Yesterday and the Ballet

Yesterday I went to a wedding, a favorite restaurant for dinner and the ballet. Could a day be much better? Okay, I can think of one other element to add; but we won't go there.

Due to travel arrangements, or rather the lack of, I skipped church and slept in. I then spent the rest of the morning primping for the wedding. All girls love having an excuse to wear a nice dress, sport heels, style their hair and add a little more glam to their make-up - I am no exception. And weddings and opera houses are such great excuses.

The wedding was lovely. The groom is the pastor's son and he met his bride while they were both interning at the church. Both were so aglow with love. The bridal party wore coral, gray and broad smiles at the pleasure of seeing their friends unite. The beautiful decorations - arches wrapped in white tulle and pink flowers stood in the aisles and flower arrangements graced the stage - all looked so lovely in the new and recently remodeled building the church will now be holding their weekly services in.

After the short reception of cake and tea, Lucy-Anne (my roommate) and I drove over to the opera house to pick up our tickets to the ballet. She went off to the formal wedding reception with plans to meet back up with me for the ballet that evening. I went to Scoozi's, a little Italian restaurant that exudes an ideally quaint atmosphere from it's candle lit tables, brick walls and charming decorum.

An hour before the ballet, while I was sitting in the opera house's cafe reading Seabiscuit, I received a text from Lucy-Anne that dinner had still not been served and that most likely she'd be missing the performance. I teasingly replied that if that be the case, she should pass her ticket on to a cute guy. Jest aside, I was very sorry to hear that we would not be sharing the experience together.

The Moscow State Ballet performed Swan Lake beautifully. I have heard the gorgeously moving music so many times and have even played movements of it myself, but to see the story unfold through dance was wonderful. The costumes, the stage, the graceful movements all choreographed so well to the heart of the music - such an unforgettable experience.

Such an unforgettable day.

Laundry

 

 

Last night the wind was driving the rain into my window pane something fierce. This morning, looking out my window, it doesn't look much better. Nothing like letting the weather dictate your day. Domestic duties it is. And secretly, I like it.

I take a shower and make myself a hot breakfast of eggs and sausage before gathering up my laundry to head back in the kitchen. Yes, the washing machine inhabits this room too. At first, I'm not sure how much I can throw in, as the casket appears to be only six inches deep, but as I keep tossing things in I realize there is more depth to this little machine then meets the eye.


After a shocking two hours, the clothes are done and I transfer them over to the dryer, which in our house, is located in the stairwell closet. Besides removing the lint, you have to pull a container from the bottom that collects water from the clothes. I empty this out in the kitchen sink, select what I hope are the right settings and pray that my clothes come out in a size that fits me.


In an hour or so I'll find out!

Shopping at the English Market

 

I took the ten o'clock bus into town to shop at the local farmer's market - my favorite place to gather ingredients for the recipes I'm trying. As you can see, it is not lacking in simplistic, rural charm.

 

I have learned, from my few travels, that produce items have many names. In Ireland, eggplant is correctly labeled aubergine. Don't ask me how to pronounce it, that's the next lesson.

My mouth waters ever time I pass this little bakery. Today, I purchased a tomato and basil topped focaccia round that was scrumptiously tasty and soft.

I haven't seen crab cakes in Ireland yet and those displayed above are fish cakes, usually a single type of fish rolled in various spices and herbs. It's on my list of things to try.

I bought my eggs here as they come directly from a free range farm and are cheaper than the grocery stores.

And some day soon I plan to treat myself to one of these sandwiches. Don't they look amazing?

Wonderful day

It was such a wonderfully grand day and the only hint I'll give is the lyrics from this song:

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and his glory of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story because I know 'tis true,
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.
I love to tell the story 'twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old old story of Jesus and his love!
I love to tell the story 'tis pleasant to repeat,
What seems each time I tell it more wonderfully sweet!

