Fluffy Tufts is participating in the Blog Paws blog hop. Come and join the fun!
Tag Archives: environment
Pogo at the Beach! (Wordless Wednesday – 23 April 2014)
Fluffy Tufts is participating in the Blog Paws blog hop. Come and join the fun!
If you are on twitter, you can follow Pogo the Poodle. He would love to hear from you!
Like what you see? Share with your friends!
Flurries, a Fall and a Daring Rescue!
We have been having a very strange spring here in Ireland. From what I’ve seen on the news, we are not the only country to be experiencing unseasonal weather at the moment.
A week or so ago, right at the end of March, we woke up to a blanket of fresh snow! I couldn’t believe my eyes. We decided to pack up the car and headed out for a drive in the country with The Lads.
We drove through the Dublin Mountains and onwards into the Wicklow Mountains. Funnily enough, the further we drove, the less snow there was. There are many public walks throughout Wicklow, so we decided to stop off at one of these and take The Lads out for a hike.
It was really a lovely day. The Lads enjoyed exploring the forest, sniffing every inch of the place! They even had fun doing their own version of agility, jumping tree stumps, climbing steep banks and running along felled trees. While we were walking, a sprinkling of light powdery snow fell delighting us all.
Unfortunately, the day was spoiled considerably when Jimmy fell down a steep embankment!
Mr Fluffytufts had stopped to take a photograph of a waterfall while I continued along the path with The Lads. Jimmy was trotting along the edge of the path when suddenly a pile of shale slid out from under his paws and he went rolling down the embankment. At first, I couldn’t see him as he had rolled into the undergrowth. Thankfully, when I called out to him, I spotted the red of his jumper moving. Next, was the question of how to reach him… I tried but wasn’t able to climb down myself.
Jimmy got himself out of the undergrowth but in his panic he went to bolt in the wrong direction. I don’t think I ever yelled so loudly in my life! Pogo and Casper joined in by barking, and together, we were able to catch Jimmy’s attention.
I maintained eye contact with him and asked him to ‘climb’. The others were encouraging him on by barking and whining for him. He tried, but the bank was too steep and he kept slithering back down. I then instructed him to ‘wait’ and was relieved and proud when he waited perfectly till I was able to attract Mr Fluffytufts’ attention.
Mr Fluffytufts was the hero of the day! He came running up the mountain path and without hesitation, climbed down the bank through gorse and brambles until he reached Jimmy. We checked Jimmy over and apart from a few scratches, he was fine. Needless to say, everybody went back on their leads till we got back to the safety of the car!
Like what you see? Share with your friends!
A Roll in the Hay (Wordless Wednesday – 27 February 2013)
Fluffy Tufts is taking part in the Blog Paws bloghop. Come and join the fun!
Don’t forget to check out our new Fluffy Tufts Facebook page for bonus updates and photos!
Like what you see? Share with your friends!
Dead Fox
A crisp, bright winter morning,
I saw a fox
Sharp teeth glistening white
Glossy, soft auburn fur
Magnificent bushy tail
A second look…
Glassy eyes
Tongue blue and lolling
Deep angry slit across the belly
The hint of intestines
A brutal scene
I cried for her
I couldn’t look away
Like what you see? Share with your friends!
A Single Flower – Cee’s Photo Challenge
Fluffytufts is taking part in Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge! This week the challenge is to post images of a single flower.
Since getting back into photography over the last year, I have developed a previously undiscovered appreciation for the beauty of flowers. I enjoy getting really close to the flower and using the macro setting on my camera to capture every intricate detail.
Here are two of my favourite captures!
Like what you see? Share with your friends!
Contrasting Colours – Cee’s Photo Challenge
Fluffytufts is taking part in Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge! I am a little late with last week’s theme, “Contrasting Colours”.
I think the reason that I delayed in writing this post, is because I struggled to find any images that fitted the theme. I had to really search through my files to find the following photos. They do demonstrate contrasting colours, but I have to be honest, and say that I have never really put much thought into the colours in my photos.
This challenge made me stop and think about my photography style. I have come to realise that my method is much more focussed on the mathematical side: the rule of thirds, the framing of the image etc. I think that I will have to have a colour day where I will forget my ‘personal rules’ and just play with colour! I’m looking forward to it already!
Blue and Orange:
Green and Red:
Yellow and Purple:
Like what you see? Share with your friends!
Powerscourt Waterfall – Staycation Ireland
Recently, we went for a drive in the Wicklow Mountains and ended up at Powerscourt Waterfall. It is Ireland’s tallest waterfall at a height of 121m.
The waterfall and surrounding lands are part of a large country estate called Powerscourt. There is a large country house and extensive landscaped gardens. We had the Lads with us so unfortunately we couldn’t visit the house and gardens. We will have to go back and see those another time!
We had a very enjoyable afternoon walking with the Lads through this magnificent glacial valley. The waterfall itself was breathtaking and is so much taller than it appears in the photograph. The Lads got into the river at the bottom of the fall and had a paddle. Jimmy actually properly swam for the first time, though I don’t think he was as impressed by his feat as we were!
Should you ever find yourself driving in the Wicklow Mountains, I would thouroughly recommend that you pay a visit to Powerscourt!
Photo Credit: Mr Fluffytufts – August 2012
Like what you see? Share with your friends!
A Tourist in My Own City – Blessington Street Basin
Blessington Street Basin is a secret garden right in the heart of Dublin City. Despite having been born and raised in the city, I did not discover this hidden gem until we rented a house in the area.
This park is unusual as it is almost entirely made of water! There is a path around the basin dotted with benches and lined with beautiful raised flower beds. It was renovated throughout 93/94, and officially opened to the public in November 1994.
There is a man-made island in the centre of the reservoir, and this has become an unofficial bird sanctuary. In the summer months, you may be greeted with the peculiar sight of large hay bales floating in the water. According to the park warden, they prevent the water from stagnating and keep the environment fresh and clean for the wildlife.
The basin has had a diverse history. It was built in 1803 and served as a reservoir for the city of Dublin. When the Vartry Reservoir system was completed in the 1860’s, the water from the Blessington Street Basin was no longer needed for the city. Instead, the water was used to supply the distilleries of Jameson and Powers.
Blessington Basin is an oasis of calm in the centre of a bustling metropolitan city. It is situated just ten minutes walk from the Spire of Dublin. It connects to the Royal Canal Linear Park, which in turn connects to walkway along the Grand Canal. While in the area, you could also visit St Michan’s Church (which is famous for it’s mummies) and King’s Inn.
View the rest of the “A Tourist in my Own City” series:
- The Mummies of St Michan’s Church, Dublin
- National Botanic Gardens, Dublin
- Glasnevin Cemetery and Museum, Dublin
Like what you see? Share with your friends!
National Botanic Gardens in Dublin (Wordless Wednesday – 1 Feb 2012)
Past Wordless Wednesday photos:
- Sunset at Bull Island, Dublin (Wordless Wednesday – 25 Jan 2012)
- Let Sleeping Dogs Lie! (Wordless Wednesday – 18 Jan 2012)
- Fat Cat! (Wordless Wednesday – 11 Jan 2012)
- One Man and his Dogs (Wordless Wednesday – 4 Jan 2012)
Fluffy Tufts 