Twins photocall.

Some of these are photos taken on Gareth's camera. Thought you would like to see them.

Faith and Sophia

This is Faith.


This is Sophia.
Sophia again.
Faith again.
These last two photos are self-explanatory.

Yesterday we became grandparents for the first time!
Gareth and Kyra's twin daughters were born at the Erne Hospital, Enniskillen just after noon.
Faith was 7lbs 1oz and Sophia was 6lbs 13oz.
Here are their first photos - now we have to learn to tell them apart even though they are fraternal, non-identical twins.

My butterfly

An exciting event occurred today. My very own butterfly hatched out!
One day a number of weeks ago I was tidying up around the flower bed at the front of the house when I saw a chrysalis attached to a piece of wood.
I decided to bring it into the house and put it into a jam jar so that I could watch the development.
It sat there for weeks and I was beginning to think that nothing would come out and it had probably dried up.
Imagine my surprise this morning when I saw something fluttering in the jar and there was my pretty yellow butterfly! In the picture you can see the empty pupa case beside it.
I am going to see if I can identify it now and then I must let it go free.
As I was preparing this blog entry at the computer, I heard another loud fluttering in the lounge and discovered that a starling had come down the chimney and was flying about in there!
Luckily dad was still here and was able to catch it in the window and let it out.
Looks like the wildlife around here are really getting into the joys of Spring!

Spring is sprung!

Our weather has been very good for the last number of weeks so we had our first trip of the season to the "Round O." There were flocks of birds swooping about looking for the bread which many people were feeding to them.

I took this picture of the lambs' tails up the road when we went for a walk the other day.



In our new church hall things are progressing well now. Here Robert is doing some measuring up for the kitchen.




The exterior is well on to being complete and ready now for the tarmac on the car parking area.
The heating is on and the walls inside are drying out nicely for the painting which is to be done tomorrow evening.




The wall around the hall has been built and dashed to match. Also the concrete round the back is finished and the rear view is very attractive.

Our service of dedication by Bishop Michael is on May 9th so it's all systems go to have everything completed by then.

Crafting Activities

This last few weeks I have been busy with my crafting activities. I now have a variety of colours of baby jackets knit - I actually have 5 done. One each of white, yellow and pink and 2 blues.
All I need now are the babies to put in them! Kyra is keeping well so far and hopefully will for another number of weeks. She will have reached the 29 week mark next Thursday.
I have also been making some patchwork cushion covers. Two matching ones of the pink / green colour for the lounge and two different ones of a more terracotta / cream mix for the sun room.
These two feature some chicken and fruit fabrics. It was very satisfying work and I was pleased with the way they turned out.
This is the latest car to join the others on our forecourt. Dad, having ditched his Vauxhall Vectra before Christmas has been using the Mercedes since so I have been rather restricted lately as a result.
He has now got this Astra ready for the road so I get my motor back.
I think there will be quite a clear out and serious valet job to be done.

Layers of ice

We had a lot of heavy rain and strong winds last night.
This morning the ice is all shifting downstream and around the pier area it is all piled up in layers.
It has pushed the signs to one side and the metal ladders at the side of the pier are also pushed over. On the last occasion that this happened even some of the upright posts of the pier were broken with the strength of the ice pushing.

Thawing at last.

The thaw began on Sunday night. I was down looking at the shore earlier today and the ice is still there with water on the top of it where it has rained and of course melting too.
The stones people have been throwing on to it are still there, It will take a good while to disperse.
Robert with the McCrabbe family.
This was the scene on Sunday. What a contrast now to see some green again after 3 weeks of pure white.