Thursday, October 13, 2011

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.

30 comments:

  1. Welcome home! It looks like it was an absolutely amazing trip!

    ReplyDelete
  2. All I can say is, "Wow!" What a wonderful trip. I am so jealous. Are you from Ireland?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh WOW! What an amazing trip! I never tire of photos, so feel free to post a million more! The QM must have been great as well. What a pity you didn't have a few days in London - we could have made a plan to meet for coffee! Next time, perhaps.....

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an amazing trip! Welcome back :-) You have been busy! Your pictures are just wonderful. It's so interesting to see where you have traveled. I wouldn't mind seeing more pictures from your trip in future posts. It took you a looooong time to get there.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your trip looks like it was fun and full of beautiful sites. I am so jealous!!
    I love seeing photos of others trips so please post more.
    Glad that you are back.
    did you suffer from jetlag? I hear many say that they do.
    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for posting the pictures. Ireland is on my list. It's as beautiful as Scotland.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What lovely photos! Looks like you were able to see some amazing sites. I'm just glad I don't have to mow the grass around all those side view mirrors!

    I have a bit of Irish in me as well...and have the red hair to prove it:)

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a fantastic trip! Thanks for sharing all of those wonderful photos. How grand to come home on the QM2! I'm glad you're home and that you had such a great time!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh...I loved your photos as they brought back memories of many places we visited in our trip to Ireland (and we stayed with locals, so we got to see places other than the tourist traps, too). I envy your return mode of transportation, though.....have taken cruises but never a trans-Atlantic one!

    ReplyDelete
  10. you have a great excuse for being absent...lovely pictures

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a fun trip Mary. Thanks for sharing the great collection of photos you took. We have been to Ireland too and loved it and hope one day we will return. Little bird says it's your Birthday today. Happy Birthday Mary - Hugs Nat

    ReplyDelete
  12. I want the name of your tour guide! I went to Ireland 7 years ago and loved it, except for all of the time flying, your cruise back sounds like the perfect solution. Your pictures are great. Welcome back.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks for sharing your pictures of your fabulous trip!♥

    ReplyDelete
  14. Looks like a wonderful trip. Welcome home.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Welcome Home!! thanks for sharing all your gorgeous photos with us.
    Is it a special day today?? If so have a Happy One.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This looks like a great trip, I would love to visit Dublin....I have yet to even get to Ireland although my husband is making his second trip in 3 months this coming week. Maybe some time in the future but for now your photo's have taken me on a virtual visit....Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow, what a trip!!! You got great pictures. I can't imagine that you're not just exhausted and taking to your bed for a few days! :) But the laundry is always calling!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Mary,

    It's so good to hear from you!! Oh my, what a fun trip you had. I am a bit envious... :)

    Welcome back!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Welcome home M!!! You were gone for quite a while hey!?! Nice! 8-)

    Awesome photos! Wish I were there! Really! Wow!! I'd love to visit those castles and cliffs one day... To dream...

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a wonderful trip! Thank you for sharing such nice pictures. I've been wondering how you have been doing.

    ReplyDelete
  21. What an amazing trip! The pictures are wonderful. I am glad you're home and getting settled back in. The "cruise" back sounds just great. I'd love that - easing back into the time zone.

    I'm playing catch up, too, but not for any such enjoyable reasons. I just can't seem to keep up with anything these days. I finally got a post written, and am getting caught up on my friends as well.

    ReplyDelete
  22. What fun...thanks for sharing your pictures, that country side is so gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow. I love looking at your pictures. These are things that I would probably never get to see! I can't wait to hear more!!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh Mary!! You lucky, lucky lady! Your trip looks amazing. I only wish I would have fit in your suitcase. =)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Your trip looks wonderful! Seeing all of your beautiful photos takes me back in time to places I would never otherwise see. What incredible history and gorgeous places you visited! Thank you so much for sharing:)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hello dear Mary,

    First of all, guess what just came in the mail today...your beautiful birthday card and delightful mug rug! I absolutely love it!!! Thank you SO much for such a wonderful surprise:-) I've always admired your mug rugs and to now own one, especially a Halloween themed one, means so much to me! Thank you again:-)

    Oh wow, what a fantastic trip you've just come back from. Ireland is one of the places I would so love to visit one day...just need to get over my fear of flying first! lol I oohed and aahed over every picture, such gorgeous scenery and historical buildings. St. Patrick's Cathedral is stunning!! Having your own tour guide companion that lives in these parts was certainly an added bonus. Castles, Manors, Abbey's...oh how I'd love to visit them all!!

    You then had company...I'm so glad you had such a wonderful time with your British friends:-) You certainly have been very busy but a fun busy!! Glad to have you back blogging, my friend. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  27. Glad you are back safe but what an amazing trip. How blessed you are.
    I remember the time when at sea with Alan we would change the clock one hour a day. Makes it much easier.

    I would never tire of your photos so keep them coming. My last trip to Dublin was about 1990 and the first was from the ship in 1960.

    A great way to see any place - a driver who knows the place.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Loved the trip to Ireland! Thanks for sharing! Finally, I was able to visit your blog! For the last few months I have had trouble with blogspot getting a message that it is not responding and then my computer locks up! So I am happy that today it worked! Love your beautiful yo-yo accent pieces, sooo pretty! Hugs, Kerrie

    ReplyDelete
  29. What a fabulous holiday! Ireland is beautiful, loved the photos.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I sure wish I could figure out how everybody else can answer me by e-mail from a comment, but since I can't, I'll do it this way. I love how the girlies look in the short hair. The next day, after I washed their hair, Katie was feeling around her neck, thinking her hair would be back by then. One day this week-end she was looking at pony tail holders and asked me what they were. When I told her they were for pony tails, and her hair was now too short for them, she said, "Emma's hair is too short, mine isn't." I'm not sure what she sees when she looks in the mirror, but she always makes me chuckle.

    ReplyDelete