Mouse hotel.

New phone, new skill

Hooray! I finally got a new phone. So now I can send photos to my blog as I take them.
Here is the new herringbone hand-stitch I learned last night at the Curtain n cushion course. It's v handy for hemming trousers and skirts as well as curtains, which is why we learned it. Strong but virtually invisible on the right side. On the food front, last night we had Annabel Karmel's beef in oyster sauce. The reason I'm writing this is because Roo ate it- well some beef anyway. Of course, he did need to be persuaded. But once he tried it, he realised the meat was lovely and tender. And he had some noodles too. The introduction of chopsticks went down well. Hooray again!

12 weeks yesterday

We went to Mass this morning for St Blaise's feast. Roo was a bit dubious about having his throat blessed, but he eventually joined Poonch and me at the altar, when I told him it would help stop him getting sick.

Afterwards we went to the market at the Crescent Shopping centre. Caroline from the happy pig farm was there, so we bought some rashers. She is holding a Beekeeping course at her house on the 27th (re-scheduled from January 9th) which I would love to go to, if Lee can manage to be off duty.

An update on the Babycake: I had a scan last week with my new consultant (very hopeful about him). He estimates my due date to be in August. The 15th, Feast of the Assumption. So that means I was 12 weeks yesterday. It's great to have some idea of when Babs is due!

Pizza, Little Piggies and Paul O'Connell

Today we had a brush with stardom. After a sunny visit to the playground, we went to La Cucina for some yummy pizza (the only way we could persuade Roo to leave). 'Look who it is...' said Lee to me as we went in. And there, sitting alone with a bowl of soup was the great Paul O'Connell, the Munster rugby captain*. We were shown a table, but then Paul left and they put us at his table! You could say Roo took his place, because he sat in the very same seat that Paul had just vacated (it was still a little warm). Roo himself was oblivious of course as he devoured two slices of Margherita pizza. He was disappointed earlier in Little Piggies when he was told he didn't need new shoes yet. I told him he'd have to eat lots so that his feet would get bigger.

*(People say Superman goes to bed in Paul O'Connell pyjamas. To tell you the truth, we think Paul made himself scarce when he saw Poonch coming in;))

Jamie's pancakes

These go down very well with the boys.... just mix together:

1 cup of self-raising flour
1 cup of milk
1 large egg, preferably free-range or organic
A pinch of sea salt
1 pear, grated.

Then fry with a few knobs of butter and eat with gloopy, creamy stuff, Nutella, bananas, or whatever takes your fancy.

Inspiration for toddler meals

Rollercoaster has some of Annabel Karmel's recipes for fussy eaters on their website. They are appetising excerpts from a new book she has written which looks quite tempting. I'm reading her Superfoods book at the moment in an attempt to get Roo to eat more veg. Last night we had pasta in Hidden Vegetable sauce with Mascarpone. Very nice and... Roo even ate some of the sauce as it was smeared onto his pasta. That means he ingested onion, carrot and courgette, as they were cooked and then pureed into the sauce.

But perhaps more remarkably, he quite knowingly gobbled down COURGETTES, yes green vegetables (aka zucchinis) as he helped to make the muffins they were stuffed with. CBeebies I Can Cook is such a fantastic programme. You'll find more toddler-able recipes on the I Can Cook website.

Tootling about on my ownio...

Back to quilting yesterday for the first time since Christmas. A little reluctantly... but after five minutes I was hooked again and couldn't wait to get stuck in. I really value the couple of hours I have to myself while Mum takes care of the lads. I can run about doing errands afterwards too. (Literally run- something I can't do when I'm with Roo and Poonch, 'slow down Mummy,' Roo says when I'm walking with him. I love running/skipping about. It's funny the things you have to stop doing when you have children!)

Anyway, I was just thinking yesterday, how God really does answer your prayers sometimes, even if you haven't actually outright asked him. The day before was a really horrible day. I felt really down for no real reason, was getting much too frustrated with the boys over trivial things, Louis cut his mouth twice, Lee was anxious about a talk he was giving that evening and I hardly noticed him I was feeling so cross... lots of little things, one after the other.

