Family Time

Last weekend our family enjoyed some time together out and about.  First we went to  a shopping center/mall and did some browsing.  (what the Irish call shopping centers we call malls)  Second we went to lunch at TGIF which gave us a bit of an American feeling.    Then on our way home after stopping by for some milk we took the long way home.  

Here are a few photographs of our drive and our lunch at TGIF.

We decided to take a detour onto the Carton House grounds.  It was well worth the extra few minutes.

Going for a walk

 Babby was nice enough to sit in this seat so I could show you just how big they are. 

Tater-Tot loved this toy.  It was her favorite out of all of them. If it was a video recording you would hear her giggling again and again.  I felt sick just watching her spin around and around.

 After a visit to the playground we went for a walk near the river.

We stopped to look at this chart of the animals found here.  We have never seen an otter in this area but sure would love to.  I did get to see an otter in the Connemara area back in March.  Unfortunately I was the only one who saw it.  By the time my family looked over he was out of site.  I was surprised at just how big it was.

I took this picture to show you just how big these plants are. When it's wet they are covered with snails.

Random Photographs

Near the Irish Sea

When we first arrived we ate some lunch while we watched the view of the Irish Sea and enjoyed watching people play and relax on the beach.

 Here we are constructing a castle. 

Tater-Tot had a blast playing in the water with her daddy and burying each others legs.

 Here is the master-piece!

Is Summer Coming to an End?

I remember when we first moved here, I was a bit confused as to why they had clothes lines.  I couldn't imagine in a place so damp that you would ever be able to dry clothes outside.  But later on, I discovered that last year was one of Ireland's wettest summers in many years (which just happened to be our first experience of this beautiful country).  This summer just happened to be one of their driest summers in about 10 years.  We have had a couple of months of sunshine and very little rain. The end of last week was finally a moment of rain for most of Ireland.  I have been amazed at how yellowish and dry some parts of the grass have been.  I didn't realize how quickly lack of water would affect this place.
I think the end of summer is in sight.  As I sit typing this it is cloudy, gloomy and raining off and on. 

Stabilizer's

Our little Tater-Tot has had a new interest in riding her bike.  Recently she has begun playing with the neighborhood children, of whom all ride bikes.  She has recently befriended an Irish boy and girl who just happen to be twins.  They are four years old and ride their bikes very well.  Tater-Tot just told me a couple of days ago that she wanted me to take her "stabilizers" off.  (for you American friends, that is what they call training wheels here)  She barely has the strength to push the peddles and she wants to take them off.  Really made me giggle.

A Day on the Ring of Kerry

While at the Muckross Stables we drove around the Ring of Kerry.  We heard conflicting reasoning on which direction to go.  We read that it was wise to go counter-clockwise.  It even said to do so on our map.  But, after speaking to three different locals we decided to go the other way.  We were told it was much more beautiful to go clock-wise.  It was quite the drive.  Because of all of the stopping and going it took us all day.  It was a beautiful drive and I am glad we added it to our list of

 "Places to see".

This is the second place we stopped by on our trip.  It was quite majestic.

This man came up to us asking if we wanted a ride in his boat.  His Irish accent was so strong I barely understood him and we've been living among the Irish for a year now.  If we would have had more time we definitely would have hired him.

I could have stayed here all day.  The serenity of it all was amazing.

                                        
                                          Beautiful Church on the view.

We stopped here and ate our packed lunch.  It was a gorgeous view as you can see.  We didn't see any leprechauns but I'm sure they were hiding somewhere.

                                                                                                        
             On the drive we found this cute little shop across from the amazing view.  After eating our lunch we enjoyed some ice cream and the trying on of some hats.  I just had to bye the sheep hat.  It was just too adorable not to.

The fog kept getting thicker and thicker, which at one point, made it impossible for pictures.  That is one of the beauties of Ireland.  You never know what your photographs will look like.  It makes it worth coming back.

Here are some photos I took while driving.  They might make you a bit dizzy but I wanted to show the greenery that we were seeing.

 Because of the fog, I was able to get very little photos of the ocean.  Here are just a few.

The water truly is that blue-green color.  Absolutely gorgeous!

We happened upon this lake somewhere along the Ring.
 

 I had to get a photo of this sweet little horse.  I had that puppy in the pet store window moment.  As soon as I saw him I wanted to take him home.

I'm pretty sure that miniature horses are for either Hobbits or Leprechauns.

Goodbye little fellow...  We'll always remember you!

Some structures we saw while driving.