Roses

"I'd rather have roses on my table, than diamonds on my neck".  Emma Goldman

What a lovely quote.  Growing your own roses gives a two-fold pleasure. One is the joy of seeing them adorn your garden and the other is bringing them indoors to adorn your home. 

Below are some beautiful Roses from the garden. They are filling the kitchen with their heady scent, and as you pass the table the beautiful scent hits you. Summertime joy! 

These lovely Roses were drooping to the ground from the heavy rain today.

Live your best life

  “It’s God’s Call”.

At Church yesterday, Father O'Keeffe left the congregation with something to think about as usual. He finished Mass with the following :

People are often unreasonable and self-centred.  Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.  Be Kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you.  Be Honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous.  Be Happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.  Do Good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.  It never was between you and them anyway.

Mother Teresa

Homemade Presents:

I love making small craft items as presents for friends and family.  This month it is Covers for Notebooks. One personalised one and a blue and white patchwork one, made from leftover strips of fabric. A Pegbag to co-ordinate with a friend's new kitchen and a tea cosy for one of my Sister's who loves blue and white. 

Holidays in The Kingdom of Kerry

We decided to holiday at home this year and chose beautiful County Kerry, and it didn't disappoint.  We went in early June and the weather was beautiful, warm and sunny for the full holiday. We were so lucky, we drove around magnificent Kerry, staying in the Muckross Park Hotel, Killarney and The Park Hotel, Kenmare.  

It was such an enjoyable holiday, thanks to the lovely weather. There's no doubt that Ireland is the most beautiful country in the world when the weather is good. 

The Sun shone everyday as we drove around Kerry, with the roof down and the high factor sunscreen on. An Artist's paradise, I may take out my easel to capture the beauty I saw.  Each time I visit Kerry I see with more eye-opening awareness and discover new place to explore. We took in the beautiful lakes and mountains of Killarney. The breathtaking Ring of Kerry enjoying the spectacular Ladies View, Molls Gap, Beara Peninsula, the Gap of Dunloe and lovely Kenmare. Wonderful food and outstanding beauty everywhere. We visited all the beautiful hotels in the area including, Parknasilla, Sheen Falls, The Dunloe and The Park.  Here are a few snaps I took to remember it by.

We stopped off in picturesque Adare, Co, Limerick on the way :

Thatched cottages in Adare

The beauty of County Kerry

View from our bedroom window at The Park, Kenmare

View on the ring of Kerry

Ladies View

in Killarney National Park

Rhododendron growing abundantly in Killarney National Park

Torc Waterfall in Killarney's National Park

Muckross House

One of the Lakes of Killarney

Gardens at Muckross House

Beautiful Dunlow

The Gap in the distance

Kenmare

View from the gardens at Sheen Falls