Waterford Crystal and A Tribute

Recently I had the opportunity to visit the newly-opened Waterford Crystal factory in Ireland. Read through to the end for a visual tribute to the rescue workers of 9/11.

Let me walk you through the process. I'd have forgotten how it all went, but my trusty camera was there with me to help you see it all for yourself - from simple wooden mouldings to exquisite handcrafted work.

Before you go into the factory, you get to wander about looking at the finished product. You think it's amazing now, just wait until you've seen how it all comes about!

There are dinner place settings so you can imagine how your own table might look...

...and chandeliers that sparkle like a million diamonds.


Now that you're ready to be impressed, we set off. First is the making of the moulds (from wood):
...then the shaping and blowing of the glass...

...which is then checked and put into the kiln.

If it's not absolutely perfect, it's flung into "the blue bin" (official title), smashed, and melted down to begin again. There are no 'seconds' of Waterford Crystal.

Some of the materials and implements:

Next comes the hand marking. The marks are made on the crystal so that those who cut it know exactly where to make the cuts.
I talked to a few of these workers, many of whom had been working in the Waterford Crystal factory for over 35 years.
And finally on to the Sculpting room. Here's where they make the most amazing works of art, many of which take hundreds of hours to complete.

The most amazing one I found was a depiction of a rescue scene at what is now Ground Zero in New York. It was created by one of the factory workers on his own time, spending over 200 hours to honour those who gave their lives to save others on 9/11.

Today is the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. I don't have the skills of this crystal sculptor, but with these photos and this blog post I honour all those who gave their energies, efforts, and even their lives on that day.

Even if we don't know who they were.

"Not a day passes over the earth but men and women of no note do great deeds, speak great words, and suffer noble sorrows." - Charles Reade

Make Salad While The Sun Shines

So, despite the fact that it's been exceedingly soggy this week (hence the new wellies), it's still summer, so I'm having salad for dinner.

Plus, the sun came out today :)

I got this recipe from Tesco Real Foods, but of course being me, I had to document the whole process! So, if you're stuck for a light snack today, or a side dish with dinner, may I recommend the Greek pasta salad?

All you need are baby tomatoes...

Half a cucumber, cut into quarters...

Red onion (sparingly!)

Fresh basil (mmm, nothing nicer!)

(And don't forget to save the rest of the fresh basil in water - it will last for almost two weeks!)

Just bung all this into a bowl while you're chopping everything else...


...like the feta cheese...

...which you will drizzle with olive oil and white balsamic vinegar, and sprinkle with freshly ground pepper, salt, oregano, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.

Then some twirly noodles (fusilli is the fancy name, but you can call them curliqueues or spirals or whatever you like)...

...and toss it all together and put it in a beautiful blue ceramic bowl that your friends brought you from Cyprus! :) (Thanks Santamas family!)

I had to taste it to make sure it's okay. Whew - it's excellent! Try some yourself tonight!

'Tis The Season For New Wellies!

With all the pouring rain lately I decided to go out (ie, go online) and buy myself a pair of new wellies. I'm discovering that they're all the rage. I found funky wellies, standard wellies, wedge wellies, wellies with fur...and even wedding wellies! (Actually, I filed that website away in case I need it for one of my brides.)

But, I said to myself, "Focus!" No need to be distracted with all these various wellies that will not do the job. I need a good solid pair that will muck with the best of them, and still look adorable at the same time :)

Finally, after long hours of trolling through website after website, I found the pair I wanted from Regatta. And after I found the pair I wanted, I dandered about on more sites until I found my size, thankfully on Trekwear.

And when they arrived today (very quickly! thanks Trekwear!), I was so excited that I had to pull out the camera and snap a few photos so you can share in my excitement. Now I can't wait for a good mud-puddle to go jump into! (Fortunately, with the weather the way it has been, I won't have to.)

So here are my beautiful Regatta Lady Tapestry Leaf Green/Sweet Grape Wellingtons! (To use their proper title.)



Of course, I wanted a picture of me actually wearing them, but that's where it starts to get difficult. (Tripods, various focusing issues with the self-timer, etc...) So I had to resort to my old standby Canon IXUS 95IS (great camera for an in-the-pocket option), and as you can see we had a few problems.

Such as, no head...

...no feet...

...and me looking like Alice in Wonderland. How am I the same size as my patio doors??

But the most exciting thing is actually sloshing around in the rain with them, so this is the last time you will see them as pristine as this!

I'm going up to Skye soon and I hear it's been wet and windy and wild, so you may get to see the wellies in action.

Until then, enjoy the rain!

Flowers In The Air

It's summer - flowers are in the air! And flourishing on the ground as well.

Enjoy this collection of flowers from Ireland and Scotland...



...in Bali...
...and of course, at weddings.


Enjoy a summer of beauty!