Category Archives: Blarney Family

Achingly Hip

Posted on June 4, 2013 by

The Cackler is blessed with boundless Babelicious energy and a functioning set of knees but even she felt old and creaky when faced with three sets of stairs, no elevator, and the design features that were part and parcel of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blarney Family, Culture with the Crone, food, friendship, The Traveling Crone | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Far from where I was raised

Posted on September 29, 2012 by

Disclaimer: If you were not born and raised in Northern Ireland, you will be unlikely to understand very much of this post. Don’t try to make sense of it.  It explores actions, attitudes and activities that make no sense at … Continue reading →

Posted in Blarney Family, Crone as political commentator, Culture with the Crone, Tales of a Belfast girlhood, The Traveling Crone, You can take the Crone out of Ireland | Leave a comment

Can you tell what it is yet?

Posted on September 25, 2012 by

I think I will become a conceptual artist, modeling myself on Sol LeWitt.  I got the idea at tonight’s watercolor class where the teacher talked about LeWitt and his wall drawings. The wall drawings, although the brain child of LeWitt, where … Continue reading →

Posted in Blarney Family, Crone as art critic, Culture with the Crone | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Marigold, Marie-Louise and Vera

Posted on August 14, 2012 by

The peaches in the slice of pie I ate this evening were the color of marigolds. Seeing them prompted me to think of a doll I once owned. She was tall–at least 2 foot 6 inches–and slim. Her cheeks were like apricots, … Continue reading →

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Pastels at Dawn–and most other times of the day and night

Posted on July 10, 2012 by

Visitors to Northern Ireland this month should plan to visit Castle Espie in Co. Down where, in addition to the wild birds of the wetlands; a wonderful cafe (lasagne and chips/fries and no shortage of tray bakes); and a great shop, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blarney Family, Crone as art critic, Culture with the Crone | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Finding the Love in Clover

Posted on May 22, 2012 by

My grandmother, although naturally curious, was a stranger to Google. Age and infirmity kept her away from the keyboard, and meant she left this life with unanswered questions about red clover. My Gran liked red clover and I thought of her when I noticed … Continue reading →

Posted in Blarney Family, Crone in America, maryland, Menopause, Tales of a Belfast girlhood | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Full to Bursting

Posted on April 28, 2012 by

The lady in the dry cleaners looked at me and looked at my gigantic rack of fresh-pressed clothes. Or perhaps I mean my rack of gigantic fresh-pressed clothes. “You and your clothes are not the same size” she said. “Your … Continue reading →

Posted in Blarney Family, Cooking with the Crone, Culture with the Crone, food, friendship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The keys to number 42

Posted on February 5, 2012 by

The Campbells have moved in to number 42. They are a young married couple as my parents were when they bought the brand new bungalow in 1957. My dad was its one careful owner until he died in October. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Blarney Family, Tales of a Belfast girlhood, You can take the Crone out of Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Pictures of the Year

Posted on December 17, 2011 by

This year I did not so much lose my father as learn to hold him close to my heart and appreciate him as part of my own essence. The pictures of him below were taken by my sister just a … Continue reading →

Posted in Blarney Family, Fat Camp, friendship, Gangsta Hansel & Ghetto Gretel, itchy ankle, Terrapin Grove, The Traveling Crone | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Painted Ladies

Posted on December 16, 2011 by

The Cackler is going nude this Christmas whereas I plan to be sensuous, albeit fully clothed. I refer of course to two perfumes in the Estee Lauder range. She’s Nude in Yorkshire and I’m Sensuous in Itchy Ankle. On both … Continue reading →

Posted in Blarney Beauty tips, Blarney Family, Christmas with the Crone, Crone in America, Tales of a Belfast girlhood | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment