Ireland

 

I call all of my relatives cousins in Ireland it’s to complicated to identify first cousins, second cousins and then the removing bit…….we all have the same great grandparents however to a couple they were grandparents. This is the house my grandfather grew up in, there were 11 children in a good Protestant family. The house is no longer in the family someone bought restored and modernized it the sky lights in the roof are new.  The moat was dug out on the lower level, some windows had been covered because property taxes were assessed by the number of windows in a house.  The house is probably 300 years old and was originally an abbey. We just walked around the outside, a young family lives there now we were invited in but I didn’t want to ruin my memories of when I was there in 1981. 

This is the only family photo of them all together probably the last time they were all together, my grandfather came to America a short time after the photo was taken, he is standing between my great-grandparents.  They were all dressed up for the occasion the dresses and shoes the girls are wearing are beautiful.  I met seven of the eleven siblings many years ago. Two of grandpas brothers, Harry and Robert, (second row left and right) came to America a few years later they also farmed. A sister, Jess, (sitting on left) came to America she worked in office jobs and was actually a roommate with my grandmother which is how she met my grandfather. That great aunt also worked as a nanny in South America it’s rumored that she sent cheerful letters home keeping the higher ups abreast of Americas preparations to enter WWII. We will never know for sure.  My great aunt Elsie ( standing on bottom step) is the one responsible for my love of wool. She came to America for a visit in the mid 1960’s and knit a sweater for me I’m sure I wore it to school every other day.  The youngest boy, my great uncle Sandy, came to America in 1968 and stayed for almost a year he visited all the American relatives he talked about the big snowstorms for decades. I met Sam ( boy sitting) in 1981.

Scenery along the coast

The monkey puzzle tree at a cousins farm.

A walk up the lane at another cousins farm, I walked all the way up that hill 44 years ago. The terrain looked a lot wilder this time, maybe the sheep had grazed it shorter years ago.  I saw a couple golden hares one struck a pose on a stone fence.

A cousin took me to the local yarn shop I found some treasures.

A trip to Ireland isn’t complete without a couple pints of Guinness.  —Ann—
 

Where have I been………

 I will give you a hint……

The shamrocks

The Open at Royal Portrush on the north coast of Northern Ireland what I know about golf could fit in a thimble but it was exciting and amazingly well organized to handle 48,000 or so people a day for 4 days. I went opening day hubby went all 4 days.  I spent my days with my cousins and had a wonderful catching up.

That’s Rory McIlroy on the first hole.

 

We went to some beaches some were sandy with sand as fine as sugar others were rocky and my little cousins fished for golf balls with their little nets. On other beaches we gathered shells and sea glass. It was just fun watching them be kids. 

We had lovely days at the beaches —Ann—

Connections — Reading list #3 2025

1. The Life Impossible by Matt Haig a retired widowed teacher inherits a house from someone she befriended decades ago, she also gets a letter from a former student.  She moves to the house she inherited on the Spanish island of Ibiza and retells the experience to her former student.  The story is about loss, guilt, nature and natural phenomena beyond our understanding and preserving nature over building big resorts. It was a good story but I liked The Midnight Library better.
2. Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout another story with a fictional writer writing a book that makes 4 so far this year. But that is not really what the book is about.  It’s set during Covid and the lockdown. It’s about marriage, family and dealing with Covid.  Very good. And we lived through it. The main character, Lucy talks about how blue the sky was with fewer car on the roads and fewer jets in the air, I remember noticing that one day too when I was sitting outside with my cup of coffee and a flash back to when I was 4 or 5 years old sitting in the tire swing while mom hung clothes on the line.  The sky was that blue. I will definitely read more books by Elizabeth Strout.
3. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout the same character as Lucy by the Sea but 30 years earlier in her life. She tells the story of her life as if you are sitting beside her and just talking. 
4. Sincerely, Grace by Jean Grainger book 4 of the series Grace and Richard are still writing letters to each other.  WW2 is still raging across Europe and the Pacific. Canon Rafferty is still making life miserable and has his fingers in some other things. Book 5 comes out the end of June.
5. The Mystery of the Teacup Quilt by Jodi Allen Brice quilt shop mystery with a pet goat and a woman writer who lives in a RV just for fun and a relaxing afternoon with a book. 
6. The Scenic Route: A Short Story by Christina Baker Kline a woman who loses everything steals the RV from her ex husband’s driveway and begins her new life on the road. Her teenage son finds her some years later…..
7. Dark of the Moon by John Sandford murder mystery takes place in southwestern Minnesota not far from the South Dakota border and not that far from where I live. Decades old secrets in a small town.
8. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil T. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg this book was mentioned several times in a book I read last winter don’t ask what book because I can’t remember so out of curiosity I read the book. It was delightful published in 1968. A brother and sister run away from home to hide/live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  They also figure out a mystery concerning a sculpture of an angel.
9. Mary Coin by Marisa Silver a story about a contemporary historian,  a woman who survived the depression years and photographer who recorded life during the depression.  Very good 
10. The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel for book club French resistance during WW2 and forging identity papers to get mostly Jewish children safely out of France very good.
11. The House Between Tides by Sarah Maine slow going at first about a woman who inherited a house (estate) on an island on the west coast of Scotland, human bones are found under the floor boards of the house. The mystery goes back to 1910 with a tormented artist and his beautiful young wife.

