Cartoon: SimonOpenDoor by illustrator Maeve O’Keeffe
This year’s Simon Open Door initiative is currently underway, finishing May 19th. For a €90 donation which goes directly to the Simon Community, an appointment can be booked for an hour-long consultation with a certified RIAI Architect.
I did this a few years ago which led us to adding an extension to our 3 bed, 1 bathroom bungalow. With three kids, we longed for a second toilet. Continue reading
The days of egg hunts and the Easter Bunny surreptitiously straying to our house have ended. How do I know this? Our Bunny is dead. I found the body and plausible evidence. Continue reading
Patrick’s Day Hats by Illustrator, Maeve O’Keeffe
Although Glounthaune, my hometown (village) near Cork city hosts one of the shortest St. Patrick’s Day parades, what it may lack in length, it makes up for in style. Take hats – in the not too distant past, most of us would brave the chilly March 17th in sensible woolly hats and scarves, with a clump of shamrock safety-pinned to our coats. However, sartorial tastes have changed, especially if the kids get involved! Continue reading
Treadmill – Illustrator, Maeve O’Keeffe
Spring is here, the days are getting longer, putting a pep in our step. All good but what to do if you’re still struggling with excess Christmas weight? Exercise is the obvious answer. With a plethora of fitness classes, ‘Operation Transformation’ or the outdoor gym equipment by Glounthaune Playground, there’s surely no excuse? A friend asks me to join her in trying out a gym.
I must admit I feel self-conscious in my mismatched tracksuit alongside the toned, lycra-clad clientele. The bike and rowing machines are fine. I then try the treadmill, apprehensively stepping on to read the instructions. ‘Attach safety clips to clothing.’ Done. There’s a cautionary note: “To avoid injury, stand on side rails before starting treadmill.” OK, safety first.
I examine the programs printed on the display panel: Manual, Muscle Toner, Fat Burner – oh, I like the sound of that. Let’s kill those carbs! I enthusiastically turn on the machine. The conveyer belt moves and I wobble with it, hanging onto the handrails for dear life. I’m half walking/running, desperately trying to keep up. My stomach lurches like I’m on an erratic roller coaster. I just can’t get the rhythm and nearly break my neck trying to stagger off.
So much for high-tech machines! It’s easier to walk the roads – maybe even pick up a bit of litter. At least I won’t fall flat on my face. A few small steps is a giant leap for this frazzled mammy, trying to turn a new leaf!
©Maeve O’Keeffe 2017 www.facebook.com/frazzledmammycork
Debs Dress by Illustrator Maeve O’Keeffe
Summer 2016 is ambling along, with its lacklustre weather, long-gone soccer, Rio Olympics and Pokémon Go. Right now, I would normally think of schoolbooks and uniform shopping, but this year it’s different. Daughter did the Leaving Cert, so no back to school for her. I’m trying not to stress about exam results, CAO offers and the nightmare of finding student accommodation if she goes to Dublin. A welcome diversion is the debs dance. Continue reading
Exam Survival – Illustrator
Studying Hard – Keep Out!
The Leaving Cert is looming! With the state exams due to start on June 8th, there are households across the country trying to cope with this stressful time. It’s hard on the students, revising or trying to cram in last-minute coursework. But tough on parents, too, who have brought them this far. As a mother of both a Leaving Cert and a Junior Cert student, I’m well aware of the tensions and traumas that accompany this ordeal. Like other frazzled mammies, I’m try to keep it together. The following survival hints might help ….
Pain for the 96fm Radiothon Heel Appeal!
The #HeelAppeal took place on Friday May 27th 2016, 3pm @UCC for the #96fmradiothon in aid of @BreakthroCancer @marymountcork @mercyfoundcork @CUHCharity. Being an Illustrator, I couldn’t resist doing a caricature of @pjcoogan @OpinionLine96 in high heels. Did he and his fellow walkers feel the pain or comfortably strut their stuff? Well done, guys – so many families have been hit by cancer. The #96fmradiothon fundraiser is for a really great cause.
ChristmasCountdown by Illustrator, Cork, Ireland, Maeve O’Keeffe
Christmas Countdown – Illustrator
It’s the countdown to Christmas. Since the Toy Show, children have been double-checking their wish lists, posting or burning letters in the fireplace. They can now relax, excitedly waiting for Santa’s imminent arrival. But what about us adults? What of all the jobs we have to do? If only we could write a letter and have Santa’s elves clean the house, do the shopping and magic a cooked turkey onto the table? Christmas is a wondrous time but is it worth all the stress we put ourselves through? Continue reading
I’m delighted to see the poster I worked on for Glounthaune (Cork) Community Association and Glounthaune tidy towns to ‘Keep Glounthaune Green & Clean’ is placed on the roadway entering the village. I did this using Adobe Illustrator and it’s based on a winning original artwork for Glounhthaune Tidy Towns by Tom Dwyer and Ben Smith who were in 6th class in Glounthaune National School. Well done boys!
Poster by Illlustrator, Cork Maeve O’Keeffe
Back to School by Illustrator, Cork, Maeve O’Keeffe
Back to School – Cartoon Illustrator
It’s good to be back. We’ve had a frazzled few months building a house extension but life is now returning to normal. And it’s back to school time, buying uniforms and queuing outside bookshops. Continue reading