some new pics

picture of my sewing shed. and pictures of paintings that my son Andrew done he is at art college. Also a picture of my next quilting project which will be made from a jelly roll

Daniel

Our Daniel in my grannys rocking chair sitting beside xmass tree

christwning shawl I am in progress of kniting

A Christening Shawl I am in the process of knitting, It is done in very fine baby 4ply wool on 4mm

Hubby joe took these pictures from our kitchen window this morning. lovely is'nt it imagine this is

Lace christening shawl

this is a lace christening shawl pattern passed onto me by my grandmother who came from creslough in donegAL SHE WAS ABSOLUTLY FAB at knitting and crochet I have one the same as this that she made for my children and nit was usued for all 9 of them. I am in the middle od this one which is an order for PERSON IN NEW YORK it tKWA bout 4 weeks for mw to knit it but it ia really a fAMILY HEIRLOOM THis pattern has been made for most of the Royal families of Europe for generations. it is mAade in 4ply wool and originated in the highlands of scotland it is beautiful when finished and a joy to knit

my xmas cake fruit ttooed in marzipan and icing and drensheed in good irish whisky quite delighted with it

table Runner

XMASS table runner I made for dinningroom table

This quit is an order for someone it is in autumn colours and I LOVE IT

snow here 6-10 inches you can hardly see my little dog sasha in the snow this is my driveway

very busy again today . Snow 6-10 inches deep here. hubby took some photos on his camera which is a good one unlike my own one. Our

Pen Pals

Well what a day I had firstly I had to catch up with all my quilting pen pals here and abroad, which is always amusing and I enjoy corresponding with them all. As you all know we ewere snowed in for the best part of 2 weeks here and to tell the truth I was starting to get board of it.. Eventually hubby and I headed out yesterday as our Daniel was in restbite for the night. Off we went to Derry city which is 25 miles from our house and opur nearest city Now dont get me wrong there is billages and towns between the city and here but if you want to get anything of interest or a variety in your shopping well everyone heads to derry. It has all the big English shops there . Anyway hubby was driving so off we went. I was looking for a new coat Because my last coat which my daughter Louise bought for me 4 yrs ago for a xmas present didnt fit me anuymore aso I had to get one. I thought one of the new colours pink or purple but I ended up with a black one as usual. I dint want a short one and I dint want a long one so hubby treked behing me into all the shops until I finaly found one on sale so I was quite pleased. After that Hubby and I headed to buncran town and the Lake of Shawdows hotel for lunch. It is so reasonable. and the food is fab. Then it was off again to pick up Daniel from restbite and head home Today we put up our xmas trees one in the family room beside Daniels chair and one in the dinning room.P>S MY typing and spelling is bad but im too lazy to fix it.

Xmas Tree

Well tomoro is the tradional day here in Ireland to put up your Xmas tree. Im sure if we are still snowed in someone will help their dad put up the tree. I have tidied away my sewing machines and equipment from the dinning room now and it looks ready for the tree. Hubby managed to get out today for essentials like milk and bread as one of our neibours was going to the town on his tractor so Joe hoped on . It snowed badly on the way back though. The roads are still very bad, the schools are closed. I took the oportunity to tidy out a few cupboards this last few days its just amazing the amount that you gather isnt it. I have 2 bags now for the charity shop. I was delighted to find a few items of clothing that I now fit into and Im so glad that I din not put them out on my last big cupboard clear out. I will have to get a new winter coat right enough . I say one that I liked and its not too expensive so im landed once we can get out again to the shopping centre. Our Daniel was supposed to go in for 3 days restbite this week but we had to cancel because of the snow.But sure he is as happy as larry sitting on grannys rocking chair by the stove with a nice new quilt that I made for him last week I lined it in fleece and it so cosy and warm.I wonder how the quilts lined in Fleece will wash does anyone know?. Joe Jn didnty get back to college yesterday with the snow.I am quite glad really because if the comp plays up on me hes here on hand to fix it. With the weather being so bad ive also been trying out some crochet patterns. But I seem to get bored quickly with them not like my sewing. Talking of my sewing I came accross a company in the U.K. that does quilting frames and they are very reasonable so I am going to save for one of them when I get xmas out of the way. I spoke to all the kids on skype on sunday and all are well. It is dinner time here now so I had better go and make a start on it.

