Polly's Gone Automatic...

Looking around the house today I feel as though I've managed to get so much done over the past few weeks. The truth is that being organised is the biggest part of the job, the next part is chipping away at things slowly for a few minutes at a time. Fifteen minutes at a time actually...

On a good day I can move mountains, on a bad day I can move molehills. Whichever day it is, whether with the assistance of pain relief or not I find that putting a load of washing in when I first get up has to take priority over everything else bar letting the dog out. Once that's done, I'm on the right track and can move onto completing the other niceties like heading down to the bathroom, cleaning my teeth (during which time I swish & swipe with my homemade vinegar cleaner), brushing my hair, taking my tablets, getting dressed and of course making my first cup of tea for the day.

I don't recal just how long it's been since fate intervened and decided that Polly should buy a new washing machine but it's been a while now. I distinctly remember that DG & I went looking for one in the nearby town of Newbridge on afternoon. Heaven only knows quite why we decided to travel 27miles to select a washing machine, when we could have visited the local branch of the same store just 9miles away!

The 'new' washer is just that. It's a washer! This said, there are only three programmes I've yet to use; these are both of the economy settings because they take forever when a non-economy setting at the same temperature takes half an hour less (yes, I know!) and the sportshoe wash programme. I am one of those rare beasts that uses my washer to the absolute best of my ability...

DG's work jeans usually get boiled alive at 95C - it gets stubborn agricultural dirt out and makes them last longer. His shirts are allowed to cook at around 40C. His & the boys socks go in on a 60C programme and are pretty much the only items persistently tumble dried, life's too short to be hanging them out on the line! Most of my pretties (I can no longer refer to them as smalls) are delicate and are treated as such. I use the silk and the wool cycles interchangably depending on which I've got the most of, fabrics and synthetics I'm not sure of get the 30C treatment, despite the fact that I've got a synthetic cycle at 40C & one at 50C and by far my favourite setting is the 30' mini-cycle for lightly soiled things.

By far the best thing about this machine is the fact that it is indeed automatic. It's an energy saving appliance which fills from the top and is also water saving in nature. One thing I'm not crazy about is that I need a man to help me undo the cover when something like a plectrum or a penny get caught in the filter, I'm just not strong enough to open it. DG has suggested using a mole/vice grips but the opportunity has yet to arise!

By far the best feature of my all singing, all dancing machine is the fact that I've recently discovered that there is indeed a need for pre-setting a delayed start. Yep, this is what I've been doing over the past couple of days before going to bed at night. Why? Because I don't want to be the victim of my appliances bursting into flames while unattended. Drama queen? Perhaps, but I did once witness my friends dishwasher doing just that, luckily it was during the day while we were around and able to deal with it.

So why have I all of a sudden become paranoid about this? It's largely thanks to another friend nagging her Mum about the same thing, Flylady's essays on the subject and a new acquaintance of mine who just happens to be an insurance claims assessor/adjuster. As a result of all of the above my washing had been growing - again - to Mt Washmore proportions and my frustration with it. I read something about using the delay start on Flylady.net and obviously it struck a chord as now I'm ahead of myself at last.

And hey! Guess what? If it happens that it's going to be a pain filled bad day I don't end up feeling bad about not keeping up with the washing! I can go back to bed and wait for my pain relief to kick in in the secure knowledge that the house is in the process of looking after itself.

And that ladies & gentlemen is just perfect...

Polly Says Hey Pesto!

I first met Yvonne Carty quite a few years ago at my very first networking event, run by the Offaly and Laois Enterprise Boards it was held at Durrow Castle which lies deep to the south of Laoise near the borders of counties Tipperary, Carlow and Kilkenny.



Yvonne Carty, the creative genius behind Hey Pesto! lives close to me and yet I'd to travel some distance to meet her. I recognized her as someone I 'knew' by sight immediately and on gentle probing discovered that she is in fact from nearby Tullamore but lives a little closer to hand - in the same village as me!!! That in itself tells a tale about the kind of life I was living prior to our initial formal introduction, it was frenetic to say the least. Thank goodness fate had intervened and rendered me unfit to continue, demanding a break from all that I knew while introducing me to so much more...

As well as being incredibly busy with her catering business Yvonne is actively involved with the Geashill Tidy Towns committee in organising the brand new Muc Fair in Geashill, Co Offaly on 31st July 2011. (Contact the tidytowns committee for information regarding stands, etc) Without a doubt she's a lady with community conscience and can be seen here promoting Tipperary Tastee's, although she did sneak in a taste of Offaly by using locally produced cream in her main course (wink!)


For more information on Hey Pesto! why not check out their Facebook Page?

Polly's Four Stone Up & One Stone Down...

I recently received a comment from Mike over on The Wine Buff. Simply put, Mike was wondering if I was ever going to pull my finger out and actually post on this blog at any time in the future...? Oooops!

The simple answer to that question is errrr, yes, that is my intention! It has always been my intention, but sadly it's something I haven't been doing for a while. Thinking about this, it occurred to me that my waffley bad blogging schedule started sometime last May, around the time I returned to work! The truth is I've been doing too many things (or maybe not in this case) and to be honest I've been advised by more than one source to slow things down a little but surely that doesn't mean grind to a halt, does it?

