Wednesday, September 30, 2009

My new project involves taming the eight tiny weanling deer, so they will be calm for Christmas displays and Santa's helpers . . . .

Errands today in Mullingar: Dunnes Store for coffee canister, ATM for euros to buy two bookcases to use as bureaus/dressers, clothespins (clothespegs, here), gas for lawnmower, hardware store for screw hooks for back of Inca . . . .

Beautiful sunshine today, more lawn mowing while can, for Kevin. I spent time with the baby deer. They will recognize the bucket of food sound now and I can coax them into the shelter of the shed at feeding time. I can see that their flight trigger will take a lot of patience to overcome.

Sunshine didn't last long . . . . it's raining now.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

North, South, East, West ? ? ? ? Where to go today?

We have a day off (after we feed the animals), an automobile, and euro in our pocket, life is good!

Mullingar for breakfast and decision making . . . .















The Pit Stop for tea (for me, Renee), coffee (for Kevin), and scones with butter and jam for the both of us. Introduced ourselves to Joanne, our server/cashier/proprietor?















Rochefort’s for a new guitar for Kevin. Great deal on a Tanglewood acoustic. Deep beautiful sound, and pretty to look at, too, all natural wood tones. Thomas (pronounced Toe-mahs) assisted us and we introduced ourselves to him. He has an Aunty living in Ballinea (Bal-i-nay); was between Kev and me on the street with a drum kit at Discover Mullingar Day; was very helpful answering all sorts of questions. Thomas was delighted that we knew about the village named Fore. That was his second suggestion, after we nixed the Belvedere House idea, as to where to travel on a day trip.

I was born ON 04/04, and Kevin was born AT 04:04. We knew before we moved here we HAD TO GO to Fore. We had read about the swan children of Lir and seen photos of Fore and the area. We had just forgotten about it. And guess what? It was less than 30 km away! So off we go towards Castlepollard on the 394.

















































































































"Toberoacogany: This is a holy well and in the last century stations were performed here on St. Feichin's Day, 2 January, on St. ????? Day, 24 June, and on St. Peter's Day, 29 June. There was an ash tree with three branches growing over the well and it was, and still is - the custom for visitors to drive a coin edgeways into the bark. This may have been injurious to the tree which is now dead, but the single surviving branch still exhibits a good amount of foliage. It is said that the wood from the tree will not burn, and the water from the well will not boil. The water was taken as a cure for headache and toothache."

I do not know what year they posted the above sign, but the tree still lives and has more than four branches. Note the coin in the bark, edge ways, in the photo below.







<*****



























On the return we enjoyed a fabulous carvery lunch at the Hotel Castlepollard. Their restaurant, The Lir, was packed, we got the last table in a quiet corner. Kev ordered the pasta bake and I ordered the roast beef. We were not disappointed. The plates were huge, filled with yummy fixings.

Back in Mullingar around 4 pm, we did some grocery shopping before heading back to the farm safari.














Kevin serenaded me after dinner on his new Tanglewood guitar. Then we opened our package from America. Kev and I left a few boxes behind of items we could not part with when we sold the house, to be shipped to us when we got settled. Today we unpacked the first box to arrive. Thank you Sheila, thank you Lydia. We missed our Boston Red Sox goodies.

“Twas a grand day.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Awoke slowly, fed all the critters, then wandered down to the lodge to unload and clean everything that was used yesterday for the Discover Mullingar Day.















Sonja made us a wonderful spaghetti lunch with tossed salad and stollen for dessert.

I did four loads of laundry, then Kevin and I retired to our house for a good rest.

Time spent online catching up on correspondence, then watching DVD, “Conscience” with Anthony Hopkins.

Nice dinner of venison cheeseburgers with oven fries and courgettes (squash).

Now if only the dogs would stop their incessant barking.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Up with the birds, fed the animals, cut fresh willow, ate Frosties with banana, ready to go at 9:00 am with trailer and displays, to Discover Mullingar Day.

