tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40738600309475771232024-03-13T10:41:53.500+00:00Old Magnolia Treea lover of the simple things in lifeOld Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-73398656714469198592018-12-30T12:03:00.001+00:002018-12-30T12:03:28.806+00:00Spaghetti And Meatballs1 Onion<br />
2 Cloves of Garlic<br />
2 Red Roasted Peppers from Oil<br />
3 -4 Sundried Tomatoes<br />
1 Good Glug of Ruby Port<br />
2 Tins of Tomatoes<br />
1 Tbl Fresh Oregano chopped finely<br />
Salt and Pepper<br />
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Method:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Brown the meatballs well in a frying pan.</li>
<li>I like to use an electric mini chopper for this as it means that if there are kids visiting, then they won't know that there are any yucky veggies in it!</li>
<li>Put the onion and garlic in the mini chopper and mince finely.</li>
<li>Put the onion and garlic mixture into a cold pot with some olive oil and turn onto a medium low heat. having the oil cold gives me the time to potter and prepare some of the other ingredients without me having to constantly watch the pot. </li>
<li>Sprinkle a good pinch of coarse sea salt over the onions to stop them from browning. Careful not to forget to take this into account when seasoning the sauce later on.</li>
<li>Put the sun-dried tomatoes and roasted peppers into the mini chopper and puree. Add to the softened onion mixture.</li>
<li>Pour in the glug of port and reduce down to remove the alcohol.</li>
<li>Add the tins of tomatoes to the pot along with the browned meatballs.</li>
<li>Season well with pepper and only a tiny bit of extra salt if necessary, remembering that salt was already added to the onions.</li>
<li>Only partially cover the pot with the lid and allow to gently simmer until the meatballs are cooked and the sauce has reduced down and the flavour has become more concentrated.</li>
</ul>
Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-3855817077035752902016-10-29T20:48:00.000+01:002016-10-29T20:48:49.923+01:00Roasted Tomato Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oooh some days there are some beautiful tomatoes in the shops and when I saw these ones I just couldn't resist these big fat juicy ones. Just look at them. Who could resist?<br />
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Now I would recommend that you take the top core out of the tomatoes with a small sharp paring knife because when I made the soup from these tomatoes we found it very stringy. But then again if you like the the extra fibre by all means leave them in. Now some people prefer to remove the skin and seeds from the tomatoes but I found that they really added to the soup and when it was really well blended it made quite a meaty soup that warms and leaves you feeling full and satisfied.<br />
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients:</span></u></i></b><br />
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1kg Beef Tomatoes<br />
2 Red Peppers<br />
3 Large Onions<br />
1 Head of Garlic<br />
Olive Oil<br />
1/4 litre Vegetable Stock<br />
Few sprigs of Thyme, Oregano, Bay Leaf<br />
1tbsp Balsamic Vinegar<br />
Seasoning: Salt, Pepper, Sugar<br />
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Method:</span></u></i></b><br />
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<li>Preheat the oven to 190°C.</li>
<li>Slice the tomatoes in half and place face up on a roasting tray.</li>
<li>Crush open the bulb of garlic and separate out the cloves. Leave the skin on the garlic and pop into the tray.</li>
<li>Peel and quarter the onions and squeeze them in between the tomatoes along with chunks of the red pepper.</li>
<li>Throw in the sprigs of thyme.</li>
<li>Sprinkle with a tsp of sugar and season with salt and pepper.</li>
<li>Drizzle olive oil over the vegetables in the tray.</li>
<li>Roast in the oven for 1 hour. </li>
<li>When the tomatoes are soft and just about holding it together, remove them from the oven and pour them into a large pot. Don't forget all the lovely juices at the bottom of the tray. It is full of flavour.</li>
<li>Squeeze all of the soft gooey insides out of the garlic cloves and add them to the pot.</li>
<li>With your thumb nail and forefinger scrape off all the leaves from the sprigs of thyme and add to the soup mixture.</li>
<li>Tie together the oregano and bay leaf to enable you to take them out of the pot again with ease. </li>
<li>Pour stock into the pot, pop on the lid and bring to a light simmer.</li>
<li>When all of the veg are soft and falling apart easily, make sure that the onions have softened well, remove the bunch of herbs and blend with a stick blender until smooth.</li>
<li>Season well and add 1tbs balsamic vinegar just to bring out the full fruity flavour of the tomatoes.</li>
<li>Return to the heat for a few more minutes to bring it back up to temperature after using the blender on it.</li>
<li>Serve straight away with crusty rolls slathered with a thick layer of butter. Enjoy!!</li>
</ul>
Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-89560329978244823152016-10-29T17:38:00.000+01:002016-10-29T17:38:20.324+01:00Sunday Roast DinnerA Sunday dinner with all of the trimmings. A simple roast chicken with creamy potato gratin, classic stuffing and honey roast beetroot and parsnips. This ones for you bro.......<br />
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<u><i><b>A Classic Roast Dinner</b></i></u></div>
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<u><b>Ingredients:</b></u></div>
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1 Organic Free Range Chicken</div>
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<u><i><b>Stuffing:</b></i></u></div>
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1/2 Loaf Stale Bread</div>
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1 Handful of Sage and Parsley</div>
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1 Onion, chopped finely</div>
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4 Tbs Butter, melted</div>
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<b><u><i>Roast Vegetables:</i></u></b></div>
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3-4 Fresh Beetroot</div>
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4 Parsnips</div>
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Runny Honey</div>
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<b><u><i>Potato Gratin:</i></u></b></div>
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8-10 Potatoes, not too waxy but not too floury either!</div>
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2 Large Onions, very finely sliced</div>
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500ml Fresh Cream</div>
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4 Cloves of Garlic, peeled and slightly crushed</div>
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100g Gruyere Cheese, finely grated</div>
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Freshly Ground Pepper</div>
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Method:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Preheat the oven to 180°C.</li>
<li>While waiting for the oven to heat begin to prepare the gratin. </li>
<li>Warm the cream with the garlic to just below boiling point, then take off the heat and let it infuse.</li>
<li>Peel and finely slice the onions and potatoes.</li>
<li>Butter an oven dish and place a layer of potatoes on the bottom, followed by a layer of onion and a good grating of Gruyere cheese. Repeat these layers until the dish is full, ending with a layer of potatoes.</li>
<li>Pour the infused cream over the potatoes and cover with a layer of grated cheese.</li>
<li>Place it in the oven 30 mins after the chicken first goes in.</li>
<li>Roast for 1- 1&1/2 hours until the potatoes are tender and break up under a fork. If the top looks like it will burn before it is cooked then cover it with some tin foil.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Salt the chicken well and place in the oven uncovered. The Chicken will probably take 1 1/2 hours to cook. Best test to know when it is done is to take two forks and place them between the breast and the leg, if it pulls away easily and the juices are clear then it is cooked.</li>
<li>Take the chicken out of the oven and allow to sit for at least half an hour before serving.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Clean and chop the beetroot into large chunks and place on a roasting tray and put into the oven when the chicken comes out.</li>
<li>Peel and cut the parsnips lengthwise. If possible cut away some of the inner core that runs inside the parsnips as this sometimes can be bitter when roasted.</li>
<li>Melt 2 tbs of butter in a frying pan and fry the parsnips until they are nicely browned.</li>
<li>Remove the tray of beetroot from the oven and add the parsnips. Cover in a good layer of runny honey and mix to ensure that everything has a good coating.</li>
<li>This will take 30 mins in the oven. They may take a little longer if the parsnips are quite chunky.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Now last but not least, on to the stuffing. Place the bread into a blender and make into fine breadcrumbs.</li>
<li>Very finely chop the onion and sage and add this to the crumbs.</li>
<li>Melt the butter and stir well into the breadcrumb mixture. The mix should be quite sticky, enough to be able to make a ball in the palm of your hand. </li>
<li>Place in a roasting tin and press down with the back of a wooden spoon.</li>
<li>Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes until crispy on top.</li>
</ul>
Now sit down and enjoy a nice Sunday roast dinner together</div>
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Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-24681559137904209152016-03-24T21:13:00.001+00:002016-03-24T21:13:41.540+00:00Brag, Brag, Brag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ooooh, look what the postman brought me this morning. Squeeeeee I love these colours and I'M so excited. Will I tell you why? For the first time ever I have decided to join a CAL. It is the Mandala Madness by Crystals and Crochet. At first when I saw this advertised I wasn't mad about the colours or the price tag of the kits. At more than 400 Euros for one kit and 200 for the other, it was way out of my price range. But last week on the day that it began I was reading about it in a Deramores post and realised that it was also available in a much more affordable version with beautiful hues of purple. Just perfect for the sofa in Benny. It is called the colour crafter pack.<br />
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Just look at them all set and ready to go in my basket. I know that I'm a week late with starting but I'm sure that I won't have a problem catching up!!<br />
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Yesterday I was in my LYS , The Baldy Sheep, and spotted this Louisa Harding Noema yarn on sale and I just couldn't leave without a few balls. I have knitted with this before last summer when I made the capelet in the pattern book. This yarn is going to make the cowl in the picture. It is beautiful yarn to knit with and never splits. and on top of that the colours available are just scrumptious. I really do prefer when I have a definite idea for yarn that I buy. I have found that sometimes when I buy yarn on sale it tends to sit around for quite a while waiting to be matched with the perfect pattern. This cowl I know that is going to be really quick and easy to make. It should be finished in just a few days........but first there are one or two projects that need finishing. A baby blanket for a niece that is due in May (my first time being an auntie!!) and a gorgeous woolly jumper. I have to be truthful and firm with myself and finish these first. I know well that if I don't finish the jumper soon, the summer will come along and I'll have absolutely no interest in knitting away at a big chunky sweater. But then again the Irish summer being what it is, I'll probably need to wear it!!</div>
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I was in such a crafting slump for so long. Unable to knit or crochet without pain. No ideas or inspiration coming to me. Constant failing in my attempts to create something gorgeous at that terrible time. My crafting mojo just abandoned me. It was driving me insane. Something had to be done.</div>
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I began by crocheting some small colourful coasters and a granny square potholder, really must take some pictures of these pretty little things, to awaken my creative side again. Then in January I was back in hospital for my regular visit and I brought two new bigger knitting projects with me. My chunky sweater and a shawl in soft delicate merino yarn. </div>
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Now I love both knitting and crocheting and when I started these two projects, I found that I could sit and knit for hours in the hospital without and pain or discomfort. It was so much easier on my body then the crochet was. I suppose that it is the constant movement with the one hand with the other just stabilising the work but with knitting it is just gentle movement with both hands. For weeks I only worked on my knitting, not even thinking about my hooks. But for me when I'm I just can never be away from the colourful world of crochet. I just see it as being something fun that I can let my imagination run wild with. Even though I started out learning to knit, it is crochet that just has me hooked!! Sadly though I know now that I can only work for a couple of hours every second day otherwise the tennis elbow will return.</div>
