a lazy post

I'm really, really tired this week.

Been thinking about a new post, but just couldn't come up with anything, then Kerri had a beautiful photo with a cute quote and , hey ho! here's a post!

This fridge magnet was given to me by my dear friend Cee, who lives in Brussels. I think of her every time I open my fridge! It says "there is nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend who brings chocolate", and she always brings the most delicious Belgian chocolates, but even if she didn't, I would be delighted to see her. She's been living in Brussels for 10 years, I see her about 4 times a year, we talk and email every couple of weeks, but I still miss her very much, and look forward to when they come home, whenever that is!
The first photo is edited, in sepia with camerawesome. I really like that app a lot!

 I do not like the new blogger, how do other people feel about it?
I had already turned the bottom photo in my files, but for some reason blogger has decided to post it in the original form?????

Upbeat

Sorry that I haven't been around for almost all of February, at least in terms of posting.

It's been a busy month, I've been doing lots of knitting, and I've been eating the delicious stuff that you see in the picture!

Busy month - 2 lots of exams (not for me-yay! Mocks!) eldest daughter was doing Mock Leaving Cert and Son was doing Mock Junior Cert.

School for me has been very busy, with some intense and difficult meetings. To say that we were ready for mid-term break is an understatement!

But what a lovely break! I went to Brussels on Sunday, to visit my friend C and in particular her daughter Ais, who has been very sick for a year now. I wrote about the terrible thing that happened to her here. Ais has been making great progress in the Rehab centre that she is now in, but she still has a lot of breathing problems, and was re-admitted to hospital on Monday with a respiratory infection. She is such a brave lady who works very hard at her recovery. She is inspirational.

But, in spite of that, we had a lovely time for my three days there, I was able to give both Ais and C some little foot massages each day, and we had some delicious meals. The family are great cooks, and they also all enjoy sitting around the table over a leisurely meal. We had long chats, caught up with other mutual friends and some good arguments too!

And on Tuesday, C and I went to a favourite restaurant in Brussels, where the chef is a very talented Irish lady. Little Ais insisted that we go ahead with the planned meal even though she was now in hospital, and we were able to reward her with a takeaway of mixed appetisers and one of these chocolate mousse creations!

And tonight, another Opera!

Eldest Daughter and I have gone to all the Met Live in HD this season, courtesy of the Sunday Times (until tonight- they changed from first-come-first-served free tickets to lottery, and we didn't win their lottery!Boo!) ; we've enjoyed it so much that we were unable to contemplate missing this treat, so we bought two tickets. Placido Domingo and Susan Graham were the leads in Iphigénie en Tauride and both were suffering from colds, but they gave wonderful performances. I think it's safe to say that I'm completely converted to Opera.

And as I sit typing this, the result of our General Election is coming in. There has been a seismic shift in Irish politics, the likes of which we haven't seen since 1915. About time too.

Listening to Enda Kenny, leader of Fine Gael, who will probably form the next Government in a coalition with Labour, I feel some confidence that the country will be able to get out of the mess that Fianna Fail led us into, and that we will be proud to be Irish again. I haven't heard Eamon Gilmore yet, but I'm sure he must be delighted with the huge vote his party got. Looking forward, for the first time in about 2 years, to tomorrow's papers!

So much to be thankful for. Update, with photos, of knitting in the next few days.

Tag and Followers

Stephanie V is a patient woman - that's official.



Stephanie tagged me on 29th January, I was very enthusiastic to do the tag, but just couldn't seem to post it.



But here it is, the 5 best things that happened to me in the past year:




1. Family- we have our health, and we're surviving the recession. That may sound corny to some people, but it is very important to me.





2. Getting to see Toronto and Niagara Falls. Our family holiday last year was a long-awaited trip to Florida, but the cheapest flights were via Toronto with a 10 hour stopover.



At first, I was not enthusiastic, but then I viewed it as an opportunity. So on the outward journey we went to downtown Toronto and did the bus tour, while on the homeward stretch we rented a car and drove to Niagara.





Two great destinations, both of which I loved. I hope to back there for a longer visit another time.






3. Joining a new orchestra. Sometimes, when you wish for something and put it out to the universe, it happens. I'm so happy that this has happened for me. Continuing to play the French Horn is challenging, sometimes downright frustrating, but oh sooo fulfilling!














4.My eldest daughter turning 18. This is her (vegan) birthday cake, so it must be true. It really is a turning point, for both of us. Ok, she's still my baby (don't tell her) always will be, in my eyes, but I know that she's now legally an adult, can vote, take out a loan, and many other things. It's great to see her growing (grown?) up, and become her own person. I love you, Naoise, with all my heart, and having you in our lives is wonderful.








5. Planting vegetables. When we had the rabbit, rhubarb was about the only thing we could grow, but since his demise, it has given me back the garden, and I had forgotten how much I love growing food.

