Me Lonesome Hee Hee!

Yesterday everyone was home at some point, if only to fill the washing machine, use up all the hot water, or top up the fake tan...

This afternoon everyone (husband, children and parents) has left for a variety of destinations- Dublin, Holland, Dublin, Strandhill and Dublin. Guess who gets to mind the dogs, deal with the contents of the washing machine and eat leftovers for a week??

But then again...
a whole week without responsibilities (not including the dogs) or running round after other people (not including the dogs) or being grouched at (certainly not including the dogs since they think I'm wonderful!)...
I could get to like this...
how atrociously can I celebrate and make the most of this first EVER opportunity???

Suggestions please- FAST! They'll start returning on Friday...

And We Have ...Background!!

I am being 'helped' write this post by three dogs, who know that the quicker it is written the sooner they will be fed...paws on keyboard...toes being chewed...and small dog jumping up ond down on the back of my chair.

So!

Did yez notice that I FINALLY managed to upload my own background image for this blog? I've been trying for ages but just couldn't make it work...apparantly the file size was too big....yeh, yeh, using a crowbar and mallet on one's laptop is never a wise move. Still, what do you think? Does it need to be lighter i.e. more transparent to read the posts? Or is it ok?

(What's the opposite of transparent...stationarygrandmother?)

Or should I leave the image just at the edges and the center panel white or pale something?

Let me know, gotta deal with the canines before they turn cannibal- or do I mean feral?

The League of...Oz?

Last night the League of Nations arrived for a sleepover. Only someone from a home with three opinionated dogs would understand the momentous occasion caused by any sort of arrival! Since I've been in bed for the last two days I let them get on with it, and lay here experiencing the bumps, crashes, woofs, wails, smells of burning, chatting, yells, laughter and chaos without having to do a single thing about it. Very restful...NOT!

The League is actually all of Middlest's flatmates- South African, German, Australian and Middlest. But oddly enough, combined, they can talk for Ireland!

Unfortunately Fluffster Dog has become very cranky of late, and Small Dog knows exactly how to wind him up. Christmas was a nightmare with the constant snarling and fighting- it got so bad I really didn't want to come home in the evenings. Oh well.

Youngest is rehearsing madly as 'The Wizard of Oz' opens in just over a week. Luckily she has a very small part as she really can not afford to be falling behind in her schoolwork. (Literally and figuratively, since she is a Munchkin- ha! ha!) Sixteen months from now she will be doing her Leaving Cert Exams, and then NO MORE SCHOOL! How I can't wait! It been years of miserable, thankless grind getting the younger two through Secondary School and I don't know who hates it more at this stage, them or myself.

Roll on the day!

But meanwhile? Let's 'Folllow, Follow, Follow, Follow, Follow the Yellow Brick Road..!!'

A New Resident in the Beck-House

There is a new member in the Beck household: Middlest decided to re-home a stray found in town by friends. They advertised for two weeks to find his owners, but no luck. I had mixed feelings about having another dog, and a small one at that, especially since Middlest is living-in at her present job, and will only be home periodically once College starts. But as you can see, he's such a clever animal that Youngest is even teaching him to type....

I don't know how much more he has to grow, not much I think, and he is a gas character: bright as a button, nosey, and full of bounce. They called him the Kiswahili equivalent of 'Heinz 57', though the vet thinks he's a Jack Russell- Dachshund cross, more 'Heinz 2' (that sounds more like a new car oil, huh?!).

Hoover Dog and The Fluffster aren't quite certain of him yet. Hoover Dog would quite like to be friends, but its a bit like Piglet and Tigger, when someone is so very full of bounce you never know quite what will happen next, and Hoover Dog likes predictability! The Fluffster has gone all curmudgeonly and grumpy over the whole issue and really objects to being invited to play by a mere pip-squeak of an animal...

Life in the Zoooooooo......

Thankful Thursday Humour-ish

I haven't done a Thankfuls post in bally-yonks, so, as Greg reminded folks this morning, here's an overdue one!

Firstly- Thankful the world didn't end a few weeks ago, apparently it was due to! Like the Bible doesn't say that 'no one knows the day or the hour...' I say, 'Duh!' to the doomsayers and daft eejits who came up with that one.

Secondly- Thankful I'm on the mend, as the aches and pains induced by this bug were really, really agonising. If I was a permanent invalid I'd be the grouchiest one out, and yes, I could be a whole lot worse!...in all sorts of ways...

