Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Happy New Year to one and all best wishes for a happy,healthy,and peaceful 2010!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009


Santa came early for me it seems! Last Sunday evening i went to a christmas market afternoon in the Temperance Hall in Kinsale, Co Cork. There was a "tombola" stand and a "spin the wheel" stand both of which i won on with my tickets!
Prizes were a 12 yr old Glenfiddich whiskey and a Chanel No 5 after bath powder!
When i saw Chanel no 5 first i nearly hyperventilated thinking it was the PERFUME!!
Anyway it was nice to win and i also bought for the princely sum of a euro a lovely christmas house with santa that holds a tea-light and is lovely.
A lovely mulled wine for 3euros rounded off the evening well!

Decorations re-worked!








Finally got this stair garland to a point that i like!Now if only the lights could be got to work too!





These little ornaments are hanging around rather than hanging,waiting for a permanent home, preferably on a christmas tree! I bought them in a year round christmas shop on the flower market in Amsterdam last year.
I must find an artifical white tree around 3/4ft high to display them properly as they are too nice to leave in a drawer!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Raw Materials

Pictured below are all my bits and pieces to start making a few floral arrangements for Christmas.
I usually make a few for myself and a few as presents. Last year i even made a few to sell at a bazaar in aid of our local hospice.I may do so again this year its due to be held on the 19th of Dec.
Mostly i use christmas tree cuttings(collected free at my local gardening centre), and berried ivy sourced during the year while out walking(location will have to remain secret)added to these i have different picks,candles and finish off with a dusting of snow spray for the final effect, ribbons are added too and i have already stored up a supply of cinnamon sticks by wrapping two in a thin red ribbon from a large bag bought a while ago.
I will post up the finished products in a few days after inspiration strikes!
Finally i never go without a poinsettia or three, got this one reduced today in supervalu for 3.49euros!







Saturday, December 5, 2009

Slippers for Christmas in a Jiffy!

Buzzings of a Queen Bee: A Craft For the Really Budget-Conscious!

Buzzings of a Queen Bee: A Craft For the Really Budget-Conscious!
End of an era today as news broke that Liam Clancy, last surviving member of the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem died at the Cork University Hospital today.
His nephew and other relatives of famous irish singers like the Furey Brothers,continue the family tradition in their group called the High Kings.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Patrick Cleburne

I found a clip on youtube about Patrick Cleburne who was born in Bride View Cottage Killumney Co Cork where my previous post came from!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Christmas Open House

This weekend i visited DJ Murphys open christmas house in Ovens Co Cork.
Each year he opens his home in aid of charity, this year it was Marymount Hospice and Enable Ireland.
His home has a history to it, being the birthplace of one, Patrick Ronayne Cleburne who rose to high rank in the american confederate army, a plaque is erected in his honour by the front door.
You can read it by clicking on the photo to enlarge!
His home is beautifully furnished and exudes a lovely warm atmosphere with fires lighting and candles everywhere just what anyone would like at christmas time.
The flower arrangements are undertaken by local florists and are stunning each room looking different and with a different colour scheme.
Enjoy the photos!


Entrance to cottage






A little light music to add to the atmosphere!

Sales shop

More goodies for sale these looked like antique christmas tree ornaments they were of various christmas scenes, lovely!

This flag is hanging from the ceiling of the sales shop.

Fires were lighting in three rooms in the house itself and this one is in the sales shop as you can see it is very old but still very effective on a cold day!



All set for Christmas Day!






Enlarge photo to read plaque!

Bride View Cottage Kilumney,Co Cork

Santa"s shed ready for visitors very soon!

Peeping through to the back of the house from the gardens

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Crafty Catherine!

My crafty daughter Catherine is preparing for the holiday season and these are the results of her labours!
The little silver pails and red boxes were ordered online from hobbycraft in the uk and she bought the embellishments in Vibes and Scribes in Cork and set to work!
These will take their place on the christmas tree when it goes up probably on the 1st Dec.!
I think she wants to fill the pails with mini gingerbread men or chocolate santas if i do not get around to baking the aforementioned item!
Her enthusiasm knows no bounds when it comes to decorating for christmas, if only it stretched to COOKING AND BAKING my life would be soooooo much easier!
As usual she proved she was ahead of the posse when i brought home a uk magazine called Good Homes and on page 14 were displayed the boxes and pails and she already had the mini christmas trees from a while back ordered from the same shop, all adorning a very well laid out christmas table!