Happy New Year!

Christmas has been and gone: all the fuss for one short day...

The run up was fierce busy, but when all is said and done, its the way I like it!

Cramming Carol Services into the last week,
all the chit-chat from the children at School,
and the final jolliness in town with everyone wishing everyone else a Happy Christmas.
The snow was rather an impediment this year, but things got done eventually.

The best part of Christmas Day is always the extended family Dinner in the evening, extended family and extended Dinner, and possibly distended family as well! It was rowdy and great fun- Mom cooked up a storm, as usual, and despite certain people trying to auction off the carrots, it was a real feast!

So all that's left to do is to wish yous:

All the Very Best for 2011 and here's hoping its a Good One!

And the Post gets through!!

By Friday evening our lane was impassible with snow, so everyone left their cars down at the end, just off the main road, and walked home.

Mid-morning Saturday there was quite the party going on down there as everyone got together and started to dig themselves out, with the help of a friendly tractor.

And then who should turn up but...the Post! It was as far as the van could get, so he delivered to the four houses down there, and then to all the cars' snow-clearing crews!
And look what arrived for me!

A box from Jane...now I wonder whatever could be inside??

There was all of Friday's groceries still in the car, so everything was bagged and boxed, and tied onto the toboggan for the trek home.
Quite a haul for the poor huskies, and mostly uphill too...

I couldn't wait to unpack the box...and look! Even nicer than it looked in Jane's Shop!!

A real Wreath is hung on the front door with snow all around...don't you think?

So, Jane, this is a really real wreath!! Isn't it just gorgeous?

(You'd better hurry if you want one for yourself, and no, you can NOT have mine!)

I love Christmas!

School Carol Service

After WEEKS of preparation and anticipation, both in school, and in Church with the organist, finally Friday 17th dawned...

It was a county covered in snow!

But, despite abysmal road conditions, to say nothing of no school transports, the brave and hardy students of a certain enthusiastic National School turned out for their annual Carol Service! It began late, as parents struggled in and teachers dusted falling snow off their willing singers, but it HAPPENED!

And it went well!

And despite the weather I think there was a record attendance of families, as well as the next door secondary school students, which was lovely for all of us. The children sung their hearts out, and I hope the Story of Jesus' Nativity touched a few hearts and reminded folk of what this season is really about.

Unwanted Germs and an Apology

I know, I know: I never posted this week's Friday Craft.

I'm verra sorry, really, and my only excuse is that I was just too wrecked last night...pathetic, don't tell me...

The last two days I've taught all 200 plus children in the School as well as sorting logistics for the actual Service in the Church to avoid collisions as well as lengthy pauses.

And now I've a stonking cold and sore throat!

I ask you!

Wouldn't any self-respecting germ have the nous to know when he was totally unwanted and just stay clear?

But no!

In they come all jolly pleased with themselves yelling:

'Party! Irish Sucker Found! Roll Up! Roll Up!'

It would make you sick......

BUMMER!

Ah well.

If you are interested, my Etsy packages have begun to arrive! We had no post until Friday of this week when the Postman finally got through our lane, so the HEAP that came through the letter-box was a delight in itself!

So far I stand by my opinions in Monday's post, every item is either beautiful or pretty, and at the very least, exactly as described, mostly even better. My family is going to be soo happy and I'm having a seriously difficult time keeping all these secrets!!

What to do, huh?

And on the Music front, the various classes are progressing, the Infants are managing to keep in time and get the words mostly right, so I've decided that progress on two fronts is quite satisfactory, and am giving up on the tuneful singing aspect...I'll leave the miracle working to Our Lord!

Youngest and Middlest have decided that they really need to sing 'Walking in the Air' in the Church Carol Service Sunday 19th,

and luckily the Dean has agreed that one secular piece of Music will be acceptable...

(I suspect that it might also be something to do with the fact that Aled Jones is Welsh? Like himself...)

So, despite them weaselly germs, things do be fallin' inta place, so they does!

And all the snow and ice has melted- thanks be to goodness!

Snow Days

Today is the third 'Snow Day' out of School this week. I was there briefly on Monday, and the School Yard was one huge sheet of ice. Since then it has repeatedly snowed and freezed...fruzzed...frozen so we await the thaw.

