Seaweed, Roses & Wool !!

Seáns Birthday

2012-01-19T15:54:00.001Z

Happy new year everyone! 2012! Can u believe it? I have just made it one of my new year's resolutions to start blogging again, as I had reason to look at my blog the other day and it made me smile to look back at the picture's of my kid's and see how much they have grown, the time flies by so past and in this digital age I for one find that I don't print my pictures but instead leave them sitting forlornly on a disc which is just so sad, so it is nice to look back and see how much they have grown. I also have to admit that I was shocked to notice that my last post was WAY back then in 2010! alot has happened since then, My Dad passed away in May 2010 and that made me feel very depressed and not in the mood to share my thoughts with anyone, also with the recession the past couple of year's have been tough, not so much money around, little or no work to be found and living on a very tight budget, so I am going to also use my blog as a tool to plan my weekly menus and add some new recipes, it's always a handy place to keep things!
My son Seán was 5 on the 8th of Jan this year but his best friend was also 5 the day before and held his party that weekend, so I decided then that we would have ours the following weekend and so we did, Seán was in his element and had a great time, he was so happy to have all of his friends at his house and delighted with all of his pressies! My sister also brought us this great drinks fountain at Christmas as an extra present and it was a great addition, the kids loved it, we also dug out our chocolate fountain which we got a few years ago but it is always a great success! They all had a great time anyway so that's what counts!

St Patricks Day Miltown Malbay 2010!

2010-03-18T12:40:00.001Z

The Gravel Poets

2010-01-18T19:27:00.002Z

A friend of mine is in this band,they have just produced their first album, I'm loving this song, if you like it please check them out on you tube as every impression made on their video counts for them!
Maureen

Groundhog day no more!

2010-01-12T18:31:00.005Z

You know that you live in a farming community when your children make snow 'bales' instead of snowmen! Although they did also make snowmen!

It has been a touch of groundhog day here since about the week before Christmas as we keep getting more and more snow and it seems like christmas is ongoing which is not good for the waistline! Schools have been cancelled and so we have not resumed our usual routine and no work is getting done! However this morning we felt a return to normality as we woke to rain and gale force winds! Its amazing the difference that one day makes, I took the top three pics yesterday and the bottom one today! However I'm not in any hurry to go driving on those roads today they look like glass! So it will be another evening in beside the fire doing crochet or knitting! Hope its good wherever you are!
Maureen

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T23:43:00.000Z

Here's hoping that 2010 is the best yet!

Hope you all had a great Christmas!

2009-12-31T01:39:00.007Z

One of my new years resolutions is that from now on I will make the time to come and blog more often! I know I seriously neglected my blogging buddies in the later part of this year and I am truly sorry, but things just got on top of me, life and business got in my way as they do and I did int seem to ever have enough hours in the day, and although 2009 wasn't a bad year for me, /I won't be sorry to see it gone and look forward to the blank page that is 2010, a new year and a new decade. We had a good Christmas, as I hope you all did and much excitement to see Snow, which we don't often see here by the sea, although it made travelling hard and so I still haven't got to see my family for Christmas as they live a couple of hours drive away but have been on the telephone so not too bad. I am trying to upload some pictures for this post but blogger is having none of it so I may try and add some Christmas pictures tomorrow, before the new year arrives, so will chat to you again then,
Moe
xxx

Halloween

2009-11-01T16:29:00.003Z

Our Crew
We had a Witch..........
a bat!.................
and a devil!
The whole crew!

Hi There,
Hope you are all well, just thought I would post some Halloween pics. The kids had a great time at a halloween party at their cousins house, after going trick or treating to the neighbours they bobbed for apples and stuffed their faces with sweets for the night! A great time was had by all. Hope you enjoyed your Halloween too!

I am a bad bad blogger!

2009-09-30T10:47:00.004+01:00

Hi Everyone, sorry I havent been around so much I know that I am a bad bad blogger! I have just been so busy with work, which I suppose is a good thing and have been expanding my flower shop to include room decor, chair covers and centerpieces, so I am really excited about that, I have got beautiful chair covers with hoods in fabulous fabrics and sashes. So I just want to work now!If you want to have a look take a peek on my website and click on the blog for pics. I came across this video on facebook last night one of my freinds had it so I thought I would share it with you because it gave me a good laugh! I am back to stay this time I promise!
Moe!
xxxx

Sorry I have been gone so Long!!

2009-09-07T19:08:00.004+01:00

Hi there! Sorry I have been gone so long! Did you miss me? I was just busy with Summer and Work and Kids and life in general!! Anyway I am back now and the kids are back at school so we have a bit of routine again so hopefully I will have a bit of time to blog again! but for now i will Leave you with this:

Bad Hair Day!

Happy Birthday Decie!

2009-08-03T17:21:00.003+01:00

My Niece Denise turns 17 today, she has been waiting for this birthday for quite a while. It means that she is now legally allowed to drive. She has already sat her Theory test and passed with full marks. So I would just like to say a very Happy Birthday to you Denise...................

And to everyone else..................................
get indoors quick there is a mad driver on the loose!!!!!!