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Talking about inspiration, I've got a new addiction. Japanese crochet patterns. They are simply beautiful and so very unusual even if they are difficult to read.</div>
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See what I mean. Just look at those mittens and the intricacy of the coasters. Just flipping through the pages leaves me drooling and itching to start. But I'm going to be good and only do two projects at a time..........I so hope that I can be good.</div>
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Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-26724001496201055672016-03-21T01:59:00.000+00:002016-03-21T02:00:34.120+00:00A Bog Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Because this is a very special week for Ireland (we are celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the 1916 Rising), I thought that I might share some photos of the boglands at the heart of the country. Normally this is an area that is not shown in the pretty tourist board photos probably because it is not always the easiest place to take nice pictures, unless it is dawn during the winter and the fog sits low over the bog. Then it is gorgeous, but mostly it is just like a colour card for paint in various shades of brown! Seriously though I think that the bog is the backbone of the country and a good representation of life in the countryisde both past and present. </div>
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Behind our house is a bog that was once stripped commercially for garden compost, briquettes for the fire or even for fuel for the nearby power station. It has been about 20 years since this land was worked and it is only now that it is beginning to be reclaimed once more by nature.<br />
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It may look like quite a barren place but wildlife has once more taken over and when I bring my two mad animals out for a walk on the bog they enjoy nothing more than seeing what they can find and of course chase. It was very funny last week when Fred tried to race a hare the length of the bog. Needless to say that the hare left him eating dust and disappeared form view after a mere 15 seconds. On our daily walks other than hares we have seen many pheasants, snipes, woodcocks, rabbits , long eared owls and foxes.<br />
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This is a beautiful piece of bog oak that has been uncovered by the big milling machines. The bog oak that is found in the area is hundreds and thousands of years old, perfectly preserved in the bog. This particular one has been bleached by the sun as it lies still half buried in the ground. It makes me smile every time I walk past it. I just love its bare beauty.<br />
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Most Irish people from the countryside will have memories and stories of bringing turf home from the bog during the summer months. I myself grew up in a town and would tease my friends that had to spend their summer hols on the bog. They would head off in the morning with flasks of tea and sandwiches and return home with sore backs and ripened red by the sun. Now my friends laugh at me because I'm the one living in the bog and complaining about having to foot turf.<br />
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Even though it is March I still wear my handmade tweed coat whenever I go for a walk. This poor coat has been with me for years ever since I bought it for 1 Euro in a charity shop. Since it makes me look quite chubby, I tend to keep it for gardening and walks. Honestly it is the coat that makes me look plump and not my obsession with biscuits!<br />
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Here you can see the different levels of the ground as the machines cut away more at one part of the bog. The land is highest in the background of this picture stepping down into the foreground. In between there are deep drains. Patrick's favourite pass time has to be jumping the drains. Tempting fate a he tries to make it across wider and wider drains followed closely by the two dogs. Needless to say most of the time he comes home covered from head to toe in turf mould. Well I say turf mould because that is what its called by the locals but to the rest of us it would be bog dirt.<br />
Molly on the other hand loves nothing more than swimming her way down the bog in the drains.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">There are still some sign of the industry left on this part of the bog but even this is slowly being hidden by nature. Can you see the digger close to the trees in this picture?</span></div>
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Here it may be nothing but a variations of the colour brown but every now and again there is the most beautiful splash of sunshine like this coarse and prickly gorse bush.<br />
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That brings us to the end of my local bogland. I hope that you enjoyed it. <br />
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Rosie xx<br />
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P.S. Well Bernie do you miss it at all?Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-76999522594905753922016-01-11T20:33:00.000+00:002016-01-11T20:33:21.972+00:00Oat Flour Pancakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few months ago I found myself drawn to the artisan section of a local supermarket. It was but mere moments that this beautiful buttery yellow package caught my eye. I must make a confession and say that I absolutely and utterly hate porridge. I have done so since I was a child when I was faced with a bowl of frog spawn like gloop each morning before school. My father always told me that it would taste so much better with a spoon of sugar in it and each morning I would create an island in my bowl and watch it sink slowly into the milky mess. Sadly though, no matter what additions I made to my porridge, there was never any improvement that I could make to the texture. Sitting across from me at the table was my brother who scraped his teeth against the spoon with every mouthful as though it would somehow burn or wound his lips if he touched them against it. Time and time again he did it and more and more tenser my mother became. I would look over then to see him lift his bowl routinely because he was convinced that my mother had somehow rigged the table so that a tube coming from below and into his bowl, would replace every painful morsel that he swallowed. When he could take no more, he then resorted to flattening and shifting the porridge around the bowl to make it look like he'd eaten more than he actually had. This never fooled my mother though. We sat there glumly staring at our bowls and wishing it would disappear until the moment came when my mother could take no more and sent us off to school.<br />
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This memory of horrible textures, flavours and atmosphere at the breakfast table has probably turned me off porridge for life. Strangely though my kids love the stuff and ask me to make it the next day for them as they head off to their beds. I really struggle with the smell of it even now when I cook it despite trying many different varieties for my kids. I'm delighted though that they love to eat it so much because I can feel like a real Supermum sending my kids off to school with a really healthy, hot breakfast every day.<br />
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This all leaves me looking always for new and different ways to eat my oats. No I do really love granola and my Oatie biscuits but these are too high in sugar for me to eat for breakfast every day. God know that I need to loose enough weight as it is. So when I saw this cute little package in the shop it just called out to me to bring it home and try it out. When I make pancakes I always try to make my blueberry syrup to drizzle over the top. This is not just totally scrumscious but it is also a great way to get my kids to eat blueberries. I simply just don't understand why or even how kids of mine don't have the passion of fruit as I do. They are natures sweets and perfect in every way. Mysterious!!<br />
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There is a recipe for the pancakes on the packet but it only makes 5 and involves weighing out ingredients, which is something that I'm not going to be doing first thing in the morning plus I wanted mine to be a little lighter and fluffier so I added in some self raising flour. If you can't get self raising flour then just use plain flour and use 3 slightly heaped teaspoons of baking powder. So here is my version.....<br />
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PS If you cant get this flour don't worry because I saw somewhere before (sorry can't remember where) that you can just give some porridge oats a blitz in the blender until fine.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><u>Oat Flour Pancakes</u></i></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
125g punnet Blueberries</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3 tablespoons Maple syrup</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
1 cup Oat Flour</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 cup Self Raising Flour</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2 level teaspoons Baking Powder</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/4 teaspoon Salt</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2 tablespoons Cornflour / Cornstarch</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3 tablespoons Soft Brown Sugar</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 teaspoon Cinnamon</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 Egg</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2 cups Full Fat Milk (or more if required)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 teaspoon Vanilla Paste<br />
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<ol>
<li>Before starting out with the batter, put the syrup on to bubble away and thicken. Just rinse the blueberries and pop them into the pot with the maple syrup. Cook it slowly over quite a small flame. It will become beautiful and glossy with little balls of berries ready to pop in your mouth. Yum!!</li>
<li>Put all of the dry ingredients into a bowl, stir and leave a well in the centre.</li>
<li>Measure out all of the wet ingredients, including the vanilla paste, in a jug and whisk together quickly.</li>
<li>Combine the wet and dry ingredients until it it forms a silky smooth batter. It should not be so thick as to stay in form when it's put into the pan but it also should not be so runny as to be perfect for crepes. </li>
<li>Rub a little oil over the pan with a piece of kitchen paper and heat the pan until quite hot. On the packet it says that no more oil is required after the first application but I do find that wiping it with the oiled paper every few batches of pancakes does help if you haven't got the best pan like me.</li>
<li>Using an ice-cream scoop dollop the batter onto the pan in batches of three or four.</li>
<li>When bubbles form on the top of the pancakes, flip them over and fry for another minute until golden brown.</li>
<li>As oats always do, the flour will soak up more liquid the longer it sits stoveside so just add in extra milk in small amounts. Don't add too much at once or the batter will be too runny.</li>
<li>Serve with the syrup spilling all over it and down the sides. </li>
<li>Enjoy greedily and you're set up for the day!!</li>
</ol>
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Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-21488954873875793842016-01-04T20:51:00.000+00:002016-01-04T20:51:30.440+00:00Where The Hell Were You?Well that is a question you might well ask! <br />
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Several things have kept me from my blog in 2015. <br />
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The first reason for me staying away from my blog was a total disillusion with blogland. As I had known it when I started out, it was a fun and friendly place. I had made many many friends who were starting out just like me and we supported and helped each other through both of the hard times and the creative times. I had needed to take a break half way through 2014 because of spending much of my time in hospital. Returning last spring, I realised that blogland had become a very strange and foreign place. Blogs that I had once conversed with on a daily basis had become so big, they somehow seemed to lose their welcoming friendliness. There were no responses to questions or enquiries for their well being. Don't get me wrong, I don't in any way harbour any feelings of jealousy or resentment towards these blogs that have grown in popularity. On the contrary I am quite delighted for them and I understand that bloggers that have more followers would have more comments coming in on their posts which would probably be quite hard to get through. It's just that it was not the world that I had left behind and somehow I just did not fit in any longer. I felt like a complete outsider or a lost traveler that had wandered into unknown territory. And even when I began to look out towards other blogs that might in some small way pique my interest, I just could not muster the same passion for this space on the web that I once had. At this point I must also say a big thank you to the wonderful ladies that have stayed in contact with me over this whole time. Those who have sent the odd caring and considerate email to help lighten my mood. Strange to say as this is, I have never met you nor probably will ever have the chance to meet you but you are all great friends indeed. <br />