Kevin was needed to help Louis and Sioban with their Lilliput Loaf Co. booth, cooking potato bread while the boys grilled venison burgers next door. I was down the street with the Farm Safari Booth. "Have you been out to the Farm Safari? We're six miles west of Mullingar, on the road to Athlone. Do you know where is Ballinea (pronounced Bal-i-nay)? We're right past, in Churchtown, but there is no sign, so if you get to Loughnavalley you've gone too far." I was almost singing this by the end of the day. "We're not open to the public, so please call ahead for a booking. We do children's birthday parties, adult sundowner barbeques. Whatever the occassion, we would be happy to accommodate you. We can take as few as four as many as fifty. We stop several times for photo opportunities and to pet the animals. You will see all the animals whose photographs are on display . . . . Perhaps your child has visited with his teacher from school. We have a five acre lake and Gregg takes the children down to the water with nets and then they look through microscopes at whatever they collected. It's a wonderful learning experience and just a great day in the countryside."

Lots of fun and entertainment all day and the weather held clear with no rain ‘til the end.






























Kevin and Louis
wringing the starch
out of the grated potatoes.










Louis himself.






















Kevin and Sioban
preparing onions for the grill.




Renee on a break from her display,
visiting Kevin.










A dear deer child!










Louis and Sioban,
Lilliput Loaf Co.
































Kevin, cooking potato bread on the streets of Mullingar, in Ireland. His grandmother would be so proud!

At 7:00 pm, ten hours later we were all heading home. A very long day. Jobs well done all around. We’ll get together for lunch tomorrow and debrief the past two days.

A grand day!

Saturday, September 26, 2009

IrishSPCA Poultry day at the Farm Safari. Sellers and buyers of all breeds of chickens and ducks were on site for the day. Kevin cooked and sold sausages and chips (hot dogs and French fries) along with tea, coffee, and orange drink. Renee manned the media booth and promoted the Farm Safari while selling a few select items from the gift shop.

Below is Kevin in his outdoor kitchen.
And Renee setting up the van exhibit early in the day.






Today was also a dry run for all of us, practice for tomorrow’s Discover Mullingar day. If you will notice in the photo below, inside the display van, above the logo, there is a small TV screen on which we were showing a slide show of photos from Gregg’s African Safari. All the photos on the side doors are animals we have here on the Farm Safari.

To the left is the Farm Safari Park owner, Gregg Potterton, posing like he belongs there, while actually it was me who manned the station the entire day, stepping out only moments at a time to take photos.

The event ran from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm and we finished cleaning up and were home by 6:30 pm. Right now I am really emotionally drained and almost exhausted from all the exciting conversations I had with people from all over Ireland, including Northern Ireland. I made a lot of new friends.

Ironically, people wanted to know if I was crazy for moving here. And oddly enough, Kevin told me later that he had similar experiences, people asking him if he had had his brain examined before leaving the U.S. and coming to Ireland. Generally, many people could not believe we chose to move to Ireland. Situations for many people here took a bad turn this past year. It was kind of uplifting for them to learn about our moving here, on purpose, and they seemed to walk away more hopeful.

I especially had fun entertaining the children who had become bored with the whole event after a few hours and lingered around me “talking animals” and telling knock-knock jokes.

Below is new friend, Michael.It was another lovely day.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Our Seat Inca is a 1.9 diesel. I forgot to mention that yesterday. Our fuel budget will certainly appreciate this fact because in Ireland, diesel is less expensive than petrol/gasoline.

Also regarding yesterday . . . . Safari Man was off property at the Plowing Championships all day and when I told him this morning about my camel exploits, he did not laugh. On the contrary he was quite upset, telling me that I was very lucky to have all my body parts still intact. Apparently camels can be quite dangerous when they revert back to the wild, which these had done many moon ago, after retiring from the circus to the farm safari. A huge error in judgment was made by his employee, and I was warned never to go in their pasture again. Whew, was I lucky, and I don‘t think it had anything to do with my good animal sense.

In preparation for this weekend’s activities, Kevin and I painted the inside of the trailer which will hold our media exhibit.

This photo is of the first coat being applied. It would take three coats to cover the entire surface thoroughly.

After lunch we attended to some yard work around our house. It was sunny and windy and the long grass was somewhat drier than in the morning, so Kevin mowed while I played in the hothouse.
We’ll be up with the birds tomorrow morning so we called it a day around 6:30 pm, fed the animals and had an early dinner. Have I mentioned that it doesn't get dark until 8:30 pm? The days are long.

Poultry day tomorrow, sponsored by the ISPCA - Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty against Animals.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Slept in this morning, even the rooster couldn’t wake us.

At 9:00 am, I called the VW dealership in Mullingar about the vehicle we saw on their website. Shane would call us back at noon, so off to the lodge we headed.

