So, yes, I am one of those people that tends to be accident prone (having or susceptible to having a greater than average number of accidents or mishaps)....not usually big accidents but several small ones a day! Here's how I know: - I trip on nothing a couple times a day
- I spill coffee on my clothes several times a week (once I even spilled it down my back)
- Most days I find myself searching for something I misplaced
- While striving to miss a hole in the road, I end up lining my car up perfectly to hit it
- If it can be dropped, I'll drop it
- Burning myself while baking has become routine
- Hand-washing dishes leaves me looking like I tried to shower at the kitchen sink
- When cooking for one or two, my kitchen looks like I haven't cleaned it for a week (even though I HAVE)
- Most days I find bruises on my legs or arms that I don't even remember getting
I could go on...but you would soon be bored...(if you're not already). All that said, I'm always in the market for a good home remedy or new way to get some stain out of something. Since moving to Ireland, I've discovered a couple that I have grown to love, and thought I'd share :) Burns:If you burn yourself on boiling water, the oven, or whatever in the kitchen, and don't have the patience or time to hold ice on it for the rest of the day, I found a solution...Vinegar! Simply soak a paper towel with whatever vinegar you can find (I even used a vinaigrette dressing once) and hold it on your burn until the burning stops. Sometimes for burns that are a bit worse, you have to soak the towel a few times and hold it on there for 20 to 30 minutes, but it works. I'm amazed each and every time! It even keeps blisters from forming, however, IF it is a SEVERE burn that broke the skin, I don't recommend this remedy. Oil stains: No matter how careful I think I'm being, if I'm near oil in my nice clothes, it WILL end up on them. So here's the trick! Place a thick layer Dawn or Fairy liquid soap (depending on which side of the ocean you're on) directly on the stain. Let it sit for several hours and then wash as usual. The stain should come right out...even if it's been there for a few days! If it doesn't come out the first time, repeat the process, but make sure you do not dry or iron the garment until it's gone. Hope you find these as successful and life-enriching as I have :)
Just this week I had a conversation with someone about moving to a new country. During the discussion, we both came to the conclusion that after our first year away, living in our new location really started to become the 'norm' in our lives. As I walked away, I knew this was why since the summer I have struggled to write posts on this blog! Going the places I go, eating the places I eat, dodging traffic in city centre, and so on are 'just life' for me and feel entirely un-blogworthy :)
Today I thought I'd tell you about a day like I haven't had in a LONG time...The Quiet Day. Those who know me best know that quiet and I don't usually mix. I'm not the type to wander away to the mountains with a book and a journal for a day. Much to my parent's angst, I realized early on that even studying was easiest for me in the middle of the living room floor with the TV on, or now in a crowded coffee shop with all the noise and commotion. So how, you may ask, did I end up with almost an entire day of quiet? And what did I do to survive??? Glad you asked!
A few weeks ago, my friend Kathi (from California but living here in Ireland) found out she needed knee surgery. With the knowledge that my own mother would kill me if I had surgery this far from home and no one was around for the 'just in cases', I offered my services...and TODAY was the day!
My day started early, and after she was admitted, I had about 7 hours to wait around. It was a lovely, quiet hospital, and fortunately, it had a nice restaurant on the 4th floor. So here starts the wandering...
Yes, first stop was the restaurant for a coffee and some breakfast. I had completely consumed a whole wheat bagel and some cereal before I realized they were putting out the hot food! It was probably better that way, but I was a little jealous of those able to enjoy the eggs, bacon, potatoes, and more. Following my breakfast, I sat at my table looking out at the Dublin mountains and spent some time writing in my journal. I loved not feeling rushed like I do most days with somewhere to be or someone to meet!
Post breakfast, I found a quiet little waiting room with only room for about 4 chairs and worked on finishing the last 200 pages of my book. Before finishing the book, wandered to 3 different waiting areas for a change of scenery. My final spot left me trying to conceal a few tears for the characters in my book...I don't cry so pretty and didn't want to leave the other 'guests' alarmed :) Stomach growling so now back to the little restaurant...potatoes and cabbage were on the menu!
