fraiselachrymose

The title for my blog (itself a product of Crafting Catherine's goading...) came about because Prince Charming had taken fabulous pictures of our strawberry patch just after he'd watered it one day this summer. The tear drops of water clinging precariously to the tips of the fruit made us laugh, and the title was thus instantly there when Catherine demanded one!

I hadn't deliberately wanted to sum up our existence in this house- a little family lurching fron one crisis to another, whether the crisis be mundane or really quite distressing. The allegory of strawberries and suns both came gradually, but made me smile as well.

And that's about as far as my philosophy goes these days, smiling as much as life allows, or maybe smiling in affirmation of the precious, fragile beauty of it all. So here's a fortnight-late thanks offering, covering Mattman's hospital admission and discharge during the last week, as well as the painful loss of Carole Beattie. Whose parents will always make me smile.




31. A well-recovered Mattman32. The smiling bubbling phenomenon that was Carole Beattie33. The wisdom worship that is Prince Charming34. The gorgeous feast of Autumn this year35. A journey home that takes you along the Lough36. Piano lessons with Rowan!37. A little house in the Mournes to look forward to at Hallowe'en38. A car that is nearly ready for its MOT (today..)39. Mothers' Union tonight40. The sound of PC coming back in through the front door