30th Aug 06 Wednesday

Patchwork Group
Spent a lovely evening with Marie Sprott who runs a patchwork group. We had dinner (lovely veg in tomato sauce with guinoa, yumm) and then got down to some patch working. First off Marie showed me some of her own finished projects – bed covers, cushions and lap or baby cot covers. Then I got to choose some fabric for a project to create my self as Marie was going to teach me now to patchwork and quilt. Marie has a vast collection of fabric but I finally settled on a geometric pattern, a contemporary floral pattern, a traditional floral patter and a plain green. Delighted with my selection we then set about planning my project – it was to be a cushion, drawing out the pattern and size of each square. We then had to iron the cloth and cut it into the sections or pieces. Once all that was done Marie when through the whole process with me of putting it together (which I wrote down so not as to forget!) She also furnished me with the rest of the equipment needed – cord for the piping, a needle and threads. So after a very pleasant evening I went off with my full patchwork kit under my arm to start my cushion. I’ll let you know how I get on.
Marie.sprott@eircom.net, 028 38074

25th Aug 06 Friday

Spoke to Leonard Dennis of the Gramophone Society. The Gramophone Society are a Music appreciation group (The Gramophone of the title comes from the traditional name for such a group). The group meeting to listen to various pieces of music, which are presented by other members of the group, this is a mixed bag of classical, opera, baroque or jazz. The key to the group is listening (they have a very good sound system) and they keep chat to a minimum taking away the need to debate the merits of each piece preferring quite contemplation of itminstead. They usually have a tea beak however. Entry on a night is 5 which goes towards a raffle of cds each night.
For more information contactLeonard at lendes@eircom.net or 028 21328

Went to the Country Market, bought courgettes, smoked salmon pate, proper brown bread, green tomato chutney, eggs, red onions, cherry tomatoes and a prayer plant. Everything home grown or made (and as it turns out delicious). The system they had was great- isles of produce (all the breads together, veg together etc) with each item number with the suppliers number you just filled your basket and when to the till where your receipt was had written for you. I chatted to the lady on my ‘till’ and she told me they are associated to the Country Markets of Ireland. If you wanted to sell produce go along to your local market and ask its members about joining them.
Abbeystrewry Hall
12.30 - 2.30PM Fridays

Collected my reading club books and started ‘Digging to America’ by Ann Tyler.

Went Road Bowling; under 18’s on the Marsh Road Skibbereen. Pickup score on the way back.

3rd Sept 06 Sunday

Growing Awareness
Growing Awareness is a food and farming group.
The aim of which is “ to ensure that everyone has access to food grown and produced in a way that restores respect for the earth, respect for food and respect for farmers and growers.” They run sustainable food and farming workshops and farm walks throughout the year and distribute a free newsletter.

I attended one of their workshops today run by Madeline McKeever at her home and garden on Turk Head. The topic was Seed Saving. Madeline herself sells seeds she has saved from her own garden as ‘Brown Envelope Seeds'. First thing the nine of use got around the table with a cup of tea and introduced ourselves (as it turned out Jenny from Skibbereen Walking Group was there and there and so was Bill the husband of Bridget who is in the Patchwork Group). Most people had gardens and grew their own veg and some already did some seed saving and one guy grew on a more commercial basis as he has a heath food shop fro which he sells his veg.

Then we worked through the hand out Madeline had created for use going through pollination, cross pollination, hybrids and then onto saving seeds from peas, beans, brassicas (cabbage, broccoli etc) tomatoes, lettuce, the cumber family (inc squashes, melons and gourds), onions, leeks, potatoes, carrots parsnips…

After the theory and demonstrations during which people chipped in which theory own queries, problems and tips we went for a walk around Madeline’s garden and polly tunnel. Its was somewhat idyllic to be walking through rows of veg in the bright sunshine so close to the sea but it was the polly tunnel that really impressed me; aubergines, gourds, peppers and two rows of various types of tomatoes many so ripe they begged to be eaten, enormous tomatoes, tiny pebbly cherry ones, wrinkly ones, yellow tomatoes red tomatoes orange tomatoes tigery ones and open with black tops (Black Crimea variety). I picked a few of the little cherry variety so sweet and juicy that I defy anyone to prefer confectionary to them. We then we handfuls of varying tomatoes went and had lunch (out in the sun out course) after we were thoroughly sated on our bounty it was back to learning.

The day itself was not just enjoyable and a learning experience but gave me a real drive towards grown my own veg, something have always wanted to do but am currently restricted to herbs and chillies on my windowsill. But now I am designing my own polly tunnel and determined my next move will be to place with a garden where I will grown a list of edibles and long as my arm and perhaps dabble in creating my own varieties!

Growing Awareness
18 Newbridge Park
Coronea
Skibbereen
Co. Cork

Tel: 028 23889
Email: info@growingawareness.org
http://growingawareness.org/

Madeline McKeever
Tel: 028 38184
Email: madsmckeever@eircom.net

2nd Sept 06 Saturday

Came down with some sort of bug that is going so spent a good deal of the day in bed. Started reading ‘Grace and Truth’ by Jennifer Johnston for the reading group though and did a little bit more patch working.

1st Sept 06 Friday

More patch working, I have the front quilted now with the consequence that the tops of my fingers on my left hand are all pierced. I can see why thimbles are used!

Singing club
Corner house, 10pm

Arrived about 10pm and sat with a pint at the bar at about 10.15 more people filed in and Aine Meric who was organizing the night started going around with a notepad and pen to find out who was going to sing (I declined and much as I would love to I unfortunately have the voice of a disaffected crow) At about half past Aine started off the proceedings herself (she had a wonderful high sweet voice) followed by two from the guest of the nigh Maire Ni Cheallachair. From there Aine worked off the list calling out each person to sing, voices varied to from the wonderful to the ordinary but each enjoyable in its own way. The songs were traditional Irish (sung in both Irish and English), some amusing and some sorrowful ballads, many I had never heard before and that were particular to small areas. `Each some was some in silence given respect by all which you would think would be difficult in a pub on a Saturday night but it wasn’t such was the absorption in each performance. This went on till about 1 when potato wedges and sausages were brought out (complementary) after which it carried on in a more informal manner without the Bean on Ti calling out the singers. The atmosphere was lovely and welcoming at one stage a man bought a pint for both myself and Mona (landlady of Bridge House) to welcome us to our first Singing Club!

Singing club takes place on the first Friday of each month and if you have any inclination towards singing just tell the Bean on Ti when you get there.