Monday, December 28, 2009

Our monkeys finally decided on a name for their new puppy.  They will call him Paxo.  This is not the Irish word for dog, their first thought for a name.  You might think it has something to do with peace.  It could.  We learned it as a product name - of the stuffing we cooked for Christmas dinner.  Paxo.  Nice choice for a name.

Kevin and I braved the icy roads today to go to town for some ibuprofen and a few necessities.  Two days before Christmas I was pitchforking some silage to the deer and strained my lower back.  I was really sore until today.  Ibuprofen saved me, but I needed more.  So, off to town we went.

The Royal Canal is still frozen.  Makes me want to go ice skating.  Which, by the way, led to us watching a youtube video of Torvill and Dean, Ice Dancing Gold Medal winners of the 1984 Winter Olympics.  You may remember their routine set to Ravel's Bolero, and perfect sixes from all the judges on their second set of marks.  To this day, this is my all time favorite ice dancing memory.  I was telling Kevin that the end of the VCR was a regret because I could no longer watch their taped performance.  So Kev was going to surprise me with the DVD, but found the video on youtube last night.  The internet can be a wonderful thing.

As we approached the first roundabout to town we realized that our wallets were still back at the house.  I circled the roundabout twice while searching my coat's zippered inside pockets and found 35 euro.  'Nough.  No need go back, whew.  Safe!  Then when we parked, Kevin checked his pocketful of change.  All these coins are 20 euro.

I am pleased to report a story with a happy ending.  In addition to being known as the "Chicken Lady" (from the time of Discover Mullingar Day when we had Mr. Fancypants on display), I am now pointed out as "The Honest Lady."  Before Christmas, while I was shopping, I found a small purse with money inside and turned it in to the authorities.

The purse was just laying on the floor in the common area of the small shopping center.  At first I thought it was a child's purse or a souvenir coin purse, brown leather with the word "Cuba" burned into one side.  When I unzipped it and saw the folded cash I quickly zipped it back up (I didn't even want to be tempted) and walked through the crowd to customer service.  There I removed it, unfolded it, and counted it out in front of the manager as she took the report.  230 euros! Oh, my!  That's a lot of money.  Somebody's Christmas  present shopping money, I thought.  Afterward, I went to the four other shops, in case the owner came looking, and  told them "a found purse" was at Tesco's, the grocery. 

Well, today, when Kevin and I were finished shopping, the cashier at our checkout somehow recognized me and said that the owner had claimed it.  Do Dah!  Happy Day!

This afternoon when Kevin returned from the big house he carried with him a pocketful of my favorite fruit.  Greg was not familiar with these little goodies and was happy to share them.  He had been given a whole basketful.  Remember we had seen them for sale in Cork for .49 EACH.  They are the best goodies!  Of course, I'm talking about Lychee.  What a terriffic surprise.

Big party tomorrow down in the lodge for Farm Safari revelers.  Greg has invited about one hundred people.  Then the following day our Indian friends from two months ago will be having another gathering/feast.  Let the partying continue . . . .

Happy New Year everyone!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Good News, it warmed yesterday afternoon ~ Bad News, all the moisture froze overnight!

This was the road ahead for Kevin as he went to feed the critters by the lodge:

This road is the definition of "black ice" . . . .

The electric gate on the driveway to our house actually froze and would not open.  Guests were ferried to and from in the jeep.

Luckily, we didn't need to leave the property and were able to rest inside with an afternoon of Sunday movies on the tellie, and snacks of leftover turkey.  I also had a chance to give our BLOG a new look.  Hope y'all like it.

The new year fast approaches, and with it our move.  Hope the roads don't get too much more treacherous for driving.

Stay well and warm, my friends.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry*Happy Christmas to all! 

After a delicious breakfast of scones, coffee, and tea, Kevin and I fed the animals.  We even sprinkled birdseed on the ledge of our kitchen window for the tiny robins and this little fellow showed up as well.  We have no idea what its name, but he's so cute, with such a pretty shade of green on her belly.  It, he, she, we looked it up and this little bird is known as a blue tit.

My brave little weanling will almost eat out of my hand.  She has been joined by twenty deer who were out in the pastures, and the others will not even come close to me.  She's so sweet.

This is Mr. Fancy Pants and friends.  I call him that because he looks like he's wearing feather knickers.

A bright, sunshiny day, the dogs enjoyed the walk with us, stopping to make "dog angels" along the way.