So now we have apples and plums,(well we did have those when Crash was here too!), lettuce, mangetout, purple sprouting broccolli, blueberries,celeriac, potatoes and a herb box. I get so excited watching them grow, and the pleasure of picking something to eat is worth all the work.



There you have it! I found it difficult to single out 5 things, cos life is such a rich tapestry, and there is so much to be grateful for, most of all health and happiness. I've recently reached the conclusion that nobody gets a smooth ride forever, and the past year has been challenging in many ways for me and for some close friends. That's why it's all the more important to appreciate the nice things in our lives.



So thank you, Stephanie, for the tag, and most of all for your patience.



I won't nominate anyone to do this tag, but if and when you want to...please go ahead.


One last thing- I see I've got 49 followers, and the child in me dearly wants to round that off.
Mmmmmmmmmmm....what would I do to get one more follower?
Anyone open to a chocolate bribe? Anyone know anyone who's open to a chocolate bribe?
Or maybe I could start a new blog and follow myself?

Chocolate,again! Part 2.

This is no ordinary mouse.

First night, we left 2 traps set, with lovely chocolate, he didn't go near them. Well, he had pigged out on the (now removed) bar under the couch, so he was probably sleeping and maybe had a chocolate hangover.

Last night, we left 3 traps, two with chocolate, one with peanut butter, in case he's fed up of chocolate. Again, apologies to anybody humane or squeamish.

This morning, the cocolate is gone from the 2 traps, but they're not set off, and he hasn't touched the peanut butter one.

I'm in despair, and so stressed I want to cry. Or move out. Trying to keep all other food out of the way, obsessive about crumbs- this is just too much. Hubbie keeps saying it's only a matter of time till we catch him, but if we're dealing with Houdini/Einstein I'm beginning to have doubts.

I wouldn't mind, but I was sure I heard the trap snapping late last night, just before I went to sleep. He never took the chocolate and re-set the trap, did he?

Chocolate, again!

So, this morning, I was having a lovely time at the computer, catching up on my favourite blogs, and out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw something flicker. My imagination?

Went on reading, then something again caught the corner of my eye, as I saw a tail disappear around the corner. Yes, a mouse.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh! I hate them! Not in my house!

I screamed, which made elder daughter scream, which brought other daughter running to see what all the commotion was about. We then ran into the garden, with phone in hand. Rang hubby, who exploded laughing, and told us he'd be home later, and would deal with it then.

I actually managed to calm myself enough to set 2 traps (sorry anyone humane or squeamish), complete with chocolate. We then beat a hasty retreat to the shops.

We got home just before hubby, so sat in the car in the driveway, too scared to go in ourselves. We need not have worried, both traps empty.

Hubby then began pulling out couches, next thing he's sweeping behind it with dustpan and brush. A little bar of chocolate emerges, well nibbled. I have a faint recollection of throwing it to daughter about 3 weeks ago, she missed, and we forgot all about it amidst a flurry of re-decoration. Obviously, I haven't hoovered under the couch in 3 weeks, and now I'm paying the price.

Now, why would a mouse bother going into a trap for a little piece of chocolate when there's a full bar elsewhere? What a clever fellow. I hope he hasn't made a stash under the floor. And I hope he hasn't sent out invitations "Hey guys, party at Mimi's, tons of chocolate, come on over". Because, if he has, he's in big trouble.

Confessions of a chocaholic!

A few things recently have conspired to make me think a lot about chocolate..A recent blog read re giving up alcohol for a few weeks and sleeping better made me think about the time I gave up chocolate (milk chocolate,that is!).

I have 4 magnets on my fridge that basically sum up how I feel about chocolate:

1. " Everything else is just food, but chocolate's chocolate".

2. "Chocolate is proof that God wants us to be happy".

3. "I'd give up chocolate but I'm no quitter".

and , my favourite, given to me by my friend on a visit from Brussels, with a big box of Belgian chocolates (she does know me well!)

"l n'y a rien de mieux qu'un bon ami, excepté un bon ami qui amene des chocolats".

So, to the time I gave it up..



I was following my own version of the Atkins diet i.e. I cut down on carbs big time. I had his book and there were some good recipes in it, including chocolate truffles. They were delicious! I lost 4 kilos in a couple of weeks, but the biggest difference I noticed was my sleep. Now I normally sleep very well, head hits pillow and out like a light. Sometimes if I've a lot gong on, I might think "I won't be able to sleep tonight", and next thing I know it's morning. Well, the difference in the quality of my sleep was phenomenal! It was as though I had been anaesthesised! I didn't miss the milk chocolate nearly as much as I would have thought. But of course in the end, I just drifted back to the chocolate, and that's where I've been up to now.



Just writing about it is making me think though that I might give the chocolate-free way of life another try. Also, I've a cholesterol test coming up and if it's high, as I don't eat cheese,the focus will be on chocolate.




To quit or not?? I have to think about it first!