Do you ever stop to think how an item you use on a daily basis evolved?  Take the humble chopping board for example. 

​Having most likely evolved from a functional slab of wood used by our ancestors, (yes right back to the cave men and women) to the ever more decorative and multi purposeful ones we have in our homes today.
 
The chopping boards in modern day use come in a variety of shapes, sizes, materials and colours. What started off as a functional piece of wood quickly progressed to become a kitchen essential, designed specifically to cut meats, vegetables, and fruits.
 
The most noticeable difference between the chopping boards of the past (mostly wood) is the variety of materials from which they are manufactured, they include plastic, glass and bamboo.

As some of you may or may not be aware, a couple of months ago I launched my own design led giftware range.  The increase in demand for more readily available quality products by my clients, lead me to doing lots of research 'a year's worth's fact coupled with business management courses and self improvement courses.

Anyhow, in short, I launched my range of aprons to start, with more products to follow in January.  I don't think I was prepared for how well the aprons were received, so a massive thank you to everyone who bought one or more.  The feedback has been fantastic!

And, as planned from the very inception of launching my gift and homeware products, a portion of my sale profit benefits the animals who are ultimately my inspiration.  

On each handwritten individual label I stated that I would contribute to The Donkey Sanctuary of Ireland.

This was the response I gave to a question a couple of months ago, when I launched my new eco-friendly giftware range. To me my answer made total sense, but not to those who don't know me or my background. They wanted to know more.......Why Donkeys???

From MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011
Guest Artist: Rachel Dubber

Interview with Linda L. Martin an American artist and advocate for the Sand Wash Basin Mustangs. At the time of this interview I was living in Cape Town, funny what you find when you are tidying up and had completely forgotten about.  Please enjoy.

​About my work.
My portfolio consists of mostly oil paintings, photography and occasionally sculptures.  My work has been exhibited in Europe, China and South Africa and is included in collections in Ireland, Scotland, England, Italy, Spain, China and South Africa.

​When Tracey Donaghey of Irish Country Magazine asked me to reveal the best places in my hometown, I couldn't help myself sharing the fabulous places on my doorstep in Galway. ​Feel free to read the interview and see the images of some of my favourite places to hang out.

​A few were not included as a lady must have some secret hideaways!  

The view from the Corrib Tea Rooms, I love having breakfast here and watching the wildlife on the weir.

It's lovely early in the morning sitting across from Long Walk, taking in the sights and sounds, a little bit of nature and nurture to be had right at this spot before hitting town!  A stroll on the banks of the River Corrib is not to be missed either, plenty to see along the way.

It is easy to get sidetracked in Galway with so many lovely shops, cafes and restaurants to visit, the view from Papa Rich Restaurant in Born is fabulous and not to be missed!  After being well fed and watered, there is nothing nicer than a walk on the banks of the River Corrib, I am so lucky to live in such a beautiful city.
​

While work is still ongoing behind the scenes for the upscaling of my business, normal daily life goes on.  I am sure many of you have this same issue.....What's for dinner Mom?

Some days I wish someone would invent a pill we could eat instead of making dinner, it would solve so many problems!  I’d eat salad and whatever I find in cupboard, but when it comes to feeding family, that just won’t do.

​​Firstly shopping bag round up begins, I can never understand where they all disappear too it’s like washing socks, one at a time they always leave home!  Bags loaded into the back of the car I head up the road to the grocery store with thoughts of culinary delights in store for the family and the shopping list securely placed in my bag, I’m still a pen and pencil kind of person and I like lists.

Up and down the aisles I trundle shopping list in hand when my mind goes completely blank,  ‘What on earth are we going to eat?’ echoes in my head, like no other thoughts are suddenly home, someone just turned off the lights. 

​How does that happen and I can’t be the only person that happens too. Yes sometimes I plan a menu, sometimes, however that plan changes when no one else wants to eat the same thing, so what do you do? Improvise?

​There are more improvised shopping days than planned menu days, when that happens it can be dangerous. I walk around scanning the shelves, fridges and freezers, ‘hello I’m here’, but nothing happens.   Filling the basket with a few items from my usual list, that won’t add up to a dinner.  Lingering in the meat department as if awaiting divine intervention, as if suddenly the mind of a chef would possess me and I could magically whip three key ingredients into a luscious meal that would satisfy the hearty men in my household.

