Day 2 June 21 Summer Solsitice in Ireland

Well, let's just say that snoring must be in the DNA! - enough said. (I will wear ear plugs tonight as whomping with pillows only had the minimal desired effect!)

The morning started with a tour of the farm and flowers. We then watch Colette make a "fryed breakfast" on the cooker (gas stove). Rashers (bacon); bangers (small sausage links) eggs. Also black blood pudding. Did you know that it is like a sausage? I actually thought it was like tapioca....how embarassing! Then a cutting board full of breads and scones as well. YUM.

Cathy, Mick, Mare & I then headed to out for the morning to the Sea near Cobh (said like cove). The tide was out so we could see seaweed, muscle, periwinkles that looked like small snails that Cathy said were exported to Spain where they are very popular. We saw sail boats about to race and a huge cruise ship half the size of the mountain behind it. Mick said the next stop was America. Cathy told us that 90% of the people that came over during the potato famine left from this harbor.

Back "home" for dinner at 1.p.m. Colette had prepared a huge feast for dinner. After that huge fried breakfast, we didn't think we would eat much,but...Lamb.-- the taste was amazing! Better than any beef roast you ever had. Not the least bit gamey or wild tasting. Also, we had the first of their new potatoes with Irish butter and carrots. Heaven!

I have decided to learn to drink tea. This is monumental.I have managed about 3 full cups now. I think with milk and sugar is the better way so far.

We left Cathy and Mick with the dirty dishes and headed out to see Mary Frances Herlihy- a distant cousin on Mom's side through the Hogans. So this was tea at about 4 p.m. with finger sandwiches, breads,cookies and the lot! We will be 100 stones by the time we get back! Mary Frances lives in a quaint cottage with a beautiful garden and archway to the pasture where the two cows were grazing. A cousin Eddie O'Conner was there. He greeted Mare with a handshake and hello, then promptly asked where the chocolates were. Mare had sent some chocolate over a few years back but stopped sending it because she heard that MF was diabetic. Apparently, Eddie had come over at Christmas & told MF to get out the chocolate, that he knew Mare had sent it and felt she was holding out. Mare was really tickled by this story. She told him that she did not know she was sending chocolate for two! I'm sure that he only walked over for the chocolate today! He made sure Mare understood that he likes chocolates before he stomped up the path!!

On the drive back the clouds were hanging low over the mountains. The weather is sunny and perfect. 21 C. We stopped by to visit Colette's "darlings". Her grandchildren from Mary Keniry- her daughter. More tea and biscuits, then back "home" to have a glass of wine by the fire place with Mick and Colette. To clarify, only we drank.

Mick's phrase for the day: "go to bed you rascal or you'll rue the day"...."did you hear that"

I also noticed that the Irish make a sucking sound when they are listening to a story and are impressed by a point being made (ssssssssh--but make sure it is inward).

It was 1030 tonight and the sun was just setting. Not sure what the agenda for tomorrow...shopping, a "charity shop" and roam around a small village. Dinner is already planning...cabbage and bacon. Mick's favorite.