Céad míle fáilte romhat!

This time of year I find myself making not so traditional dishes from home. Take corned beef brisket and cabbage. This really is more of an American dish. Even Betty Crocker lists it as 'New England Dinner'.
None-the-less I was so moved yesterday to make a pot of this lovely food. As for the nature of making this dish, it's rather simple. Corned beef brisket four to five pounds, a dozen or so small to medium sized red potatoes and eight to ten small peeled carrots. To start, season the corned beef a few days ahead, in large zip lock freezer bag. Refrigerate. Day of: In large pot place brisket in seasoning and all. Pour water to cover beef. Cover pot and heat to boil. Reduce heat to simmer after about 10 minutes of boiling, cover and allow to simmer for 2 1/2 hours. Prepare veg about 2 hours into cooking. Add veg (potatoes and carrots only) at this time. Return to simmering, about one hour. With only thirty minutes of cooking time remaining add the quartered bits of cabbage, simmer for thirty minutes more, covered. Once done serve in either a shallow bowl or large platter. I use a mustard sauce with my plate.

As a lovely dessert drink I will put the kettle on and wait for whistle. The I take a strong crystal wine glass and fill it with hot water. After about a minute I pour it out and quickly add two or three spoonfuls of brown sugar to glass, then a nice splash of fine Irish Whisky (usually about two shots worth) I then add strong black coffee (best if from french press) and I top it with a nice helping of whipped cream. This is a lovely spirited treat! Slainte~
Bain taithneamh as an deireadh seachtaine

Good Heart

I've been busy sewing hearts for this years Valentines Day.

Having a varied pallet of material to choose from.
I have enjoyed these colours and prints.

I hope my family & friends will too.

Happy Valentines Day!

Crochet at Sunset...

How could anyone not stop,
but if only for a moment,
and breath in the beauty
of such a sunset?


I was unable to concentrate
on my crochet project.

The beauty of such a sunset had
my full attention.

Southern California Winter...

Crochet, crochet and a little bit of knit...

I have allot of yarn!
I mean a bunch of yarn. Heaps and heaps of it!
Frankly, I have twelve, thirty gallon plastic storage bins full of yarn!

What this means is I MUST use at least half, if not three quaters
of it, by the end of this year!

Here is what I've started with...

Old School Crafing Fun

   Many of us Crafty Folks have at least ONCE in our lives used these classic weaver looms and loops.

Over the many years I have worked with children,
taught and even raised my own two kids who are now adults.  These weaving looms and loops have always had a place within my crafting supplies.

       Sadly, most recently since I am no longer teaching, I realised it had been awhile since they had been used though. So I packed up the half dozen or so looms and loops I had and donated them to a local Brownie Troop.               

  However, I just couldn't help myself, I had to keep one set for me!  And why not? These wee potholders and coaster are great useful items! I've (in the past) made dozens of them, sewn them together and used them as a table pad/guard. And I've used them as place mats. For now, I am just having fun weaving while I watch television. :)

Sock Pals

I've enjoyed making sock pals.
They are simple enough and easy to construct from discarded socks and sewing scraps.

I love this little fellows nose!

Pink Heart!

Recently I was rooting through my clothes and realised I had a brand new zipper sweat shirt from my old place of employment! Being that's it's brand new I didn't want to toss it out!  However, the schools logo was on it, and I didn't want to wear it with that.  So I decided to cover it. This is what I decided to do!!!