(Mother's trip to Ireland) Day 5, nice drive to Tipperary

 Day 5 in Ireland. We decided today was a great day to drive to Tipperary in this beautiful sunshine, although we had a shower and some clouds at some point. Nothing special for us to see there but it was a nice drive. Then coming home we did little back roads thru small villages, seeing lush green fields, rolling hills, some cattle and old ruins and graveyards. We both love that. When we got back to Bunratty we had fish and chips and did a little shopping (well Diane did...lol). I sat at an outside table and conversed with an Irish laddie (he said he was 42) who was very hospitable. He wanted to know what  I thought of Donald Trump. He was very surprised to find out I was very surprised to see beer being sold here on Sunday. He wanted to know if it was true that alcohol could only be purchased by 21-year-olds. He was really interested in these culture differences.
Today's pics are some I took in a small village as we passed an old church. Diane drove today.

(Mother's trip to Ireland) Day 4 Ireland, storm in Atlantic and Loophead lighthouse

 Day 4 in Ireland. Tried to see Cliffs of Moher from ferry excursion but storm in the Atlantic made havoc of the trip. Very cold, rainy and VERY CHOPPY. Could not see the cliffs at all and lots of people on the boat were making big time use of their barf bags.....we did not get sick. I did get very dizzy so sat very still, closed my eyes and let the sway of the boat put me to sleep until big bumps of waves woke me up. They should have canceled the ride and refunded our money. Nuff said!

So in the afternoon we drove on down to a lighthouse on the tip of the peninsula and had a lovely lunch on the way. We saw tranquil scenes of cows, sheep, farmland and beautiful homes. We also saw a lot of old abandoned and dilapidated rock homes with no roofs from many years ago, possibly when many Irishmen left during the potato famine.

(Mother's trip to Ireland) Day 3 in Ireland

 Raining on Day 3...we have reservations for a cruise on River Shannon not far from here. In the meantime here are pics Diane took the first 2 days. Some are in Bunratty at local pub, downtown Galway and flowers everywhere.

(Mother's trip to Ireland) Day 2, Climate, Galway

 We have dark in Ireland in July from 10 pm until 5:15 am. The sun was out the day we arrived but yesterday as we drove to Galway, it was misty a lot, rainy some, cloudy mostly and cool. Today's weather will be more rain than sun, if any, with temperatures of a high of 62 and 50s at night. This is why the flowers are gorgeous and the hillsides are so lush and green. Eat your heart out if you are having 3 digit temps and your flowers and vegetable gardens are dry and brown.

(Mother's trip to Ireland) DAY 1, Bed & Breakfast in Bunratty, Ireland

 First night in Ireland. Nice trip across the big pond from DFW. London's Heathrow Airport was BIGGER than I remember. A big walk for an old woman with leg and feet and back problems. Was late getting into Shannon due to an electrical/mechanical problem with Air Lingus plane. But everyone in all 3 airports were so nice and helpful (with one exception). Got lost on the way to B n B because I forgot to write down directions. It is only 7 Km from airport but it took us an hour to finally get here. We were starving and finally got to a pub about 8 pm but it was worth it. Had fish and chips with great atmosphere in a building that was first built in 1827 (I think) and live music with Irish singing, pub musicians with guitar and fiddle and patrons singing too. A great first night here. 10 pm here and we are just about ready for bed. This is Bunratty Castle just a few Kms from where we stay all week. Irish country  breakfast in the morning and we will decide then where we want to go on our first day trip.

July 4th, 2023

 My older daughter and my grandson came over to spend the day with us.

We didn't do anything special. I cooked out, just as I usually do on July 4th. 

Here are some pictures from this year. 

Our new kitten who I call, 'Baby', likes to climb trees.

Of course I put the flag out, like every good American should. 

I grilled broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and asparagus. 

I also grilled shrimp, hamburgers, and smoked sausage. 

I thought I would also share some pictures from last year's July 4th meal. 

Grilled steak and different kinds of sausages. 

Barbecued chicken.

Roasted potatoes, onions, mushrooms, peppers, and carrots. 

Barbecue baked beans. 

Macaroni salad. 

