Okay, now I'll stop complaining. You know I hate a whiner.
The fact that the house wasn't nice made us resolve to get out and see the country.
We received a warm and pressing invitation from the friends I told you about, looked at the map, and decided to go.
Wasn't this a welcome sight? Their cottage, which truly is magical, homey, and welcoming:
Bridget's spirit lifted when she found a bosom friend in Marguerite, whom she actually played with back here in Massachusetts when they were both little girls of three and four. What a gift to find out that you still like the same things and can talk endlessly about everything, with giggling.
This is my friend's favorite view of her home, which is down in the right-hand corner. |
I'm trying not to be cheesy, but there was a rainbow…
The view from the front window, with rainbow. |
And then the sun came out. Drama!
We were treated to a lovely dinner of fish pie, homemade bread, fresh salad, and green beans, with a fabulous rhubarb pie for dessert.
These friends have a good attitude about things. They are working on their dream, which includes animals and lots of projects. Things aren't perfect, they aren't finished (just like here at our house), but the important thing is to seize the opportunity to do what you want to do with life. For them, it's living here in the Irish countryside, homeschooling their children, living simply.
Chanticleer. |
Now there's a reason there's no sod right there where the fowl are playing…
It's being cut up and used to roof the addition (or extension, as they call it). I think that's so clever, don't you?
It never freezes here, so the sod will grow back on the ground and will fill out the roof, providing warmth and shelter.
Here is their barn, which exemplifies what I discovered, which is that a stone structure might be an ancient ruin or a recent victim of a high wind. They have plans to rebuild this. I think it's lovely.
Gates to be put to use… |
Bridget loved their dog, of course. |
Near their house is a sweet little beach that, as my friend said, “gets deep-cleaned twice a day.”
The castle — basically a stone defensive fortification — is 15th century, blasted by Cromwell's men in the 17th.
After a good restful night we explored the Dingle peninsula, which I think is heavenly and corresponds to all my interior visions of what Ireland should look like, so here will follow a lot of pictures!
The street side of a garden in Dingle. |
Dingle town. |
You get addicted to taking pictures of the scenery. There is such a lovely contrast of green field, rocky borders, and stern waters that it's hard to resist. And the light changes so quickly…one minute things are draped in gray, the next they are bursting with colors in the sunlight.
Let me just say that I am showing you only a fraction of the ones I took. And many of these (but I am not sure exactly which ones) are by Bridget, taken from a moving car.
Yes, there was a lot of photography going on that day.
In this area the signs are just in Gaelic. |
The sleeping giant. |
Kathy says
How enchanting! I can almost smell the salt air! The cottage is darling…I'm so glad you found a quaint place to visit that spoke to your hearts.
Nadja says
Love these photos. I spent two months in Castleconnell near Limerick in 1990, when my mom and sister rented a cottage (read: charmless modern bungalow) there for a year. We traveled to every castle and abbey ruin and drove the ring of Kerry. I fell in love with the cliffs of Moher, the sheep lying in the roads, and the packs of Jack Russel Terriers chasing my mom's car. I liked the Guinness, too, and the sing-song accents of the Kerry men.
I have an album full of wonderful memories. Thanks for bringing them back…
Maggie says
STUNNING.
skoots1mom says
incredibly beautiful…thx 4 sharing…one day i'll get there.
Mary says
absolutely beautiful! Ireland just went to the top of my bucket list. thanks so much for sharing!
NickL says
That place is so beautiful. Just like the movies.
glenda childers says
Sound like an amazing day . . . did it help make up for “the house?”
Fondly,
Glenda
melissa says
I love your blog, especially all the great household management and child rearing tips! Your friends cottage is breathtaking….oh my word, I was speechless looking at where they live. Now…. that is the closest I've been to actually believing that someone lives in a fairy tale!! Your visit to them must have made the whole trip well worth the time and money….and even the rental car.
Leila says
Thanks, Melissa.
It was really fantastic.
MamaHen says
I sooooo want to go!
margo says
what a treat to read and look at! So nice to hear how other families do it in other countries.
Nancy says
Great photographs-thanks for sharing!
freckledhen says
Just beautiful, how wonderful for your daughter to experience this. It's interesting to me how you think of her as a kind of “only child”. I never really thought about that, I suppose she gets the best of both, lots of siblings to watch out for her and both her parents hands to hold.
Paula says
I discovered your blog through Like Merchant Ships and read every single post until I realized with a sinking feeling that I had hit the end. I think you are just the sort of person I need to hear practical advice from as I am a bit of an impractical dreamer to whom it is just now occurring that some things really must be done every day! If I knew you and your daughters, I would definitely wish to be friends!
Leila says
Welcome, Paula! You are so sweet.
womanofthehouse says
Absolutely breathtaking! Glorious!
Shelley says
I knew there was going to have to be some positive things about Ireland – it's too beautiful for there not to be!
Lori @ Momma's Hands says
Gorgeous ~ Thank you so much for sharing!
Some day…..;)
Lisa G. says
I'm enjoying going through your *whole* blog, Leila – and these pictures are so pretty! That sleeping giant – amazing and kind of creepy, but not to them, I suppose. I hope he never wakes up! 🙂