Blogs

Sinead, Solvar Jewellery

How many time does the weather come into your vocabulary in a day? As you may have noticed, the Irish love to discuss the weather. Ever wonder why? Well let me tell you just how many times it has come up for conversation in 7 hours today for me.

First thing this morning, I looked out the bedroom window and told my husband it’s a day for the rain coat (1^st time). Before we even made it downstairs to eat our breakfast, we had another discussion as to whether or not the kids should bring raincoats to their picnic (2th time)! Yes, image in that short space of time the sun had come out, and we decided to send the kids on a picnic. As I backed my car out of the drive, my neighbour shouts out, ‘It’s a shame you have to work on such a gorgeous day, Sinead!’ (3^rd time) I arrive to work, and as I race for the door of the building with a cardigan over my head as the rain is coming down in buckets, Declan shouts, ‘Sinead, where’s your rain coat?’ (4^th time) I finally arrive to my desk with a steaming cup of tea, and my colleague starts discussing the pros and cons of going on holidays in Ireland because it might rain (5^th time). At 12:30 PM, Donal, who sits opposite me, informs me his ankle is at him and so I can expect heavy rainfalls soon (6^th time). And boy was he right, I got a call to say come quick and pick the kids up, as they and their sandwiches got soaked in the park (7^th time). The time is now 2:30 PM and everyone is smiling and happy, and the sun is shining. But for how long? And we wonder why Ireland is so green.

Here are two pictures taken in one day two weeks ago in Clogherhead Co Louth where we spend most of our weekends over the summer season.

Hope you all are having a wondering summer!

Sinead

Check out Solvar Jewelry on QVC.com.

Stephen, Connemara Marble

In Ireland, there are many areas of peat bogs, which are mainly held in common ownership. Many families have harvested the turf from their own part of the bog for generations, and, near the quarry, Marty Burke goes down to the bog to harvest enough turf to keep his home cozy and warm and provide fuel for cooking to last the whole winter. The sods of turf are cut from the bog and then stood up in little 'Stooks' so the wind can blow through them to dry them out. Summer sunshine helps too, and, when dry, they will be brought home and stored for use in the colder months ahead.

I think it's lovely the way Marty and his family can benefit from nature’s rich bounty and to be able to live from the land itself.

Shop Connemara Marble jewelry and Stephen’s book The History of Connemara Marble on QVC.com.