Pushing the boundary (full version)

Sometimes you really have to wake up and grab the day by the shoulders and give it a damn good shake. Saturday was one of those days, a day to be used to the max, to have an adventure and to be content, proud and a bit sore in the evening. We decided to walk the new Boundary Trail at Castle Ward (Co. Down).

We had been to the same National Trust site the Saturday before and taken Toby on his biggest walk yet - a whole 3-ish miles. Remember he's only little and he met other dogs and was attacked by one off lead (grrr) so it was a huge experience for him. (He was ok - Andrew lifted him high and I grabbed the dog by the collar, it was strong!) However that walk also included a picnic at The Temple which he loved. He was pretty wrecked after that walk but came round really fast. 

So.. Saturday last, well we pushed further, a heck of a lot further. Twice as far and a bit more, that kinda further. Toby walked with us for 7+ miles, what a trooper.

The Boundary Trail is lovely, a genuine surprise in its glory and varied landscapes. We didn't start down at the proper place as we parked in the main car park. So we started off with a walk we do often, down through the farm yard, along by the millpond flat Strangford Lough, up past Audley's Castle round the back of the walled garden. These are all Game of Thrones filming locations and is not rare to see fans and tours about.

Then we took a right turn instead of a left! Wonderful, we ended up in the farmland of rolling drumlins, the old estate boundary wall by our side and stunning views. (But I forgot to take any photos - I'm a wally I know!) There weren't any cattle about so Toby wasn't a threat and the new paths and fields are separated by electric fencing. Plus our dog was on a fecking lead!

After a good while we walked into a lovely little forest. The Mallard Plantation, the name of which doesn't make sense until the end where one sees the water and hears the ducks. This was maybe my favourite part of the walk, after all the gravel paths we were now on soft ground  in amongst the trees and ferns with light streaming in strongly only here and there.

After a spell on a proper road we re-entered more woodland, much more open and newly cleared for the path. By now we were really in our stride and not many photos were taken at all. Andrew had to declare tea time as I get a bit forgetful and just plod on for miles, forgetting to take a break, eat, drink, breathe. Hiking is such a beautifully passive experience were all I think about is the trail, no bad thoughts, no hurtful emotions. But I do need to look after my body, so yay! for sensible Andrew.

Right pic below : the trees on the far ridge are were the other side of the boundary wall is, we walked quite far.

We sat on some logs, had lemon and ginger tea and a lemon cupcake. Haha, how fancy of us. Then we ate a fabulous trek bar each; they're like a meal packed with energy rich foods like prunes, nuts, chocolate etc. Toby had his kibble and a big drink.

Then up and away (all rubbish came with us) and  10 minutes on we came to the viewpoint. Wow! That was pretty darn beautiful but we couldn't stay longer, the sun was going down! And it was cold, brrr.

More of a gorse and bushes landscape now and we were walking fast. This whole place would be heaven in the spring, there were primrose and bulb leaves all around and of course we ended up back in deciduous forest which I so look forward to going back to with all the bright greens everywhere.

Here, near the end of the mystery trail we could see the grand driveway into the estate on the left and this sunset to our right.

 Oh poop! We had to use our phone torches to walk through another forest bit and there were scary bird sounds at every turn. Wow, the world is a different place in the dark and boy it was pitch black without our specks of light!! This wood must have been evergreens as the smell was delicious and our foot steps silent.

Thank goodness for fairy lights and Santa visiting the big house. We could use these lights strung all the way along the fence to get back to the car park and see (and be seen by) the other people and cars on the road too.

Toby by this point gave up, he began to heave as though he would be sick and Andrew had to carry him. What a trooper, he's never walked so far in his life and almost made it the whole way! So proud, he wanted down again after a minute and was fine again. Boy did he sleep on the way home all evening and night and Sunday 

I really wanted to take him to see Santa but it was pre-booked -  human children only - bah humbug. Haha.

So that was that, sorry I posted a tiny draft version before. We all make mistakes and let's face it I was pooped when I tried to do that post on the Sunday.

Hugs and wishes for good health and thoughts of brighter, warmer days. 

Happy Winter Solstice 

C xx

A damp dander

Times have been tough with my mental health (not helped by these darker mornings and evenings) and the training of Toby. Oh Lord, I had forgotten how frustrating and exhausting teaching a puppy was. A few weeks ago we wondered what we were doing with this little stress maker!
...... But today (I write on Saturday evening) Toby did us proud and broke a few hearts on his second walk ever; he is adorable.