I am enjoying some chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream at the moment while watching a movie, and thinking about taking a nap after. Happy 247th birthday United States. 

April 30th memorial.

White Hydrangea

Gardenia Jasminoides

April 30th, 2014, started out good enough. I was getting divorced, a much happier time in my life than when I got married. But, the day took a turn for the worst that afternoon when my grandmother died. Seven years later, almost to the hour, the man who raised me, my step-father,  died. Now, two years on, we gathered together with several of his Christian Motorcycle Association friends, we planted two memorials for both him and my grandmother. 

Bird / squirrel feeder.

I put out a bird / squirrel feeder that I can see from my office desk out the window, or I can remotely watch from my wireless Wi-Fi camera.

I use a mix of sunflower seeds and peanuts. There is one main squirrel and two or three others. And I have seen many different bird species. 

I have seen Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, European Starlings

Northern Cardinals, American Goldfinches, House Finches, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Dark-eyed Junco, Sage Thrasher, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Brown-headed Cowbirds, House Sparrows, Carolina Wrens, Lazuli Bunting, Gray Catbirds, Mockingbirds, Robins and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

I think this squirrel is pregnant. 

Destiny has a new kitten that loves to sit and watch the birds and squirrels.

Birds like feeder in the daytime, and this raccoon at night. 

 

Spring break 2023 camping.

It was below freezing the first night, and I couldn't get the heater working, but we stayed warm in our sleeping bags which are rated to -20 Celsius. 

Office.

I have been working from my bedroom for the past seven years since starting to work for EF.

I finally have a proper office. Since my older daughter moved out to live with her boyfriend, and this space wasn't being used in the house, I have converted it into an office.

I still have a nice red Persian rug coming to fill in the middle of the room.

I especially like working with two monitors, and not having to share with my television in my bedroom.

Campfire

It's been a while since I have posted anything.

We had a simple Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years with just my immediate family.

I tried three times to get away to go camping for a well needed rest, only to have to cancel each time for weather.

So instead, we have started having Sunday evening campfires in the backyard.

Father's birthday and death.

This is my father. This picture was taken in April of 2018 when Destiny and I visited him on Spring Break vacation, and went to church with him.

His birthday was on Thursday, September 29th, the day before my older daughter's 25th birthday. He called to wish her a happy birthday, and we got to talk to him and wish him a happy birthday. He told us how he had not been doing too well during the past few weeks. He had been in the hospital on two different occasions for separate issues, and they had adjusted his medications, also, but said he was doing better.

He lives two hours drive away, and is very involved with his step-family, church family, and friends. And, because we stay busy with our lives, we don't see each other as often as we would like.

On Sunday, October 2nd, three days after he called, he collapsed onto the floor at his home. The ambulance was called, and on the way to the hospital, his heart stopped three times. They put him on life support, and one of his two sisters was called, who lives in Louisiana, about four hours drive away. She called me on Monday to let me know that she was on the way to the hospital where he was.

My father had made arrangements with his sister that if anything happened to him, that she would have the power to make decisions for him, and made sure that he was not to be kept on life support.

When she arrived at the hospital, she had them turn off the life support, and when his heart stopped again, they were not to try to revive him. He died on Monday, October 3rd.

My father had already made preparations for his death; who would handle the funeral, where it would be, who would officiate, what songs would be sung, and even where he would be buried; with his second wife, who had died in early 2013.

The funeral was held on Monday, October 10th, a week after he died.

This was not an easy time for me, especially since my step-father, the man who raised and provided for me, had died only about 18 months earlier.

There were not a lot of people at the funeral, family, step-family, and some friends and church members.

I got up and spoke:

I am Carl's only biological child, although he was father to his second wife's children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. I had a step-father who raised me, and I am proud to say he was my dad, but Carl was my father. Now, I have only God the Father, Abba, in heaven. Carl knew, accepted, loved, and served God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. He would wake every morning to study the Word of God from the Bible, and speak directly to God through prayer. He often expressed to me when we spoke, how the world we live in is filled with sin. He would pray for not only himself, in fact he was very humble in this aspect, but he would pray for his family and his friends. Carl was ready to join God in heaven, but knew that until God was ready for him, Carl would continue to serve God here on earth. He continued to teach about God from the Bible, and share. Carl always wanted for those around him to know God's love and joy and to know Jesus Christ as their personal savior, just as he did. As with everything in life, when it is no longer possible, I regret not spending more time with him, but I am so thankful for the time that we did spend together, because, even though he did not raise me, he was my father, and had a great impact on my life. I not only look, and act very much like him, but I too believe in Christ. It is too late for me to spend more time with Carl. And the time is coming when it will be too late for many people to accept Jesus into their lives. Don't wait. When God's Son returns, there will be no time for regrets.