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Secondly with my mothers health not great during the year and surgery that brought to light some more problems for her, the stress and strain took more out of me than I expected. I honestly think that when people need me, adrenilene keeps me going during that time, regardless of how long that time is. I can keep pushing and pushing through it. My limit hidden with the need to just get through this day and onto the next. Unfortunately as soon as the pressure lightens and life starts to return to normal, all of the pain and strain that my mind has been blocking rushes back and hits me like a shovel to the back!! And this time it really stopped me dead in my tracks.<br />
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Come the summertime I was exhausted like I've never felt before. I had every ounce of pain that I had missed out on and I had no desire to do anything else other than sleep. I had been buzzing along for months, going for walks with the dogs and working in the garden, using these activities to destress and let my mind relax and be free of worries even if it was for mere moments at a time. When I went into complete melt down, I was totally gutted. The kids holidays were just beginning and I was looking forward to finally having a normal summer and spending time with my kids doing things that parents and kids do together without a second thought. But sadly it was nearly two months before I started to return to normal or well as normal as a person with fibromyalgia could ever be. Thankfully time and rest has healed my body and I've become probably as active as I've been for more than 10 years. Ready for whatever life has to throw at me next. Well all except for one thing..<br />
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Tendonitis. During the year I developed tendonitis in both of my elbows, both my shoulders and my neck. The steroid injections that followed curiously caused a bad flare up. I say curiously because I have been getting these jabs in my hips every year for nearly a decade now. This time though they caused jelly like swells around my neck and on both wrists. This has meant that I have really struggled with all of my crafting passions. For months now no yarn, fabric, hook nor needles have been held in my hands for more than ten minutes at a time. Because of this I have found that I have totally lost my creative mojo and I must say that this saddens me terribly.<br />
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One good thing has come out of all of this and that is a return to one of the first loves of my life, food! And about time too. Over the past years of being unwell, I turned my back on this love. Handfuls of tablets at a time both sickened and tired me. I had to teach my husband how to cook for himself and the kids. And God love the poor divil he tried but being what in Ireland is called a total bogger, his selection of food always, and I mean always, included a mountain of spuds, veg and some description of meat. My kids loved this when they were younger as he did but for me the sameness of it all was somewhat off putting, to coin a phrase of my mothers. <br />
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For me I need a variety of textures and flavours. I need the heat of spice and the creaminess of parmesan, gruyere and mozarella. I need not just potatoes but pasta and rice too. I need a roast at the end of the week that is so tender that it melts in the mouth and whose leftovers leaves any amount of meals that can be created from them, limited only by your own imagination. Thankfully, as I have returned to take back my place in the kitchen, my children have become more open to new flavours. They now adore chilli spiked food and the more cheery little red slices that appear on the plates laid before them, the happier they are. How lucky am I to have two kids that love spices as much as I do? I am so delighted they are also now taking an interest in the kitchen. Lucy loves to bake and is very good at it too, I must say. Patrick on the other hand loves the savoury side of cooking and I always have him on standby as my professional taster.<br />
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With these things in mind I have made a decision about this little space of mine in blogland. I'm going to regard this as a little diary. A diary of new recipes that I try out from my very voluminous collection of cookery books. A diary of all the recipes that I have invented myself, inspiration usually waking me in the middle of the night. I want to keep a record of all of these so that I can share them with friends and family. If there is anyone else out there that may be interested also are welcome to use these too.<br />
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And if by any small chance at all, that my arms allow me once more to crochet, knit or sew, I'll post a few words about them too. I'm hoping to get back to blogging quietly in this little space of mine. Happy to just record all of the glorious food that we enjoy both eating and cooking together. I'll be delighted to see any visiters pop along and would love to see any comments that they may wish to leave.<br />
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Hope to chat soon with a new recipe for Oat flour pancakes....seriously yum!!<br />
<br />
Rosie xx<br />
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<br />Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-8054913056402306852015-07-27T01:46:00.001+01:002015-07-27T01:46:29.189+01:00Summer update<p dir="ltr">Sunset in easkey. It's just so beautiful and peaceful. Even my kids stopped to watch. <br>
We've been down here a few times already since the holidays started in May. Each week hoping that the river would be perfect for the salmon to run upstream. I personally think it's cruel to catch the salmon when they've travelled so far to return their birthplace to spawn but it is so very exciting to see these stunning fish burst free from the water as a glistening streak of silver. To see them means that they have survived all the trawlers and dangers of the sea to make it home. <br>
Rod fishermen are often blamed for the fall in salmon numbers here. But it is something that has been done for hundreds of years. And while I don't believe in the pastime, I also know that one fisherman with a rod can only catch a certain number of fish. He is not a problem. It is the trawlers out at sea, catching tonnes of fish at a time that is depleting the salmon quantities that survive long enough to spawn. Many salmon that are caught in the river are badly scarred from fishing nets that they have managed to free themselves from. This is a subject that I discuss with my husband regularly and that we both feel really strongly about, to the point where my he returns all fish to the river that he has caught. But just one person won't make much of a difference and each year less and less salmon run the river during the season and soon there won't be any at all. It makes me sad to the core. <br>
I hadn't meant to come in here ranting and raving tonight but do you know what? I'm so glad that I did because it has made me feel so much better. <br>
Anyway, <br>
Night night all<br>
Rosie <u>xx</u></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fKp6ToqHOmA/VbV_XmUnJ7I/AAAAAAAAI5Q/1NNp9bGJySw/s1600/20150719_220354_LLS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fKp6ToqHOmA/VbV_XmUnJ7I/AAAAAAAAI5Q/1NNp9bGJySw/s640/20150719_220354_LLS.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TNTGkgdtiY8/VbV_Yo2iEhI/AAAAAAAAI5Y/_0Wv_rGmSGc/s1600/20150702_205012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TNTGkgdtiY8/VbV_Yo2iEhI/AAAAAAAAI5Y/_0Wv_rGmSGc/s640/20150702_205012.jpg"> </a> </div>Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-19611593917809170802015-05-21T20:08:00.000+01:002015-05-21T20:08:00.254+01:00An Afternoon In GalwayLately I have been getting quite a lot of pain when trying to knit or crochet. I would need to put my work down after only five minutes of work. My hands cramping. My wrists aching.<br />
So I decided it was time I went to see my rheumatologist in Galway. About twice a year I need to get steroid injections in my hips and in my feet. Seriously painful in the feet, people!! The doc gave me the worst news that any crafter could hear, tennis elbow in both arms requiring at least two weeks of rest. What??? I got the mandatory jabs and left feeling very sorry for little ol' me altogether.<br />
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My hubbie had taken the day off work to come down with me as I'm often unwell and in pain after the injections. I was really glad of the company when I left and it was great to get to spend a little time together on our own. We don't often get the opportunity to just be a couple.<br />
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The weather was really bad and there was some very heavy showers. But in between Galway was beautiful as always.<br />
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We walked along the the river, amazed at how high it was for this time of the year. It flowed so fast it made us dizzy just walking alongside.<br />
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Grey skies threatened us constantly and the rain pounded us when it fell in heavy downpours, leaving us soaked to the core.<br />
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This city is so full of surprises and you never know what you'll find around the next corner. This cafe for example. I think that it is called the Jungle Cafe. An covered outdoor restaurant that looks like it belongs in Brazil more than the West coast of Ireland.<br />
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There is some beautiful artworks here and even the shop fronts get painted with colourful and intricate murals. I felt they won't get to experience the real beauty of Ireland. My hubby said that he read a report that most tourists don't come here expecting good weather, but still my heart went out to them.<br />
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The llittle back streets are a delight to wander down with their small shops and seating outside coffee shops. It's just a shame that it was for only a brief moment that the sun decided to shine while I took this picture.<br />
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These have to be my two favourite shops in Galway. Twice As Nice sells amazing lace and the most delicate linens and crochet garments. <br />
And Wooden Heart is a place we always stop when the kids are with us. It is a toy shop where are the toys are wooden and vintage. The type of toys that I would have played with as a child, like dominoes, wooden snakes, spinning tops or wind up mice. I'm just a big kid and I just have to test out every toy that I can find.<br />
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From there we drove out to the little village of Spiddle and one of my most favourite places in the county, the crafter's village. Here you can meet weavers, basket makers, glass workers, jewellery designers, potters and so much more. Sadly I was there on a Monday, the day most are closed. <br />
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But I did find this little beauty. They are little glass beads, which is something that I would normally stay well clear of in case I would break or drop them, but they are so bright and colourful, I just couldn't resist. A little treat for myself since I'm not going to be allowed to stitch for a while now.</div>
Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com5Ireland53.41291 -8.243889999999964948.5642595 -18.571038499999965 58.261560499999995 2.083258500000035tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-84397099993610090032015-05-11T13:46:00.000+01:002015-05-21T20:14:36.956+01:00A Little Glimpse At Benny<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I never thought that the day would come that I would actually be getting out into Benny.</div>
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It was only two weeks ago we organised the last of the boxes.</div>
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My Attic 24 Blanket keeps us warm on the cooler days on the little comfy second hand couch. (it's still waiting for the ends to be woven in, too busy lately to get around to that)</div>
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Hateful as plastic is, living in the bog means moths and lots of them so to keep my yarn safe I have to sort them in plastic boxes. A box for each yarn weight. There is probably about 12 boxes out there and I won't tell you a lie, there is still a lot more stored in the attic!</div>
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The threads and scissors are waiting for a display stand to be put up on the wall.</div>
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Pardon the blurry picture!</div>
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I love these door knobs. My hubby bought them for me last year as a little pressie.</div>
