Cong, County Mayo

Cong (Irish: Conga) is a village on the borders of County Galway and County Mayo, in Ireland. Cong is situated on an island formed by a number of streams that surround it on all sides. With only 185 villagers Cong is known as  home to Oscar Wilde. Ashford Castle, one of Ireland's finest hotels, built by the Guinness family is also situated here. Outside the lovely streams that run through the village. Cong also has a ruined medieval abbey, Cong Abbey, where Rory O'Connor, the last High King of Ireland, is buried. His portrait is  carved on the doorway in Cong Abbey grounds .The Augustine Abby  was established in the 13th century mainly kept its medieval characteristics even after recent facelifts done by the Guinness family. The Abby grounds hold old mossy trees and a Monks' Fishing House and a nice path in the the woods perfect for autumn forest walks and picnic.

Cong was the filming location for John Ford's 1952 Oscar-winning film, The Quiet Man,featuring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara and Barry Fitzgerald. Much of the movie was filmed on the grounds of Ashford Castle. The town and castle area remain little changed since 1952, and Cong's connection with the movie make it a tourist attraction. There is a museum  with shop and a tour for fans. There is also an opportunity to have a holiday based on the film.I have to say that I am not that fond of the movie in the means of story but the scenes are breathtaking capturing the essential of that region.

We visited in October which is a lovely time of year in Ireland.The foliage turned  red, yellow and orange.I love these colors. The tour we done with Paddy Wagon was a CONNEMARA & GALWAY Day Tour From DUBLIN with stops at Cong, Spectacular Lough Corrib, Leenane and Killary fjord, Kylemore Abbey,The Inagh Valley  and Galway. I will return with some more posts on the other locations we have visited.

Harvest

Yet an other year passed by and we were all back in the vineyard picking grapes this season. Though the weather was not that forgiving and it had been reining the days before we had quite good weather for the event. So family and friends gathered to the harvest. It was a really dry year and the grapes turned extremely sweet so the wine definitely will turnout perfect. I hope to have some bottled before we selling the lot off as usually do each year.

I had taken a lot of pictures but tried to pick out the best for you.

 {Old vineyard house}

  {Bittersweet twines}

  {Olde tree}

  {Almonds}

  {Old vineyard}

  {Grape tasting}

  {Grape tasting}

  {Grape tasting}

  {Grape tasting}

  {Grape tasting}

  {Grape tasting}

  {Grape tasting}

  {Grape tasting}

  {Grape tasting}

  {Grape tasting}

  {Grape tasting}

  {Grape tasting}

  {The Orchard}

{Olde Tree}

  {Grapes}

Autumn Angel

Although it is still quite ward Autumn is here to stay. It is time for me to get to the seasonal crafts. The first is this lovely angel done with Tilda fabrics. Making it was highly inspirational as I have drawn out all the patterns by hand. Thought it was the first time I have done anything like that. It actually turned out quite well.Don't you think? It will be available in my shop very soon. Sold out! If you would like to buy similar items I am very happy to receive your email and will get back to you as soon as I can.

Welcome Autumn

Last warm days brought us all out in the garden for some quality time together. So we all set out in the garden and made wreaths using all the berries we harvested earlier in the week. Anytime autumn arrives it brings back memories of the time I used to start school at this time. Here is a small memento for you too.

Ode To Autumn by John Keats

1.

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

2.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?

Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find

Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,

Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;

Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,

Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook

Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:

And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep

Steady thy laden head across a brook;

Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,

Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

3.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?

Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,—

While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,

And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;

Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn

Among the river sallows, borne aloft

Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;

And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;

Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft

The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;

And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.