Weather still bad

The weather here is still bad . Joe Jnr arrived home for the weekend from college Im not sure if he wil get back again on sunday night or not. I HAVE been very busy this week finishing off quilt tops I posted a few of them for your opinions. Well today I fed my xmass cake once more with 3 tablespoonfuls of Whisky and will do the same next Friday then it will be time to start to decorate it with icing etc. I also finished a Quilt that was an order for a person in DUblin and to tell the truth it is so nice that I would just love to keep it for myself. That is why I am not a business woman (I Hate to part with my sewing. Be it quilts or Irish dancing ddresses I must post a picture of a few of the Irish dancing dresses that I made for our Alexis when she did Irish dancing.. Todays dinner is boiled bacon and lovely green cabage with spuds, gravy and fried onions MY FAVOURITE DINNER OF ALL TIME. hUBBY FAVOURITE DINER WOULD BE TURKEY AND HAM WITH STUFFING, BRUSSELSPROUTS , HOME MADE WHITE SAUCE AND ALL THE TRIMMINGS. tHAT IS WHY HE LOVES xMASS SO MUCH BECAUSE WHTAT WHAT WE HAVE ON XMAS DAY FOR DINNER. i HAVE RECENTKLY INTRODUCED HIM TO iTALIAN FOOD WHICH HE QUITE LIKES AS LONG AS HE CAN HAVE SOME iRISH POTATOES WITH IT. I have next week off as Dniel is going into restbite for 4 days (Weather permiting). Well it is time to feed the family now so I had better go and organize everyone. And Carol I will get back to you about when Im off to Manhatten next.

This is another quilt top that I made this week I will back it with fleece also

This is hubby Joe and I at our 25th (Silver) wedding annaversary do at a hotel near our home.

quilts

This is a quilt top that I made from charm rolls 4 to be exact I trimmed it with 6 inch of deep purple fabric and I amgoing to back it in fleece

Cold outside

Just been outside and its coooolllldddd .Took some pictures of it all . Hubby gone out in it to his mothers she is 90 yrs young and her heating is not working so hopefully hell get it fixed for her. I must put a picture of her on this blog site as well. Baked a scone and some fairy cakes, that,ll do for today I really need to get on with my Xmas sewing but as usual I have put the fabric I was going to use for a table runner and place mats for the dining room away somwhere and cant find it. My sewing shed is a mess I really will have to organize it in the new year Yes that will be one of my new year resolutions . I gave up smoking 2 yrs ago before I went to Philadelphia on a quilting tour and a visit to my cousins. But I did have a weak moment at our Eamons wedding but am on track again now only take the very odd one now. I am looking at going back to philly in march for the AQS quilt show in lancaster county but will I manage it. Accomodation is no bother with my daughter having and appartment near Chelsea in manhatten . But I thought there would be a bus going from New york but there dosnt seem to be. I will keep on checking the web sites. Getting a netbook for my xmass so I dont have to surf the net in the dinning room anymore I will be able to keep my eye on Daniel and surf at the same time am Hinting to all the kids about a i phone and an e-reader but they say that I am so crappy at using this new technology that its not worth it and hubby Joe has no interest in comps at all.

SNOWED IN AGAIN

Snowed in again cant get to the main road but plenty of food in and heating on full blast and plenty of Fabric in the shed so everything will be fine. Another day of sewing perhaps or mayby I should bake yes I had better do that. Well yesterday I posted some pics the 1st one is of me and hubby at our 25th wedding anaversary. There is one of our wee Daniel (aged 24yrs) relaxing on the sofa Just after his afternoon nap. the others are my work area and some quilts im working on.. I need to take a full day and aquaint myself with the fuctions of uploading pics and transfering them from my camera to the computer. It is hailstoneing here again. My son Andrew is 21yrs old today so a Happy Birthday to him he is in Galway at art college. My son Eamon and his wife Martina are moving into their new house which they built in donnybate dublin. So this is their 1st Xmass as mr 7 mrs and this will be their 1st xmas in their own home. So the best of luck to them both. Martin my other son and his wife will be home for xmass from Hongkong, they will spend xmass day with her family in tyrone and boxing day here with us. I had better go now and put the oven on if I am to bake something .