And then yesterday, things just turned around. It was a lovely dry day, Mum was here to help, the lads were in good form, I zoomed around town on my own, then came home and we all took off for a walk down the lane. And I got to confession at last. With a lovely priest, Fr Brendan, in the Augustinians on O'Connell Street (that's the spot in the picture). I had wanted to (and not wanted to, if you know what I mean) go for a while, but I can't bring the lads in obviously! I know a good few Irish Augustinians, but I'd never met this guy before. He must have moved to Limerick after the last Chapter meeting. We had a little chat and he was telling me he was in Australia (every state by the sound of it) for 40 years. I think there's something about Augustinian priests. I just really like the vast majority of the ones that I've ever met.

Thank God for days like yesterday.

On the water front, we had an absolute downpour today and our water came back. Hooray! Not having it really made me think that we actually waste water a lot of the time. It's so easy to take water for granted, isn't it? It's so precious, yet so readily available to us. Say compared to some people in developing countries who can't access clean drinking water.

We were really quite lucky, unlike many people who were without water for days and days, or who experienced burst pipes and even flooding due to the exceptionally heavy rain.

A brrrrrry cold new year

Here's my first post of the new year. We had our now-traditional Christmas: both Grannies and Uncle Bee staying with us, turkey, gingerbread stuffing (which didn't appeal to me this year... hmmm) etc. Roo understood about Santa for really the first time, but because he'd met him at Montessori, he was answering 'is Santy coming?' with a wrinkled nose and 'Noooo!' (because in his head he'd already given him some goodies.) It meant for some shocked faces from shop assistants and the like though.

It has been veeerrrrrry cold here for quite a few weeks. Yesterday it even snowed. I mean proper fluffy, dry, powdery snow that stays in drifts instead of melting on contact with the ground or going brown and sludgy.
Roo and I were outside in it: he in his super duper cosy waterproof boiler suit, me collecting snow to melt for toilet flushing. Yes, the wonderful snow brought with it some less appealing aspects such as frozen water supplies and lack of showers or laundry washing. Now I know how my Mum felt when it used to snow when I was a child. She'd give out about the roads and stuff and I'd think, 'how could you not like the snow?' But even boring Mummy-me was taken aback at how beautiful everything looked in the snow. I walked down our ordinary little lane marvelling at how gorgeous it had become: the branches of every tree and bush swaddled in white.
We have become quite well acquainted with some of the local birds due to the cold spell. The two wagtails we knew already, but there is a pair of robins who, over the last couple of days, have got close to us, literally. One of them came into the utility room a few days ago, and another day he kept flying up to the window to let me know he was hungry. We don't get many birds near our house because there is very little cover/vegetation except around the perimeter, so it's nice to have some contact with them. I love seeing their little footprints around the place.
This year I would like (in no particular order)
1. the boys to get over their interminable colds/ coughs/ runny noses. I am fairly fed up with snot at this stage
2. to get out of this cold, poorly designed house. But that's dependent on no.3 happening.
3. someone to make an offer on our lovely house in Waterford
4. to have a healthy baby

and some other things too, I'm sure, but that's all I can think of just now.

I'm still a bit in shock today. I did a pregnancy test yesterday and it was positive! I am really surprised and feel weirdly unprepared. I definitely want more lovely children, but am worried that I won't be well enough to mind Roo and Poonch. I'm also worried that I'll be slammed into hospital because of the phoney 'obstetric cholestasis' that I was supposed to have last year. It had a terrible effect on Roo and I don't want him and Poonch to go through that again. And I'm still breastfeeding Poonch and had hoped to continue for a while longer. I feel he's still only a baby himself. I asked Roo if he'd like another baby and he said, 'we already have a baby', and that pretty much summed up how I felt.
We are happy really, but just weren't expecting to be expecting again so soon... although I'm not sure yet when 'soon' is. I'll have to wait for a scan to find that out. Which is also worrying me, because these hospital people always underestimate when your due date will be, meaning many women go 'overdue' when they actually aren't and babies get induced out of their cosy dens before they're ready. Ooopsie... don't get me started on my pregnant-women-and-hospitals rant.
Welcome little baby. We are looking forward to meeting you!
Today is the feast of the Holy Family. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, watch over us and protect us and help us to be more like you!

