Upside down

Upside out
inside out

and 

topsy turvy

that's my house since we had our chimney fire.

We will be spending this weekend  not celebrating St. Patrick's Day

but

packing all our bits and bobs into boxes

as the builders arrive here Tuesday morning to replace our chimneys.

I am sorry for the short post this week but honestly I haven't a minute

and am constantly chasing my tail.

I will be around to visit you all but it may take me a couple of days

so please bear with me...

Smile Makers.....

Mother's Day - hope you all had a great one.

There were flowers and other lovely things here

Not much walking this week
(actually I lie) 

no walking

 but 

planning to rectify that on Saturday

as I need to clear this old head
 and so a trek up the mountains is planned...

Let's talk birthdays 

BIG Birthdays

you know those awful ones with a large 0 at the end....

well

I have one of those birthdays
 this day 4 weeks.......

dread it,

 don't want it to happen, 

want to sleep until it's over
shudder, shudder, shudder....

if I close my eyes will it go away?
Why can't I stay 49
49 sounds 20 years younger than 50...

 So how do you feel about BIG 0 Birthdays

do you mind going into the next decade?

Well anyway enough of my old lady ramblings and just time to say...

♥♥ {Green Day 36} ♥♥

Raindrops and Daisies

The object of the link up

is to post a photograph of something green.

The photos can be of anything you like

once they have a green theme,

green fields, pretty green things, green clothes,
green leaves, green foods,

anything at all that takes your fancy!

I hope that you will join in the fun.

Now here comes the boring bit - a few rules

1.   Please do not post anything that may be deemed offensive to others.

2.   Only post material that belongs to you.

3.   When posting your photographs please link back to Raindrops and Daisies

4.   Link directly to your Green Day post and not to the url of your blog

5.   Try and visit some of the other participants and leave a comment

time please don't go by so quickly....

as+ I seem to be constantly chasing after you. trying to play catchup.

December is almost upon us,

so much to do and yet the days are running away from me...

Is it just me....

Today was a beautiful ❤ Winters day

so myself, hubby and son out for a walk.

The sky was a magnificent shade of blue and the church seemed to bask in its glory.

We passed this gorgeous ❤ house on the way

All the lovely beech trees have become brown and withered but they still look good

and the garden is almost bare as

my lovely blooms have long disappeared,

except for one or two.

A lonesome rose ❤

last of the hydrangeas,

 the rest are brown and mushy after being hit by frost last week.

and my favourite which reminds me

of summer and has me looking forward  to things to come

 

❤❤❤

Linking up with

Simple Things Sunday

Why is it that.......

when the house is upside down and is in need of a good clean that guests arrive?

Yesterday I had planned to do a major blitz on the household chores but just before I could  even start, I heard a
bing bong on the doorbell.......

Breakfast dishes still in the sink...

toast crumbs adorning the counter...

basket of washing sitting on the kitchen floor...

everywhere decorated with a film of dust...

not a bed in the house made...

fire needing to be cleaned out...

bathroom towel needing to be changed...

2 dogs howling like wolves for food...

me looking like a bag lady........

Why can't they call when the house is smelling clean and fresh ♥

scented candles burning on the freshly polished table ♥

the fire warm and inviting and blazing with newly cut logs on top ♥

vases of pretty flowers giving out that wonderful "green" smell ♥

a big pot of freshly brewed coffee on the stove ♥
lots of lovely goodies to eat ♥

and me looking somewhat human instead of looking like a bedraggled crazy lady!!

Such is life!!!!!!

Happy Sunday to you all

♥♥♥



my dearest children...

why do you remember to feed the two dogs but never the cat......

the basket of wet laundry that is sitting in the kitchen can be brought out to the clothes line by one of you, it doesn't have to be me, the clothes won't mind who hangs them out
and they won't mind who takes them back in again either!!

~~~~

do you really need to use so many towels when you have a shower
and why after your showers do I find all of these wet towels lying on the bedroom floor or worse again thrown onto your bed......

~~~

why does no one ever answer the house phone when it rings......

~~~

Why do you say that there is no food in the house, when the fridge and cupboards are full of it and the only thing in short supply are biscuits and other goodies because you have eaten them all!

~~~

 

I love the three of you very much but sometimes I just have to shake my head in dispair, just as well I can laugh about it!!

This list could go on and on but I better stop now as I am wondering if it is just my family that are like this!!!!

