Peace Please

http://frommoontomoon.blogspot.jp/2010/12/mmmmmm-books.html

Think libraries,

think books,

think calm, quiet places to be

where nothing is broken,

or urgent,

or being blamed on me,

and there are no children

and no deadlines.

When I die

heaven will be a library

full of books I have read and love,

books I have yet to read and love,

and eternity to

appreciate all of them.

 

Ragin'

Would you believe, the ONE school textbook I thought we didn't have to buy because its already in the house can't be found?

We spent Monday afternoon tearing the girls' rooms and all the bookcases apart- and what d'ya bet, as soon as I buy a new copy, the old one will be discovered somewhere really obvious?!

What sort of Murphy's Law is that? €218 so far on textbooks for Youngest this term, another four texts at least to buy, and Middlest has lost the copy of MacBeth which Youngest needs.

Grrrrrrrr......

Arrrrrrggggghhhhhhh.........

Slaver......Chomp.....Spit.......

Books You Should Read?

Flushed With Success: Surviving the Menopause.

T for 2: Golf Manual for Couples.

Broad in the Bean: Dictionary of Legumes.

High and Dry: A Teetotaller's Expedition Up Everest.

Cut and Run: Gorilla Hairdressing.

Bag and Baggage: The Story of Posh and Becks.

Lay It On With a Trowel: Make-up and Beauty for Gardeners.

Alls Well That Ends Well: Lessons on Running a Deep Sea Oil Rig.


And then again...maybe not....


The weather is doing a 'Mull of Kintyre' here, with the mist rollin' in thick and fast!


How about a bit of inspiration for the start of the week? It's an old post but I saw it on another blog and think its still plenty relevant to another year!

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!

Thankful Thursday without words-just guess!

A Lucky Afternoon!

Please click here for my One World One Heart giveaway.

Yesterday, when walking down the street to the Library I (naturally) stopped at the window of the Secondhand Bookshop and look what was there?

Now they are living with me. And then, whilst I was humming with glee, I entered the Library and what did I spy on the display stand but....
I swear you never saw me move so fast to grab it before someone else spotted it! I've only read the first four of the Elm Creek books because I have to order them off Amazon, they've never been available here, and I love'em! So SCORE! Its new in and I'm the first to borrow it!

Isn't it just shocking how a favourite author pushes all ones good intentions to the back-burner? The next pair of wrist warmers are, as you can see, knat (past tense of knit), but since I'm not able to sew or crochet whilst reading they will have to await finishing off until I finish this great book!

Actually its quite different to the previous ones I've read; I think this one was written with more passion. It concerns a slave, Joanna, and it is engrossing. I'm also learning a lot about the 1890's South.

So I'll have to pick up some other knitting whilst I finish it to keep my hands busy!

By the way, those of you who were following the Life and Times of St Columba, (which I had set today aside to finish...hmmm...) I took a photo of the mural in the Library yesterday and have posted it on 'Our Inheritance' if you are interested.

Old Idea, New Item!

I thought this would amuse some of you-

Its from Christmas '63/'64 (if I've counted the Roman numerals correctly!) and it gets hauled out every Christmas since I was a teenager and began making people's presents! It's older than me, and probably more useful!!!

I spent yesterday afternoon working on these felt gingerbread houses.

It took some rummaging in shoe boxes to find what I think are the right embellishments, and I don't know whether to add more buttons or rick-rack, but the one on the left is as finished as I can do for the moment.

Brief Interlude from dressmaking...

Tuesday of last week the sun was shining so, since I had to collect Sos from Drumcliffe after her morning Bible Camp, we headed home over Keelogyboy. Its only a few kilometres out of the way but really a summer drive as the bog road is remote enough and meandering. In the summer it is just glorious although my photos don't really do it justice. Herewith some of the photos:
Drumcliffe Church-
...where I stopped for a brief chat and prayer with my best friend. The memory of our escapades and the hopes and dreams we shared growing up is always heart-warming to me; I'm sure she is driving the Saints in Heaven mad with her outrageous notions!
Part of King's Mountain-
...the rowan trees are already loaded with berries, and I don't know what these purple weeds are, but since I love hedgerows, here they are!
...view down the valley to Lough Gill, the clouds were wonderful...
...ditto... And now, finally, here is my haul from the Festival of Quilts: I unpacked this morning as my hands were shaking too badly to sew, and my nerves are screaming at me. It serves me right because I forgot to take my medication last night, but it means a wasted day work-wise. I'm drinking jasmin tea and Earl Grey tea, both of which I find soothing when every nerve in my body is standing on end screaming and jangling at me!
As usual the photos are in reverse order.
Thirdly- have you heard of the Bonnet Project: Roses from the Heart?
http://www.femalefactory.com.au/ and http://www.christinahenri.com.au/ ? Although as far as I know we have no relatives who went to Australia I think that the premise of remembering the women who were sent out and who made the best of things over there is a heart-warming notion. Social history is one of my interests, and naturally, the hidden history of women in the grand sweep of events. I read about this project some time ago so was delighted to see the stand at the Festival, and bought me the pattern and fabric for a Bonnet. The lady said that they had 100 enquiries on the first day, although they weren't really expecting more than that the whole four days. I'm glad that this kind of interest is being generated, and as you'll see in the book selection below, I also got a book about the Oregon Trail quilts.