Funny thing . . . . Today I was introduced to the Bactrain camels (two humps) here on the Farm Safari. Brendan asked Kevin and I for assistance in moving four weanling cows from the pasture where the two camels stay. Off we went.

I was to serve as the decoy while Kevin and Brendan wrangled and removed four weanling heifers, on foot, from the pasture. You would have cried with laughter if you had seen me.

I was told to throw pieces of bread on the ground, near the camels, and keep them occupied. I had walked about 100 yards in the opposite direction of the cows so the camels would stay away, but the camels had their own ideas. As they approached me and I threw one slice on the ground, the first camel didn’t stop.
He walked right up to me and I barely was able to throw another slice on the ground. He couldn't wait for me to get the bread out of the bag. He was IN MY FACE, and HUGE. As the bag of bread was becoming empty I started ripping the slices into smaller pieces, which they tended to ignore all together.
So I started walking towards the gate. Wouldn’t you know the one camel would not back off. He just kept coming. I kept walking, and he was right behind me.
When the cows were finally through the gate, safely away, I began to quicken my pace towards the gate. The camels seemed like they were going to keep following me so I began to run and THEY RAN AFTER ME. As I ran faster and looked behind me, the camels were bucking and kicking at one another, and still coming! Yikes! I didn't know if they would run over me, or through me, or what . . . . having had NO experience with camels EVER in my life . . . . so I stopped and turned around to face them and ended up pushing one away on the neck as I side-stepped the other. I was now about twenty-five yards away and as they were circling around me I made a mad dash for the gate and left them standing there wondering "where'd she go?"

Later, Kevin told me that when Brendan first saw what was going on, he asked "How fast can your wife run?" I laugh about it now, just thinking of those camels chasing me, but at the time, AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Kevin was only able to take the above few quick photos because he and Brendan were chasing these silly cows.
After a quick lunch we received our call from Shane. Quick synopsis: he drove the automobile out to us, we scrutinized it thoroughly, signed the papers, gave him US dollars cash, called Quinn Direct (with whom I had already established a relationship for insurance) and activated a policy. Shane called for someone from the dealership to collect him and return to Mullingar. We have one year’s inspection with the tax and insurance all paid. In less than 30 minutes we were legal to drive anywhere in the world. Freedom! DooDah!

A 2000 SEAT Inca (pronounced Say Ahht), made by VW for the Spanish market. We know it as a VW Caddy. Technically a commercial vehicle with two seats up front and a huge, caged, cargo area behind, so will hold all our luggage, plus. We are verrrrrry pleased with this purchase.

After a cup of tea, Kevin and I drove to Mullingar and did some grocery shopping at Tesco. Great car! Five (5) speed on the floor, smooth ride, acceptable warranty, nothing wrong with it mechanically, clean inside. A grand deal.

Tuesday September 22, 2009

Arrived at the office at 9:00 am sharp. Website development meeting scheduled for 9:30 and there was a refrigerator cargo van full of venison to be packed and frozen.

Kevin filled each seal-able bag with five patties, from the boxes in the cargo van, and I sealed them in the machine. Kev and I quickly fell into a rhythm and soon we were doing quite a professional looking job.
Four hours later, those of us still in the lodge were enjoying a fine lunch of grilled venison steak and onions, with French fries. Words cannot describe how tender and flavorful was this meat. Onolicious to be sure! Simply scrumptious. Best in the world . . . . You get the idea? This was magnifique!

Spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning up, disinfecting and sterilizing all the tools used in our morning vacuum-packing fun. I think we sealed 300 - 400 venison burgers today. I know there was hardly any room left in the three freezers for the saddle cuts, etc. when we were done. We’ll be eating well this winter.

Still getting ready for the poultry event on Saturday. “Discover Mullingar” takes place on Sunday, and we‘ll be there representing the Farm Safari.

I’ll be cooking dinner in our clean oven tonight. Thank you, Kevin!

Stay warm and well, ya’ll.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Happy Anniversary to us, we’ve been married ten years today!!! Our present to each other is being here in Ireland together, smiling and in good health. Life may be short, but it can be wide.

We'll take the day off tomorrow and celebrate in Mullingar but today we have too many things to do.

Kevin will be assisting Greg and Louis with the making of the rail bikes. Two people pedal while two people sit and enjoy the ride. The plans have been drawn and welding needs to begin.

Renee will be giving the Gift Shop in the lodge a complete overhaul -cleaning, sorting, and rearranging things.