After a quick visit to see how Kathi fared under the knife, I had another hour or so to myself while she slept. This time I set out for a walk. To say that the weather recently has been beautiful would be quite an understatement...I regretted not wearing my flip flops today! I followed the walk with another coffee and a Twix...you guessed it, back to the restaurant.
I really enjoyed my day! Maybe because I wasn't the one having surgery. The quiet was exactly what I needed and I found being away from my computer didn't nearly kill me. I enjoyed the hospital and the very nice staff. Again I was reminded me of my mom and recalled all the years of wandering around the hospital she worked at.
Even the traffic cooperated with our trip home!
What a great day! Anybody else having surgery? :)
I know, I know...I have so let "all" of you down over the past few months with updating my post. In my defense, there ARE several contributing factors. First of all, since my move to Ranelagh, I have had very weak internet access (just ask anyone who has tried to talk to me on the phone). I thought this would be remedied by the end of October, but sadly it looks like it still may be a month or two. Secondly, I think I have felt that I've had nothing exciting to report. This fact may be because I have been here for 16 months, so Dublin life and my new friends, have now become a sort of norm for me :)
The summer FLEW by and was packed with action and travel! Autumn has passed a bit slower, and I have found almost a weekly routine as I'm helping out each week at IBI. Winter (or at least winter temperatures) has recently arrived, and I can hardly believe we are looking at only 40 days left til Christmas.
Following Christmas, I am GREATLY looking forward to a week back in TENNESSEE for my brother's wedding. Almost everyday, I think about seeing you all and how great it will be to catch up with a few during my whirlwind trip. Can't wait to hang out with the cutest little boy and prettiest baby girl in the world!
I AM resolved to keep you better updated on my blog...so stay tuned! Check out my newest photos from a few days in Kinsale (WAY south). I spent a few days hanging out with the Maiden's kids, and took my usual 500 photos while the kids were all in school :)
Have you ever had anyone say that they are praying for you? Have you ever said this phrase to anyone close to you? These are powerful words!
Over the past year I've heard these words (and said these words) more than ever in my life. It's been a humbling experience to have a group of people meet each month just to spend time checking in with and praying for me. Their prayers (and the prayers of many others) have been felt all the way across the ocean. God is faithful to answer!
As I close in on my one-year anniversary, I am thankful for so many things that God has done! I'm thankful for safe arrival, a place to live and a car to drive. I'm amazed at God's provision of friends and "family" here in Ireland. He has been faithful to encourage me and also remind me of truth when I was ready to believe a lie. I'm am also asking in faith that the Lord will direct my path and lead me in the year to come!
Thank you all for your encouragement...it was good to see so many of you while I was home!
I'm off to Spain next Tuesday (June 16th), so I'll be back with photos from my journey when I return...
Well, I made it back to the States for my first visit after moving to Ireland! It's funny when you are away from a place for a long time (ten months to be exact), how subtly things change and you even find that you've forgotten some stuff that you kinda miss.
For the record, I HAVE NOT forgotten that I miss my little nephew. It was a great reunion, and he was full of smiles. I have not forgotten how good it is to be with friends and family. I also (apparently) have not forgotten how to drive on the other side of the road!
Another funny thing happens for me when I return after being away, I find myself counting up all the "firsts" since I was last home. Here's a list from my first 24 hours :)
* I GOT TO MEET MY NIECE MACKENZIE GRACE for the first time!
(see photo below)
* I ate my first steak in 10 months.
* Enjoyed my first glass of SWEET TEA :)
* Used Crest toothpaste again (I forgot how much I LOVE IT)
* Ate a handful of Fritos! (they don't sell those in Europe)
* Saw an ALDI store for the first time in the States.
(that's where I shop in Ireland!)
* Went to my favorite Bux for my 9:30 Sunday Service coffee.
* Saw the Round Building with the Refuge Remodel for the first time ever!
