The Old Schoolhouse

Cruisin' 'round the World (well part of it anyway...)

Here are some pics that will always bring back memories of a fabulous holiday we took a couple of weeks ago.

But first I must show you these...

The Priceless Gift of Friends

A picture put together for us by our dearest friend. A picture of our much loved and missed Daisy, Ed's mam, who died last month. I love the way this friend was so thoughtful to put a fun pic of her and a pic of a daisy on the side. Priceless.

Would you be surprised to find out that this friend is a .....a....a....MAN!!!!!????

Yes, a big, burly, Irish Garda (policeman)

Brendan. Thank you. It is wonderful and SO thoughtful. We appreciate it more than you can know.

The photo he chose of Daisy is one taken of her on her 85th birthday party wearing her red (of course) birthday cake hat!

The Old Schoolhouse Painting

Next is another gift from a very special friend. She stayed in our schoolhouse recently and gave us this fabulous gift of a painting of it. She painted it herself!

We will treasure it! THANK YOU SO MUCH.

 

...a close up of it.

 

This is now a Priceless painting!

Now for the happy cruisin' pics of us on our recent hols....where we made some new precious friends.

 

 

 

 

 

Ahhhh, happy memories - time spent with loved ones....Pricless

..bye for now. ...Angie.
 
 
 
 
 

 

A loving goodbye to a wonderful woman.

Today we lost granny Daisy, and she will be sadly missed by all who know and loved her, Light of heaven to you Daisy ,

A Special Tribute to a Unique and Free Spirit... Daisy Bell Lee (by Pam)

  Today we said  a bittersweet goodbye to a legend in our family.

Well, she was not related to me at all, but still - I loved Daisy Lee. She was the nearest I had ever had to a mother-in- law. She was Angie's MIL and a wonderful one at that. I borrowed her now and again.

I always remember she came to visit me in hospital after I had had my third (in a row) son.

"Now don't be worrying...I did not have  my girl until I had six sons first!" said she. .....Ah sufferin' heart Daisy!

She is unique in this world as the only person who ever has typed The Bible in both Latin and Gaelge (our native Irish Language) 

(this is the actual Celtic carriage with the Irish typeface that she used) Isn't it beautiful?

She gave this typewriter to Angie and Ed as she knew they would treasure it. She also typed this up and left it in the typewriter.

She had special carriages  she could change on her manual typewriter to do this.  Her vintage typewriter was brought into the church today for her service. Angie and Ed keep this special momento at home where it has pride of place.  This is a picture of it in the "Wildflower Window" (as imortalised by  prize winning Irish writer John McGahern in his  bestseller: "Memoir") How appropriate it should come to rest here.

She also typed up the theses of many of our bishops and cardinals and literary talents of Ireland ie: Benedict Kiely ("a perfect gentleman"...according to Daisy) and the wonderful Brendan Behan (Ah...hem!) 

When our great writer (but rough diamond) Brendan Behan came into the office, her boss used to send her on an errand 'cos Brendan used profane language and her boss did not want Daisy to hear it!  Well, she was just a young lady at the time...

 Above: Daisy and her fiance (and future husband): Joe Lee. They got engaged that day.

 

Well, today I saw - not just her children, but her four DIL's and one SIL in floods of tears at her passing.  'Nuff said?

Daisy was also a talented crafter, cook and a wise old woman who could and did relate to all generations. 

A fiesty old bird  too......Two years ago she was driving home and was going through green traffic lights when she was side blasted by a getaway car after a bank robbery. The Gardaí (Irish police) were shocked to see that such a "frail" old lady of 85 was the victim in this incident. But sure, Daisy comforted them all of course!

Last year she got a letter in the post from the Gardaí stating "Daisy Bell Lee....You have been awarded two penalty points on your driver's licence for speeding...")

She was delighted!  She could not wait to tell all her friends! Done for speeding at 86!  She got 2 for doing 70 in a 50  at 86!  A Red Hatter if ever there was one.

Well, Daisy love ....your nimble fingers have come to rest and I'm sure the author of The Book is looking after you now.

Bye bye Daisy...Slán abhaile.  Grá ...Pam

********************************************************************

  Today we said  a bittersweet goodbye to a legend in our family.

