White O'Morn Cottage

Lakeside Break...Gone Fishin'

We finally got to spend some time up at the cottage last weekend. The weather was glorious which is unusual so we brought Mam with us to give her a little break away from the city. Here she is relaxing by Garadice lake, it was so peaceful. We will bring our fishing gear next time.

More lake pics

 

 I got a present of some money and spent it all on craft books. I will have to live to be one hundred to make all the lovely things in them. Below is a "Green" one with some great ideas for recycling stuff.

Below is the satin flower I made from the lining of a gift box. A Before & After picture of it.
before.......and after

And a long dress for me made from a duvet cover!

close up of the yoyos, I used old buttons and a broken necklace to decorate them

And I made one for a baby too.

and another one

 

Next one was taken in Carrick-on-Shannon. It shows Angie in front of the smallest church in Ireland. Angie is saying "Do I look big in front of this?"

and here she is attempting a breaking and entering of an old abandoned schoolhouse near Ballinamore
Angie found these fabulous 30's or forties knitting patterns for me in her MIL's house. I love the hairstyles....

...and look at these male models. Both are SMOKING! Would not happen today.

Angie and Ed threw a barbie on the deck of the Old Schoolhouse and we ate ourselves silly. Look at all that food!

It must have smelled really good as we heard a loud rustling noise and a horse and two donkeys invaded the garden. They just burst through the hedge in the background of the picture.
 

 

  

The cottage garden was very overgrown and neglected so I am putting up this old pic of it to remind me what it will be like when I put a few hours of elbow grease into it.

This is one side of it today mid way through my tidy up. Oh how I love to potter in the garden on a sunny day!

I never tire of looking at and taking pictures of the view from the cottage. It looks so wonderful with the gorse in full bloom.....

With that I'll say goodbye for now. Have a lovely weekend! Pam

 

Festival Fun

Just back from Ballinamore where they had their annual festival last week. Paul was tired so we only got out to one night of fun. There was something on every day and every night. We did a bit of a pub crawl on Wednesday night so as not to miss anything!

In the open air in High Street there was a great band on called Simply Tina....can't guess why!!!

 

We then headed off to Bobby Joe's Bar...Zinda, Paul and Angie getting into the spirit of it.

 

Next we went to the Poor Scholar...they were having a karaoke night...One drink, a good girlie giggle and a quick exit before we were tempted to sing!

 

Next one shows Paul having a scoop in Jackie's Bar where there was a country and western singer on.

He was good too and Angie and I got up to do The Tush Push (line dance) and made a holy show of ourselves and Angie pulled a hamstring......so it was off to Priors to see a Jazz and Swing band. Also pretty cool. We finished the night there.

 

The next day was Ladies Day but we could not get a ticket - sold out!

We had our own ladies day in Carrick-on-Shannon (shopping) and later in the Old Schoolhouse (party and craft night) Hmmmm....lots of party and not much crafting!

Katie arrived and showed us her gorgeous range of handmade, by her, bridal jewellery collection.

Talented lady Katie, she is a hairdresser, teacher, mother and jewellery maker! Well done Katie! More details to come over on Angie's blog The Old Schoolhouse (see sidebar)

 

Thrifted Finds:

Found some lovely goodies in Carrick - like this "Cross stitch" Home Sweet Home plate.

 

A sweet cake stand with...roses

 

 

Not that it was all fun and games...no, no, I had some home improvements planned. Above: Me shiftin' a mountain of sand and gravel to make what is locally known as a "street" to park on.

Talk to ya soon...Pam

 

 

 

Thrifted Treasures, Fairy Stitches and Woolshop Garden

First let me say to Twiggypeasticks "Have a wonderful holiday inWhite O'Morn Cottage!"

 Twiggy won my giveaway for a week's  holiday there and is currently in residence enjoying good weather, the Ballinamore Festival and lots more! Wish I was there....er..well maybe not...it only has one bedroom and er well......Oh, you know what I mean. Twiggy and Co. ....have a ball!!!!! Go girl!

