We’ve booked a new location…Quite unusual for us!…

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There are many beautiful scenes when driving on the many winding and narrow roads.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
Because Ireland is isolated, many species of animals commonly found in Europe do not live here. This includes moles, polecats, and weasels.”

When we decided how to handle our upcoming schedule for visiting the US, the starting date on November 8 was based on when we’d disembark a transatlantic cruise from Southampton, England, ending in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We booked a flight from there to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where we’ll visit kids, grandkids, and other family members, for two weeks staying in a nearby hotel.

From there, we’ll fly to Nevada, where we’ll spend 10 days staying with my son Richard in Henderson, Nevada, frequently visiting my sister Susan in Las Vegas. While in Nevada, we’ll renew our driver’s licenses and passports.  
Fishing boats in the bay.

With the rental car we’ll have booked in Nevada, we’ll drive to Apache Junction, Arizona (five hours) and spend the month of December near his sisters, Colleen (and husband Gene), Mary Ellen (and husband Eugene), and Margie. They each have a home in a 55-plus RV park where they spend the cold Minnesota winter months.

When we visited the US in summer 2017, we spent time with his sisters while still in Minnesota. However, we’d only visited them at their Apache Junction homes a few times when we stayed in Scottsdale in 2012.

Mr. & Mrs. Sheep

As the youngest in the family, Tom thought it would make sense to spend some quality time with his sisters while they were in the US at the end of the year, and I concurred.

Where we’d stay has been a source of research over the past few weeks. They were a few holiday homes we could consider and plenty of hotels. But, we wanted to spend time with his sisters and their neighbors, who get together each day for happy hour and snacks. 

Two white Connemara ponies were tended to by their owner.

If we were staying in a hotel, we wouldn’t make some food to bring for each evening. If we stayed in a nearby holiday home, we’d have the drive from their location to a house a few miles away. We didn’t want Tom driving after happy hour. On occasion, his family members stayed up very late, too late for me, and he’d have to go me back to our location.

The logical choice was to find a place to live in their RV park, which was merely a short walk away from his sisters. As we began our research, we couldn’t find any rentals for that specific location advertised anywhere online.

As we approached Balleyconneely.
Tom’s sister, Colleen, got to work and found a place for us, not far from their RV sites, within easy walking distance. The rep at the park has confirmed our rental, which will include all utilities, WiFi, TV service, and a complete unit with kitchen and laundry facilities for a little over Euro 1339, US $1500 per month.  

We agreed to book the unit from December 1 through December 31. Once we get settled, we’ll decide where we’d like to be on New Year’s Eve, but we’ll figure that out later. It’s a bit odd that we’ll be staying in a trailer home which is far removed from our usual private homes throughout the world. But, we’ve determined this is the best possible scenario for that particular period.  
Ruins of another castle.

No doubt, we’ll have a great time with his sisters (and husbands) and thoroughly enjoy staying in this unique (to us) type of property. Each time we have an opportunity to try something new, we look forward to the opportunity to expand our horizons.

This morning, we took off for Clifden, visiting a museum for which we’ll share photos and historical facts in the next few days.  
Thanks for stopping by! Have a pleasant day!

Photo from one year ago today, June 19, 2018:

She turned her head to pose for the camera. For more photos, please click here.

Things we can count on…Ireland…

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What a view!

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”

“Hook Lighthouse in Hook Head, County Wexford, is believed to be the oldest working lighthouse in Europe and possibly even the world.”

A year ago today, we wrote a story on “things we can count on” in Marloth Park, South Africa, which prompted me to consider the “things we can count on” since our arrival in Connemara, Ireland 37 days ago.
Curious cow.

Some may assume we haven’t grasped the true nature of Ireland when we haven’t been out as much as usual. A few days ago, one of our readers wrote the following comment with my response below:

Unknown said…
Please don’t let the weather keep you inside….buy a sweatshirt and a raincoat and go….we’ve been in Ireland and Scotland as well as the Baltic countries. In any of these places, the weather can be cool, rainy, windy a lot of days. We don’t let it keep us inside and eat up days of a trip…..go despite the weather. 7:52 am 

Jessica said…

Dear Unknown, we so appreciate your comment. But, the reality for us is two-fold right now. One, I only had two surgeries on both of my legs a short time after cardiac bypass surgery, a little over two months ago and walking on uneven surfaces presents a severe risk of falling. Secondly, for us, this isn’t a “trip.” This is our daily lives, and in our old lives, we seldom went “sightseeing.” We have warm clothing and raincoats, but I must heal more before getting out on slippery surfaces. This is our reality right now, and we strive every day to make the best of it, in good and bad weather. Thank you kindly for your comment. It is greatly appreciated.
Warmest regards,
Jess & Tom
Painted sheep…everywhere!

We certainly understood and appreciated this well-intentioned comment and thanked the reader for taking the time to write to us. Most readers quietly lurk in the background, seldom commenting. I do this when reading most blogs, reading and failing to express any thoughts, suggestions, or comments.

Rarely do we ever receive negative comments from readers? We can only attribute this to our sense of vulnerability expressed here. It’s tough to be negative to those who admit their foibles and shortcomings, which we freely do here day after day. But, when our readers write, we take their comments seriously.

I so agreed with the above writer. Her/his comments would be so true under different circumstances. We decided to respond to the comment with the utmost forthrightness, again being candid about our reality.

She was lounging on a hillside.

Sure, we wish we could be out several days a week exploring. But, when it rains, and I’m not feeling 100%, it’s simply not appealing to bundle up in rainproof clothing and trek through areas with slippery grass, hills, and often steep roads to climb.  

Regardless of this temporary slow-down in our sightseeing over the past four months, we have found many “things we can count on” here in Ireland when we’re only heading out a few times each week to take photos and discover what we can.

However, in the simplicity of life we’re living here in Ireland, we’ve encountered several “things we can count on.”

They include:

  • A stunning view out of most windows in a beautiful house
  • The sunset is breathtaking on clear nights as late as 2200 hours, 10:00 pm
  • It’s still light up until almost 2300 hours, 11:00 pm
  • There has yet to be an uncomfortably warm day
  • Locals are amiable, helpful, and humorous
  • Fish and seafood is readily available, freshly caught from the Atlantic Ocean
  • The “fish guy,” John, stops by each Tuesday afternoon with fantastic options
  • Organic foods are functional in abundance in grocery stores
  • Concern for the environment is a vital part of life in Ireland
  • Ruins are regarded as an essential part of Irish history and are strewn about the countryside in their historic glory
  • The property we’re renting runs on solar power for heating water and warming the house (although electricity and WiFi is provided)
  • WiFi service is dependable and high speed
  • Driving to any venue is an opportunity to see exceptional scenery
  • Animals such as sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, and horses are spotted on every outing
  • Seabirds and other birds are plentiful
  • There are few venomous spiders and other creatures
  • Mosquitos seem to be non-existent, although there may be midges at dawn and dusk (“The Highland midge is a species of small flying insect, found across the Palearctic in upland and lowland areas. In the northwest of Scotland and northern Wales, the Highland midge is usually very prevalent from late spring to late summer,”) during which time one should stay indoors, use repellent and keep windows shut.  (There are no screens on windows).  We’ve yet to use any repellent while here.

It’s a rarity to find any insects indoors other than an occasional harmless spider or isolated fly.

A Connemara mare and her colt.

Well, you get the drift. There are many more “things we can count on” here in Ireland, and the list could go on and on, especially based on one’s preferences.  While we are here for the next 54 days until we depart for the following location.

Have a fantastic day reveling in “things you can count on!”
Photo from one year ago today, June 18, 2018:
“Zebras are very fast-moving animals and can reach speeds of up to 65 kph (40 mph) when galloping across the plains. This is just fast enough to outpace predators such as lions. Foals can run with the herd within a few hours of birth.”  For more details, please click here.

What’s missing?…How can we stay entertained and engaged?…

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Ruins of a castle on the drive to Balleyconneely.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
“Ireland is home to what could be the oldest pub in the world. It was opened in
900 AD.”

It would be unrealistic to say we find a level of contentment in every country we visit. It seems the determining factor is how well we can entertain ourselves when we feel like being considered.

