Sunday 23 February 2014

Horse Chestnut Series - February

Here is our February Horse Chestnut...
 
 
Not looking much different to last month, perhaps just a hint more bud, and a couple of crows. Of course with every passing day, we get a few minutes more evening light to appreciate its still skeletal form.
As it is February, I thought it appropriate to explore some of the Horse Chestnut's romantic connections.
Indeed it has been the subject of song...

 "There beneath the boughs we used to meet
All his kisses were so sweet
All the little birdies went 'tweet-tweet'
'Neath the spreading chestnut tree"
(The Chestnut Tree by Glenn Miller)

 and verse...

 "Under the spreading chestnut tree
I sold you and you sold me
There they lie, and here lie we
Under the spreading chestnut tree"
(George Orwell)

 And what could be more romantic than a proposal of marriage?
 
In chapter XXIII of Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester proposes marriage to Jane under "the great horse-chestnut at the bottom of the orchard,"...

...."here is the chestnut tree: here is the bench at its old roots. Come, we will sit there in peace to-night, though we should never more be destined to sit there together"...

..."My bride is here," he said, "because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?"
 
 
(Best not to dwell on the impending 'sign' from nature in the form of a lightning bolt which splits said tree in half in the night!)

 Jane is elated and accepts Mr. Rochester's proposal!!
Well she was obviously a Horse Chestnut lover!
 


Friday 14 February 2014

Love is...

a many splendid thing!
 
With St. Valentine's Day this week, it seemed love was all around but not just romantic love, love in all its forms...
 

On Saturday I found this LOVEly card in Aldi. I loved the colours, the delicate print in the background and the subject matter of course, I can feel a little art project coming on!
 
On Sunday, my heart skipped a beat when I found this cute couple at a market…

 
 I do love some chintz! These two will fit nicely into my growing collection.
 
While the weather got less and less clement (Atlantic Storms!) as this week wore on, the flurries of snow around the country on Tuesday were just a picture…

www.photocallireland.com/
 
Who doesn't love a light dusting of snow with their Tuesday?
 
On Wednesday, love was in the Air from Piano Sonata No. 11 as my mother and I enjoyed an evening of magical Mozart by candlelight provided by a European Baroque Ensemble and three excellent soloists...

 
Mozart knew a thing or two about love…

Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius.
Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.”

Friday of course was Valentine's Day, the day of love!
Some red velvet cupcakes to spread the love to my fellow workmates...

 
And a romantic dinner for two at our favourite local restaurant where we celebrated our engagement, the Motte and Bailey...
 
 
Cosy surroundings, roaring fires, flickering candles, roses, champagne and amazing food, all the ingredients for a LOVEly evening with Mr. Auburn.
 
Hope you had a love filled week...

"Sometimes it feels like there are so many things we can't control, earthquakes, floods, reality shows. But it's important to remember the things we can, like forgiveness, second chances, fresh starts. Because the one thing that turns the world from a lonely place to a beautiful place, is love.
Love in any of its forms." 

Saturday 1 February 2014

The Feast Of Saint Brigid!

Today is the feast of Saint Brigid.
Last year I told you all about St. Brigid here and why I like to celebrate this feast.
St. Brigid shares the title "Patron of Ireland" with St. Patrick, and is renowned for her great generosity to the poor, her care of the sick and infirm and her rapport with animals.
I also told you the story of St. Brigid and the cross she wove from rushes off the floor to baptise her father on his death bed. Hundreds of years later this cross is still made on St. Brigid's day. It is traditionally believed that a St. Brigid's Cross hung by the door protects a house from fire and harm. A new cross is made each February 1st as the previous years cross is burned.


Well, last year I told you that I never learned to make a cross at school as most Irish children would have done. So, as promised I have learned!
St. Brigid usually brings the Spring but I don't think she could manage it today. The weather is just terrible; icy cold, wet and windy! So I am glad to report that Mr. Auburn very kindly went to the end of our garden to pick the rushes.

I am told that 12 rushes make a good cross, as mine were a little skinny I went for 16.
Starting with one rush held upright, fold a second over it to the right as shown below...

Fold another rush over the horizontal piece and turn this anti-clockwise...

Keep folding over a rush and turning anti-clockwise until you get something that looks like this...


You will recognise the traditional weave forming as you go.


At this point you are supposed to secure the ends with a flattened rush like this...
It worked for the first arm and then I resorted to string!

Now trim the ends using a scissors...

And there you have it...
My very first Crosóg Bhríde!
Okay it doesn't compare to the one I bought in Knock some years ago (which I won't be burning!) but I'm quite pleased with my first attempt!

And here it is hanging by the door to protect our little home from fire and harm...
  
Well wouldn't you know it, the rain has stopped, the clouds have parted and that is the sun shining through the front door!
Happy St. Brigid's Day!!

You might also like...

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...