Lots of love to you and your branch and your twiglet (husband and son)

Paul is not allowed out of range of his hospital so we have to have our "holidays" here at home as best we can. So every day we try to go somewhere and make an outing of it for ourselves. Lovely they are too. Always enjoy the simple pleasures - that's one thing his illness has taught us.

So off we went the other day to Stitch wool shop in Beaumont, Dublin. While I was browsing all the goodies in the shop Paul was able to go out to the garden at the back to have a cup of coffee. I joined him for a nice cup of tea. They serve it in a selection of mismatched vintage china and all the teapots have a cute hand knit cosy. So very civilised! 

 This is a fab little shop where you can sit and knit, meet other knitters, swap ideas and patterns, ask for advice, take lessons and hang out and have tea and such and so can your menfolk.

Here are some pics I took of the wool shop garden....a haven of peace and tranquility.

 

 

 

 

Even found a frog friend for Paul!

 

 

 

Not Rocket Science - Sockit Science

I have finally got the courage to have a go at knitting socks on 4 needles. I asked for a simple pattern and some wool. I'll keep you posted as to how I get on.

 

The lady assured me that if I could knit and follow a pattern then it was not difficult...so not rocket science but sockit science!

 

Stitched by Fairies I think!

After that we had time to take in one of my favourite charity shops where I found a stash of oddments of wool, needles (I must have a full set by now) embroidery thread, wool embroidery thread, sewing notions and more.

While there I found some lovely old table linens: a full set of tablecloth, napkins and traycloth. All of them hand stitched with minute, impossibly neat stitches. I took a macro photo of them to show you. Women had patience in those days!

 

I think I will keep these for the cottage as they are too beautiful to part with. I'm always doing that - even though I buy them to resell on my vintage website. I find that I can't part with them. Oh well, confessions of a hoarder! 

 

Gardening and Craft (& Paul) News

I'm back at last and have some of my recent crafting projects to share with you. This first one is a WIP and I really must get it finished off as I wanted to use it as a summer handbag and summer is flying by! It is a stocking stitch knitted bag with blossoms all around the top. The flowers are really easy to make - indeed the whole thing is so easy it is a pleasure to work on.

 

Below are the two cushions I made from the Moda, Carrots and Peas fabric Teeda gave me.  I love these muted colours.

 

 

Now for some of my PIPs ( projects in planning stage) This flower is so easy to do too.

 

More of a challange is this lovely piece of embroidery work. I haven't done embroidery for a while, I hope I can remember how to!

 

 

Is there a more beautiful blue than that of the little forget-me-nots? This is a close up of the ones growing in my cottage garden beside the green bench where I like to have a nice cup of tea and admire the view

 

...and here is the said bench with the said forget-me-nots at front of cottage.

 

...and last but not least here is a pic of two of my three "garden inspectors" Chewy inspecting the flower tub and Pretty peeking out the door keeping a close eye on the gardener...Me!

 

Thanks to all of you who have been thinking and praying for Paul. He is fine at the moment and just waiting to hear a date for his next operation at end of July and course of radio therapy after that. We are off to our annual holiday on Friday to enjoy some relaxing time before we have to worry about such things. I think he is looking very well considering all he has been through...here he is...the one and only......Paul Flynn!

A Picture Paints a Thousand....

...stories...well, yes I know it is really words.

I took this shot at home in Dublin of my back garden through the conservatory window. Nothing much happening..right? Well - What does this snapshot in time tell me about what was going on during that week?

*The vase of gorgeous roses were given to me by my students to mark the end of term at end of May so I know it was taken about then.

*I can see cans of decking oil on the garden bench and the shed door is open so I know I was (at least) planning to do the deck.

*At left you can see my dog Holly. I snapped just as she started to cock her leg for a pee..huh? (yes, I said SHE and "cock her leg") She is the only shedog I know who lifts her leg to pee!

*My neighbhour's sweetpea are just beginning to drop beautifully down my wall. He plants them every year, which saves me from the trouble!

* The garden bench along the wall is one of my favourite spots for a nice cup of tea.

*At the bottom of the garden on and beside the wicker chair are my pots and bag of compost. The flowers I planted at that time are now coming into flower at the cottage.

*Paul's collection of frogs (well, some of them) can b e seen on windowsill and on deck near the bench.

