So today is it - the big 5 - 0! I don't care too much about numbers. I am not afraid of my age.
I have always been happy to move on from one year to the next. I do admit that turning 30 was a surprise just because the number seemed kind of old. Then turning 40 wasn't a big deal in terms of the number, but physically, there were some real changes! Now 50. As I said, I am not afraid of my age, but half a century seems kind of daunting! It seemed like it was so far away, and suddenly, here it is! Can you say colonoscopy?! Rats!
I got lovely cards from family and friends - including 2 from my former co-workers - and they are all hilarious! This morning, Steve showed me pictures of a manor house (which looks like a castle) down near Limerick and asked if I wanted to go. I thought he was kidding - but he had already booked it. Woohoo!
See this getting older thing really isn't so bad! I don't care if it's all downhill from here - it's gonna be a helluva ride! Cheers!
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Thursday, 17 October 2013
The Shower
This is our master bath. The shower operation is quite different from the US. Before getting into the shower, you have to pull the chord that operates the heating mechanism. When you pull the chord the light turns red and that tells you that the shower heater is on. Then you step in and turn the knob tto the temperature you want. It is wise to turn the dial at least half way towards the cold, on 6 or 5, as the water can get very hot! When you are done, you will again pull the chord to shut off the heater. We have found that B&B's and smaller hotels have these kind of showers, but larger hotels are like the showers in the US.
Funny though we were at a hotel in Dublin and the sink drain was closed. Steve and I looked for any kind of thing that would allow us to pop it up to no avail. When I called the front desk, the clerk advisd that you had to push the cap down on one side and it would go sideways, allowing the water to drain!
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
Two Soaking Wet Rats!
We have been having beautiful autumn weather here! Blue skies, temps in the mid 50's, and way more than just sunny spells. Then on Wednesday morning, the deluge! Still, dogs need to walk and it doesn't bother them, right?! Actually, there were three soaking wet rats, but Rugby couldn't hold the camera straight.
Happy Fall but here it is Autumn!
Got holiday decorations up but NO Halloween Oreos here! My favorite birthday treat is nowhere to be found! I could buy the double stuff and try to dye them, but we all know the Halloween Oreos are the best!!! Also, can't have my Betty Jane Carmel Apple fix! Rats! As my mom used to say, they are the Cadillac of Carmel apples! It's okay...we will get through this....breathe deeply.....
Have found one web site for a pumpkin patch and apple picking farm in Ireland. It is in Ballycross in County Wexford, which is quite a drive for apples and pumpkins and let's face it, Haley isn't 12 anymore!
My Dining Room
I think this is one of my favorite rooms in Camlin Willows. I love the fireplace and the windows are great. The funky orange hanging lights have got to go though! We are planning to put in something a bit nicer as the orange lava lamp look just isn't cutting it. Nothing expensive though - it is just a rental, right?! Got lots of pictures up and it feels like home. (And the meal is one I made thank you very much! Chicken parmigiana, noodles, salad and garlic bread!)
Friday, 11 October 2013
Steve's Birthday
So Steve's birthday was on October 10. We had an appointment for signing documents for the sale of our home and then went out for lunch together. In the evening we celebrated by letting him cook a lamb pie for dinner! Haley pushed for a cake so I produced a Pat Hogan Schlueter birthday cake (sort of) and we all enjoyed it. As you can see, I have found the food coloring! It isn't in a dropper, it is in a little glass bottle, so it comes out fast and thus my frosting got a bit runny, but we will work on that. Also need to work on steadying my arm I guess! Though the shot of Haley is blurry, you can see she is singing the birthday song for her father while Zach looks on.
Ferrycarrig Castle Ruin
This ruin was right off the highway just down the hill from our hotel. We could not find any information about it at the site. Looking it up online, it appears to be a castle or tower house built in the 1600's by the Roche family to guard the ferry and the river passage. It is on the banks of the Slaney River and has some amazing views. There are some much better pictures online that you can find just by doing a google search of "ferrycarrig castle".
Memorial in Kilmore Quay
The memorial is interesting and has etched in stone the names of people lost at sea at various times in the past. Some lost many years ago and some as recent as the 1960's.
Saltee Islands
Two uninhabited islands off the coast of Kilmore Quay in St George's Channel. Visitors can go to Great Saltee by boat which is a popular site for bird watchers as it is apparently along a migration route. Online info tells me that Little Saltee has an unaccessable coast. We only saw them in the distance from the beaches at Kilmore Quay, but since then have seen a lot of info and pictures online and we will plan to daytrip there in the summer.
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