Well, she was not related to me at all, but still - I loved Daisy Lee. She was the nearest I had ever had to a mother-in- law. She was Angie's MIL and a wonderful one at that. I borrowed her now and again.

I always remember she came to visit me in hospital after I had had my third (in a row) son.

"Now don't be worrying...I did not have  my girl until I had six sons first!" said she. .....Ah sufferin' heart Daisy!

She is unique in this world as the only person who ever has typed The Bible in both Latin and Gaelge (our native Irish Language) 

(this is the actual Celtic carriage with the Irish typeface that she used) Isn't it beautiful?

She gave this typewriter to Angie and Ed as she knew they would treasure it. She also typed this up and left it in the typewriter.

She had special carriages  she could change on her manual typewriter to do this.  Her vintage typewriter was brought into the church today for her service. Angie and Ed keep this special momento at home where it has pride of place.  This is a picture of it in the "Wildflower Window" (as imortalised by  prize winning Irish writer John McGahern in his  bestseller: "Memoir") How appropriate it should come to rest here.

She also typed up the theses of many of our bishops and cardinals and literary talents of Ireland ie: Benedict Kiely ("a perfect gentleman"...according to Daisy) and the wonderful Brendan Behan (Ah...hem!) 

When our great writer (but rough diamond) Brendan Behan came into the office, her boss used to send her on an errand 'cos Brendan used profane language and her boss did not want Daisy to hear it!  Well, she was just a young lady at the time...

 Above: Daisy and her fiance (and future husband): Joe Lee. They got engaged that day.

 

Well, today I saw - not just her children, but her four DIL's and one SIL in floods of tears at her passing.  'Nuff said?

Daisy was also a talented crafter, cook and a wise old woman who could and did relate to all generations. 

A fiesty old bird  too......Two years ago she was driving home and was going through green traffic lights when she was side blasted by a getaway car after a bank robbery. The Gardaí (Irish police) were shocked to see that such a "frail" old lady of 85 was the victim in this incident. But sure, Daisy comforted them all of course!

Last year she got a letter in the post from the Gardaí stating "Daisy Bell Lee....You have been awarded two penalty points on your driver's licence for speeding...")

She was delighted!  She could not wait to tell all her friends! Done for speeding at 86!  She got 2 for doing 70 in a 50  at 86!  A Red Hatter if ever there was one.

Well, Daisy love ....your nimble fingers have come to rest and I'm sure the author of The Book is looking after you now.

Bye bye Daisy...Slán abhaile.  Grá ...Pam

********************************************************************

Farewell to a Legend - Daisy

 

My child

In all the time I have been blogging, I have never told you all about my darlin' daughter, Jessica Daisy Lee.

Well here goes, she is the light in my life, sweet kind caring. I remember once when she was only about five we recieved a letter from the school , complaining that she was laughing in class, to which Ed replied " Yes she's a very happy child" ...and she is. And as she gets older [ she's 21 in Dec] we have grown even closer. How blessed I am to have a darlin' daughter like her. She seems to have a gift of touching peoples hearts, ask uncle Paul and aunty Pam. 

 Jessie adores the ground they walk on. So even though I still think of her as my little girl, I know she is a young woman, with her head screwed on, and I watch with baited breath to see what comes next.  So here's to you my favorite daughter...

May the road rise up to meet you,

may God hold you in the palm of his hand ,

and never make a fist.

All my love mammy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Two out of three aint bad.

Well first of all, Mam escaped from the rest home she was in !! She was supposed to stay for four weeks! ....[not my mam]

 "Sure I'm grand and I would be much better at home" says she, after only six days there. So she packed up her bits and pieces and with a wave and a hug for the ladies still in there, she was gone!! Her last words were " They paid the ransom" She is home and doing well,

Then we have Flynner - he got out on Thurs and is doin ok [we have to keep an eye on him], mind him and love him, thats not hard to do, I would stand on me head and spin for that man !! Love you Flynner. 

