Sunday

Today we got up a little late, had some breakfast and headed out to the car 🚘.  Our host family was having difficulties with their car getting wet inside.  The son had pulled out the back seats as they were wet as was the trunk area. Cory told them she was in the car industry and proceeded to look in the car ........... then she lay down on the ground and looked under the car much to their surprise.  She said she didn’t know how to fix 🚘 S but she did know how they looked when new.  She pointed out several things that were not original and suggested what they might do.  Cars are way more expensive over here.
We were going to go to Dublin but they said we would be better to go on a day when we got started earlier so suggested Kilkenny castle.   So off we went to see a castle.  They have been restoring the castle and there was hand painted wall paper, these huge paintings, most all of them portraits and the 4 huge tapestries that were hundreds of years old. When we go back through Kilkenny I am going to buy the book about the castle ................ that would be the one I should have bought when we were there. All in all it was a wonderful experience.
We also went shopping in the Kilkenny Design Centre which is across the street from the castle. The building used to be the castle horse stable and was full of amazing handcrafted items.  We did purchase items here and I fondled a lovely green sweater twice but didn’t buy.........this was a good thing .....you will see..
Oh yes we had lunch in the castle.
Time to get some food and head 🏡 it had been a lovely day with only a tiny bit of rain ☔️.
That evening Michel, the son , came over to fix the 📺 and we had a long talk with him which was really nice. They raise black angus cattle but may have to sell some of the cows this year as there was so little rain in the summer that there’s a shortage of feed. Apparently the neighbours cattle broke out Saturday night and were all around the main house and our cottage .............. we never heard a thing.

Review of day one in ireland

After many hours of flying and trying to sleep 😴 we arrived in Dublin.  After we retrieved our luggage are arranged for the smallest 🚘 we could get we were off.  Cory is driving and the first thing she needs to remember ................. which side of the car to get in, then to stay on the wrong side of the road.  We have the B&B on the GPS to I navigate and Cory drives.  Every time we make a turn it is my job to say "wrong side, wrong side, wrong side", so we stay on the right side of the road or rather we stay on the left side which is the right side over here.

Then let me tell you about the traffic circles ............ they all have lights where you turn off or enter.  I always thought the purpose of circles was to eliminate the lights but this is ireland so I don’t know.So we are motoring along and are on the highway no problem but then we turn off onto a narrower road, and a narrow road, and a narrow road. The hedges get closer and closer............. the road gets narrower and narrower.  We are now down to a one vehicle slightly rough road until we finally arrive at the B&B which is delightful.  It is an old stone barn converted to a little cottage.  If google would left me add photos I would show you. We have a living room,bedroom kitchen room with a wood heater and a bathroom with a lovely big shower but....... the best thing is the king size bed with the feather duvet.

The owner is a delightful woman who made sure we had everything we needed.  She started the wood stove for us and said the lads would drop the sticks off later.  Okay so I am thinking kindling. ............ but no the sticks are a small log cut in half.  No kindling, she uses a kind of fire starter to get the fire going.

So we’ve had decided to fight through the tiredness and do things today.  After we hauled everything in and got settled we decided we needed to have a nap before going anywhere..................... one nap led to another and soon it was 7:00pm and we were hungry so we head for this little pub.  We are too late for food as it is after 8:00, so we each have a cider. The bar tender and a couple of patrons give us directions to a take out place and a small market where we can buy dinner and food for breakfasts 🍳 and lunches.  Off we go to get some food and head back to our cottage.  After eating and watching a movie guess where we went .............. if you guessed bac to bed you are correct. That was our very exciting day in Ireland 🇮🇪.

At the airport

It is 7:40 and we are sitting in the airport waiting for our flight.  I have been up since 4:30 but if you don’t count the half hour of sleep I had last night I have been up since 9:00am  yesterday.  Cory, Aaron and I watched "Under the Tuscan Sun" until 11:30 and then went to bed. At 2:00 am I was still awake.  I did fall asleep for about half an hour , then Cory came in saying it is time to get up......... I woke up from that dream and couldn’t get back to sleep.  Hopefully I can sleep 💤 on the plane.

I finally decided on what knitting to take and whether or not I would take a spindle or two.  So I have three knitting projects and one orgasm to spin.  I may not do any of them. But if I didn’t bring anything I would have needed something.

Aaron is supposed to text me the picture he took of Cory and I at the air port so I can post it here

Well that’s it for now. Cory is on a business call so I might knit or something.

4 days left

Friday, Cory and I leave for Ireland. Arrgggggghhhhh panic panic, where’s my list. What else do I have to do?  What else do I need to pack and which bag does it go in.  How much knitting do I need to take?  They have wool stores in Ireland I can buy some if I run out...... hmm maybe I won’t take very much yarn just enough to keep me busy on the plane and for the first day or two ... then I really will have to buy Irish yarn.
Haven’t figured out where exactly we are going.  Have some places in mind.  Cory wants to sleep in a castle one night so we need to find one that takes visitors.

Hurrah

i found the yarn shop in Mission.  It's a nice little shop and home to the Mission Spinners and Weavers guild.  The Guild is small and I am seriously thinking of joining.  It will be a good way to meet some people from here. Also it might be an incentive to do more spinning.  There is also a spin-in at the shop once a month so I put that on my calendar. Oh yes I had resolved not too buy more yarn but had to buy 2 skeins of lace yarn, after all you can't go into a new yarn shop and not buy anything.

The unpacking is almost finished , now to hang pictures on the walls.  Yesterday picked up the hooks so today I may hang a picture or two.  I need to figure out where I am going to put them all as we have so many.

I need to buy a zipper for Shelbys sweater and put buttons on the one for Elizabeth.  I did finish one sweater for me.  It is called "Amiga" and is a cardigan with 3/4 sleeves and no buttons. There is just one problem, I made it too big and it has stretched a little so is even bigger.  It is comfortable to wear but I may have to frog it and make it smaller.

That's all for now, I need another cup of coffee and should get to work doing something.

A sad time,

Yesterday we lost an amazing wonderful Lady.  Bill's Mother past away age 96.  She was my friend and the best Mother-in-Law anyone could want. We will all miss her very much.
Mum was born in England and trained as a teacher. She met and married Bill's Dad during WWII. They had three children, Bill, Karen and Mick (they were twins).  After the war they moved to Vancouver, Canada and then to Bridge Lake in the Caribou.  There she and Dad built and ran a guest ranch. She also taught school in the one room school there.  Later she taught school in Kamloops at Tranquil School. After they sold the ranch  they moved to Victoria and then Mill Bay.
I can't finish the story right now and there is so much I left out.

The MOVE

We are mostly moved into the new house.  There are still a few things at the old place and then it needs to be cleaned.
At the new house I am slowly unpacking boxes. The guys packed boxes to the ceiling in the dining room.  Not sure how I am going to get them down, even wth the step stool its to high for me.   The kitchen is getting there but haven't figured out where I am going to put every thing................ Also I seemed to have not packed the dishes or all the food.  How did that happen ............. Don't ask me, my brain is mush these days.  Mind you things are getting better as Bill is home and NOT using the walker he insisted I get from Lange,y Red Cross loans cupboard.
Yesterday was a party for the Allan's 50 th Wedding Anniversary.   I don't know how they can be married that long ......... I was a Bridesmaid and I am sure I am not THAT old.  It was a very nice party.

Back to the house I have unpacked about half the craft room boxes.  I have one, no make that 2 boxes that will go to the second hand shop.  I am trying to be realistic about what I keep. At this point I apparently have to live to 120 to use every thing in the ROOM and that is pre-supposing I don't buy any more fabric or yarn.............hmmmmmmmm