The Cottage.

8 Mar

The cottage was originally just 3 rooms like so many of the old ones were. The previous owners, who were Dutch, built the conservatory extension to the front plus another extension on the back which has bathroom, utility, hallway and a second bedroom.

They purchased the house in1998 and renovated it from derelict.

The name Flynn’s Cottage comes from the people who lived here before them. Two brothers and two sisters lived here, none of them married and so the Flynn’s died out from here. I think it’s a little mark of respect to them to leave the name.

This is the back of the cottage. Looking a bit untidy at the moment but that will gradually be sorted.

I like this covered sitting area just outside the conservatory. Ideal for the Irish climate. Outside dining without getting wet.

The centre of the house, the original three roomed cottage, is kept cosy by the Rayburn. Great for cooking too.

Today was wet here so I spent the day mostly indoors. The kitchen smelt of Summer as I used the last of 2012’s Strawberries to make jam. Roll on Summer 2013. Hopefully the New Zealand weather forecaster gets it right and it will be a good un. Fingers crossed!

Bye for now,

Bridget x.

19 Responses to “The Cottage.”

Eco Farm Gal March 8, 2013 at 7:41 pm #

Your new cottage looks very cozy. Wishing you many happy times there!

Reply
Maria March 8, 2013 at 9:57 pm #

Congrats Bridget on the new home and the new blog great to see you back blogging. Look forward to reading x.

Reply
dianakirwan March 8, 2013 at 9:59 pm #

Every good wish for you and Andy in your new home. A new adventure xx

Reply
- bridget March 8, 2013 at 10:25 pm #
  
  Thanks Diana! Maybe I will get to do the open day at this one. x
  
  Reply
Diana Studer March 8, 2013 at 10:50 pm #

I’ve had Arigna tucked sadly in my Dormant folder. So encouraging to see you settled in your new home. We’re still in the limbo of getting our home on the market – so we can enjoy the new place.

Reply
- bridget March 8, 2013 at 10:53 pm #
  
  Thanks Diana, hope all goes well for you and that your property will sell quickly. That lovely garden would surely encourage any prospective buyer. Bridget x.
  
  Reply
cindyricksgers March 9, 2013 at 3:06 am #

Lovely new home! May you build only happiness there. Thanks for sharing the photos!

Reply
leslie postin March 10, 2013 at 12:07 am #

Imagine that! 4 siblings staying together always! May you always love and find happiness in your new cottage, Bridget. It is lovely. Isn’t the Rayburn a pretty color?! xx

Reply
- bridget March 10, 2013 at 10:53 am #
  
  Thanks for your good wishes Leslie. Good to be back!
  Bridgetx
  
  Reply
  - leslie postin March 10, 2013 at 6:20 pm #
    
    xx
Kevin March 10, 2013 at 1:24 am #

Bridget, congratulations in your new cottage. It’s so nice to have you back in Blogworld. I’m looking forward to more of your writing and journeys. Be well!

Reply
elaine March 10, 2013 at 11:19 am #

Love your new cottage Bridget it looks nice and compact and hopefully easy to look after. The covered outside eating area looks very inviting and if we have a good summer I bet it will be well used.

Reply
- bridget March 10, 2013 at 5:00 pm #
  
  Thanks Elaine! Fingers crossed for the good Summer.
  xx
  
  Reply
Promenade Claire March 10, 2013 at 12:12 pm #

I can see why you moved here – charming, everything you need, including “Outside dining without getting wet.” !! Happy days!

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Christina March 10, 2013 at 12:28 pm #

Good luck in your new home, it will be nice to hear about an Irish garden. Christina

Reply
Janie March 10, 2013 at 2:37 pm #

Yay! Not only are you back, you’re all shiny & new too!
We’re are hoping to go for planning permission this year, to site a mobile home in the allotments for Jon & I to live in. I have saved the images of your conservatory & patio as that’d be fab to build on the front of the van. All muddy, wet, messy stuff could be banished there! Love it!
Can’t wait to see more of your new home and garden 🙂
Janie x

Reply
- bridget March 10, 2013 at 5:02 pm #
  
  Thanks Janie! Good luck with your plans. Sounds exciting. Change is good.
  Bridget x.
  
  Reply
Mizz Winkens March 31, 2013 at 1:09 pm #

Best of luck in your new home Bridget! It looks lovely and homely. : )

Reply
Jennifer April 7, 2013 at 10:28 pm #

Look at that stove! How romantic!

Reply

Featured Posts

Early morning in an Irish country garden.

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As the Sun starts to emerge it is time to go indoors and get the kettle on for coffee.

A new day has begun…
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First frost.

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The death knell tolls…

until the reemergence next Spring.

So still and calm this morning.

Tinselled Rubus.

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Frozen pond.

Temporary exhibition…soon to be melted away by the rising Sun.
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A sunny November morning.

The Sun is getting lower in the sky now casting shadows deeper into the cottage. So nice to be greeted by early morning sunshine on the table.

Strange shadow play on the conservatory wall. Seeds for next year drying on the table. Gardeners are always thinking ahead to the next season.

Still a bit misty outside.

Out into the garden. The Sun is at the south east but shortly the whole garden will light up as the Sun comes round to the south. Still lots of leaves to be collected.

Such a stunningly beautiful morning! More like Summer than November 1st. Been a while since I walked the garden in my dressing gown at this time of year. That’s the good thing about living in the sticks…no one peering over the hedge…ever!

Back to the conservatory for more shadow play.

By December 21st the Sun should be just skimming the top of the trees in the forest behind us and casting shadow and light even deeper into the cottage. As this is our first Winter here we are seeing all this for the first time.

Seeds to be potted on are highlighted too. Canterbury Bells and Dianthus planted in the Autumn to give a head start next year.

Lettie catching a few early morning rays…

while Freddie is needing some TLC. He had his little op a few days ago and has to wear this silly lampshade so he doesn’t go near his stitches.
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Thoughts at Samhain.

Be careful if you go down to the woods today…especially approaching dusk. It’s that time of the year when ghouls, goblins and other mischievous beings come out to scare and haunt and taunt. It’s dark and still and eerily silent in the woods on these days around the turning point of the Celtic year. For it is the time of the changing of the seasons. Summer is well and truly gone…Winter has come. The Celts lives revolved around agriculture and the seasons. This time would be the end of the harvest…indeed all berries and tree fruits were picked before Samhain because the breath of the Puca and other evil beings would fall upon them.

People dressed in masks and costumes to disguise themselves and frighten the evil spirits away. That’s where the tradition of dressing up at Halloween/Samhain comes from.

As kids we dressed in old clothes at Halloween. The only thing bought new was a mask. Nowadays the shops are full of costumes for children and adults alike. High priced badly made tat from China. The masks have become so grotesque and horrible…blood and gore…the more the merrier. Despite the recession this stuff is flying out of the shops. Amazes me!

For me it is a particularly poignant time of the year as it is the anniversary of my Father’s death. Twenty one years ago he left us at the age of fifty nine. I still miss him a lot. This year would have been his eightieth. I remember the funeral just before Halloween. While we were immersed in our grief and sadness everyone else was full of the joys of the season. Such is life!

Enjoy the dark time of the year…for us sure as night follows day the Sun will return in the Spring…warming the land for another growing season. Enjoy the fruits that have been harvested this year. The goodness of the Summer to sustain and nourish us through the dark time. A time of reflection, reading, crafting…glowing fires and hearty soups. Will we have snow or will it be a mild wet Winter? The answer will be revealed in time.

Enjoy the season that’s in it. Happy Samhain/Halloween to all who pass this way.
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