Unfortunately, here in Ireland, we’re stuck indoors most days with the cool, windy, and rainy weather. Each sunny day, we can’t get out the door quickly enough to explore, take photos and reach a destination we’re curiously seeking.

Seagulls on the craggy rocks in Balleyconneely.

We’ve made a list of places we’d like to visit while here, but with only 55 days remaining until we depart for Amsterdam, time is quickly closing in, and we wonder if we’ll be able to see these points of interest while here.

I’ve been nudging Tom for us to get out and research his ancestry but with the distances to the locations in which to explore, we hesitate to go. Also, as he’s continued research on Ancestry.com, he doubts he’d be able to find anything when records weren’t diligently kept for citizens in Ireland during that era, the early 1800s, and further back.

A dad and son are looking for seashells on the beach.

Instead, he fills his days with mindless drivel while I prepare the posts, prep the meals, and do the laundry. I spend a certain part of each day dealing with the insurance issues resulting from my four surgeries between January and April. The “paperwork” never seems to end.

Don’t get me wrong…we aren’t bored. We’re rarely, if ever, bored. In the quietest of times, we can always plug in the HDMI cord to my computer and the TV and watch a movie, although we rarely do so during daylight hours.

A few years ago, we both used to read a lot of books on our phones. But, for some reason, we’ve lost interest in reading books and instead read news and general information online.  

In Ireland, many cliffs and rocky walls line the shoreline. It was great to see a few beaches, but none attracted sunbathers and swimmers in the cool weather.

Isn’t it amazing that if we so much as conceive of an idea or have a question, we can go to the Internet for an answer? Tom seems to enjoy this type of research more than I do since I try to avoid using my laptop unless I have an important reason after I’ve uploaded the day’s post.

Is something missing right now? For Tom, not much. He’s always able to entertain himself. But, for me…I have to work a little harder to find ways to entertain myself.  

With the limitations of the past almost five months since the diagnosis of heart disease at the end of January 2019 and subsequent multiple surgeries, I’ve felt a little trapped at times.

We no more tire of seeing sheep than we did warthogs and kudus.

In Marloth Park, once I was able to wander out to the veranda at the end of the bed rest period, seeing the wildlife entertained me and kept me busy most days. This was only for about a month but it made me realize how much I was dependent upon the wildlife visits to keep me engaged and excited each day.

I suppose, for me, that’s what’s missing. But, soon enough we’ll be moving along, cruising, spending shorter periods in various country locations in the UK and eventually visiting the US when our days and nights will be complete.

There are no regrets. There is no sorrow over what has transpired since the end of January. There is no grieving over the loss of seeing the animals every day and its excitement.  

Instead, there’s a powerful sense of gratefulness that supersedes all else.  Regardless of the challenges presented along the way, they are softened by taking the time to appreciate what we do have instead of what we don’t. We continue on this path.

Have a peaceful day filled with gratitude.

Photo from one year ago today, June 17, 2018:
We haven’t seen Scar Face in weeks and look forward to his return. Now, we have a particular affinity for Tusker, who’s very shy but practically swoons when I talk to him in a goofy high pitched voice…you know, the voice some of us use when talking to pets and babies. For more photos, please click here.

Whoa!…2500 posts as of today…Food photo…Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!

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Tom’s breakfast plate included scrambled eggs with red onion and cheese with thin slices of smoked salmon and tuna pate on the side. I had the same meal but a smaller portion, all befitting my way of eating.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”

“The Titanic was built in Belfast, Northern Island.”

 When recently I happened to notice the number of posts we’d uploaded since our first post on March 14, 2012 (click here to read the first post), I was stunned. It’s hard for us to believe we’ve actually done 2500 posts, including today, and how hard we’ve been striving to be consistent during this past almost seven years. We’ve made every effort to post each day, other than a few times due to travel days, illness, and power and WiFi outages.

In 2013, we began posting almost daily as indicated in our archives, showing how many posts we uploaded each month, including a total for each year. We’ve often mentioned how quickly time has flown, but it becomes all the more relevant when we see this 2500 number.

Is this comparable to 2500 chapters in a book? Not entirely, since our posts are shorter than one would find in a book. However, as posted, it’s a continuing story progressing similarly to a book.

