Saturday, November 28, 2009

Frost on the lily this morning and thick fog all day today.  This is our driveway from the main road, lined with beautiful laurels.  I couldn't even see the gate less than 50 yards ahead.

It took me a little longer to get dressed this morning.  I added another layer of clothing and another pair of socks.  I was plenty warm.

I guess everything is all about Christmas from now on, except for Kevin's birthday, December 5th. (Ha!) Kevin and Greg drove to town and put up the fence surrounding the Christmas tree in the town square of Mullingar this morning.  It's a pretty wooden picket fence (unpainted) about three feet tall, and fifteen feet wide per side, just high enough to keep out the children and other little critters.

This coming Thursday we will we taking off for a few days of birthday celebration if the flooding has cleared up south of us.  I have my fingers crossed.

As I'm sure you know already from seeing the international sports news, Ireland beat world champion South Africa in rugby today at Croke Park in Dublin.  We watched the game on the telly.  It was fantastic.

Enjoy your Sunday, stay warm and well.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble . . . . . . . Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Irish men and women do not celebrate Thanksgiving, so today Kevin and I fed the farm turkey, instead of eating a turkey. 

On this day of reflection I feel so grateful for all our blessings.  Happy Days, ya'll.

May you and yours be always blessed.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

I must begin this post with a mention of John F. Kennedy, killed on this date so long ago. One of the things I like, and one of the most moving things to me about Ireland, is the people's fond memory of JFK. There are people here who know every word of each of his speeches! I frequently see programs on Irish television about JFK. Kevin and I actually paid .50 for a magnet we found in a charity shop (thrift store) with a group photo of John, Jacqueline, Caroline & John John on the veranda of their Hyannis Port home - we put it on our refrigerator. Memories.


Kevin and I enjoyed a fo'real day off today. It was such a treat, and it's no pau yet! (Not over) 



After waking up without the alarm clock and enjoying a leisurely breakfast, we relaxed around the house. Then after lunch we got bundled up and took a walk down the road to explore the remains of an old church and its overgrown cemetery that borders "our" property.

 

  

I cooked a great chicken breast, potato, and vegetable dinner.  We'll watch tv, eat chocolate biscuits, drink tea, and stay up as late as we like because tomorrow we are also off ! ! ! ! ! ! ! YEAH!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Flooding all over the country and the forecast for more rain has everyone talking . . . . about how "Ireland was robbed" in their loss to France in the soccer World Cup finals. Goes to show you how important football is in Europe. Can't believe people are more concerned about football than being underwater or unable to leave their homes. Luckily, we are high enough, so no need worry.

Today was sunny and warm, the proverbial calm before the storm.


















I finally found a teapot that is attractive, pours well, and didn't cost 30 euro. Hurray.


































I must tell you all, grocery shopping here is good fun. We can buy vegetables from all over the world - at a reasonable price. Bananas for .88 a bunch! And the names of some veggies are just different. What we know as zucchini is called courgettes. It's like a geography lesson roaming through the produce section. I should take the camera with us next time we go shopping. People bring their own bags, or purchase them as they checkout (notice in the photo how nice they can be) and the cashiers are seated, and there are no baggers - you bag your own!

This week, I made reservations for Kevin's birthday adventure. We will be outside Cork City on December 5th, in Glanmire, at the Vienna Woods Resort. It's about a three hour drive from here through beautiful countryside (hopefully NOT underwater), with lots to do in Cork once we arrive. We will be gone three days, returning on the sixth in time for Kevin to greet Santa Claus as he arrives at Farm Safari to have his photo taken with visitors. It will be Christmas before we know it. And I may have some very exciting news regarding our plans for next year, cannot say 'til after Kev's birthday. Hint, hint: HORSES!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

"Gondwanaland," the Dinosaur Garden with Dale Treadwell was our special guest at Farm Safari Park this weekend for "Family Days." This was an interesting experiment. Since we are not generally open to the public, we advertised locally for this event then crossed our fingers. Dale is a local celebrity, with a following from his TV show, "Naturally Wild" and all his school presentations. The tree ferns he brought with him were a special treat for me. Two of them are three hundred years old! We all had a fun weekend and a decent turnout.

Kevin grilled us all a great lunch of venison burgers and sausages, with fries and chicken nuggets.
Some Yum!


















I had a chance to spend some quality time with my weanlings in the early afternoon. There is one little one who is the bravest and most fearless and will be eating out of my hand by the end of next week. She is waiting for me in the morning at breakfast time and leads the pack when I call them in for dinner. Don't you agree that she is just the cutest?

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Wednesday night was the "Ready, Steady, Cook Off" at the Belvedere House. We supplied the venison for the chef from the Athlone Sheraton (who won his pairing cook off). It was a lovely event, and Kevin and I had a chance to wear something other than our farm duds and Wellies. It was fun seeing people who recognized us, and having a chance to chit chat.


















There were more than a dozen suppliers, and caterers in attendance offering samples of their goods. We ate our way from one end to the other and then went around again. From the local Fish Market's chowder and fresh oysters to someone's pastries and then the cheeses from Moonshine Farms . . . . what a feast. As the locals are fond of saying, it was brilliant.


































