Japanese Garden

First of all, I'd like to thank you all for all your lovely comments on Niall's blog post!   You are all so sweet!  I didn't realize what a great writer he is - but I think he's a natural!!   I loved his post, it was funny, practical and romantic - just like Niall!   I'm trying to persuade him to do another one so watch this space!!

On holiday in Kerry recently while flicking through a guide book we came across this garden.  It wasn't that far away from where we were staying so we went for a look.  I really wanted to check out the Japanese section of the garden as I love this style of garden and I've never actually seen one in person before, just in magazines.  This garden is called 'Dhu Verrran - it's in Milltown, Co. Kerry.  We had a lovely stroll around and enjoyed looking at the various plant collections they had - the cactus collection in one of the greenhouses was brilliant.  But my favourite section of the garden was definitely this Japanese inspired garden with koi pond, bridge and tea house.  Isn't it cute??

The black and red Japanese style bridge.  So beautiful. 

Bright blue agapanthus and a butterfly/moth??  can't tell the difference sometimes!!

It was so relaxing in the little tea house looking out at the bridge.  I would love something like this in my own garden.  It was a very calm, soothing place to be. 

View from inside the tea house looking out to the bridge.  


 

 Hope you all have a lovely relaxing weekend!

Sharon
xxxx

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - A Man's Perspective...

Hi, I'm Niall - also known as 'Sharon's Husband'. I am truly shy of social media but asked Sharon if I could write this post. Why? In Sharon's shop [La Vie En Rose] I hear a lot of female perspective of Annie Sloan paint and little about what men are thinking. So here's what I think. Being a man, a skeptic, and all that.

I admit it. I love this paint. In the same way that I love my Dewalt power tools.

When Sharon first introduced me to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint I placed my opinions and rear end firmly on the nearest fence.  Not wanting to inhibit my wife's enthusiasm I nodded and smiled at regular intervals whenever the subject came up...all the while thinking 'probably another fad'. All of this bearing in mind the trials and tribulations of many, many, 'home projects' in the past.

Finally I cracked, under mild pressure, and had a go myself.

What a revelation and here is why:

It has little to no smell. No need to drag furniture outside to paint...no waiting for the weather to be right to start a project (you could be a long time waiting in Ireland). Gone are the days of using cut onions, coffee grounds and opening every window in the house to rid ourselves of paint fumes.

It doesn't 'splatter' like other paint. While we still use dust sheets, the paint seems 'magically' attracted to the furniture, being painted, and to nothing else. No more scraping paint flecks of our wooden floors...

It's really easy to clean up afterwards. Regular H2O does the job just fine. No need for white spirits or other nasty chemicals to save our brushes for the next project.

It's unbelievably easy to work with. The only way I can describe it is that it gives me the same sense of satisfaction I got, as a child, when wiping a black board clean with a wet cloth. Every brush stroke or glide of a roller gives the desired result. Small build ups of paint are easily brushed/rolled out.

No need to sand or prime. This, I really did not believe until I saw the results with my own eyes. While notably good for upper body strength - I despise sanding and/or priming. The least fun part, of up-cycling, is gone forever.

It dries quickly. All paint needs drying time but this paint is pretty quick. I have a real knack for brushing my clothes off newly painted furniture. No more 'warning - wet paint' signs around our home and no more freshly painted foot prints.

Aside from all the above, which greatly contributes to our matrimonial harmony, Annie Sloan chalk paint makes my wife very happy.

Therefore, I am also very happy ;-)

Niall

Note: this article was, genuinely, not written under duress of any kind.

Smell the Roses . . .

Sign in The Garden of the Senses, Sneem, Kerry.

While on holiday in Kerry recently we visited some gardens that were open to the public.   The Garden of the Senses is a lovely garden to stroll around on a sunny day, although I would like to go back there in June when the roses are all out.

The Garden of the Senses has some lovely sculptures and signs . . .

and some beautiful roses . . .





I loved this carved seat perfectly placed among the ferns and ivy . . .  very Lord of the Rings . . .

 These roses were so delicious, I just wanted to eat them!

 I fell for this rose too - a beautiful two tone rose with lovely a lovely creamy colour on the underside of the petals . . .

In a world where everyone is so busy and life can get somewhat frazzled it is so nice to wander through a garden - slowly, carefree and drink in the scents, sounds and colours of life.  It was a lovely quiet stroll in the sunshine of marveling at the sculptures, admiring the willow tunnel and gently moving from rose to rose to capture each sweet scent.  Our little stroll took not much more than half an hour but we left smiling, holding hands and relaxed.  Now that I'm back to work and there aren't enough hours in the day to finish my ever expanding to do list, I'm trying to hold on to that carefree feeling and to remind myself that even if I'm really busy that it's good to stop and smell the roses - literally!!!!

