Sunday, September 18, 2011
Lesson Learned
One of the quirks of Irish living conditions is that our water heater is not on all day. We turn it on when we need hot water for showers or laundry, then turn it off afterwards. While it is on, it also fills the radiators that heat the house. (So I guess the Irish only take hot showers in the winter when they want to warm the house?) This morning we rushed off to church without turning off our water heater. Then we went to dinner afterwards in Adare (the PERFECT Irish village!!! I want to live there!) at the house of some delightful new friends, the Kellys (David and Alex and their three girls). So we didn't get home until 7:30 tonight. When we opened the door, it was like walking in to a sauna! Which okay is not a completely bad experience as we are so often freezing cold over here, but really, this was decidedly unpleasant. Not to mention that leaving the heat on all day is very expensive! So, if you happen to be dallying in Ireland any time soon, remember to turn off your water heater or expect to melt all the chocolate you have in the house! Which was the real tragedy, after all... :-)
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Dashing Dublin! Or, Dashing Through Dublin!
I know it will relieve you all to know that I am finally legal - my new passport is in my hands and I have an identity again! Yay! To get that mess fixed though I had to go to Dublin (darn it). Gary held down the fort at home while I took the three-hour express bus into town for a day of Dublin delights (after a sweaty hour at the US Embassy, pouring out the tale of my innocent stupidity to the very nice people who worked there). Must mention the potato soup and the Caesar salad I had at a hotel while walking back from the Embassy - both the best I've ever had! I love Dublin!
I took buses to the Embassy but walked back to the train station, hitting most of the important sights to be seen on the way. Here is me with the statue of Molly Malone. Dublin's unofficial anthem is "Molly Malone" - we heard it at Bunratty and downloaded it (along with Irish Eyes, Danny Boy and I'll Tell Me Ma) so we could fit in the next time someone broke out in song and we were expected to sing along. This statue of Molly is also known as The Tart and the Cart.
Lovely Christ Church Cathedral, the first cathedral of Ireland and over 1,000 years old.
I am fascinated by the Georgian doors all over neighborhoods in Dublin and Limerick; each building looks just the same (5 stories, red brick) but the doors are all individual. I loved picking out my favorites.
Here's the corner between the Bank of Ireland building on the left and Trinity College on the right. What a stimulating place to be educated! Not to mention the ginormous Guiness factory I passed on my way to the station - it was HUGE! The Irish are fond of their Guiness, that's for sure!
Feeding the swans at St. Stephen's Green, a lovey, tranquil patch of green and flowers by Trinity College.
Walking through the Dublin streets was constantly surprising - flowers were everywhere, and all sorts of architecture are represented. It's a very architecturally creative city, which was delightful to experience again. Rexburg is many wonderful things, but "architecturally creative" is not one of them. I was so stimulated by being surrounded with art and history at every turn.
Thank you Dublin!
I took buses to the Embassy but walked back to the train station, hitting most of the important sights to be seen on the way. Here is me with the statue of Molly Malone. Dublin's unofficial anthem is "Molly Malone" - we heard it at Bunratty and downloaded it (along with Irish Eyes, Danny Boy and I'll Tell Me Ma) so we could fit in the next time someone broke out in song and we were expected to sing along. This statue of Molly is also known as The Tart and the Cart.
Lovely Christ Church Cathedral, the first cathedral of Ireland and over 1,000 years old.
I am fascinated by the Georgian doors all over neighborhoods in Dublin and Limerick; each building looks just the same (5 stories, red brick) but the doors are all individual. I loved picking out my favorites.
Here's the corner between the Bank of Ireland building on the left and Trinity College on the right. What a stimulating place to be educated! Not to mention the ginormous Guiness factory I passed on my way to the station - it was HUGE! The Irish are fond of their Guiness, that's for sure!
Feeding the swans at St. Stephen's Green, a lovey, tranquil patch of green and flowers by Trinity College.
Walking through the Dublin streets was constantly surprising - flowers were everywhere, and all sorts of architecture are represented. It's a very architecturally creative city, which was delightful to experience again. Rexburg is many wonderful things, but "architecturally creative" is not one of them. I was so stimulated by being surrounded with art and history at every turn.Thank you Dublin!
Two More Pics of the Kids' First Day at School
There's Maggie in the back corner, smiling away. Just minutes later she met Laura and Baevan who have really helped her adjust to the new surroudings!
Here we have Spencer giving Sophie a hug before we left the last day. Yes, I know he is in his pajamas. Sometimes stuff like that really doesn't matter much... only I haven't let it happen since. This is because I bribe the children with a square of chocolate if they are sitting on the stairs at 8:35 (we leave for school at 8:40), dressed, backpacks packed, breakfast dishes cleaned up, beds made, rooms cleaned and morning devotional (I love you LDS.org!) and ready to go to school early. Love it - works like a charm. And I don't have to nag. Much.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Sometimes it takes every ounce of mental and physical stamina I possess to get through the kids' bedtime. I don't know what it is about that last hour of helping them do their mightly routine, but je vous assure, it about does me in every night. Maybe I should go have a Hobnob cookie spread with Nutella to help me recover...oh wait, I already did that to help me get through homework time! Hmm, looks like I may have to move on to some brie and baguette. Good thing I did me some Zumba today!
Monday, September 12, 2011
I'm surprised at how much I actually really miss my dog. Took me a while to get used to her at first, but now it's taking me a while to get used to her not being around! She's such a source of love in our home; we all miss her. Oh well - she's having a hoo-rah at Gram's house. Hopefully she'll remember us when we get back!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
The Castle At Bunratty
Our favorite day in Ireland so far - our visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park!
Each of the four corner towers had these spiral staircases. We were fascinated by them... but very grateful for the handrails to help us up and down! In fact. when coming down one of the last staircase, Sophie said something like, "Oh Mr. Handrail, come to me and let me feel your love!"
The kids on the battlements.
Spencer really digs swords and armor, so was in his element.
This is the view from the towers. Somehow pictures never do the landscape justice! You need to see the details and feel the wind blowing in your face and know that you're standing five stories in the air, on stones that have seen centuries of drama and battle, archers and courtesans, dukes and danger... we totally dig castles!
Each of the four corner towers had these spiral staircases. We were fascinated by them... but very grateful for the handrails to help us up and down! In fact. when coming down one of the last staircase, Sophie said something like, "Oh Mr. Handrail, come to me and let me feel your love!"
The kids on the battlements.
Spencer really digs swords and armor, so was in his element.
This is the view from the towers. Somehow pictures never do the landscape justice! You need to see the details and feel the wind blowing in your face and know that you're standing five stories in the air, on stones that have seen centuries of drama and battle, archers and courtesans, dukes and danger... we totally dig castles!
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