Recent finds

While in Newcastle we visited the charity shops and I found these two pictures. A still life to add to my amateur art collection and a holy picture to add to the holy collection.

Also I've found a couple of china animals recently so I guess that's another collection started. 

Ballynoe Stone Circle.

Down this long grass-lined path with fairy thorns overhead was the ancient stone circle of Ballynoe, parts of which date to the Neolithic period.

These types of wonders hide down country lanes all over Ireland.

This one is just outside Downpatrick.

There are several of those little holes on that stone. They could possibly be natural, places where the rain has worn away other softer stones over time, but I've seen other stones which had holes bored into them to receive votive offerings to the Gods, and this stone appeared to be at a possible entrance to the circle.

Husband Danny whisked me away for a night in Annalong on Monday and we spent the next day exploring this stone circle, (which would be an amazing location for a handfasting or wedding ceremony) and nearby Dundrum Castle. A lovely mini adventure.

Dying roses

I went to a place called Lady Dixon park in Belfast to see their rose gardens. The roses all looked like they were on their way out and quite a few were actually infected or rotting, but I really quite like the patterns on the sick flowers. I'm a sucker for anything slightly decrepit.

This conjoined twin rose is a mutant flower but somehow romantic because it has two hearts. The one below it is infected but I think the spots are pretty.

I'm not really much of a fan of roses though, I go for something more exotic. (Just in case you were thinking of sending me a bouquet).

DIY Recycled party decorations

Here's a variation on the tissue paper pompoms I've made in the past. They're made out of old newspapers so are considerably cheaper and better for the environment. Win!

I'll be demonstrating how to make these and other recycled paper party decorations at the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast on the 23rd September at the official launch of the amazing sculpture installation that weaves its way through the building.

Today's finds

Here's what the cat dragged home today....

A beautiful (if unironed) table cloth/shawl, five glasses with foxes hand-painted on them and most excitingly of all, a terranium. I've always wanted a terranium.

£5.50 well spent I think. Here's what I might do with the terranium:

Adventures on planet Earth: Rome

I was just looking through some old photos and found these ones from a holiday a few years back to Rome with my parents and sister Helen. I'm critically in need of some more adventures on planet Earth right now.

Below, my parents in the Pantheon which dates from around 126AD and whose dome is still the largest unreinforced conrete dome in the world, almost 2000 years later.

St Peter's Square in the Vatican City. Below, a crazy statue of the ancient fertility Goddess Cybele in the Vatican museums, Michelangelo's famous Sistene Chapel ceiling which you're really not meant to take photos of, and the domes of the basilica.

The Gorgeous gothic facade of the 14th Century Orvieto Duomo in Umbria. And below, a detail from the side chapel of the Madonna di San Brizio which has some quite frightening frescoes depicting the Apocalypse and the Last Judgement.

Always nice to end a blog post with a bit of fire and brimstone eh?

Random photo of the day

Descending Slieve Donard.

copyright Maeve Henry 2011