Grannymar

I wouldn’t mind only I had all kinds of ideas in my head for today.

We have had sunshine.  We have had showers.  Now the rain is coming down like stair-rods and beating the back windows with hailstones.

It must be the month of April.

Among all the phone calls, Skype messages and callers to the door, I found time to play dressing up.

I loved to play ‘dressing up’ when I was a little girl.  Trying on mammy’s shoes was the first thing and she had plenty of hats and handbags. Some days that was enough.

On other days I would pull down some dress from a hanger in the wardrobe and struggle into it.  When I looked in the mirror I saw a mini mammy looking all elegant rather than a little girl with curls and a bow on my hair, wearing an over sized dress.

Occasionally I would wear THE CAPE!  It was silver fox fur and it came to elbow length on Mammy.  If I close my eyes I can still feel the softness of the skin against my face.  It was pure luxury and I felt like a princess.

Thinking back now, I am sure those wet days drove mammy mad.  I was just about able to reach and pull the clothes off the hangers, then I would leave them on her bed when I moved on to something else.

Mammy had only one complaint and the sound of her voice still rings in my ears.

“Take those heels (shoes) off before you try to come down the stairs”!

Brian asked recently in a comment, if I had a recipe for Nana’s shortbread.  Since it was not something I liked, I never thought to include it in my own collection of recipes.  I asked my sister to check through mammy’s old cookery books.  Between us we have come up with a close match.

Nana’s Shortbread
Preheat the oven to 160°C

250g All purpose flour
75g caster sugar
175g butter
caster sugar to dredge

Grease two 7inch sandwich tins.

Mix the flour and the sugar in a bowl and rub in the butter.  At this stage mammy worked with her hands, patting, squeezing, pounding & kneading until the mixture formed a smooth paste.  Divide the mixture in two and press into the two prepared tins.  Mark top in eight segments and decorate the edge with a fork before pricking randomly across the surface.

Bake for 30 minutes until pale golden.  Slice in wedges while still warm and dredge with caster sugar.

Now Brian, stick the kettle on… we’ll have a cuppa as you test the shortbread and recall treading the boards in Kiss me Kate!

Fermanagh

Fermanagh the county, derives its name from ‘Firmonach’. ‘the men of Monach’, a Celtic tribe that settled around the shores of the loughs in the early Christian era.  Evidence of the Celts abounds in the area, particularly in the enigmatic pagan stone idols of Boa island.  The two head figure of Janus in Caldragh Cemetry on Boa island was the inspiration for Seamus Heaney’s poem, ‘January God’, with the Celts believing that the head was the seat of the soul and the centre of man’s life force.  Another figure from nearby Lustymore Island, has only one fully carved eye suggesting that it represents Badhbha, or Divine Hag, the Celtic goddess of war.

The twin lakes of Lough Erne, Upper and Lower, are the jewel in Fermanagh’s crown and cover one-third of the county.  A perfect location for watersports; from fishing to waterskiing and cruising to canoeing this magnificent lake has it all. For the all round activity enthusiast there’s plenty to keep you occupied - caving, walking, cycling and horse-riding to name but a few.  For the golf fanatic  look no further, there are a wide range of golf courses for all strengths and abilities including Lough Erne Golf Resort with its Nick Faldo designed course.

Local folklore tells us that a graceful woman glides across Lower Lough Erne through the mists of May, clad in flowing garments and carrying a garland of wild flowers.  Her appearance is an omen of good times ahead and is celebrated at the Lady of the Lake Festival each July in Irvinestown.

Enniskillen is the County Town of Fermanagh, located almost exactly in the Centre of the County on the natural island which separates the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. Enniskillen is perfect for that weekend shopping trip.  With an array of well known high street brands as well a quaint high street littered with boutiques, craft shops, cafes & restaurants you’ll be spoiled for choice.  The old Buttermarket has been made into a very attractive crafts and design centre, and the Ardhowen is a beautifully sited theatre with a varied programme.

The evocative Watergate on the lough is part of a castle that was used by the Maguires.  It subsequently became a Plantation strong house, and an 18th –century artillery barracks.  Now it houses the County Museum and the Regimental Museum of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

Take a ferry from Trory to get to Devenish Island.  One of the most important monastic sites in Ulster founded by St Molaise in the 6th century.  The remarkable group of buildings to be seen are mostly from the 12th century.  The round tower was repaired in the 19th century.  The towers, famous symbols of Christianity in Ireland, acted as signposts, bell towers and places of refuge and retreat in attack, and a safe place for treasures during Viking raids.  The great Book Shrine of Molaise, which is a masterpiece of early Christian art, is now housed in the National Museum in Dublin.

