flowers and close ups Ireland

Did I mention the flowers are gorgeous in Ireland?!?  Fuchsia growing in hedges along the roads in Donegal. If it can find a place to root it will grow even in a 200 year old stone wall. Holly lots of varieties of holly. My cousin's roses, they were as big as saucers. Raspberries in her garden. Rocks at Malin Head.  Oxallis. An English Irish robin. Water lily and hydrangeas at Mount Stewart. A wild orchid at Malin Head and more rocks they were all so pretty.  ~~Ann~~

When the sun comes out---- Ireland

 When the sun comes out it is Glorious............. Looking out from Scrabo Tower, another view from Scrabo Tower, the Mountains of Mourn in the distance,  Malin Head area, same view zoomed, Malin Head no guard rails,  looking down at the beach at Malin, beach at Malin the stones were as smooth as marble each one I picked up was prettier than the last. Another beach on the north coast or Ireland the sand was a fine as sugar.  --Ann--

Legends and Leprechauns Ireland

I still love the stories of castles and giants and leprechauns.  I love the lush green landscapes. It is in my veins. When I was a little girl I used to beg my mother to see her slides of Ireland. She was an IFYE to Ireland in 1952 (international farm youth exchange). My parents were dating then, she met my dad's relatives and knew more of them when they got married than he did.
Dunluce Castle and view to the east and to the west. Giant's Causeway built by the giant Finn McCool in the days of giants, it goes all the way to Scotland.  And on a clear day you can see Scotland.  Scrabo Tower or "Tar" as Irish cousin pronounced it. It's on a 1937 poster for Disney's Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs.  Cattle grazing on what was once bleaching greens for the linen mills in the Roe Valley. As me great aunts and uncles used to say there is a wee leprechaun in bottom of every bottle.  ~~Ann~~

shopping Ireland

What is a vacation without a little shopping but to go to a grocery store? I think it is fun to visit grocery stores in other places to get a peek at everyday life. All the produce was fresh with place of origin labeling.  Peppers, garlic, ginger, onions, cucumbers, mushrooms,

  lettuce, (31 years ago they did not have iceberg lettuce, it was all buttercrunch) tomatoes

broccoli, celery, turnips, butternut squash, turnips called swedes, carrots

  cabbage (none of those anemic pale green heads that we have) and it was really good boiled and served with bacon,

and heat and serve potatoes, turnips, parsnips, carrots and sweet potatoes.  I can't believe I didn't take a pic of new potatoes, there were lots of stands along the road selling new potatoes and lots of varieties.

Breads and yes those are pancakes in packages and in the display counter we had cold pancakes with butter and jam with mid morning tea. It was good.

All that tea and the quantity in  the bag! Coffee and coffee drinks all instant; the kettle is always hot for tea so if you don't want tea you have instant.

Fresh fish

And chocolate shoes.

                                       Then a quick stop in my cousin's favorite ladies clothing store. This is where I bought my red shoes. If my kids ever get married I want to go back to Ireland for my mother-of-the-bride or groom dress and a hat or a fascinator. Aren't they grand?!?  -Ann-