Work In Progress

2009-07-28T11:37:00.005+01:00

Thought I would show you something that I have been working on for a while now, well actually quite a long time as I started this project a couple of years ago and then lost heart as sewing is not really my strong point and so those projects always seem to fall behind with me and inevitably end up being stashed away for a rainy day!

I really loved doing the redwork embroidery though which is what spurred me on into putting some of them together as I did not want to waste them, I came across them the other day and decided I should go back again and have another go!! I have always loved Sunbonnet Sue and Sams since I was very small and also Holly Hobbie so I really do want to finish this quilt one day but for now I will just content myself with trying to put together another few squares, I would Love to finish it with a blanket stitch all the way round and a couple of rows of crochet onto that.

Love to hear what you all think of this!

Moe xxx

Wonderland Update!

2009-07-27T14:02:00.006+01:00

You can See the Official Trailer for the new Alice in wonderland Movie By Clicking Here
Oooooooh Can't Wait!!

A Martha Stewart Craft Day!!

2009-07-17T22:09:00.005+01:00

Aisling with her finished Card
Denise's lovely Card

Aoife's Finished Card, she is so creative, she decides that she would paint a Tree Branch under her bird and glitter it, for someone so young I think she did a great job!

Some of the finished balloons

Denise and Aisling hard at work!

Aisling's finished Card

Aoife with one of her creations!

We had a relative home from America last week and she gave the kids lots of lovely pressies, Including some Martha Stewart Craft Sets, which they had really great fun with and it thankfully kept them occupied for a good couple of hours which is always good! They espically loved the ballon making kit that had lots of balloons and sticky bits that you stuck on to make the balloons into birds. And in Keeping with the bird theme there was also a lovely kit for making glittered cards with birds on. My niece Denise is here with us this week and is a little shy but she also enjoyed making both the ballons and the cards. One of the Cards Aisling put Thank you on with glue and is sending this one as a Thank You to the Lovely Auntie Margaret who kindly got them for us. We have all decided that We Love Martha Stewart too!

Aisling making her balloon

Gorgeous Giveaway!

2009-07-15T01:43:00.004+01:00

Oh How nice are these Goodies? Really Gorgeous! You can enter the fantastic giveaway for a chance to win them by leaving a comment here : http://alicew.typepad.com/thoughts_from_alice_w/2009/07/summer-giveaway.html before July 17th So What are you waiting for!!!

Be Happy!

2009-07-11T00:54:00.005+01:00

A friend of mine took this photograph last year when he was living here in one of these apartments, this is Vancouver by the way and this is one of the most densly populated areas in the world. Sometimes when I am complaining about having to do all the washing etc, I look at this picture and it makes me feel happy that I am able to hang my washing out on a proper washing line and that I can hear the birds and see the sun and hear my kids laughing as they run around the house, and that I have a garden and some space to plant some flowers and veg and keep a pet if we want to and maybe one day keep some chickens.........

I suppose really it makes me realise that it is the simple things in life that matter.

Moe

2009-07-09T22:59:00.002+01:00

Just a quick post, the picture above will let you know how I am feeling........

Is the School Holidays almost over yet?

My kids are driving me up the Walls this Week!

They are all a little bit sickly and so are staying indoors even though the weather is Hot

Because our routines are all out of Sync they don't go to bed until all hours

Leaving me Frazzled to say the least!

So I think the above is just about right!!

The Show Must Go On

2009-07-07T19:11:00.002+01:00

I am watching the memorial service for Michael Jackson and it strikes me how Brave his Family and Friends are, you can see how visibly moved these people are, we sometimes forget that famous people are only people after all, and that Michael Jackson was someones Son, Someones brother,
more importantly perhaps, someones father, and although he may not have known it friend to many. His Friends are doing him proud tonight remembering him at this remembrance concert, and so we see that in Show business as always The Show must go on.

Sean & The Greendale Rocket (well not Really!)

2009-07-07T10:44:00.008+01:00

On Sunday afternoon we went to a local truck show, My husband John is big into trucks and the kids Love these as well, I just tag along, although I must say that some of the painted trucks are works of art and I also like the vintage section and the American Trucks, however we were a bit late in going and so I didin't get many pictures and alot of our time there was spent looking at this green train which was on a trailer, Sean is a Huge fan of Postman Pat, he really loves him and was totally convinced that this was the Greendale Rocket (the train that is in Postman Pat)
We had to literally drag him away from it in the end, when we came home Aoife and Sean did a spot of baking, Well Aoife did, Sean just did alot of eating!

Happy Tuesday!!

Moe x

Ha Ha! P.C. Junkie!

2009-07-07T02:45:00.002+01:00

Last night, my husband and I were sitting in the living room and I said to him, 'I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug.'He got up, unplugged the Computer, and threw out my wine. Sometimes he's such an ass.......................!

A Very Important Date in Musical History!

2009-07-06T17:12:00.006+01:00

On this Day in 1957........

The Stars Aligned..........

& Paul McCartney met John Lennon For the Very First Time.......

And The Rest................