Yesterday, Saturday, the Farm Safari had approximately 100 children and adults here as we hosted the Boy Scouts and their families for a pig roast. What fun!

The preparation was tedious and thorough, with the erection of the MASH-looking tent on the backside of the lodge and the digging of the roasting pit. But what a night! It was totally worth all the effort as everyone had a great time and were well fed.




































































































 







It was nothing like an Hawaiian pig roast (not nearly as good) but the "men in charge" did an acceptable job. The weather cooperated, too. The sky was clear and the wind was mild, and I have never seen so many stars in the sky. The Big Dipper looked like we could reach up and climb inside, it seemed so close. And the requisite bonfire kept us all toasty.

Today, Sunday, I had a very nice surprise. A woman named Ita, along with her husband and son, stopped by to give me a gift box of Belgian chocolates as a thank you for sending her an email with photos I had taken of her family while on a safari with us last month. What a nice surprise! I have done this for many people and this is the first thank you "gift" I have received. "Leonidas Pralines, Fresh Belgian Chocolates" was printed on the gift bag, and inside the box was a beautiful assortment, but nothing I would identify as pralines. The two Kevin and I tasted/tested were delicious! I know Ita lives near here and works in Cork, where the chocolate shop is located, too far away for a refill so we're going to try and make these last. Ha!

Tomorrow starts another week already, where does the time go? The busier we are, the faster it seems to fly, oh my!

Here's hoping Storm Ida passes by you all.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Beautiful full moon tonight on our drive home from the first meeting of the Rural Arts Network, held at the Sonna Community Hall at 8:00 pm. There was impressive entertainment, yummy refreshments and good craic (good laughs). Sonna is less than four miles from our property and not big enough to call a town or village. "It's a crossroads," we were told. The Hall used to be a school, and it also housed the circus. You'll note the flying trapeeze bar hanging from the ceiling!


















Gentle reminder: you can click on any photo in our blog and it gets huge.

This is the drive to Sonna in the daylight, a beautiful ride through the countryside.


































This is the Royal Canal Way.


















I finished the brochures for the "Ready, Steady, Cook" taking place tomorrow night.


















Kevin and I released the hen and her three big chickies into the pen with the bigger birds.

Monday, November 2, 2009

The peacock has returned, not that we even knew it was gone, but what a nice surprise this morning to see him on the wall of our courtyard.


















Busy, busy day, today. Plans were discussed last evening to accomplish many things today, in addition to our regular feeding of the animals:

1. Pound posts into the ground for the "tent awning" to be erected alongside the lodge for the Scouts pig roast this weekend
2. Make one prototype leg for the huge upstairs table
3. Create pamphlet for Wednesday's "Ready, Steady, Cook" event at the Belvedere House
4. 2 pm conference call between Renee and Thomas to work on the the website
5. Move the baby chickens, they are big enough to join the other poultry with their hen mommy in the big enclosure
6. Personally, do laundry while at lodge all day
   

Happily, all but the moving of the chickies was accomplished. Greg will depart this evening for Cork, returning tomorrow with ten live turkeys and a freshly cut saddle of venison for Wednesday night's event. He is supplying venison to the chef's from the Athlone Sheraton for their recipe in the cook off.

From the Westmeath Examiner, our local newspaper:

Chef Pairings Drawn for Ready Steady Cook . . .

The format for the upcoming "Ready Steady Cook" challenge to take place in Belvedere House Gardens and Park has been unveiled.

"Each participating restaurant has nominated a chef to take part and the chefs will cook off against each other in pairs against the clock," says Rhona Rogers Tourism Development Officer with Co. Westmeath Tourism Ltd., which is behind the venture.

"The draw for the chefs has taken place but they won't know who they are cooking against until the night of the event!"

Scheduled to take place at the Visitor Centre in Belvedere at 8 p.m. on Wednesday November 4, the event has eight participating restaurants - Annebrook House Hotel, Bloomfield House Hotel, Greville Arms Hotel and Ilia Tapas & More all based in the Mullingar area, while participants from around Athlone include Sheraton Athlone Hotel, Glasson Hotel and Golf Club and Temple Country Retreat and Spa and the Hodson Bay Hotel.

"It will be a great showcase for local chefs and for the fine food produce from local suppliers. I encourage more people to buy their food locally and for restaurants to use it on their menus."

As well as a fun night out, people will be able to pick up tips from the chefs. The Fish Market who already supplies high quality fish to a number of local restaurants is participating. To kick off the night, chefs from the Fish Market will carry out a demonstration using some of their superb fish.

On arrival, each ticket holder will receive €160 worth of vouchers from participating restaurants.

A wine and local cheese reception and tastings from the best of Westmeath restaurants will be on offer in the Restaurant Exhibition area.

Tickets €35 each on sale from the box office at Belvedere House. Visit www.belvedere-house.ie.

Kevin and I will be in attendance with Greg, as one of the "Quality local food producers". It portends to be quite an occasion, we'll wear our fancy clothes. I'll give ya'll a full report.

I was in heaven while working on the pamphlet to be distributed at this event.

Kevin got to use more of the farm equipment while he and Brendan installed the posts for the tent awning. Laser level, post pounder, teleporter . . . . heaven for him, I hope.

It looked like quite an operation. Sure was fascinating to observe.