Thirdly- Thankful for my dogs.
When I'm sick, they lie outside my door and thump their tails on the floor to remind me they're there.
When I'm busy, they stick their noses into everything and pretend they are supervising.
When I'm watching a noisy TV program, they come bounding in, all hackles and snarls, to protect me from whatever is happening onscreen.
Such devotion!!!

Fourthly- Thankful to the members of our Church and community who encouraged and helped Youngest and her friend to raise the money for the Diocesan trip to South Carolina! They left this morning at 3.15am...yawn...

Fifthly- Thankful for jokes which make me snigger for days: here's one I've been dying to share!...

Four Church Elders were discussing themes for up-coming Services and had decided to run with the theme of 'Freedom'. Now they just had to define it exactly for the modern congregation.

1st Elder: 'Since Christ died for us, Freedom is being free from our sins.'
2nd Elder: 'Living a life of Faith, freedom from fear and worry, to me that is Freedom.'
3rd Elder: 'I consider Freedom is the opportunity to live in the Light, a life of prayer and service to others.'
The 4th Elder looked at the others and said: 'You chaps have no idea, you are thinking too small. Freedom is when your youngest child leaves home and takes the dog.'


Go on....snigger....

Cloud Cuckoo Land and Other Stories

I was wondering whether anyone else finds that Cloud Cuckoo Land is their regular default mental destination? Or is it just me??

I get up in the morning, for instance, and I think (or maybe even I write a list) 'today I will shorten the blue skirt for Youngest, hang up the laundry and do ALL the ironing.'

Then about midday the Hub asks whether I've made any bread for his packed lunch...uh, didn't think to check whether it was needed...and Youngest wanders in to remind me she has a rehearsal at 1 o'c and have I fixed the blue skirt for her?

Well! I may have knitted half a new cushion front, tidied and cleaned the sitting room, had a long chat with the dogs and done the washing up...but no! I haven't achieved any of the 'must-do's', and I've entirely forgotten the essentials.

It drives the family nuts, of course, so they always think I idle the days away, am totally selfish, and do nothing for anyone. Its VERY FRUSTRATING I can tell you!!!

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Earlier this week, after a conversation with another Etsy seller, in Galway ( lovely cards by the way!), I downloaded the forms to apply to register with the Craft Council of Ireland. Its free, gives one a presence on their website, and sure what the heck! nothing ventured, nothing gained!

As I went through the form, I came across this question:

 How many employees do you have (excluding yourself(ves) as owners)?

Part Time: _______________ 
Seasonal: _______________

Hmmmm, tricky one, that...do I include the dogs? They do like to supervise activities, except when they are asleep in the sun. So would they be Full or Part Time? But then again, would they be classed as Employees exactly?

Dilemma...
                                                                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Its most annoying that my ripper appears to have gone on holiday this week, just when I have quite a few sewing jobs for which it would have been usefully employed. I can't say that its lazy, because its far from that, but it sure does choose its moments!

If anyone happens upon it lounging poolside in some exotic location, please tell it very sternly to 'Go Home!'

Thank you!

PS Its yellow, if you see one that's not yellow, its not mine.
                                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And talking of jobs, since Youngest leaves for the South Carolina trip on Thursday next, I need to get working on the various clothes which have to be cut-down or remade for her. This is the only one I've started:

(Sorry, the photo is squiff) Its an old LIBERTY fabric skirt a friend gave me because the fabric is so beautifully light it should be very cool and comfortable. I was delighted when Youngest wanted it to be hemmed above her knees- all the more to patchwork with, Grandmother!!!

Its a lovely blue, the photo doesn't do it justice.

I've another skirt to cut down, a dress to cut into a skirt, and I think a pair of old jeans to cut for water sports shorts, as they aren't as likely to catch on objects as loose cotton might.

See what I mean about Cloud Cuckoo Land?

Full Time: _______________ 

Of Chocolate Cake and Quietude

On Thursday after supper, Eldest, Youngest and I were hanging out in the kitchen. I was sitting on the sofa knitting, Youngest was experimenting with a new chocolate cake recipe, and Eldest was in a lot of pain and trying to distract herself by reading but holding the book was too difficult so she was sitting at the table.

Result was that no one actually did what they intended, but did we have a party!!

The girls got to discussing comedy and, because I couldn't be bothered watching the You Tube episodes of what they were discussing, they started enacting it...people pay to see Eldest in action and here's me with a free viewing!!!