Beautiful scenery on the way to the SmokeHouse located in The Pier, Ballyconneely, Co. Galway.

We’ve contemplated writing a book, particularly when we’ve been offered a few opportunities to do so over the years. However, as we’ve always stated, we didn’t do this blog to make money and become commercialized, going to book signings and even appearing on TV shows, none of which appeals to either of us.

We write this ongoing series for love, and we continue to do so for love; love of the world, its people, its wildlife, its places, and the many who so kindly visit us time and time again to see what’s transpiring in our daily lives.

At times our stories and photos are exciting and filled with world adventures. At other times, of which we are well aware, our posts are mundane and of little consequence.  

The SmokeHouse‘s interior was somewhat surprising when we expected glass counters contain rows of fish.  Everything is frozen for safety and lasting quality. More on this in yesterday’s post.

And yet, our readers continue to return for more, pass our web address on to others for their viewing and stand along with us in support of this highly vulnerable and revealing expose of our daily lives.  

At times, I equate it to the content of the TV show Seinfeld, when for us, it can feel like a “story about nothing.” Perhaps readers find some sense of comparison and comfort from the mundane aspects of our lives during those times when “nothing” is going on.

But, “nothing” may frequently be. Isn’t that what life is like for most of us, especially those who are retired? Some days, we’re busy and engaged in our daily activities. At other times, we find a certain level of contentment from doing very little; a load of laundry, making a meal, and watching a favorite TV show in the evening.

Visitor’s vehicles were parked around the SmokeHouse’s building on the pier.

Do those quiet days make us feel any less alive? For us, those days connect us to reality, provide us time to reflect, plan for the future and look inside ourselves for ways in which we can grow.

When I think back to our 15 months in Marloth Park, South Africa, it was the quiet times we recall the most, the wildlife coming to call, a day’s drive into Kruger National Park, an evening at Jabula with friends, not necessarily indicative of a busy, fast-paced life.

And here in quiet, remote Connemara, unable to drive on long road trips due to my legs, we’re perfectly content. As I write this now, Tom is taking a nap. I am sitting alone in the lounge, munching on a raw carrot. How much more simple can that be?
This horse was fed by passersby when she got as close as she could when we stopped for a photo.

And yet, in a mere 54 days, we’ll be in Amsterdam for two nights awaiting a cruise in the Baltic Sea, which will take us to Copenhagen and Skagen, Denmark; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; and Stockholm, Sweden. 

Certainly, this type of trip isn’t mundane and laidback. Once the cruise ends, we’ll live in the countryside in England in four different locations, here again, hardly an everyday experience.

At this point, we’re contemplating staying shorter periods in most countries to expand our horizons vastly, but we’ll never tire of the quiet days, like today; a delicious dinner already prepped and ready; a glass of wine savored, along with a favorite cocktail for Tom, as we lounge in two stuffed comfy chairs overlooking Bertraghboy Bay in Connemara, Ireland.
For us, this is hardly mundane, but at times, in this unusual life we live, it may be routine and predictable.

Friends…thank you for sharing 2500 posts with us…thank you for staying with us during mundane and quiet times, and thank you for either writing, commenting, or quietly lurking in the background.

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out! May this be a pleasing day for you, even if it’s quiet and relatively uneventful.

Photo from one year ago today, June 16, 2018:

And, here are the girls!  Not much is “girlish” about female rhinos! For more rhino photos, please click here.

On the road again…A gorgeous drive to a smoky place…What is food costing us in Ireland?…

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It was thrilling to see white sandy beaches with little to no debris and few people.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”

“The Celtic cross and shamrock are
both associated with Ireland, but the national symbol is the harp.”

We’d come to a point where it was time to get out when finally there was an isolated sunny day. It’s tricky driving on the winding, hilly roads and the thought of driving more than three hours in a single day is daunting.

With the necessity of keeping my legs up when I am not walking in order to keep the swelling under control (swelling impeded healing), the idea of driving for more than a few hours doesn’t make sense at this juncture.

Could this be a mating pair of sheep?

The healing of my legs is going well, but visible only in tiny increments when we clean the wound, add the cream cream, add a new moistened gauze ending with bandages and clean compression socks every two days.