Is History!
If like me you Love the Beatles, then today is a very important date in the Musical Calender!
It was on this day in 1957 that Paul & John First met at a Garden Fete at St. Peter's Church in Woolton, Liverpool. John was playing with his band of the time - The Quarrymen
which also included: Eric Griffiths (guitar), Colin Hanton (drums), Rod Davies (banjo), Pete Shotton (washboard) and Len Garry (tea chest bass).While setting up their equipment to play, the Quarry Men's sometime tea-chest bass player, Ivan Vaughan, introduced the band to one of his classmates from Liverpool Institute, the 15-year-old Paul McCartney.
If Like me you are a Beatles Fan you will Love this blog: http://paperdreamer.wordpress.com/music/the-beatles-and-john-lennon/
there are lots of Beatles Videos from you tube along with all of the lyrics. I couldn't pick which one is my favourite Beatles song as I love them all!
Enjoy!
Moe xx

Number one on my Wishlist!

2009-07-06T00:58:00.003+01:00

I just found this Sneak Preview of the New Cath Kidston Book Here: http://homeshoppingspy.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/cath-kidstons-new-book-sneak-preview/ & I am sold!

Anyone who knows me knows that I am fairly crafty, I can knit, crochet, cross-stitch and embroider, I can even do redwork, but when it comes to sewing boy do I have a mental block!

I have tried - I even started on a patch-work quilt but gave up halfway through! (actually I must find that and show it to you it wasn't bad, I must start it up again!) I have a great vintage sewing machine in perfect working order that NEVER gets used! So I am going to get this book as soon as it is available and I am going to Do exactly what it says on the Cover!!

Moe xx

Happy Birthday Little Sis!

2009-07-05T00:39:00.002+01:00

My Sister has taken to reading my blog on the odd occasion lately so just on the off chance that she checks in today: Happy Birthday Dear Sister!

Happy Independence Day!

2009-07-03T23:48:00.000+01:00

Happy Independence Day 4th July 2009God Bless America

(They gave us popcorn, baskin robbins, hamburgers, ben & jerry to name just a few!! )

The Sound of Music - Makes you Wanna Dance!

2009-07-03T00:03:00.001+01:00

Whether or not you liked the Sound of Music you have got to watch this video, This is Brilliant and just shows the power of Music

Wonderful Wonderland!

2009-07-02T21:32:00.000+01:00

My first ever trip to the Cinema was with my Mum, She took me to Hammersmith Odeon to see Alice in Wonderland. I thought it was the best thing I had ever seen! Alice in Wonderland remains as one of my favourite Childhood films and I do still occasionally watch it with my kids,

I Love it's off the wall wackiness and the mad hatter is my favourite character! So Of course I can't wait for the new disney Wonderland to be released next year and found this sneak preview of the film, although I think this Alice is a more grown up film, as Alice is All Grown up, I suppose we will have to wait and see! Check out these stills from the new movie, Johnny Depp is starring as The Mad hatter, if you would like a virtual tour of these stills click on the link at the bottom of this post!

Alice & The White Rabbit

Alice with Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum!

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-06-22-wonderland-art_N.htm

Anne Of Green Gables

2009-07-02T20:12:00.000+01:00

Movie still from the Anne of Green Gables film by Kevin Sullivan

I'm sure that many of you will know this novel written by Canadian Author Lucy Maud Montgomery which was published in 1908. It was written as a fictional book for all ages, but nowadays is considered a Children's Book, I loved this book when I read it in my younger years there are lovely sayings in it, it is about a couple who 'sent' for an orphan boy, but got an orphan girl(Anne) instead, this red headed girl was full of mischief but they loved her all the same, here are some of my favourite quotes from the book:

“ Isin't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet? ”

"There's such a lot of different Anne's in me. I sometimes think that is why I'm such a troublesome person. If I was just the one Anne it would be ever so much more comfortable, but then it wouldn't be half so interesting." Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

"It's so easy to be wicked without knowing it, isn't it?"

"And people laugh at me because I use big words. But if you have big ideas you have to use big words to express them, haven't you?"

July

2009-07-01T17:35:00.001+01:00

July Already!Gosh the year is just flying past us,

I can't believe that it is July already!

I Love this picture from the Ideal Homes Calendar
& Thought it would be a nice way to welcome yet another month!

Moe x

Vote For The Cliffs Of Moher!!

2009-06-30T18:22:00.000+01:00

Only & days Left to cast your Vote for the Cliffs of Moher to become one of the 7 New Natural Wonders of the World
If you have ever been to Dublin and seen the Spire you will probably find it hard to believe that the Cliffs Of Moher are Taller than the Spire, but in fact they Are!

You can take the man out of Moher, but you can't take the Moher out of the man!
Let's make the Cliffs of Moher one of the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World by voting at www.7upfree.ie!

Too Cute!!

2009-06-30T16:55:00.001+01:00

Check this out!
How Cute are these???

These pictures are all by a really talented photographer called Richard Austin you can purchase Prints from his web site which is: http://www.richardaustinimages.com/

They would be so nice Framed, I am going to have to get some, problem is that I can't decide which ones I want!! They are all so nice, I especially love the ones in the animal section, of the piglets and ducklings, Which one would you choose?

Back To Top

Baby Blankets Summer Hideouts and Bales of Hay!

2009-06-30T12:51:00.001+01:00

Just finished a couple of crochet baby blankets for my friends new addition!
Really pleased with how they turned out!