We'll be on our own as everyone else has other things to do today, off property.

Just enjoyed a fine dinner of shepherd's pie and zucchini, baked in our oven. It was yummy.

Today was a fun day. Kevin and I were "checked out on the quad" (what we call an ATV) and took it for a wild ride to retrieve a set of keys from the office. First time for both of us ever sitting on one of these things. I now know why they are so accident prone. A little tricky to get the knack of driving one, but YeeHaw, good fun.

The gift shop now looks extraordinary. Newly decorated, etc. The rail bikes project got derailed for the day but will resume shortly. Kev and I got a lot of good exercise, walking, in between all our responsibilities. PLUS . . . . We were finally successful in wrangling the geese out AND back into their enclosure with ease.
Today, Kevin gave me a hand-carved deer antler necklace with Celtic Ogham writing (secret message), made by our new friends Andy and Michelle from Waterford. They get the antlers from "our" farm and sell their craft in the gift shop. Maybe tomorrow we'll buy a new-to-us, good used car.

Good TV tonight. Law and Order, then Criminal Minds.

Sunday September 20, 2009

Quiet day, took the jeep into town to do some shopping for necessities. We finally found ginger ale. When we returned I made tuna salad with fresh onion and Irish celery and spread it on the best tasting wholewheat bread. A very nice lunch.

Spent the afternoon doing product research for the farm. It is so great having wireless access here at home.

Enjoyed a lovely home cooked meal and watched a surprisingly entertaining movie on RTE 2 TV, “Kinky Boots.” It is based on a true story, try watch it if you ever get the chance.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Deer-moving clean-up, and preparation for this Saturday’s poultry event at the farm.

Kevin and I donned our weatherproof slickers to pressure wash the transport trailer. We’ll save the cleaning of the “yard” for a rainy day, literally.



We helped move all the bouncy pillows from the field then collected the electric fence from the adjoining pasture. And boy, has electric fencing changed since I was young. No need for insulators. It’s not even wire. It looks like seam binding tape and is strung on plastic posts with metal tips that are simply pushed into the ground. And it’s extremely light weight. What an improvement!

Our world got bigger today. When Greg was showing us around the property there was so much to see, and we went around so many corners and down so many roads and into and through so many outbuildings and took turns and circled around . . . . that I did not realize the enclosed courtyard with the hothouse is indeed the backyard to our house. We have no actual back door, and the entrance is through the main courtyard, and, well, what can I say, I discovered it by accident. I was actually standing outside, looking at the hidden view from my kitchen window and went “Aha!”

So, I picked fresh vine-ripened tomatoes and watered the squash and admired the strawberries, while nibbling green grapes off their vines. “Twas delightful. Then I picked apples from the tree for baking some cobbler now that our oven is clean. I like this farm living.

I cut up some tomatoes to add to the ripe avocado I bought for 69 euro cents (about $1) and will have that tomorrow. Mmmmm.

Dinner and a DVD tonight and then off to dreamland. Another great day.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Another slightly foggy morning, but warm.

We’re working on the transfer of the vehicle from Greg to Kevin. This morning I will ride to Mullingar with Sonja to put the transfer of title in the post so we will get the new registration.

Kevin is being shown “how to” feed the just-weaned baby deer in the paddock by our house so Brendan can do other things over the weekend. Brendan works for Gregg five days a week and has his own twenty acre farm and family not far from here.

Sonja and I will also shop for necessities for tomorrow’s birthday party.

When we returned from town, the four of us enjoyed a lovely lunch out back at the lodge. German sausage that looked like hot dogs with Colemans mustard, potato salad, pancakes and black currant jam. The pancakes were a test. We saw them in the store on the bread aisle and were curious. They were pre-cooked, wrapped and sealed in clear plastic. I asked a woman nearby “What do you do with these, do you eat them cold, or what?” She replied, “You put them in the microwave and then add syrup or whatever you like.” Who knew! We actually warmed them in the toaster and added jam. They were acceptable.

Greg received a phone call for a safari booking during after-lunch-tea, so it was decided that I would accompany Greg in the jeep with the couple when they arrived.

Long story, short . . . . There is now a plan for me to do the guided, narrated tour. I will love doing this. If Kevin joined me, all the better!

Henry, the Highlander

We were home by 6:00 pm for an early dinner of leftover venison Bolognese sauce and penne pasta and a dvd of “Spinning Boris”.