Quilts and our wee Daniel

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That is a picture of my beautiful 16 yr old daughter Alexis at her final year High school prom she is off to university next yr. wekll at least I know now how to put a picture on this site

Snow Day

Were having a snow day today the schools are all closed and hubby is up the lane trying to see if he can get the car out because of wee Daniel has been in restbite all over the weekend and were wondering how to get him home Wish I knew someone with a helicopter. Well it snowed here yesterday also and I sewed and sewed and ssewed I got 2 large quilt tops finished. Hoping to machine quilt one today just doing free motion quilting on them. Its the easiest and the quickist. Alexis headed off to look at another university last weekend and has FINALY decided to go to National University of Irekand in Maynooth about 15 miles outside Dublins fair city. So Our emaon only lives about half and hr from that uni so he can keep his eye on her. It is a smaller university than the others and she thinks it will suit her fine she is going to do Physcology. Irish and French. She has applied for her accomodation already aparently. I was thinking of getting a sony reader for xmas or a kindle does anyyone know if the kindle is any good. Today I am going to make a large pot of homemade soup and a n irish stew now tyhats what I call snow food. Followed by hot apple crumble pie.

busy

I have been so busy this week firstly on tuesday I seemed to bake all day An apple pie, Orange and coconut sponge and a wheaten scone. Then on wed I had to take daughter Alexis to the dentist to have a tooth removed. Today was busy as well I spent most of the day sewing a wuilt top and tidying the house. We are waiting on snow here at the moment (if it comes at all) RTE tv fis not too reliable in their forecasts, but there is snow in England so well not be far behind them. I have the weekend off so hubby and I are off window shopping I suppose for a new computer for the house. Iam so lazy , really. You would think that I would have time and more to the point (Learn) how to upload from my camera and mobile phone but there just dosnt seem to be enough Hrs in the day to get everything done. The day just seems to go so fast does everyone find the same problem when you get to 50. Happy thanksgiving to my daughter Louise and her Hubby Ed in manhatten they probly be at the maceys thankgiving parade hope they ahve a nice day. Hope all my friends in USA HAD A GREAT DAY I was thinking of you all bye for now chat to you all later in the week.

Dublin continued

Rhen off again I go this time to Henry Street which is just off O,Connell St. I visited Hickeys fabric shop but guess what I purchased no fabric well after all my sewing shed at home is full to the brim so wasnt I very good I just had a look around. In Henry street there is always street entertainers. a man doing sculpture from sand another was a fire eater along with some red Indians playing music It is always great entertainment at the weekends in Henry Street. I proceeded into Arnotts another very large department store and in here I gt a xmas gift for my daughter -in-law and had Lunch. Off again into more shops I finnaly bought 2 skirts and 2 tops for myself. Then it was off to Grafton Street another of the famous shopping streets in Dublin city centre where I browsed more shops stopping off at the Kitchen store just off Grafton st one of my favorite stores for baking essentials and utensials I just love it. UP then I went to St Stevens grreen shopping c4entre or Mall as the north americans would call it) Once more only window shopping. I had a lovely lesuirely day to myself before meetingf Alexis and her friend at 5pm . We started to head for the bus home to donegal. But It was pulling out of the bus station just as we got to the gate, so the nxt bus was not for 2 hrs so off we all wnt to an italian rsturant for dinner and I must say we really enjoyed and made sure we caught the next bus at 8. we arrive home at 12.30 am tired and ready for be and needless tosy we all slept like a log.

a Day in Dublin.

Well what a day I had yesterday my daughter Alexis went to look at University College Dublin. We left a 5.30 am and arrived home last night at 12.30 am. (what a day. Anyway her and her friend went off to check out the university and \I went shopping First stop Clerys (A large department store on O'Connell St. in the city centre where I got the offer of a free makeover so having time on my hands I decided to go for it and sat there while the makeup artist did my face I was very pleased with the result she used Smash Box Make-up which I had seen advertised on QVC but had never tried I ended up buying a beautiful pink shade of lipstick and a eyelinner pen for Alexis. Then Just as I was about to leave Clery,s who should come along O,Connell Street but santy himself and his Elfs. Off I went then on my mery way to Easons My favourite book store where I browsed around for ages Bourght a few crochet magazines, 2 quilting mags and 2 Books by Colm Keane on the afterlife. Then onto clarks shoe shop to lok for a pair of brown boots (I had got a pair of Black riding boots from England during the week and decided to get a pair of brown boots for the winter < I justify this expense because the last time I bought new boots was 8 yrs ago I will not say how much they were but i will need to have them for 8 yrs to justify the price.

