightly coconut scent of gorse from the headland opposite drifts along on the breeze, giving a slightly mediterranean feel to the scene before me - - - the sea is certainly blue enough to pass for the Med today and thoughts of the Ice Cream Parlour drift into my head - - -

Once a month Alexa asks us to take a moment - to really look , think , and feel it then write it down - so once again I'm linking up with her at Trimming the Sails where she runs this meme each month - if you pop over to visit her here- you will find lots more "moments". Off you go - you know you want to - and maybe you have a moment of your own to share too?

Thanks for stopping by


'til later
Bannaghtyn, J x

Simply a moment - - April

Tuesday - 23rd April 2013 - - 9.36am

sunlight streams through the window  - - I can see I need to clean them - why does the sun show the grime so clearly - making me feel guilty, I wonder? I find myself thinking once again that I am NOT the worlds greatest housewife  - there always seems to be something much more fun to do than cleaning - I guess it is mainly outside again as we havd has so much rain!!, but  a quick wipe with a window cloth will do no harm  - - - I disturb the crystals hanging there, sending rainbows dancing round the room and covering every surface with splashes of colour - tears well up at the memory of my son as a tiny boy chasing the dancing colours to try and catch them - laughing delightedly as the crystals swung on their slender silver threads - - -

I mop up my tears - trying very, very hard to recover the joy and smiles this thought used to give me, put the window cloths away and put the kettle on - isn't tea the world's most wonderful remedy for everything?
Once a month Alexa at Trimming the Sails asks us to take a moment - to really look , think , and feel it - so once again I'm linking up with Alexa who runs this meme each month. (I'm very "late to the party" this time but without Alexa and Sian my blog would have had no posts this year and I am very grateful to them both for giving me something I could be a part of )- if you pop over to visit her here- you will find lots more "moments". Off you go - you know you want to - and maybe you have a moment of your own to share too?

Thanks for stopping by


'til later
Bannaghtyn, J x

Simply a Moment - - - -

Wednesday  20th March 2013 - - 9.57am

I look round the cottage - checking off in my head that all is as it needs to be - cutters and scoreboard on the side table, Cuttlebug & dies on the chest, the dining table "set" with "messy mats" in all 3 places (large plastic carrier bags cut in half make excellent "messy mats"!!!), glues in the centre along with Distress inks and my Inkylicious Blending brushes - yes everything ready.
I move to the sink and fill the kettle before returning to the table to remove our project from its protective bubble wrap bag  - - -  as I hold the album in my hands its satisfying weight gives me a small frisson of pleasure - now it is filling with photos it is beginning to feel like a REAL potential heirloom and I find myself wondering which page my friends will want to do do today. I place it in the centre of the table alongside the inks and brushes.
The kettle is reaching the boil so I quickly reach cups and coffee out of the cupboard so brewing up will be easy for us. A brief glance at the clock tells me they will soon be here so I pick up my own "in progress album" from my craft bag, the one I am making alongside them ; not only because they are slightly less experienced crafters than I , but so I have 2 albums almost alike - one for each of my daughters.
 - - - movement at the window catches my eye and means L------ and R---- have arrived - - - the cottage is suddenly filled with warm greetings, the bustle of unpacking craft bags and cheerful voices as we settle down for a morning's crafting together - - - -
I'm linking up with Alexa at Trimming the Sails  who runs this meme each month - if you pop over to visit her here- you will find lots more "moments". Go on - you know you want to - and maybe you have a moment of your own to share too?

Thanks for stopping by

 'til later,  Bannaghtyn J xx

Simply a moment - - - Mother Nature's Jewels

10.44 - Saturday 16th February 2013

- - - the car climbs steadily up the Sloc - and the higher we climb the more we are enveloped by the mist - until the Artisan switches on the headlights. "I was really psyched up for a nice weekend" he says - disappointment tinged his voice - and I smiled ruefully - yesterday was so lovely I thought - why couldn't it have stayed bright for one more day? He works so hard - his weekends so precious - and when he can't get out to enjoy the great outdoors he gets so down. My thoughts wander. As always  - I find myself surprised by the clarity of colours on these damp grey days - an unexpected gift that never ceases to surprise me. The bare branches of the fuchsia hedges are the most glorious golden honey brown - - and the moss and ferns bright jewels of emerald green - - - on the radio Prince sings The Most Beautiful Girl in the World - the melody is so lovely and I find my eyes filling with tears. I look hastily away, I don't want the Artisan to see that today I am not really coping well, I don't on grey days - I gaze unseeing out the window, battling hard with my feelings of loss - I win - my thoughts drifting back to the wonderful colours Mother Nature paints our world with, until suddenly we are almost in Purt ny Hinshey - I drag my head back to the present - - we are pulling into Fenella beach car park - a walk round the castle walls by the sea and a quick drop in at the kipper factory for todays tea beckons - - -

Alexa at Trimming the Sails runs this meme each month - if you pop over to visit her here - you will find lots more "moments". Go on - you know you want to - and maybe you have a moment of your own to share too?

Thanks for stopping by

 'til later,  Bannaghtyn J xx

Simply a moment - - - Robin

Photo from rspb.org.uk

12.25 - Monday 21st January 2013
I sit down with my lunch sandwich  - heavy grey skies - with their threat of snow - have kept the whole morning dark and somewhat gloomy in the garden - -

Through the window I can see large wet flakes of snow drifting steadily down - melting as they land. The roof of the greenhouse is beginning to turn white, yet it looks too wet to really stick - and on the post robin stands  - a small, fat, round, red, grey and brown ball of fluff - giving some  indication of how cold it might be out there. He flutters up to the bird table and tucks in greedily to the scraps of bacon fat I snipped up and put out earlier - before disappearing into the high hedges - what disturbed him I wonder - then see a flash of red through the hedge as someone comes down the path to a neighbouring cottage.
A car swishes past on the road  - just above my head, and as the blue tits suddenly appear on the bird feeder, the blackbird scurries out from behind the bench to take advantage of the infinitesimal bits of fat and nuts that fall as they feed. I am just thinking to myself that the agility of these tiny birds is amazing - when to my astonishment robin flies up to the hanging fat block to join them  - he frightens them of course - and they are gone in a flurry of flashing yellow and tiny wings, but robin manages to hang on - upside down and clinging on desperately it seems - long enough to snatch a few beakfulls of food before flapping his wings madly and landing on his favourite post. The Rayburn is warm on my back -  - I sit watching a little longer as the blue tits return - - The kettle behind me begins to sing - and I rise - coffee calls methinks - - -

Alexa at Trimming the Sails runs this meme each month - if you pop over to visit her here - you will find lots more "moments". Go on - you know you want to -

Thanks for stopping by

 'til later,  Bannaghtyn J xx