We’ll meet up with everyone at the lodge tomorrow at noon to ready for the big birthday party.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Big birthday party today from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, of course it’s raining! No worries really, we have “all weather facilities,” and it may stop raining. It’s still early.

We slept in ‘til 9:00 am today knowing that we didn‘t have to be at the “office” until noon. I went out and fed the animals and stoked the furnace then came in for breakfast with Kevin.

This birthday party is for two children, one aged 6, and the other aged 2. We’re all looking forward to the fun.

After attending to the critters we arrived at the lodge around 11:30. As we cleaned, polished, and prepared for the party safari the rain stopped. By the time Kev and I were blowing up the balloons, the sky began to clear.

The sun was shining brightly as all the cars arrived with the guests. The big bouncy thing (like a bouncy castle w/out the castle) entertained the children until everyone arrived and then we headed for the “loo” before boarding the safari train.

One hour later, after being the Safari Woman on the tour with Greg, the Safari Man, and seeing and interacting with all the animals, photo opportunities, going “fishing” in the lake, and making a wish on the Ogham (pronounced ohm) Stone, we completed the circle back to the lodge.


Lunch was waiting for us and then the birthday cake celebration. It didn’t seem like the children wanted to leave until the giant bouncy thing was flat on the ground, but parents scooped them up and they were off, all smiles. T’was a grand day!

Kev, Sonja, and I relaxed with a cup of tea after cleaning up and reflected on the day. What a great team we are becoming. The future looks very bright.

Kevin and I are looking forward to a relaxing day tomorrow with nothing but a few animal duties.

This post Sunday, the 13th - Thursday the 17th

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Big bowl of Frosties with our tea and coffee, attended to the critters, then walked to the office in the sunshine of a fine Irish morning, accompanied by Bonnie and Clyde.

Opened up the lodge, watered all the plants, wrangled the geese, fed the chickens, then walked back home for "tea time" and some online research for our projects.

We drove our vehicle back down to the lodge in anticipation of following Gregg to town to get it inspected. Turns out we need to do another step first, so this will wait. Our insurance for the vehicle arrived in today’s post, our first real piece of Irish mail. Yeah.

Sonja, Kevin, and I spent the better part of the day making the lodge ready for Saturday’s birthday party.

As I walked home to meet Kevin, who was lawn mowing, two hot air balloons floated overhead, a beautiful sight.

I prepared our first dinner in our new home. Ground venison in a Bolognese sauce over penne pasta . . . . Super yummy!

We watched some American TV programs (CSI NY and CSI Miami) and are off to bed in our warm house.

Another wonderful day.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Slept in and arrived at lodge around 9:00 am. Watered plants and fed some animals. Returned to our house for a big bowl of Frosties (Kellogg Frosted Flakes) and a cuppa tea.

More house cleaning and then break for lunch. Sausage wrapped in pastry, yum. Turned on television. We get five channels, four in English. Oprah was on! And the original western movie “The Virginian”! One local kiddie show, and one local soap opera. What a surprise.

Kevin and I learned how to work the wood burning hot water heater. German-made, wonderful technology. It really is an amazing device, it uses the heat to warm up water which warms your house and your hot water. The water tank is ten feet tall and is made like a thermos so it keeps heat for a long time. When we asked how much it cost, we were told “Three fortunes.”

Put together photos for the safari farm website on external drive for Sonja. (Yes, same Sonja from Mearsecourt.) There is going to be a collaboration between Greg, Sonja, Kevin, and me to launch the Irish Farm Safari Park into the new year . . . . And develop an Ushnach center, and more!

The deer team is back from Cork and guests arrived. Andy and Michele from Waterford came to pick up more antlers for their Irish crafts. I learned that I AM CELTIC!!!! All these years, from small kid time, I have been reciting the little diddy my father (William Stephen Pocock) taught me. “By Tre, Po, or Pen, ye shall know all Cornish men. Tre is Tremaine, Po is Pocock, and Pen is Pengally.” Andy told me about the original Irish tribes settling in Cornwall. So I AM Celtic!

Andy and Michele had a two plus hour drive home so they didn’t join us for dinner but we had a great sundown BBQ of venison burgers, grilled onions and zucchini.

Tomorrow we will all spend the morning making preparations to make venison liver pate in the near future.

Going to watch a movie now. Goodnight, and sweet dreams.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Greg took deer to Cork for “processing“.