When we did this last night, I decided to wash and shave my legs in the tub in the upstairs bath with a sprayer. Being cautious with the open wound, I was able to shave around it.  

This has been the most extended period of my adult life when I hadn’t shaved my legs in over four months. In the past, I shaved each day. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.  As soon as my legs dried, we began the usual bandaging process. This could continue for a few more months, based on how it’s looking now.

Sheep lined the road’s edges.  Tom drives extra carefully when there’s no fence protecting the animals.

Anyway, early yesterday afternoon, we decided to get out to a location that wouldn’t cause considerable swelling to my legs while sitting stationary in the car. 

The Connemara Smokehouse was the perfect selection. Not only would we enjoy a scenic drive along the open ocean, but we’d also have the opportunity to purchase smoked fish from this fine establishment, raved about by locals.

Once we entered the shop, we were surprised to see there was no official “fish case,” with a variety of freshly smoked fish on ice on display. There were several freezers filled with several types of fish, all frozen and professionally packaged.

Most roads are not tree-lined when the majority of the terrain is green rolling hills and mountains.

(Speaking of professionally, the SmokeHouse’s website is impressive, as shown here at this link).

Why was all the fish frozen? We all have a perception that the best fish is caught in the morning and sold unfrozen a few hours later. When we asked if they had any fresh, not frozen, smoked fish, their answer made all the sense in the world.

Particular with freshness and food safety, the smoking process proceeds as they’ve stated here on their site:

A short time into our drive, we encountered the open sea.

“The Smoking Process Smokehouse Ireland
The raw materials used to make Connemara Smokehouse Smoked Seafoods are subjected to meticulous scrutiny, where every step is of the utmost importance in producing a perfect end result. When the fish has reached the ideal weight for smoking, it is harvested from the sea, rapidly cooled, gutted, cleaned, hand filleted and boned.

To add to this assurance of quality, Graham fillets the fish by hand, which allows him to monitor every single fish that passes through our Smokehouse. The whole process is conducted quickly, hygienically, and under strict control to retain the fish’s fine taste, freshness, and natural color.

It is smoked in aromatic smoke from a slow-burning fire of beech wood shavings. Then salt is sprinkled by hand over the fillets. After 8 to 10 hours, it is rinsed off with fresh water and placed to smoke and dry for a further 16 to 20 hours.

For the first time since we arrived on May 12, we encountered sandy beaches.  However, the cool weather in Ireland is most likely to keep beachgoers and tourists away.

This adds an exquisite taste, gives a delicate color, and results in a mouth-watering experience. The recipe used and the timing of the process vary according to the size, desired taste, and fat content of the fish. The Connemara Smokehouse obtains its wild Salmon locally. All the fish used in our products are harvested from the pure, rugged Atlantic waters.” Packing:

Storing Your Products: all products are vacuum-packed and shipped by courier. Whatever the packaging or specification, The Connemara Smokehouse always guarantees the tastiest, best quality Irish Seafood.

Smoked Salmon will be kept in your fridge for two weeks in the unopened vacuum pack and up to 8 months in your freezer, also unopened. However, we recommend consumption within seven days or freeze for up to 8 months, as this is better for the quality. See more about storing your products here.”

The pristine beaches were unoccupied other than by a few bundled-up walkers with their children or dogs.

This made a lot of sense to us. Fish spoils quickly. This particular company refuses to run the risk of their carefully prepared products spoiling and possibly causing illness to less-than-careful purchasers. The smoked fish is vacuum-sealed and tastes best, as explained to us if eaten within three days of, defrosting (in the fridge) and opening the package, although it may keep as long as seven days in a very cold refrigerator.

Upon entering the shop, we were warmly greeted by the owner. There were several other shoppers in the store with us. We only waited for a minute for one of their friendly, knowledgeable staff to assist us with our order.

There were plastic laminated menus of products offered in English, French, and German. After perusing the menu and getting a few tastes from our rep, we decided on organic smoked Salmon, mackerel, tuna, and a tub of tuna pate.

Prices were comparable to smoked fish in the US, if not a little more. For all the fish, we spent Euro 76.59, US $86.07, enough fish to last us for several breakfasts when we’ll enjoy it the most.  