We all enjoyed a White Christmas.  When we finished with our "duties" it was time to open presents.  The monkeys got a puppy, Kevin and I each got a sheep . . . . skin, and .   .   .   .

Beautiful things come in small packages . . . .

 

Kevin and I enjoyed a traditional dinner of turkey and stuffing with potatoes, onion, zucchini, and cranberry, all with a creamy garlic sauce.

 

Hope you all had a peaceful day.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Christmas Eve Eve

Happy Birthday Sarah! Happy Birthday Stephen!

The cold weather continues.  Kevin photographed crystal formations on leaves and logs that neither one of us ever saw in New England winters.

Our stop at the grocery store for a few items this afternoon when we went to town on business turned into a shopping nightmare.  People must have left their Christmas dinner purchases until today.  We were lucky to find a parking space not too far from the front door and there was one trolley (cart) available in the outdoor rack - a hint of things to come.

Inside it was difficult to navigate the aisles. When we realized that the checkout lines were really long, we took our place at the end of the que (line) and I minded the trolley while Kevin continued to shop for incidentals.

You will notice how nice it is for the cashiers - they get to sit down.  What you can't see is that customers have to bag their own groceries.  It took getting used to, but nowadays it's easy, especially with two of us.

Once we had paid and left the store it only got worse.  When we returned to the parking lot I had no problem backing out of our space because shoppers were anxious to take it.  But the road out of the store complex to the main road was one lane, one way, and all traffic from the rows of the parking lot flowed into it. Twenty-five minutes later, that's right 25 minutes, we had traveled fifty yards, and were able to head home.  Ai yai yai!  It was painful.  But we did manage to arrive home just before the sun set and the air became colder.  Hungry deer awaited.

We have hung our stockings with care and are anxiously awaiting Santa's arrival from the North Pole.

Kevin and I would like to wish everyone a very

Merry*Happy Christmas and all the very best for the New Year!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

First thing we saw this morning was this beautiful male ringneck pheasant, from view out our kitchen window:

It was so cold here today that we saw the national midday news being broadcast from Mullingar, alongside the frozen Royal Canal.  The low temperature for overnight, tonight, is forecast to be -8C (17F).  That's cold.  So, we needed to round up the four "escaped" deer that have been running freely on the property for the past week and get them some food and shelter.  Can you spot them, hiding in this photo?  (You may wish to click on the photo to enlarge.)  The second photo is your hint . . . . and yes, that's me waving to Kevin - far away.

 

Even the Big House looks prettier covered in the snow.

I just learned that the robins in Ireland are here all year long.  Just like this little one:

I leave you with the pheasant of my morning.  Good Night all.

Monday, December 21, 2009

A three hour winter rodeo took place this morning as Kevin, Brendan and I returned all the animals to the large pasture from their Magical Animal Kingdom pens.

I easily led the ponies and foal . . . .

 . . . . then coaxed the donkeys to follow . . . . .

I watched in amazement as Kevin and Brendan herded Harry and his brother Henry up the road.  These two Scottish Highland bulls are behemoths.  I held my breath as I opened the gate but they went right in with no problem.

Hoof prints of the Highland bulls, sliding on the ice . . . .

We could have used a good herding dog as the three sheep gave us (unexpectedly) the most difficulty.

It was fun watching the ponies play.  They chased and galloped and kicked and bucked, happy to be back in their big playground with room to frolic.

The water pipes are frozen in the morning so I'm carrying about six buckets from our house to the deer in the shed.  Luckily, the pipes thaw by midday and I can refill their container with ease before nightfall.

Kevin and I are missing Santa and Mrs.Claus already.  I think we had as much fun as the children.

Only four days until Christmas.  Have you been naughty or nice?

Sunday, December 20, 2009

More snow fell overnight.  Looks like it will stick around, just in time for a white Christmas.  From what we've been told, this is the first winter in years where the weather hasn't been mild.  Lucky us!

We enjoyed the most delicious pupu platter before dinner tonight.  This is duck pate with sesame and rosemary crackers, orange marmalade, organic celery, and fresh dates.  This was followed by grilled venison steaks with onion, broccoli, and potatoes.  A most delicious Sunday feast for Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Santa returns to the North Pole tonight as his visit here in Churchtown is over.  The monkeys were lucky enough to sit on his lap for their photo before he departed.