Foreward: Often people ask just how exactly myself and himself met, so I thought it would be handy if I put together a little series of posts laying out the low-down with as many details as can tastefully be shared. If you are not into sappy love stories, I’d give it a skip.

As you may have guessed by now, I was not e-x-a-c-t-l-y the kind of girl who dreamed of breaking away and living a grow-it-yourself-country-life complete with the strapping fella and the charming beat-up Land Rover. In fact, I had never even been on a real working farm in my life and outside of “roughing it” in a rustic cabin with friends for a weekend, I wasn’t much for spending time outside of the city. Five years later, I have developed a true fondness for country living and all things farm. But the truth is, when I fell in love and made the decision to move to Ireland and marry my farmer, I hadn’t a clue what I was in for and just how different life would become….(insert Green Acres theme here)

I met my dashing farmer {MDF} when he was visiting the United States one particularly freezing week in February. It was his second visit this Twin City in the American Midwest. He had come to visit a childhood mate who had moved to the USA after secondary school. On the evening we were introduced, I hadn’t wanted to go out, but I was persuaded by a girlfriend who was desperate for a fun night after a long week at work. I wasn’t feeling the best that day, so I prettied myself up as nice as I could and got on with it, as you do.

We were having cocktails with some others at a stylish downtown lounge when my farmer breezed past our group, turned his head and shot us a smile. As he was waiting for his drink order from the bar, my friend starting chatting with him. He was handsome and by the lilt in his voice, I noted that he was clearly not from the USA though I couldn’t quite place his accent. With sandy hair, light complexion and high cheekbones I passed him off for Scandinavian, as a good majority of the population in the area are descended from that gorgeous part of the world.

As the night unfolded, our two little groups became one and we all moved to another place to see some live music.  MDF* had overheard in conversation that I loved champagne and secretly ordered a fabulous bottle to share when we arrived. I was impressed. As the others trailed off in conversation and dance, we found ourselves at the table alone and began to get to know one another. He revealed that he lived on an 18^th Century farm in the Irish countryside {not Norwegian as I had suspected}, had a degree in philosophy {Wowsers. Kant, Hobbes, Plato were impossible for me to get my head around in my studies } and his star sign was Aquarius {as is mine}. I warmed to him. Though I occasionally found it hard to understand his thick Irish brogue, he had no shortage of charming and funny stories, which kept me in stitches all evening long.

At the end of the night, he said he would only be in town for a few more days and asked if I would join him for dinner the following evening. Somewhat reluctantly, I agreed, and he told me to choose my favorite place. We exchanged phone numbers and went our separate ways.

Early the next morning he texted me to say he was looking forward to our dinner. I was still not sure if I really wanted to go, I just wasn’t keen on romance at the time. Happily busy with a creative career that kept me working and traveling globally, I had convinced myself that I had no time or energy to put into developing a rewarding relationship. Still, he was awfully handsome and really quite charismatic, so despite my hang–ups, I agreed on the stipulation that my bubbly Aussie friend and her lovely husband would join us. After all, a girl can never be too careful, right?

We met at a lovely new restaurant that had been getting rave reviews. When I first saw him all refreshed, pressed and dressed, I confess to feeling a tinge of excitement in my tummy. I introduced him to my friends and the conversation flowed all night long. The food was outstanding and we were having a brilliant time. I will never forget the perma-grin that I was sporting from ear to ear all night. At the end of the meal, MDF excused himself and discreetly paid the entire bill. Totally unnecessary, but clearly chivalry was not dead to him, and I very much respected that. Later that evening he privately told me it was his birthday. I marveled at his modesty, as such information would have certainly been divulged during dinner had it been me.

He was planning to return to Ireland on Valentine’s Day and inquired, “so, tell me, who is going to be your sweetheart this year?” I demurely replied, “why, my dad, of course”.  When I arrived at my office on the morning of his departure, I was greeted with an enormous bouquet of beautiful flowers and a card that read, “Well, you’re my Valentine”.

I swooned.

End of Part One

Slan Abhaile,

Imen

*My Dashing Farmer

Photo courtesy of Farmette

Tags: farm, farmette, Imen McDonnell, ireland, Irish, love story, married a farmer, valentine's day

Possibly my favorite American holiday

is the heartwarming tradition of  Thanksgiving.

Always filled with fun-loving family + friends

and loads of delicious food.

So this weekend,

an early Thanksgiving was celebrated at our farm

The menu was planned with great care;

using many local & farm fresh ingredients

along with a few exotic choices

We invited 11 wonderful Irish and expatriate friends

whom we are so fortunate to have in our lives

to share our feast and give thanks with us

It was a magical evening filled with laughter, joy & warm wishes…

and then, as tradition would lend itself,

was ended with a pretty slice of pumpkin pie

Happy Thanksgiving!