Also, lately we’ve been spending approximately Euro 40, US $44.95 a week for fresh-caught, unsmoked fish and seafood, plus all of our general groceries at SuperValu in Clifden.  

After arriving in Ireland one month ago, we’ve spent a total (including all fish) of Euro 1210.17, US $1359.93, which also includes wine and Tom’s Courvoisier.  Dining out, we’ve spent Euro 247.61 US $278.25.  Our grand total to eat in and dine out is Euro 1461.71, US $1628.17 averaging at Euro 48.59 US, $54.60 per day.  

Based on past records we’ve diligently maintained over this past many years, the cost to eat in and out is higher in Ireland than any other country we’ve visited. There’s no doubt that we purchase many organic vegetables and high-quality foods, but we only have a maximum of two meals a day and few, if any, snacks.

It’s the way it is.  As we all know, part of the fun of traveling is dining, whether cooking at a holiday home or dining out.  We admit we haven’t missed out on a morsel of fine food, most of which we’ve made at “home.”

In any case, we had a great time yesterday, driving for a little less than two hours with many stops along the way to take photos. Over the next several days, we’ll continue to share more new photos from our outing. Before we know it, we’ll head out on another sightseeing tour.

Be well. Be happy.

Photo from one year ago today, June 15, 2018:

      This is a “train” of the African Silk Worm grouping, which returned to our veranda after we moved them away. For more photos, please click here.

So many tasks…Whoever said traveling the world is freedom from responsibility?…

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Fishermen were heading out to collect cages.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
“A native of Dublin designed the iconic statuette presented to Oscar winners.

Today’s comments are intended as an “observation” rather than a complaint.  Surely, others could easily list their daily obligations with the same enthusiasm.

There are some mornings I am so busy. I almost feel as if I have a job. I’m not necessarily referring to the prep of the daily posts as I am over other incidental tasks one must perform to stay on top of household tasks, let alone record-keeping for our world travels.

This morning I spent no less than an hour logging a pile of receipts accumulated over the past month we’ve been in Ireland for our various expenditures. 

Still on the move in not-so-good weather.

Thank goodness I’d completed a similar task before we left South Africa after 15 months in the country. I’ve yet to post our entire expenses here for that extended period but one day soon, I’ll get ambitious and get it done. When I do, you’ll see it here.

If I were to maintain an organized lifestyle, I could easily stay busy seven or eight hours a day plus, managing to get out to take photos for the posts for upcoming posts.  

Lately, my motivation has been lacking. We got an extension on our 2018 taxes, but I’ve promised to get everything ready and sent to the accountant in Nevada long before we leave here in two months. The extension is only valid until October 15, 2019. I’d better get the show on the road, eh?

Finally, they found the cages and were off.

Then, of course, there’s been a mountain of work to do, almost daily, regarding our frustrating health insurance situation.  It goes on and on with more and more “paperwork,” payments, and record-keeping required of me.

This morning I spent more time on the insurance in an attempt to get it out of the way before I began preparing the post so my mind would be free to relax and do the one task I enjoy the most, writing to each of you every day.

Then, of course, there’s an endless array of household tasks. Due to my restrictive way of eating, it takes more time to prep for meals. I can easily spend an hour a day cleaning and preparing the many vegetables I consume daily.  

Street scene in Clifden.

Many mornings lately, we’ve been having some sort of breakfast that requires prep and clean-up. The main course can be easy or time-consuming, depending on what we’re having for dinner. Thank goodness Tom handles every aspect of the clean-up for all meals, including cleaning up after me.

Daily, to speed the healing of my leg, I have a protein smoothie. Even this, too, is time-consuming and makes a mess in the kitchen. I don’t expect Tom to clean up after this particular mess I make.

A difficulty I’ve experienced in this house has been the under-counter tiny refrigerator in the kitchen.  (There is another small-sized fridge in the laundry room). Almost every day, I have to re-organize the shelves in this cumbersome kitchen fridge.  

To park on the street, it’s necessary to purchase a ticket averaging about Euro 1, US $1.13 for less than 30 minutes.

Bending over the low appliance is not easy for me or for anyone for that matter.  Lately, I’ve been pulling up a kitchen chair to more easily reach inside and get out what we need for various meals.

