10 Tips For Getting On With Your Mother-In-Law This Christmas

Tip for Mother in laws at Christmas

Mother-in-laws tend to have a bad reputation, commonly cast in films and soap operas as being interfering, self-righteous and jealous. Within a farming structure, they are often seen as desperate to keep the power they hold within the farm family and the community. But is that accurate? Is she really a villain or is she misunderstood? If her visit is putting a bit of a dampener on your Christmas, here’s some ways to make it easier too. Let’s start with [...]

On the first day of Christmas, a Farmer Date Night Mug

On the first day

Can you believe it is the 1st of December? Where did November, not to mention the rest of the year, go? I have one month left to complete the to-do list I created at the beginning of the year – eeeek.

After all this IFA furore, it’s time for some fun so I’m going to do 12 Days of Christmas giveaways with a different giveaway each day so do stay tuned.

I’m creating merchandise from some of the illustrations in the book [...]

Mother-in-Law Day: How To Get On With Her

The Irish Mammy-in-law

Today is Mother-in-Law Day believe it or not.

The website Days of the Year says “Mothers-in-law get a pretty bad deal. Do they deserve the reputation they have for hounding son-in-laws, and always being a witch? Mother-In-Law Day gives you and your mother-in-law a chance to get to know each other, and to get away from all of those horrible preconceptions. Why not give your mother-in-law (and mothers-in-law everywhere) a fair chance – take them out for a nice meal, [...]

What Did Women Expect From A Farm Marriage?

Mr and Mrs Farmer

Would you believe that the Irish farmer was not seen as a good catch in the 1950s? There were many bachelor farmers eking out an existence on a farm and of increasing concern to society. De Valera even tried to persuade the government to finance the building of a dower house on every farm so the older couple could move to that and the son could marry and live in the farmhouse.

Mr and <a href=[...]

Win a Farmer or Farmer’s Wife Tea Cosy Pattern

Chance to Win a Farmer or Farmer's Wife Tea Cosy and a copy of How To Be A Perfect Farm Wife

One tip I provide ‘perfect farm wives’ in my book is that if you wish to do well in agricultural show competitions, it is a good idea to scout out the competition first. For example, I have noticed that the coffee cake class in Tullow Show is very competitive, being one of the most popular classes. The cherry cake one is also popular, because the prize money for that one is significant. If you find a class that has only [...]