Observations while walking

I actually enjoy having to walk everywhere. I'm able to take in a great deal more of my surroundings this way then if I were to try and spot it all from a car.

First, my neighborhood. It seems that all the houses in my little development claim the street name of Lake Lawn though we make up quite a few blocks and streets. Knowing the house numbers is what spares you going up and down each street as they run numerically. So a quick glance at the first house on the block will tell you if you're close or have a few more blocks to go.

The majority of homes are two story duplexes like mine, sharing the middle wall.  A fence and gate surround the front yard. I don't recall seeing a garage, at least the kind that you park a car in and that we Americans would think of. Their garages (at least the ones I've seen) are more like storage/tool sheds that sit adjacent to the house.

And I love that they name their houses. Hampton Mews, Elizaville, The Beeches, and yes, Ellerslie. There's some great Irish sounding ones too but at the moment cannot recollect them.

You can park your car on either side of the road, facing either direction; I assume without fear of a ticket for so many people do it. You can park your car half on the sidewalk too. The roads are quite narrow and I assume they do this to avoid getting hit. This makes the sidewalks even narrower and so when walking by, you either have to suck it in or skirt around. (I'm curious what Slim would do with such a neighborhood!)

My last comment, though an awkward one, is that from the sidewalks alone I can ascertain that a good number of dog owners live in the area. I therefore walk most carefully.

If I'm waiting for the opportune moment ...

Ever since I bought the airline tickets that sealed my coming to Ireland, I've been excited about the opportunity to prayerfully revisit my life goals and come up with a plan of attack. And here, I won't so much be rambling on those that will greatly shape my course, but the wee little ones that make up my day to day.

I started this blog - that's one thing I can check off - and am actually rediscovering how much I enjoy writing. I know there are a few other interests that fell dormant because I failed to make time in my hectic schedule. But with that currently gone and a purpose to do, hopefully they'll turn into habits that will out stand the busy when it comes around again.

To disclose a little of what's on the table - start and maintain a blog (or three), try new recipes, listen to online sermons, invite friends over for a hardy meal and good conversation, read ... more, memorize scripture and complete a few Bible studies that need finishing.

And exercise. It was going to be included in the daily's list but with all the walking I've been doing to and from church, the store, etc. I don't think I need to schedule it in - it's going to happen regardless. The main grocery store is about fifteen minutes away and the church is about forty minutes. So my daily average has been about fifteen minutes shy of two hours. Not too bad. I might just shed a few pounds without going off desert! My arms will probably be more toned too since I have to lug my groceries home. And until it sinks into my head that I can only buy as much as I can carry, my poor arms and shoulders will have to endure this current mental lapse.

A pictorial peek at my home...

Here's my home...

the welcoming entryway...

the living room to the above photo's right ...

the fun little kitchen at the back of the entryway...

walking into my bedroom...

the back patio (that's my window)...

and the yard.

First post in Ireland

I'd like to do away with the formalities of an introductory paragraph because first, I'm terrible at them and second, because I'd like to think I'm in the middle of relaying a random tale to a dear friend. So here's to plopping right in.

It is my fourth evening here and I am sitting in my cozy bedroom, facing the fireplace. A single lamp adds a snugly glow to the recently unpacked and decorated room. Various cards from family and friends sit on the mantle, maps of previous travels decorate the walls and my books, games, scarves and shoes deposited in little niches gives the room that homey feeling.  Outside my window, the remaining hint of light in the sky allows me to just make out the dwarf apple tree across the lawn in the backyard. The wind is not blowing and the clouds are dry - at least for the time being.

In fact, this evening's anomaly has not been confined to the present but accounts for the majority of my time here. It has actually rained so little that I sometimes question if I arrived in the correct country! But no, it's really been a stroke of luck. Considering I have no car and walk everywhere, I have taken every sunny opportunity to go into town for my purchases. It's probably the reason why my pantry is adequately stocked, my clothes hanging in the wardrobe and the other bare necessities attended to. Yes, I feel settled.