(if the World's Fair could see it now!)
I'm definitely looking forward to all the "same old" stuff that I left behind last year. In some ways it feels like I never left, but then usually somewhere close at hand are the subtle reminders that life has continued. I met several of my friend's babies today :) Admired some engagement and wedding rings that were not around when I left. There was even a new road on my way to church that I had never seen before!
There are many more "firsts" to come, and I'm sure there are more changes to notice, so I plan to enjoy it!
Sorry this entry has been delayed! Other things came up...like my car story and then St. Patrick's day! So, here we go...
As many of you know, one of my friends, Grant, came to visit for a few days this month. I spent a few days before he arrived pouring over my maps to find a few NEW locations to tour (outside of Dublin) since I've created a well-worn path in both Dublin and Kilkenny. I came up with a few good ones!
We started his visit sticking close to Dublin, because you can't come to Ireland and not visit this city. The Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour was even better than I remembered. Very informative, and I added to my personal list of facts about the city in which I live.
After visiting a few other places in and around Dublin, we decided to hit the road for a couple days in the west of Ireland. Our first stop was the Bunratty Castle...the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland. We loved this tour first of all because it was self-guided :) Other high points included the preserved "village" that surrounded the castle. We visited a fisherman's thatch-roofed home, the local doctor's office, and more. We tried to visit the print shop, but as I opened the door, I was met with a stern "we're closed"...so we went on our way!
About this time it began to rain, so we went back to the car and headed off to the Cliffs of Moher. This was the second most impressive site that I've seen since arriving here in Ireland. (The first was Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland...see photos and you'll know what I mean.) The wind was CRAZY when we arrived, so we were thankful for the stone wall that surrounded us at all times! All I can say is...check out the photos...amazing!
Finally, we wound our way toward Galway, and I say WOUND because the roads were the most curvy that I've ever driven on. Thanks to my awesome driving skills, we arrived unharmed :) I can't say much for my sense of direction once we got to Galway though...it took us about 45 minutes to find our hotel!
We woke up the following morning to enjoy a full Irish breakfast and head on our way. So much to see in Galway. My favorite row of houses (photo I took at the top of my website) , the ocean, and some great shops. The weather was amazing, so we even enjoyed the 3 hour trip back to Dublin.
Great time hanging out and enjoying the scenery! Check out the rest of the photos on the Photo page...
Anyone who has known me for a length of time will have heard this statement from my lips more than a few times. It doesn't always precede an unfortunate experience like a snow plow/lawn mower crashing into my car, seeing a criminal on the news that spoke to me the day before, or showing up to what I thought was a dinner with friends to find out it was a blind date. I've often used it to talk about great things like getting some amazing stuff free for no apparent reason (long list...it's my super power!), being COMPLETELY surprised by birthday parties, or receiving money from insurance or tax returns that I didn't know about.
This time it falls in the "unfortunate" category, but it was funny all at the same time! The event took place on this past Thursday night as I was in City Centre with some friends for tapas (Spanish appetizers). Thursday is late night in town...this means stuff doesn't close at the typical time of 6pm. So I drove downtown and parked my car in one of my favorite spots right on the Liffey River.
After an enjoyable evening with friends, I headed back to my car around 10pm. As I got closer and closer to my car, I decided that my rear windshield looked a bit strange, but then decided it was the glare from the street lights. When I made it to my car, I realized my preliminary assumption was wrong! My back wind shield had been COMPLETELY smashed in! There wasn't much glass left intact at all!
Now I know you may find this hard to believe, but there was nothing in my car but 4 Cd's (thanks, Brooke) and a couple of maps...so I ruled out theft. No other cars around mine were damaged...so I also ruled out vandalism. While circling my car and surveying the damage, a Dublin bus driver came over to tell me that he saw what happened...it was the Guarda (police) he said!
With this, I was completely frustrated...especially because I hadn't seen the note they left me. After reading the note, I called my Irish family to see what to do first. At their advice, I visited the Guarda station a couple blocks from my car to get the story. Apparently the guards were arresting someone, and while trying to restrain him, he got free. Once free, he took his anger out on my car! Go figure!