Do you ever read a book and have to stop and think about a character or event that was in a previous book and get a little confused?  I do then I have to think it through and sometimes it’s just the name of a character or occupation that is similar. This reading list is making connections…..Life Impossible main character leaves home to live in house she inherited…..Lucy by the Sea Lucy leaves New York to live in Maine, Lucy is a writer My Name is Lucy Barton same Lucy.  Sincerely, Grace dealing with loss of loved ones and destructive secrets…….The Mystery of the Teacup Quilt more secrets and a woman who lives in an RV….Scenic Route  woman in an RV…… I really had to think to make a connection to Dark of the Moon  teenage boy runs away from adoptive family dysfunctional family/characters. From the Mixed-Up Files run away children and a mystery. Mary Coin the photographer had polio as a child like Grace in Sincerely, Grace, Mary Coin lived an itinerant life like the character in The Scenic Route. The Book of Lost Names recording the identity of the children who were relocated…. and the child of Mary Coin in the photograph who was adopted off the record and his questions about his origins. The House Between Tides inherited house and developers impact on nature which brings me right back to The Life Impossible and a good place to end this post.  —Ann—

Learning to forage

There are 4 green herons in the neighborhood the fourth is under the spruce tree on the right. They are learning to find food. I slowly got close enough to see they have the palest green legs. They were pecking at a pine needle.  The neighbor called them Least Bitterns so I looked them up the two birds are often confused the immature birds and female have stripes on their neck and chest and the leave before they mature. The only time I have seen them is when the young get kicked out of the nest. They are fun to see for a couple days each summer.—Ann—

Perfect evening for a walk

 

It was a perfect evening for a walk, no wind, hardly a breeze and no bugs!! There was a rabbit in every yard sometimes two or three then I heard a short screech. At first I thought it might be a rabbit but the only time I have heard a rabbit in distress was when it was caught by a 10 year old boy. No 10 year old boys around. I looked up a green heron was flying. They are short squat birds with stubby tails and legs that stretch out long in flight. The next time around the loop I heard a stomach growl— it wasn't mine— but that is another sound the green heron makes. I see another rabbit and something else, two young green herons under the spruce trees, just standing there, I slowly walk a little closer and one hops under the branches and I see a third.  How scary must it be for a bird to hear mama bird say today is the day you leave the nest? Today is the day you learn to grasp a branch with your feet….and balance, then you learn to walk or hop and then fly….back to the nest for the night or on the ground overnight.  It seems a bird would be highly motivated to learn those skills.   —Ann—

A little steam

 

A little steam fixes everything with wool. The collar and hems lay flat now rather than curling. The only seams I actually had to sew were on the cuffs. The knitting took a right angle turn when I finished knitting in the round—cast on 13 stitches and knit the cuff as you knit around knitting 2 together or 3 together as you knit to the sleeve. It wasn’t as complicated as that sounds. Now I need to go someplace chilly so I can wear it. —Ann—

Off the needles

 All those loose ends to sew into the knit. That’s what happens when I knit with 2 strands of fingering yarn.  I wanted the yarns to blend together not stripes. I used 526 grams of yarn out of 800+  grams of yarn. I had 5 full balls 3 were a medium blue that I bought for another project and didn’t like. Perfect for this sweater and 2 other balls intended for socks. There are seeds left for another sweater or socks. The ends are sewn in and buttons attached. I wish my buttons were a little bigger but where am I going to find buttons now that JoAnnes is gone. So sad. The pattern is Chanel Blues by Hinterm Stein a different type of construction for me rather than the usual top down raglan sleeves. The collar band was knit first with short rows so it curves to fit the neck then stitches were picked up to knit each side of the front and while attaching the shoulder to the back.  The sides were joined after the sleeve openings were shaped. Then the sleeve stitches were picked up to knit the sleeve caps first with short rows then knit in the round. The only seams to sew were the beginning and end of the cuff.  Just follow the directions row by row.  I have knit other sweaters by this designer and am always pleased with the fit.  It just needs some steam on the front band and hem.