There have honestly been times when that's pretty much what I've done. In the past year I've spent much of my time when not working resting either in bed, having off days or sitting in zombie like fashion infront of this very pc (actually, it's more likely that it was the one I killed or the borrowed laptop that went back when I resigned as secretary of the dyslexia group!!!) Alternately, I may have been working like a beaver to fill orders for greeting cards - as time is at a premium these days I have to slip this in in between scouting, etc...

Cooking hasn't exactly been high on my list of priorities either. I've cajoled 'the boys', any or all three of them to whip up culinary delights on my behalf, persuaded DG to bring home disasterous takeaways or worse still resorted to the occasional emergency bottle of readymade sauce! Yuck - at least that's what my conscience tries to tell me on these (bottled) occasions.

The boys really are quite accomplished cooks, the youngest concocts a presentable panna cotta from memory. Only the eldest one, ie the 40 year old is truly accountable for his actions though, he actually clears up afterwards. I shame when he arrives home after a long days work only to make dinner for four because the lady is out in the shed making greeting cards! I sometimes wonder if it's worth it, and I'm quite sure he does so regularly...

This said, there is perhaps method in such madness. The whole house has suffered in this past year, more than any other, to the extent that teenage boys have discovered the delights of bargaining and persuasion alongside those of vaccuming and lawnmowing. My partner in life has realised that maybe we do need a new cooker. The gas pressure steadily drops off while he's in the midst of something requiring crucial timing - ie it's got to be cooked by bedtime!

How many times have we slapped medium rare best Irish beef steaks (from our beloved Aldi) onto our plates only to have to whip them back off again, wash the plates and recook them under the ailing grill, while the veg stews? We no longer eat roast meats, roast potatoes or yorkshire puddings anymore, unless my Mum rushes to the rescue which is typically on a Monday evenings due to my involvement with scouts...

Okay, I did purchase a brand new microwave rice & pasta cooker recently. Actually, it was a freebie due to the fact that the blessed thing went missing in the post and then promptly arrived on my door step the day after the company had reimbursed my credit card. They insisted that I kept it by way of compensation for the extraordinary nine weeks in transit, which was mighty decent of them, especially as their promotion had promised free shipping, the cost of which was promptly added to the price after we'd reached checkout!

Ah yes, life in the Pierce household has been 'interesting' over the past year or so. My inactivity and penchant for fine red wines has led to me gaining an extra-ordinary four stone over the past five years. The last one has yoyoed horrifically. Each time I've congratulated myself on losing it I've celebrated this by adding to the fortunes of my local vintners (including Wines Direct) and master chocalatiers...

Yesterday I treated myself to a brand new copy of this months "Weight Watcher's Magazine" and a double decker! And yes, my intentions are once more GOOD...

Polly's A-Waffley Bad Blogger...!

Okay, so I'm a bad blogger! I haven't put pen to paper, metaphorically speaking for months on end. Perhaps this has something to do with my return to work back in May? Or maybe I've just lost the knack? Personally I think it's got more to do with my addiction to Facebook!

I tried tweeting for a while. Actually I quite enjoyed writing updates in 140 characters or less, in the beginning, but I soon got bored with it. Facebook is definitely my favourite form of micro-blogging. What I like about it is the fact that it's interactive, whereas blogging tends to attract the occasional remark - if you're lucky! Fair enough, maybe my copy should be more interesting and uplifting, surely if it were I'd get loads of remarks. Wouldn't I?

I don't know the answer to that one. What I do know is that if one neglects their blog, they sooner or later lose their readers. I mean, why on earth would anyone follow a blog that's not active? I know from personal experience that it's easy to lose interest if your favourite blogger doesn't blog - I won't mention any names, but the guilty will probably know exactly who they are! Anyway, enough of the waffle...

Speaking of which Lidl, the eponymous discount store ran a special on waffle makers a while ago. Seeing as I am a big fan of these light, fluffy batter confections I rushed home with one and eagerly made up my first batch. The result? Absolutely revolting, they ended up in the bin!

Luckily my now 13year old LB took matters into his own hands recently. Having demanded that I Google 'the perfect waffle recipe' a simple breakfast waffle was chosen from the Mr Breakfast.com site. As luck would have it the recipe was entitled Best Ever Waffles Ever and my kitchen turned happily into an impressionist version of the preverbial bombsite.

The inaugural waffle was dreadful. So much so that even the dogs turned their noses up at it! This was probably something to do with the fact that the recipe site had suggested the waffle maker wouldn't need to be oiled. I'd passed this information on without first checking the instruction booklet and true to form the first waffle had stuck, burnt to a crisp and failed to rise. Plus it was raw in the middle!

Having very carefully de-crisped the machine with a sharp knife (not to be recommended), placed some damp kitchen towel between the irons and steamed the mess off, LB tried again. Only this time he lightly oiled the irons...

Best Waffles Ever (5 servings)

• 1 and 3/4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 beaten egg yolks
• 1 and 3/4 cups milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3 egg whites - beaten stiffly

Mix all dry ingredients. Combine yolks and milk. Stir into dry ingredients. Stir in oil and mix. GENTLY fold in beaten egg whites, do not over mix.

Pour about 1/2 cup at a time into waffle iron.

 

The result: wonderful! Well, nearly wonderful. Considering that my youngest chose to follow the recipe to the letter, using a small blue and white cup rather than a proper measuring cup, plus the fact that he beat the egg yolks and stirred in the whites it was a specially good attempt at making waffles.

Okay, the mistake with the eggs might have resulted in disaster, but, thankfullyt it didn't. So what if the resultant waffles were a little, well, flat! Served on their own they were delicious. Served with maple syrup they were divine. My only complaint? I'd to share them with the rest of the family...

