White O'Morn Cottage

A Picture Paints a Thousand Memories

Welcome to a corner of my home.
 

A simple photograph...of an old sewing machine tucked away in a corner of my cottage beside the fire...Not so.

For it tells a many stories and triggers many fond memories...

*The sewing machine itself...was rescued from a skip/dumpster in Portmarnock, Dublin by a friend of mine. He saw it and thought of me. It came with original instruction book and box of accessories, the original packing slip from the factory, and even the original tube of oil. Some old lady had treasured it for years and it ended up in a skip. But then along came Cecil. Thank you Cecil.

 

*The table it stands on is an old, ornate Singer sewing machine stand...It was found by me in the derelict barn on the land that came with the cottage. Much rusted - but to me it was treasure and I sanded it, painted it black and gold and Paul and I added a top, recycled from a spare fence post. We had much fun putting this together , making something out of nothing and Paul taught me how to use a chopsaw and that was a lovely day. I love this table. Thanks Paul

 

*The hugging frog statue to the right of pic are labeled Pam & Paul. A charity shop find and they called to me ....so home they came and got Tippexed and labeled. I can really relate to how these two hug each other. I wonder why? (Paul on right and Pam on left) Thank you Vincent de Paul Shop

*Extreme right can be seen the pump and pipes for  the central heating coming from the stove, all of them installed by my plumber son, Jamie - my baby. I think he hated every minute he spent working here as it is so quiet and rural and everything a young man, used to the mayhem and bright lights of Dublin, does not need or want (Live long enough son, and you will appreciate it) Thank you Jamie.

 

* The book on the table top is an original copy of "Green Rushes"  by Maurice Walsh, the book the film The Quiet Man is based on. My cottage is named White O'Morn after the cottage in the film "The Quiet Man" and I have copied and recreated the cottage in the film as far as is practicable. It is my favourite film...thank you John Huston.

*The coaster. It is hard to read in the picture but it says " A friend is someone who knows all about you - but likes you anyway" It was a gift from a German friend we met in Canada in  2000. I treasure it for its sentiment and for the friend who gave it to us. Thanks  Klaus.

 

* The lamp. A carboot find and I love it even though only one of the lights  ever worked. The lamp base is a lillypad design and the frog was not originally part of  it but is one of the MANY my sis, Angie has given to my husband Paul, who is a fairy and frog fan-at-ic. For the plague of frogs- Thanks Angie.

So - not just a simple picture at all. But full of memories but whenI look at them, at any of the components, they can trigger a particular memory or emotion.

My cottage is full of these vignettes and as my gaze falls upon them ... settling for a few seconds on them, resting on each like a touchstone, I count my blessings and acknowledge them and think...... "Oh, so-and -so gave me that" or "I remember finding that little treasure" or "That reminds me of..."

One of my many mottos is "Delight in the little things"

 And I do.

 

 

Happy St Patrick's Day! ....Lá Féile Paidraig! ....& A Give Away! I Mean Two Give Aways!

It's the big day so to celebrate I am having a BIG double give away! See details further down the post...  You just have to leave a comment to be included in the draw!

      

Wishing you all a fabulous St Paddy's Day! I am so looking forward to it this year. Everyone in great form, lots of ultra happy tourists who seem to enjoy it more than we do!

 

Leprechauns leppin' about the place, (which is what they do best) green white and orange flags, faces, clothes and normally sane people shouting

 " Whup -ya-boy-ya! A truly magic day to be Irish! :) ...Reality and Recession both suspended for the day.

The celebrations have been going on since last Friday here as we now celebrate it as St Patrick's Festival and they take a week - right? Suffice it to say we are in overdrive!!!!!

So many of my readers have Irish ancestors and the Irish diaspora is said to be HUGE. We always have oodles of extra visitors at this time and we give them a big "CEAD MILE FAILTE" which translates literaly as "A hundred thousand welcomes" The parades are fantastic and everyone is in very high spirits - a day when everyone loves everyone (a bit like Christmas but greener)  Pity we can't bottle the feeling for later use!

 

Pressies from Japan!

My good blogpal in Japan -japanesekeane, who is Irish mad has sent me a great gift for the day that's in it...It popped into my mailbox this morning and I was so delighted to see the goodies he had sent me...Here they are

A gorgeous leather Hello Kitty (Dia Ghuit A Caitlin!) all dressed in green ready for the party! I love her!

 

Also included was this old Irish stamp with a picture of St Patrick on.

 

OHHH....and some yummshous chocolate beans (millsean) which I stuffed myself with all day.