The pair of them 'took off' comedians, did skits, fenced, sassed each other, played bits of films, spilt chocolate batter, danced and sang and roared laughing at themselves for about an hour and a half- it was the most hilarious free show!

The chocolate cake was eventually got into the oven, the book was rescued from under the table, Eldest retrieved her slippers from the Fluffster Dog who was chewing them, and Youngest started in on the frosting. At this point things became rather heated as one wanted chocolate icing and the other wanted coffee, so they compromised with mocha.

Unfortunately Hoover Dog got a bit overexcited with all the activity and started chasing his tail, whereupon he got a paw tangled in the phone cable and knocked it off the desk. The clatter startled him so he raced under the table, taking the phone with him and wrapping the cable around Eldest's legs too. Youngest dived for the broadband box-thing before it hit the floor, forgetting to let go of the utensils she was holding...and sent mocha icing all over the Hub's desk, the broadband yoke, phone, floor, etc etc...

Well, as you can tell, she saved the broadband, the dogs cleaned up the spilled icing, and the flex was untangled, but...the excitement wasn't yet over!!!...

Despite the icing mishap, there was still enough to over-ice the middle of the cake, and as she stood back to admire her work, the top layer slid slowly sideways, cracked in half and departed off the plate in opposite directions!!

Plate tectonics 101!!!

Both girls and Hoover dog tried to rescue it, the girls winning by a very small margin!

Eventually I got a chopstick and speared one side of the cake to keep it together in order to spare Youngest's anguish, whilst they started eating the other side, aided by their father who arrived home from work at the crucial moment, for some reason doing a Johnny Cash impersonation and singing 'Ring of Fire' at full throttle! (well its better than Elvis and 'Jailhouse Rock' which is another of his...)

Another quiet evening....not!!!

Ya Lyin' Toad!

Last night I lost The Fluffster (our woolly dog, for those not in the know...) for two whole hours after dark. Hoover (other dog) and I were beside ourselves the whole time, racing between the front and back doors checking to see whether he was back, listening outside in the dark, having a fit every time a vehicle drove past...

...you get the picture?


10.10pm we hear the Hub driving in, and cheerful barking, so we rush out:

The Fluffster is sitting on the step welcoming home his lord and master...

...who turns to me and asks:

'Why did you shut him out, poor thing?'

GRRRRRRR........................


I reckon the dog was down at the barn, visiting, heard the car go past and raced home across the fields so the Hub wouldn't know he'd been gone...not the first time, probably not the last, that'll larn me to worry!

Can a Dog Talk?

You know they say that dogs can't talk?

Well I've said it before, and I'll say it again, 'they' are wrong.

Yesterday I was weeding at the south side of the house and suddenly Hearth-Rug Dog comes lolloping up all waggy and wriggly, head-butting me and doing his Chewbacca talk.

I call it his 'telling tales' mode, but the Hub says it is the opposite: that it is his 'look I'm being good' mode. Either way it means that his brother has done something even bolder than usual so the wisest thing is to drop what you are doing and investigate...fast!

Hoover-dog was in the bin; I guess the sausage wrapper was calling to him because the card recycling is his preferred place of destruction...so anyhow, Hearth-Rug Dog was playing the goody-goody and Hoover-Dog was in dire trouble!

Despite having to clean up the spilled bin, I'm afraid I found the whole incident awfully funny! My folks say I have a reprehensible sense of humour...Moi??

Thankful...oh! Its Friday!

Has it been Thursday all day? Sorry! I was busy and I seem to have missed it....whoops!

1) Thankful for busy days of achievements- even long awaited chores need doing at some point!! I think...

2) Thankful for friends who come and stay, especially easy-going people who take us as they find us!

3) Thankful for a house with elastic walls and carpeted floors! Even when we run out of bed-space, there's always the floor!

4) Thankful for a Hub who is such a handyman, and willing to deal with his wife's stupidity...(see previous post!!)

5) Thankful for my mad, bad, crazy dogs who are company, entertainment and a daily lesson in living every day to the full: they are never tired, or bored, or fed up: every day is a joyous new beginning, outside the front door is a wonderful new fresh world, each walk is full of new smells to investigate, running with the wind in their ears is always wonderful, and they are always always ALWAYS delighted to see us.

Is there any better way to live?