This one is just treble crochet enclosed with a shell stitch all around

This one is just 12 Granny's sewn together and edged with a Pram edge added on.

The Weather continues to be Lovely Here, Farm is a hive of Activity

The Kids have been having great fun playing with the bales of Hay,

Hide & Seek,

And Hay 'Surfing' (a new one on me! but if it keeps them quite!)
And Chilling out later in their tent !
Hope Things are good with you too!

Boomba!

2009-06-27T01:50:00.000+01:00

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will already know that I go Salsa Dancing.I LOVE this class so much and look forward to it all week. We have a Jamacain Guy called Pedro as our Instructor, God he is Fit and he makes us work hard! At the end of every class we always finish with Boomba Song it is such a laugh we usually end up in fits of laughter! Its such a catch Summery Song that I thought I would Share it with you. I had great fun looking through the you tube videos to find a video suitable some of them are so funny! Check out the one with the Hippo! So Come On!! Everyone Boooooomba!

Goodbye to a Legend and an Angel!

2009-06-26T11:21:00.000+01:00

I Was Saddened to hear about the death of Michael Jackson at the early age of only 50, I used to love Michael Jackson in my younger Days when Thriller was high in the charts (showing my age now!!) In later years I was on the wall as to whatever he was guilty of the crimes people accused him of or not, still cant make my mind up however I think he had such a hard life and was definitely misunderstood, but no matter what any of us thought of him there is no doubt that he was indeed a Legend, I hope that he finally has some peace now. It is hard for me to pick a favourite song of his, I did like all of his music, I tried to get a video of one of his songs from you tube, but they are all disabled by request :( so I will leave you with this little known song called P.Y.T it was a big hit in the U.S the year that it was released, I was on holidays in Boston with my Mum and my Siter and all the kids over there were singing it, and looking at this video, boy could he dance! I was also saddened to hear about the death of Farrah Fawcett, one of the original Charlies Angels, (she is the blonde one for anyone who wouldn't know) one of my favourite shows when I was younger, God Bless Them Both
Moexx

Yet Another Wedding!

2009-06-20T22:34:00.000+01:00

Lots of Lovely Roses in all Shades for Today's Wedding

The Brides Bouquet, the flowergirls posy and her dads Buttonhole and Mum's corsage

The Bridesmaids Bouquets, were Hydrandgas & Roses

Outside The Church

The Bride & Her Dad & Flowergirl

Peonie's & Crochet!

2009-06-19T13:28:00.001+01:00

I am a crochet fanatic this week! Busy making things for the Knitting and Crochet Swap, no this is not for that though, as I told you my friend had a baby boy so I am also trying to make a gift for her, this is the start of a blue baby blankie for her! As for the Peonies, aren't they just gorgeous? They were supposed to be for a Wedding for tomorrow, but there are so many that I thought I would treat myself to a few - they won't be missed! I must try and take a picture of all of the Roses that I have for that Wedding to show you , They are just Gorgeous!

Sean & Aoife busied themselves yesterday playing with one of the flower boxes!

Isin't it amazing the tings that kids come up with!

The Lads decided to cut the grass at the front of our house,
See the huge Rain Clouds? It wasn't long before the rain came!

We were shopping in Aldi the other day and Sean spotted these Ice moulds they had them in all different shapes, of course he latched onto a Thomas The Tank Engine (his all time favourite!) and a Bob the Builder one. I relucantly bought them although they were only about €1.50 each, but I was saying to myself we would never use them for Ice, however having got them home I had the idea to make chocolates in them as they are silicone, Oh I was so Sorry that I didin't get more of them and hope that there will be still some left the next time I'm there as they turned out great, the kids loved them and they would be really great for a Future Birthday Party or Cake Sale!

Talk to you later!

Bake Sale! (revisited!)

2009-06-18T11:44:00.000+01:00

Just to let you know that we raised a grand total of €753 with our School Bake Sale, that was a great result, I am so pleased.

Do It Anyway!

2009-06-18T09:58:00.000+01:00

I came across these wise words they were written by Mother Teresa, I thought I would share them with you, she certainly was a very wise Lady!

Do It Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

Long May it Last!!

2009-06-18T01:13:00.001+01:00

The sun is still shining I went for a quick walk on the beach today it was just lovely, very few people around, except for a few fishermen, lovely and peaceful!

Well as you can see from my pics the good weather is continuing (so far so good!) but I am so afraid to get up and look out the window every morning because I am so afraid one day we will just go back to that miserable Rain! Although no doubt we are guaranteed really lovely weather for the next two weeks while the kids are still at school, They get their hols on June 26th and that will probably be the last day of summer as it normally lashes for the entire time that they are on holidays!! I suppose I really shouldn't be negative! I have been busy which is good I suppose but in some ways I always feel as though it is a sort of intrusion on my crocheting time!!

