Mellow Yellow Monday

'Tis the season of preserving.

The plums are falling off the tree, so jam-making time has come.

I took this photo last night while the fruit was simmering- or mellowing?

For more Mellow Yellow Monday photos go to the link below:

Guest Post- kind of

You know that the Boy was doing a Novel Writing summer camp.

Well, he presented me with a piece that himself and two others co-wrote early on in the camp.
And, with his permission, that is today's post. I think it's fab. Please let me know which is your favourite verse, and I'll pass on the message.

"Amy and Jack were playing one day
They found a chest hidden away

Inside the chest, there was a map
They jumped around and clapped and clapped

"A map, a map!" Amy squealed
"And look, and look, it's for this field"

"Let's go, let's go!" Jack then said
"The start is at this flowerbed"

They followed the map, round and round
And they found an X marked on the ground

"This must be it!" Amy cried
They dug a hole and looked inside

Inside the hole was another chest
They had reached the end of their quest

On the chest, there was a name
"It must belong to Mr. Shane!"

"Do you think we should bring it back?
Or can we open it just a crack?"

"No!" said Jack "That would be bold!
Even if it's full of gold!"

"Let's bring it back to Mr. Shane,
Who lives down the old brick lane."

They asked their mother if they could go
She didn't say yes, but she didn't say no.

"Ask your father, I don't care!
Just get out of my hair!"

They took that as a yes and went
Down the lane that was so bent

They found him in his yard
His dog, Trixie, was standing guard

He took back his chest with glee
"Thank you for bringing this back to me!"

"It's very precious, it was my Dad's
I thought it was lost and I was sad".

As a reward he let them choose
A cute little puppy from Trixie's brood

"Isn't this great!" Jack said with pleasure,
"A puppy's better than any treasure!"

THE END

Epilogue
Amy and Jack were happy that time
Because they didn't commit a crime.

Aromatherapy tip

Can't think of anything good to post today, so here's a little aromatherapy tip.

Add some drops of Lemon (Citrus Limonum) pure essential oil to your bottle of washing-up liquid. I usually add about 15 or 20 drops to a 500ml bottle.

It's good for killing bacteria and germs, and gives a nice scent also.

Ruby Tuesday

I've been waiting on the sidelines, like a substitute player, togged out and ready to go, jogging on the spot to keep warm, just waiting to be called.

Thought I might ask Stephanie how this Ruby Tuesday thing works, and could I participate. But then I didn't want to be an intruder, or be a pushy player. Then today, Stephanie has this thing on her blog where you can find more Ruby Tuesday photos, and now I think I can come join in the play.

I went into town (ie Dublin city centre!) to do a bit of shopping on Monday, and did something I never, ever do. I brought a camera! In my head was the hope of getting a photo for Ruby Tuesday.

Hope you like what turned up.

Interfere or not?

I've a dilemma.

On Saturday, my teenagers had some friends over. They are teenage children of my Brussels friend, but she had gone back to Brussels. When they were living in Dublin, 8 years ago, the kids were all good friends. It was lovely to see how well they got on together on Saturday. I invited them for lunch i.e. a few hours, but they reluctantly left at 9pm to go back to their grandmother's, where they were staying until their Dad got here Sunday.

My own 2 seemed genuinely sad to see them go, and they had made an arrangement for the 5 of them to go to the cinema on Monday. There was a bit of friendly teasing going on between them, especially trying to pair off my boy with one of the twins (all 13 year olds!). My daughter and the older sister of the twins were joking about being sisters-in-law!

Anyway, today I was going off shopping, and asked daughter had she made contact re the cinema outing- "no". I urged her, out of politeness, to do so, and she promised she would take care of it. I returned a few hours later to find she had done nothing, and to be told there was no need for me to be involved, that it wasn't anything to do with me - though she wasn't especially rude in saying this.

Now my problem is this- I think it's rude to make arrangements and not follow through. In fairness, they didn't contact us either. And I'm trying to let them make their own arrangements as far as possible- maturity, responsibility and all that. And I don't know how much of the arrangement was a joke "date" between my boy and the twin.

Do I keep out of it, just let them at it, or attempt contact myself tomorrow???

Good news, for some.

He's gone. I'm relieved.

Went to the hardware shop yesterday, and my very knowledgeable hardware guy sold me a heavy-duty sensitive trap that he assured me would work.

It worked, and while I hate killing anything, the relief is everwhelming. I've gone from "bright red" alert re droppings and movements to kind of "russet/amber".

Now, what I can't figure out is how I got to this state. When I was a student, all our flats had mice, many many mice. In one place, they used to peep out at us from the Aeroboard ceiling while we ate our breakfast, presumably getting a preview of that day's menu, to be sampled as soon as we went off to our lectures.

In another flat, I clearly remember my mother coming to stay overnight, and giving her my bed. She was shocked that I'd sleep on the floor, knowing that lots of mice were rampaging around. It didn't bother me in the least.

So how is it that now I am, as eldest daughter puts it, "completely paranoid about rodents". Answer: "I don't know." I just have the horrors at them being in my house, and all that goes with that. I visualise the situation getting completely out of control, and them being everywhere. And with teenagers around, it's impossible to keep track of "no food in bedrooms" issues. So I'm really hoping that it's a final goodbye to this issue, and that future chocolate posts will be more upbeat.

On a brighter note, son has returned from the summer writing camp. 12 noon on Friday was the deadline for picking him up, but I texted first, not wanting to arrive too early or too late.

Me: "What time would you like me to collect you tomorrow?"

Him: "Twelve?"

Me: "I'll be there between 11.30 and 12. I'll text when I arrive"

Him:"K"

Minimalist or what! I had a quick meeting with the course teachers, who assure me that he had a ball, and that his imitation of Shakespeare had everyone doubled in two. Now I know what I've been missing.
It's good to have him back.

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?