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This just had to come out here with me. I bought it in Munich a few years ago and I love it. </div>
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The picture is painted on the reverse side of the glass itself.</div>
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I bought these wooden mushrooms at the Lamb festival. </div>
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One Is worked from Ash and the other Hazel.</div>
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This also came from the Lamb Festival and we nicknamed him Ouch as he is to become my new pincushion!</div>
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The first job that I had to do when I moved in was to sew a new ironing board cover.</div>
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It's probably the worst sewing job that I've ever done. </div>
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I really need practice more with my sewing, the machine was stored away for far too long.</div>
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Here is one little visitor to the studio that does not want us doing any work, except of course if that entails giving her tickles under the chin!!</div>
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It's hard to believe that Benny was once a sad mobile home with a leaking roof and holes in the floor.</div>
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Now he is bright and cheery and a home from home for me.</div>
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My little escape and just what I've always dreamed of.</div>
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Rosie</div>
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Little bits are slowly popping up around the mobile. Decorative pieces that just seem to grow and appear naturally. Not planned in any way. Just the way that I like it.<br />
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I'm not even in it two months and already my work table is a total mess. At least the trees outside the window are growing rapidly and offering no distractions.</div>
Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com3Ireland53.41291 -8.243889999999964948.5642595 -18.571038499999965 58.261560499999995 2.083258500000035tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-11502031729021412522015-05-05T15:21:00.000+01:002015-05-05T15:21:13.849+01:00Lamb FestivalWell what kind of a weekend was that?? I dont know about where you live but here it rained and rained and when the skies were done with that, it rained some more. And to top it all off it was freezing cold too. After three glorious weeks of warm sunny days it feels like being thrust back into the depths of winter once more. Pure yuk!!<br />
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Over the last few months I have gotten into the habit of resting most of the weekend. And although I much needed it to prepare myself for the coming week of hospital runs, doctor appointments and an endless list of other things, my poor little kids have missed out on quite a lot of family time.<br />
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So try and put this right and despite the miserable weather, we donned our raincoats and headed off to the Roscommon Lamb Festival. It is a wonderful festival and we try to go every year if we can. We have found that the Sunday is always the best with family day in the town park and makers tents in the town centre. There were quilters there along with knitters, spinners, weavers. I am just so lucky that I have two kids that are so interested in crafts of every description because there was no way that Mammy was leaving until she got to speak to every body.<br />
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We met Nancy Devlin there, the most fantastic lady sitting at a spinning wheel. Lucy stood there mesmerised watching her do her work, that is until Patrick decided that he wanted to ask some questions. I truly felt sorry for this poor lady. You could nearly say that he was interrogating her as question followed question for at least twenty minutes. Fair play to Nancy she never wavered once and answered each and every query, even if she had to think hard about the answer.<br />
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Sadly I didn't get the name of the lady who made these little beauties but I just had to show you a picture of them. Aren't they just fabulous? My favourite has to be the snail on the left hand side of the top picture.<br />
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After I managed to free Patrick from the makers tents we headed into the park to see what else was going on. There were some animals gentle enough for the kids to pet. They totally fell in love with the llamas and were amazed at how thick there coats were. Lucy could hide her hand completely in this soft fluffy fleece.<br />
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This boy was not nearly as friendly and would only let people touch his horns. I never knew that sheep could grow two sets of horns!! This stubborn fella just refused to pose for the camera, so this was the best photo that I could get of him.</div>
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The whole time we were there, I got the strange feeling that somebody was watching us!!</div>
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There was a tent there that gave demonstrations of traditional Irish crafts like willow weaving and copper jewellery making. Here Patrick got to try his hand at a pole wood lathe. They both had to have their turn before we could move on and they loved it. The man showing them was so lovely and cheery, they were reluctant to go. Especially that the rain was bucketing down outside.</div>
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But move on we did and after a quick coffee for me and hot chocolate for them, it was off to the climbing wall with us. These two are always very competitive and it was so obvious here as they raced to the top and raced down again. Patrick is a natural born climber and could be found climbing trees from about the age of three, so needless to say I was really surprised that even though this time he actually had a harness on, he wasn't as free as Lucy was.</div>
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Not a great pic here but by now it was pouring out of the heavens once more. Patrick was looking forward to trying his hand at archery while here, so we braved it for just a little while longer. </div>
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So cold and wet, we decided to call it a day and head off for some hot food a nice restaurant we noticed on the way around town. The three of us were tired but very happy and jolly. A great day full of new memories.</div>
Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-20057014108273507212015-04-23T14:51:00.000+01:002015-04-23T14:51:43.104+01:00I'm Happy Little Bunny<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before I begin I just want to say, thank you so much to all the lovely ladies who left a comment or sent emails on my last post. The things that you said really touched me and I greatly appreciated it.</div>
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Now, aren't I quite the naughty one! </div>
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I have just returned to blogging after months of a break and what do I do? </div>
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Only go and disappear again for a few weeks. </div>
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Initially it was because I was getting warning signs that the stress from the previous months was coming back to bite me on the bum. </div>
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First my sleeping pattern was disturbed and then my pain levels rose.</div>
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But I didn't push things.</div>
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I took things easy and rested when I could.</div>
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I understood that my body was struggling to deal with all the pressure that I had put it under.</div>
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I'm not saying that I'm pain free or anything now but I definitely more relaxed and sleeping better.</div>
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I also was having problems remembering words, which happens sometimes when I'm overtired, making very hard to put a sentence to together.</div>
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If I had written a blog post it probably be total gobble-dee-gook.</div>
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A couple of things really helped with my recovery. </div>
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The first is the unbelievable span of great weather we've been having here in Ireland.</div>
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Every day we've been getting out for walks straight after school.</div>
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Down to the canal we go so that the dogs, especially Molly, can go for a swim.</div>
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She gets in the water as soon as she sees it and swims along the bank as we walk. Only occasionally stopping and refusing to go on until my son throws a stick out to the water for her to retrieve.</div>
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Mad thing is she won't even play fetch on land!!</div>
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Another thing that has cheered me up greatly is that we have finally finished my studio, otherwise known as Benny in this family. </div>
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Benny is a gutted and refurbished mobile home that we turned into a studio for me and a playroom for the kids.</div>
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The kids up one end and my work space down the other. </div>
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Thing is that the kids toys seem to somehow hover very slowly over to my side of Benny 'all on their own', according to my kids!</div>
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My Hubby got the stove set up and the chimney built.</div>
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It looks so cute when it's lit.</div>
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No pictures yet though because I want to add some more homemade bits and pieces around the place and work there for a while before I can find everythings own 'right place'.</div>
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I'll post some little sneak peaks as I get things finished.</div>
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I have also managed to get a few little crafty bits and pieces done over the last few weeks but i'm going to wait until the next post to share them with you. </div>
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Must go now and head off for our daily walk.</div>
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I hope to chat to you all soon in blogland.</div>
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Rosie xx</div>
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Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-26506412465482709162015-03-25T08:02:00.001+00:002015-03-25T08:02:37.407+00:00Can I Tell You A Little Story?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white;">In December of last year I had quite a strange experience.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">While at my Hubby's company Christmas party, a man who had been hired to read fortunes for the night, chose me out of a crowd and beckoned to me to sit with him on the sofa.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I was unsure at first as I really do not believe in all this pa lava but decided what harm could it do. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">It was all in fun anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">After he had a ten minute conversation with whom he said was my father (my father passed away nearly nine years ago), I was beginning to question my opinion.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I sat stony faced and silent, not wanting to give anything away, as he relayed the messages from my Dad. There were things that he said that were very particular and that could not have been guessed in a thousand years.</span><br />
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This completely freaked me.<br />
Could this truly be genuine ?<br />
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Onto my cards then. One by one he turned over my cards. He said that he knew times had been hard for me and my family for quite a long time but that was all going to change. By the beginning of the summer my life will have changed beyond recognition. And it will be changes for the better. I would get stronger and more confident. This he repeated several times over because he said that it was important.</div>
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I walked away dazed. </div>
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It had been a very strange experience.</div>
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Could this be real?</div>
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Only time would tell.</div>
