The Stretch

I saw a Crokes supporter on the way to school today!

We had Oscar and his brother, Pierce, over today after school. They brought Johnny a whole "Match Attax" booklet and showed him how to organize his cards. He's over the moon about it. I can barely get him to go to sleep he is so excited about playing the game and organizing his cards.

Here are the boys playing Match Attax and doing their homework:

Their mom, Dervla, went to Sion Hill and so was interested in talking to Maggie about her perceptions of the whole Irish experience. It's great to hear her stories and thoughts about life here. She told us about how they celebrate Fat Tuesday instead as "Pancake Tuesday!" In a text she wrote:

"As lent starts the next day we make up pan cakes. Not the American style but skinny ones... We usually make up the mix the evening before using up all your eggs butter and flour in preparation for fasting. Then you have at least lemon juice and caster sugar but usually have cream, berries and orange. In our house I make the pancakes and the lads decorate them and have done this since they were tiny and they eat until they are stuffed and say 'please mum stop!'"

I love that story.

This was the day we were planning on having a few of Maggie's friends over, so we've changed our tune a bit and are going to make pancakes (actually, it turns out they are more like crepes).  I'm excited to try this recipe with all the fixings until all the kids are stuffed too!

More on that as the time gets closer.

She also told us about this time of year when you can physically witness the days getting longer. They call it "the stretch."

It is exaggerated in Ireland (as in all Northern countries) where the summer days are incredibly long.

At a latitude 53.3 degrees north, longitude 9 degrees west in Galway Ireland, by mid June there are 18 hours of daylight.

Sheila had her second writing class today and Maggie's day was short as she headed home after exams. I've got the kids tucked into bed and Sheila's at her first cooking class (she's busy!!). I'm SURE she will post again soon!