We still have use of the “jeep” for another drive to town for more supplies and a treat from Shaw’s hardware of four gladiola bulbs to force in kitchen window.

Obtained insurance on our vehicle from Quinn Direct and got a huge discount by supplying a “No Claims Document” from our American company, USAA.

Enjoyed a relaxing day cleaning and playing with my wonderful husband and all the animals.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Kevin and Renee move today from Mearsecourt, Rathconrath, Mullingar, just eight quick miles around the corner to the Farm Safari Park, Churchtown, Ballinea, Mullingar. Of course, this is after taking care of our morning horse chores. Kevin will assist me and take plenty of photos. There have been many changes at Mearsecourt since Sonja’s departure including the return of all Trevor’s horses to his barn or out to pasture. Today will be the last day of my responsibilities regarding the horses. I will truly miss them, but have been given an open invitation to visit Trevor‘s stud farm anytime.















We have learned that unlike addresses in most places, there is no postal code (zip code) or numbering of houses. The an post knows there is only one Mearsecourt House as they know there is only one Farm Safari Park.

This property is owned by the good friend and deer business partner of the owner of Mearsecourt House. When we left Mearsecourt we did not say goodbye, we just said “see you later” as we will be back often to work on projects. This rural area seems to be very much about community and it is almost as if everyone knows that we are “needed” more at Greg’s place than George’s, so are moving is all okay, a win/win for everyone if you will.

Here on the farm/safari we will have our own house, opposite and off the courtyard of the family home. We will share the common areas of the yard, barns, sheds and other out buildings. The lodge is the public/private place for guests to begin their guided tour of the park and is a terribly long commute every morning from the house - a four minute walk, or two minute car ride. Ah, the agony of it all.

Kevin and I will spend the next two days cleaning and setting up house. We have the use of Greg’s “jeep” (Toyota land rover) so we will follow Sonja into Mullingar and she will give us the grand tour of what’s where. Mainly the Dunnes store and Heatons for what we need, and Abracadaba for a late lunch.

We’ll meet her back at the farm to assist her in picking up barrels of veggies from a local market, to feed the pigs.

The day ended with us greeting a Circus Vegas trailer at 9:30 pm with a delivery of Shetland ponies (one foal). This is an Irish family-owned circus with two touring shows, which just closed one tour due to the bad economy. Some of their animals will winter with us on the farm. Could not help but think of Circus Sarasota, Dolly Jacobs and Pedro Reis, and all the “courting” Kevin and I did at their circus!

Photos will be attached soon!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Foggy morning. Kevin assisted me in turning out the mare and filly, then walked with me halfway through the pasture to feed the pregnant mare her “medicine”. What a lovely way to start the day.

I mucked the stall while Kev fed Gus, then it was tea time. No breakfast for us today. The sun is coming out. Huzzah!

Needed to get a jumpstart for the vehicle Greg left behind here at Mearsecourt when he picked up the tractor last night. Neville was kind enough to oblige and we then drove the “jeep” (they call every SUV a jeep here, whether it is or not) back to Greg’s place.

It was nice to off on our own for a short drive and away from the manor house. The sweetness in the air from all the cutting of the fields was sublime! Everyone has literally been making hay while the sun shines.

When we arrived at Farm Safari Park, Kevin jumped on the trailer with Greg and I followed in the “jeep” to meet the tractor/loader machine. It was quite an experience being back on a working farm. When we were done Greg was thanking us for our help and we were thanking him for the fun. “In fair trade there is no robbery!” we were told. Ha!

Long story short, we spent the rest of the day talking and continuing to plan our collaboration . . .

Greg’s friends dropped by as planned to assist with different projects and we all ended up having a sundown BBQ of community contributions. Venison burgers and chips (French fries), grilled beef and lamb steaks, grilled onions, salads, and wine. A feast of good food and new friends.

Kevin and I drove the “jeep” back to Mearsecourt House around 9:00 pm with plans to meet Sonja at 2:00 pm tomorrow afternoon back at Farm Safari Park. Luckily we did not have the same difficulty returning in the dark as we did finding our way in the daylight. The distance is not far between the two places, but involves too many intersections and possible wrong turns. But we made it.

After a nice hot (finally) soak in the tub, a quick call to my Mom in Sarasota from outside under the stars, downloading the camera into the laptop, and it is time to retire. Yikes, it’s almost midnight.

Another great day. And we can sleep in tomorrow, yeah!