*And beyond the wooden fence of neighbours garden can be seen the trees that grow in the field at the back of my house where we take the "Girls" ...eh..I mean dogs for a walk.

Thanks for visiting...now you know me a little bit more!

A Weekend of R & R in Lovely Leitrim

I'm back... restored, recharged and re-energised after a great weekend in Lovely Leitrim. Yes, it's officially known as Lovely Leitrim. .....because...well, there is no  other way to describe it... it is simply lovely.

All of our counties are known by their special names...the Fair City is Dublin, the Rebel County is Cork, the Royal County is Meath, the Kingdom is Kerry and the Lovely County is Leitrim. It's true!!! I don't make this up as I go along you know.

Paul couldn't go at the last moment due to work so I celebrated our anniversary anyway. Here is a pic that sums up the weekend in Lovely Leitrim...

Them's my tootsies in my "Mad Cow" slippers relaxing on the deck of The Old Schoolhouse on Friday afternoon. It overlooks the girls' playground, the apple trees, in bloom with appleblossoms, and the view looks out towards the nearest town, Ballinamore.

I was just off the bus from Dublin (three hours) That trip was lovely too. I had my Ipod on all the way (Dixie Chicks and Il Divo) the scenery was wonderful and I dipped into my book now and again and refused to make eye contact with anyone in case they tried to talk to me. "FECK OFF - I'm on me holliers!

Next we tried out the swing that hangs from a very high branch in the girls playground. A fit of the giggles followed...as you can see, because instead of going back and forward, the swing started to go in circles! We decided Angie was either water divining or was having a girl! (you know...hold a threaded needle over a pregnant woman and if it goes in a circle it's a girl or back and forward it's a boy...try it -it works!)

Then a little meditation down at the 'Dry Toilets' for me (a child of the sixties and a card carryin' tree hugger - but if you look carefully you can see a look of pure devilment on my face)

Next it was a case of ..."put on lots of slap (make up) and "you take a nice pic of me and I'll take a nice pic of you 'cos we are Glam Sham-Rock Chicks"

Actually, the wall I am sitting on is the one that divided the boys playground ...behind me, from the girls playground, in earlier pics. Angie is seen here revin' up the BBQ or as she put it..."Ridin' the range"

Fri. evening we were joined for a BBQ by friends who have also bought homes in Lovely Leitrim to get away from it all. This pic was taken specially for you Debby Perry of Sanity -no longer an option...(on sidebar)

....This is... "The Psycho Pats" ...(or)... "Those of us for whom "Sanity - was never an option!"

left to right Zinda, Angie, Katy

Ed and Darrin.

Anyway the next morning at dawn, (well to be honest - it was 11am - it just felt like dawn)

... Zinda, who could represent Ireland in "Shopping" if it was an Olympic event, called to take us (much against our will) shopping in Enniskillen.

Now those of you good at geography will know that that Enniskillen is in another country entirely! Cross border...international shopping if you don't mind! We even had to change currency to Sterling from Euro.

Ballinamore is very near the border with Northern Ireland and everyone here has a sterling purse...(well the women do as men don't care for shopping in any country -right?) They go to watch "The Match" ... in "The Pub" (any match...any pub)

Love u Zinda, but feck off! - if you think you are bringin' this trolly dolly shoppin' in foreign parts again!

Zinda dropped me off at "White O'Morn Cottage" at six on Saturday evening (make a note...NEVER go shopping with her again, - go to pub with men instead...Yes, men know a thing or three)

After Zinda released me from shopping duty I had a lovely evening cleaning the cottage (huh? ...a lovely evening cleaning? Does not compute!!!) Well, you see, any evening in White O'Morn is a lovely evening. Smalltzee wench I am!

I had to clean the cottage as we are having visitors soon! The lovely Kimme of Irish Cottage Dreams and her husband, Patrick, are coming to visit soon from Germany (and so are sister Teeda and her hubby JOB (Joe O'Brien) from Canada.

