11 Weeks in Ireland

yesiree · Guru

11 Weeks in Ireland

CowboyCraic · Guru

Corey,

It looks like you follow instructions well, as I told you to make sure that you had enough fun for both of us and it appears you are doing just that! The rhododendrons are truly fabulous. I will check in with the blog every few days.

By the way, I, too, had a visual of you balancing on one leg on a ridge top whilst trying to surf the net. I am glad that you were able to find a solution that did not involve gymnastic contortions and you as a lightning rod. biggrin

Give Liam a hug and a hello from me, as well.

Slan Agus Barrogs,

Bit

yesiree · Guru

Thanks Bit,

My internet solution is working...so far. I just need to drive into the village every time I want access.

My mobile phone is a different story...no reception in the valley, so I have to climb the hill and stand like the Statue of Liberty in search of a signal.

Strange thing is that if I lived on the other side of the mountain, I could get wireless broadband for 19 euros a month... couldn't get it for that price back home.

It's been a great so far...a mix of brilliant, sunny weather with full days of rain. Today, the sun has been winning out and it's downright hot out there.

I'll be sure to keep having enough fun for two...or three...or more.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Corey,

Thanks for checking in despite the gymnastics involved! I was just thinking about you and Liam, and Voila! here is your posting.

I am enjoying your blog and the photos are wonderful. I can never get over those huge rhododendrons in Ireland. They are as big as houses. I missed them at Muckross Gardens this year as I didn't get to Killarney. That photo of the red tree and blue sky was fantastic.

I wish I could spend a whole summer in Ireland. Alas, I must do it in bits and pieces. I am looking forward to hearing more on your blog. Don't work too hard.

Michele

-- Edited by Michele Erdvig at 16:09, 2007-06-06

Dude · Guru

Just set your picture of Ballysaggatmore Towers as my wallpaper. If that doesn't make me want to go back to Ireland, I don't know what would.

Thanks for sharing!

Marie · Guru

Corey, Michele and all:

I was really smitten with the rhododendrons, too. My daughters kidded me about taking so many photos of them! But I was dismayed to hear from the boatman in Killarney (you saw his picture in my album) that they are a nuisance, and not native to Ireland. Seems they like the acidic Irish soil, and they are choking out some of the native foliage (what's left of it). He said some Irish teens work in the summer doing nothing but cutting them back. The roots seem impossible to eradicate.
This is our state flower here in WV, and I have a giant purple one on the side of my deck.

Marie

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Corey --
Have thoroughly enjoyed the blog and the accompaning photos.

I only have one question, though:

How did you get the picture of MY bookcase for your first blog enty???? biggrin

Bob

YaYa · Guru

Corey,

What wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Joan

Dude · Guru

I was feeling a little disoriented reading through the blogs and then I discovered that I was reading them backwards. What a maroon!

yesiree · Guru

Glad everyone is enjoying the postings. Liam has started adding a few posts as well. His will be shorter...he says it's to protect the privacy of his guests, but I think it also has to do with his general frustration with computers.

Marie - There have been a lot of efforts to control the rhododendrons (strange to think something we see as so beautiful can be so harmful), but it seems to vary from area to area. I've been to some places where they've ripped them up and others they just let them grow.

Bob - I can't believe how many books are out there...and I just keep buying them. I just spotted one over here at a B&B, but of course I didn't write down the name...I think it was called the Hidden Ireland or something like that. It was a little different from the usual ones.

Judy - Glad you managed to figure out the blog...it can be a little disorienting at first.

Michele - I am truly blessed this summer, and I am cherishing every minute.

I'll be checking in soon...

Dude · Guru

My new boss, young feller who was born and raised right here in south Texas, asked me "Why Ireland?" and of course it's hard to explain to someone who hasn't the fever, but I did my best. Then after I set Corey's picture of Ballysaggatmore Towers as my wallpaper, I just pointed to it and said,
"That's why Ireland." And he seems to understand a bit better.

As a Presbyterian, my church roots are in Scotland and I'm trying to get my pastor to lead a tour there. But alas, there can't be a ScotlandYes forum like the IrelandYes one. However, should the need arise, I'll wager (oh, church secretary shouldn't be gambling) that some of the Irregulars have also been to Scotland and will have some good advice. Wales is also on my Some Day list.

shashie50 · Veteran Member

Corey --
The vibrancy of the colors in your photos is just amazing.
Thanks for sharing.

lindatram · Member

Your photos are incredible. What type of camera are you using?

Auld Sod · Veteran Member

I second Linda's question!

While most of our photos had good clarity, they paled in comparison to Corey's shots.

Cmon, Corey, let us in on the secret, lol!

Chris

youngka · Guru

Corey, I have not yet learned how to see photos that folks have taken and shared. How do I do it??? You are so lucky to be there for so long, know every day is a wonderful adventure.
Youngka

Michele Erdvig · Host

Youngka,

Go to this site: http://web.mac.com/irishfireside/iWeb/IrishFireside/IrishFireside.html Then click on the photos under "Photo Albums". They are outstanding.

Michele

yesiree · Guru

Most of the photos were taken with a Nikon Coolpix P5000...it was a going away present from my old job. I must say, one of the best gifts I've ever received.

A few shots were taken by my friend Tony...he's got a little Sony...and a few others were taken with a Pentax digital SLR...I think it's the D100...whichever one is the more amateur of the two Pentax SLRs.

The Nikon has an anti-shake setting that works really well in low light. Otherwise, I keep usually keep it on the AUTO setting.

I've made sure the saturation is bumped up a little bit on the images, but other than that, I have to credit the Irish landscape. It has been AMAZING for seven days straight...clear skies and in the 70s and 80s.

I just uploaded several more...Slieve Felim was breathtaking in the great weather.