Thursday, 31 December 2009
And to finish 2009...
Dilly and Sos are off to a Masked Ball at their favourite venue in town and spending the night at Mum and Dad's, and B is spending the evening with a friend whose folks are having a party. I'm trying to tidy all my sewing so I at least begin the year organised!
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Waahay! Post!
Colletta emailed me before Christmas to say I had won one of her book giveaways. I was delighted, and then the bad weather arrived which resulted in no post for nearly a fortnight. However this morning there was a clunk on the doormat and THERE it was!
I tell you, I was so pleased that I made myself a big cuppa tea, stretched out on the sofa and began reading! Thank you Colletta, I am so enjoying 'Jingle Bell Babies'!
And a day on the sofa has done me good too as I am still far from well, but with the house full of family have been dashing round like a mad thing keeping up with laundry, meals, cleaning, airing the dogs, mopping up snow puddles, etc etc- just usual mother things. So I guess I'm twice grateful!
My favourite mug with Winnie-the-Pooh came to grief this evening, boo hoo. B was very sorry too as she broke it.
The wind has been howling since yesterday afternoon, now with sleet and snow added. It is wearing listening to it but I'm thankful for a warm, snug house (which hasn't always been the case). Sos and B made supper this evening, when I said salads I meant various dishes, but they misunderstood and put everything together in one big bowl, including all the Christmas leftovers!!!
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Black Holes and Spring? Cleaning
Well I've come to the conclusion that our house has a Black Hole designed especially for my KNICKERS! I apologise for airing my laundry in public, but I assure you that it is all clean as I know I put the items in the washing machine. Somewhere between loading and folding the clean laundry my knickers are gradually disappearing. A few months back I bought myself eight new pairs of VERY expensive lingerie- 4 euro the knick, no less (5.76200 USD), (don't laugh, it's dear for me) and I'm down to THREE.
In the immortal words of Queen Victoria (also my Great Grandmother): 'We are not amused'.
(btw Queen Vic wasn't my Great Grandmother, my G G was another person entirely!)
B had a brainstorm yesterday and spent the day tidying her room. Out of it came four bags of rubbish...
...a heck of a lot of laundry (not all of it her own clothes I gather from the howls of outrage which followed the laundry dumping)...
but the result is stupendously fabulous!
Monday, 28 December 2009
Change and a Challenge
Yesterday's sermon was based on the verse:-
'And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.'
(Luke Ch 2 v 52)
The Canon spoke of how change happens whether we like it or not, like gardens growing, buildings needing repair, children growing up and even our relationships with each other altering in the course of time.
Mary the Mother of Jesus had to change as her son grew and took on the mantle of His vocation- she changed from parent of a dependant baby, to serving the Son of God.
The point is that we NEED to change to grow; we need to alter ourselves to serve our God better and more faithfully. Our God does not change, He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, but He is the only being in the world who is perfect. The Canon suggested that many of us might need to change our way of walking with God- that perhaps we have been expecting Jesus to follow us in our 'busyness' instead of looking to Him to lead us, that perhaps we may have casually relegated Jesus to the 'Sunday box' instead of opening ourselves to what He would like us to do each and every day.
Change is never easy. To grow and change, see our faults and prayerfully remedy them can literally be as painful as pulling teeth. We can't see the future, we can't see the end of the journey God asks us to take with Him, we can't even see the reason for some of His directions but that isn't the point. All He asks is for us to follow Him- it's as easy, and as tough, as that!
Am I ready? Heck no! But I'm up for the challenge Lord!
Sunday, 27 December 2009
Catch Up!
Monday 21st I went to the Doctor who agreed that I was sick!! After a week of antibiotics, ibuprofen, and a bunch of other stuff the old system has been beaten into submission and I begin to return to the land of humans! Anyhow I played in Church all the services I had to, even though Christmas Dinner was left totally to Mom.
Christmas Day with the Dean giving out the children's presents, after they had each shown him what they got from Santa!
Christmas Day about 9.45am- Walking to get the car from the cow-byre where it was left all week due to the ice and snow up our lane way in order to get to Church.
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
This'n'That...
Someone's well cheesed off with this whole Christmas lark.
The bro and travelling-sis have arrived in Chile and he emailed us a photo of her so we could see that she is in one piece...BUT...typical brother, he sent one of her eating and her mouth full! Well, I guess I'd have done the same to annoy him if I had the opportunity!
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Third Sunday in Advent
'And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace."
Luke Ch 1 v 76-79
Today I was sent for in a panic by the Sunday School Teacher part way through the Service, so I missed the Sermon.
The Tax-collector and Angel Gabriel were refusing point blank to take part in the Nativity, the teenage helper was trying to oust 'Elizabeth' and play her herself, two older Shepherds had told the younger Shepherds that they had to be sheep and they were lustily rebelling, and Joseph was refusing to dress the part for the day...I guess I was the riot police?