This is the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, because my father served in and retired from the U.S. Air Force.

David was his step-grandson, who he loved, mentored, and cherished, so it was only fitting that my father chose him to receive the flag.

Suzanne's birthday.

My older daughter, Suzanne, will be turning 25 years old soon.

Because her birthday is going to be on a Wednesday this year, and I have more free time on Sunday's, I decided to cook one of her favorite meals, pork, eggs, green onions, and rice, the Sunday before her birthday.

I also bought a chocolate cake.

 

Birthdays

My family usually has many birthdays in June, starting with me, followed by my several family members who are now, no longer with us, and ending with my mother.

No, my mother is not two years older than me. But she didn't like the numbers the true way around. I bought the flowers, but made the cake.

My younger daughter, Destiny turned 13 yesterday, and she wanted brownies for her birthday, instead of cake. She also wanted cheesy chicken spaghetti, which I also cooked.

My older daughter's birthday is next month, followed by my grandson turning three in November.

This is her last week, ready for her first day of school.

 

Happy Birthday to me.

I turned 55 today. 

I bought a sugar free chocolate cake mix and sugar free chocolate frosting, along with some semisweet chocolate chips. 

My younger daughter, who is almost a teenager, made the cake with my mother's instructions. 

I also bought and cooked a frozen lasagna, garlic bread, and green beans. 

My mom, two daughters, and grandson helped me celebrate.

I had already worked six hours in the morning, and relaxed in the pool for two hours in the afternoon. 

This was exactly the kind of birthday I like, simple. 

Wright Patman Lake, Texas, summer vacation 2022

So this year for summer vacation, we went to Clear Springs campground on Wright Patman Lake in Texas. It was an easy two hours drive. Because this was early summer, and in Texas, there was the possibility of it being a little on the hot side, so I got a campsite with electricity to have a fan in the tent.

It turned out to be wonderful weather, even though it did rain the second day, the temperatures weren't much above 90F/30C during the day, and about half that at night.

 

We only explored the campground a little before and after the rain, but we went hiking at Atlanta State Park across the lake on the third day.

On the forth day, after returning to camp from taking a shower, we discovered that the wind had some fun with our gazebo. There were several tears in it, so I have already ordered a replacement.

We always try to have a big campfire our last night camping, and this one was perfect with the sunsetting behind the trees on the other side of the lake.

I always say that a camping trip isn't memorable without a problem to laugh about in the future, and this time, not only did the wind damage our gazebo, but we had a tire blowout on the trailer on the way home. I heard a roaring noise over the music playing in the car and the air conditioner, so as soon as I pulled off the road as soon as I had a place to do so. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was an easy fix, since we had a spare tire for the trailer. Destiny learned how to change a tire. Now I just need to buy a new tire.

Graduation to middle school.

Destiny graduated to middle school.

EASTER

Easter is celebrated by many people and cultures around the world in different ways. For many Americans, including my family, Easter is about the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Please enjoy the videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLyXE9QN6d4

Grand Adventure from YouTube.

If you click on the picture above, it will take you to one of my favorite YouTube channels about traveling by camper in the United States.

The host of this channel has been doing this for several years, and has a lot of very useful information when traveling by camper in the United States. And his videos and photos of the places he visits are fantastic.

Since this is basically what I plan to do when I retire; to live in a camper and travel the United States; I have found Grand Adventure to be an invaluable resource.

Thanks Mark.

South Arkansas thunderstorm and tornado watch.

This is one afternoon sitting on the back deck of our home, just watching and listening to the thunderstorm. We were also under a tornado watch, but thank God, we didn't have a tornado this day.