Talking of which, I have been paired with Sam over at http://silkiesue.blogspot.com/ for the knitting and crochet swap, so I am now making lots of lovely small pressies for her but of course I wont be able to show you what they are until I know that she has received them! Also my Friend had a baby Boy the day before yesterday, so I will have to make a pressie for him also, i will be able to show you that as soon as I have it done, this was a bit of a blow to me as I was Convinced that she was going to have a little girl and had actually made up lots of pink things in anticipation! Oh well the best laid plans and all that! This is her third boy now so she will have a football team shortly! Anyway will catch up tomorrow hopefully will have more time then,

Take Care,

Moe xx

The Last Of the Gerberas! (for now anyway!!)

2009-06-12T18:07:00.000+01:00

This is the view from the end of our road it's a little hazy cos it was such a lovely sunny day here today, the weather has been really nice here the last couple of weeks so there has been frantic cutting of hay which makes the surrounding countryside look like a lovely big green and cream and brown patchwork quilt to me, The cuckoo is still here but not nearly as loud now so I would think he's due to go soon, I always hate when he goes and wonder will he come back next year!

the blue "hill" that you can see stretching out into the sea in the background is the cliffs of Moher

Brides Bouquet, Bridesmaids Bouquet & FlowerGirls Bouquet

The Bride with her Dad, Bridesmaids and flowergirls

Bridesmaids

The Altar

Main Aisle

I know that the last two weddings I showed you had gerberas, and pink and so does this one!! However this is the last gerbera wedding for a while, I always think it's amazing, all of the last three brides had similar flowers and yet all of the weddings look SO different. I liked the prettiness of the one today, am whacked after it though, off to laze on the couch for the night now and catch up on some much needed R&R (in the form of crochet!)

A Virtual Visit - Welcome to County Clare!

2009-06-11T23:52:00.000+01:00

Barbara over at: http://achocolatebook.wordpress.com/ visited my site today and left me a lovely comment! She also said that she loved the view from my house and wants to come & visit me!! (No Point in being Shy!! Lol! ) Anyway it got me thinking about something I had seen lately on a local website that I had visited and I thought it would be a nice thing to add to my blog so that visitors from other countries could get a chance to visit with us here in County Clare. You won't have to pay for a classy hotel or a b&b as it is a Free Virtual Visit, So today I am bringing you to a local tourist attraction, it is only about a ten minute drive from my house, along the scenic route with the Coast in view at almost all times, I hope you will enjoy this visit, you are guaranteed a birds eye view! If you would like to find out more about the Cliffs you can check out their website here:http://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/ , Talk to you tomorrow,

Love Moe xx

Cake Sale - The Big Bake In!!!

2009-06-11T11:13:00.000+01:00

The finished Scones filled with Jam & Cream
Butterfly Cakes!

We made Scones

Sean had great fun playing with the Dough!

See All the Lemon inside? Yummy!

Lemon Curd Muffins

Yummy Chocolate Chip Muffins

We made Fairy Cakes

And Cupcake Cones !

We Cheated on This One! We used Packet Donut Shaker Maker!

And made mini donuts!

Everybody at the girls school was busy yesterday and this morning getting ready for a big Cke Sale Fundraiser! We all baked loads of goodies and there was so much stuff we thought we'd never sell it all! Guess What? It All Sold Out in Less than 1 Hour! We couldin't believe our eyes! Hopefully we made a good bit of money for the school, our kitty is looking a bit delapidated as we just recently bought 5 Interactive White Boards for the school. The kids had a great time it was just like one big party, held in the school hall, I'll let you know how much we made as soon as I find out. I really dont want to see any cakes for a while though!!!

2009-06-09T23:28:00.000+01:00

Thought I would show you some cross-stitch projects that I have been working on for a while, they are almost finished, the first one is a light hearted farm sampler, which I just love, Problem is Sean has his eye on it too, and thinks it is for his bedroom, and I have a place in mind in the kitchen!!

I really can't say which part I like the best, I love the hens picking, and the pigs and the cows and.......... well all of it really!

I started this when we moved into our house to put in the hall and it keeps getting pushed to the back of my work box and taken out every now and again, one day I will finish it!

I love it because it is a lovely Celtic design and means Welcome in Irish

I love this little shaker style house it has little bits of glitter on it and sparkles in the sunlight!

It makes me smile every time I walk past it!

As you know I love my flowers, especially scented ones and my weekly treat is something scented to sit on my mantel piece!

& Finally.......!

I was reading a lovely post on a blog by another Maureen, you can find it here:

http://mylottieheaven.blogspot.com/

and I came across an old friend who I had almost forgotten,

so long since I heard his voice..........

And so I had to take him over here so I could share his wonderful words with you
for whatever reason his words always bring the above picture to mind

It is Starry Night By Vincent Van Gogh which reminds me of another favourite,

(we will talk about that another time!!)

I actually saw this picture at the same time I saw Les Parapluies (which is a coincidence!)

In the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do

See you Tomorrow,

He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven

Had I the Heaven's embroidered cloths

Enrought with the Golden and Silver light,

The Blue & The Dim & the Dark Cloths,

Of night & Light & the Half Light,

I would spread the cloths under your feet,

But I, Being Poor, Have only my dreams,

I have spread my dreams beneath your feet,

Tread Softly because you tread on my dreams............

William Butler Yeats

Tagged by Mel - 6 things that I Love

2009-06-09T13:28:00.000+01:00

Tagged by Mel over at: http://melaniegalloway.info/
Have to tell you 6 fairly non important things that I love!
Mmmmm.........
O.K. Here Goes Then............

