Big Things and Little things in Ireland and Scotland

Big thing.......my cousin's  climbing rose on the holly tree

Little thing......the multitude of blossoms that came down like snow when the wind came

big thing............. roses as big as saucers

little thing........... all those buds yet to bloom

big thing.....tree that died and was felled 5 feet in diameter

big thing...........the beech tree that blow over in the wind probably 200 years old and 6 feet in diameter

 little thing......all the flowers that weren't crushed when the tree blew over

big thing..........the trees that shade the lane

little thing.........the peep holes to the sky

big thing.............. holly flowers en mass

little thing.....individual holly blossoms

 Big thing..........leaves of the gunnera plant that makes rhubarb look petite

Little thing.............shamrocks growing under the ferns

big thing.............the emblems of Scotland

little thing........we call them weeds but the thistle poked the invading Vikings and made them scream which alerted the Scots to prepare to fight.  The Thistle is the national emblem.
                                                                              I don't know if this little flower is the flower of Scotland but it is tiny and looks like the flower on the castle pipe.

Big thing.........Celtic crosses for legends, this is where Flora MacDonald is buried who helped hide Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Big thing.............Celtic crosses for the mortals.

Little thing........7th century Celtic cross from the graveyard at Fahan where a couple of my ancestors are buried.  My big purchase.

Big thing..............Highland cattle

Little thing and a wee ditty............Heiley coos go moo because Highland cows don't say mow (rhymes with cow)

And that's the end of my travel pictures. --Ann--

On the Needles

I've got nothing on my needles at the moment but...........Do you ever wonder what kind of sheep grows a particular type of wool for yarn?

  I have seen blue faced leicester yarn on websites and wondered....then at the Limavady Stock show here are those very words...... blue faced leicester! There were also blackfaced and border leicester the top photo are border leicester.  And then there were these yellow and orange sheep.  I never did get a satisfactory answer as to why they were dyed except maybe as an eye catcher for the judges.

These sheep were not dyed for eye appeal  I thought these sheep were the best and notice the fancy head gear.  Polka dot sheep called Jacob sheep.  Polka dot fleece, polka dot yarn, polka dot sweaters and polka dot socks.  Where do I find yarn like that??

sheep grazing in Ireland

Sheep grazing in Scotland can you find them?

Zoomed in on the sheep grazing in Scotland in the rain.

A little tiny yarn and knit shop in Derry, Northern Ireland,  beautiful yarns and hand knit sweaters by the owner all were one of a kind and no patterns available.  There were lots of cute little shops in the square including a quilt shop but that had sadly closed.  My cousin and I made a quick trip to Buncranna to another quilt shop she frequents but it closed just before we got there.  So I didn't see the inside of a quilt shop in Ireland or Scotland. I thought I would see more yarn shops but didn't.  I did go in a couple craft shops but they had mostly synthetic yarn where I found this pattern book.  I wonder if I will every be skilled enough for an Aran sweater.

So I bought a sweater and wore it.  It felt very cozy on those cold rainy days in Scotland and there were a lot of rainy days.

My one yarn purchase in Scotland.  It is 100% wool.  It might be a scarf, it might be gloves, it might be socks.  I might have something on some needles next week in the meantime linking to Judy's OTN. --Ann--

Ireland and Scotland

Lough Erne in County Fermanagh above and below

Errigal highest point in  County Donegal

Derryveagh mountain range 4 of the seven sisters which of the seven I couldn't say  but I did find the spellings of the Seven Sisters,  Muckish, Crocknalaragah, Aghla Beg, Ardloughnabrackbaddy, Aghla More,  Mackoght and Errigal.  Say those three times and not even fast.

Hills near a cousins farm

Looking over to the Foyle River from the top of the lane on cousins farm

The Giants Causeway, these rocks amaze me every time I see them hexagon columns some curve up and some curve down.

The Giant Finn McCool was quite the civil engineer. The Causeway goes under the sea and comes up on an island on the west side of Scotland and it takes a boat ride to get there and we didn't have time.

Mountains in Scotland our tour from Edinburgh to the Isle of Skye and back.

Our  bus driver was very knowledgable about the area and the history and knew scenic spots just off the beaten path.

 Scotts View in the Borderlands to the south of Edinburgh, Sir Walter Scott the writer would walk or ride horse to this viewpoint to ponder his next book.  --Ann--