Another Sunny Day at the Beach, and Mail-yippee!!

March's Barter/Swap- BOOKS!

Another glorious day; although very cold there was hardly a breath of wind. On the News it said this is the most prolonged spell of good weather Ireland has had in two years- so don't laugh at me going on about it!

After School Assembly Mom collected me and we went to Rosses Point beach just so it didn't feel left out of the blog-world.

I made Mom jump this stream, she wasn't sure if she'd make it 'in' or 'over', but there's life in the old girl yet! (She'll hit me if she reads this!)

If you walk the second beach you have to tip the rocks at the end, but if you're the bro you have to crawl into the cave and tip the back wall...

Almost 11 o'clock in full sun and there was still frost on the sand.

Benbulben from Rosses Point this time! Its rather a landmark, as you'll have guessed.

Mussels for tea anyone ?
Now isn't this a quilt waiting to be made? Silk, perhaps, embellishment and lace?

And look what was waiting for me when I got home:

A parcel from UpTownDesign containing lavender, 2 skeins of beautiful red wool, and some lovely fabric as well as some extra goodies! The post took ages as I ordered it in January I think...before the credit card ban!

I'm delighted, and I can tell you now that you're lucky there was any posting done at all today because I'm itching to find a pattern for these fabrics and start sewing!!!

Anyhow, check out her yarns in particular as they are absolutely wonderful colours!

Barter/Swap March

Welcome to this month's Barter/Swap!
And no, I don't call this the first Wednesday of the month, but its not the last Wednesday either...ok, so time-keeping isn't my greatest gift...so?
I've got six books on offer, and if you would like any without a swap please say so in the comments? I don't intend reading these again so I'd be very happy to post any or all to folk who would like them.
If you want a swap estimate say €5 each but whatever.
(The links are to Amazon if you want to see synopsis, ratings etc.)
Titles:
Mr Macgregor by Alan Titchmarsh (yes, he of Gardening fame) link

Jewels of the Sun by Nora Roberts (first in a trilogy set in Ireland) link

The Dream Maker by Alison McLeay link

Redemption by Karen Kingsbury with Gary Smalley link

A Breath of Fresh Air by Erica James link

44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith (first in a series) link

If you want to link anything to be considered for a swap please add yourself to the linky thingie so we can all visit!

Challenge Check #8 and Newses

Well firstly I'd say last week's lack of wordses was a yowling success! And I truly thank everyone who visited and left such kind comments on the daily photo-blast; I enjoyed your comments, and they helped with the week, which was fairly garbage, actually.

Secondly, the out-laws are alive and spitting. Here's the MIL's text from Saturday night:

'It sure was scary wading through the strong current almost waist level. A lot of damage was done- 14 out 0f 20 tents plus the Gift Shop were ruined. I had to clean out a muddy desk drawer and re-construct a wet muddy file and launder wet muddy money notes. There's a problem getting tap water back. M's been running round like a scalded monkey.'

(She's always rude about the FIL!) I guess all those Triathlons finally paid off?

The damage was considerable (if you're interested Google 'Samburu floods') and it'll be a while before the infrastructure is ready for guests again. Sos suggested their Granny should set up a professional money laundering project to tide them over the slump!

And now for the Challenge roundup:

At end of play on Sunday Heckety beat Henman 6-1, 6-2, 6-0. Weather permitting she will play Venus Williams later today, when she hopes to thrash Williams and prove once and for all the world superiority of Irish tennis players....yeah, yeah, and last time I played tennis 'properly' I lost three balls into the river and was banned indefinitely...

So- Dottie Angel Challenge:

The Hub decided to move the sewing junk from the kitchen to the spare room on Saturday so I had to put everything away properly afterwards. As a result I organised my fabric stash tidily and have re-found some great stuff!
OK, by your standards that may not be tidy, but I assure you that by mine it's 'practically perfect in every way'! (C'mon, who said that???? First correct answer gets a spot prize!) So now I can begin a new quilt!

The theme for Creative Every Day this month is 'Story'. I may be bending the rules here because although this quilt doesn't tell a story there is a saga attached to it:
I made the top before leaving East Africa when we were experiencing a shocking drought and we had forgotten what the colour green looked like. It had been about 18 months since rain fell. The orange and patterned fabrics were given to me from a friend's scrap box, dating from the '70s. The yellows were from various people and are a combination of satins, cotton and silk. The ivory silk is very beautiful; this is from the hem of a friend's wedding dress! Another friend made it and cut it longer than necessary as C couldn't decide what shoes to wear.

I packed it as an unfinished top as batting was very expensive there and I had no immediate need for it. Then about a year after arriving in Ireland I received a request for a quilt from someone organising an Exhibition so hauled this out, quilted it, and posted it to England where it was hung! It was the first time I'd had a quilt hung and I was thrilled skinny!

So there you go- story of a quilt, but sure doesn't every quilt that was ever made have a story?!

By the way, this coming Wednesday I'll post March's Barter/Swap, which will include a bunch of books, as promised, but if you just would like books without a swap then specify the title(s) and first come'll get it! The early bird catches the book!!

There was another thing to tell yous but I've forgotten so it'll have to wait until tomorrow!

Barter/Swap #1 February '10

If you're looking for the One World One Heart Giveaway please click here.

New story 'Summers in France'.

Welcome to the first Barter/Swap Gathering! NOW CLOSED-SORRY!
This will run through what's left of February; a new one will begin the first Wednesday in March. If you wish to participate please take the logo and link back here with your offerings!
If you want to know more, this is the outline, and these are the details.

Here are my Barter/Swap items:
First-
One pair of wrist warmers knitted from Donegal Wool.
They are 7" long and edged with purple crochet.
Value: about €15 or $20.
Second-
A gift or party bag, or a girl's hand bag or purse.
Size: 6" x 6", handles 9", lined.
Value: about €10 or $13

Third-

A crochet belt with wooden button which can close anywhere along the belt.
Length: 47", width 1 1/2", it should fit through average jeans' belt loops.

Value: about €15 or $ 20 If you have something to offer please add your name to the Linky below, and quick list your items in my comments for this page, with a more detailed description in your own blog.

Thank you for participating!