Weddings, and Wedding Flowers,(& in fact flowers of any kind!) I just love them, I love all the planning and excitement of it all, and I especially love creating floral designs and seeing the look of happiness on the brides face as she sees her bouquet!

Renoir! He is my Favourite artist of all times, this picture is my very favourite, called" Les Parapluies", or "the Umbrellas" I was lucky enough to see this in real life once and it is enormous, the people in it are life sized, I love art especially of the impressionist era (& not too many people actually know that about me!!)

I Love magazines! especially Country Living which I can't wait to get my hands on every month! I like any magazine country related, period homes, or wedding related, I am also a bookworm!

I love Handmade things, I also love making them! I love crafts of all kinds and have been knitting since about the age of 5, I only recently began crochet but am loving every minute of it and also love to cross-stitch! I come from a long line of Crafters! I can't sit in front of the tv with idle hands and have to be always doing or making something! To this end I always have loads of different projects on the go all at the same time and stashes of wool and embroidery threads all over the place! I love to get new wool and am like a kid in a sweet shop when in one, I love the feel and the smell of new wool!!!

Baking! I love making breads, buns and cakes, I like making them with my kids and seeing how messy they all get and their little faces so engrossed in putting the finishing touches on!

But I also like baking on my own, then I can get engrossed in putting my own finishing touches on and making them look so much better!!!!

The Beach and anything beach related! I love to go to the beach and walk in the winter, it gets very crowded in the summer, but we do still go to a more deserted place that we know, I love the boats, and the seaweed and the shells and the rocks and almost always end up bringing something home with me for my beach collection, my husband throws these things out when I'm not around but I always bring more!! By the way I was searching for a nice beach pic and couldin't find one that I like so I "borrowed" this lovely pic from Lou over at Ludabelle, check out her really lovely blog here: http://ludabelle.blogspot.com

Now that I've started I don't want to stop!!! does it have to be only 6 things??? There are so many more that I could think of!!!

Oh the Joys in small things!

How Lucky we Are!

Nearly There!

2009-06-07T18:18:00.001+01:00

Yeah! almost there now, the blanket is almost but not quite big enough to fit Aoife's single bed!! Just a few more rows of edging to go and I'll be done! As you can see, Sean dosen't mind that its not quite yet there, he took it for a test drive anyway!! What do you think of my new look blog? I did a little "tweaking" yesterday!!
See you tomorrow!

A Few Mins Peace & Quiet!!

2009-06-05T16:42:00.000+01:00

Sean has just gone for a nap, he was up so early this morning that he is totally wiped out! Aoife is tired and cranky also and has gone up to her room to lie down for a half an hour, so thankfully I have a small window of opportunity to show you some of the photos from today's wedding, hope you like them, just noticed, gerberas are really popular this year, one of the brides last week had them and also my bride next week has them, probably wont see them for another year after that!!!

Make Hay While The Sun Shines!

2009-06-05T15:31:00.000+01:00

I am a farm widow!!! When the sun shines I rarely see my husband, as he is so busy on the farm, All week while the weather has been good he has been out day and night making Hay, Occasionally we see him either when he is so hungry that he has to come home or when we go down to the farm and bring him supplies!(as in food supplies!!) The kids have no school today as it is local election day so they had a great time down at Nannas while I went to work and did some wedding flowers, I will post some pictures of them later for you to see. As for my eldest , Aisling, she is gone to Galway to see the boats that are taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race, the school organised this for the older kids to go to today as they had the day off school. You would think that our house should be immaculate this week as there was hardly anyone at home at all, we were at the beach almost every day and John was farming, but instead it is worse than ever! Having just finished my wedding and sat down for a quick cup of coffee, I am surveying the fall out, It will take me a week to get it back to our normal messiness! I think the mess fairies must have been in while we were out!!! As for the local elections, hmm I really think with the way our government is at the moment that I would be as well off just closing my eyes and sticking a pen on the voting paper, they seem to be almost as bad as each other at this stage!! Anyway will post the wedding pics later,

See you then,

Moe xx

I also like this one!

2009-06-05T02:05:00.000+01:00

Cases where it's o.k. to use the "f" word!!!!!

I remember I walked into my sitting room one day after being in the toilet and found sean in a similar state with a large tub of Sudo Cream!!! LOL but not so funny at the time!!!!!

2009-06-05T01:53:00.000+01:00

A friend of mine sent me one of those e mails today with funny pictures etc....

This part of it made me laugh so I thought I would Share it with you

Disciplining Children........

In most places in the world it is not legal to hit children

Take the children for a drive instead...........

I'm not sure what it is excatly.........

It might be the vibrations from the road, or the scenery, or something like that,

Either way.......

It works!

And you only need to take them for a drive once!

Everybody Salsa!

2009-06-03T16:16:00.000+01:00

Hey there,

how are You Today? As for me I'm fine, better than fine actually, the sun is still shining and making us all feel so good (apart from a small bit of sunburn that is, but we won't complain about that!)

Today we had our school spots day, the kids just loved it last year it was rained out of it and had to be abandoned halfway through so it was refreshing to have nice weather for a change.

