Candy, Families, Cancer, Crafts and Engagements

Hello everyone, I want to first thank you for the get well wishes from my last post - I'm feeling much better although I am still aching, It has been a very busy week for me, working, visiting family etc, although I have not posted all week I have been snapping pictures, so be warned this is a very long post! Get your self nice and comfy, cup of tea in your hand and biscuits in reach and we can begin!
On Tuesday we called up to Morgans grandparents house Angela and Aidan Sr, to say goodbye to his uncle Aidan Jr, aunt Colleen and cousins Sally and Molly who were returning to the states the next day- Colleen was so very kind in giving us a great big bag of American candy! we cant get these in Ireland so it was a real treat!

 I have NEVER tasted candy corn until now! I loved it and could eat it all day!

 Pop Rocks! It was like I was five years old again!

Tootsie Rolls! Yummy!

When we arrived it was lovely to see that all the family had turned out, so we were able to catch up with everyone. I enjoyed playing with Molly and Sally and getting to know them a little better.

 Molly, wondering if she could make it to the top of the stairs before anyone notices!

 Collen and the girls unwrapping our gifts - I made the girls crochet hats each and Collen a crochet Cape

 A knitted Jumper, made by Morgans grandmother, this was made over 20years ago!

Sally drawing a picture for Morgan

Here I am reading to Sally about Sly Fox, Morgan looks worried for poor Mrs Chicken!

after the evening it was time to head home and I couldn't believe it was almost midnight! I was shattered in work the next day! 

We have also been very worried about our cat Hope, last year Hope lost her back leg to cancer and this week the remaining back leg was very swollen and she struggled to walk - We don't know if the cancer has returned - I have come to terms that she more then likely will need to be put down - it is very upsetting for me - for many years she has been such a comfort, When Morgan was in Dublin studying and I felt alone she was always there for a cuddle and always offered lots of love - we took her to the vet on Friday and was told to bring her back for an X-ray on Monday morning, until then they gave her a few shots in case its just an infection.

After we brought her home I decided we needed to go out and relax and so we went to the opening of the Christmas Market in Galway - it was dark and cold and the Christmas lights twinkled and the carols could be heard from every corner! - BLISS! below is a selection of short videos I took:

Craft wise I have been making these lovely corsages designed by Michelle from Michelle Made This

very quick project to make! In fact I decided to run a workshop making these in work for the elderly - and in one hour we had managed to make these:

Didn't the women do a wonderful job!!?? big thanks to Michelle for the wonderful pattern!!

In news this week Prince William and Kate finally got engaged! I have to say I for one think they make a lovely couple and I am in love with the dress she wore when they announced it

 After much looking I found out the dress is by designer Issa and costs over 400 sterling! better take it off my Christmas list :(

I love this photo of the pair, elegant and classy!

And the ring - I think its stunning, It belonged to Princess Diane, My only thoughts on this is that it is opening Kate up to constantly being compared to the late Diane - take for example this picture

I think Kate has more of a back bone then what Diane had, Diane was after all only 21 when she was married to Charles, a man in love with another woman, I have had to laugh at myself right now because it sounds like I know and have an interest with the Royal family - which I dont - I do like style however, and I think Kate Middleton is a woman to watch!
Wishing you all a wonderful week xx

Feeling Sick, Chocolate and Fairies!

Hi guys, best to read this post from a safe distance ... I'm not well, not sure why really, sore back and joints, headache, dry throat and sore gums and stuffed up nose :( feeling pretty darn sorry for myself in truth! last night we were hit by a storm and boy was it a big one! rain, hail lightening the lot! I was so unsettled all night, Both Morgan and I kept waking up as the weather hit and banged against the windows! I joked in work today that if this bad weather keeps up we will find ourselves in the land of Oz! so just call me Dorthy! he he.

After work today Morgan picked me up because the weather was so bad and we walked to the shop - thank goodness I was wrapped up because it was freezing, although the wind kept trying to steal my hat! 

 Please excuse me in this picture, but like I said I'm feeling poorly

Walking home 

Yesterday New York held a fashion show with a difference... A Chocolate Fashion Show, here are some of my favorite pieces:

 good enough to eat!!