Sadly there are no photos. This is due to the fact that Miss Piggy here ate them all before it was possible to get any shots in. Needless to say, LB's discovered a new family favourite and the fun hasn't stopped there and for some strange reason I seem to have put a few pounds on over the holiday season.

Polly Promotes Ballycrystal Kennels!

For those of you who live locally I thought I'd bring your attention to my local kennels. Owned and run by Maria & John McNally, who's youngest son stayed over at LB's sleepover last night Ballycrystal Kennels is a bright and modern facility offering top class accomodation to all breeds of your very best canine friends.

The dogs are housed in purpose built kennels which is large enough to take seventeen occupants. As the McNally's love dogs and have several of their own they are well placed to look after yours, if you are unable to take them on holidays with you. Each is given their own individual pen and is walked in the fields daily by members and friends of the family. A word of caution though, only those with full vaccination certificates are welcome!

If you would like to know more about this great service why not check them out and visit their new website for more details. You'll be surprised at how reasonable their rates are! If you do decide to visit Ballycrystal Kennels don't forget to tell them that Polly sent you!

Polly Says "Take A Stroll Down Garrendenny Lane..."

Last week, you may remember me telling you all about Lorna Sixsmith's Garrendenny Lane Interior's fabulous Friday giveaway. Last weeks prize was a Lene Bjerre cheese knife with a Selwyn Pearl handle which is inlaid with beautiful silver bands. Without a doubt this was a gorgeous prize, and it was with true delight that I read an e-mail from Lorna advising me that I was in fact the lucky winner...

As happens so often with these things, the photograph didn't do this lovely piece justice and I am well and truly looking forward to using it alongside my dinner service and coffee set at some time later in the year. I've to find the house first, which is burried underneath all manner of detritis belonging to its eight inhabitants! Better yet, add a dining room to my wishlist and somehow make it happen.

Lorna has asked me to tell my readers that Freebie Friday is going to be a weekly event from now on and on that happy note I'll just tell you a little about this weeks giveaway. To get everyone into the summer mood, alongside the glorious weather we've been having Lorna is offering a lovely napkin holder and a pack of pretty Greengate napkins to start the lucky winner off.

All you have to do is leave a comment on the Garrendenny Interiors blog and/or on their facebook page. Once this is done, you'll have to wait patiently till Monday to see if you're the lucky winner which will give to plenty of time to browse through Lorna's online shop...

Polly Says "Garrendenny Lane's At It Again..."

This last week I've been very fortunate, in so far as I've won two great prizes. Funnily enough, despite my intentions of winning craft gear, both of these have come from very different sources...

My thanks to Lorna Sixsmith of Garrendenny Lane Interiors whose random integer generator thingy chose me to become the proud owner of last weeks Freebie Friday prize. Lorcan, my wonderful postman tried to stuff it through the letterbox on Thursday but unfortunately it was just ever so slightly too deep, so he left it in a secret location and sent me a text. Of course I was nowhere near home and had to bide my time and patience until I was able to get my sticky mitts on it, but it was worth it!

My brand new Lene Bjerre cheese knife is just beautiful. The handle is made of Selwyn Pearl inlaid with delicate silver inlays, the photo's don't do it justice. Now all I need is a nice cheese board to compliment the beautiful cheese knife and a dining room in which to display all my formal table wear! (Must keep entering competitions...!)

This brings me nicely to the fact that Lorna has asked me to remind my readers that she's going to be hosting her Freebie Friday every week from now on. This week the prize for one lucky reader is a lovely serviette holder and a packet of  pretty Greengate napkins to go with it, I'm sure you'll agree that this would be a lovely addition to anybody's table this summer.

If you fancy your chances head over to the Garrendenny Lane Interiors blog and leave a comment, and just to be extra sure you can also leave a comment on their Facebook Page!

Have a lovely weekend!

Polly Pierce

Vinca Cards

Polly Plays Along With PaperPlay Challenges & Waltzing Mouse...

Phew! I've just checked over on Paperplay Challenges and they haven't quite closed the doors on last week's challenge. So it looks as though I might be in with a chance to win one of Claire Brennan's beautiful stamp sets afterall!

The challenge is to create a wedding card using one of Claire's stamp sets. So here is my card made with the 'Celtic Heritage' set, I have used two of the ornate bird images to create one over lapping heart...

The sentiment comes from one of Claire's more recent sets; 'Fancy Phrases' and I think you'll agree that it is fitting for a wedding or any number of romantic occasion cards. All cardstock is from The Paper Mill Shop and the images are stamped in Memento's Tuxedo Black and then coloured with Pro-Markers.

So, fingers crossed that Sandie hasn't locked the door while I've been writing this post. Wish me luck...

Polly Pierce

Polly Celebrates Ireland's National Fish And Chip Day...

Today, 26th May 2010 is National Fish & Chip Day here in Ireland! Apparently, participating chippers are offering 50% discount on all orders for fish and chips today...

The word on the street is that the first fish and chips in Ireland were introduced by young Guiseppe Cervi, who was on an America bound ship which stopped off in Queenstown (Cobh)on the south coast, just off Cork. Having reached Dublin, Guiseppe worked in the city as a labourer, earning enough to buy a coal-fired cooker and a handcart, and started selling chips outside pubs...

In the years following Guiseppe opened his first fish and chip shop was on Great Brunswick Street – now Pearse Street – next door to Trinity College Dublin in 1880-something...

