Sunny Saturday on Killiney Beach

Since arriving in Dublin three days before Christmas the weather has been very mixed. Today, after some horrendous storms, it was the perfect sunny morning for a walk on the beach. My daughter (Sam) wanted to take some shots for a photographic project and I took my little point and shoot and took these pictures on Killiney Beach. I haven't visited this beach, since my youngest daughter (Beccy) moved and that was over three years ago.

In the warmth of the sun it was hard to believe it was the middle of winter!

Looking across to Dalkey Island some birds sitting on a rock!

Sam setting up her tripod.

View back along the beach

the river has created a channel to the sea

Birds were having a great time!

Looking across the Irish Sea

We spent a couple of hours walking from one end of the beach to the other and by the time we left there were lots of families who had the same idea. 

Merry Christmas

Wishing  all my family and friends a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous and Happy New Year 2014

Motivation.......

............ is making someone happy.

My daughter's really enjoy my loganberry jam so as I had frozen my crop this year and still had some in the freezer from last year I decided that if I thawed them I would have to get myself in jam making mode!

When I combined all the fruit it actually wasn't that much 4lbs 6oz but I knew this would make a few jars. One of the reasons they like this jam is because I do not use the recommended amount of sugar (always put less-guess work) so the jam is slightly tart. I don't know about you but I really do not like the overly-sweet shop bought jam.

mashing the loganberries

One thing I don't like is the messy hob where the boiling jam splatters!

End result

Well it only made seven pots but I'm sure that will make my girls happy!!!

Fun Monday Forgotten

Many many years ago Embee bought me two gold pens which I loved.  I always used them at work until one day the ballpoint one simply disappeared from my desk. At first I wasn't worried  because if you answer someones phone and take a message it's easy to walk off with pen and I assumed if this had happened it would be returned. That didn't happen and all enquiries drew a blank, naturally I was pretty upset. I still had the fibre-tip pen in the picture so all was not lost!

Fast forward to last week and I clearing out a drawer and found the pen, wondering why I'd left it in a draw I decided to get a re-fill and begin using it again. Embee went to the shop where he bought it to be told they no longer make these types of refills for this Parker pen. I still wasn't daunted as I thought no problem I'll get something on the internet. Alas no luck it seems they stopped making the refills back in 1994 and I was unable to find any refill that would fit the pen!

No doubt this was the reason I'd put the pen away and in the intervening years had forgotten why!!! Now I wonder if the gold case has any value!!!!!!!

Thinking of you today!

Had my mother lived she would have been celebrating her 90th Birthday today.  She loved her cake and always had a slice every day. One year I recall making her a chocolate cake and although she was grateful she said she wished it had been a proper cake (what she meant was a fancy shop bought one).  So the next year that's what she had only to realise that actually home made was best, I think it ended up in the bin.

So today I wish that I could be making a cake for you, mum, and we all miss you.

Made it!!

When I decided to take up the challenge of a daily blog throughout November I wasn't really sure that I would be able to achieve the goal. However, those who know me well might say I'm competitive and don't like to fail! Most of the posts were a bit lame, but nevertheless I did manage it.
In all honestly I don't think I will go back to writing my daily diary as I don't seem to have that much going on these days. However, I am intending to keep my blog going a little more regularly than I have in the past couple of years, even if that's only once a week!!

So do I have anything of interest to report today........ not really but I did get a parcel arrive! I can't say what was in it in case I give the game away as it's getting close to Christmas. I wouldn't want to spoil anyone's surprise!

On this first Sunday in December I leave you to drool (or not) over my breakfast which I'm about to enjoy!