Hope Springs Eternal

Having spent a couple of weeks being warmed by the sun, eating  deliciously prepared  food and being surrounded by some lovely people, we returned tired from a long flight feeling slightly dispirited. Our taxi turned into the drive and a wonderful sight met us. Snowdrops had sprung up all over the front lawn during our absence. A sure sign spring is on the way. I always see their nodding heads as little beacons of hope. Life is good isn't it?

Winter Sunset

Our cold spell continues. It is causing chaos for those who have to travel. This country is used to more temperate winters so we are never prepared for the snow and sub zero temperatures. The fuel bills will be high but the countryside looks magical covered in it's white sparkling coat. The gutters wear long diamond earrings and the mist thrown over its shoulders lends an ethereal quality to the scene. So much prettier than the usual dark clouds and rain.

Dishwasher Pre Wash

Just To Make You Smile

A Grand Day Out

This is myself and Grannymar who has a wonderful Blog I have been visiting for a while. It is not a food blog but she covers a wonderful variety of topics with great knowledge and humour. It is truly worth visiting. She has a loyal band of followers and the comments are always so much fun. I would be lost without my daily dose.


Through time we realised we didn't live so very far from each other so at long last we met last Friday for coffee. The venue was a garden centre at Donegore which also boasts a very nice gift shop and cafe. Over coffee we chatted away like old friends for ages. We then wandered around the lovely plants in glorious sunshine and enjoyed the views from this lovely place.




Donegore boasts a pre-Anglo-Norman motte (hill) and from the summit the six counties of Ulster are visible. It was a perfect day to see this beautiful green carpet laid out before us. Unfortunately that green is indicative of the amount of rain poured down upon us hence why we were so fortunate with the sunshine. You can just see Lough Neagh which is the largest in the United Kingdom.




Grannymar has a son in law who has a very good Blog which I discovered only recently. Not Junk Food. It's an excellent blog. A few weeks ago I was very fortunate to win a prize in a give away on this blog, which Grannymar delivered to me. A fabulous book 'Easy Entertaining' by Darina Allen of the Ballymaloe Cookery School. To accompany the book was a lovely pinny, a very useful item in the kitchen especially when, like me, mess follows like a shadow. I think I'll keep it for special use though. A big thank you to George. I am delighted. Do visit his blog. It's really good.

I had such a lovely day and already am looking forward to another blether with Grannymar. Isn't the internet a magical place where you get to meet with people who you might otherwise never have known existed. Such a wonderful medium for making friends.

Grannymar, thank you. It was a special day.

A Wedding In The Family

I have been sadly neglecting my blog of late and also my lovely blogging friends. I do so apologise. There was a reason. My son was married last week. I was not involved in the arrangements because of the distance so that was not keeping me busy but I had to lose some weight to fit into the outfit I bought last year so............... no baking and not very exciting meals. I also daren't have ventured into the blogs as the temptation to try would have been too much. Anyhow my will power paid off and I lost the weight and a last minute try on of the dress showed the weight loss had worked. I had to make a quick dash to the dressmakers to have it taken in!


We had a wonderful day. The venue was Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park, London. As you can see by the photographs it was a perfect place and the views over the city were wonderful. Mother nature was kind and the sun shone and was quite warm. A perfect wedding. I thought I would share it with you.

The Bride and Groom

My Two Little People

Three Generations

Mum and Dad with their two Youngsters (LOL)

The Venue
Pembroke Lodge

The View From the Terrace
(with the tiniest grooms man)

I wish I could re run the day as it was so perfect.. I hope you enjoy sharing a little of it with me.

Now it's back to the kitchen and some decent cooking and baking. No doubt the weight will go on again but who cares.

Irish Blog Awards

This is so exciting. As you can see my Blog has reached the short list of The Irish Blog Awards. I can't believe my humble little Blog has reached this stage. The judging for the finalists starts on Friday. Thank you to she/he/ they who nominated me. Also without the sponsors the event would not be possible. The organisers and the judges who give of their free time to do this deserve a huge round of applause. It's a massive undertaking. I don't expect to get any further but to have been shortlisted is just wonderful. Thank you everyone.

No Fool Like An Old Fool

I have had a hectic couple of weeks and with one thing and another life has getting me down a bit lately. I had an appointment to get my hair cut today. It hasn't seen colour for quite a few years. I gave up the blonding as I disliked the straw it produced. As Grannymar says 'The autumn golds have turned to winter snow'. I consider myself fortunate as my hair is quite soft and silky and not wirey as sometimes happens with the greying. In my youth it was a thick luxuriant curtain of auburn. Do any of you recall those heady hippy days in the sixties? Ah the memories. I digress. Rhyley and I were discussing my forthcoming visit to the hairdressers and she thought it would be a wonderful idea to have some pink highlights. Now who am I to argue with the wisdom of a five year old. I do have to explain we are a very provincial lot here in Northern Ireland so this is quite an event. My hairdresser and I laughed so much. My daughter was less than impressed. The words 'Mum you are nearly sixty' were uttered in horror when she saw it. This just added to the nonsense. I was so restored to my usual humour I don't care how ridiculous it looks. Rhyley is so thrilled with her Granny. I expect when I crawl out of bed in the morning it won't look so appealing. We are off to Barbados next month on our annual jaunt. I think this will go down a storm there. As the title says 'There's no fool like an old fool'

A Lovely Award

I received this award this morning with the following notification


Congratulations! Your readers have submitted and voted for your blog at The Daily Reviewer. We compiled an exclusive list of the Top 100 recipes Blogs, and we are glad to let you know that your blog was included! You can see it at http://thedailyreviewer.com/top/recipes


I am so thrilled and surprised to receive this. Thank you all who voted for me and my Blog.

Join Me In A Dander Where I Live

I am lucky to live here. Sometimes you don't 'see' what's round you and then when you take some photographs it gives a whole new appreciation. This is my usual route with my grandchildren. Yesterday we were collecting conkers (chestnuts)

Found One

Picking and Feeding Brambles to the Dog.
The Hedgerows are laden

The Majestic Mountains of Mourne in the Background

Pity About the Wheelie Bin

Just beyond the trees Lough Neagh, the biggest Lough/Lake in the UK

Making Friends and Meeting People

The last Bend

And Home

The Conker Haul

Family Heirloom

I have long admired this table which belonged to my Mother in Law(GG as she is known). My husband's father sent it back from India before going on to Burma during the second world war. After reading a post on Grannymar's about a similar table I suddenly remembered about it. It had always been promised to me but I hadn't seen it for ages.





I asked GG about it after reading Grannymar's post. It had been sitting happily beside her chair covered with a crotched 'skip cover'. This term was coined by my brother in law. GG is a great hoarder of stuff. Rather than sort out and put her collections away she crochets a blanket and covers the eyesore with it. Hence the crotched skip covers.


It has suffered a bit of damage. Only one tusk from the elephant legs remains and some of the ivory inlay in the centre was dug out by my brother in law when he was a wee boy. He says it is around somewhere so who knows it may turn up yet. I think it is a most beautiful piece of furniture. It has 'Made in British India' stamped on the underside of the table. All the little pieces of white are inlaid ivory. The wood has taken on that glorious patina only time can give.




It is a much treasured possession. I am it's custodian until it will be passed on to the next generation. It is a memory of a much loved man. One of many who went through God only knows what to fight for our freedom. Bless you Bill. You are still very much in our hearts after twenty five years. It is an honour to care for this wonderful item.