What remains remarkable about the Fish and Chip industry in Ireland is that the majority are owned by Italians some hundred years or so later. Even more remarkable is the fact that nearly all of these families originate from one tiny area - a handful of little villages in Val Di Comino, in the province of Frosinone in Southern Italy.



In honour of this great tradition the descendents of these hard working pioneers of Ireland's favourite fast food have got together to form a self regulating association - ITICA, whose tagline is "Serving Your Local Community Since 1885"...

These are ITICA's Core Values:

• 
  

  Freshly cut chips are the only chips we serve

• 
  

  Our customers will be treated courteously and efficiently 

• 
  

   All meals will be prepared to the highest food safety standard 

• 
  

  Our shops will be maintained to the highest standard 

• 
  

  Our shops remain a safe and welcoming environment 

• 
  

  We will support ITICA promotional activities

For more information why not drop into their site and see who in your area is a member of ITICA!


Now it's not that I'm biased, but with the exception of Leo Burdocks, the only place to go for fish and chips is an italian chippers! Everything else pales by comparison. It's not unusual for Irish chippers to use frozen lumps of soggy battered fish instead of fresh fish. This and the use of frozen chips, which are equally appealing succeeded in putting me off fish and chips for many years!

"GOLDENFRY and Luigi's, Edenderry; Macari's, Tullamore and Angelo's Takeaway, Banagher have become members of the newly formed Irish Traditional Italian Chippers Association (ITICA) and they now proudly display the ITICA logo." (Offaly Express 09 April 2010)

So, the question remains, how will you celebrate National Fish & Chip Day? The thought did cross my mind that I could make a healthy low fat version of fish and chips here at home, however, that really wouldn't be celebrating National Fish And Chips Day properly would it? So I guess it's off to Macari's for tea tonight...

Meanwhile, in between rushing around delivering boys here, there and everywhere I think I shall celebrate by making an extra-special hand made greeting card to cheer a lady called Jayme up. This is known as a random act of kindness or RAK, if you would like to know more about this please visit here...

If I succeed in fulfilling this ambition, I'll be posting on my other blog later on this evening and you can find out more over there...

Why not let us know how you celebrated National Fish & Chip Day 2010? Enjoy!

Ciao!

Polly

Vinca Cards

Polly's Garden Rockets...

Just a little over fifty years ago the British government launched its favourite slogan "Dig For Victory!" Here we are, in the fully modernised 21st Century being encouraged to do the same again during one of the worst recessions in since the war. It just goes to show how human beings can adjust to circumstances, returning to the basics during times of need...

In the video below Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall introduces The River Cottage Instant Vegetable Garden from Rocket Gardens. Safely ensconced in a box packed with organic straw to protect and keep its contents moist, your bounty is delivered right to your door. Eliminating the especially vulnerable stages from germination to becoming a fully fledged seedling, Rocket Gardens provides you with an advantage over your local flora and fauna.

Image via Wikipedia

So, what’s in the box?

The following baby plants suitable for filling a plot approx 10m square.

•  Rocket x 20
•  Mixed lettuce x 30
•  Dwarf French green beans x 12
•  Runner beans x 8
•  Kale x 5
•  Courgettes x 3
•  Potatoes x 10
•  Giant red mustard x 10
•  Tomatoes x 3
•  Peas x 10
•  Basil x 2
•  Parsley x 2
•  Borlotti beans x 8
•  Chard x 10

All you have to do is prepare the soil in advance by digging it over, weeding it and turning the soil into a fine tilth ready for planting! Rocket Gardens certainly provides peace of mind, taking away the uncertainty of the germination process and night time raids...

If you'd like to know more head over to River Cottage, meanwhile Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall tells us a little bit about this great idea:




As you can tell, I'm a bit of a Hugh Fearnley fan! I just wish I had the energy that he has to turn my somewhat overgrown jungle into a productive kitchen and ornamental garden. Still, one can dream...

All the best for now,

Polly

Vinca Cards

Polly Launches Dungarvan Brewing Company In Dublin...

Just a quick update on the recent post I did on the Dungarvan Brewing Company who produce a range of Bottle conditioned beers - Black Rock Irish Stout, Copper Coast Red Ale, Helvick Gold Blonde Ale their micro-brewery down in Co Waterford.(just typing the names has my imagination salivating!)

I recently received a message in my Facebook message box which informed me that they are expanding! Yes, for those of you lucky enough to be living in Dublin they will be having a launch party in the 'Bull and Castle' on Lord Edward Street in Dublin on Thursday 3rd June starting at 7pm.

I have to admit that I am just a wee bit envious and wish that I live in Dublin. By the time this date comes around I'll be back in the workforce for the first time in four years or so, so I definitely won't be in a position to join the party! Still, there will always be another one...

Meanwhile, if you'd like to keep up with their exploits they now have a blog or rather their chief brewer now has one. This is a good read which is full of useful information for would be real ale drinkers not least because it contains the link to their map of stockists!

Meanwhile, despite the beautiful weather I'm just going to have to content myself with a lovely pint of tap water...

Polly

Vinca Cards

Polly's Having A Giveaway...

Sorry to disappoint you, but the title of this post is just ever so slightly misleading, rather than having a giveaway myself I'm showcasing two friends of mine who are having giveaways!