 Go raibh mile maith agat Keano! (this means Thank you very much Keano) he will understand though - as he speaks Gaelge! Yes, an 18 year old Japanese chap and he knows as much Irish as me! ...and Kimme (Irish Cottage Dreams) is studying it too...I'll have to catch up to keep up with them! (Kimme has some great links to the parade on her blog so I wont repeat them.  (Use them to see the parades live)

Eat your National Flag!

....and speaking of yummy things how's this? I was out with Ma at a market in nearby Howth and we found these to have with a nice cup of tea when we got home.... They are done in the Irish flag colours of green, white and orange. What a great idea! The lady had made them herself and arranged them in the box. They were selling like hotcakes and what's more...NO CALORIES..... as St Patrick has given us all a dispensation just for this day. (I wish)

 

 

 

Someone told me the colours mean green for Ireland, white for peace, and orange for Northern Ireland. In this case I ate Northern Ireland so I did!

Check it out...just listed on my website: www.suchprettyoldthings.com a baby leprechaun hat. Unique, one of a kind (....'cos I lost the pattern) cute little hat for the little leprechuan in your life. Hand crafted in Ireland and very reasonably priced. Price includes postage! Listed under the Handmade With Love section

Next for your enjoyment I have a link to a cute piece of animation for your enjoyment... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W97M5i05xUo

 

Got Irish in Ya? ....Test yourself for Irishness.....

Did you like that? Yes? Well here is a real treat for you. Do yourself a favour and spend the next three minutes watching this with your volume UP! It will resonate with any Irishness in you and get your pulse racing! ENJOY.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B718RsboGEI

Phew! I'm tired after watching that!

White O'Morn Cottage Give Away

Now to the give aways...you can enter for the goodies giveaway alone or the holiday giveaway alone - or both if it suits you :-)

Goodies give away...goes like this...you will receive a selection of my hand made lavendar sachet, a hand made doorhanger heart, a small patchwork Christmas pillow (Christmas is coming fast!)  Two crochet cookies, and a framed real shamrock, grown in my own White O'Morn cottage garden. More pics to follow (well I have just thought of these and don't have all the pics ready) Don't be rushin' me! 

 

 

Stay in White O'Morn Cottage for Free!

Giveaway no. 2 is a week's free stay in my country cottage White O'Morn Cottage in Co. Leitrim.

In these hard times one has to do one's bit for the tourism trade. So this is my "bit"

If you are thinking of visiting Ireland soon (or even next year) you can spend up to a week FREE in a 250 year old Irish cottage that is a close copy of the cottage in the cult film The Quiet Man. It started life as a Weaver's cottage and is still known as The Weaver Duignan's. The Duignans are the family who built it and it stayed in that family until we bought it. We are good friends with the present day Duignans and they might even visit you for a chinwag during your stay! (for more details just browse my blog) The facilities are basic but comfortable, with one double bedroom and a pull down bed in the living room.

I am always offering it to people as I love to share it with others who appreciate it as much as I do and I can't spend all my time there and want to spread it around. Kimme has spent a weekend there and is coming back for more! Maith on cailín Kimme! Anyway that's why I am offering it as a giveaway to any blogger who wants it. Just leave a comment letting me know which give away you are interested in...and you're in. 

(Kimme, you are disqualified from the cottage giveaway as you are my favourite American and more than welcome anytime! :) Wheee!

Everyone else is welcome - you don't have to be a regular reader or commenter or anything -  just be someone who would like to stay in an old Irish cottage for free!

Have a great St Pat's Day!....love Pam

Ps.. Fur babies welcome!

Both draws close on 21st March

Delight in the Little Things

What a marvelous weekend we had. In these hard times it is getting more and more imortant to find pleasure in the simple things of life. To that end we had a "Delight in the Little Things" weekend. 

This meant doing things that did not cost a fortune but gave great pleasure and being very aware of that pleasure and appreciating it. Counting your blessings sort of thing.

• Walking the dogs up the mountain...well, the weather was gorgeous and the air was fresh and we just strolled for as long as we wanted and then turned around and headed home for a nice cup of tea.

• Next we went to the local library where I found eight, yes, 8 gorgeous crafting books and took them home for a good browse and got lots of inspiration.

• Next we went food shopping where we found that they were selling off for very little lots of good fresh food that was nearing its sell by date. Lots of fruit and veg for nutritional meals. Good for the body, easy on the pocket and good for the spirit (bargains are always good for the spirit or lifting them!)

• Then we met Lizbiz in Ballinamore and gave her a bottle of wine and a pressie for her dog, Coco. Giving is one of life's best pleasures!