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As the new year began, my life became a little bit more hectic as the hubby returned to college.</div>
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But just two weeks into January, my son Patrick fell sick very suddenly. I had to rush him to hospital in the middle of the night and wait for hours outside an operating room while the doctors removed a seeping gangrenous appendix from my poor little boy. He was so very sick and remained in hospital on three separate IV antibiotics for a week as I slept on a pull out chair by his bed holding his hand all night long. He had to remain home for a further fortnight while I tried to built him up again. My fun, chatty little son was too weak to stay awake for long and had lost so much weight in such a short time.<br />
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Just as I was getting Patrick back on his feet, I noticed that my mother's health was deteriorating rapidly. She had not been well for quite a while but now it was beginning to get very scary. </div>
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Eventually I just decided that we could not wait any more on doctor appointments and I brought her up to A&E in the Dublin hospital where her consultant was based. Thankfully she was immediately admitted and her treatment began.</div>
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She was in hospital for two weeks and had some very intense surgery.</div>
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On her return home she needed constant help and was not allowed to do anything for herself. </div>
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But this was like having an overgrown toddler in the house.</div>
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Every time I turned my back she was back doing something that was forbidden by the doctors.</div>
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It is very hard to keep a strong, independent person sitting down and taking the rest that she needs to recuperate, all day long.</div>
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Thankfully all is beginning to slowly quieten down and now I have time to reflect on the past three months. </div>
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Has it changed?</div>
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Most definitely!</div>
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I used to always say that when one of my family needs me I could go into auto pilot and somehow be able to push my pain and tiredness to one side. Then when all would be back to normal, my body would just stop and collapse.<br />
This time the auto pilot didn't seem to switch off.<br />
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The weeks that my son were sick was very difficult, especially trying to sleep in the hospital and the pain was harsh but I got through it.</div>
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Before would I have never been brave enough to stay in the house alone with my kids for two months (when my hubby was in college before, we would go and stay with my Mum because I was too afraid to stay here on my own).</div>
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I have been driving up and down to the hospital to see Mum and bring her to appointments and I haven't even thought twice about the two hour drive. I've even surprised myself by being able to do it on my own.</div>
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It's been so long since I've had that freedom.</div>
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Every single day for the past ten years, I have slept for at least two hours during the day. I was always so tired that I needed this rest in order to be able to get through the rest of the day and be there for my kids when they got home from school and have the energy to do simple tasks like cooking an evening meal. Now I can go most days without napping and I'm enjoying finding different ways to fill my day. It was alien to me at first and scared me a little but I'm getting used to it now.<br />
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I don't want to jinx myself by saying this too early but I think that finally after ten years I have a break in my fibromyalgia. <br />
I have found a strength deep down that has helped me cope with the last few months.<br />
I have found a confidence that I had forgotten ever existed.<br />
I could spend time making memories with my family once more.<br />
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I have a lot of life to catch up on, a lot of time to make up for.<br />
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Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-86945733246213877152015-03-08T14:25:00.000+00:002015-03-08T14:25:18.763+00:00Stitchy Pickings<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello everybody. </div>
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I've been trying so hard to get around all of your lovely blogs in the past week but time just seamed to run away on me. But this week I hope to have a lot more me time to knuckle down and get some serious blogging done! There is so much that I need to catch up on. I feel like I've been living in a bubble for the last year while everybody else was getting on with some seriously beautiful crafting. </div>
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I'm so far behind that only last night did I get to watch The Bletchly Circle. </div>
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I SO loved it.</div>
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I was having a girlie night in with my mother and catching up on some much needed relaxation and down time, I noticed that the two series were up on Netflix and we sat down and watched every episode. It was two in the morning before the last episode ended and I was glued to the screen the whole time, interrupted periodically by my Mum telling me to close my mouth and stop drooling over the clothes. </div>
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The clothes. The clothes. Oh the clothes!!</div>
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They made me want to take out Cissy, my trusty sewing machine, and get making right away.</div>
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If only I was that talented!</div>
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One thing that I could do last night in peace and quiet was to sit down with my knitting tucked neatly on my lap. I much say that I love this little stitch pattern. It is not as boring as stocking stitch but not too complicated that you have to concentrate it all the time and not be able to watch a bit of telly at the same time. </div>
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It is a Stylecraft Alpaca pattern and has a lovely vintage feel to it. I think that it'll be the perfect little cardi for a summers evening or a walk on the beach. Can't wait to see it finished.</div>
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This is the other little baby that I'm working on at the moment. It is from Rico Designs in Melange Glitz Chunky. It is an absolutely fantastic yarn to work with, so soft and tactile.</div>
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I wanted a quick knit after Christmas, to get my knitting year off to a good start but this has taken forever to get finished. I ran out of yarn just as I was getting to the top of the back piece and have been waiting for the right yarn to be delivered since. It's such a joy to knit that I'm sure that it won't take too long to finish once it arrives.</div>
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Just before I go, I thought that I might introduce you to the newest member of our clan, Fred.</div>
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The poor little fella was abandoned in the middle of the countryside when he was just a small pup. He was found by a relation of my husband's and taken in but he couldn't stay there forever but I begged and whined and cried and when that didn't work, I throw a temper tantrum until the Hubby gave in and agreed to let him come live with us. He's been cursing me every day since then.</div>
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The least i can say is that Fred is a whirlwind of destruction. never to be left home alone lest he eat toys, furniture, yarn or his favourite of all, books. He takes them out of the bookshelf and nibbles on the cover and even if he's stopped and the book put away, he will always go back to the same book until it's totally destroyed. </div>
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Go figure!</div>
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And the worst of all?? </div>
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He always, always eats the end of the book first!!</div>
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Hope to chat you all on your blog's soon,</div>
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Rosie</div>
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Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com7Ireland53.41291 -8.243889999999964948.5642595 -18.571038499999965 58.261560499999995 2.083258500000035tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-4904850224368237632015-02-27T17:37:00.001+00:002015-02-27T17:37:33.578+00:00Shake, Rattle And Roll<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh boy, how I've missed you being here!! And chatting to all the wonderful friends that I'd made here in blogland. It's been nearly a year since my last blog post. Can you believe it? I certainly can. I felt every minute of it.<br />
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This last year I've really been struggling with a lot of health problems and had quite a bad scare. A simple tremor in my right hand developed into a violent shake throughout my body. But thanks to a fantastic doctor and a hell of a lot of treatment, seven long stays in hospital, I've finally got it under control. Well so long as I avoid all stress.....like that's going to be easy!! <br />
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I initially stopped blogging because I didn't want all my posts to be about me complaining. I wanted it to be something more uplifting but every time that I sat down to write a post, which was many many times, it always returned to the same issue. I wasn't ready to do that.<br />
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Then with all the stress that was happening around me I found that my crafting mojo was totally dead! I would pick up project after project and not even keep it in my hands for 15 minutes before loosing all interest and tossing it aside. It was so hard for me to keep up with other blogs too, seeing so my beautiful pages popping up each and every day. It was like torture!!<br />
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And with my crappy luck, as I found my mojo hiding behind the sofa, what do you think happened?? The damn internet connection died in our house. We've now been arguing for five months with the company!! but all is sorted now thankfully and I'll soon be back in full blogging swing! Lots of craftiness to share with you all and some recipes too. And I so can't wait to catch up on all your blogs and see what you've all been up to.<br />
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Hope to chat to you all soon,<br />
RosieOld Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-90751283718474527792014-04-10T14:47:00.000+01:002014-04-10T14:47:36.054+01:00Lonely<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Still. I seem unable to get to grips with the blogging part of my life. I just don't seem to be able to get that part of my brain functioning properly, even though I'm missing it greatly. I'm missing reading through all your bright, fun and inspirational blogs every day.<br />
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And the reason for this....<br />
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Above was the view I had from my hospital bed last week. I went in for a review of my medication and the usual IV steroids to help with my fibromyalgia. I was also due to get some tests done and for seven days I was prodded, poked, x-rayed and scanned and still left none the wiser. Right now it is not something that I would really feel comfortable discussing here right now as I'm still awaiting more testing to be arranged in a different hospital.<br />
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The waiting is probably the hardest part but at least now I'm home with my family all around me. During the week in hospital I was all alone because it was too long for the Hubby to drive with the kids after school. And seeing no familiar faces made for one very long week!!<br />
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But being me, I didn't waste my time and worked hard on the squares for my blanket. Lucy had wound some smaller balls of yarn for me to bring along so that I would have a variety of colours with me. Such a thoughtful little woman!<br />
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As you can see, I did manage to get quite a few done! And now I only have a few more squares to complete before the time to join them all up begins. That's the fun part!!<br />
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I was really delighted, and somewhat surprised, to see this months copy of Reloved in the hospital shop. It was great to get thinking about decorations for the Easter holiday while I was in there.<br />
