Summer's End.

Tomorrow we return to school, and routine, and driving every day.

There will be lunches to be made and shoes to be found.

And as the weeks progress there'll be coats and wooly jumpers,

and in the evening we'll light the fire and 'baton down the hatches'.

So last night we gathered our friends together,

and we lit a fire,

and celebrated the Summer's end.

In a little pocket of sun

amidst the cooling mist and rain.

And though there will no doubt be days when the Autumn forgets itself,

and gives us a day at the beach

or a warm wind in the morning,

we know this next fragment of path is the one that is scattered

with swirling leaves, and groans with sneaky winds.

And 'the door of winter stands ajar...'

Welcome.

Welcome.

Something Lovely.

It's been a while since I posted about Something Lovely and I thought I'd share these gorgeous images with you.

They are the work of a lovely lady called Doreen Kennedy, and she is a graphic designer and photographer based in my hometown of Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Paris.

For any of you who have been to the Electric Picnic in Stradbally, Co. Laois over the last few years, you will have seen Doreen's 1,000 Flowers, where she covered trees with 1,000 pictures of flowers!

However, I have to admit it's her Holga images of Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey and Killiney that I absolutely love. I've had her calendar on my desk all year and I never get tired of peering at these beautiful images.

Killiney beach.

It seems a contradiction to say that a Holga image can be crisp, but that is exactly what these are. They pull you right into the picture.

This beach is the beach of my childhood. A place I go to still. And these in some way capture the little ghosts of us, right there on the sand and shingle, and it tugs my heart. And the light, somehow is that very light that beckoned us into the waves.

Killiney beach.

Dun Laoghaire pier.

And I almost cannot bare to look at these pictures of Dun Laoghaire, it tears at my heart so. So much of my childhood and teenage years was spent around Dun Laoghaire pier, and I feel I am looking through the years and could put my hand out and touch that child that I was. The otherworldliness of her ghostly images goes deep into my memory and shakes me there.

Over the months I've been looking at these, I have felt a homesickness in my heart that I thought was gone forever. And it's strange that I have felt this at a time I have never felt more settled and happy living where we do, just a few miles down the coast.

But it's a happy, nostalgic homesickness that satisfies something I cannot explain. A letting go maybe, for I am happy to have the memories I am blessed to have.

~*~

Do take a look at the rest of Doreen's work over on her website. And thank you Doreen for sharing such beautiful images with us.

~*~

~Carnival~

So, just letting you know that my poor neglected ~Carnival~is back on track again. My fashion blog is now so much more! There'll be lots of music from now on too so pop over if you have a minute to spare.

Enjoy!

Sorry To Mention It, But...

I won't say I am uninspired at the moment, though I have been reading that a number of other bloggers are feeling just so. And I do go through periods that are harder to find inspiration in, as we all do. At the moment though, it's more a time restriction thing for me! And by that I mean a lack of free time to sit at my computer, and also, I guess, the time of year.

But, and don't kill me for saying this, Autumn is on the way! I'm sure it's not for everyone, but it certainly is here. It's in the air that's that little bit cooler first thing in the morning. And in the darkening evenings. It's in the sound of the sea too. A slightly boomier sound that has a bit of an edge to it as it pounds the shingle outside our windows.

And I love it. I do.

Autumn is my very favourite time of year. We are more likely to get beach days in September than July here. And even though they will be back in school in just over a week, I can't help but jump up and down a bit about it, in spite of my aversion to that particular thought.

It's when I get itchy fingers, and I find myself pulling out all the little things that got abandoned.

And once the fire is lit... well, let's just say I am in my element.

Crab Fishing Cure.

So, chaos still reigns at home.

We are in the in-between stage where all the building work is finished, and we are now trying to find homes for everything. Creating chaos to create order if you know what I mean.

But how to keep everyone happy?

The weather hasn't been great, so when we had a reasonably sunny day, and an invite to go crab fishing in Wicklow, naturally I didn't find it too difficult to say 'Let's go!'

I'd never done it before, believe it or not, and now I have no idea why every child doesn't do it by way of necessity! It is so simple, and so satisfying, it should be a natural part of childhood. I have no doubt it is for some, obviously depending on where you live.

We bought crab lines in the local toy shop, popped into the butchers for bones, and away we went.

They all caught some, and how thrilled they were. Even the older two who had grumbled about having to go!

And at the end of the day they were all sent home, back to the water, in spite of tears from one child who wanted to bring them home, bless him.

I thoroughly recommend it if you have a bridge anywhere near you!

A Blessing Of A Kind.

I do love when,

every so often, in the day to day blur,

I am reminded, in a moment of clarity,

of just how good life can be.

We may not solve every problem,

or even come close.

We may not get everything right,

or be happy with the choices we have made.

But it is such a blessing to sit around a table,

with familiar faces,

and know that if nothing else we can simply do our best.

And our children will stand testament to our endeavors.

And they will show us that we can be good enough.

In The Middle Of Ireland.

We took a detour.

On our trip home from the south.

A blessed rest,

in the middle of Ireland.

We paused,

on the banks of Lough Derg,

in the quiet,

and contemplated.

And sometimes it's the balm you need,

just to pause.

And breathe for a moment.

Pangea.

So one good thing about coming back early was that I got to see my brother Chris' latest exhibition, which I would have missed. And I was very glad to as I had missed the last couple.

As always his sense of humour is what shines through the most, and I have to say I love these watercolours even more than his previous acrylics.

It was so great being in town. I have been feeling very countrified lately! I got to see tons of people I haven't seen in ages, and finally got to meet the gorgeous Sharon from Friendly Cottage, and then promptly lost her! Definitely see you soon Sharon!

And finally, here's something cool my Dad found on youtube. Someone has animated Chris' lovely Beasts!

How cool is that!

At The End Of Ireland.

So I am dragging my heels here. I admit it.

Why is it so hard to open this creaky little door to the land of blog again?

I feel so many things are in a state of flux at the moment, and I'm having difficulty pinning myself down. Maybe it's the feel of the end of the holidays approaching. So much still to do.

Anyway, our holiday didn't go as planned and we had to come home early. Difficult but necessary.

So here's a taster of our few days with our dearest friends.

So as I'm beginning to notice the barest perceptible change in the night air, the slightest drawing in of the evenings, I am trying to rally my troops to get the most out of the few weeks that are left.

But sometimes when the wind is taken out of your sails it's hard to fly again.

For a little while.

A Week Of Pictures.

A busy week. A week of family gatherings, birthdays, and farewells.

With the whole family, except for The Dirt Dude, together for the first time in two years, we finally got around to having The Smallest's Naming day. And at the same time we celebrated my nephew's first birthday.

We got to spend time with our dearest friend's Marta and Sam, home at last, but just not for long enough. And we were honoured to celebrate a special birthday with Marta, all together, in our house.

And we had to say goodbye to my sister Emma. Who knows when we will see each other again?

I'm not thinking about that...

Contemplating being Me.

In my Mother's window.

Treasure!

Play in a quiet place.

Happy Birthday T!

'My heart of silk...' May you be blessed.

Out picking raspberries.

Birthday cake for Marta

Made by My Only Girl.

Rain.

Goodbye for now...