busy busy busy

Well another cold day here in donegal. I spent most of the day sewing I am doing a random harvest quilt and it is looking really fab. Oh I will hate to part with it.I went to the quilt shop in Buncrana today to get Backing and trim for the autum harvest quilt. Of course I didnt stop there in buying I just had to have the beautiful charm rolls as well .I am off to Dublin on sat with daughter Alexis to Look at a university with her. The school had organized a bus but now its cancelled so I will have to go with her We will leave here a 6am and get to Dublin at around 10.15. We will spend the day in Dublin . First looking at the university. and then probly do some shopping. We are not staying over this run so we will be bk home in donegal about 1am on sunday morning.I hope the xmass lights are on in dublin.

Welol anotherf day its wed here and 9.30am Wedensday is a good day for me as my son Daniel goes to day care from 11am-3pm, not a long time but while he is there he gets on an exercise bike and has aromatherapy which he loves it relaxes him greatly. Anyway once we drop him off Hubby Joe and I usually head to Derry shopping Derry is in N.Ireland and it is our nearest big shopping area it is 25 miles away. Once weve had a look around the shops and done some sainsburys shopping we usually head back over the border again to Buncrana which is about 18 miles from our house. When there we usually have liunch in the Lake of Shawdows hotel to treat ourselves. The food is really good. Anyway I have my s/h dinning table and chairs in the dinning room now and you know what they look great. So now \I cant wait for Xmas to get everyone round the table. I have to go now as Daniel has to get up and have his bath before he heads to day care will keep you all posted more often . have a nice day to everyone byeeee

Teacher training course

As you all know by now I care for my son who has cerebal palsey. He cannot see . speak or walk he is also tube fed and needs oxegen twice a day now . My hubby Joe and I look after him and to tell the truth it is a real pleasure to care for a living angel on this earth. I must post some pics of him to my blog site .my hubby is my best friend he is so focused and a very truthfull person who looks for the best in everyone. I am diffent I give you 1 chance and if you muck it up thats the end of you you get no second chances with me. Would love togo to paducah usa todo a teaching course with elenor burns looked it up for feb nxt yr but it is full waiting list only must watch out for the teacher training course in sept 2011. my daughter Alexis will post some pics for me when she gets her homework done this evening chat to you all soon

learn to upload pics for myself

Today I really must learn to upload the pics myself for daughter Alexis will be going to uni next yr and so I have to learn it now. Well now that most of the kids are in college ,School or away frrom home I get more time on the comp. I am thinking of getting a new one for xmass mayby a notebook or laptop but what I really want is an i Pad .Daughter Louise has one that her hubby bought her for her birthday and its fab Hubby Joe thinks that I might drop it as it dosnt seem to have a handle on it. I need to get something portable because this comp im on now is in the dinning room and our Daniel is in the Living room so if I get a portable one I can watch him as well as be on the net . The sun is shining here in malin today and all is well with the world I also lost 1 and half stone now since my operation (I was begining to think I was going to stay very hefty and couldnt understand it as all my relations on my side a thin and wirey But sure enough once the gallbladder was removed and The recoverytime was done guess what I fit bk into my clothers again . Its klike having a new wardrope I will have to post a before and after pics. I didnt have to change my profile pic on facebook either cause that is exactly what I look like again

back on track

Been out of action now for a long time (1st I forgot the password) and second I was recovering frommy op . Well it went great there isno comparsison between Letterkenny General hosp and the private One I was in in Derry ( You could eat yopur food off the floor and the surgeon was fab apaarently IMy gallbladder was in such bad shape I was like a bomb waitng to go off . Any way sat about as directed for 6 weekes (god it was so boaring) And then I finally got the all clear and away I went . My hugh swollen stomach is finally gone but I seem to have put on a lot of weigh in other areas (am I going to complain ! sure heck I was skinny all my life and at least Im A normal size now. Anyway when I look in the mirror I see a thin person Not this heavy person But apparently I am ok for my height so the doc says so thats good . A lot happened since my op My son got married . 1 son got a place on college to art and design and another went off to colege to do arcutecthre any I spelt it wrong so what. Hubby and I have 4 days off from restbite this weeend and we went touring yest and today ended up in sligo town and fond a new shop (The gingham Duck) worh a look if in the town It has quilting material crochet and knitting wool, patterns and a lovely lady runing it. Also stopped off in cliffony outside sligo and went to the Crafters Basket. Got some good crochet patterns and some 4ply wool for a christening shawl that has been commishoned. Had lunch in the Lake of Shawdos in Buncran and it was Fab. Rating out in the Lodge in Ballyliffen tomorrow for sunday cavery hope it nice Musy go now and watch my tv programme will be back later.