Our boys

I thought I would write a bit about the two lads, as they change and develop so quickly, it can be easy to forget little things they do and say.
Roo is just over 3 years old. He is tall for his age and skinny. I think he grew up rather than out. He likes the (com)pootah, watching telly (Chuggington, Thomas, Bob the Builder, Timmy Time, I Can Cook, Show Me Show Me), all the usual 'things that go' (trains, diggers, rockets, spaceships, tractors, bin lorries) playing hide-and-seek and reading (his Montessori directress says they know to look next to the bookshelf when they can't find him; he can pore over books and catalogues for ages and likes to have something to read when on the potty. Come to think of it, he's quite fond of multi-tasking in other areas too.)
He can be quite sensitive and likes things to remain the same. He is very friendly with other children and is invariably the first to say hello on first meeting. He loves going to toddler group and Montessori ('school').
He likes to eat things he cooks and a 'selection' of other things. Making up stories about Baked Beans helps him eat less favoured foods.
In Montessori, they euphemistically describe him as 'good and assertive', but I'd say he's downright bossy at home! He puts his hands on his ribs and tells me off when he thinks I need putting in my place. I used to think he was trying to put his hands on his hips, but now I suspect he is actually trying to look like a threatening gorilla. He reminds me of my Dad sometimes when he is in a mood to complain. Really though, overall, he's a kind-hearted little fella, who is thoughtful, gentle and always shares food, even yummee things like post-Mass Animal Bars. Sometimes he'll totally surprise you with things he does, like coming up to you with a tissue after you sneeze. I sometimes think he's psychic too... but that just makes me sound a bit mad.

Poonch is 11 months old. He is a sturdy little chap with lots of strength in his legs and arms. He started crawling in the middle of August, but prefers to get himself up on his feet by using vertical things as a scaffold and then he's off cruising. He recently started to bridge gaps by reaching across from one support to another some distance away and yesterday he stood for a secret second without holding anything. He has always been a very smiley little fella, making him very appealing to anyone who meets him. He has a deep, infectious chuckle which wrinkles his nose when he laughs. He has a 'roundier' face than Roo, although friends told me this week he is looking more like him these days, possibly because he has had a lingering cold for the last few weeks and has got less chubby cheeks at the moment. He loves eating and is still at the age when everything goes into his mouth, being particularly fond of paper. He loves playing with Roo's toys in preference to ones more suitable to his age. He has just started pointing his finger at things and also occasionally waves at people if he gets the notion. He decided he'd really get going on the baby talk on Tuesday when Roo was at Montessori. His brother calls him the Baby Monster, but he is what Roo would call a happy /messy monster rather than a scary one. 'Oh no, a big mess! Baby Monshter, Baby Monshter!'
Even when Poonch is hard at work trying to swallow Roo's favourite toys, they get on very well. I'm sure Poonch's arrival was very stressful for Roo, especially with me being in hospital for the best part of two weeks, but he's never taken it out on his little brother.
I consider myself extremely blessed to have been entrusted with the care of these little guys and very lucky to be able to look after them myself. Thank you God for them!

St Andrew's party

Have just been speaking to Mum. Their front garden was the scene this morning of multiple crashes due to black ice, which resulted in their front wall being destroyed, but miraculously no-one being hurt.

She told me that today is the start of St Andrew's Novena, which continues until Christmas. Throughout each day between now and then, you say the above prayer for your intentions. Fifteen times a day. I think it's a beautiful prayer in itself. Thanks to Two Hearts Design for their version of the text.

Incidentally, Mum's prayer to St Anthony was prayed fervently and successfully on Thursday night while in the Big Smoke, when Lee's phone went missing. We stayed nearer town this time in the hotel that actively attracts culchies like us. So I suppose it was inevitable that me walking in with my wellies on met with complete indifference. It was slightly disappointing, except it meant I won the bet with Lee! Other notable events while we were there included my brother's book launch (congratulations Bee!), meeting friends I've never met or relatives I haven't seen in too long a time, Roo's first trip on a Luas or any train for that matter, three generations watching the Christmas lights in 'piercing cold', two lovely meals (in lieu of a 'party' for Bee), coffee and pancakes in Lemon, Mum's first Late Late Toy Show since my sister died 25 years ago, self-indulgent trips round ribbon and knitting shops (well I did win the bet after all) and a visit to my lovely Therese in the oasis that is St Teresa's Church off Grafton St.

Who'd like some lovely stuff?

There is a giveaway of lovely handmade goodies going on here. Just click and leave a comment and you could be the chuffed owner (or Christmas giver) of some beautiful Irish things.