Dog and Daughter

Don't you think that sounds like the name of an English Pub?

'Just nipping down to the 'Dog'n'Daughter' for a quick pint!!!'

Something really funny happened yesterday evening...

To set the scene:
Youngest Doughter was at a BBQ on Saturday, and by way of entertainment they all went kayaking and swimming in the lake afterwards, (as one does when its warm!) so after Church she was pretty tired and went to bed to sleep for the afternoon. Well, about six o'c she got up - and this is where it gets funny:

Hoover-dog was lying in the Hall and, on hearing thuds and bumps from upstairs decided that there was a Security Issue at hand, so he began to bark, woofing and growling and going for maximum Security Alert.

After a few minutes of this outcry Youngest comes clumping and crashing down the stairs (honestly- at what age do offspring start using the stairs in a civilized manner?) and Hoover-dog goes increasingly ballistic until suddenly he realises who it is...

...brief silence, dog-brain-cogs turn...

Hoover-dog squirms, you know, when a dog gets embarrassed and does the whole body wiggle thing?

...dog-brain-cogs turn some more as Youngest stares Hoover-dog down, how the heck do I get out of this one?...

Hoover-dog decides to treat the whole thing as a joke and starts jumping around wagging his tail and greeting Youngest like she's just returned from safari or something...

I know it all happened in far less time than it takes to tell, but it really was so funny- when our dogs embarrass themselves its so hilarious to watch, and the more I laugh, the more they try to pretend it never happened!!


And by the way- please enter my One Year Bloggiversary Doggerel Contest? I promise not to send you Hoover-dog as a prize!! It'll be something far more civilized!!

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PS I've managed to import some of the posts from my previous blog, in case you are wondering how the posts archive suddenly got so long.

Thankful Thursday and a Funny Story

My! Don't Thursday's come around fast!

1. After yesterday's grizzle, just look what we got up to today!

Blazing sunshine, blue sky, and scarcely a cloud in sight! Oh THANK YOU LORD!

2. Here we have a 22 year old sewing machine (ignore the mess please, its not part of the Thankful) which has been in use almost every day of its life.

Mom brought it out to East Africa as a Wedding present for us, and promptly set it up on the dining table and made my wedding dress! (Well she made her own, and her bridesmaids' dresses so why stop at that?)

Thankful for this machine and the employment it gives me- to occupy me, to save money (as in clothes and curtain making), to earn something (as in sewing for other folks), to make friends (as in quilting circles and household mending for people); its been bumped and bashed halfway round the world and back, and I haven't arrived in a new home until it is set up!

3. Behold! An equally battered piano! Although this is not my original piano, we bought it soon after we arrived in 2000 and it has done trusty service albeit rather tuneless at times. (please excuse the black tail, Ben thought I was photographing him!)My two Grandmothers gave us Wedding money which was used for the first piano as I was teaching Music at the time, and to be able to do so from home was a financial asset, but in 2000 we sold that piano to pay for our air fares to move back to Ireland.
Thankful that I can sit down and play any time I want or need to; for me, playing the piano has always been a safety valve!

4. I know you have met these two lunatics many times before!
Caption:

Bertie, 'Why the heck won't she open the door? Its freezing out here!'

Ben, 'Photo op, bro, keep your fur on!'
Thankful for these two, their attention, nosiness, and especially their 'new-every-morning' attitude to life!

5. And after the long day that's invariably in it-
...my comfortable African bed!

Those are my regular, un-Godly, material, non-essential, everyday Thankfuls, all else is transitory!

Funny Story

As you'll know, yesterday was Ash Wednesday and as it happened, I was playing for the Evening Service. We had a clergyman who comes to us once every three weeks to help our rector, so although folk enjoy his preaching (good solid Bible based), as yet he doesn't really know us and our congregational idiosyncrasies...(this is relevant to the amusement factor!)

Last night, after the Penitential Service of Holy Communion, whilst I was playing the Recessional Voluntary, I watched the congregation file down the aisle to the porch, shake hands with and thank the Canon, then loop back and file solemnly back UP the aisle to the sanctuary...I don't think the Canon realised as he was busy greeting, and the look on his face when he came through the porch doors and saw most of the congregation on their knees by the altar rail was PRICELESS!

(The Altar is in the Chancel at present.)

