I love escaping from the cities and towns and exploring rural Ireland. Nothing beats the fresh air, friendly people and endless green fields, not to mention the wealth of heritage and spectacular scenery. Below are a few images from my travels in County Leitrim. County Leitrim is the most rural county in Ireland with just over 30,000 people.. It is a great place to unwind, relax and enjoy the simple things in life...

Images; Margaret of New Orleans Cottage, view from the cottage, Fenagh Abbey, more views from the cottage and the final photo is Killegar Parish Church

Last Sunday we visited family on the outskirts of Dublin city. It was a nice sunny day so we ventured off for a walk to the local park where there was a local community festival taking place. There was a nice buzz with lots of people out and about enjoying the good weather. Here are a few photographs of our walk to the park, you will notice that I love heritage and architecture.. some of the old red brick houses are lovely...

We don't have any sheep on our farm so when I'm away I love taking photographs of sheep... Some people probably think I'm mad but how cute are these sheep... with a little hen thrown in too

Have you your holidays booked for this year yet? I really need a break and some sunshine and heat. But where to go? That is the question... Any suggestions are welcomed. I have taken a cruise the past two years and am a bit spoiled as a result. We can only go for 7-9 days probably in August or September... The joys of farming life... Cruises suit us as we can see a few countries in a very short space of time and have less hassle with airports and transport  I was thinking of another Eastern Mediterranean Cruise...

Some Memories from Mallorca...

I haven't read any books in ages. Part of the reason is that there is such a wealth of information available online coupled with beautiful images. As a result, it is difficult to engross yourself in a book with what seems like endless pages of text... There are just too many distractions. For example I think to myself, Oh I must look up how to make the perfect flower arrangement... so online I go... click, click and next thing I  know  I'm on Pinterest.  This leads to other websites, blogs, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc, etc.  It just keeps going on and on until I can't remember what I was actually going online for in the first place. You know what I mean... Has it happened to you too? And then I never get round to that book that is sitting on my bedside table for over two weeks just gathering dust.

Don't get me wrong, I still think that reading books is important for developing our concentration skills, understanding, imagination, memory and creativity. I feel that this is something younger generations may be missing out on. The sense of discovery in a new book is great and the sense of satisfaction and completion when you reach those last pages.

I have so many books, I have a small library room upstairs in my house and I only have my favourite books downstairs. Lately I am drawn to books with lots of beautiful illustrations and photographs. One of which is this fabulous book Homespun Style by Selina Lake which takes pride of place on my dresser. It's an interior design book which couples both my love of books and interior design...  Have a look at the beautiful photograph and if you would like to find out visit here.