We visited Mount Stewart and walked around the lake there, it's so beautifully planted and works to please at all times of the year. Santa was also visiting but we hadn't booked to see him sadly, though a friendly elf cuddled Toby for a wee minute. I just love how the National Trust staff seem to love dogs and make all their gardens dog friendly with water bowls, free poop bags and places to tie yours up when coffee calls.

There is a micro climate in and around Mount Stewart and though it drizzled and I was cold (2 tops and 2 coats plus a fleecy lined hat) it wasn't a bad day at all. Many varieties of trees there still have their leaves or have very recently dropped them and even the tree ferns are still unsheathed.

I love the Trust's practise of using old and rotten logs as habitats for insects and fungi but this was a new sight - baby rhododendrons planted in this one. They also use fallen or storm damaged limbs/trunks as art and simple benches.

I didn't take that many photos but just wanted to say hello really and this was a good excuse...
And here's my boys :)

I'm going to the allotment tomorrow for a look around so a 'proper' post will follow......Indeed friends, I must apologise for the lack of blogging, truly had I had anything to say or indeed the health to say it I would have been writing more often.

Wishing you well,
Carrie

Wee trip to Rowallane

I'm writing from under a pile of tissues and paracetamol; coughing, sneezing and generally feeling very sorry myself. This cold is taking over my life and though it pains me to say it I have succumbed to the odd teary moment, I feel so pathetic. Barely the end of the summer and I have my first encounter with the cold and flu medication - why oh why!

So let's go on a quick wee journey to Rowallane on a sunny afternoon this time last week, eh? These photos were simply taken with my camera phone but they are colourful and cheery, I love how they mix purples, blues and oranges together, it seems to be a theme of theirs....

There were many volunteers there that day and it was evident that they had been working hard. Old plants were gone, the ground mulched and the paths tended too. Their compost heap must be fabulous :)

liking this colour combination

look at the size of  this rosehip!

just love how this climber is allowed to poke through a tall yew pillar

more purple and orange with a little yellow in the background

a small dog :) and a rhododendron

simple, effective edging protecting the new growth and naked ladies in this bed

stunning arch from one garden into another

chives are popular for wasps and butterflies

the stables and clock tower quadrangle 

hehe, found in the second hand book shop on site

Well I am off to snuggle under a blanket, keep on top of my fluids and try to cheer up a bit. All this sneezing and nose blowing is making reading my two 'for review' books very hard as my eyes keep tearing up...maybe a wee nap would help ;)

Love and hugs
Carrie

Remembering Mount Stewart

I was contacted by the charity the World Land Trust yesterday and asked to consider supporting their gardening-themed conservation fundraising campaign, the Great Garden Give. The campaign is simple; it involves making a small donation to save an area of threatened habitat that’s the same size as your garden.

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Running until July 13, the campaign calls on anyone with a garden to estimate its size in square metres, enter the amount into a calculator on the World Land Trust website and then make the suggested donation (2.5p per square metre or £2.50 for the average-sized UK garden of 100 square metres). Each donation will allow the charity to secure the future of the same-sized area of rainforest, or other threatened habitat, in Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia or Mexico through its Buy an Acre projects. 

 Click here to go to the Great Garden Give website and pledge your plot.

 They are also asking people to tell them what their gardens mean to them and to submit photos of their garden (or their favourite garden) on the World Land Trust Facebook and Twitter. Plus there’s a Facebook competition to win gardening vouchers!

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So, anyhow this fits perfectly with my planned post for today wherein I wanted to show you one of my all time favourite gardens - the lake walk at Mount Stewart. Andrew, Maggie and I were there last month twice! The first time is was just us and I had only my camera phone but I think the photos I took are pretty good and I'd love to share them with you ~ prepare to fall in love and forget about this cold and dreary Friday :)

We went back a fortnight later with our dear friends and their children for a picnic and to be part of the plant sale and family fun day. We had a blast and the sun was blazing. I took the 'big camera' and tried to get more captured of that stunning place as we did the same walk (the big house is being refurbished and the pleasure gardens are closed off for safety). 

Love, hugs and kisses - have a fabulous weekend friends. 

Do consider that 'Great Garden Give' campaign, and maybe share it with your social media friends using this suggested tweet:  
'Help save the world’s most threatened habitats by supporting @worldlandtrust #GreatGardenGive 
 http://bit.ly/1uAVLYg '

Carrie xx