Nice and quietly I've known these ladies for at least a couple of years, through my membership of the Irish Business Women's forum and more recently on Facebook. I suppose it was inevitable that I should become friendly with them, not only because of my own craftiness, but also because each complements the Wedding Industry in some way.

Carol Shaw makes fabulous jewellery by hand, which retails at affordable prices. This of course makes her an ideal referral for the bride to be, the bridesmaids or indeed the mother of the bride. In fact Carol Shaw Jewellery appeals to all ages and pretty much all tastes, as there really is something for nearly everybody on her site.

A perfect example of Carol's work is this Swarovski Crystal pendant, which she is putting up for grabs this weekend. This is an event which is designed to Carol's fabulous jewellery and to increase her fanbase. All you have to do is become one of Carol Shaw Jewellery's fans on Facebook and then send invitations to your girlfriends (or boyfriends) to do likewise...

Lorna Sixsmith, on the other hand is an interior designer and the owner of Garrendenny Lane Interiors. Her online shop is just fabulous, stocking all sorts of lovelies ranging from Designer Guild bed linen to wrought iron wall sconces, many of which would make fab wedding gifts.

This week, and every week from now on Lorna is holding Freebie Friday. One lucky winner will be chosen at random to receive a beautiful Lene Bjerre cheese knife with a Selwyn pearl handle, which comes in an inscribed black faux velvet case. I'm sure you'll agree that this would make a fine addition to anyones formal table wear. 

For your chance to win this weeks Friday Freebie head over to Garrendenny Lane Interiors blog and leave a comment. While you're there you should have a good look around her online shop and see what else she's got in stock...

Meanwhile, I'll leave you by wishing you luck with both of these fab giveaways while keeping my fingers crossed that I win them myself!

Polly

Vinca Cards

Have A Bash?

You know thinking about it, I really do have a thing about kitchen gadgets. The fact that I don't use the most of them, despite it being a matter of life and death if I didn't get them is entirely beside the point!

One such gadget is the humble pestle and mortar. I do however use mine with alarming regularity and surprisingly enough so does my twelve year old son. Sadly my version of the pestle and mortar is not what it could be. A present from my erstwhile ex-husband many years ago my love for this object has endured despite the fact that it is of green Connemara marble. Ungrateful? No, not at all. I just prefer the more traditional stoneware type...

Perhaps then, it's just as well that George from Culinary Travels is only able to offer her present give-away to our American readers.

"I have the team over at CSN stores (who have more than 200 online stores that sell everything from cookware to yoga accessories to bamboo flooring to barstools) to thank for allowing me to give away this great prize.

To enter all you need to do is leave me a comment here, making it clear if you are in the US, by April 29th and I will pick a winner on May 1st. I’ll then contact the winner directly and pass their details on to CSN stores so that they can arrange dispatch of the item."

So, best of luck and if you're the lucky winner try not to think of me and my Connemara marble while you're busy bashing away with your lovely new granite pestle and mortar!

Happy bashing...

Polly Pierce

Hand Made Irish Cards For All Occasions

Dungarvan Brewing Company

t's funny how having a bad day can turn into having a good day all of a sudden, isn't it? Sometimes when the body and/or the spirit doesn't want to play I turn to my trusty computer for solace. It's better than pain killers or valium, somehow managing to suppress whatever is bothering me sufficiently to take away the desire to vent at the children, or whichever innocent might happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The medicinal effect of the computer is proven in its efficiency. A number of years ago my youngest son had both of his large toe nails operated on (Zadek's Procedure), under local anaesthetic. At the time he was sitting up on the operating table munching on chocolate (much to the anaesthetists disgust) and playing his beloved Nintendo DS. LB was considered too young to tolerate the discomfort of the local anaesthetic injections and was expected to require full anaesthesia.


Anyway, I digress. During one of my less enthusiastic moments, ie today I went surfing on the net and am delighted to say that this has truly lifted my spirits resulting in several important discoveries and a lighter mood. Not only am I now the newest proud member of DCWV's Facebook page, (I just love their stuff), I'm also wiser regarding the existence of Lin Yu Chun, I've come face to face with the woman behind I Married An Irish Farmer and what's more I've discovered the existence of the Dungarvan Brewing Company. Wow, what a day...


Regular readers know that I am passionate about supporting the local economy and promoting local businesses. Some may even know that I'm fairly enthusiastic about what is fondly known in the UK as Real Ale. Actually, it's more than that. It's a passion for hand-crafted beers, sadly in Ireland these are few and far between as the majority of beer drinkers lack the appreciation of the craft to seek anything but the high pressured cold fizzy stuff sold in most public houses these days.

Like lambs to the slaughter the modern beer drinker accepts the latest fashion of ultra chilled liquid devoid of flavour in the belief that this is the best way to serve their favourite tipple. In reality beers are served like this to disguise the reduction in quality due to variables cellar conditions and general lack of skill on the part of the average bar person (pc for bar man or heaven forbid maid.)

Having grown up with Guinness of the highest standard, served at room temperature in deference to the average age of the customers being well above sixty years it was with some degree of revulsion that I discovered what the English call 'Guinness'. This was quite a different beast. It suffered the indignities of poor bar skills and travelled poorly. I once was advised by a sage bar man of the New Forest, (in the deep South)  that the lumps of black stuff snaking slowly down the inside of the glass were supposed to be there. Needless to say it wasn't long before I was introduced to something far more palatable...

