Wales

 

We took the ferry from Dublin to Holyhead.   Ferries aren't my favorite and I figured I'd be sick, but it was basically a cruise ship.  I was fine.  I wasn't fine when I got my phone bill though.  Fair warning: don't use your phone on the ferry-it's no man's land as far as cell phone companies are concerned and they charge you an actual arm and leg. 

We rode in the 'coach' for a while and ended up in this fabulous place called Beau Maris.  The castle had never been completed, but it was one of the coolest ones we saw.  It had short walls for a castle.  It also had a guard swan.

 Beau Maris is big with clammers.  The way they parked their boats made me laugh.

We drove on to a town called Llangollen.  I have no idea how to pronounce that, but it was a cool town.  Lots of shops I would have loved to have visited, but we got there on a Sunday afternoon and most things were closed.  We stayed in this place that has been a hotel since the 1700's and is supposed to be haunted. It is adjacent to a cemetery even.  I didn't see any ghosts though.

The view from my non-haunted window.

There was some kind of party going on in the lounge so as I was getting ready to sleep, I was lulled into unconsciousness by 1980's metal band covers.   It was a little surreal, to be in this old place listening to Metallica.

 

Wales was beautiful and I would love to go back and spend more time there. 

Ireland

We started out by flying from Houston to London to Shannon.  It was an exhausting haul, but we got to watch movies sooo.

These are some pics from the Ring of Kerry.  Ireland is absolutely gorgeous.  It does remind me a lot of the Texas Hill Country only greener.  Much greener.

This was an

interesting little stop.  There were vendors set up on the side of the road, selling everything from art to produce.  There was even a dog on a donkey.

 

 

We started in the town of Kilarney, which was pretty nifty, but if I put pics of every place we went, I'd break the internet and bore myself, so as it turns out, I'm a liar-the abridged version is what's going on.

 

We wound up at Blarney Castle a couple days after our arrival.  It was pretty stinkin' amazing.  If you get to live in a place that has castles, it's not a big deal I'm sure.  Since Texas isn't really known for it's castles, I was in awe of this place!

 That little thing right there at the end of the grumpy old man's stick is the Blarney Stone.  If you kiss it, you're supposed to be endowed with the gift of gab and eloquent speech.  You lay down on your back and scootch up to it and plant one with your bare lips right on the rock. I'm not chatty and don't care to be and I'm a bit of a germophobe so I said no flippin way.  I don't think they disinfect it regularly.

 

 

 

 

 

 In one of the "windows".

 

 Fairy House

 

Since we were in Ireland, I expected to catch a glimpse of a Leprechaun or two.  This right here is the closest I got.

 

iPhone pano at the top of the castle. The Blarney Stone is by the crowd to the right.

 

Next was the Rock of Cashel.  It was closed for renovation but it looked cool from the outside. If you look in the center of the pic, you'll see a pack of kids.  They decided to see what was on the other side.  Never mind that they had to climb a fence to see it.

 

 

They were gone a good while, but one girl came back quicker than the others.  If you've ever met bull nettle, you'll know it is nasty, painful stuff.  I figured Texas was the only place to have such a wicked plant, but 'tis not so.  Ireland has a version of that stuff and Abby found it.  She wasn't interested in seeing what else was behind the fence.

 
We finally made it to Dublin and hit St. Patrick's Cathedral.  It was impressive, but I think they NYC one is bigger.

I enjoyed learning more about Jonathan Swift.  I remember reading his story about eating Irish children called a Modest Proposal.  If you haven't read it, I suggest it. 



This is the old library at Trinity College.  Most impressive for a book fanatic like me.  It smelled heavenly.  I wish I had a room in my house like this.

 

 

Their brains expanded some while looking at the books.

 

 

 

 

One of the things I liked most about these cities was the street performers.  You get a pretty good show for a little pocket change.

In Dublin

View on a Dublin Street

 I did see lots of homeless people.  Here is some prose from one of them.

I love vintage clothes.  One of my missions was to hit resale shops and boutiques to see what I could find.  Sadly, I didn't get to any resale/thrift shops, but this little boutique was the sweetest thing.  The lady working in there spent a little time talking to the girls.  For some reason, the conversation got to dancing so they showed her how to two-step.  So if two-stepping takes off in Dublin, you'll know where it got it's start.

These living statues scared the crap of me.

Tomorrow, we'll go to Wales!

 Beau Maris Castle in Wales

 

Wow! It's been a while.  I've made a post like this before, but this time I'm really hoping it sticks.  I pay way more attention to my life when I'm thinking about making posts.  They are solely for my entertainment, but I hope someone finds them fun, interesting, entertaining, etc.  I am a blessed woman.  Things are not always perfect, but God is always good :) So here we go again with postings from my oh-so-imperfect life.

I used to carry my DSLR everywhere. (It was a sweet, humongous Sony Alpha 100) I remember going to NYC with friends a few years ago.  The only souvenirs I was interested in were the pictures I'd come home with.  Sadly, that trusty friend went belly up and I was left with cell phone photography.  While it has its merits, the joy of snapping cell pics just doesn't come close to the feeling of using an actual 2 pound camera with all it's paraphernalia.  I replaced my beloved friend with another Sony Alpha last year, but I joined the up-grade club and got a 700.  I lack the determination and brain cells to use this camera to its full potential, but I get by and love reviewing the memories I capture.

This past June, my daughter and I got to travel to Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England.  I'm not gonna lie, it was pretty fantastic! (Although Texas is still the best place in the world :) It's been a long time since I've used BlogSpot so it will take a little more time than I have now to get familiar with how to easily manage and upload my pics, but don't worry, you'll get the unabridged story of our trip soon.

You may also encounter a few political rants, summaries of books and T.V. shows and movies I love, random pieces of glorious junque I find and, of course, many snaps of my extremely cute children.  Comments are always welcomed.



Balcones Fault

Balcones Fault from underneath...

Just. A. Little. AWESOME!!!

Monahans Sand Hills

Jubilation

There's something about the beach that makes us happy.

Screw You, China

Last year a friend and I were discussing a conversation she and her husband were having about all the products made in China.  It's ridiculous.  It really is.  I made a half-hearted effort to be more 'aware' of the origins of the products I bought, and damned near everything is made in China!  I went without an electric can opener for months because every single one was made in China. (I caved and bought one in the end, but guess what-the damned thing isn't even working properly after only 3 months use!!!)

I'm jumping on the boycott 'China' products bandwagon.  Clearly, it's a small bandwagon, but I am hopping on.  I know it will be hard, but I am committed. 

Join me, advise me, counsel me and console me.  I pledge to buy Made in the USA. 

I will TRY buying local, too :)