Well this is great, I at least know that I'll be reimbursed for the repairs, but I also have to appear in court when this guy is on trial to testify that he damaged my car while resisting arrest. Should be an interesting experience.
No worries, my friends and I used a combination of plastic bags, cling wrap and tape to make some temporary repairs. The next morning, I got on the phone and had a new window before lunch! Oh well, what can I do but laugh! Here's a before and after...
Being a "veteran" of almost 8 months, I was surprised to learn of a new holiday here! Today definitely ranks high on my list of days...it's Pancake Tuesday. Last week several people mentioned "pancakes on Tuesday" to me, and I thought, "yeah, sure I'll join you for pancakes on Tuesday." Little did I know that EVERYONE was going to be eating pancakes today.
With Ash Wednesday approaching and marking the beginning of Lent, people traditionally were looking to begin fasting. Apparently, getting rid of perishable goods (like butter, milk, eggs) and one final indulgence of sweets were both necessary...so what better way to do that than to make pancakes on Tuesday!
Even after learning all these fun facts, I was still quite surprised at the pancakes themselves. I showed up early to have some pancakes with friends before heading to coffee. Being the good Cracker-Barrel, IHOP going girl that I am, I assumed the pancakes were for dinner...but NOPE! First I had some spaghetti, then out came the pancakes. They were very thin and about the size of a small plate. Once you got your pancake, there were a myriad of toppings: stewed apples, nutella, sugar with lemon juice (traditional topping), or golden syrup!
Can I just say YUM!!! I will definitely not miss this holiday next year...
I don't really know why, but I've always LOVED Valentine's day! It probably all started in Elementary School when we got to decorate shoes boxes as a special Valentine's mailbox to tote home all the cards and candy from my classmates. I remember shopping with my mom and sister trying to pick out just the right ones...ones that not EVERYONE would buy. I remember sorting through them and picking the best ones for my best friends and trying not to write the same sentence on each. I love those little candy hearts with messages...except the green and yellow ones :)
As I got older, I still loved Valentine's day! One year, I bought my favourite watch EVER at a huge "Sweetheart Sale" (40% off...woohoo). I still wear the watch today. I've witnessed some hilarious proposals while out with friends, and watched my share of "chick flicks" that make their way to the cinema in honor of the day. It's usually been a fun day!
This year was no exception. My Irish Valentine's Day was great. It started off with a leisurely morning catching up on some grocery shopping and a quick search for a cookie cutter shaped like a heart. For the afternoon, I headed into town with friends for a French film as part of the Jameson Dublin Film Festival (it was great...I gave it 4 stars). After wandering around City Centre a while, I found my way back home and made some cookies (pictured above) while watching "Music and Lyrics."
It was a good day! Wish I could share some of the cookies with you...
This week, Dublin got a big surprise...SNOW! It started on Monday morning, but wasn't too treacherous until the late that night. I headed downtown to meet up with my friend (also named Stephanie) and by the time I got back to my car there was a thick layer of ice on the roads. My dad would have been proud at my snow driving :)
Tuesday the weather cooperated JUST long enough for me to go to class. Within an hour of getting home, there was 5 inches of accumulation outside my door. After changing into my ski bibs and boots, I grabbed my camera and went on a walk through the snow!
Other new stuff these days...
1. I started my second class at IBI and am loving it!
2. The Lord graciously provided me with another car. My orange one was
having some chronic problems...and was becoming a bit unreliable.
3. I was recently inspired at an art museum and bought some watercolor
pencils. My first work of "art" was a picture of my nephews two
favorite stuffed animals in his huge red wagon :)
4. Driving to City Centre no longer makes me nervous! I've pretty much
mastered it and found a convenient place to park.
5. My hair is a bit shorter than it has been in a LONG while. Second trip
to the styling school was a bit of an adventure.
So that about sums it up! Thanks for keeping up with me...
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