There were only eleven children in the room but tempers were high! Lengthy negotiations followed and all was sorted by the time parents came to retrieve their off-spring. Actually it was all quite surreal...but a regular part of Christmas for many of us I guess! (One year we had a Wise Man and all he would say was 'Moo!')
I've often thought that nothing demonstrates the Lord's humour better than the fact that He allows the Nativity to be re-enacted year after year down the centuries. And such is His power that even through the histrionics and disasters, His love and compassion for us still shine through.
What a God we have!
Saturday, 12 December 2009
Items of interest?
Trivia!
Friday, 11 December 2009
Of Sisters and Mishaps
Here's a misuse of the blogging medium for you:
Last night our eldest daughter was looking at recent posts to catch up on the home news. When she saw the state of the sitting room she texted her sisters with directions to tidy up at once! (They ignored her!)
Sos was reading an old magazine of Mum's this morning and found a recipe for chocolate vodka drink...yeurch! She wants a party after New Year...well she was told in no uncertain terms she can buy the vodka if she wants it- I'm NOT. Anyhow I don't approve of spirits at house parties...in any shape or form!!
B was ready for school early this morning so was dumped pronto and I was parked at the Supermarket by 8.30am. Shopped, was at folks for breakfast by 9.30, and at school by 11.20 to gather and sing with the children who are singing for the Methodist Service next Wednesday. It went pretty well. Sometimes its nice to work with a small group and I think they enjoyed it too.
Finished about 12.45 and set off for home....and then realised I should have had two more people in the car...Turned round, went to park and managed to hit the school gate, wedged the car against it so now I've a big scrawb of red paint along the side...Ah well, things happen I guess...
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Thankful Thursday!
I took it this morning at sunrise when I went out to de-ice the car.
2. Thankful for the beauty of a frosty morning!
The lights...ah yes....yesterday evening B got into trouble with her father for attempting repeatedly to lasso the top branches of the tree with the end of the string of lights...she couldn't be bothered setting up the ladder (which was beside her!).
Next question: do any of the lights still work??
All you with sons think BOYS are bold? I've always held that our daughters are past masters of the special art of 'Creative Badness'.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
The Christmas Tree is in!
52 point turn in progress...
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Black Frisbees!
Or these?
And finally, progress is being made on hand quilting the earlier mishap.
I spent the day designing and constructing a Christmas Elf but I'll show you that when it is finished.
Monday, 7 December 2009
The Morning That Was!
1. Sewing- especially patchwork and quilting.
2. Walking on the beach in Winter with half a gale blowing.
3. Playing the piano when no one is listening.
4. Baking to the (loud) sound of Andrea Bocelli!
5. Reading.
This morning I had quite a few messages to do before going in to School. It started out just not my day and then turned into...well, you'll see...
B had to stop at the College shop on the way to school to buy a scientific calculator as someone stole hers on Friday and she had a Maths Exam this morning. After that I went on to park in town and got out of the car to find it was sleeting- eurgh! Put my €2 in the parking disc yoke and it spat out a BLANK docket! Well I was mad.
Went to the ATM, wouldn't accept my card. Went to another, it had been removed since I was last in town. Went to another, wouldn't take my card. Went to a third and finally got money.
Crossing the footbridge I stopped to take some photos as the river remains really high. It was still drizzling so I'm surprised the photos came out at all.
As I was taking them a voice remarked in my ear 'Tourist!'- it was our Churchwarden. We had a brief conversation and as we parted company the Vegetable Man went past so I walked to the Bank with him and caught up on the state of the Market Garden, spring planting, and the best shop for Second-hand clothes- he says Oxfam, I say Enable Ireland!
When leaving the Bank I accidentally shut the delayed lock door on an old man whom I thought was further away, and the Postman laughed at me. 'That'll larn him to move faster,' sez he, 'and get on with you, ye did it on purpose!' I truly didn't.
On the bridge by the old weir I took some more photos.
Pure Guinness- huh?
Came round the corner and found the school Principle in kinks of laughter- a squad car had come belting round the corner onto O'Connell St., siren blaring, hitting a bollard as it took the corner, screeched to a halt outside the Building Society, two Guards lept out, dashed into the place, and then proceeded to leisurely withdraw their money and have a laugh and chat with the clerks...Only in Ireland I tell you!
And at 10.20am I arrived at School!
Sunday, 6 December 2009
2nd Sunday in Advent
Saturday, 5 December 2009
Of Elves and Quilts...
Tea time Friday, 'Mom I need an Elf costume tomorrow. I got a job helping Santa at the grotto in Togher's!'
Lovely dear, and how do I magic up an elf costume?
'Oh I figured you'd have some red material and you know...'
So, up at sparrow this morning to make this:
The waistcoat was an old sateen top (from my disco days but sssh!) and the shirt was a remnant of silk left over from the dress I made for my first date with the Hub many MANY years ago...