 And last, but not least, we have the lovely Granny Daisy (MIL) she is still in hospital, but knowing Granny Daisy she will be home soon, Thats all for now from me Angie lee xx

Finding the Fun in Less Than Funny Situations

As you know from my sister Pam's Blog:  White O'Morn Cottage her husband, Paul, is in hospital and so is our mother. Same hospital which makes it handy for visiting both of them. Well, I have to tell the story of how Pam and I were visiting them the other day and we got a good laugh out of both their situations. I am one who always looks to bring a smile or laugh to any situation and why not? Laughter is good medicine....so...

...Paul has low calcium levels after his op. which have the symptoms of tingling in the lips. While we were visiting a nurse came round and asked him "Do you have any tingling in your lips?"......I bit my tongue but could not resist piping up with  "Only when Pam kisses him!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next we went to see Mam two floors up. Her doctor came round asking questions and such and finished up by saying " I'll get the geriatric doctor to pop in and see you" ...to which Mam answered ...

" The geriatric doctor? I hope he is not doddery - could you not send  me a young one?"

What can I say...I learned it from the master! Haha!

What a week !!!

I know I know, I have been on the missing list for a while. There just seems to be so much going on in my life, it takes me all my time to keep up! Never mind write it down. We had E'd's 50th birthday party [what a blast!]

Two pages of pictures in the newspaper, and some stories about Ed told by his dearest friends..... If his head gets any bigger he will have to leave the room to scratch his ear hahahahah! One hundred and eighty friends and family gathered and lets face it  - we had one humdinger of a hoolie!!!!!

Following the party my dear friend Sandra, Bren and a few others came back to the house where we made firm friends with Mr Harvey Wallbanger [oh dear not a good idea]

At eight thirty the next morning I gave in and went to bed !!! Pictures to follow ....bye for now Angie xxxxx

Friends gather at the schoolhouse.

Ah yes, I had a stolen weekend [one where I thought I would be working ] but i managed to get off!!

So Sunday morning -  being my favorite time of all, fire blazing, tea and toast, I was quite content....when Zinda and Pat called in, then Pam and Paul called in and last, but not least, Bren dropped by.....Sooooh--- we had a session in "The Gathering Room"! 

A few songs and craic (craic is perfectly legal in Ireland 'cos it means fun) [Ed and Paul on guitar] I was having a ball, jokes and stories were flying and the craic was mighty!!!

 

 

Pam was taking photos left, right and center [for the blog] ...pics of treasure I have gotten over the last few weeks and interesting corners and artifacts about the place. Hope you had a good weekend too!. Enjoy the pics! Angie x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View of the Gathering Room from attic bedroom

Attic bedroom that overlooks the lounge and mezzanine

Uncle Tim's statue

 

 

 

Ed's family

Angie's grandmother and children (Da is the cute one top right)

  Get yer' ducks in a row!...

and the quietest room in the house...the entrance to the attic bedroom

A lovely old French dictionary with two Parisienne ladies calling cards

 

Ed's Mam's old typewriter

  A bodhran - traditional Irish percussion instrument

Auntie Eilleen's Singer sewing machine

  1950's Chocolate box

front door knocker

The lovely uppity downity corridor

Pretty mannaquin  - a gift from Bren

My sister is comming home yee ha !!!!!!!!!

Now my friends - as ye'  know, we (and I do speak for the Irish nation here) ... just love a good hooly (party)...

... and what better reason than the coming home from exile of the prodical daughter, Teeda, (coming home from Canada - where she was deported to for sheep stealing)  Whoohoo!

 Oh yes, there will be quivering livers all round!

We have decided to go thrifting together [now there's a row waiting to happen!] ...'cos dont ye know it?-Fingers Flynn (that's Pam) wouldl step over her granny to get at a good buy! There will be skin and hair flying!  The craic will be 90!

 Then we will have a party at my mother's house... (we just wont tell Mam because she'll only get herself in a tizzie if she knows ) - so we'll just arrive with food and drink, start a sing song and the craic will be mighty!

Now - I'm also sure there will be a white night (or three)... that's when we stay up all night and sort out the world and its wife. So happy I will be,  that - as we say  "I wouldent call the Queen me aunt"

I will keep yiz posted ... bye for now Angie.

Happy Birthday To AngieBaby

Here is the birthday girl with her husband Ed....Have a great day! (I wont tll anyone which one it is...!...Love from Pam