Oiche Samhain

Oiche Samhain
When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,
May luck be yours on Halloween.






A few weeks ago a stray cat had kittens in the workshop up on the loft behind the stored willow. The two little ones grew fast and were not afraid of human contact, in fact they seemed to want it. Two weeks ago the mother cat was gone, so I was hand feeding them in the loft during the week and Leiny was going up and down the ladder feeding them at the weekends. They became very independant and made the journey down from the loft themselves, much to the chagrin of our two cats and two dogs, all of whom seemed to be afraid of the two little ones. I named them Thing 1 and Thing 2. Today my friend Val took them to their new home on a big farm. I was sad to see them go, but glad they were going to a great home. Val sent me a text to let me know that they had settled in well and were sleeping in a big dog box with a fluffy blanket.

Charity Shop find

I visited a Charity shop in Dublin last friday with Leiny and found this boat that fits in perfectly in my Cape Cod inspired bathroom. This is what Elly at My Everyday Things calls F. O. T. W.

Old Photos

I was inspired by Annie's blog to look at some old photos that belonged to my husband's gran aunt, Melanie. The were given to us eight years ago and came in this lovely wooden box.

The box holds family photos taken in Antwerp from the early 1900's up to the 1970's. Melanie's husband, Oscar, was a photographer, although he did not take all the photos in the box.

Melanie and Oscar had no children but loved their niece and nephew recording their lives in the photos we now have.

Baking and Knitting on a wet afternoon

I started knitting this baby blanket in moss stitch from the Baby Knits Book by Debbie Bliss about two weeks ago. I am using Aran wool. I have about ten inches done.


I baked an Irish soda bread for lunch.




We ate it with cheddar cheese and the apple chutney I made a few weeks ago.

Cape Cod Inspiration

Five years ago I went on my fist visit to Cape Cod. Mel and Chris were working at the Chattam Bars Inn and I spent a wonderful ten days there soaking up all the new experineces and being inspired. We visited Nantucket, going from Hyannis port by boat early one morning and spending the day cycling around the island on bikes from Youngs bike shop.

I came home with inspired plans for the new bathroom we were building. The colours are blue and white, lighthouses and wicker furniture feature too.




That was the first of a number of visits to the Cape, I have been there in all seasons now and never fail to be inspired and excited by the landscape and the sea.

Pumpkins and Baskets

I cant wait to carve these lovely pumpkins, and bake pies, roast seeds and make soup. The basket is one I made at a workshop a few years ago. I still grow and harvest willow each year.





Here is another of my own baskets. I started making baskets about twelve years ago and hosted classes at home for six friends. I make at least one basket each year with the help of my Joe Hogan book.

Autumn Sunshine

It was a clear blue sky and the garden looked like it was bathing in the heat after the damp summer. The timber is in the yard, ready for chopping and stacking for the winter.

A walk in the woods

Leiny and I took the girls (MiMi and Mathilde)to the woods for a good run. The woods are in full Autumn glory now. The Ink Cap fungi are everywhere.







Hawthorn berries are shiny red and basking in the sun.







The sun cast our shadows over the dew laden grass and the woods were filled with magic and mystery.

Gift

Leiny gave me a beautiful bag from ulster weavers, she picked it up when she was in Westport on vacation. Its a shopping bag that folds up to fit in your handbag and best of all, has chickens on it.