Secondly: my Fabric, gadget and gizmo haul, things I can't get here. There was a stand of Valdani threads, from Canada I think (all the threads below) which were just beautiful colours. (http://www.valdani.com/ ) I noticed that on the first day ladies were looking and asking questions but not buying so much as this is Valdani's first time over in UK, but the second day they were doing a roaring trade!
And firstly: my book haul!!
Glimpses of New Zealand by Gail Lawther, she was there signing beside all her quilts from the book, and was ever so nice. Her husband was on another stand and he seemed like a scream! I've worked from one of her stained glass books and like the way she writes.

Treasures in the Trunk:Quilts of the Oregon Trail by Mary Bywater Cross. I love stories of the Oregon Trail, started many years ago by my best friend being given a set of Laura Ingalls Wilder books for Christmas, how we loved and re-enacted those stories! They were such amazing people who did that journey. The quilts are interesting, the stories are bittersweet, I don't know whether to cry or give thanks, but I can't put the book down.

The Quilter's Directory of Embellishments, and Pretty Thrifty Patchwork, both by Sally Holman. Very practical books, and I'm especially looking forward trying my hand at embellishing quilts in the near future!

But my absolute 'Happy Dance' (as http://sweetp-paulette.blogspot.com/ would say!) are these three:

Simple Pleasures, Shellies Bag (pattern), and A Gardener's Journal by Anni Downs. I've wanted 'A Gardener's Journal' for bally-yonks and love her patterns, but you can't get them here. I texted the Hub to ask if I could have an advance on the next quarter's Organ money so that I could get them all! So you see why I haven't unpacked until now? I'm not sure I can keep my needle out of these books...

I feel calmer and better now, having looked at and gloated over all my things! Wicked! I really want to make an Africa Quilt soon. Its been on my mind for a long time. I did make one several years back which was the first I'd had exhibited, but it didn't really tell a story. Any ideas for patterns or just ideas would be gratefully received.

And finally, no, I haven't forgotten that I signed up to finishing up old projects this month...I did actually finish a second border on the jazzy Country Quilt. I was hoping to get that dratted zip finished today and get back to quilting but 'the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley'...and now I need to get to the bus station to collect a returning South African student- teacher from school, who had to arrive before her accomodation was ready due to the constraint of international flights. At least the gargoyles have cleaned and tidied upstairs so she won't disappear without trace in the night!!!

New books!

During the week I received a package from Amazon containing two books I was really looking forward to studying:

Fearless Design for every Quilter- L. Torrence and JB Mills

Aurora- Jane Kirkpatrick

The 'Fearless Design' book will have to wait until September, but I have been dipping into 'Aurora' and it is a lovely collection of quilts, photos, and writing. Last year I read Jane Kirkpatrick's book 'A Clearing in the Wild' which is the beginning of the story of Emma Wagner Giesy and her trek from Bethel, Missouri across to the Oregon Territory, and eventually, Aurora. Emma was a real person and in the 'Aurora' book she becomes even more tangible as we can see her quilts, and her daughter's. Its like spending time with family, or in your Grandmother's linen chest, just lovely!

Another thing I came across today in a magazine is a website for rural women enterprisers...enterprising women?...entrepreneurs, that's the word! http://www.farmtasticwomen.com/ , I'm going to download one of the free documents and have a look.

Apart from that I cleaned the house, very boring, sewed on the one border of the quilt I'd put together, progress, read most of a Georghette Heyer novel I haven't read in years, yummy, made two lots of soup and boiled the chicken bones for broth. The trunks were delivered today and Dilly came home for a few days to be mollycoddled! This evening I had a call from a previous parishioner of our Church asking whether I would play the Organ for her daughter's Wedding in October. The hymns for tomorrow are prepared: the Hub is taking the Service in another Church tomorrow as their Rector is on holiday, and as his portable Organist, I'm playing.

Lucifer and Astilibe!

I just did something really stupid- I pressed ‘play’ on the CD player without checking either the volume or the disc and was practically thrown across the kitchen…at a respectable volume, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ soundtrack is great, but at 40plus is mind -blowing…I’d forgotten the girls were playing it last night. Change to Enya, I think...

Once again I've managed to get photos in the wrong order, oh well, 'and the last shall be first and the first, last', but Jesus hadn't my computer inadequacy in mind when He said that!
Sos is on her final designs for her Debs dress so as soon as the Hub is paid there’ll be a trip to Cliffoney for fabric. She’s decided she wants two layers. Goodness help me! This is the sketch front and back, and the photo at the side is from the Nomads catalogue, she wants ribbons round the waist like that dress. I hope you can make it out ok.

