Mam demonstrates the true art of jam making

hi there
I have been missing for awhile, sorry for that, after my best summer in a vest this year. I returned to work and was so busy that I have neglected my blog. But my  mam put a stop to that, by paying a visit to conduct some serious supervised rasberry and strawberry jam making. All 84 years of her arrived to whip us all into shape, she top and tailed the rasberries, heated the jars and the sugar, the jam was boiled and stirred, then the jam was tested.

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She overseen everything with pride and was thrilled to see the finished products. 18 pots in total.

Summer in my vest, raincoat, jeans and runners

Yes summer in my vest is what happened this year, Pat and I set off on our travels for 12 days to tour the south-east in our caravan, we soaked up two days of sunshine that was interrupted by nasty winds and rain, we visited our beloved Wexford on to Waterford down into Cork on to beautiful Kerry, Killarney was magic muckross house was splendid, Pat rode his new bicycle around there with pride, we danced in the Gleneagle hotel, managed to have one barbecue under an umbrella."Such fun" tasted lovely.......... 

 Pat decided to relive his school days by sitting in and old school desk that we came across in Kenmare

The old Honda 90 looking its best in Listowel

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 John B Keane stand tall in Listowel, we visited his pub and had coffee, viewed the pictures of many treasured memories on the wall. I secretly hope that some of his writing skills may rub off on me when I undertake the long awaited challenge of writing a book..........

Ballybunion Beach not looking its best in the absence of the sunshine

Connor Pass "Magic spot"

Two new friends we made

Stonehouse Restaurant

Heading for home back through Limerick,
have  a feeling we will return soon

Latest crochet project..... popcorn

This crochet blanket I was lucky to come accross at a localcraft  fair day, this prompted me to  researched the stitch, its popcorn, I hope to be able to complete ablanket for a new baby due soon.
 My daughters friend is expectiong triplets in January so the needles will be clicking big tiime.....
Cant wait to get staarted, I just cleaned up my craft den and all is ready to undertake this project yippee!

Do keep and eye out for the finished masterpiece, I will take pleasure in showing them to you.

Its lighthouse time!!

Yes hope you have guessed I stayed at a lighthouse with a good friend for the night, it was amazing, got some pics to share with you. But I am conscious that I could not have captured this bit of magic on camera. My bedroom was on the third floor up with the galley kitchen on the top and sitting room next floor down, then the second bedroom and the bathroom in between. the ground floor of the lighthouse had a settlebed just inside the entrance door
  How beautiful was this the sun shinning radiantly through the window on the fish pots, the winding metal stairway that reached all the way to the galley on the top floor...

I was lucky enough to feel the heat of the flags that were warmed by the sunshine that shone in through the window.








knock knock, whose there???

Its me coming to spend the night  ..... open the door and let me come in, "I NEED A BED FOR THEE NIGHT"  Open the door and let me come in.

The kitchen galley, goodness did I love it even had a Cath Kidston tablecloth, so it ticked all the boxes. Take note of the curtains,  they were made of canvas like the sails of a boat, then I looked up and there were my friends hiding (cobwebs). I felt right at home.

It was time to say goodbye, I was sad to go but, I will always remember the beautiful night that I spent at the lighthouse, I will leave this post  and share an image that I have in my mind each time that I think of my adventure to the lighthouse.

The beautiful Irish sea in the reflection of the sun rays that June morning

Thank you friend.

A very special night

Where o where did I lay my weary head????????

Still wondering where I am, maybe take a peak out the window

Shhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

A new friend I made along the way, say Hi to Freddy!

Must get to my bed now so I will get back to this post another day.But  in my absence please stay guessing,"Where did I lay my weary head"

Emily had a birthday cake request

Emily had a birthday request for her favourite cream sponge cake with fresh fruit, I made an extra effort to make it on gluten free flour, so I could share the cake with her and yippee it was a success

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The proof of the pudding is in the eating, this picture was taken before seconds were offered and Emily decided to take the cake and run, yes off she popped to visit her friends for a barbecue and guess what the cake disappeared with her.

That was the end of seconds but it was a nice thought for a while.............

Happy Birthday Emily xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bealtaine craft display

The best day of my working life this year was during the month of May "Bealtaine month" (The month of the aged), to celebrate I organised a craft display of older peoples craftwork and this was my favourite piece of craft. A beautifully carrickmacross lace veil, wow I loved this piece and was privileged to have learned the craft Mountmellick embroidery from her many years ago a very special lady, she also thought me the craft macramé, yes  the knotting of cords and twines,  I will introduce you all to my macramé pieces at a later stage. 

Take a look at my display table, a real mixed bag of needlework of all shapes and sizes 

The finished giftcard display that I had great fun with, lots of people came and participated, they made special cards for special people in their lives.