We’ve been home from Ireland for two months, and it’s been a whirlwind. Some people make bucket lists for summer, but instead we’ll just look back on what we’ve done so far. We came back hours before Mother’s Day. Then we had a preschool field trip to the farm. The next day was Open House…
A life I thought was behind me, I have now found, is only ramping up. I’m finally getting to return to, and share with my children, one of my favorite things. I thought I might grow out of it, or being a mom would take me too far to return to it. I’m happy to…
A lot of people have asked how the kids did with the flights to Ireland and back. They did magnificently, as I expected, since it was their first time flying. It was all just a new adventure for them. I, on the other hand, will admit flying with the kids makes traveling alone feel like…
I rented a house in the country for our time in Ireland. It turned out to be so much more than we had planned. We drove up to the house, and were greeted by cows on three sides. We were living on a cattle farm! The boys (and I) couldn’t be happier! There just aren’t…
So many locals insisted we go here. They felt the wonderful weather begged a visit. We weren’t totally sure what there was to do, but when we got here, we saw the charm. It reminded me of a coastal town in California, like San Luis Obispo in the old days. Lots of cute shops, and…
After our vow renewal, we changed clothes in the car and headed off to our next adventure! We went to the coast to walk along some epic cliffs! Before you get anywhere near the ocean at Downpatrick Head, there are huge signs warning of peril and instability of the land you are walking on. That…
While we did go on a few scenic day trips, we also spent several days just doing everyday stuff, like going to a Gaelic football game. Compared to an American sporting event, one might describe this experience as “all business.” You arrive at the pitch, pay your way in (no tickets), and go to the…
Our day of the Wild Atlantic ended there in Cong. Not only is the town quaint and cheery, the forest vast and adventurous, but it is the location of Ashford Castle. Having survived yet another two-hour walk together (our kids may never walk with us again), this was a perfect way to cap off the…
They don’t call it the Wild Atlantic for nothing. There is so much beauty it is almost overwhelming, and the wind, terrain, and extreme colors make it almost seem dangerous. It’s kinda unbelievable how much we did in one day. It seemed fine at the time, but looking back, whoa! That seemed like several days.…
While on Achill Island, we visited the Deserted Village. Though the nearby tombs date to the Neolithic Period, the settlements were inhabited in Medieval times, by a booleying community (nomadic cattle grazers). It is always awesome to stand in an ancient home and image life there. What was more awe-inspiring was the incredible location these…