Well the reason for it all is this: some years ago the vault under the Sanctuary pushed up and destroyed the floor. Now the vault is repaired, the floor replaced, and over the past five weeks a craftsman has been laying a new 'encaustic' tiled floor. Last night it was complete except for the grouting and it is simply a work of art...hence the viewing from hands and knees at the altar rail!!!!

(I'll try remember to take a photo on Sunday for you!)

Thankful Thursday!

Yup! You got it! Its Thursday again! And without further ado I wish to present today's Thankful Five!

1. Thankful for Craft Shops- that sounds awfully acquisition-is-ish but really they are full of ideas too. I spent ages in the craft shop this morning and the ideas were pouring in think and fast!


2. Thankful I have two good hands! I can sew, knit, quilt, crochet, play the piano and a lot else. I am so thankful for my hands.


3. You can laugh at this one if you like- but I'm thankful for buttons! I love buttons, ever since I was tiddly, looking, arranging, cutting off old clothes, sewing them onto things, the button display in craft shops, big ones, small ones, shell, wood, plastic, funny shapes.....I LOVE buttons!


4. This is an odd one too- I'm thankful for the National Geographic Magazines which have been landing on my mat every month since January 1985! Through them I travel to fascinating places, meet great people, learn about this great planet we live on, gasp, sigh, gaze, admire. And over the years I have used them to teach from in schools too. To me these magazines constantly remind me of the diversity and bounty of this world- who could ever become blase about that? In fact, and you can gasp at my daftness for this if you like!, when we returned from living in East Africa I couldn't bear to part from my Nat Geogs and packed up all 15 years worth to bring home! They are muddy, torn, battered, students have written in them and traced from them...I look at back issues and I remember taking this one on safari to Lake Magadi, that one to the Coast, this one into class to amaze my students. I so enjoy these magazines.
5. I am thankful for my dog-people. They're not pedigree or beautiful or well-trained, but they love me unconditionally and on my worst days they are there for me when everyone else fails. They very often literally hold me together, and yes, they are completely mad in the head- like everyone else in this household!

So there you are- this week's Thankfuls.

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.

The End of the World and a Daft Dog

Yesterday at lunch B remarked that she’d heard that Scientists had predicted the end of the world within the next few years and she hoped either it wasn’t true or that she wouldn’t be around for it.
H: Why?
B: All that chaos would be bad for my cholesterol.
H: (befuddled) Huh? D’you mean stress levels?
B: (pause, then doubtfully) Maybe…

Needless to say I laughed!

Ben-dog spent the afternoon leaping and pirouetting around the kitchen chasing flies, or maybe it was just one tricky fly. Finally he thought he had it cornered under the table with the microwave on, so he took a flying leap at it. His front paws skidded across the top of the kitchen compost bin and fell into the crate with cleaning stuff. Ben didn’t notice and took another snap at the fly thereby compounding the paw problem. Realised he was stuck and tried to lunge backwards, hit his head off the underneath of the table and brought down a rain of items off the top of the microwave on himself! He then had the nerve to turn round and gaze reproachfully at me as though the situation was MY fault!
Dilly calls the dogs ‘Thick Dog’ and ‘Stupid Brother’, justifiably! Back in their adolescent years she once threatened to can them and send them out to feed drought- stricken Africa, which we thought was rather sick. But since the girls grew up in Kenya and lived alongside people who were utterly dependant on the rains falling on time twice a year, she was, in her own deviant way, being quite practical…well, maybe? We adore them really, the dogs that is, not so sure about the girls….

The Hub has driven to Dublin today with the contents of Dilly’s flat which he retrieved less than a month ago! The lease was up on her flat so Dilly moved out, and since she didn’t have a job for the summer decided it was better to store her rubbish in the attic at home. Then when she and some friends were up doing the Shakespeare Festival (sleeping on floors) they were offered various part-time jobs in College and the Theatre, enough to justify taking on an apartment over the summer and for the next academic year. Hence the returning of ‘stuff’! With the drop in rent they’ve got a place within walking distance of College, paying the same as they were for much further out last year. So that’s good. Her Gran bought her a Bread-maker for her last birthday so I was just packing up flour and ingredients from the press. I wrapped the margarine in layers of newspaper so I hope it arrives intact to her fridge and not a dripping greasy puddle.
I started making all our bread about six years ago when I read an article in 'Prima' magazine concerning the amount of salt hidden in food, and bread in particular. Our growing girls were putting away large quantities of bought bread and I just couldn't ignore the possible damage to their health. Of course there's no comparison between bought and home-made bread, hot out of the oven all crumbly and butter melting and dripping down their chin? I was working full-time so I bought a Bread-maker and that, basically, was that! We're on our second Bread-maker as the first wore out beyond repair though the Hub kept it going beyond its normal life-span...handy marrying an engineer, I do recommend it!!!

