Good Paul News...and thrifted treasures

Paul has come through his second operation for thyroid cancer and is well  on the mend. Thank you all so much for your very comforting words, wishes, prayers, Buddhists chants etc. We do so appreciate them. Thanks, thanks, thanks...you know who you are!

He should be home on Monday or Tuesday. It is a big relief to have this one over us. We are nearly out of the woods. One more hospital stay for radio iodine therapy and we should be able to breathe easy. I'll put up a picture of him when I get him back here. We are looking forward to having another holiday at the cottage in a few weeks and a BIG party in Angie's Old Schoolhouse to celebrate (our tiny cottage would not hold all the lovely friends who will be kicking up their heels). See sidebar or click on link to see the Schoolhouse/party house.

VERY special thanks go to :

Angie Lee (for the plague of frogs! and endless phonecalls)

Jessie Lee (for the chaffeur services and hugs)

Mammy (for the rainy day money that came in so handy)

Jimmy Moles (for the visits and DIY jobs and REALLY knowing how it is)

 Tom O'Hanlon (for all the lifts at any time of day or night, and being a great neighbour)

 Liz Lennon (for the wet shoulder and "Chataux Bang" just when needed) 

 Michael Duignan for REALLY understanding and your offers of help and work up at the cottage when we could not do it)

Paul and Maria Lee (for making that special effort and giving us that lovely gift)

 All of you went that one step further at this hard time. We will not forget your special efforts - they touched our hearts more than you know and really did make a hard time a little easier. ....Pam & Paul Flynn

Smyth's Pub, High Street, Ballinamore

This one was taken in Smyth's Pub just before he went in to hospital. We love the decor of this pub and in winter the fire is roaring up the chimney and it is the cosiest place for a quiet drink.

More pics taken in Smyth's.... Kevin, the friendly barman.

 

Half a tractor (yes!) it used to be inside the pub and now has been moved to the smoking area.

 

A second rustic and lovely fireplace at the back of the pub, so typical of a cottage fireplace in rural Ireland.

Thrifted Treasures

While we were in Carrick-on-Shannon car boot sale I found two lovely pieces...one is an old powder compact. It still has some powder in it  but the seller warned me not to use it as they used to put lead into face powder (...and me after being sniffin' it just before that!) Ah, sufferin' heart!

I don't know if the top or bottom of  the box is prettier - so here are both. First is the official bottom...

 

...and then the official top withe the lovebirds. Mine for just 2 Euro

 

 

Also from the same seller I bought this 1898 newspaper. It has some wonderful advertisments...have a look....

 

Look below: a half guinea costume! and a knockabout frock! I want one of those frocks...they sound like good fun!

 

Never mind the whiteness...I want a waist like that!

 

Ohhh, yes, I want one like this too!

 

Perfume in dainty bottles for just 2 schillings!...and endorsed by "The Queen" according to the ad. Do you think it was the actual Queen or a magazine called the Queen. 1898? I'm not up on things back then ...was there a Queen in England at that time? My English readers will let me know.

 

One of the articles in the ladies fashion section told of the latest fashion for ladies (rich ones) to have a manicure and a real diamond glued on to the tip of each nail. They were advised not to wear any jewellery to distract from their expensive decor. Doesn't this sound so decadent and gorgeuous??? This is one that could just catch on again these days. Who would have thought it back then though?

 

Also at the car boot I spied this lovely blue and white jug and dish..four Euro for both. You know how much I love blue and white crockery. Not old but I love them. I use the large jug for milk and the rectangle for my duck eggs or would be great for a butter dish. Shown here with some of the locally grown fresh veg and free range duck eggs from Willie's Greengrocer's on High Street, Ballinamore..... Delicious

The next day I spotted one of these jugs in a local shop priced at 14 Euro so I got the smug satisfaction one gets when one realises that a real bargain was bagged!

 

 I also found two lovely pieces for my vintage shop : White O'Morn Cottage's very own  Such Pretty Old Things website for all things pretty, old and Irish! Very reasonable prices and all prices include shipping worldwide!

I have listed them but have yet to put up photos (camera probs)....a gorgeous pair of vintage white crochet ladies gloves

 and a black pillow/cushion embroidered with green shamrocks with a lake and salmom hand embroidered scene.

 

Perfect for a bride (gloves) or fisherman! (Pillow)

 

Before and After Ballinmore Market...Before - a farmers' market

 

and the same spot today... a supermarket!