Slan Abhaile,

Imen

Libby’s Famous Pumpkin Pie

serves 8

Ingredients

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

2 large eggs

1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY’S® 100% Pure Pumpkin (can be purchased in Fallon & Byrne or Donnybrook Fair, Dublin)

1 can (12 fl. oz.) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk

1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell

Whipped cream (optional)

Mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.

Pour into pie shell.

Bake in preheated 425° F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before serving.

Photos by Imen McDonnell

other recipes:

Spinach Salad w Warm Lardons & Apple Cider Dressing

Creamy Celeriac Soup

Wolfgang Puck Brined Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy

Tarragon Green Beans

GOOP’s Cranberry Chutney

Amy Vanderbilt’s Oyster Stuffing & Sweet Potato Pie via Clare

Tags: farm, feast, food, foodie, Imen McDonnell, ireland, Thanksgiving

Our little boy became a “big kid” this week on the farm.

For his 5th birthday

we decided to make use of

what we are fortunate to have right before us

and celebrate with a

good

old-fashioned

kiddie’s farm fête.

So, we rounded up our two darling donkeys,

A sweet cow and her dotey calf

And three clucky chickens

{yes, the farmer is participating in Movember}

We made loads of fairy cakes to decorate (pictured top)

and homemade marshmallows + caramel corn

We used our very own honey for my special honey bbq beef brisket

that went with Martha’s Perfect Mac & Cheese

Our friend, Claire, created the most magnificent + yummy tractor cake

When the party was ended

each child was given a bag of goodies to take home

The sun was shining

Our faces were smiling

And our big kid was a happy, happy boy.

Slan Abhaile,

Imen

My Easy Honey BBQ Pulled Beef Brisket

serves 12

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 3-4 pound beef brisket (in Ireland try the beef rib roast)

1 18-ounce bottle of high quality barbecue sauce

2 onions, chopped

1 tablespoon Worchestershire sauce

1/4 cup honey

12 freshly baked soft rolls

Mix together minced garlic, salt, onion powder, paprika and pepper. Rub over the brisket.

Place sliced onion on bottom of slow cooker

In a small bowl mix the barbecue sauce, onions, Worchestershire sauce

Place the brisket in the slow-cooker and pour over the sauce. Spoon in the honey. Cook on low 10 hours or until the brisket is fork-tender. Pull the beef apart into strips.

Ladle the cooking liquid into a bowl or glass measuring cup and skim off the fat. Mix the juices with pulled beef. Serve on rolls

Photos by Imen McDonnell. Assisted by Master Geoffrey McDonnell

Tags: bbq, chickens, cows, donkeys, farm, fete, food, foodie, Irish, irish foodies, kiddies birthday party, Martha Stewart, Movember, party

Without even knowing, I first met Helen some years ago when we both happened to be living in NYC.  At the time, I worked for a television series that was filmed at NBC Studios in 30 Rockefeller Center.  After a long day of shooting, some of the crew + many other tv/film/casting people would head downtown to The Scratcher, the tiniest, yet most charming Irish pub in Manhattan. Helen would often be there with her rocker beau, (now husband) Mark Geary. The place was always abuzz; flowing equally with creative conversation and the Black Stuff.

Fast forward, Helen leaves behind the big fashion houses of New York and returns home to Ireland to design her own line of stunning clothing & accessories {her headpieces are absolutely priceless} and to start a family.  Later, I inadvertently reconnect with her via the extraordinary Eilis Boyle, whom I had met through the blogosphere. Turns out they are the best of friends. {For the record, I find this fantastically uncanny and delightful at once}

Very quickly I discovered that Helen is one of the most talented designers in Ireland. Not only is she a talented designer, but she has been a shepherd and mentor to young creatives and an avid supporter of local artistic enterprises as well as the Slow Food Movement. She has made remarkable contributions to the Irish creative community at large and her work has been nationally recognized by top Irish newpapers and magazines on a regular basis.

Helen recently made the decision to move back to New York and is currently designing for Donna Karan Home, utilizing yet another dimension of her imaginative and romantic eye. As is clear through the breadth of her work as well as the trappings of her blog­­­­­­, Helen has vision that reaches great lengths. In an interview for the Irish Sunday Business Post, she exclaimed,  “As long as my eyes are open, I’m working”. Clearly this statement applies to wherever she may find herself, from Ireland to just about anywhere in the world.

I asked Helen if she would share a little about herself and life back in the Big Apple to which she very politely and generously obliged.

So, with great pleasure, I give you, Helen James.

Hi Helen, can you please tell us where you are from originally….as in where/how did you spend your childhood days? And where do you reside now? Many Irish people who emigrate imagine themselves back in Ireland in later years, will you come back “home” to live here again?