Hooray! Fr Sinnott was released last night, our time. He had been in captivity for a month and is in pretty good health, considering. Thank you for praying for him.

words of comfort

Sometimes I read things and one word can make me catch my breath and I have to re-read it a few times to make sure I've read it right. Last night that word was 'snuggle'.

I'll explain. Mum gave me a copy of St Faustina's diary for my birthday and I dipped into it before I went to bed. I asked for a comforting passage and here's what opened up: Faustina is recounting something Our Lord said to her,
'Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace.'
How wonderful is that?
Now, this is book is translated from Polish and I can't help but wonder what's the Polish word for 'snuggle'?

Quilting... the story so far!

Every week I escape from my lickle cuties and spend a couple of hours absorbed in something completely different. Here are the squares I have made so far. From a distance they look alright, but they are full of mistakes! That's ok though, because this is a sampler quilt, which is the one you learn all the traditional patterns on. And of course we learn from our mistakes.... and I certainly make a lot of them!

P.S. These blocks are called Nine-Patch, Log Cabin and Pinwheel. Next up on the agenda is Fence Rail.

Last Day of the Old Milk Market

Well, someone up there must have been listening to me yesterday because today has been a great day. I even managed to get some heavy duty washing dry without having to resort to the tumble dryer.
This morning we headed into Limerick City to do our rounds of the Milk Market : a weekly open-air market that sells much more than just milk. I'm glad we made it in, because today was it's last day in it's current incarnation. It is due to be closed for 6 months while it is refurbished and covered with a roof. Speaking to some of the traders, Theresa and Olivier, there is a mixed reaction to these changes. It'll be interesting to see how it all turns out.
I am reading an anthology of short articles by Mother Teresa that sort of resolves the conflict I posted about yesterday. She writes, 'children [need someone] to receive them, to pay attention to them, to encourage them if they are sad, to share their joy if they are happy. They long for somebody to accept them, to love them, to praise them, to be proud of them.' It sounds fairly obvious and simple, of course, but if I concentrated on doing just those 'little things' as she calls them -'by kindness, by sharing joy, by sharing a smile', I would really be doing well I think. Back to Therese's Little Way. If I could just manage that, it could change our little part of the world.
On another note, if you can, pray for Fr Michael Sinnott, the 79 year old who is still being held by a gang in the Philippines.

Not enough hours in the day...

It's been a while since I wrote anything on my blog, partly because I can't send things from my phone anymore, which was so handy for quickly posting photos of what we were doing. The other reason is that I feel guilty spending time on the computer. Really there is always something that is more pressing or justifiable for me to do than blogging. Usually that involves something fairly boring like, for example, hanging washing on the airers so it can hang there limply and pointlessly for a day or two until I reluctantly have to put it into the tumble dryer. (The weather is too bad to put washing outside on the line at the moment. I must say, I love watching it dancing there on a breezy day. Especially babygros- they look like little fat babies dancing in formation.) St Thérèse's Little Way really comes into its own here: when wearisome tasks fill my time I think of her in the convent doing her chores.
Other important things include looking after the two lads of course, which is not tedious or boring because I love doing it, but is not compatible with sitting in front of a computer screen. Although I am home all day, I don't seem to have time to do all the things that need to be done and finish the day feeling as though I haven't done enough to keep the house tidy, reduce the laundry mountain, banish the dust bunnies and watch my little fellas being little fellas. In the evening I want to spend time and talk with Lee, but often we are both absorbed in something that excludes the other. Am I really bad at managing my time?
Incidentally, perceived lack of time is one reason I don't respond to the lovely comments that wonderful people leave on my blog. But please be assured, Anne, Maria, Mary and anyone else who's been kind enough to say something (and spend the time here), that I really appreciate your words and thoughts and prayers. And in turn I feel privileged to be able to follow your inspiring blogs and share our faith.

St Therese's Feast Day

Happy Feast Day my friend! And she really is a friend.
The thing is, I'm not alone in that thought. While reading the account of the visit of her relics to Ireland in 2001, (St Therese in Ireland) it struck me that people kept referring to her as a friend or part of their family. She must be such a busy little saint, speaking to and helping all those people on God's behalf!
It also occurred to me that her visit came during the Foot and Mouth crisis, when many of our friends headed to the U.K. for lucrative work. Me and Lee stayed here, missing out on well-paid work, but of course we had the opportunity to visit St Therese's relics while they were here. I think we got a better deal!