I'm trying not to panic over the state of the Music for the Carol Service which happens Friday 17th, ready or not! But I have been promised free rein on Thursday to catch up with all the classes in the School- can you imagine what it'll be like?

Anyhow I have put the time to good use, craft-wise, and have been crocheting and knitting away. This morning I went shopping with Mom and the pavements in town and the parking lots remain just awful. It doesn't seem to have occurred to very many Businesses that clearing the paths outside their own doors would be a kindly public-spirited gesture.

However on the whole it seems that many people are looking out for their neighbours, and certainly, out by us, the farmers are all keeping the roads as passable as possible...say that ten times fast!

Still, roll on the thaw! I know that very many of you, like Ulla and Elaine and Diane deal with much worse snow and ice for the entire Winter months, but as one of you said last year, your places are better at coping...if this is going to become normal for Ireland, we are going to need to take lessons from you people!!

P.S. I've been playing with my Banners and have kind of matching ones for here and the shop! Don't you love stars?!

Christmas Shopping...on Etsy!!

Over this last weekend I've been doing my Christmas Shopping.

For us, presents are more than a token, but definitely not extravagant. The three daughters get useful items, and a certain number of requests (including, generally, six months' worth of toiletries and stationary!!).

My point is, that everyone gets something, but it is small, and staying within a budget whilst trawling the shops, or finding time to make something meaningful for everyone can be very trying.

Enter my brilliant idea for this year: Christmas Shopping on Etsy!

Firstly; I'd be supporting people like me, who are trying to make some extra pocket money to keep going through the times that are in it.

Secondly; consider the bliss of not having to battle the crowds in the shops?

Thirdly; I might possibly avoid costly mistakes if I'm not being harried and panicked, well, hopefully...

Well!

I have to say that I have just about everything bought, and now all I have to do is sit back and wait for the postman to deliver things!

There are a few items I need in town, but I know exactly what they are and where to buy them, and there are three things I need to sew, one big, one small, and one to finish off.

Howzat for stress-free present buying?

...and, what's more, it was fun, and...

...I met some lovely people, and...

...a couple of sellers gave me special deals...

...and I've got exactly what I wanted, as well as individual and special presents!

These are the Shops I used, if you are interested

(I'm not telling you what I got! Secrets must be kept!!).

I tried to shop local but many things just aren't made by Irish Sellers, so I went further afield, and then some Sellers had such gorgeous things that I just thought 'What the heck!' and went for it!!

Vickie Wade Fine Art : ab-so-lute-ly GORGEOUS posters of her Art!

Around The Island Photography : I've had my eye on Robin's photographs for a while now, and her new Photoverse venture is great!

First Fan, Cottage Jewellery : (Irish Seller) lovely costume jewellery, pretty and not clunky!

Ritz Glitz 555 : (Irish Seller) You have to see her dichroic glass, its iridescent and sooo beautiful...

Happy Cloud Supplies : I won one of her Star Necklaces back in the summer, so of course I went back for some beads and things! She has two Shops, Happy Cloud Moments has her jewellery in.

Mels Bells Cloche Hats : If you are a hat person, you've gotta check these out! I could easily buy half the shop, like maybe a hat to go with every jersey? and season...and occasion...and...

Dragonfly 1750 : (Irish Seller) These silk scarves aren't just bee-u-di-fulll, but also VERY reasonably priced! I'll be baaack...

Jewels by Jane : if you want some Wall Art you'd better move fast...I've already got the best one...hee! hee!

Eastwitching : You have to go and drool over Alison's Art! Each animal and bird has such character, and is so colourful!

Hearts and Laser Beams : I didn't really know what I was doing here, what with wanting to use my own photos, but Steph emailed me and she's made it all easy as pie! Efficient too!

Gifting Girls : Exactly what I wanted for a very reasonable price, including postage! Go Girls!

And that, mes amigas, is my shopping done!

Lots of time now for all the things I really want to do!

(Such as persuade the Junior and Senior Infants to sing in tune.....?? 9.20am Monday!)

Gold Stencilled Jar

Welcome to Friday's Craft, people! I hope you are ready to make a lovely mess!