​Filling the basket as I wander along the aisles and peeking into the other shoppers’ trolleys to see what they are taking home, you never know something might inspire me.  Nope nothing, now in slight desperation I call the hubby and ask ‘what would you like for diner love?’ the reply comes swiftly,  ‘I don’t know, surprise me!’  Well that didn't help!  So being a good Irish woman and mammy I play it safe, I grab the only things that I know they love, after all they are Irish men. 

 So spuds, two veg and meat it is then, shopping done.

I have not been on updating my blog as I have been busy in the studio and behind the scenes with a new venture within my business to be launched very soon. Stay tuned!

​Fortunately, I live on the West Coast of Ireland; a stone’s throw from the Wild Atlantic Ocean and very near the historic Merlin Park Woods. The latter is a heavenly sanctuary to retreat to when city life becomes overwhelming, or if you just need to withdraw to a quiet space. With its welcoming sweet meadows and a beautiful mature forest, Merlin Woods visually draw you in and embraces you like an old friend. Her sweet soothing sounds of birdsong and rustling trees soon titillate your ears; your eyes drink in the shades and hues Mother Nature provides in an untouched and unspoilt landscape. Teeming with life everything here moves at a less frenetic speed, so relaxingly tranquil, I promise if you are like me you won’t ever want to leave. 
Take a walk in the woods with me…

​Merlin Woods is one of the largest mature woodland areas left in Galway City, a place to gather one's thoughts, recharge the mind, body and soul for a few hours and leave behind the fast paced demanding lifestyle we live in today.
The start of my walk takes me past the proud stone sentinel, towering over the North Wood on the South West Corner of the woods are the remains of Merlin Park Castle (formerly Doughiska Castle) it is a wonderful reminder of how ancient this area is. Merlin Castle was built around the 15th and 16th century, and is a fine example of a late medieval Tower House. Part of the Bawn Wall and ancillary buildings still survive today. On the South wall of the castle is a Sheela na Gig, sitting upside down on the left-hand side of a second-floor opening and if I am not mistaken is one of only two to be found in Galway. The Castle is an archaeological landmark and has been lived in and owned by some of Galway’s most prominent and powerful families.

​I don’t follow any direct pathway when here, preferring to amble without purpose through the woods, discovering something different every time I visit. The place is a haven for wildlife and rare species of flora and fauna, and is of extremely high conservational importance. A group called Friends of Merlin Woods are instrumental in highlighting Merlin Woods utmost significance, organising signage, educational trips, clean ups and events here so that everyone and anyone can come enjoy the space. You will understand why as I tell you about this magical place.

​Estimated at being approximately 200+ years old, Merlin Woods has a number of graveled pathways to explore and plenty of trails throughout the woods. You can immerse yourself in a variety of shrubs and tree species, everything from Hazels, Beech, Conifers, Oak, Ash and Larch just to name a few. One day I will take a stroll with someone who can identify all the trees and fauna that catches my eye so often, I do love nature, but am not confidently able to identify all our trees or plants, especially if they are naked like right now as we emerge from Winter!

'There he goes again, scrambling off through the treetops', I am referring to one of Ireland’s beloved native Red Squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris), a breed that has existed in Ireland since before the last ice age. From what I have been told there is a family of Red Squirrels living in Merlin woods, sadly they are not 100% safe here either as deaths occur when the young leave the safety of the trees and get killed by a cars or buses on the road that access the hospital within their habitat and the main road that passes close by. ​

Our Red Squirrels are totally dependent on woodland habitats and have suffered so much through deforestation it was almost completely extinct in the 17th century. The current populations are descendants of reintroductions of the Red Squirrels in the 19th century, but still they are sadly in decline. Along with loss of natural habitat our native Red Squirrel now has to compete for food with the imported American Grey Squirrel. Thankfully the invasion of Grey Squirrels to the West has been halted for now by the Shannon River. So there is still hope that our little Reds numbers will pick up if the habitat is preserved.
Leaving the Squirrel in peace, I weave my way from forest trails to the gravel paths, I cannot help but feel I have been transported back in time, surrounded by nature and alone, it becomes a surreal landscape of beauty and wonder, my mind, body and soul feel relaxed and euphoric. The fluttering of birds from tree to tree, the air carrying delightful songs, my nostrils filled with the earthy scent only a damp forest reveals, all my senses are on overdrive, it’s wonderful, tactile, peaceful and ethereal. 

