Reflections at Samhain.

The trees are providing a wonderful colour display this year. Unlike other year’s we have’nt had the harsh winds that rip the leaves prematurely from the trees. Reds, pinks, greens, yellows and browns are the colours of the moment.

Some plants, like this Geranium, which are in sheltered spots,  continue to produce blooms as we head into the first days of the Celtic Winter.

Even the brilliant orange of Montbretia is fading, having decorated our gardens and roadsides for many weeks. 

The leaves have already dropped from the Rowans leaving the berries glowing like Christmas baubles. Soon the weather will become harsher and the birds will feast here.

Rosehips catch the eye as myself and the Dogs take our daily walk. Walking is done earlier in the day now…before the evening chill sets in. I’m not one for walking in the darkness…even on our quite laneway. From now on more time will be spent indoors. The intense activity of the Summer is past and the larder is filled with the fruits of our labouring.

Walking back up the lane this handsome black Cow comes to greet us. Friendlier than the rest of the herd she even let me rub her.  A small privilege that gave me such a lift.

I have often heard that Fairies have white blood because they nourish themselves by drinking milk straight from the Cow’s udder under cover of darkness. Maybe this girl will be visited tonight.

Happy Samhain!

A Poetree Walk. (part 2)

Inside the little housey there is room to sit on an old log. A great storytelling spot…for a few small people.

These old broken down walls would once have been well maintained to contain animals. 

A pathway now marked by the feet of walkers and sightseers would once have been someones daily path…

to the little shed just beyond. It’s very low…perhaps a shed for chickens!

If only these stones could speak…what stories they would tell…of fairies and giants…and who knows what else!

The cutaway forest on the hill behind this enormous rock looks so stark and bleak. A good place to rest weary bones though!

A spring well…the locals would have drawn water by bucket from here in years gone by. Nature has reclaimed it once again…

Rock art…

 and a 19th century lime kiln give signs of previous dwellers here…

and the felled trees cry their bitter orange tears.

A walk to Doon.

When we come out our back door and look right we are looking at Corry Mountain. On Saturday last I went with the newly formed Arigna Field Club almost to the top of the Mountain. Our destination was Doon, a Promontory Fort, high on the side of Corry.

The climbers were rewarded with panaromic views of the beautiful Arigna Valley,

 

and a talk on the history of the place by Sean Daly. Doon is mentioned in the Annals of the  Four Masters which is a chronicle of Medieval Irish history dating from the deluge, dated as 2,242 after the Creation to AD1616.

Its position made it an excellent fortification against enemies. There are extensive remains of the ramparts. Tradition has it that Doon Fort was the headquarters of the legendary Tuatha De Danann. It is believed that most of the Fairy and Leprechaun stories of Ireland originated from the Tuatha De Danann from Doon.

The waterfall which has a 200ft drop adds to the magical feel of the place.

On the way down we saw this beautiful Dragonfly, or is it a Fairy in disguise?

The mist rolled in from the north as we descended, adding to the magical feel of the place. To finish the whole group had tea and biscuits in a neighbours house. A lovely finish to a fab outing.