I have been busy already getting things ready for my knitting and crochet swap over at Mel's blog http://melaniegalloway.info/?p=543#comments . I have found lots of great little projects to do, should keep me busy for a while, but unfortunately I won't be able to tell you what they are for quite a while yet!

I Love Wednesday's as it is my evening off away from the kids and housework, instead I go Salsa Dancing! It is just so much fun everybody should try it! I do it to keep fit and it is called Salsa Slims and the guy who teaches us really makes sure that we work out, but a whole hour seems just like 5 Min's you can hear the collective groan in the room when he says OK ladies last dance! I am so bad at any kind of exercise that I have to do something and this really does not feel like exercise at all. I have been kinda busy outside now that the weather is nice and have been doing a small bit of work on my vegetable patch, whether anything will grow or not who knows, guess I will have to wait and see, just posted a couple of pics of the kids at the sports day, my crochet blanket not finished yet still working rounds on the outside! and also thought you might like to see the view from my house, here it is in all its glory! it is really beautiful, espically in this nice weather,

Off to Salsa Soon so better get the kids some dinner!

Chat again Tomorrow!

Moe xx

Blog Swap Number 1!!!

2009-06-02T13:01:00.000+01:00

Hi There,

I have just decided to take part in a blog Swap organised by Melanie over at A Country Dream Blog : http://melaniegalloway.info/, it is a Crochet & Knitting Swap and I am really looking forward to it - already scheming as to what I can put in for my blogging partner! It is hard to think of cosy things on such a beautiful day as we have here today in Ireland but nonetheless it is still fun!! So if anyone else is like minded and would like to take part in this blog Swap head on over to a Country Dream for the details,
As for me I'm off to get my crochet hook!
See you Later!
Moe xx

Lazy bank holiday and a yummy tray bake!

2009-06-01T23:29:00.000+01:00

Today was one of those lovely laid back days that if you tried to plan it it would never work out like that. The two girls went to visit their Nanna & Grandad who live a little further down the road from us on a farm that my husband now runs, so they had a great day moving cattle out of sheds and into fields

As for myself and Seanie, we pottered about in the sun it was such a beautiful day again, long may it last, tending to our few flowers and vegetables that are starting to grow. In the afternoon we decided a little treat was in order and decided to make a malteser tray bake for a treat after tea, here is the recipe in case you would like to try it for yourself!

Malteser Tray Bake

Ingredients:

(for the bottom layer)

400g milk chocolate,

200g unsalted butter,

4tbsp golden syrup,

250g digestive biscuits, crushed

175g maltesers

(for the topping)

250g white or milk chocolate,

50 g unsalted butter,

1 tbsp golden syrup,

75g maltesers crushed

Method:

Melt the 400g milk chocolate along with the 200g unsalted butter and the 4 tbsp of golden syrup in a double boiler, making sure that none of the water gets in along with the chocolate.

Place the crushed digestive biscuits and most of the funsize bag of maltesers into a bowl and add in the melted choc mixture, (leaving some for the topping if only using milk choc) mix thoroughly. Place into a swiss roll tin and flatten out. If using white chocolate clean pan and add white choc, remaining butter and golden syrup and melt. Pour or drizzle over the top of the tray bake and sprinkle with the crushed maltesers.(sometimes if we are feeling really naughty we add chocolate buttons as well!) Leave in the fridge for at least one hour (if you can bear it!!) or untill set, slice into squares and serve. Mmmmmm these are very filling but very very nice!

We have also made this tray bake by using crushed chocolate chip cookies instead of digestive biscuits and sometimes when we run out of whilte chocolate we just use plain for the topping we like both equally. These are a big hit with the kids, I cut them into tiny pieces because they are really filling and they just love them.

Enjoy!

Moe x

Sandcastles & Crochet!

2009-05-31T21:33:00.000+01:00

The Children made Some Sandcastles
While I made some crochet squares inspired by the colours of the Sea!!

The girls had some fun swimming.........

while Sean played in the rock pools

Mmmm! An almost Deserted Beach!

Heaven!

The other side of the bay

An Abandoned Lobster Pot

Going Home!

Even though we live only three miles away from the beautiful beach of Spanish Point in County Clare, we tend Not to go there on beautiful Summer day's such as today and instead often head there for a walk on the beach on an Autumn or winter's Day. On those rare day's like today that are so hot and Sunny, Spanish Point Beach gets so packed that it is to me unbearable, so we pack up and head a little further out the coast only a couple of Min's drive to a lesser known Beach mostly only known by locals and people who frequent the area with summer houses etc.,

This Beach always brings to my mind Enid Blyton stories of my childhood as there are lots of little nooks and cranny's that I don't notice on other beaches and a mysterious island just offshore, and lots of rock pools, I always feel like it is an adventure waiting to happen! Anyway this lovely weather is set to last for a few more days so we will make the best of it while we can. The best thing about the beach is that all of the kids are now at home and in bed extra early as they were so worn out after their big adventures! Hope you are enjoying the good weather too!

Moe

Good Day Sunshine!