❀❀❀❀❀

~~~

Loving ♥

that today is  Saturday and after a busy busy week

life is now a little quieter...

my children are on their mid-term break 

from school / university,I have next week off work

YIPPEE...

and so will have plenty of time to do the things I enjoy doing, one of those things will be calling

 to the blogs of my lovely friends and so I am really looking forward to doing that as I have neglected you all this week!

Some things that I am enjoying this week are -

My hydrangea pot which is still blooming

The last of my lovely red begonias

My lovely hydrangeas which are starting 

to dry out nicely......

eating warm potato topped pies for dinner 

on cold evenings

my new doorstop......

also loving.....

A few hours home alone. 

A roaring fire on a cold night.

Sipping a glass of red wine.

Fresh sheets on my bed that smell of clean fresh air.

Listening to the rain beating against the window.

The laughter of children.

Candlelight.

Piano music playing softly in the background.

Memories.

A hot shower with LEMON scented gel.

H E A V E N

♥ ♥ ♥

linking up today with Pink Saturday

it's raining again....

and all the flowers and shrubs are drenched,

everything is wet, wet, wet

but even with all the rain doesn't
Mother Nauture still produce some beauties?

Linking up today with 
Pink Saturday
Weekend Flowers
Today Flowers

Saturday Showoff

Smiling today because...

the sun was shining
and I was busy in the garden and have planted over 200  bulbs for Spring

  They have been in the cupboard for a few weeks now and I thought  I had better get them into the ground or they would still be sitting there this time next year!

 Let's hope they work their magic! 
♥♥♥ 

I have just lit the candle holder that Mum 

gave myself and Mike for our  
25th wedding anniversary earlier this year 
and as always it looks lovely and gives me that  
nice happy warm feeling.

♥♥♥

bought a bunch of flowers in lovely Autumn shades 

 they were cheap as chips 

but look really pretty in the kitchen.

♥♥♥

I picked the last of my tomatoes,
they are so tasty and SWEET.  
Yum ♥♥♥

But, the men in this house are not smiling 
because Ireland are out of the Rugby World Cup 

after being beaten by Wales.  
But as always the better team won.

Wishing you all a relaxing,peaceful and happy
  weekend.

♥♥♥

~ Fiona ~

.happiness is.....

 A large bowl of hearty Irish stew

Made earlier today

simmering away on the hob

smells delicious

the perfect dinner for a wet windy Autumn day

♥♥♥

Rain, rain, go away............

It's raining, it's pouring;
The old man is snoring.
Bumped his head
And went to bed
And couldn't get up in the morning.

Rain, rain, go away;
Come again another day;
Little Fiona wants to play.

♥♥♥

What a terrible day it is here today,

the rain hasn't stopped all morning.

  The garden is soaked so no point going out there....

What can I do?

Perhaps I should snuggle up on the sofa  

and flick through my new fruit and veg book 

and maybe get some ideas on

where I went wrong this year??

I bought some pretty♥ cards in a tin during the week, they were pink so I couldn't resist!

I could write a few notes to friends overseas 

(I never write to them, it is always email) 

but today..........

 I have Captain Corelli's Mandolin on dvd so that should pass a few happy hours..........

OR should I sit down and do a bit of knitting........

What to do, what to do?

Methinks I should have a cuppa first and perhaps a nice piece of cake and decide exactly how to pass my long afternoon.

Maybe rain isn't so bad afterall!!! 

♥♥♥

What is your favourite way to pass a lazy afternoon?

. We will never forget

 those who lost their lives 

on September 11th 2001

You, your families and your country men and women are in my thoughts and prayers today and every day. 

 

Joy Pockets

  ♥  ♥  ♥

I have had the most wonderful pocket of joy this week.

I was told by my son's teacher that he will be doing Higher Level English in his exams next year.

This may not mean much to many people but to us as a family it is just unbelieveable.

This fabulous 16 year old son of mine who couldn't speak 3 words until he was 9 years of age and who has worked and struggled so hard throughout his young life has achieved so much.

I have to buy a copy of The Merchant of Venice tomorrow as he  need it for Monday.

He may find it too difficult, time will tell 

but today we are all dancing a very happy dance.

 ~ Fiona ~

Linking with Monica for today's Joy Pockets

Beautiful Sunset

Last night we had the most beautiful sunset.  The sky was almost on fire with colour.

These are the times when you appreciate nature and all that it brings.

~ Fiona ~

SAD

I have often heard of people being SAD and suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder but being totally honest I dismissed it and have never thought much about it until Summer 2011.

This summer has been the most gloomy, grey, dark and depressive season that I can remember for quite a long time.

Every morning when I wake up and look out 

all I see are grey skies and clouds, it is soul destroying.

But imagine what a surprise I got today...............

blue skies and sunshine!

Woo hoo.........

This is the vision that Mike and I experienced on our walk this afternoon.

All I can say is that it was just wonderful and my mood lifted, high, high, high.

The skies were so fantastically blue that I had to take a photograph to share with you all.

Can you just imagine that blue skies are such a rariety that we now have to take photos of them!!!

Well here is mine -

~ Fiona ~

Girlie Time ♥

Had a lovely lunch today with my daughter in Avoca Dream Weavers

Avoca hand weave at the original Mill in the lovely village of Avoca, at the Meeting of the Waters in County Wicklow.  

They have been in business for over 300 years.  

Their rugs, throws, blankets and scarves are all  natural fibres - 100% pure new lambswool, mohair, cashmere and angora and are just to die for!!! 

♥ ♥

Here are some of the lovely throws we saw today

They were all so beautiful that it would be difficult to chose just one!

 

Aren't the colours fantastic?

They sell their homemade produce too.  
We bought a couple of pots just to test and some of their nutty brown bread!!

Look at the display of beautiful cups and teapots

We had a lovely day and I think the message on their bag says it all!