For Christmas 2002 Morgan got me the book Fairie-ality, 

It is a fashion collection book, I love looking through it as it has such beautiful designs

I will be using some of these designs to inspire my next sewing project, Hope you all keep well and warm as the winter sets in, x

Crochet and My Home

Hi everyone, hope you are all keeping warm and snug on these cold evenings, I want to share a crochet project with you, I made this last December but only got round to taking photos today!, So I braved the icy weather to pose for these shots

I made this three in one scarf, I got the yarn from Barcelona, and added two wooden buttons

 I love the colour of this yarn and the little gold sparkles in it is very seasonal!

 You can also wear it around your waist

I also have been enjoying the ribbon embroidery, and created this little piece on Friday night

My Sister Shauna is doing a great job with her projects and hopefully I will have some photos to show you next week

At the moment I am reading the wonderful book Knot Sure - it is about the life of Irish fashion designer Cyrill Cullen, what an interesting man he was - 

Having taught himself to knit for a 10-shilling bet in 1960. Cork-born Cyril Cullen went on to become one of Ireland’s most internationally renowned designers with creations described by John Rocha as ‘sophisticated, sometimes whimsical, and yet inherently Irish in tradition and execution’.

Today I will be making this hat, I just love it! isn't it so adorable!

This morning I woke up before 9AM, and cleaned up around the house, dusting and hovering and then I gave the fire a good clean out and polished and mopped, and I even baked a lovely Plum Crumble and I must say it smells gorgeous! now I am going to light the candles get into my new PJ's, and set up camp with my favorite pillow and blanket on the sofa and crochet while watching telly, I have just taken these pictures to share with you all My lovely and cozy sitting room - 

Candles set such a romantic mood!

 On my fireplace I love to have all my photos- all nice and clean and polished!

 My lovely sofa, with my crochet waiting for me

 Morgans latest art 

More of Morgans art, the piece on the wall is called Juliet and the one framed is me on our wedding day

Thanks to everyone again for reading and double thanks to those who comment - it always means alot - so what are your plans for the week ahead? Take care and keep warm! 

Monsters loose in Tesco! and Crochet Today.

Did everyone have a good Halloween then? We had such a good time and I have to say I never laughed so much in all my life- Thank God for my wonderful husband you had the brain to take lots of photos so that I could share our night with you all!

We started by spending the day with my family, where we had a lovely roast dinner and watched a little telly - then we started the fun and games!

 We started by playing the Flour game, you pile the flour up and place a grape on the top, next each player take a turn by cutting away a bit of flour, and whoever knocks down the grape has to get their face dunked into the flour!!

 Here's my brother Ant looking a little pale ;)

 Shauna next!

 Then Dad, always up for some fun!!

 and Morgan looking ghostly!

and last.. Me!

Next we all took a game of Blind man bluff

 My handsome Husband

 Mr and Mrs Monster, AKA- Dad and Mum

 All the family

 Shauna looking for Blood!

 The Grim Reaper came for my Grandmother!

 A photo for the Christmas cards maybe?

 After visiting the family we dropped into Tesco shopping center to get a drink before taking  Shauna Trick or Treating

We gave a few people a reason to smile at least, and my Dad won first prize at a fancy dress he went to that night!

after the trick or treating we then went to LoLo's fancy dress party, LoLo is Morgans Godmother,

 Stacey loved Sister Crochet ;)

 Graham the Ghost Buster

 Morgan and his Godson Ethan

 My sister in law Genny trying to take a nibble on me!!!

 The flour game was played here too!

Today I had a wonderful surprise, I picked up this months copy of crochet today and when I finally got round to sitting down to read it I could not believe that a letter I had sent in July was published!! and whats more is that it was published in the Letters we Love section, which means I get a year worth of free Crochet Today magazines!! I am beyond happy! how lucky am I?

 I wrote the letter about how I enjoy the patterns in the magazine and how me and my best friend Melanie did the Snowyday Hat crochet along - and how we met etc

This however is not the first time that I have been on this page in Crochet Today- My husband sent in a letter back in May with photos of all the things I had crocheted for the wedding, this was such a surprise to me and its something I was so proud off!

Crochet wise I am working on this cardigan, it is very hard and the pattern is not wrote out that well, but Im getting there

Have a wonderful week everyone :)