This week I stencilled a jar with gold paint, using the ubiquitous ivy leaves as stencils. After I had done it I was in the Senior Infant Classroom and saw them making paper snowflake stencils, and I thought that would be a lovely idea too. A lacy, paper cut-out design!

I chose a tall jar, and pulled the leaves off some of my house plants:

To stick the leaves onto the jar, I just doubled over pieces of sellotape, but double-sided tape would be useful either:
I stuck just four leaves around the jar, but I could have used more, or stuck some high and some lower:

Then, since it was bitterly cold and snowy outside, I spread newspaper on the kitchen floor and sprayed gold paint onto the leaves. By holding the nozzle directly over each leaf, the outline remained fairly crisp, but it would be easy to splash spray under the leaves:

It took about half an hour to dry, but I was afraid of smudging it, so it may have been ready sooner. Carefully peel off the leaf, and remove the loop of sellotape...oops, not as crisp an outline as I thought!

Work your way around the jar, keeping the lovely gold leaves...then drop in a candle, light it with a taper ( I used a twig!) and there you are!

I haven't decided what to use the leaves for, but they are lovely. Probably the door wreath, in another week or so.

You could put other things in the jar-

for instance a group of long thin candles sticking out the top,

or a string of fairy lights, if your jar was large enough,

or those chocolates wrapped in shiny coloured cellophane would look pretty...

If you'd like to see our snow, I'm posting the photos I took today on The Scenic West blog.

Youngest and I and the dogs went tobogganing this afternoon after I returned from School, and had a great time!

Thankful Thursday

Hey look, you guys! I actually remembered that it's Thursday!

Whoop-di-doo! Tally ho! Tiddly-pom! and all that sort of thing!!

So here goes:

Firstly: Thankful for the beautiful sunshiny amazing weather we've had this week! Sub zero temperatures, snow and ice, but so very, very beautiful!

Secondly: Thankful that my car has, so far, decided to stay on the road, despite the temptation to slalom through ditches and across the fields...as it did last winter! Its been very well behaved!

Thirdly: (I'm not blowing my trumpet here, I'm just really grateful), I received TWO blog awards during November.

This one from Kathy at Cottage Garden Quilter:

with a lovely comment...

and this one from Hazel at Hazel Loves Design:
with another lovely comment!
As Deborah says- Kindness Matters! Its nice to receive nice comments!

Fourthly: Thankful for firewood, a warm house, and the finances to keep us warm this winter. Not everyone is as lucky, I know.

Fifthly: (is there such a word?) The car got a puncture last night, late, but it was whilst the Hub had it, not me. I'm so thankful it wasn't me trying to change the tyre in the middle of the night at -5 degrees (where's the little 0 for degrees on the keyboard, by the way?), and he was thankful too. With just one car(that goes!), rural living can be complicated enough...

Off now to visit Greg's and link my Thankful Thursday post- is Greg ever going to fall off his chair when he sees me after all this time...or what!!!!

Doll Factory and Snowy Rose!

The Doll Factory continues to stitch away, and two more commissioned dolls were finished this morning: a girl doll...
...and a boy doll, the first boy doll I've made. I was wondering how to dress him so I looked up some illustrations of Tom Sawyer for ideas! Both dolls have the children's names stitched onto their boots, as they are intended as Christening presents.

I started this doll last night, just for fun, and finished her late today, so she will go into the Shop presently. Youngest supervised the 'hair-do'!!

When I was out earlier there were some late roses bowed under the weight of snow, which looked quite incongruous! I bet they are sorry they hung around so long!

The roads are gradually clearing and the snow melting a bit each day, but the highest day time temperature is only 1 degree, and by 7pm last night it was already -3 degrees: this is almost unheard of for here. Driving is hairy!!

I forgot to finish making Middlest's curtains, so I'm working on them now, and adding a length of thermal lining I had stored in the trunk, as I reckon it might help keep the cold out. Of course she could re-hang her old curtains, even if they do clash with the fresh painted bedroom walls, but no!!

And now to School, for a few hours of Music and Carol Service chaos...I mean, practising!!

Don't forget, the December Special starts in the Shop today!!