 

To finish off here are some more interesting old photos I found in Smyth's pub.

two prim ladies posing in front of a well stocked kitchen dresser.

 

 

Two thatchers taking a tea break from doing the roof.

...and this is my favourite. It shows a young couple having a casual chat ....but look at everyone else watching them carefully! Nothing went unoticed in Ballinamore in those days and some say it has not changed!

I think this is a very special photo. It perfectly caught  a romantic  moment in time, the lighting is just perfect and the chemistry between these two is so apparant. They don't even seem to be aware of all the interest they are generating.

 

Comments

[Josie]

great news about Paul, and the pubs pics are nice, it looks a friendly place to go.
Josie x

[sharie]

Good to hear your news. Hope that it will soon be all behind you.

Love the thrifted treasure and the photo of the young couple having a chat with everyone watching them is hilarious!

[Angel Mc]

just sent up a little prayer for Paul. enjoyed the pix. we don't have any pubs here where i live, but we do have carroll county market---http://carrollcountymarket.com/
love the powder. the graphics are wonderful i read somewhere that Queen Elizabeth I wore heavy white makeup that had lead in it.

[Twiggy]

So pleased to hear Paul has his operation behind him. Your finds and photos are lovely.
twiggy x

[Val]

Great news about Paul, I'm so pleased.
You got some lovely bargains well done.
We are going to the Collooney boot sale again tomorrow, the kids are hooked on trying to make a bit of money.

[Lorraine]

Glad to hear Paul is doing well.

Love your finds and all the pictures they are great! A great lot of history there.

[kimme]

Pam,

So glad to hear Paul is on the mend. I wish him a very speedy recovery. My hugs and prayers continue to go your families way.

Loved the pictures of then and now. Especially the newspapers and ads. Btw, at the time of the ads in 1898 there was indeed a Queen. Queen Victoria, from the Hanoverian line, became queen after her grandfather George III died. She reigned from 1837-1901 and was credited with the expansion of the Industrial age in Britain.

She may have used the product listed. I believe any supplied good or service endorsed by the Monarchy was called a warrant?

I am a bit of a history nerd as you can see. LOL!!!

hugs~kimme

[Sweet Cottage Dreams]

Hi Pam and Paul! Oh good news!! Paul, you get well real soon. Infact, another blogger ~ Heidi (Needle Necessities on my blog roll) is going through some similar thyroid problems. You may want to contact her to share some life experiences, that is if you already have not.

Pam, you said that a little Fiona look-a-like moved in next door! How fun! If you can, please share some photos. Scotties are a hoot!

Your posts are always so interesting and I enjoy looking at the views of Ireland. Oh I so wish to travel there someday!

Queen Elizabeth was the Queen back then. I so wish I had a waist like that! Can you imagine though having to dress like that? Think not! Jeans and tee shirts are fine with me.

sending hugs,
becky

[Sweet Cottage Dreams]

Pardon me...I meant Queen Victoria. She was the longest reigning Queen and died of an anuerism.

[Kay Flynn-The Wrought Iron Gate]

My very best wishes to Paul. I know he will be glad to get all this behind him. I think the both of you have been real troopers through this ordeal. I'm glad you have had loving family members and good friends for support.

I'd like to have a drink in Smyth's Pub. We have a couple of "Irish pubs" in town, but they lack the warmth and charm of yours.....mere knock-offs.

Love all your found treasures.....but I find the photos so intriguing. Photos are such time capsules. How wonderful to be able to glimpse the past.

Kay

[Val]

Thanks for your lovely comment. I hope Paul continues to do well and hopefully things will calm down for you soon.
I use a panasonic camera (it's called a 'bridge' camera) like a dslr but doesn't have interchangable lenses.
Jono has a little panasonic which takes lovely pics too....but eats batteries.
Take care Pam. xx

[colleen]

I have been such a bad friend! To think I haven't even congratulated Paul on his courage, patience and strong Irish will..forgive me! My heart has been with you through this, but my mind has been..well. let's just say, pre-occupied. My continued good wishes and your continued brilliant fight! Yeah, Paul!

[Mel (Shabby Chick)]

Hi, thanks so much for visiting my blog! Looks like you're going through a really tough time at the moment, I hope things are a bit easier soon.

Hugs, Mel xxx