While I have yet to enjoy the experience of the Dungarvan Brewing Company's wares it fills me with absolute delight to be able to extol their virtues here on this page. Ethically they are the epitome of the stuff that I came to love during my time in the United Kingdom. Being Ireland's latest addition to the micro-brewery industry  they are producing a range of bottle-conditioned craft beers which are brewed and bottled on-site in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.

What's so exciting about the Dungarvan Brewing Company then? Simply put it is the return to proper old fashioned brewing techniques which the larger companies have abandoned:

Brewing and bottling on-site means that we can oversee the complete production process, from grain to finished bottle, so we can assure the quality of this hand-crafted product.
Conditioning in the bottle means we have a naturally carbonated, unfiltered and unpasteurised beer that doesn't need any further enhancers or additives to stabilise or improve them.

Anyway, for those that share my passion the Dungarvan Brewing Company is having their official launch tonight at Downey's in Dungarvan, Co Waterford from 8pm onwards. I wish they were a bit closer to home! Maybe if you're in the area and love real beer you'll take a couple of hours out of your busy schedule to drop in for a pint or two and get these guys off to a flying start. For more information check out their Facebook Page...

Slainté

Polly Pierce

Irish Hand Made Greeting Cards & Wedding Stationery

Polly Wants Candy...

To celebrate the fact that her blog has reached a magnificent 20,000 hits and 90 followers my cyberfriend Sandy decided to offer a wee taster of what's to come in the future. She's put up this delicious blog candy for grabs:

1 x Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Nestabilities

1 x Bo Bunny "Clearly Mixed Up" Acrylic Album

1 x PK "Chocolate Drops" Glittered Skittles

5 x Deep Ivory Gardenia

5 x 2-Tone Baby Pink Roses 25mm

5 x White with Pink Centre Roses 25mm

5 x Ivory Roses 25mm

5 x Lt. Mocha Brown Roses 25mm

10 x 2-Tone Pink Roses 15mm

10 x Ivory Roses 15mm

5 x 2-Tone Old Gold Cherry Blossoms

1 mtr - Ivory Guipure Lace

1mtr - White Cotton Lace

1mtr - Delicate Coffee Scalloped Lace

1mtr - Salmon Scalloped Lace

1mtr - White Scalloped Lace

1mtr - Cream Cotton Lace

0.5mtr - 1" White Ric Rac

She's also adding a small selection of mini tags, pins & charms/spacers from Whiff of Joy, Tabby Crafts and The Hobby House.

Like all sensible sweetie shop owners she's added a few rules, ie the boring bit...

* To try to reduce spammers I will ask you to put your favourite type of embellishment after your name in Mr. Linky.... (e.g. Sandie-Ribbon)
* You must put a post on your blog or a picture link in a prominent place on your own blog, linking back to this post.
* It is not necessary to become a follower of my blog, please do so only if you enjoy my work.
* If Mr. Linky has gone AWOL please try at a later time. It's just impossible to combine comment entries with linked entries so it is ONLY entries via Mr. Linky which will be eligible for the drawing.
* This candy is open until 11.59pm (GMT) on March 31st.
 *The winner will be announced on Apr 1st.

Meanwhile, why not head over to Sandie's blog and leave a comment. Maybe you could be the lucky winner of some fabulous craft candy...

Polly's Better Late Than Never!

Apparently yesterday was Blog Action Day and the subject was Climate Change. The idea of this is that if all the Bloggers in the world unite on this one issue, the rest of the world, ie readers might just be inspired to make one change for the better which would result in a better world. Okay, so that is the idea in a nutshell. Put very simplistically I know, but hey, I live in my own little world!

Anyway, like I said the day of action was in fact yesterday. Seeing as I missed it, due to early morning starts and flying around the little world in which I live like the proverbial lunatic I decided to make my contribution today. There's never any harm in stretching things like this, it just pushes the message further and for longer. That's my excuse and I am sticking to it, so there...

In 1992 a twelve year old girl called Severn Suzuki addressed a United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Her words were harsh, well rehearsed and carried a very clear message to the world. They are of equal value in today's world as they were back then.

Having piqued my interest I went on a wonder around the inter-world and found some interesting facts about saving the earth. Severn Suzuki is still alive and kicking, living the life that she dreamed about and actively engaged in saving the world she spoke about so eloquently back in 1992. She's not alone.

These days the fight for the world continues with a wealth of useful information out there for the taking. Once upon a time this information was hard got, and in some cases still is, but the message is still out there and is being imparted just as eloquently by another generation of twelve year olds. Suzuki later discovered that actions speak louder than words, in this case they do so just as eloquently...

Below is a list of just a few of the sites I visited this morning when I should have been tidying the house and saving my own personal world from destruction:

More info about Severn Susuki on Squidoo
One minute to save the world
Shrink
My Zero Waste
The Rubbish Diet
SASS Magazine
Green Drinks

These are just a few of the places I visited this morning. While I enjoyed the journey immensely it's time for me to re-enter my own little world and prepare for a weekend of saving the earth in a different way...

All the best, enjoy ploughing your way through all these fascinating sites and think about how you can change too!

Polly Pierce

Making Greeting Cards To Rock Your World

Polly Shows Off Her Favourite Waltzing Mouse

A friend of mine; Claire Brennan of Waltzing Mouse Makes, recently released her own line of stamps which have taken off like a bomb since her first set back in May. Anyway, Tuesday is a special day for Claire. Not only is she having a huge bumper release this month; ie six stamp sets (wow!) but she is also re-releasing her range of stamps.