Kimme does the most amazing computer art from photographs and super mousemats and calendars and stuff...check her out....see my blog list on sidebar and Teeda does handmade jewellery...see sidebar, Beadiva

Anyway I had a peaceful solitudious Sunday morning and when I looked out the window I saw this sight which brings meaning to the saying " the view was breathtaking" ....The creator had painted another masterpiece for me to marvel at...I swear that every time I look at it this view is different. Check out my collection of photos of this view to compare.

Ten minutes later the view had changed again and I zoomed in as far as possible and took this picture of the church in Augahwillan (where Angie's schoolhouse is) right on the horizon of the above picture. Bear in mind that this church spire is at least four miles away from my cottage. ....(the church spire is the tall white thingy just left of the church itself which is the reddish roofed building, just above left of the white house in the centre of the picture.) This is the churchyard where famous Irish author John McGahern is buried. I will post a close up picture soon of this pretty little white washed church....don't you just love these digital cameras? Four miles away and I captured it!

More Irish Cottages in Dublin

Not all the pretty Irish cottages are located in the Irish countryside. Dublin is the capital city and has it's own share.

These photos were taken by me during my 15 minute walk home from work in my local library in Baldoyle. Baldoyle (or in Gaelic -Baile Dubhgall) is on the east coast of Ireland and used to be a fishing village. It is now a suburb of Dublin City.  These lovely cottages date from that time.

As they are in my locality, I am so used to seeing them I hardly notice them. But as you bloggers know - blogging makes you see things as potential blogging material! Enjoy these pretty cottages and cottage gardens.

Beautiful Bluebells in Suburbia & Blue Desks in Utah

I was walking home from work today when I chanced upon this garden full of bluebells. What a cheerful sight! It reminds me of those pictures of bluebell woods you sometimes see in magazines. This house is just around the corner from me in Baldoyle, a suburb of Dublin. I had never noticed it before.  When I got home I took my camera and went back to get the picture. They really do look like little bells...you can almost hear them tinkling! Pretty, pretty, pretty!

Oh, and while I'm on the subject of pretty blue things.....I have just been on Main Street Memories blog (on sidebar) and Colleen has done the most fabulous job on a small desk. She has before and after pictures and it is to die for! Check it out. Well done Colleen!

Repurposing a Beyond Repair Antique to a Garden Ornament

When I came acrosss this gorgeous antique but badly damaged teapot my first thought was to break it up for mosiacs to bling my birdhouse. But then I decided to try it out as an eccentric planter for my nastursum seedlings. I fill ed ith with compost and planted the seedling, then I tipped it over as if it was pouring because this allows the excess water to drain off down the spout. Lastly I just hooked the lid over the broken handle. I will add more pics as they grow and will probably place it in the cottage garden among the other flowers digging a depression in the soil to support it in this position.

Quirky, unique, free and green!

Wildflowers, Leitrim Lanes & Iron Mountains

...the fields between the lakes are small, separated by thick hedges of whitethorn, ash, blackthorn, alder, sally, rowan, wild cherry, green oak, sycamore, and the lanes that link them under the Iron Mountains are narrow, often with high banks. The hedges are the glory of these small fields, especially when the hawthorn foams into streams of blossom each May and June...      

   

...These hedges are full of mice and insects and small birds, and sparrowhawks can be seen hunting all through the day. In their branches the wild woodbine and dog rose give off a deep fragrance in summer evenings, and on their banks grow the foxglove, the wild strawberry, primrose, fern and vetch among the crawling briars"  From John McGahern's autobiography "Memoir"  (text in italics is copyrighted)

Here are some photos of the very hedges, fields and wildflowers he describes. All were taken in the field and ditches along the edge of  my wild garden on the Iron Mountains, County Leitrim

 

One of our best ever writers was John McGahern. He is the author of six highly acclaimed novels and four collections of short stories, and has been the recipient of many awards and honours, incliuuding the Society of Authors, the American-Irish Award, the Prix Etrangere Ecureuil and the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, "Amongst Women", which won both the GPA and the Irish Times Award, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and made into a four-part BBC television series. His work has appeared in anthologies and has been translated into many languages. He was born and lived in County Leitrim, Ireland.

His autobiography "Memoir" is truly an awesome story that is unputdownable. It was published under a different name in America, (I think it was titled "All Will Be Well) I will find out what is is and add it here.