• Hard physical work...well, it was hardest of all to find pleasure in this one! We laid some more of the flagstone floor in the kitchen. This did of course, give us a fabulous appetite for our home cooked dinner that was to come.

• Gardening for the first time this year. Oh how I loved this one. The crocus were out and the daffodils were sprouting and the forget me nots had just started to bloom along with the wild primroses. I got lots done and was so pleased to survey my work.

• Crafting. Always a pleasure. I got to finish my first pair of socks! I need to stitch them up now and I will be modelling them for you. I did some more squares of the lap blanket I have been working on. I also made some red gingham curtains for under and around the Belfast sink and they look really well. It is one of life's little pleasures when one finishes a craft project.

Here are some pics of magic moments over the weekend.

Dogs really know how to relax. Every chance they get it's "Let's have a snooze in"  Chewy left and Pretty, right get settled in on the couch for a good ol' session of ZZZZZZZZZ-ing

 

Below is a pic of Betty's great pic of John Wayne in its new home  in my Quiet Man corner. Looks great.

  Below are some of the craft books I borrowed from the library and my first pair of socks and lap quilt which are WIP's at the moment.

   

After a hard days work it was so nice to sit down to a lovely meal and a glass of wine by the fire. The kitchen is a work in progress and we usually set the table on the coffee table in the living room. So cosy. It made a relaxing end to a very wonderful day.

I'm Tickled Pink....Two Blog Gifts in One Week!

 

Thanks so much to you Betty (Joy in our Lives blog - on my sidebar) for the lovely present you sent me. I am chuffed with it.

 

I am just tickled pink because the postman brought me a little surprise this morning. What I found inside made my day and put me in the pink all day! It was a mounted photo of my favourite actor, John Wayne, a movie still from my favourite film, The Quiet Man. It is going up in my cottage next to my photo of Maureen O'Hara in her wedding gown from the same film. I have a Quiet Man corner there. It is perfect for it!  

 This is the card she sent me with the photo.

Sassy is a s Sassy Does! Yup, that's me Betty!

 

 

A real handsome hero. I love him in the role of Sean Thornton, in The Quiet Man...of course Sean knew when to be quiet ......and when not to be!

 

I got a real AWWWW! moment when I opened the lovely card to find...a fluffy foofoo poodle. Well, what can one expect from a great dog lovin' lady who has three rescued poodles (my favourite is the one eyed one who looks like he is winking, Gus.

And if that's not enough Betty and her husband have just rescued an adorable little black dog, Tommy.  He is just sooooo beautiful.  Check out her great blog for the most adorable dogs in blogland.

Again, thank you Betty. I am thrilled with your kind gift. I will think of you every time I see it and I will be keeping the cute card too.

...And more blog gifts from another wonderful blogger Lizbiz (also on sidebar)

Life Dreaming Workbook Giveaway

Liz Biz is having a giveaway on her blog at the moment. It is a wonderful e-book called Life Dreaming. Liz wrote it and it is a workbook from a course she developed over years and - well, I wont say too much  - BUT. ....I have started it and it is fantastic for anyone wanting to change their lives for the better! It is just what I need at this time and Liz is so generous to give it to all of us for free! THANK YOU LIZ!

(actually, I hope to see Liz this weekend and will have a little bottle of red for her and a little pressie for her amazing dog Coco)

Do yourself a favour and pop over there for your free ebook and a great read blog. Tell Liz I sent ye'...Pam

Original White O'Morn Cottage Photos and Pictures of Locations for The Quiet Man Film

 

Many people visit this blog to find out more about the cult film The Quiet Man. I know from browsing the net that there is very little information to be had and it is frustrating for fans. It is of course my favourite film of all time and we watched it again last night.  I have found these pics of the original cottage above showing the owner at the time holding a baby and look at the chickens pecking just outside the half door and the roses growing in the flowerbeds.

Photo courtesy of Jack Murphy.

This is White O'Morn today.....

So sad that no one saw fit to preserve this lovely cottage for future generations. It is just a pile of stones now and even they are disappearing as tourists take them for souviniers.

Next is a painting of White O'Morn Cottage by Juhn McNulty. I love this and will be framing a print of it to hang in my White O'Morn.

 

Then we have a truly beautiful cottage that is still exactly the same today. It was the location for the Playfairs, the Church of Ireland reverand and his wife.

 

 Above is the Danagher house. It also survives and is located on the estate of Ashford Castle. Just the same except in the film there was no glass porch at the front door.

..and of course this is my White O'Morn cottage. I am working to make it as close to the original as I can. The big difference is of course the thatched roof. How I would love to have one. But alas they cost a fortune and I (unlike Mary Kate) don't have one yet. I am always hopeful of course!

