Pollock Holes

In Kilkee, Ireland, when the tide goes out, salt water pools are left behind in the rocks which many folk love to swim in. The very shallow ones display many beautiful sea creatures including star fish.

Chiming church bells in Ireland

Church bells chime in Ireland  at noon and at 6pm for the Angelus, not only from the church towers but also on state TV and radio.
Then there are the chiming church bells when there is a funeral. The bells chime when the coffin is taken to the church the day before the funeral, then again before the funeral Mass and again as the coffin is being driven off to the cemetary. At this time the chimes ring slowly and approximately a minute apart as the hearse begins its journey toward  the cemetary; an appropriate send off to the Great Beyond!
Then there are the chimes for the weekend Masses, calling the faithful to prayer and worship. Living across the street from the church, one hears the lovely pealing bells frequently and clearly so there is no excuse for staying away.

Rain, rain in Ireland!

There is gentle rain, misty rain, pouring and pelting rain, moderate rain and then there is drizzle. There should be as many names for rain in Ireland as there are names for snow in Inuktitut.

Climbing roses

Our climbing roses are bursting into full bloom out of the hundreds of buds on its branches! What a glorious sight to see the brilliant pink colours adorning the deep green leaves and providing us with an amazing view as we sit in the garden sipping our coffee, or enjoying our meals. How do they survive the harsh winters and come back each year to delight again and again!!!

Fish head Fred

Fresh mackeral from the sea shore daily. Fred guts and cleans them, then places the entrails on the garden wall for the sea gulls, who swoop down and in a few gulps, clean up the mess in no time at all. When Fred's children and grandchildren visited and watched this scene, they gave Fred the name, fish head Fred!

The fresh mackeral are delicious and what a treat to sit out in the garden on a sunny day to eat this fabulous meal in the fresh air!

The sun is shining in Kilkee!

I woke up to brilliant sunshine streaming through my bedroom window this a.m. after arriving to 4 days of heavy rain and gale winds! How lovely is the sunshine!! The benefit of the 4 rainy days immediately after my arrival allowed for adjustment to the new time zone with lots of naps!

This morning we attended a Methodist funeral in the Catholic church. Most interesting and awesome to watch and experience the ecumenical service with the Catholic choir singing the Methodist chosen hymns.

In p.m., after a lovely lunch on the outside deck, it was into the garden for digging and preparing for the plants we hope to purchase tomorrow and plant.