Back to the Routine and Loving IT!

Wow!  It certainly seems like I have been away from blogging F-O-R-E-V-E-R!  I must admit that I have really missed checking in on everyone and seeing and reading what has been going on as we enter the fall season.

We left here on September 11th, flying via Minneapolis to London and then on to Dublin, Ireland.  It was a long 27 hours of travel, but the trip itself was worth every minute.  We spent several days in Dublin touring the sights that the city offered.  The weather was perfect and great for long walks.






St. Patrick's Cathedral



Dublin view from the top of the Guinness brewery.



I love how they formed a shamrock by the way the brew was poured.



Kilmainham prison.



Artwork done by this cell's prisoner.



The "tart with a cart" in front of Trinity College.

The millenium sphere - the joke of Dublin.

The second day we met up with our driver who would be our companion for the trip.  He has lived his whole life in Limerick, Ireland and was a wonderful traveling companion.  He knew the backroads and how to avoid the tourist traps - our favorite way to travel.  We took a lot of pictures so I will share just a few of them snd not bore you to bits.

Cashel Castle

Cashel Abbey

Many Celtic designs to be seen.



Hayfield Manor

....and gardens.



Garden at Muckross House in Killarney.

Beehive huts.



Dingle Bay



Cliffs of Moher



A pot of gold and a leprechaun????



Irish greeter to the Kylemore Abbey.



The vertical rows seen are still remnants of potato rows planted before the potato famine.

Very "interesting" piece of art - side view mirrors that form a design visible from the air.

Returning to Dublin, we flew back to London where we commuted to Southhampton for our return trip home aboard the QM2.  The transatlantic crossing is always a delight and a great way to get back into the time changes as you gain one hour a day verses eight all at once. 

No more Irish green to see.



Loved the lobby's flower arrangements.

We arrived home on a Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon our dear British friends arrived for a visit.  It was go, go, go for all of us.  Being that they were on a similar time schedule, we were all up at 4 a.m. and ready for bed by 7 p.m. !!!!!!

We all headed to San Diego for a business convention over the weekend.  Having bid them "goodbye" yesterday morning we headed home.  Now.....it's time to catch up on cleaning, laundry, sewing and blogging for the past month.