Below is an old photo of Pat Cohen's Bar. It was actually a shop not a bar but now it has been refurbished and recreated faithfully as the bar in the film. I can't wait to visit it and have a "glass of black beer" Guinness. I don't like Guinness, but I'll lput some raspberry in it (if it's good enough  for John Wayne, it's good enough for me) No, he did not put raspberry in it but I will.

My husband met a lovely woman at a course he was taking and it turns out that a relative of hers outfitted the Pat Cohan Bar in Cong, county Mayo just recently! A small world. I am hoping to get some more info and pics from her as he got her email address.

 Click on link below for information about the reopening of this pub. They will be showing the film daily in the bar for tourists.

It was beautifully outfitted by Gus Martin , GM Carpentry, Dublin and is a faithful recreation of the one in the film.  Gus is a fervent fan of the film too so it must have been a labour of love. they used stills of the film to make sure they got it just right. I can't wait to see the results.

http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5008&Itemid=38

The tourist board are trying hard to make the owner of the derelect White O'Morn see the sense of restoring the ruin to it's former glory. That is something I would dearly love to see. The owner is an American and has so far not agreed to allow restoration to go ahead. The film brings thousands of tourists to Cong, Mayo every year and most of the buildings used are still in good to perfect condition.

Below is the Quiet Man Museum, Cong. It is in the centre of the village and is a faithful recreation with clothes and props too and a souvenier shop and a short film show upstairs. The haunting music of "Innisfree" plays all the time.

 

This is the pretty little church where Sean Thornton and Mary Kate Danagher played "pattie fingers" in the holy water font.

I am planning another trip to Cong this summer and will of course be posting ooodles of photos. Watch this space!

...WHAT???? Did I hear right??? ...you've never seen it!!!??? go right now to this link from Youtube to see scenes set to lovely music...and then down to the nearest video shop to treat yourself to a great classic romantic comedy.

 

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=GcHknRxRpxQ

This is the link to the Quiet Man Fan Club http://quietmanmovieclub.com

 

Mary Kate so loved her crockery and such. She used the beautiful Willow pattern dishes and so do we. This dresser is in the living room of my cottage opposite the door just as she had it in the film. I noticed she had some white cups hanging so I must get myself some of them too.

Below: we never got to see that end of the cottage but it must have been the kitchen end as is mine. My cottage has exactly the same layout as the original (but then most of the three roomed cottages were laid out like that. I wonder if it looked anything like this. This is an original 1920's handmade dresser and it came from an old cottage in Ballinamore, Leitrim. It was taken out about 8 years ago and place in a damp shed. It was to be used in another cottage in Aughvas but the owners got a new kitchen and it was never used. When I got my cottage and needed furniture they very kindly offered it to me. The feet/legs had rotted away on the wet floor but I managed to prop it up and give it a painting and it is my pride and joy. 

PS...I have just listed some of the lace shelf edging you see on the dresser below to my website www.suchprettyoldthings.com  for £5.99 per metre including shipping. It is vintage Irish cotton lace trim, new unused. Limited quantity available.

 

 

The view from inside the half door. I never tire of looking at this view as it keeps changing. Another of the many pleasures here is to lean over the door and contemplate the scenery. Very relaxing.

White O'Morn Cottage Shamrock

 

Here is a little sample of shamrock from White O'Morn Cottage garden. I only had three frames so I only made three for sale on my website www.suchprettyoldthings.com  (£2.99 including shipping worldwide)

Repurposed antique tablecloth & Beautiful Bride

  I recently came across a turn of the century damask tablecloth. It was gorgeous but alas it had several areas of damage and rust marks sooooo....it got repurposed as: Four damask guest towels, three vintage tea towels, one cushion cover, one needle case, two lingerie pouches and some very posh dusters!

 

 

 

 

 

Maureen O'Hara / Mary Kate Dannagher's Wedding Photograph.

Angie, my sister, visited Cong in county Mayo where "The Quiet Man" Film was made in 1952. She brought me back a truly beautiful photo of Maureen O'Hara in her Mary Kate wedding dress.  I think you'll agree that she makes one of the most beautiful brides ever!  

 

Also pictured here are two pairs of exquisite handmade lace gloves that Angie found for me for the new website www.suchprettyoldthings.com

Thanks Angie! .....Actually Angie is the best "pickers" one could have as she has an instinct for sourcing the fabulous and beautiful items you love. She is always on alert for special pretty old things!

 

 

The Quiet Man Film...White O'Morn Cottage...John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara

     Welcome! Failte! Are you here  because you Googled White O'Morn Cottage?