This is going to be my go to sweater. I can dress it up or down to fit the occasion. 2025 is half gone. Seize the rest of the day and year. —Ann—

Progress on my sweater

 Will I ever get cross wise and length wise gauge right?!?? Re knit the sleeve again. How many decrease rows do I need to get in the next 4 1/2 inches? These sleeves will look good on an orangutan! Do some math, rip the sleeve back to the bottom of the arm pit and do a decrease row every 5 th row instead of 8 th. So far so good. A few really hot days a good day to stay in in the AC and knit, a few windy days a good day to stay in and knit, a rainy day a good day to stay in and knit.  Do I need much of an excuse to knit??—Ann—

Quilt top finished!!

Quilt top finished!! Now my least favorite step in quilting……the backing especially if I need to sew chunks together……and I am determined to use fabrics from the stash.  —Ann—

More therapy

 

I started cutting strips for the borders and kept getting distracted because I wasn’t thrilled with the plan. It was so boring with limited fabric……..aha do a piano key border! Isn’t that much more interesting and also able to incorporate more fabrics including some of my pansy fabrics which have become wonder what I am going to do with those fabrics. I’m using the back side of a couple fabrics because they blend in better. I paid for both sides of the fabric, use that side too. It’s going to mean a lot more sewing time…..more therapy.  —Ann—

Therapy

A little time in the sewing room was like therapy for a somewhat chaotic life. Indecision on the borders was the hold up on this quilt, that and too many other things demanding my time. I completely used some of the fabrics.  Ask myself what would grandma do?  I made the quilt longer by almost a full block by sewing 8 more blocks then cutting them in half and sewing to the other end. It still needs a 2 1/2 inch border of purple all the way around. I’m auditioning some purples that were at the bottom of the stash and then to find enough of a purple for the binding. Decisions, challenges, progress and therapy—Ann—

New chair in the sunroom

 Friday I bought a new chair for the sunroom……. I need to scrub those labels and off why did the manufacturer put them there?!??  I had a high back chair that matched the lounger but one side was ripping away from the frame and a support broke off the bottom. I frequently stop to consider the consequences so my very active imagination saw me falling through the seat and getting stuck, really stuck with the little wires gouging my flesh, hubby off fishing, the phone out of reach and the doors all locked. So I went shopping and found the perfect chair for the sunroom.  While I was drinking my coffee sitting in my new chair I thought I really should tidy up this room. Piles of projects all over the floor, books, papers, yarn, plants, you get the picture since I don’t post pictures of my messes.  A book shelf is what this room needs an hour later after looking at book shelves on line I take a tour of the house.  I have a bookshelf downstairs stuffed with quilts.  Perfect!! Decide I will clear out the sunroom vacuum and dust everything and above all put a time limit to finish before lunch.  I was done at 11:30!  Sit down in my new chair in my tidy sunroom and have a glass of ice water.  I’ll deal with the mess that is being relocated after lunch.  This looks like the perfect place for a glass of wine later.  Enjoying the weekend—Ann—

A furry visitor

 

Look who I met as I was coming through the trees. Did the little squirrel knock on the door? Was the squirrel looking for a new house? Maybe he just wanted to say hello to the new faerie neighbor? Maybe he was looking for treats.

Chanel sweater

 

My hands need to be busy in the evening in front of the tv especially when there is a flaw in the male DNA that keeps their finger on the remote changing channels every few minutes. I started this Chanel sweater designed by Hinterm Stein I think it will be a sweater I can pair with just about everything in my wardrobe. I’m using leftover sock yarn ok not all leftovers 3 balls of blue that was meant for another project and a couple full balls intended for socks. I can always buy more for socks, they just all blended together so nicely. The construction is different than I have ever knit,  it is still knit from the top down but no seaming. Just follow the pattern line by line and it all makes sense. Another gloomy day here I hope it rains some more but it’s a good day to knit and sip coffee. —Ann—

Off the needles

 Before blocking specifically washing in the washing machine 

and after drying in the dryer.  The yarn is Berroco remix light I love this yarn because it comes out of the washer and dryer looking fabulous and gets softer and softer. The pattern is Derecho by Allison Green for Berroco. I hope it shrinks a little more next time through the wash. —Ann—

Socks

 Fresh off the needles.  It is a four hour drive to visit the grands, I knit while hubby drives, it usually takes 2 trips up and back to knit a pair of toe up socks. These are shorties I like to wear them with tie on sneakers.  The upper part of the heel  of the shoe frequently rubs on my heel so to add a little more cushion to the heel of the sock I continue the slip stitch heel as I start knitting in the round again for the leg of the sock about a half an inch. I continue the slip stitch heel with eight short rows so the back of the leg is a little bit taller, the sock stays up better instead of crawling down into my shoe. Then 8-10 rows of 2 x 2 ribbing and they are finished.  Thinking about the yarn for the next trip.  —Ann—

Nap time

Sometimes nap time just doesn’t happen when you tell them to go lay down. Sometimes a stack of books is much more effective especially when grandma’s voice keeps getting quieter and quieter, they didn’t even know they were falling asleep. A fun fun weekend with the little girls. —Ann—