op over

had my gallblader removed on thursday 10th june and came home on the 11th. I have to take it easy for 6 weeks no housework etc. I am very sore but all went well so Ill be fit again for the wedding in aug. Been looking at machine quilting frames hubby is going to make one for me so hes off to the builders suppliers this morning to ge the wood etc. He watched a few videos of people who build their own and decided to do it himself dont know how much itll cost yet but I dont think itll be anywhere near 699 sterling plus shipping after that hoping to get it all done for under 150 euro. Its great when you only have to pay for materials as hubby wolnt charge for his time (ha ha) So as i am recovering from my op for the nxt 6 weeks all I can do is watch tv. read and suref the net and oh yes give instructions to the kids and hubby on the housework.

sun shinning in donegal

The sun is shinning here in the hills of donegal for yet another day I go for my operation on thursday next. will be glad to get it over with. I am still working on my double wedding quilt. Wsent out to dinner with hubby last night to the lodge hotel (it was o.k. had better meals there). Well today I have to start my so called spring cleaning. as all the new windows are in now got a lovely trim for my suit im making for our eamons wedding in aug. I waws in the quilt shop in derry yesterday and bought some nice flannel of baby colours. still working on my pram crochet baby blanket it is lkooking really good will take it to hosp with me. Alexis and I (daughter) went shopping for her summer wqrdrope yesterday as she is off to france for 12 days with her friend wish I was going . I think I wilkl go to the quilt day in dunfanahy on the 19th if im up to it and I might head to limmerick for their quilt festival this month as well then its off to the festival of quilts in birmingham England in aug .

glorious day at long last

Well here I am again and what a day we have here at the very top of lovely Ireland the sun is shining and all is well with the world definatltly be out in the garden this afternoon not to garden but read or crochet . I am considering buying a gracie 2 to finish off my quilts quiker Has anyone got one if so Id love to hear what you think of them Hubby says he will build me a studio to put it in along with all my fabrics, wool and oh not forgetting my knitting machine. He did already give me space in one of his sheds for my machines and fabrics etc, but as soon as I put my stuff in he said thats not big enough at all. so Now he is going to build another shed and Ill be all for littfle old me cant wait.Worked away yesterday on my quilt project a wedding ring quilt it is comming along nicely will be ready to quilt it monday I think . Our alexis is off to the beach with her friends on their bikes this afternoon. We live about 10 mins from the beach and in good weather there is no place better. Still not finished making my outfit for son Eamons wedding in Aug Just have to hem it really and that has to be done by hand. mayby Ill post pics of it when its finished I must get one of the kids to show me how to upload the pics. anyway off outside to sunbathe chatr to you all soon bye

I'm Back

I cannot believe how long it has been since I was on this blog golly it just shows you how busy I am being a full time wife and mother. Which by the way I love It really is my vocation.Well where tof start My last blog was about the amish in philladelphia last march 2009 well since then I have been quilting as usual . Also we are putting on and extention to our house Just waiting on the new windows and outside front door to arrive. Ive Been on facebook chatting to all of you quite regular. Now lets see at the moment Im making a wedding ring quilt the pattern is by elenor burns my favorite quilter. I used a white background with 6 shades of batiks for the rings and have a lovely floral print for the back so it should be nice
. My 2nd son eamon is getting married in aug so thatll be a fab day to look forward too. Our louise will be back from new york for the wedding vcant wait to see her she will be over working in new york a full yr by then even though were on skype every weekend it will be great to see her. My son and wife went over to new york last week for 2 weeks hols oh I wish it was me. We are haveing great weather here in donegal at the moment hope it lasts Got all my quilts aired on the line and even found some I had forgot I had Must get my other daughter alexis to upload my quilts to this site.Off now to watch elenor burns on sky t.v. at 1 o.clock