a little update of sorts

I just spent a week or so at my friend's (she has a yummy food blog, check it out!). She needed someone to baby-sit her two little kittens while she was away on holidays and being the animal-obsessive I am (I'm the mad person who points out at e-ver-y dogs on the street and then squeal), I was super happy to oblige.

It actually felt a bit like holidays for me too, it was dead nice to enjoy her balcony during the short-lived Irish Summer. Also, she lives in a very different area from where I reside and it was very refreshing to see and experience Dublin from another angle.

I jumped on the opportunity to explore my new surroundings and upon Magda's recommendations my first port of call was the Merchants Market, the biggest indoor market in Dublin. I was pleasantly surprised, it is actually brilliant. Loads and loads of second-hand furniture, bric-à-brac, clothes and cheap fruits and vegs. I'll definitely come back! I got some lucky finds too (see picture below): a couple of books and the prettiest tray (remember my obsession for beauty trays?!) for a mere fiver... Bargain!

I know things got a bit quiet around here, but my head was all over the place the past weeks (hell the past year) and after months of running in hopeless circles, I feel like I found the energy and faith to settle down on a project. I'm not going into specifics yet but I'll be sure to let you know when things are up and running. In the meantime, forgive me if I accidently disappear again but I need to focus on that other thing for a little while. I'm going to do my best to be more regular here though and buy a weekly planner because I do have many posts in my draft section, I think I need some structure and organisation.

Also, I'd like to remind all you Google Friends Connect followers that GFC is going to shut down in less than two weeks so if you still want to follow this blog, make sure to make the switch to a new reader (I can heartily recommend Bloglovin but you can find out about alternatives here)

le temps des tulipes

I hope it doesn't get too ridiculously repetitive around here but I went to the National Botanic Gardens for the third time, a couple of weeks ago. I took my Mum, who was visiting for a few days. It was uncharacteristically sunny and the tulips, magnolias, bluebells and azaleas were out. It made for a delightful, colourful walk!

my visit to the Dublin Botanic Gardens in 2011 | in 2012

Something I didn't know prior to this visit is that this place is linked with one of the darkest period in Irish history. It was here that the infection responsible for the dreadful potato famine was indentified and research labs were laid on the very same ground.

Also, I found out that some of the glasshouses were built with some extra ironwork coming from one of my favourite places in London, the Kew Gardens. I think I may be even more in love with the National Botanic Gardens now!

Check out those crazy-looking flowers! They're called Protea Eximia and are from South Africa.

On a unrelated note, I got sucked in by the new flickr look as well as the free Terabyte (!) available and just opened a flickr account. Are any of yous on it?

the lovebird chronicle

A couple of weeks ago, I opened my window to attend to my sorry plants and noticed something moving in the heart of the palm tree in front of me. They had come back! My wood pigeons! Well, I'd like to think they were the same pigeons who chose this very same tree as a romantic spot last year. This time, they chose to build their nest right next to my window and I couldn't hide my excitement when I noticed two tiny little eggs under their feathers. "We're going to have babies" I said to whoever wanted to hear.

I started reading about pigeons behaviour, hatching time and such. I learnt that during most of the day it is the male that protects the eggs while the female eats to her heart content to produce her crop milk. I never witnessed the switch so I just assumed it happened at night while I was sleeping.

Woodland pigeon eggs take about 17 days to hatch and I effervescently started counting the days... Until this weekend. I woke up on Saturday, opened the window as usual to check upon my little friends and plants and here's what I saw...

An empty nest.

No pigeons, no eggs, no leaving note. They had disappeared! Gone! I am probably feeling more upset than I should, but I feel like I have been robbed of a happy moment, that I could have helped if something terrible happened while I was sleeping. My boyfriend reckons the magpies are the culprit. 

I think our daily noise in the kitchen and living room may have disturbed them. 

Or the female never came back and lonely and angry, the male gobbled his eggs, left without a warning and moved on. Those are certainly easier to consider than monster magpies to me.

<\3 

reads #15: april 2013

I Capture the Castle (Dodie Smith, 1948)

I have to be honest and tell you that this book drove me into a bit of a reading slump.

I picked it up cos one of my favourite blogs is named after it. Maybe I needed something more caustic at the time, after reading J.D. Salinger. Something less 'consciously naive'. 

Dont get me wrong, I liked it, I want to say that the tone is kind of like the Famous Five series, but for little rosebuds, full of wonderment typical of young teenager; and flourish language. It's extremely well written and compelling. But ultimately, it made mee feel old and jaded. I feel like it's the kind of book that should be read at a younger age, round 14 maybe, when you feel trapped by your pretty bedroom walls during Summer vacation, and longing for escapades... and a little bit of flirting.

Reading this book reminded me of the joy I felt while reading Enid Blyton as a kid. I was in awe with those clever, eloquent children in search of adventure. 

In place of adventures, Cassandra the 17-year-old narrator and her sister Rose are experiencing the discovery of love. It got a bit too Mills & Boon-ey for my own taste, with all the romantic chassé-croisé but what I really loved is the description of the English country side that transpired. It is a truly beautiful ode to its greenery and magic. Dodie Smith wrote this novel, her first, when she moved to California and deeply missed the United Kingdom. Between the lines, you could almost hear her heart weeping.

It is a brilliant Summer, or even Spring, read (check out my other book recommendations for Summer: Bonjour Tristesse and Brideshead Revisited)

Favourite quote: Noble deeds and hot baths are the best cures for depression.