The montbretia is beginning to flower, starting with my pots of hybrid ‘Lucifer’. Mum bought me the bulbs at the Chelsea Flower Show a few years back and I’ve always wondered whether there was irony involved in the choice or did she just like the colour?! I haven’t asked in case I don’t like the answer!!
I just went out to take a photo and in rooting round the pots found what I think is a white astilibe- I’ve been wanting one but they were 12euro in Horkan’s and that was too much for me. I also spoke to the sumac which is doing well (thought it had died in the winter), and to my delight I’ve just discovered that the mahonia is alive. I thought I’d lost it, it’s not very healthy but ok. As you can tell I’m a great gardener…

And here are my two partners in the garden- Ben who likes to dig things up...

And Bertie who lies on everything.
Dilly’s been having a frustrated day at work; firstly a visitor drank all the milk they had for the free teas and coffees in the foyer. Then someone phoned to book tickets for the play and couldn’t find his credit card so kept the phone line busy for a while. Since booking he’s been phoning to alter the booking at intervals, figuring that the various people are entitled to concessions. Dilly is going nuts although she admits that in between there are loads of really pleasant polite folks.
I know as a teacher, it takes one major run-in with a student to discolour one’s day, and Dilly says the same. I guess it’s the same for everyone; it makes good manners so important.

Sos has taken B to the cinema to see the new Harry Potter film. B’s birthday was during the final stages before Sos’s exams, and there was also a family Wedding happening, and Sos remembered this morning she had never got her a present, so this trip is it. Afterwards B is having her hair cut by a friend of Sos from school who is training to be a hairdresser. So the Hub dropped them off in town on the way to work.

I am reading a Nora Robert’s book, ‘Angel Falls’ and becoming rather engrossed. I lent the last one to Mum for her holiday. I ordered Jane Kirkpatrick’s book ‘Aurora’ from Amazon last week as her book don’t get this far west and the other evening on the internet I discovered there will be another Diana Gabaldon novel out at the end of this year, or thereabouts. Several somethings to look forward to,(unfortunately my book addiction started young, and shows no sign of abating, although I do try to keep it under control…)

Now, since I am temporarily girl-less, I am going to quilt some more.

Messy Drawers and Woodworm in the Piano

What sort of silly eejit goes out to the garden and starts watering, raking beds and weeding in her best trousers? Mind you, in the middle of the Service this morning I suddenly noticed they weren’t as clean as I thought they were (melted chocolate?). What sort of an example is that to be giving? Well, as the fridge magnet says, ‘If you can’t be a good example, be a terrible warning.’ ( My girl’s favourite).
It was the Sunday School Prize-giving today so the children sang and presented a Drama, all ten of them. Although 14, and well past Sunday School age, B was hauled in to play the villain, along with a 2year old who needed helping up and down the Chancel steps, it was unintentionally quite funny, the Two Ronnies or something. Still they all did a good job and it was a simple, pleasant, if slightly chaotic Service.

The woodworm in my piano seems to be multiplying, or at least, popping out to say ‘hello’, like the rhyme about the burp. The piano tuner sloshed woodworm chemical all over the piano innards in April but I think I’m going to have to dismantle it and repeat the job. He said it would be necessary but it does stink so. I don’t appreciate them one bit. Granny was always waging war on them and there were frequently pieces of furniture out in the yard when we arrived, but I guess it’s only really a problem with old furniture, and second-hand pianos. Ah well, a job for the morrow.

Before Church, when I was preparing the music, words and pictograms for the children, I was rummaging in the jua kali drawer for decent markers and found several items I’d mislaid. It made me think about something I read online the other day about tidy people with messy kitchen drawers, and perfectionists who sometimes judge their disorganised brethren. The point the article was making was that crafting in all its forms is about loving the recipient. An analogy which occurred to me this morning is that we are all a bit like messy drawers, full of treasures, useful but forgotten things, precious things to be kept safe, hidden items, and yes, rubbish too! (Speaking personally my rear end is almost as square as the aforementioned drawer, and that melted chocolate could have something to do with it, or rather the rest of the bar…) That would make an interesting sermon, ‘Messy Drawers I Have Known’. Hmmmm…..actually sounds a bit risqué…

B decided we’d have frankfurters for lunch, so after Church we headed in to the supermarket. Unfortunately we noticed a special on books, and even more unfortunately it included a Nora Roberts and a Jill Mansell. Blew the budget, what –ho! Two favourite authors in this house and B ‘bagged’ the N. R. for when she’s finished ‘My Sister’s Keeper’, which is making her very angry! Its good to have to consider the premise at the centre of that book, strong meat for a 14 year old perhaps but she is a Thinker.

All the recycling was loaded into my car-boot earlier, tomorrow is going to be some exciting day!

It’s just rained quite heavily, thank goodness, so I went out and weeded the veg beds. The scent of the broad bean flowers was lovely- I wish my sweet pea seedlings had germinated. Whilst weeding, the French beans explained why they aren’t doing so well. It’s because they are too exposed to the wind, and the onions have smelly feet. It was a bit difficult to understand them as their accent is so strong. Now I am wondering whether to dig them up and plant them in the (now ready! hooray!) sheltered box, or are they a lost cause. I think they are still sulking about their Six Nations defeat, but we mustn’t mention the Rugby!