God's Country

Ring of Kerry

We're just back from our Romantic break in Kerry - sigh!  We (myself and my husband) had a fantastic holiday.  I had never been to the ring of Kerry before and now I understand why they call this place 'God's Country'.   The views of the Ocean and mountains are spectacular.  Breathtaking . . .

Valentia Island

Cliffs - Valentia Island

Beach at Castlecove - Ring of Kerry

Me windswept on top of a Ring fort on Valentia Island

Dry stone structure of ring fort on Valentia Island

We visited two ring forts on our holiday - one on Valentia Island and the second one near Castlecove called Staigue Fort.   The amazing thing about these forts is that the walls are dry stone walls, just stone placed on stone with no mortar.  Staigue fort one of the largest ring forts in Ireland was built about 2500 years ago!!!! no mortar!!!!!  the mind boggles . . . 

Staigue Ring Fort near Castlecove - Ring of Kerry

Entrance to Staigue Fort

View from Staigue Fort

While touring the Ring of Kerry we stayed at Picin Cottage   which was gorgeous, the perfect Romantic country cottage . . .

Then for the last two nights we headed to Kenmare and the Sheen Falls Hotel.  The hotel is beautifully situated right beside the falls and on a lake.

Photo of hotel from the Sheen Falls Lodge Website

 The bridge over the Falls.

The setting really is glorious.  The Sheen Falls Estate is HUGE so miles of woodland and lake side walks.   We both loved this hotel, from the moment we arrived the staff made us feel welcome and were very attentive.  Our room was gorgeous - large and comfortable and the views were superb- and we had our own balcony!    While we were there we had afternoon tea by the open fire (it was the one rainy day we had the whole holiday!).  They have a spa at the hotel so we treated ourselves to massages.  The last night we had dinner in the main restaurant - La Cascade.  We enjoyed a really gorgeous meal in sumptuous surroundings with a grand piano playing in the background.  After all this luxury we were totally relaxed.  Bliss.

 

 The view of the Falls from our room . . .

 The view back up to the bridge . . .

Hydrangeas in the hotel garden . . .

 The view from the front of the hotel . . .

I really fell in love with this beautiful part of the world with its rugged, unspoilt landscape.   It has a quiet, majestic beauty. 

Timeless, eternal, magical . . .

 God's Country

La Vie en Rose in Picin Cottage, Kerry . . .

Myself and my husband Niall are on holiday!!  We needed a few days away and decided to go away for a week to Kerry.   Whenever we go on holiday we always want to stay somewhere special.  Somewhere romantic, with character, away from the madding crowd and if possible  a little bit quirky.   I always check two online guides - the first is Alastair Sawday's website and then I check TripAdvisor.  I found this cottage on Alastair Sawday's website.  The cottage looked so pretty in the photos and it's located on the Ring of Kerry, a peninsula on the West coast of Ireland with spectacular views of mountains and the sea.

As I write I am sitting at the table in the adorable cottage above drinking coffee and planning the day ahead.   I just had to take some photos of this place to show you as it is everything a couple could want for a Romantic break away.

Living Room

As you walk in the door there is a large living/dining room with a beautiful stone wall and beams. 

It's a traditional Irish stone cottage on the coast of County Kerry (God's Country - another name they call this beautiful part of the world).   Called Picin Cottage, the owners describe it as  a 'luxury boutique B&B' and I agree with them it is luxurious and has that boutique-y feel.  The owners Amelia and Nick are two of the nicest people you possibly meet and our the perfect hosts.  They live next door and provide breakfast each morning which is delicious.  They make their own sausages, cook their own bread and serve one of the best breakfasts I've ever had on holiday!

Bedroom

Upstairs is a large bedroom with a double bed dressed in Egyptian cotton and soft pillows. 

Downstairs again and you come to a little hallway and w.c.  which is soooo pretty . . .

Antique Bookstand in w.c.

And then you come to the piece de la resistance . . .

the HUGE bathroom with freestanding claw foot bath and woodburning stove . . .

 this is the most Romantic bathroom I have ever seen . . . the wood burning stove makes the room sooo cosy and there is turf and logs stacked in the corner to keep the fire going . . .

 

the first night we arrived Niall lit the stove, ran the bath, poured the wine and lit all the candles.  It was a lovely Romantic start to our holiday . . . 

 The claw foot bath is enormous and comfortably fits two!!

Amelia and Nick have looked after us so well during our stay at Picin cottage I will be sad to leave but already we're planning our next visit to this beautiful part of the world.

Amelia welcomes her guests with Roses from her cottage garden . . . yes, I am in Heaven . . . We leave here today for Kenmare so more updates to follow.  Hope you enjoyed the little tour of Picin cottage if you would like more info you can visit the Picin Cottage website here.