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Tuesday, June 30, 2015

(Stuff Alex Made) - Tilt-Out Garbage Cabinets





My husband is handy. And loves himself some woodworking. He (finally) finished the other half of our garbage/recycling pair, and I'm so pleased to have those nasty black plastic garbage cans hidden from public eye. Alex made the cabinets from this plan of Ana White's.



Sunday, June 28, 2015

(iPhone Pics) - Ireland Day 7 & 8, Dublin & the Long Journey Home

We are now recovering from a 24-hour day of traveling, but first we had a quick overnight at the nicest hotel in Dublin, including a four-generation dinner at a bordello ...

Mama date.

Downtown Dublin gelato and iced coffee.

Meanwhile these guys walked to the Guinness museum.

Dublin sights.

Guinness.

Guinness and Alex.

Dublin sun and clouds. Everyone remarked that we must have brought the nice weather "from California."

Dublin streets.

More Dublin.

The long ride home. Alex caught double-fisting, while commenting that I shouldn't get "too drugged" on my legally prescribed medication for flight-phobia.

This child was a fabulous traveler, however, has about a 9 minute attention span. Everyone's advice for travel included use of an iPad and the in-flight TVs. I don't think she watched even an entire 25-minute episode of anything.

But she did legitimately fall asleep with the mask on.


We're already over it. Little do we know we have many extra hours of waiting/travel in SFO.

Francie and her new lambie.

Escalator fun.

Ferral Francie - PJ's and in-flight issued tall green socks. And PLEASE stop putting your nasty ass hands in your mouth. We're trying not to bring home any ebola or norovirus or even a cold.


This is when she was still happy to wait. Just a few minutes later she broke into a 2-hour on and off manic tantrum.

... And 23 hours later we made it home and collapsed into our beds, relishing a nice adventure, but happy to get back to our regular summer routine.

(iPhone Pics) - Ireland Day 6, Carndonagh

And on the sixth day we vowed to avoid riding in the car. Our butts had become softer than when they started, and they were leaving imprints in the rental cars. We spent the day staying local to Carndonagh, lounging in the morning, visiting the "play park" in the rain, and touring family sites - the house Alex's grandfather grew up in, the nearby pig farm, and some of the local pubs, looking for more whiskey to taste that can't be found stateside.

Aunt Jen reading to the Bean at the house where we stayed for the week.

Alex pushing Francie on the baby swing at the "play park" in Carndonagh.

Music maker.

Paul, Chris, and Irish cousin Joe at the house where Chris's father grew up.

Pig snout.
"I don't like that dead pig. Mama, do you like the dead pig?" No, no I don't. Nor do I like the smell of live pigs.

The Bean and her new friends.

Cows are in the meadows ...

... eating buttercups.


Old Doherty family photos, circa 1919 or so. We think Alex's grandfather is the little boy being held in the rocking chair.

Terrible photo, but of the original kitchen, all cast iron, in the house where Grandpa John grew up.

Grandpa John's childhood house from the outside.

One of the old buildings was converted into a Christmas site. And we happened to visit on June 25th, so Merry Half-Christmas!

Out and about in Carndonagh. Here at McClure's Pub.

Whiskey whiskey and more whiskey. And Guinness and Smithwicks.

Mama date for fish and chips.

(iPhone Pics) - Ireland Days 4 & 5, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, and a Family Party

A kid-free overnight overseas! The second youngest generation - Brian, Jen, Alex and I - spent another day in the car driving from Carndonagh to the Cliffs of Moher on the west coast, and then spent an overnight in Galway, where we had our best meal, tasted some whiskey, pub hopped, and stayed out with the young folk until 2+ a.m.



Alex at the Cliffs of Moher - in the Burren region of County Clare, rising some 400 feet above the Atlantic Ocean.

Cliffs of Moher - one of the top tourist sites in Ireland.

Jen, Brian, me and Alex.

Daddy and Mama.


Another "groupie".

And another "pairie."


Streets of Galway, where I spent a semester abroad in 2003. This all-girl percussion band rocked it.

Out on the town - at The Quays bar, which I remembered from 2003, listening to a decent cover band of American music. No traditional Irish jogs for us, apparently.

Our B&B. Well played, Jen, well played.

Last minute beer/whiskey at the Kings Head on our way out of town - too short of a visit to Galway.

The Kings Head - a building in existence since the 13th century.

Another long drive back to Carndonagh, to an extended family party, where Francie thought everyone gathered for her, of course. Turns out that Irish social tradition includes the separation of men and women - Francie didn't abide by such customs.

(iPhone Pics) - Ireland Day 3, Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

In the town of Bushmills, County Antrim (I think) in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, we missed the Bushmills distillery tours by about 45 minutes.

Giant's Causeway - a natural area of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, a result of an ancient eruption.

According to the legend of Giant's Causeway, the columns remaind from a causeway built by an Irish giant, Finn MacCool, who was challenged to a fight by the Scottish giant, Benandonner. In the Irish version of the story, Finn defeats Benandonner.

Walking down to the basalt columns - Francie, Papa, Mimi, and Grandma Lambie.

Briefly adventuring on our own.

Action shot, climbing up to the top of one of the crests.

Panoramic from said crest.

Flamily photo.

Watching for waves.

"I don't want to leave Ireland eeeeevvvvvvvveeeeerrrrrr."

Most of rock columns are hexagons, but some with four, five, seven, or eight sides.

Watching more waves from the hexagonal basalt columns.

A few kilometers further along the Causeway Coast is a walk down to an old rope suspension bridge, called Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

The sea was turquoise, and the cliffs went on seeming forever.

Francie and Aunt Jen got in some quality time.

So did Uncle Brian.


Brave Francie (although can you call it brave if she's not even afraid?) crossing the 20 meter suspension rope bridge, nearly 100 feet above the rocky sea.

History has it that salmon fisherman had been building bridges to this tiny island for over 350 years. A new, more touristy bridge, was built by local climbers and abseilers in 2004, to ensure a safer passage to the "island."

Papa, Francie, Daddy, Uncle Brian and Mama on the island.

Flamily photo.


Flamily photo reach-around style.


Mama and the Bean crossing the bridge together.

View of the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge from the hike back to the parking area.



Every single bedtime was a battle. This girl rocked it nightly until midnight or so.

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