We have more laundry to do than most people since we have limited wardrobes. We can’t last for four or five days to wash our clothes. Also, with no dryer and cool, cloudy weather, the clothing, especially jeans, can take two to three days to dry on the indoor rack.  

I have two pairs of long jeans, one couple I wear more often than the other. When those are dirty, I have to plan, as does Tom with his jeans. What will we wear while they dry? It’s no wonder that we’re more than willing to pay for laundry service on cruises…we don’t have enough clothing to last more than a few days.  

We only park on the street when we go to any of these shops.  For food shopping, there is an accessible underground ramp at SuperValu.

The same goes for underwear, tee shirts, and pj’s for me. I have two pairs of warm pj’s, three bras, and six pairs of underwear. If I didn’t do laundry frequently, I’d be out in no time. The same issue exists with Tom’s limited supply of underwear and socks.

Sure, we don’t have to mow the lawn, paint the bedroom, change the oil on the car, or shovel snow. Nor do we have to do a lot of cleaning with Ann, the cleaner coming once a week. In the interim, we keep things tidy, make the bed and strive for a clutter-free household.

Then, of course, there’s the continuing research, most of which we enjoy, ongoing. We cannot allow much time to pass before we get back at it. Also, Tom does research for any sightseeing we hope to do or short road trips we take.  At this point, long road trips are out of the question with my legs yet to heal.

Houses (duplexes) along the highway near Clifden.

Last night, while we watched a show on Amazon Prime, I did my nails and a pedicure, the best I could do considering the compression stockings that come partway down my feet. By the time the show was over, I had gone to bed exhausted after another busy day.

Some may have the perception that as world travelers, our lives are simple and uncomplicated. But, the reality remains, if we lived in one place, we’d still have many of these tasks to perform, just like YOU.

Happy weekend!

Photo from one year ago today, June 14, 2018:

 
 This video will remain one of our favorites in years to come, clearly illustrating the intelligence of elephants during a human intervention in “their world.”  Watch, and you’ll see why.  For more information, please click here.

Figuring out where to stay in Apache Junction, Arizona…Visiting more family…How long will we be in the US?…

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We stopped by the pier on the last sunny day we’ve had in a week or more.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
“The population of Ireland still has not bounced back from the famine it faced years
ago. During that time, the population was 8 million. Today, the population lingers
below 7 million.”

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With our cruise from Southampton in October/November, after a transatlantic sailing ending in Fort Lauderdale, as mentioned, we’re planning to visit Minnesota first, then Nevada, and then on to visit Tom’s sisters at their winter homes in Apache Junction, Arizona.


In Nevada, we’ll be staying with son Richard at his home in Henderson for two to three weeks (yet to be determined).  The US holiday, Thanksgiving, transpires during this period which we’ll celebrate at his home.  He has the same diet as mine and thus, making Thanksgiving dinner, will be especially enjoyable.

“Fish cages are placed in lakes, bayous, ponds, rivers, or oceans to contain and protect fish until they can be harvested. The method is also called “off-shore cultivation” when the cages are placed in the sea.”

Our plan is to head to Apache Junction, Arizona in early December and spend Christmas with three of his six sisters.  Tom is the youngest in his family and every opportunity to spend with his siblings is precious and meaningful.  

His elder brother Jerome (24 years older than Tom) lives in the Minneapolis area along with his sister Patty whom we’ll see in Minnesota.  We hope to see his other sisters, but one, Rita, lives in Rapid City, South Dakota and his other sister, Sister Beth, is a nun living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.    

It will be a busy time in Minnesota for both of us.  Most likely on several occasions, as we did last time we were there in May and June 2017, we’ll each go separate ways.  

There are many types of fishing equipment located on the pier.

I’ll be with my son Greg and his family, while Tom visits with his family.  Of course, we’ll spend some time together with each other’s family members. Somehow, although time is shorter for this visit, we’ll work it all out.


But now, with Minnesota and Nevada arrangements set, we need only to figure out where we’ll stay in Apache Junction and for how long.  We’re hoping to find a caravan rental where his sisters live to escape the cold winter months in Minnesota.  We’ve inquired at the caravan park where his sisters are located and his sisters are also inquiring for us. 