This coincides with the opening of her new on-line store; which promises to be interesting not least because of the new range of stamps that she's been torturing her fans with over the past few days. Her release dates are always exciting due to the fact that she's been giving us sneak peaks; which are wonderful. Personally, I'm beginning to feel something like a peeping tom as I seem to be stalking the poor lassie...

Here in the world of Crafting with Polly, ie Vinca Cards I always think that it's nice to be nice. I love to give local businesses and friends of the flesh & blood and the cyber variety a little bit of a write up from time to time. I'll be honest though, there are times when my motivation to do this can be a little clouded by the fact that occasionally these friends are offering some really nice prizes for doing so. That said, this is mainly in terms of my crafting pals and their blog candy!

Well, today is simply one of those days. I can't miss the opportunity to give Claire a fanfare; which I would do anyway as I love her style and find her stamps invaluable, but also to wish her the very best of luck. Now for the ulterior motive which is to show my favourite stamp which has to be printed out in green - those were the conditions, honestly! It doesn't have to be one of Claire's, it can be any stamp which is your fave but it does have to be green, very green...

I don't know whether this card really fits into that category but I can't get it out of my head because this truly is my favourite stamp of all time. It is my all time favourite card which features a combination of the ornate heart from the Celtic Heritage stamp set from Waltzing Mouse Stamps, the most amazing designer backing paper from Die Cuts With A View's Luxury Stack (8"x8") a golden organza ribbon and my favourite paper of all time which is a luxurious metallic bronze type of colour with more than a hint of green in the right light.

Add all this together with Luxury Pearlised Cream card and some fabulous Gold Velum from The PaperMill Shop at Junction #1, Antrim and you've got something pretty special. So much so that I seriously can't get that card out of my mind! The name of the bride and the groom were hand-written in a matching bronze/green Sakura Gel pen along with a traditional wedding message written in Italian. As you can see Vanessa & Norman got married on the 9th September 2009 at Lake Garda in Italy and I have to say that this is the most romantic wedding card that I've ever made. I just hope that this sentiment continues into their lives for years to come and that they will be very happy...

I know that there's not a whole lot of green included in this card, but that which is there really does make this one stand out from the crowd. Regardless, I enjoyed the making and the giving of this card and that's what counts.

Meanwhile, if I'm lucky Claire might include me in the MONSTER COMPETITION for all six (yes, all six!) sets due for release on Tuesday. If anybody reading this fancies entering this competition why not whip up a card and post a link on Claire's blog - you've got until Midnight tonight!

Ciao!

Polly Pierce
Exclusive Hand-Made Cards From Ireland

Polly Tartan

Funnily enough I spent the other day querying my stats and was delighted to see that Donal of The Good Mood Food Blog had kindly put my name up amongst other Irish Food Blogs for all to see.

Being a polite sort of person; I left a comment on his blog thanking him for his kind attention and went on to spend a considerable part of my day hogging his blog! You see, I discovered a thing or two about our host and am now looking forward to seeing Donal in all his glory 'flying' around the stage at the Tivoli Theatre on New Year's Day!

In fact, I was so excited about the whole thing that I dedicated a whole post about it! Let's say no more about that particular subject, shall we; especially as my reward was being tagged by Donal! Being tagged is something I don't really mind and the more often it happens the better you get at remembering what people don't know about you and the stranger the better!

The difficult thing about being tagged is not tagging the same people each time; or indeed the same people who tagged the people who tagged the people who tagged you! Phew; that's a mouthful if ever there was one. One of my tagee's is Lorna who owns Garrendenny Lane Interior's contacted me yesterday; exclaiming that she was unable to find the afore mentioned post on either of my blogs! Whoops!!!

The truth is that I completely forgot; what with the excitement of the weekend and the various other commitments, to press the publish button - how embarrassing! So, thankfully, I'd only contacted Lorna in advance and I must say many, many thanks for informing me of my gaffe; anyone who's interested in reading it can do so here...

Just this morning I received a comment from George which in turn led me to check out the links on the published post; after all I'd already made one gaffe and I didn't fancy discovering that I'd made another. The first link I tried was Lorna which took me through to her lovely blog and yesterday's post about tartan, which included this lovely picture of a tartan corset...
While I'm sure you'll all agree it is quite out of the ordinary; no doubt most of us have visions of whalebone's and a maids foot in the small of the back or indeed pictures of lace and ribbons. This peice may not be for every day wear; but it certainly is different and worn with the right choice of accessories could be absolutely stunning for a formal occasion. If only I had the figure...

This reminds me; the other day I came across a fine example of MacKenzie tartan, which of course Lorna's post reminded me of. This is one of only two items over the past forty odd years and sadly I didn't have my wallet on me at the time and now I can't remember where I saw it! It was a lovely angora scarf which of course would have gone beautifully with pretty much any coat in my wardrobe; drat!

Lorna'a post got me wondering about the lovely highland clan tartan hanging in my wardrobe. Originally made for my grandmother; it was passed down to me some twenty-five years or so ago, and has been worn only occasionally. Unlike most 'Kilts' this is the real McCoy, constructed in the traditional way for a gentleman rather than the longer skirts usually sold as kilts to the unsuspecting female.

As a result of my researching the internet I have found a few examples of this lovely tartan, many of which were not shown in a complimentary light due to printing discrepancies. I did however find a traditional Kilt manufacturer who has many fine examples of this unusual colour scheme. I also discovered that my brooch, the lesser of three, being rather plain and dowdy by comparison is the pewter coloured one with a stags head in the centre which is apparently the MacKenzie Seaforth Highlanders regimental crest.