 

 

....or The Quiet Man Film?

DON'T GO! -PLEASE!... I get oodles of people looking for info on this fab film and they leave because they think this is not what they are looking for......but...

 ...well, the truth is..there is very little on the Internet on the above. I know - because I am a big fan of it and I have been searching for two years, to little, or no avail.

So ...you might as well stay for a minute or three and see what I have for you regarding same. So - come in to the parlour.... settle down by the fire -relax and.... Will ye' have a cup of tea?

Ah, ye' will, ye' will...ye' will!

The Quiet Man....It is ...without doubt the best chickflick ever made!

So enamoured was I, that when I got to  buy my dream home....I named my cottage after the one in the film.

Alas, the original White O'Morn is now just a pile of stones near Maam Cross - near Cong, the village where it was made. I know 'cos I have made the pilgramage to Cong. It was well worthwhile visiting as many of the originals are still there...but not THE cottage.

There is a recreation museum cottage in the village and I loved every minute of it but why oh why did they let the real one fall down?

 Anyway...when I was lucky enough to get my own country cottage...I had to call it ...(you know what!) and it just happened to have the very same layout as the original...sooooo...I set about recreating it!

If you have not seen this cult film then...go watch it and call back for a chat. I have a category on my list to right hand side called The Quite Man and I will be adding to it from time to time.

In the meantime here is a poster of the film (it hangs just to the left of my fireplace in my White O'Morn) It shows John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in a scene on their wedding night..No..no, no....none of that ...(but that's the theme of the story 'cos she wont go ... you know where ...with him on their wedding night 'cos.....) I'm not telling you any more...go watch it! Raunchy stuff for 1952! 

In this scene Sean is trying to get her to come back into the cottage to go to bed but she (Mary Kate Dannagher/Maureen O'Hara) is just about to say to him (John Wayne/ Sean Thornton).... "I'll cook and I'll clean and I'll work the land - but that's all!...for without my fortune I'm nothing. I'm just the servent I have always been!"

...Ooohhh, ...and then it gets really interesting 'cos she locks the bedroom door...which only serves to rile him and he brakes it down.....aaggghhhh and he says  these memorable words..." There'll be no locks and bolts between us Mary Kate...except those in your mercenary little heart!"

Above is an original copy of the book "Green Rushes" by Maurice Walsh. This is the book the film was based on.

This is one of my favourite books...The Complete Guide to The Quiet Man by Des McHale. Published by Appletree Press and isbn no. is

 0-86281-827-3 This is a MUST  for any Quiet Man fan.

Oh, - by the way I often quote lines from the film...my favourite being ..."I'll have it...and I know it!" (I said that when my DH said ...

" But... but ...but ...we can't afford a cottage" and ...." NO!...you can't use your credit card to put a deposit on a cottage")

Ah yes, ... I just quoted Mary Kate Dannagher's  "I'LL HAVE IT ...AND I KNOW IT!"...(and so I did :-) and...he is one happy camper now!

Glad you read on? ...Well, I will be adding to The Quiet Man category from time to time. And... in the meantime there are great goings on in this White O'Morn Cottage!

So call back soon.

Off ye' go now...here's your hat - what's your hurry?

PS....here is a link to my favourite Youtube compilation of scenes from the film...be sure to have your speakers on as it is set to music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcHknRxRpxQ

Introducing ...the kitchen! ....and the Nualas are in the house!

I don't know it you have ever noticed but I have never put up a picture of the cottage kitchen  - and for good reason too!

It was a bit of a mess, storeroom, workroom and unusable as a kitchen or for dining. But this weekend it was the setting for the inaugaral dinner!

My two lovely friends, Ruby and Nuala came to stay for the weekend and this motivated me to sort out the kitchen for once and for all. Here is the table set for our special dinner. I used the lovely Willow Pattern dishes I have collected for years. Ruby and Nuala cooked and I set the table and we had a fabulous meal and finished it off with a bit of line dancing in the living room!

Before and After Cottage Photos

White O'Morn Cottage living room before...                                     ...and after -

I just love before and after pictures so I made sure to document all the rooms before any work was carried out.

This was both a labour of love and an exercise in recycling, lifecycling and re-purposing. Only new item in the room is the paint on the walls!

I love to sit here in the evenings watching my favourite film The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Their cottage in the film lends its name to ours...White O'Morn. It was filmed nearby in Cong county Mayo, Ireland and many of the original settings are still to be found there. Alas the actual White O'Morn cottage is gone but there is an exact replica in the town of Cong. Well worth a visit for any fan of this wonderful film.