I am from Dublin. I grew up on the grounds of the Chester Beatty Library when it was located at Shrewsbury Road. My Father was the Islamic Curator there. I remember, from a very young age, walking around the collection studying the Chinese wedding Robes and little carved snuff bottles. I am sure my love of textiles is born from this experience. My mother had (and still has ) impeccable taste. She was a flea market junkie long before it was fashionable. I can remember hiding in the car while she went through a skip, feeling absolutely mortified, but the scavenger gene rubbed off and now my kids are cowering while their mother rummages through other people’s detrius!  I lived in NY before for 10 yrs and returned to Ireland full of sentimental dreams…… now I am back in NY. Who knows where I will retire, I can’t really see myself growing old in NYC, but it depends on my family, wherever my 3 boys are I guess that’s where I’ll be too.

What do you see as the main differences between the Irish and American fashion industry?

I feel I do not have the authority to broadly compare the industry in Ireland and NY as my experiences were so different in the two places. In NY I worked for big fashion houses, I was mainly a freelancer, I devised textile works for them and then developed them into products, I also worked in the inspiration part of the business. I was involved purely in the creative area. When I returned to Ireland I had my own line……. anyone who owns their own business knows that this is a whole different scenario, so I cannot really compare my experience in one place with the other. I will say Ireland is an extremely difficult place to have your own fashion business! The market is small, and even though I sold internationally to places like Harvey Nichols you are relying on your local customer to keep the business ticking over. As far as I can see, there seems to be so much more support for designers in NY , through the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and other organisations.

You worked for Donna Karan before and now again. How is your experience different this time around? You certainly have an eye for interiors and garden, do you prefer homeware design to clothing?

This time I am more involved in the whole picture, the whole process from a spark of an idea scribbled on a napkin through to a finished bed with all the acoutrements, I am involved in every stitch, button and bead. I am loving working in home, as you know I have always been drawn to interiors and I am finally getting to express that. I have a lot to learn about the business but I work with a great team and they are helping me figure it all out.

Which Irish designers do you admire?

So many…

Tim Ryan knitwear.- such innovation, . I have known Tim for a long time and seen his work evolve. I believe he is only at the beginning of his journey.

Lucy Downes of Sphere One- Beautiful cashmere pieces that are classic but with a real edge. Lucy is a head down and get on with it girl and has a serious international business, but does not covet press and publicity. Her pieces are real investments

Peter O’Brien, Ireland should be so proud of this man and what he has achieved. I truly admire the work he has done with A-wear and now with Arnott-. It is easy (easier) to make an elegant collection with an unlimited budget but far more challenging when funds are finite

Eilis Boyle, simplicity, elegance and focus. I not only admire her work which is breathtaking but also very wearable, but she is one of my dearest friends and a constant inspiration

Who or what inspires you?

The truth is I am constantly inspired. Most creative people I know draw inspiration from everything around them. That is why we carry notebooks. Being in a city like NY is hugely inspiring, there is creativity all around you, the way people dress, shops, theatre. I realise that being around creative people is what truly inspires me.

Do you wear your own designs? How would you describe your personal style?

I do. My personal style?  I am very drawn to menswear for women, in my own style, I have always been a bit of a tomboy at heart, so, I will wear a little quilted silk bedjacket from my collection but with boy-cut suit pants and brogues.

Your clothing and accessory designs have been worn by many celebrities and models, do you design with a certain muse in mind?

No, I design mainly by draping and evolving the collection, so, last seasons top will evolve to next seasons dress, then there may be a new wrap the following season which has evolved from that. So each season begins where the last one left off. I constantly battled with the whole concept of “seasons” in Fashion.  For me creativity is a constant flow, it doesn’t stop and get thrown out and the slate wiped clean every 6 months.

What type of profession would you pursue if you weren’t a designer?

I am visual so if I wasn’t a designer I think I may have pursued photography or styling. Doing the shoots was always such a highlight for me I could have done one a week, had budget permitted

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

If I could, I would divide my time between New York, Paris and Dublin, with a home in each!

What things do you miss about Ireland?

Family and Friends, Friends, Friends

What career advice would you give to young students currently studying fashion?

Work for someone else for at least 5 years before even considering setting up your own line. Believe in yourself, be prepared to work really really hard. Get involved because you love the work not the applause. If you are interested in making money become an investment banker.

Coffee or Tea?

Both:
coffee in the morning,
tea in the afternoon

You can keep up with Helen James here.

Slan Abhaile,

Imen

Tags: 30 Rock, Eilis Boyle, fashion, Guinness, Helen James, ireland, Irish design, Mark Geary, Married an Irish Farmer, NBC, New York, The Scratcher