Of course all of this now has me wondering about my right; as the descendent of a MacKenzie, to wear the afore said tartan. Already this morning I have trawled through the Clan Website looking for fine examples of this tartan. What I discovered is that the tartan I have is the modern version; as worn by the Seaforth Regiment, and that there are a number of different variations on the theme.

I suspect that if any, I should be sporting the muted colours of the hunting tartan as opposed the Seaforth; after all it was my great-grandmother who bore the name. That is until she married a gentleman called Smith from Yorkshire, much to her parents disgust...

Polly Pierce
Vinca Cards - Offering You The Gift Of Time

Polly; Let The Tagged Alone!

Oh no~I've been tagged again! This time it's Donal over on TheGoodMoodFoodBlog . I suppose it serves me right as I seem to have been hogging his blogging all afternoon; yes that's right, all afternoon. The reason being very simple; I am obsessed by the pantomime and he's starring in the one I love...

Anyway one thing obviously led to another and hey presto I am to reveal seven little known facts about myself for public consumption. Actually I don't mind that bit too much, the problem is trying to think of folk I know who haven't already been tagged this time around or even the last time around! So; for the easy part!

• 1) I speak with a very mixed up English accent - sorry to shatter any illusions folks! That is until really cross in which case a few of the colloquial profanities may be uttered in a slightly softer but more menacing accent!
• 2) I am half Irish and a little less than half English, with some Scottish blood and heaven only knows what else coursing through my veins!
• 3) My complexion is so sallow and my hair so dark that I am easily mistaken for a local when on holiday's/vacation abroad; whereas DG is paler than your average milk bottle with deep auburn hair! I have steel blue eyes.
• 4) Despite the above I am not well travelled; preferring mostly to holiday around the islands of Ireland and the United Kingdom, usually camping in my own tent, cooking for four on a camping stove or meths burner. (finances dictate!)
• 5) I have developed some very diverse reading habits which vary from short novella's and poetry to classics such as Dracula and Alice in Wonderland to the Avoca Book of Soups. I enjoy reading aloud to my children and anyone else who will listen.
• 6) My taste in music is eclectic to say the least. My first concert was AC/DC at the Hammersmith Odeon and the most recent a Recorder Quartet Recital at a local hotel - I went to both voluntarily! I have met Lemmy from Motorhead.
• 7) As a child I was very active. I won several medals and awards for both swimming and gymnastics - at (very) amateur level. Today I lead a sedentary life-style. I'm sad...

Now for the difficult bit! Who on earth am I to tag; without causing them to tear their hair out, that is?

• Claire Brennan
  
• Amanda
• Lorna
  
• Niamh
• Ruth
• Blaithin
• Kate

Sorry girls; but I am sure you understand!

Polly Pierce
Hand Made Wedding Stationary & Greeting Cards from Ireland

Polly Villifies Staunch Professional

One of my cyber-contacts; the lovely Geri D from IBW started a thread entitled Rude Competition Winner On Late Late Show and of course this attracted my attention. I was rewarded with a link to a YouTube video of the said incident starring Mr Pat Kenny on Ireland's longest running chat show.

Like him or loathe him Pat was obviously taken aback by this lady's response to her good fortune and in my humble opinion was rather rude himself. As a professional entertainer one would hope that his professionalism would prevent him from reacting in such a petulant manner; after all it is possible that the lady was in a state of disbelief at receiving the call.

Perhaps it was all too much for her; and to be honest she did sound as though she might be of an age-group which mightn't be too pleased to receive such an invitation. I do however think that perhaps she could have been a little more gracious about not wanting to attend next weeks toy-show; though Mr Kenny could have prompted her. That way he would have saved face for them both while allowing another competition entrant to benefit by her refusal.

We all go through difficult times in our lives and yet we seem to forget this in the face of unexpected circumstances; whether good, bad or indifferent. When things are going hard for us we sometimes forget that other people mightn't be having much of a good time either and yet we automatically expect to be treated with respect and courtesy; while at times forgetting that the other person concerned is also worthy of such treatment.

It takes very little effort to at least try and be nice rather than indulge in selfish or spiteful behaviour. Mr Kenny's remark that he would save the tickets for someone who would appreciate the opportunity to go to the toy show wouldn't have been offensive had he not ripped up the tickets concerned and made unpleasant remarks to and about the lady on the other end of the phone.

Personally, I would not like to be in the shoes of either party concerned. The poor woman whose good fortune it was to be offered tickets to the toy-show and €10,000 will forever more be referred to as 'The Rude Woman Who Humiliated Pat Kenny On The Late, Late Show'. Mr Kenny on the other hand will weather the storm as always and his latest faux pas will no doubt be forgotten by all except the lady called Barbara who lives in Cork.

Surely it should be remembered that she did have a right to refuse part or even all of the prize being offered to her. Did she deserve to be treated with such disdain on national television; by supposedly seasoned professional who should have been able to rise above his obviously battered ego?

That; I'm afraid, is my two cents on the subject let's hope that this incident dies a death quickly and that Barbara enjoys spending her prize money! I, for one, offer her my hearty congratulations on her win. I would however; recommend that in future she refrains from entering televised competitions; lest she win another and finds herself being vilified once more...

Polly Pierce
Vinca Cards:- Handmade Wedding Stationary & Greeting Cards