The Blues...

"Depression loses its power when fresh vision pierces the darkness" - Peter Sinclair

Another sleepless night for me...
Life is so precious and when I think back over how much of it I have spent feeling depressed...well, that gets me down even further!(does that make sense?!)
But how truthful this quote is - there is so much fresh vision out there, you just have to be prepared to see it, or WANT to see it.

One of the things that gets me down, is missing home and family - and worrying about family...almost waiting for the call at times that something has gone wrong.
My friend,who is South African and like me living in Ireland, called tonight to say that her husband's dad had passed away,suddenly, at the young age of 61, and the tragedy is immense.I feel so much for them...the sad part is that her husband has to make his way from Ireland to South Africa to be there for his mom, and its just so far...so disconnected...I hope they get through this and find the strength they need,my thoughts are with them.

Searching for a Dress...

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." - Helen Keller

Well it is 6 am and I have been awake since 3:30am...this insomnia monster creeps up on me every now and then, more often than usual actually...which is worrying. My little boy climbs into my bed every morning between 2 and 4 and that wakes me up, tonight my hubby is sleeping in the spare room, Max in our bed, Payton in her bed and mom downstairs surfing the net for a "Ball" dress!?!? (the Ball is April 5th, so there is still time) Insanity - I do think so.

I have no idea what I am going to wear. I have spotted these lovely dresses, but am not too sure...Lets just say I have put on quite a few pounds in the last couple of years and I am not the size 12 I used to be. The above dresses are from Monsoon, and all look lovely and charming flat on the "page", but who knows what they will look like over a lumpy, bumpy body!I am not sure whether to go for something sleek and modern, or vintage and lacy...

Weight plus motherhood plus being in your thirties is a strange thing - I have friends who are battling with weight and self image at this stage in their lives and I can't decide whether or not it is a media thing, or whether we just look in the mirror some days and not like the body image we see before us.Whatever it is I find it very frustrating, but I also find myself a part of it. Worrying all the time that I am too fat, and getting bigger, that my hair looks flat and lifeless, that I have yet another wrinkle. Oh to be free of those worries would be bliss! Yawn.

Children...

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders,but they have never failed to imitate them." - James Baldwin

I was just thinking about how much responsibility it is to raise our children...sometimes its an overwhelming thought for me. How true it is that its not so much what you say...but what you DO that matters. Children are so observant, and mine remind me of this almost daily. "But you said that mom..." Uh oh. I have to say, it keeps me on my toes!
Here are some more quotes I found about children:

"Children really brighten up a household.They never turn the lights off." - Ralph Bus
"Having children makes you no more a parent than having a piano makes you a pianist" - Michael Levine

A Beautiful Shop/Garden Centre/Bistro

"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes in to us at midnight very clean.It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands.It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." - John Wayne

This is one of the most inspiring quotes I have seen in a long time.
The photos are of a garden centre/shop here in Cork that we visited on Sunday. It is so lovely!Needless to say there are no pics of the Garden side of it..I never got that far on this visit...Neither are there pics of the gorgeous bistro attached to it...I will take pics of these on my next visit there...
My dear ladies, I was far too enthralled at the collection of Cath Kidston fabrics, cups, teapots, bags...as well as Greengate and many other lovely lovely brands of goodies.
I walked out with NOTHING...which is a first. I want to go back one morning, take my time, wander around...and ponder over what to buy over a delicious cup of tea and perhaps a slice of cake..I can't wait to go back!

Tulips are doing well..

"The past exists only in our memories, the future only in our plans. The present is our only reality." - Robert Pirsig

My lovely Tulips are coming along nicely, I have loads more in pots in the garden and I cannot wait for the first Tulip to show its pretty face!

Its a really cold, windy and rainy day in Ireland and seeing the pot on the windowsill gives some hope of spring...Saying that, yesterday was a beautiful day outside.

This is one of my kitchen cupboards,I pasted some Cath Kidston fabric to hide whats inside...until I can collect some lovely cups,teapots etc to put on display, I want to put lights inside the cupboard, too.

This is a box from Laura Ashley that sits on my fireplace.I love this piece of art, its of a Hydrangea, which is one of my flowers.

This is one of my mirrors, bought from a beautiful place here in Cork called Glanworth Mills, which I will be doing a post about soon.
Thank you for taking the time to look at my home. x

A Vintage Picture

This is a picture I "made" yesterday - using Cath Kidston wrapping paper for the background and an old Vintage print that I found in a museum when we were on holiday in Dingle.I think it looks really pretty and quite unique.
A quote for the day will be in my next posting!

A few things to talk about

"When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on." - Thomas Jefferson

This is my lovely little bowl that is by my door, I keep my jewelry in it.It is a piece of Nicholas pottery, which is very famously made here in Ireland.I would love to increase my collection!

http://www.nicholasmosse.com/store/index.php

Picture 3 is my chest of drawers that my hubby has just painted for me (Duck Egg Blue - Laura Ashley).I think it looks really nice.
The other pic is of a Monsoon dress, from the "Originals Collection" that I got about 2 years ago...and have never worn...Its beautiful, but I don't think I will get away with wearing it to the upcoming Ball...I was thinking something less dramatic...I'll be scouting around the internet in the next few weeks looking for something to suit a 32 year old prom queen!Joke...