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One final thing before I go. There is a sign on the wall of the hospital that is so true, I just had to take a picture of it and show you. The photo quality is not great but to me it makes little difference to the meaning.....<br />
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Hoping to have a more cheery post soon with a nearly finished blanket.<br />
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Rosie xxOld Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-54605858589139745662014-03-11T00:36:00.001+00:002014-03-11T00:36:45.220+00:00A Pause For Breath<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last time that I posted was in January (I can hardly believe that it's been so long) and I sad that my New Years resolution was to get out and about more and get as much as possible out of every day.<br />
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Well I sure have been doing just that! And that is what's been keeping me from my beloved blog. I have been out walking as often as possible with little ol' Molly but always along the same stretch of canal. And as the weather was bleak a lot of the time, I wasn't at all inspired to take pictures and I was sure that you did not want to see a constant repetition of a grey dull canal walk. <br />
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Thankfully we have been getting much better weather lately and I did take a few piccies on my last outing. The picture above is of a silver birch. Unfortunately you can't see the striking metalic looking bark on the above photo but still I love the contrast of the tree against such a stunning blue sky.<br />
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In this photo I adore how the sky and bridge was reflected perfectly on the canal. Here the canal a looks a rich sapphire blue. Natures inspirations.<br />
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I have also been spending a lot of time working on the studio in the garden. often with the help of some little hands. I did take some photos today of it but they turned out horribly and so now I think that I'll wait until it's all finished to show you. I'm really pleased with how it has turned out so far and I can't wait to get settled in there. We were in and all ready to go when I realised that there was on oil spill on my work bench. It all had to be sanded down and now it just needs to be painted. But to be honest, I don't mind so much as I've really enjoyed the decorating aspect of getting into the studio because here is where I have been able to put my stamp on it.<br />
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Pardon the poor photos here but I took them on one of the more wintry mornings. I've been working slowly on a new blanket for the studio. I wanted to go for a vintage selection of colours which sadly the real colours can't be seen here. I've used a lot of Kerry Woollen Mills aran yarn which I've had lying around for a long time while I looked for it's perfect project. I'm really happy now where it has ended up. The squares are a delight to work and only take a few minutes from start to finish. Hopefully the next time I get some pictures from it the light will be much better.<br />
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With the spring beginning to appear here in Ireland. I feel like I have more energy and want to get out into the garden and slowly tidy it after the winter. Already I can see new growth appearing. So when I'm finished in the studio that will be my next big task.<br />
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I'm also hoping that when I'm in and settled in the studio that I will be able to get more sewing, knitting and crochet done in my own little space. at the moment there is no room for anything and so my stuff is just stacked up in the corner looking messy. It takes me ages to find anything and that is really putting me off doing any real work. So fingers crossed when all is sorted out I'll have a lot more crafty stuff to post about and not just pictures of the canal again!!!!<br />
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Heading off for now. Slowly trying to catch up on some of your wonderful blogs.<br />
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Chat soon,<br />
Rosie xxOld Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-12821295230715049542014-01-13T20:36:00.001+00:002014-01-13T20:36:19.819+00:00Out And AboutLast week I certainly made a good start to my resolution to get out more and not just hide myself away. I treated myself to a new hair do on Friday because I was going out with the Hubby. This mightn't sound much to you, but you wouldn't believe just how often I cancel appointments because I feel like I can't go!! We went to see Irish comedian Niall Delamare in one of the local theatres. It was a great night and I laughed until I had a pain in my side. We both enjoyed it thoroughly, even though the comedian said I laughed like someone strangling an otter!! What I'd like to know is, how does he know what a strangled otter sounds like??<br />
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A break in the bad weather allowed me to bring the dog out for a few walks along the canal. Molly was in her element and her little tail never stopped wagging from the time we got out of the car. On the day that I took these pictures it was still only about 1.5°C outside and large patches of remained floating on the waters surface. Normally Molly would be straight in for a swim as soon as she found a nice spot to climb down the bank but it was just too nippy, even for her.<br />
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Not even the sight of the geese in the water could entice her in. She hopped from one paw to another with indecision. "To chase the geese or not! What do you think Rosie?", she asked me with her big brown eyes. Eventually she gave in though and soon found something else to hold her interest for a while.<br />
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I simply love the varying colours of blue in the sky of a clear winters day. It is nearly as if it had been dipped dyed that very morning. If you look very closely, you'll be able to see a very faint afternoon moon too.<br />
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Another morning I also visited the ISPCA centre. The national centre is just up the road from us and it really is a great facility. They have huge range of pets housed there, from cats and dogs to chickens and pot bellied pigs, horses to rabbits. I wanted to volunteer to help out but after taking a walk around I think that I'm going to have to put a lot of thought into it first. I broke my heart to see such beautiful animals abandoned and looking for a loving home. If I was there all the time I would want to bring them all with me and not leave any behind! The little dote above is called Chloe and has been there for months now. People tend to look for kittens and puppies rather than fully grown animals but they should look more at the character of the pet first. This little lady was so gentle and affectionate and just clung to me not wanting me to leave her. I cried a lot on the drive home that day.<br />
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Here is something that cheered me up though. Can you see the heart shape in the glass of our stove?? It's a heart in our hearth!! The flames can make all strange shapes on the glass but this was the first heart that we have had. Love it!!<br />
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Rosie xx<br />
<br />Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-12995665857447118332014-01-08T21:58:00.000+00:002014-01-08T21:58:12.980+00:00A New Dawn, A New Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, that was one fabulous Christmas and I'm quite sad that it has all come to an end.<br />
Being somebody who does not enjoy the stress induced panic attacks of last minute shopping, all of my shopping was completed by the end of November. This left me all of December to relax and enjoy the important family traditions that make the most beautiful of memories. And Oh Boy did we have a busy month, starting with the kids singing in a national choir with 3000 other children in Dublin. We decided to stay over that weekend and had our first clumsy attempts at ice skating, heading home with sore bottoms and faces that ached from laughing.<br />
We spent lovely afternoons baking with my mother (which we don't do near often enough), making decorations for the tree and knitting gifts for some relations. There was the nativity play and the end of term play too. Lucy missed the latter because she had both her big toenails removed just 5 days before Christmas. She cried in the doctor's surgery when she found out about this, not because she was scared of getting the surgery but because she had the lead in the school play and would not be fit to attend.<br />
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Christmas week was just as relaxing. Full of lazy mornings watching tv with the kids, going for walks in the afternoon and knitting while listening to my favourite audiobooks. I've thoroughly enjoyed getting back to my needles after hooking for the past year. I hadn't realised just how much I had missed them. Now I have a long list of makes just waiting to be cast on.<br />
I even managed to get out a few times over the holidays with my Hubby, having dinner with friends and going out on New Years Eve for the first time in 10 years!! To wind up the season, last weekend there was a huge party for my Hubby's 40th birthday and I made the most of the night and boogied my (not so little) behind off. It was such great fun with lots of laughter and long chats people there that I hadn't seen for a while.<br />
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Looking back over the last month has made me realise that major changes need to be made in my life. The past year I became too tied to my little hidey hole, the house, reluctant to come out more than once a week and quite happy to stay that way. But I now see that even though I might be content with this, I've been missing far to much of the life that is going on without me. I love meeting people, whether they are old friends or new ones and I'm never going to do that while I'm stuck here in my rut.<br />
My resolution for this year is simply to get out of the house more. To meet up with friends, go out for dinner, go shopping or simply to go for a walk with the dog. I want to fill my day the best that my body allows and be able to go to bed at night tired and satisfied that another day has not been wasted. <br />
So for me this is a new start, a new dawn and a new day. And who knows just where this tiny little change will bring me?<br />
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Hope to catch up with you all very soon,<br />
Rosie xx<br />
<br />Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com5Ireland53.41291 -8.243889999999964948.561612999999994 -18.571038499999965 58.264207 2.083258500000035tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-23199654238311346662013-12-05T21:58:00.000+00:002013-12-05T21:58:34.650+00:00Irish Porter Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Oh ladies, what am I like!?! I promised you this post weeks ago and I'm only getting around to it now. All the Christmas crafting is keeping me very busy and is taking up every spare minute that I have.</div>
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Fortunately the best thing about baking a Porter Cake instead of a full Christmas cake is that it can be made at the very last minute and doesn't need to be plied with booze every week for three months. It is also much lighter than a Christmas cake. It can be iced and decorated just like a regular Christmas cake but we don't have many fans of heavy icing in our house so we just leave it plain and sometimes serve it with a scraping of butter. Yumm</div>
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<b><i><u>Ingredients:</u></i></b><br />
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<li>283ml / 1/2pt Guinness</li>
<li>226g / 8oz Butter</li>
<li>226g / 8oz Sugar</li>
<li>226g / 8oz Raisins</li>
<li>226g / 8oz Sultanas</li>
<li>113g / 4oz Mixed Peel</li>
<li>Grated Rind of 1 Lemon</li>
<li>453g / 1lb Flour</li>
<li>2tsp Mixed Spice</li>
<li>3 Eggs</li>
<li>1/2tsp Bread Soda</li>
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<b><i><u>Method:</u></i></b><br />
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<li>Preheat oven to 150°C and line and grease a 20" round tin. (Above we just used a square one because we couldn't find the right one on the day...typical!!)</li>
<li>Heat the Guinness gently with the butter and sugar.</li>
<li>Stir in the cleaned fruit and lemon rind.</li>
<li>Stir until the butter and sugar are melted and then leave aside to cool.</li>
<li>mix all the dry ingredients together, except the bread soda.</li>
<li>Beat the eggs and add the bread soda and then stir into the cooled fruit mixture.</li>
<li>Make a hollow in the middle of the dry ingredients and stir in the fruit mixture.</li>
<li>Mix well before transferring to the prepared baking tin.</li>
<li>Cook for 2 1/2 to 3 hours covering with a piece of cardboard if you think it is browning too much on the top.</li>
<li>When a skewer comes out clean from the cake, remove from the oven and leave to cool for 10mins before removing from the tin.</li>
