Posts

Showing posts from 2009

Christmas 2009

Image
Happy Christmas Everyone who reads my blog. We ve been having really festive weather here. Frosty, icy, cold but lovely and sunny. Christmas morning I went for walk and took my camera with me. Frosty berries Sunrise on the trees through the branches Crow sitting on the frosty branches An elusive flower - won't last too long in the frost Winter scene where I live.

What I've Been Reading

Image
I've just realised that I haven't posted on my blog for almost 2 months now. However I've been reading and knitting away though. Below are some of the books I've read recently. This book was fast and easy to read. A strange story about Harry who was a teacher in a small American college where a scandal there sent him packing to Paris. The descriptions were great and I could identify with the areas in Paris, as I'd just been there earlier this year. However, while it was a compelling read, and quite a thriller, I was disappointed at the ending. This is a family story.Based on the fact that a great-aunt of the author was committed in the 1940 s, for 'moral reasons', and duly forgotten. Her husband remarried and his children were later shocked to find out that he had been married before! This story is an extension of himself, a retrospective justice, and now it's his aunt's story. A wonderful compelling story, very well written and extremely readable.
Image
A thoroughly enjoyable read. Beautifully written and very descriptive. Mr Watts is a teacher on the island of Bougainville, when the island is invaded and all the school items and books are burnt. Mr Watts then teaches the children through 'Mr Pip' a character from 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens. This is a compelling read, disturbing and sad at times. The use of 'Great Expectations' as a teaching source is very imaginative and amazing. Matilda's world is well described as is t ...more A thoroughly enjoyable read. Beautifully written and very descriptive. Mr Watts is a teacher on the island of Bougainville, when the island is invaded and all the school items and books are burnt. Mr Watts then teaches the children through 'Mr Pip' a character from 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens. This is a compelling read, disturbing and sad at times. The use of 'Great Expectations' as a teaching source is very imaginative and amazing

Holidays June 2009

Image
Back in June we had really good weather. Spent a couple of weeks touring around. Unfortunately the sunshine only lasted until July! Lough Key Forest Park in Co Roscommon. A white duck at Dromod harbour Malahide in glorious sunshine Malahide Yet another Malahide photo. Cruiser entering Malahide harbour with Lambay island in the background.

Seapoint Co Dublin : June 2009 Holiday at Home!

Image
This year we spent our holidays at home, or should I say from home as we took outings almost every day. We had wonderful dry sunny weather and so really enjoyed a lot of what Ireland has to offer, using our home as a base. First day trip was to the coast south of Dublin city, to Seapoint. This is quite near to DunLaoghaire and is easily accessed by bus or train. This is a lovely beach with plenty of rockpools, and is a very popular swimming beach. Treasures in the rock pools.

More Paris Pictures

Image
As it's summer time, there's not much knitting or crafting being done, and so to keep the blog going I'll post some of my summer photos. And so more of Paris - A window in Printemps department store. All of the windows were themed with various coloured large Plastic Rabbits. Some even on the footpath/pavement. More of those later. Certainly eye-catching! View from the top of The Grande Arche at La Defense. Absolutely amazing! That's the Champs Elysee straight down the middle. Under the Arch Can't you see what really great weather we had. It was great.

Paris in May

Image
Spent a glorious long weekend in Paris last month. The usual picture, taken from the 'Batobus' boat on the Seine in glorious sunshine. Some delectable looking pastries! Did not taste any as the queue was so long in the shop I did not feel like waiting.

Crafty Things - What I've been doing

Image
Although I've not been blogging lately, I have been reading other blogs and I've been crafting. Below are just some of my FOs Some socks: From the lift; pink socks for my sister made from 'Fabel' sock yarn from Scandinavian Knitting Design. I really love this sock yarn and it's a very good price Next are the lovely blue socks, made from Koigu yarn which I received in a gift from my swap partner ages ago. It's such soft yarn and they should be really warm for the winter The brown socks are made from gorgeous alpaca/wool yarn bought at the Avoca sale. I gave these ones to another sister as a birthday gift. And last but not least are the two tone socks made with yarn left over from the first pair and a ball of navy Regia sock yarn. (a gift for my daughter) You can really get 2 pairs of socks from 150g of sock yarn! It was my daughter's birthday earlier this month and I made this cushion from various pieces of fabric in my stash. She really loved it and I was

May Ravelry Ten Dollar Swap

Image
These are the lovely gifts I received in my May swap package from L. I really love them all. Lovely blue stitch markers (they are attached to a row counter) Great bracelet Notelets Notes mouse mat Writing paper Pen# Really great sock yarn - (Wildefoot) in gorgeous purply, pink blues A really lovely package.

Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin

Image
Dublin is to have a new bridge across the Liffey. It should be in place and use in 2010. These are a few photos of the bridge newly delivered to the site in the last few days. I think it will look great when it's in place.

Spring 2009

Image
Spring is here, or should I say summer if we go by the month. Although it's May I still think of Spring. A week or two ago, I paid a visit to the beautiful village of Inistioge in Co Kilkenny, and the lovely woodlands and gardens of Woodstock House. The pictures I've posted are just of the flowers I found there. Will show some other village and garden pictures next time.

April Ravelry Ten Dollar Swap

Image
These are the great gifts I got in my April package from cgamroth. These monthly swaps are just great fun, and I've had lovely partners. Great 'sugar 'n cream' yarn in gorgeous spring colours lovely blue merino/acrylic/cashmere blend yarn great notebooks, pens, and magnetic message pad, chocolates and coffee And a lovely handmade project bag in a great shade of green with sparkles

Extreme Sheep LED Art

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw Have a giggle. I know I did. Sheep are not just for wool.

Happy St Patrick's Day

Image
Happy St Patrick's Day everyone. Here on the East Coast of Ireland we have been basking in glorious sunshine for the past few days. Although still chilly, it's lovely for March in Ireland. Over the weekend, we visited the Botanic Gardens in Dublin and I thought I would post a few photos. I have been doing a photography course for the last few weeks and I'm enjoying trying out my new skills. It's a great place to visit, to walk, have coffee or a meal, enjoy all the trees and plants and maybe learn something. Often an exhibition is hosted in the main building, and this time a beautiful selection of quilts was on view. What wonderful and artistic work. Unfortunately I think it finished on Sunday last.

Ravelry 10 dollar swap

Image
I joined the 10 dollar swap over at Ravelry. It's really good fun cos it does not cost a lot and it's amazing what you can put together to treat your swap partner. Today my parcel arrived from Giulia in Italy and she spoiled me with lovely treats. Italian art bookmark calendar, gorgeous pink merino/acrylic yarn which is so soft, yummy chocolate and other lovely little treats. Thank you very much Giulia. This is a sock yarn beret which I have just finished for my daughter. I was very pleased with the result, but alas it's too small. Not to worry though as I've just unravelled it from the top and am knitting it again. I will make it longer to the decreasing and it should solve the problem. Last weekend I finished this pair of socks for myself. Given the really cold weather we are currently having, they are very welcome to keep my feet warm.