I stroll back through the woods, off the beaten pathways stopping to admire goliath sized trees, old grandfathers of the forest dotted here and there, if only they could speak, what stories would they tell me? My mind tends to run away with me at times and I get immersed in the moment, it is so much fun, especially in places like this! 
Stopping by what remains of the old stream that once flowed through the woods I catch sight of our Nation’s smallest bird, a beautiful wren hopping from stone to stone, he wasn’t in the least disturbed by my presence. I wait until he disappears and then turn to head up the hill into the forest. Along the way I pass a series of enormous and small moss covered stonewalls, I am sure they are tell-tale signs of pathways and garden areas now being swallowed by the woodlands. Some walls have fallen or been knocked down and are covered in lush blanket of moss, I cannot help myself, I remove my gloves to feel its luxuriousness, damp and soft under the weight of my hand, snap a few photos and move on. 
I meander a lot and crisscross the path and forest trails, heading past an old cottage ruins and wonder what they were like in their hay-day, who lived there and what did they do? All that remain are the walls and openings of fireplaces, a few stone steps, trees and shrubs now inhabiting the spaces once occupied by people, reminders of a bygone era.  

Heading back into the forest I keep walking until I come to the hospital’s tarmac pathway, I cross the main road and head over to the South Meadows. What a stunning place it is when in full bloom, I have seen several foxes here on my walks and when driving past on the main road to town, the meadow is normally full of rabbits, but not today, it is quiet and I am alone and loving the solitude.  I’ve seen most of the wildlife here, not on my walk today, but on various other walks and to be honest I spend more time looking up and around I don’t notice the time or where I end up in the woods. It’s not hard to find your way out if you do get a little lost and that is all part of the adventure. 
The woods and meadows are home to rabbits, foxes, bats, badgers, lizards, sparrowhawks, kestrels, buzzards and possibly a few Pine Marten (sighting have yet to be acknowledged). Always something to see when walking here, but today it was too cold and damp, so not many sightings of animals on the trail, but I thoroughly enjoyed the peacefulness the place offered.

In the Spring and Summer months the South Meadow is one of Ireland’s top sites for butterfly species and numbers, that is most likely a direct result of the area not being sprayed with harmful weed-killers, it is totally wild and natural, infact seed collectors come to harvest seeds here to spread and reintroduce wildflowers and plants to other areas of Galway City and it’s manmade parklands. It is also home to numerous insects and bees that zig-zag happily from plant to plant. The meadows are an orchid and wild plant lovers dream, in Spring and Summer some very rare species pop up here and in when if full bloom it is a pallet of colours that would delight many a painter. ​

I finish my walk, refreshed, full of new ideas and ready for the day. I reflect on how lucky I am to live so close to such a special place and I am reminded of the amazing lady who I was introduced to three years ago, Caroline Stanley. Caroline organises everything from photography, educational and nature groups and takes them on informative walks into the woods. She also organises community events and major clean ups as part of The Friends of Merlin Woods, they are the driving force behind the preservation of the woods and its ancient Meadows for all to enjoy.  The group are constantly raising awareness and educating people of the rare and valuable amenity we have on our doorstep.

Caroline Stanley of Friends of Merlin Woods shares a little bit of the history of the Woods,
 “Merlin Park Hospital and Merlin Woods occupy the former site of the Waithman estate. Merlin Park House was built by Charles Blake in the first decade of the 19th century and was bought by the Waithman family in 1876.  Thereafter it was compulsorily acquired for the building of a TB sanitorium in 1945. The house no longer exists and Merlin Park Hospital now occupies the site. The Waithmans planted many trees during the period when they owned the 340 acre estate. The woods appear on the Ordnance Survey maps from the 1830s and you can see that some of the trees are well over 200 years old. You can tell it is old by woodland flowers like wood anemone, and bluebells, which show old woodland. We’re learning about it ourselves as we go along, about the different insects and species of wildlife”. 

​I love Merlin Woods, it is such a valuable amenity to have on the doorstep, spending time in here for me is like stepping into Narnia, it is a treasured heritage to be looked after and passed on for generations to come. And I will leave you with one last thought to reflect upon, thank you for taking the journey with me.
​
'You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their own, they must protect them' - Wangari Maathai