Yesterday I got two squares made for the small quilt-wall-hanging I’m making. It is a Wedding present for a teacher at school so I am making twelve 6inch blocks. I’ve tried to choose blocks relevant to the couple- teacher and farmer. Yesterday I foundation-pieced a red tractor, and then paper pieced a ‘Bachelor’s Puzzle’ block! I also found a block entitled ‘Shortcut to School’ which I’m going to do next and of course a ‘Little Red Schoolhouse’. The first two turned out ok, without too much unpicking, or swearing…

Of teenagers, ham, and quilted sheep

In which our heroine fills her home with dotty teenagers, listens to stories of France, and teaches a friend to hand-quilt...

Well the amaryllis seeds are planted and in the hall under plastic. It will be interesting to see how long they take to germinate, the book says between 14 and 35 days which is a bit vague really. I guess being tropical the variables are pretty wide.

B has slept off the late nights from the French Trip and has now got her voice back too! She must have talked for three hours straight on Tuesday evening when she returned. They saw and did so much; the time was really put to good use. The tone was set when she descended from the bus and greeted me:
Mum, Mum, I put on three kilos when I was away!
Really? (as I twisted to see how she was different).
Yes! In my luggage!
And, unlike her eldest sister, she did NOT fall into the canal on the cycle trip! I’d known for several years that a student, complete with bicycle, had gone into the canal one year, but they had conspired not to let me know it was MY daughter, since no harm had been done. She’s not called Dilly for nothing you know! Should I be retrospectively mortified I wonder?
On the way home, in Belfast Airport sniffer dogs were being trained and the students were asked if someone would carry a bag through Customs as part of the exercise. The teacher agreed and B and Co. were really interested to talk to the dog-handlers and find out a bit about how the dogs are trained.

Yesterday the house was full of teenagers. Sos and friends are going to Spain for a week as a ‘finishing school’ celebration. They have organised the whole holiday by themselves and it will be the first time any of the seven have been away without adult supervision. It will be good for them to have to cope and there will, no doubt, be great stories on their return. They leave tomorrow evening on the Dublin bus as their flight is 6am on Monday morning! Yesterday they were sorting out what they wanted to do in Spain using the internet as well as the guide book. Later others arrived as one of the girls is returning to Korea next week and they wanted to say a proper good-bye to her, not knowing when, if ever they’ll see her. It was a lovely day with the house full of people, mothers and sisters, as well as Sos’ friends.

At lunch time one of the girls, who is obviously not used to dogs, left the packet of ham on the edge of the table whilst making her sandwich. I glanced across the kitchen to see the dog quietly edging up to the table, trying to simultaneously watch me and the ham. You could practically see the cogs turning in his head trying to figure whether he could get to the packet before I could get to him! He reckoned without human’s ability to talk, Sos moved the ham out of his reach, so he had to try and pretend he hadn’t been up to anything. Difficult when we were laughing at him!

In the evening everyone went off to parties: teenagers to an end of school party at a friend’s house, and the family to a midsummer party. I was doing ‘taxi momma’ and had also to buy another box of cornflakes, as Dilly came home and ate the lot, not knowing there was a sleepover intended. Two carloads returned here and at 4o’c I went to bed, leaving Sos and Co. in the kitchen drinking tea, grazing steadily, and arguing over what film to watch! Whew!

This morning I was out early as I was teaching Mum’s God-daughter the basics of hand quilting. She has made the most gorgeous little quilt for a friend’s baby: twelve black and white sheep appliquéd onto lime green squares. After some discussion she decided to do two rows of echo quilting around each sheep and then perhaps a quilted buttercup in the corners where the blocks join. The fabric and design of her quilt have real ‘wow!’ factor, simple, and really well sewn. It was really enjoyable working with her and helping her to start the quilting off.

When I returned home it was to find everyone slouched around on sofas suffering from being up so late. Sos’ friends had been collected, Sos was at work for the afternoon, and Dilly had returned from staying the night at the midsummer party. Everyone had had a great evening and there was lots of general catching up with people to report. The art of conversation is alive and well in the North West!