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This is yet another old family recipe that myself and my mother have made every single Christmas. I hope that you enjoy it as much as we do.<br />
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Rosie xxOld Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-54463622941921563042013-11-20T01:09:00.000+00:002013-12-05T21:59:15.769+00:00Irish (Suet Free) Christmas PuddingWell just as I promised this is my Mum's Christmas Pudding Recipe which she has used for donkey's years and has always proved a massive success in your house on Christmas morning and as presents for friends and family.<br />
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<b><i><u>Ingredients:</u></i></b></div>
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6oz/175g self raising flour</div>
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1 level tsp mixed spice</div>
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1tsp ground cinnamon</div>
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1/2tsp ground nutmeg</div>
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8oz/225g fresh white breadcrumbs</div>
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12oz/350g dark brown sugar</div>
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375g currants</div>
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375g sultanas</div>
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4oz/125g mixed cut peel</div>
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4oz/125g cherries, washed, dried and halved</div>
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2oz/50g chopped almonds</div>
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finely grated rind of 1 orange</div>
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finely grated rind of 1 lemon</div>
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8oz/225g margarine, melted and cooled a little</div>
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3 large eggs</div>
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2tbsp brandy</div>
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1/2pt/275ml Guinness or stout</div>
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<li>Sieve the flour and spices into a large bowl</li>
<li>Add the breadcrumbs, sugar, fruit, nuts, orange and lemon rind and mix thoroughly.</li>
<li>Beat together the eggs, brandy and guinness.</li>
<li>Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the melted margarine and the egg mixture. mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon.</li>
<li>Cover and leave overnight in a cool room.</li>
<li>Next morning prepare 2 x 2 1/2 pt pudding bowls by greasing well with butter.</li>
<li>Grease two large pieces of greaseproof paper and make a large pleat crossways in it.</li>
<li>Give the pudding mixture a good stir once more.</li>
<li>Divide the mixture between the two pudding bowls, weighing each to make sure that they are the exact same size and weight so that they both have the same cooking time.</li>
<li>Push down the mixture well down in the bowls and bang them on the table so that there are no air gaps. </li>
<li>Make a little dip in the centre of the mixture in the bowl before covering so that the puddings don't push the lid off the pot when they start rising.</li>
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<li>Cover the bowl with the well buttered greaseproof paper, making sure that the crease runs down the middle of the bowl.</li>
<li>Tie a long piece of strong around the bowl very tightly as close to the rim as possible.</li>
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<li>Place the plastic lid over the bowl and wrap the paper up and over the lid.</li>
<li>Fill two large pots to about a half way up the pudding bowls and bring to a strong simmer. </li>
<li>Place an old saucer at the bottom of the pot to lift the pudding from the base of the pot and allow it to cook all the way around. Make sure that there is no air bubbles caught under the saucer.</li>
<li>Cook the puddings for 7 hours with the water simmering all the time. You will need to top up the water on a regular basis.</li>
<li>On Christmas Day cook the puddings for one hour more.</li>
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Because there is so much alcohol in these puddings if one is left uneaten it can be kept for the following year so long as it is kept in a clean airtight bowl. We have done this many times and it has been perfect always and even improves over the year!!<br />
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Linking for the first time (hoping this will work) to Cosmos and Cottton.</div>
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Hope you enjoy. There is still plenty of time left to cook yours.</div>
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Rosie xx</div>
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<br />Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-17194627791190885282013-11-12T21:42:00.000+00:002013-11-12T21:42:39.234+00:00Where's The Pause Button??I've got to be honest and tell you that I've missed you all quite a lot. I've missed reading all about what you've been up to and only having the odd chance here and there to pop in when I have a second. I've felt so guilty too for going AWOL once more. It was not at all intended!! Life has been so seriously hectic that I just haven't had any time to even look at my laptop, let alone actually turn it on and sit down and write a post. Here's some of the things that's been going on....<br />
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The week before Halloween was exceptionally busy too with making costumes for the kids. They decided that they wanted to dress up as Batman and Robin from the original tv series. So I set about stitching and piecing and measuring and hoping for the best that all would work out in the end. I was very nervous about it all because I was not working from any type of pattern but only from a picture that we printed out from the internet.<br />
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I breathed a great sigh of relief when they tried on their suits and absolutely loved them. They were as proud as punch going to school for their dress up party in the outfits. And even though Patrick was called Fatman at school, he came home saying that he didn't care because his Mammy made it for him. Ahhh so sweet. That made me feel so good.<br />
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First up I Michael asked me to go with him for the weekend to see The Boomtown Rats in Dublin and since I figured that this would a great deal of shopping too, it didn't take me long to agree. I'll be honest and say that I was not really looking forward to the concert, not being a great fan and only knowing two of their songs. These guys are golden oldies after all and I was expecting songs to be only crooned out. How wrong was I!!!! It was their first concert in 29 years and they sounded no different at all. There was a lot of Dad dancing and some very bad clothes that really should have been left in the 70's but these guys had still got what it takes to put on a fantastic show.<br />
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The next day after breakfast we took a walk into the city centre. There is so much beautiful architecture to be seen in Dublin that I was kicking myself for not remembering my camera. I plan on soon taking a day trip up to take a long walk around the city with camera in hand and try to capture the best that the city has to offer. My Husband refuses to accompany me on this trip.....spoilsport!<br />
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I just love these old shop fronts and the arched windows . There still remains a lot of Georgian architecture that can be seen all over the city. I promise that some in the new year i will give you a full tour of Dublin and all it's fantastic sights.<br />
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While walking back late night from the concert to the hotel we came across a small chemist shop that my mother went to when she was a child and also brought me to when I was young. I walked straight passed it at first and it took a second to register with me what I had actually seen. At first it felt like I may have been sleep walking and dreaming of times past but thankfully not. I was so delighted to see it still there and that it was not changed at in all this time. Just look at this window display. <br />
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There has also been a lot of baking of Christmas cakes and puddings. As soon as I get the chance I will post the recipes for these wonderful failproof Christmas necessities. they are recipes that my mother has used for years and had taught me well from a young age how to get the best results. Now we were joined in the kitchen by my two kids. We had so much fun and I would say that our laughter would have been heard on the road outside. These are the things that make this time of the year so special to me. Things that make memories that I clutch close to my heart.<br />
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I did take many more pictures over these busy weeks but being the total plonker that I am, when I changed my phone a few weeks ago, I hadn't checked to see if they had uploaded to the iCloud and had lost all of them. Some very precious pictures of my mother and myself baking together that my son had taken when we weren't watching. I must organise another baking session soon and pass the camera over to Patrick once more, so long as he only gets my best side!!!!<br />
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Anyway, I hope to be back as soon as possible to share those recipes with you.<br />
Rosie xxOld Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-73477102976624439452013-10-12T00:12:00.000+01:002013-10-12T00:12:55.559+01:00Little Dreams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sorry I seem to be so behind in the blogging world these days and I've missed all your blogs so much. To be honest apart from being very busy, I'm lucky if I get anywhere near my laptop as the kids have discovered a maths game site and of course the Moshi Monster craze has taken over here too. <br />
I would love to promise that I'll be popping over to you all in the next few weeks but I know that I'm going to be so hectic that there is no chance that it will happen!! Work is finally progressing at quite a fast pace with the new floor down, the electrics sorted and a new ceiling going up at the start of next week. Then the real fun will start........the decorating! Oh I so can't wait. I have all the paint colours picked and wallpapers chosen to spruce up some of the furniture. And I've got some little things like cushion covers made for the chairs and sofa but no curtains yet. I'm still unsure about what curtains to make as all the windows are a very strange size so I've decided to wait and see what it the whole studio looks like when it's all decorated.<br />
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As you can see, I've been doing a little bit of stitching again. I decided that I needed a bag to carry around my knitting in. Like I really don't already have enough of those!! But this is a very lovely kntting project in gorgeous squishy Debbie Bliss yarn that I am absolutely loving at the moment. I so needed to take a break from all the crochet for a while because it was causing tremendous pain in my hand and arm. The weight and size of my Granny stripe blanket not helping matters at all. Anyhow I'm babbling now so back to my bag.<br />
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The second that I saw this thick cotton fabric in newspaper print, I knew just what I wanted it to be. It was a delight to work with and it's so strong it's just perfect for bag making. I wanted a real wow contrast for the lining and I had some of this black floral material left over from a skirt that I started (and yet to finish) during the summer. Maybe it's just my taste but I think that it works well. When I started I hadn't intended to mix the fabrics for the pockets, it just seemed to develop that way. When it was all finished, I realised that the bag is just as good turned inside out. So now I have two looks in just one bag. Yippee.<br />
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This is the reason for all my excitement about my sewing of late. Meet Cissy, my new sewing machine. My gorgeous hubby decided that he would buy me an early Christmas present. As I was in dire need of a sewing machine, it was ordered online and it was delivered just two days later. I love her enormously. I have always wanted one of these machines after trying out some others belonging to friends. They are so user friendly even for a sewing twit like me.<br />
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I was like a child opening up the parcel and the first thing that I did when I got her out of the box was to give her a great big hug. I called her Cissy as this was my Mum's nickname as a child. It's something that I've always dreamt of owning but because of the cost never thought that I would. My Hubby said to me, "you see it's the little dreams that matter because they can sometimes come true!"<br />
