Ruth's World

Hellelil and Hildebrand, the Meeting on the Turret Stairs. Following a five week campaign on RTÉ television, Radio and Online during which people were invited to vote from a shortlist of 10 works, Frederic William Burton’s Hellelil and Hildebrand, the Meeting on the Turret Stairs was voted Ireland's Favourite Painting on May 24th, 2012.   The large and lustrous watercolour from 1864 is derived from a Danish ballad and relates how heroine Hellelil falls in love with her bodyguard, Hildebrand. The story goes that the princess Hellelil's father regarded the young soldier Hildebrand as an unsuitable match for his daughter and he dispatched her seven brothers to kill him, but the tenacious Hildebrand killed her father and six of her brothers before she interceded to save the life of the last. Hildebrand died of his wounds and the heartbroken Hellelil also perished. The painting captures the poignant final embrace of the ill-fated lovers.  Burton imagines not the fea

Here's a photo of Fergus O'Ryan's parents which I found amongst some old family photos. Mr & Mrs Jack O'Ryan.  Jack was my Great Grandfather Michael 's brother.  I don't know what Fergus' mother's name was...or the dog's either! He could be one of Jake's ancestors, ha ha! (ref. my painting Sooo Tired ) ---I need to do more research. I'm in 'Family Tree' mode this week because I'm trying to put my ancestoral melange together at the moment but still have quite a few blanks to fill in.  I really need to get back into 'Painting Mode' though.  I have a half finished canvas 'on the go' and I want to get it finished some time soon so I can get back to my writing.  I also need to take some time out to breath a little and maybe drink some Red wine with my 'Bestie'!  I've got so much to fit in before the day of reckoning...LOL! (reminds me of the one about the girl whose name was Lolita, who sent a tex

  Random post! Have a look at my strawberries!  I just can't keep up with them, they just keep on coming and coming and they're sooooo delicious! Thursday... Friday... Saturday... Sunday... Today, Monday...aaargh! I'm getting so many from my plants now that I don't know what to do with them; strawberry smoothies for breakfast, strawberries & cream for dessert, chocolate covered strawberries, belgian waffles with strawberries & Ice-cream, strawberry cheesecake!  D'you know, this 'growing my own fruit & veggies' was supposed to lead to a more healthy diet, yeah, dream on Ruthie! Nothing else is getting anywhere fast in my garden though.  I was late planting this year because of the terrible weather so I guess I'll have to wait another while.  My chillis are growing alright; don't they produce beautiful flowers? but there's a bit more growing in them yet before I&