Castle Archdale extending over 230 acres is located on the Eastern shore of Lower Lough Erne just 10 miles north west of Enniskillen.   It surrounds the demesne of the Archdale Manor House, built in 1773.  The Courtyard is complete with a visitor centre and World War 11 museum.  A very relaxing place, despite a massive camping and caravan site and a marina frequented by the ubiquitous cruisers. And what is an additional bonus for the tourist - you don’t have to bring anything, from boats to bicycles everything you need can be hired on the spot.  There are woodland and lough-shore walks, red deer enclosure, wildfowl ponds, nature trail, butterfly garden and wildflower meadow.

Belleek a village that borders with the republic of Ireland is famed for its fine parian china, best known for its delicate basketwork, shamrock decoration and lustre finish.  The range has expanded to include designer items alongside the classic patterns and visitors can tour the 1857 factory, see the best example of the china and watch exquisite craftsmanship use the skills handed down from generation to generation.  Then why not taste the fare in the restaurant  which is served on Belleek tableware!

One of the highlights of a visit to Fermanagh is the mysterious beauty of the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark with over 300 million years of history is here among a strange landscape of chasms and valleys, amid stalactites and stalagmites.  You can glide along an underground river on electrically powered boats and explore winding passages and lofty chambers.  Powerful lighting reveals the beauty and grandeur of the magnificent caverns.

The county has three National Trust properties,

Castle Coole, is an 18th century mansion designed by James Wyatt, with beautifully landscaped gardens and stunning interiors including a State Bedroom prepared for George 1V. The wooded landscape park slopes down to Lough Coole and is ideal for long walks.

Crom Estate is considered to be one of the National Trust’s most important nature reserves as the largest area of woodland in Northern Ireland.  The old Castle Garden is also home to the ancient Yew Tree, named among the 50 greatest British trees.

Florence Court is noted for its rococo plasterwork and a fine collection of Irish furniture.  It was the home of the Enniskillen family, who moved from a castle in the county town to the wild and beautiful setting of the present 18th century house.  It was named in honour of a new English wife.  It is surrounded by a large area of parkland, gardens and woodland.

Fermanagh People:
John Armstrong (1717–1795), born in Fermanagh, United States Congressman
Denis Parsons Burkitt (1911–1993), doctor – discoverer of Burkitt’s lymphoma
Edward Cooney (1867–1960), evangelist and early leader of the Cooneyite and Go-Preachers
Bobby Kerr (1882–1963), athlete & Olympic Gold Medalist
Gordon Wilson (1927–1995), Peace campaigner and Irish senator

I just washed my hands but they still stink.

Maybe the smell is in my nose and not actually on my hands.  I was afterall wearing rubber gloves.

What was I at?  Do you really want to know?

All these bright mornings and the sunshine have gone to my head.  I was out for a walk before 8am today.  I did have an ulterior motive, but that is for another day.

The ironing is complete and neatly folded bundles are ready to put away.  While they cooled down I tackled the front door.  Yesterday I gave it a good scrub and the past hour was spent giving it some beauty treatment.

Not a hot towel in sight, but I did use a very soft cloth and some oil.

Teak oil.  I worked my way over the door making sure I covered every inch before going back to the beginning and doing the same again several times.  The forty year old door is not teak, it is a very good genuine mahogany.  It does not have a red colour to it.  This sometimes made me wonder about the origin of the wood.

Some years ago I had need to call on a locksmith and he remarked on the high quality of the wood and actually told me where it came from.  Alas, I cannot recall the place right now.

Never mind, It is looking well and another coat tomorrow or the next day will have it looking like the icing on the cake!

The Loose Blogging Consortium challenge this week comes from Ramana.

Modern vs. Western Values

Do you think he sits up all night to think of these difficult topics?

I thought I was modern and I live in the West.

Will that do?  No?

You want to know my value?

Ok!  Now let me think……..

A bride price was a sum of money paid as a gesture of sincerity.  This is similar to the modern engagement ring except that the bride price usually went to the bride’s father and was usually just a token.

In my case things were a little different.  Jack presented me with a beautiful engagement ring of twelve deep-set diamonds on a platinum band. Unbeknownst to me, my father paid Jack to take me off his hands!!