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And you know what for once he's right!! The sewing machine and the progress on my studio be simple little things to other people but all these things matter a whole lot to me. To see an end in sight with Studio Benny has me bubbling up inside with excitement. I can just see myself sitting at my workbench with Cissy stitching happily away while the dog sleeps in her bed next to a small fire in the stove and the kids playing with their toys at the other end.<br />
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What are you dreaming of right now??<br />
RosieOld Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-78161020725252765322013-10-01T02:25:00.000+01:002013-10-01T02:25:35.965+01:00AWOL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I went AWOL lately from blogland due to an ickey uckey virus that absolutely knocked the wind out of me. All that I seemed to be able to do was sleep. I felt like I should have gotten down on all fours, drawn whiskers on my face and pinned a tail to my bum because I was living just like the cats in our house. On my better days I managed to get a bit of stitching and sewing done. I was feeling very low through all of this time because it was taking so long to pass but now in a strange kind of way I've realised that it has helped me a great deal. I've been having a bad pain flare up since May due to my severe insomnia but all the sleep that I've been getting lately has broken that fatigue-pain cycle for me. Slowly I feel like I'm getting a little more energy every day and my pain levels are beginning to drop at last. Granted I am now writing this post at 2 am in the morning but I'm just a little giddy over something exciting that's happening tomorrow. Well it is for me anyway!!</div>
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Yippeeee I just can't wait!!</div>
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I've got a few crafty pieces finished in the last while but i never got around to showing them to you, so here goes.</div>
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After working for so long on the granny stripe blanket, I needed a break to something different. I wanted a quick project so that I could at last see something done and totally complete. The blanket at the mo feels like its taking forever to finish. I found this little beauty of a pattern in Inside Crochet and it just hit the spot. I just don't know what it is about me and doilies right now but I want to make lots of them and in lovely bright colours too. Maybe it's because I'm just not quite ready for the winter that's knocking on the door!!</div>
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Sorry for the poor photo here but the light was not too good the afternoon that I took this picture....I know, I know that doesn't excuse the creases in my cloth, what can I say only sorry again. I've been wanting to try making notebook covers for a while now and this was my first attempt. I must say that I really enjoyed it and I learned a hell of a lot in the process. I know that I'm certainly going to be making more of them. Look out in your Christmas stockings everyone!!</div>
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I went to a patch work class the other day and one of the first projects was a rag cushion. I'm so loving how it turned out. It's a simple but very effective design and such a great starting point for a learner like me. My biggest fault is that I'm not very good at cutting things precisely the right size and this class is perfect for me to learn this. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the classes to see what will be coming next!</div>
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This little baby I made quite a while ago but forgot to show it to you. It's one of my favourite things that I've ever made. I love how it's not in any way perfect, nor did I worry if it wasn't. I love the mix of colours.</div>
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I love that I finally managed to do buttonholes on a sewing machine. I love the unexpected bright colours of the back. And I love that it's the first cushion that everyone goes for when they sit on the couch....even the dog!!</div>
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So that's all from me now. I hope to catch up on some blogs in the next few days.</div>
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Rosie xx</div>
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PS Thanks for all the lovely comments on my last post called Like Minded People. They were so lovely to read. Sadly though I had to delete the post due to spam that kept popping up in the comment box. But thanks again, I so enjoy reading all your lovely thoughts and comments. They really help me to get to know you better.</div>
<br />Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4073860030947577123.post-90467036293826873972013-09-02T12:35:00.001+01:002013-09-02T12:35:19.951+01:00I Love.........<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I Love the sight of my Avoca blankets stacked on the table, after being taken out for airing, ready for the winter. The colours vibrant and cheerful to brighten the darker months ahead. We bought the blankets when on a family holiday and the kids picked out the colours that they loved the most, Lucy the yellow and green chevron and Patrick the blue and white. They remind me of one of the best family holidays that we have had and so I treasure them all the more for that.</div>
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I Love the label on these blankets and that it says "Weaving a Hug". These were handwoven in Avoca in County Wicklow and even though they are pure wool, they are still so soft and are perfect for the sensitive skin of the smaller people in the family.</div>
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I Love to watch the stars at night, lying in the grass with my kids at my sides wearing only our pyjamas and fluffy slippers. We may shiver or end up with soggy bottoms but it is worth it for the fun and laughs that form everlasting memories.</div>
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I Love to laugh and laugh heartily. The type of laugh that shakes you to your very core. I'm not ashamed to laugh while sitting alone on a train and reading a funny book. Or to laugh along with the kids while we walk along the street singing silly songs or making up daft stories. I love to laugh until my eyes water and my face hurts and I have to hold my stomach muscles together. Laughter is truly the best medicine. Worries ease. My pain seams a little bit more manageable and all with a little giggle whenever my funny bone is tickled. People are too reserved to let themselves go like this and they really don't know what they are missing in life.<br />
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I Love that my children tell my mother that I am a big kid just like them and that they prefer me that way because it makes me so much more fun!! </div>
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I Love jazz music with a passion. This is Dinah Washington and I first discovered her at the age of 14 and I've never looked back since. I remember buying a collection of her songs on an old second hand cassette and listening to it on a battered old walkman. Remember them?? So while my classmates were listening to Blur and Oasis, I was listening to the jazz greats like Aretha Franklin, Etta James and Nina Simone.</div>
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I also love opera and classic music to calm or inspire me and I listen to it at times like writing this blog or sitting sewing or knitting at quiet moments. My parents loved classical music and it was always playing in our house. Actually there was normally different music playing in every room of the house. I was great introduction to music from an early age. I will always associate Maria Callas with baking with my mother on rainy Saturday afternoons. Wonderful memories.</div>
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I Love to dance. I will dance anywhere that I hear music that I like. I don't care where it is or who is looking, which can embarrass my friends and family at times. But who doesn't love a great dance? When my body allows, I will put on some music on in my house and turn it up really loud and totally loose myself in the rhythm and tune. And it is infectious, you know. After a few minutes, I will be surrounded by my kids and sometimes their friends too. It never fails to put me in a good mood!</div>
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I Love to read and have done since I was a child. I loose myself totally in the story and get carried off into different worlds. Reality eases into the background and becomes irrelevant at that moment. The words become my reality to the point where I no longer feel like I am reading at all and the words just seam to pass effortlessly into my mind. Whether it is a detective story, a comedy or a biography, it makes no difference to me. I get sucked in every time. My all time favourite authors would have to be Daphne Du Maurier and Oscar Wilde.<br />
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I Love sitting on the couch on a Saturday morning with my kids and watching children's telly. All three of us, four if you include Molly, in our pjs wrapped up in a big woolly blanket with only three pairs of stocking feet popping out from under it.<br />
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I love the dark, intense aroma of my first cup of coffee in the morning. It is an instant wake up and reminds me that there is a fresh new day ahead of me.</div>
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I Love how smells can instantly trigger warm memories. The smell of a roast chicken brings me right back to my childhood and of Sunday roast dinners. The smell greeting us at the door as we arrive back from the family walk in the forest.</div>
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I Love my little kitchen dresser. Like the old woman of the roads in the poem, I have always dreamt of owning one with delf speckled white and blue. I may not have the delf but a few years after moving into this house, we finally bought the dresser and I started about filling it with teapots, cake plates, flour crocks amongst an array of other things.</div>
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I Love Germany. I love the people and the lifestyle that they live. I cherish my winter visits to my brother in Munich. My brother makes it feel like a home from home for me. I just wish that I was able to spend more time with him there.</div>
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I Love my stack of pretty fabrics that sit in the box in the corner of the kitchen. I often take them out just to look at them on days that I need cheering up. Their colour and patterns filling my head with inspiration and fresh ideas for new projects.</div>
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I Love to sit on the river bank and watch my husband when he is fly fishing. The grace of the rod and line sweeping through the air as he casts the fly on the waters surface and whips it off once more. It is a mesmerising talent to witness.</div>
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I Love how my husband supports me in my illness without any whimpering or complaining. He just gets on with it and makes family life run smoothly.</div>
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I Love to see fresh flowers on my kitchen table. Whether they are from the supermarket or from the garden, it makes no difference to me. I just want to bring a little of the outside in to our little home. Brightening and cheering in one simple placement of a vase of a few graceful stems.</div>
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I Love the sea. I love it more than I could ever put into words.</div>
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I Love the vibrant ever growing Granny Stripe blanket. I love feeling the weight of it on my knees as I add row after row of colour, dreaming of how it will look when it will be finished.</div>
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I Love that my 9 year old son comes to me when he can't sleep and asks me to lie beside him in the bed and hum to him. Only one tune will do and that is the one that I've hummed to him since he was a baby cradled in my arms.</div>
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I Love Molly the dog and her ever so gentle nature. I Love how she waits for a space to sit beside me on the couch and as soon as one of the kids make a move, she jumps up like a shot. She pushes herself up against my legs getting as close as she can and rests her little head on my knees.</div>
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Most importantly of all, I Love my little family and all the fun that we have and the memories that we create together. We laugh, we cry, we may even fight at times but all that matters is that we have each other and that we are happy.</div>
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Whenever I am sad or down or feeling upset about my pain, I'm going to look at this list to remind me that I have a lot to be thankful for. I have a lot of special people in my life that make me very happy. We have only one life and it is too precious to get caught up in all it's stresses. It is important to take the time to cherish the ordinary and make it extraordinary. </div>
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Old Magnolia Treehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18129875046273758499noreply@blogger.com25