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​"Majella" - mixed media on wood, 18" x 6".  Inquiries.  Available at the Olive Stack Gallery.

The leaving is so hard...my .sweet guests made their way home yesterday, even as Damian Stack, Mary O'Flaherty, Olive Stack and myself sang "Leaving on a Jet Plane" as they departed from the gallery late in the day.  Two hearts leaving a little piece of themselves here in lovely Listowel.

But life marches on, and Bridget and I spent seven hours (SEVEN HOURS!!!!) painting magical abstracts in the studio. It was ABSTRACT MADNESS, I tell you!  Joy over joy over joy.  There is no greater pleasure than following the muse all day long, tra-la-la, fiddle-dee-dee because life is our oyster and painting is what we do!  It left me feeling quite magnificent, as Bridget (who swears she never painted before) is a natural master of abstracts, and so I also felt like a masterful teacher.  Even though it was fairies making the whole thing work (well, fairies and PURPLE SNACKS, a whole new treat I had never tasted before!)...anyway, magic was made and it softened the sadness of dear ones leaving on a jet plane.
Our darling Carolyn did manage to squeeze in a marathon elfing session at the Lartigue Monorail and Polar Express before she left Listowel.  I know a certain choir was happy for her enthusiastic singing and sincere elfing around.  

​I had a quiet dinner at the Horseshoe Pub, where a holiday meal was on the menu and Christmas merrymakers were all around.  Holiday parties are a serious affair here!  I wondered at the ability of Irish women to wear incredible sparkly high-heels in the cold and rain.
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It is a "soft" day here, with clouds and mist and softly falling drizzle.  The perfect day to mind the gallery, paint and get ready for new guests tomorrow.  

I will leave you with this bit of knowledge, courtesy of the great philosophers at the 6 to 9 Club at John B's - in Ireland a woman is never called a whore, but a man is called a hoor (which can also mean whore, but is a "difficult or unpleasant thing").  And here is John B himself expound on how to properly use the word.
8 Comments
Moss Mahony - 8 years ago
Sorry to see your friends leave, but it looks like they had a great time and enjoyed themselves. Do you know that there is a special way to eat a purple snack bar? You will have to ask someone who likes candy and treats to show you.F&W
jen - 8 years ago
Moss, they had a marvelous time, indeed! And NO WAY! I didn't know! I hope someone will show me how to properly eat a purple snack bar. F&W
Carlstoveland - 8 years ago
Oh my! A full day pushing paint around. What a treat. Enjoy the quiet before your next visitors.
jen - 8 years ago
Carl, the rumors are true. I am a paint-pusher. There. I feel better for having confessed. :)
Carol Edan - 8 years ago
WOW seven hours ... can't imagine that block of time!! Thanks for tip about the supermarket chain. Will go back and listen a second time round. John B? Are they speaking English? Could hardly understand a word...Majella all dressed up for a skiing party? Hey there, can hardly keep up party,painting, any time for sleep?
jen - 8 years ago
Carol! Ha ha! They are speaking English, but with an Irish brogue. It is enchanting, the lilt, the singing of the words...

As for sleep, there is time enough for that when I go home in 10 days. Then I just might sleep for a week!
Dotty Seiter - 8 years ago
Jen, the softnesses are so sweet—in clouds, mist, drizzle, and Majella.

Thank you for your many sharings of local culture, including hoorticulture : )
jen - 8 years ago
HOORTICULTURE! haaaaa! You are killing me! How perfect. Thank you for the gift of that word!!

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Lola Jovan

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