You don’t believe me?  Well he did!

Daddy gave Jack a silver sixpence.

I no longer have Daddy
I no longer have Jack
I no longer have the engagement ring (burglers decided their need was greater than mine).

But, I still have the silver sixpence!

Active LBC Members are:

• Anu
• Ashok
• Conrad
• Delirious
• gaelikka
• Grannymar
• Magpie 11
• padmum
• Ramana
• The Silver Fox Whispers

Some may be distracted by work, play, love and or family, so their post may be late in appearing.

Indoor daylight at Limerick University.

The Mexican maid asked for a raise.

The wife was very upset about this and decided to talk to her about the raise.

She asked: “Now Maria, why do you want a pay increase?”

Maria: “Well, Señora, there are tree reasons why I wanna increaze.”  “The first is that I iron better than jou.”

Wife: “Who said you iron better than me?”

Maria: “Jor huzban he say so.”

Wife: “Oh yeah?”

Maria: “The second reason eez that I am a better cook than jou.”

Wife: “Nonsense, who said you were a better cook than me?”

Maria: “Jor hozban did”

Wife increasingly agitated:”Oh he did did he???”

Maria: “The third reason is that I am better at sex than jou in the bed.”

Wife, really boiling now and through gritted teeth. “And did my husband say that as well?”

Maria: “No Señora…… The gardener did.”

Wife: “So , Maria, how much do you want?”

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Thank you Cynthia for this weeks offering.

I visited me, mine and other bits this morning. Speccy’s post today was about Girl2 suffering from earache.

As a child I was a martyr to earache. ‘Ears’ seem to have been a weak spot in our family. Eventually I had my tonsils and adenoids removed and touch wood (taps side of head), the earaches never returned.

Now in my sixties, I can still feel that pain. At any mention of earache my hand will automatically move to cover and protect my ear. That (ear) pain has been the marker for me of all other pain in my life. Not even childbirth ranked anywhere near it.

For many years, indeed right up until I married, whenever I went out on a winter’s day or evening, mammy would call to me: “Cover your ears”! My mini skirt might have been like a pelmet, but once I covered my ears, she was happy!

Home cures administered by my parents for my earache: warm olive oil dropped from a teaspoon into my ear and Daddie’s rosary beads to lie on!!!!!! Holy Fiasco what was the man thinking?  The crucifix was heavy with high relief, the beads were large and the chain connecting them seemed to my little ears as if it was made from barbed wire. A bed of nails might have provided more comfort.

Hmmm!

I have heard it all now!

A 24-hour shoe shopping channel set for launch.

No thank you, it would never do it for me.  Part of the fun is walking into the shoe shop with the smell of leather and looking at the elegant display all around me.  Mind you, I have noticed that like all shops across the board these days, the stock is well reduced and more spaced out on the display stands.

I like to look and dream first (so many styles are out for me now) and then make my selection to try.  I usually remember to ask for the left shoe, the pair are brought in the box and the right shoe is presented for trying.  My left foot is slightly longer, but not enough to demand buying two pairs in different sizes.

I walk up and down in the shop on different surfaces for quite some time to make sure I am happy with the fit - How can you do that on a shopping channel?

Many times I have put a foot into a shoe that I fancy and immediately my foot will cramp. If there is one thing I have discovered over the years is that I cannot wear cheap shoes.  A well made shoe that is looked after will go on for years.  Our feet work hard and don’t get to retire so deserve comfort.

Would you buy shoes online?

Ginger & Honey Squares
Preheat oven to 180°C

8 ozs all purpose flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 ozs butter
6 ozs dark brown sugar
4 ozs treacle
2 ozs of honey
1½ inches fresh root ginger, grated and finely chopped.
4 fluid ozs strong black coffee
2 eggs beaten
2 ozs crystallised stem ginger

Grease and line a deep 8inch tin.

Sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ground cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Put butter, sugar, treacle and 2 ozs honey into a pan and heat gently until melted.  Cool for 2 minutes, then put into a bowl and stir in ginger, coffee and eggs.  Add the dry ingredients and beat well.  Pour into the cake tin and bake for 35 minutes.  Cool in the tin.

Remove the cake from the tin and cut into squares.  Top each slice with crystallised stem ginger and drizzle with a little honey.

I was told these improve with keeping,  Who wants to keep fresh cake?