Hearts for Valentines Day

Hearts for Valentines Day

Embroidered and applique heart design on white cotton.  This design was started a year ago, forgotten about, rediscovered, and finished in time for Valentine's Day this year!

As most of my embroidery projects, it started as a few sketches before it was transferred, added to, stitched, improved upon, and will probably be filled in a bit more before it's completely done.

Let the sun shine on

Morning sun on the docks

Yesterday I was able to walk around town.  Without a cardigan.  Okay, for those of you who don't live on the west coast of Ireland, walking around on the 4th of July without a jumper isn't out of the ordinary.  As a matter of fact, I'm sure most of you were sweating your butts off wherever you happened to be.  However, in Galway it's rarely nice enough at 10 am to be warm.  To get sweaty.  To actually have to slip out of our outerwear.  It's like a movie when the angels turn their faces toward the voice of God. There's a collective sigh, and we tilt our ears to hear the singing.  We stretch our arms out to feel the sun.  Everything moves a bit slower, as if through water.  We don't get to do it often, but when summer finally hits, we probably enjoy it the most.

Bacon. And Cabbage

Is it about bacon and cabbage?  No.  Bacon and cabbage is a symbol for all things Irish.  I know, it's not a leprechaun...or a shamrock...  It's something more ingrained.  Not the outside vision of what's Irish, but an Irish symbol of what's Irish:  Home, mam's cooking, meeting the lads at the local to celebrate a birth/wedding/funeral, a hot cuppa tae.  Put the kettle on.  We're coming home.