The 2003 film adaptation is a very good one, so do watch it if you can't be bothered with reading the book. The visuals are sublime and the actors are spot on: Romola Garai, Rose Byrne... and Bill Nighy *heart-shaped eyes*.

Follow me on Goodreads.

earworms: summer anticipation

source

A rare fact to be highlighted, this playlist mainly comprises of new(ish) music save for two oldie bonuses. 

I am really excited for the new album of Daft Punk, the single Get Lucky sounds like the summer of my 18th. And while on the funk subject, why not pop a bit of Sister Sledge on the spinning table?

I think the debut album of Haim has the potential to be the perfect companion for sunny weather, judging by the few songs I chanced upon listening.

Jagwar Ma's Save Me (which I used as a soundtrack in my last video) sounds incredibly fresh and like a total summer hymn.

The Allah-Las have been around for a little while but as soon as I play their songs and close my eyes, I feel like I'm standing in Joshua Tree.

As for Cool Cats by Squeeze, I recently discovered it and what's there not to like?! Choon!

lately...

... I've been tremendously enjoying my neighbourhood adorning its best colours. So much greenery blooming and smelling wonderful: magnolias, honeysuckles, tulips and of course the beautiful cherry blossom trees. I had a mini-hanami wander in celebration, taking it all in sights and 'in lense'.

Also, I've gone back to stitching a little. Nothing complicated though, just a little floral heart for my Mum's birthday. The pattern is from a book I found in a charity shop in Glasgow, two years ago. Still love it!

a day in blackrock

One of my favourite things to do on the week-end is to go to Blackrock. It's a little town on the Dublin seaside, a mere 30 minutes away from my place. 

It's just lovely to see the sea, it always makes me feel refreshed. There is a little market there on Saturdays and Sundays, filled with bric-a-brac, vintage clothes, books, etc... all you could expect from a market really. 

I thought I would take you with me as it was all lovely and sunny last week-end. 

It's nothing special, but it's our little ritual, often punctuated by a greasy lunch in the diner in front of the market. 

My boyfriend had some lucky finds in the old video game shop and he even treated me to a book, yes! I've been super keen on reading A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway since watching Midnight in Paris last year.

After a quick look at my pile to read, I think you can expect a review in 2016... At best!

looking for spring

As the temperatures have been warming up, I wanted to look around for signs that Spring is definitely here to stay. A few magnolias have bloomed in my neighbourhood and a single, sad cherry-blossom tree. The rest seem to have been burnt by the drastic changes of temperatures. They all look a bit sorry and bare.

I figured out that the best place to check is my favourite park. It's not the prettiest in Dublin, Stephen's Green probably holds that title, but come a kinder climate, I feel drawn to this little concrete pond surrounded by a comfortable lawn and shading trees. It's just unassuming and cosy, no need to bring your clothbound Joyce, any old paperback is welcome.

The sad thing is when I got there beginning of this week, the park was not quite ready for spring. I suppose maintenance had to be delayed due to our long winter, so the lawn was turned over and the trees and bushes were chopped and trimmed. The poor park was definitely not looking its best. But I guess giving a month or so and with a bit of a sunny push, it will be back in its old modest splendour.

Nonetheless, it felt good walking around seeing morsels of blue sky here and there and even being able to take off a layer or two. And I'm happy to report that Spring was definitely there as the daffodils were swaying in their brightest yellow, ducklings were happily waddling and pigeons were doing what pigeons do best: pestering on their female kind.

But I've seen the weather turn for the worse before so I don't count my chickens. I still remember the last Spring I spent in Belgium a few years ago. A killer frost took away a full-bloom Spring. It was just heart-breaking. Me and my dog had a long walk around the lake, in complete disbelief. Echoes of crying childless ducks were rippling over the icy water. I still can sometimes hear them howling their losses in my head. Yes, Nature or God, whatever you call it, can be incredibly cruel, but it can give the most beautiful gifts. So let's celebrate that and hope*. I'll end with this quote from the last book I finished: 

"I suppose the best kind of spring morning is the best weather God has to offer."  - Dodie Smith (I Capture the Castle)

* unnecessary heavy shit brought on by sunshine cravings.

obsessed with: home edition

{1. this is glamourous/mariaemb/ikea} {2. designlovefest/mirubrugmann/kinskashop/lotta vase} {3. unknown source/into the gloss/zara home/zara home} {4. niotillfem/ikea/ikea} {5. finnish design shop/orla kiely} {6. little fine day/apartment therapy}

powerscourt, co. wicklow

It's not quite Spring here in Dublin but we've had a few sunny days this week. Freezing, but sunny none the less.

I needed no more excuse to fly out of the front door last Tuesday, my camera tucked in my handbag. I've been wanting to visit the Powerscourt Estate since going to Killruddery Gardens last Summer. There are some amazing historic buildings scattered around Dublin, I sometimes feel like I need to be reminded of all the wonderful places that happen to be within my reach.

Powerscourt estate goes all the way back to the 13th century, although what used to be a castle is only a 'house' now. It has beautiful Japanese and Italian gardens (inspired by Versailles), a lake, a little tower, a pet cemetery, a waterfall and walled gardens. The house shelters a toy museum and the Avoca mothership store (known for its handweaving and its country chic goodies). We didn't have time to visit the waterfall and the museum, so another visit is definitely on the agenda!
Perhaps Powerscourt is most famous today for having been the filming location for Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon, which makes the place even more magical.