Third Sunday

This Sunday was lovely.

We woke up to a beautiful, real sunny day. Maggie and TT slept in and Sheila and I took Johnny to hurling.

This was a little tricky as we have only one adult bike, but I ran alongside Johnny since Sheila had not been there before and didn't know the way. Needless to say, by the end of the round-trip, we decided to get a second adult bike. The weather can only get better, as they say, and we can sell them upon our return (Johnny has decided already that he needs to bring his bike back home with him!!).

It was really windy heading there and then, at the top of our only major hill in the route it started raining! There were literally no clouds to be seen! It is as if Ireland is lonely without rain. Somehow rain is made, even where there are no clouds.

Once we got to the pitch it was lovely again. Bright sun and boys warming up running up and down the field.

The pitch is a great place to meet people. Sheila got to meet one of the boys' mom, Sarah. She gave us advice as to where to get cheap rain pants for cycling and we discussed how Ireland has as many words for rain as the Eskimos supposedly have for snow. How when actual rain is foretasted, then you are really doomed.

All the way home Johnny wanted to test him with words that he would repeat with either a "heavy" or a "light" Irish accent. He's got it down, I'm telling you. He can repeat any word in an Irish accent. His favorite is the number three ("tree") and I always want him to explain how the Irish would say "three trees"!

Here's the road home from the pitch:

Once home Sheila, TT and Maggie headed out for a little shopping and movie in Dun Laogherie while Johnny and I got ready for Abbie's party. Luckily we had arranged for a ride from Dylan's mom (I've never been so grateful for a ride because at that very moment it literally started sleeting). I had planned on staying near and walking home with him, but she insisted she'd bring me home first and him after the party. I had two glorious hours alone in the house to read, check in with Jackie and start a roast we had planned for the night.

Here's where I spent my time... Look at the sun shining in. It was really appreciated today.



Little did I know that the roast was corned beef. "Although the exact beginnings of corned beef have been lost to history, it most likely came about when people began preserving meat through salt-curing."

My apologies to all who love the stuff, but this was a major mistake. Neither TT nor Sheila finished their meat (for those who know Sheila, it was a far cry from "the best I've ever had"... Seriously, I think one single bite was gone). Here's our plate:

Gross.

I am not much of a cook, but my meals are usually at least utilitarian. They do the job.

To any future visitors: this will NOT be part of the menu.

Hopefully, Sheila will be enrolling in the Cookery soon.

Johnny had a great time at the party. Other than singing Happy Birthday in Irish, it sounded pretty much like a party at home, a clown who made a banjo balloon, a lemon cake and a little gift bag.

Maggie was happy to enjoy another episode of The Voice and TT enjoyed her last night in Europe.

It almost made everyone forget my corned beef.