2009-05-31T00:21:00.000+01:00

It was such a beautiful day today, I spent all day outside with the kids in our New Patch planting vegetables, dont know if any of them will ever grow as it proved a bit difficult trying to dig and watch the smaller two at the same time who were so excited and went off in a tangent planting their own things here there and everywhere! Oh well at least they enjoyed themselves! We planted potatoes, carrots,leeks, cabbage, lettuce, rhubarb, strawberries, tomatoes, onions and cauliflower. Sean came in in the evening about 5 pm and just lay down on the sitting room floor and was asleep within a couple of seconds totally wiped out!

Later this evening I finished off a baby cardigan in crochet, this is my first actual garment made in crochet so I am so pleased with myself that I managed to follow the pattern and hope that it is the right size but I think it is. My friend is due a baby in a couple of weeks and I am hoping that she will have a baby girl as I have a stash of pink baby things made for some reason! Hope you all had a lovely day wherever you were!

Moe

Bad weather & Vegetables!

2009-05-29T16:27:00.001+01:00

One of my greatest pleasures at the moment is the fabulous smell of these scented summer stock

My Crochet Stack for Aoifes Blanket continues to grow

As Do the Marigolds on my Doorstep!

I'm Loving this blue enamel bucket which looks so much nicer in real life!

Even though we have not planted anything yet one of the most important things for Aoife was to put in this scarecrow ( a Halloween one! that was in my store!) to scare away the birds!

Mmmmmmmmmm!

Cant help thinking this is just a slight bit too big! Oh well we can but try!

O.K - The weather forecast was good, After weeks of pestering my husband to sort out some kind of a vegetable patch he finally did it for me yesterday I couldint wait to get up this morning I had great plans of planting out my spudswhich are sprouting away nicely now but god it is so windy here you wouldint believe it, So eventually after planting two rows of potatoes we had to give up it was just too bad, hopefully tomorrow will be better! I am having trouble with the exposure on my camera which seems to be over exposing everything it is a fairly new camera so I guess I will just have to get out the instruction manual and see if I can fix it, so please bear with me till I sort it out!

Kilkee, County Clare

2009-05-28T17:49:00.000+01:00

Isint this little house so beautiful? In such a lovely location while the weather is nice, but being realistic probably really awful to live in in the winter!

Was in Kilkee in County Clare, to meet another Bride about her Wedding Flowers and couldint resist taking some pictures of the beach while I was there, it is a beautiful Horse-Shoe shaped beach, I always love Kilkee it is such a beautiful little Irish Seaside town.

Busy Busy Busy!

2009-05-28T16:56:00.000+01:00

Busy Busy busy, No time to waste Today! No Time for Crafting today either :(

Just as well that I love my Job!! Thankfully the weather here in County Clare, Cleared up to reveal a beautiful day. Best of Luck to Anne pictured above who married Donal in Quilty Church by the Sea a beautiful Venue. It really is a man's world, by the time I had finished the wedding flowers it was time to collect the kids from shcoll and child minders etc, back down to earth with a bump as usual! Must go and get the hungry crowd some dinner now, hope you like the wedding! I Love the colour of the bridesmaids dresses.

Crochet Fever!!

2009-05-27T11:16:00.000+01:00

OOPS! There is a gremlin on my work in progress!

This is the blanket sewn together original in the middle and new either side
Aoife my six year old has laid Claim to this blanket so she is waiting patiently for it to be finished so that she can put it on her bed!
This is The Original Blanket

This week I am suffering from Crochet Fever! I was being driven demented reading all about the escapades that Lucy at the http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/ attic 24 blog and Vanessa over at http://doyoumindifiknit.typepad.com/ Do you mind if I knit blog are doing in the last couple of weeks, Lucy made the most fab blanket its so gorgeous and Vanessa is working on her equally fab blanket too, so I rooted out all my scraps of wool and although I had asked Vanessa for her pattern and really wanted to make it, I decided not to because while rooting out the wool, I found some baby blankets that my Mum had made for aisling when she was born, and for my niece, she had passed away when Aoife was born but I still used them for both her and Sean & people always commented on them.
So I decided that I would add to the original baby blankets and make them big enough for them too use now that way they would each have something that Nanna made for them which would also be functional, so far so good it seems to be working out ok, I will keep you posted as to how it turns out! I am just using an original Granny Square Pattern for the squares, the only problem is that I really want to make Vanessa's Blanket and I really want to make Lucy's Ripple blanket but I now have a line of children also waiting for a blanket each, aisling, sean and my niece! Oh Such is life, so little time, so much wool!!!!

Seans New Jumper!

2009-05-26T16:28:00.000+01:00

Welcome To my new blog, here you can read my daily rantings and ravings about whatever crafts im working on, whatever wedding I am doing flowers for and anything else that comes to mind!

Today I am going to show you a new jumper that I have just finished for my two year old Sean, two year old boy's are so great because you can put what you want on them and they never really complain! unless it's uncomfortable! I have two older girls and trust me even at that age they were fussy as to what they would or wouldin't wear! I am also working on a crochet blanket but I will tell you more about that tomorrow! I have already spent too long today playing with the set up of this blog so I will leave you with a couple of pics of sean proudly wearing his new jumper! and getting a piggy back from his dad!