If we’re unable to find a caravan we can rent we’ll have to either find a holiday home for rent or a nearby hotel.  We’ll see how it goes.  We still have six months until we’ll be there.

An array of fishing equipment is situated on the Glinsce Pier.

Slowly but surely we’re filling in the gaps in our itinerary.  Each night, during our hour-long Happy Hour, we discuss our options as to where in the world we’d like to travel.


I feel confident I’ll be able to continue on.  Tom, on the other hand, is feeling as if we should wait to book plans well into the future after our recent experiences with my open heart surgery and subsequent slow recovery.


I feel confident we’ll be able to make plans.  Tom’s concern is associated with my ability to do a lot of walking on uneven surfaces, which seem to be a substantial part of world travels.  

Old boat on the pier.  I wonder what stories it could tell.

Tom’s right, at this point…such walking is a challenge but it’s only been a little over two months since I had two surgeries on both of my legs.  Surely, in time as they continue to heal, I’ll be able to tackle the often strenuous walking associated with sightseeing.  


In the interim, I continue to walk up to 10,000 steps a day inside the house in an attempt to build up cardiac strength and endurance.  But, my legs aren’t strong and stable yet.  I get his point.  We’ll wait to start booking more venues for 2020 until I can do a little more.  


Currently, we have several cruises booked well into 2020.  After this first cruise (since the surgery), sailing on August 11th, we’ll have a better idea of how I’ll do on tours and living aboard a ship.

The side wall of the boat launch.

Today, another cool and cloudy day, we’re off to Clifden to shop  The hustle and bustle of the small town (population 1,600), often packed with tourists, is entertaining and energizing.


Have a fabulous day doing exactly that which you love to do!

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Photo from one year ago today, June 13, 2018:
Check out the wear and tear on this old elephant’s right ear.  For more photos, please click here.

Booked trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota to visit family…

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We stopped at the Glinsce pier to check out the boats.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”

The patron saint of Ireland is Saint Patrick, who was said to have rid the country of snakes.

There’s no doubt I’d love to be able to get out for more sightseeing. It’s been a month today since our arrival, and the clock seems to be clicking faster each day.
The cold, windy and rainy weather has been a massive factor in keeping us in.

Not only do I not want to take the risk of falling on wet slippery surfaces, but the cold seems to go right through us. While I’m not yet feeling 100%, the thought of shivering isn’t appealing. No matter how many layers I pile on, I can’t seem to warm up when we’re outdoors.

I suppose we can also attribute the feeling of being chilled so readily based on how long we spent in South Africa in mostly hot temperatures. I can’t imagine how cold we’ll feel when we visit Minnesota in the US this upcoming November.

Seafaring vessel.

As time seemed to pass so quickly, we knew it was time to book our plans for the two weeks we’ll spend in Minnesota beginning on November 8, ending on November 22, when we’ll fly to Nevada to visit more family where we’ll stay for a few more weeks.

As much as it seems logical to stay with family while we visit Minnesota, the reality is they either don’t have the room and have cats to which I am allergic. We have no choice other than to stay in a hotel.

Nor do we have any interest in imposing on Tom’s other family members or any of our friends, many of whom have offered. It’s daunting to host us as houseguests.  We have a lot of “stuff,” we require a huge data load on their WiFi service, and it creates a lot of stress for the host when trying to figure out meals with my way of eating.

Most likely, these three boats are used for fishing.

Bottom line, we stay in a hotel. We eat most of our meals in restaurants when not dining with our children and their families. We choose hotels that include breakfast.  

We chose a hotel conveniently located to our kids, within a 12-minute drive and within 25 minutes to most of our friends. Unfortunately, our grandchildren will be in school during the days, based on the time of year. Instead, we’ll see them in the evenings and over the two weekends in Minnesota.

After searching online a few days ago, we could book a hotel, airfare, and a car for the two weeks. Prices on hotels and car rentals are high in Minnesota. We spent hours in research, finally able to piece it all together. 

Boat on a dry dock next to fishing gear.

We chose TownePlace Suites by Marriott located in St. Louis Park, which proved to be centrally located, close to the busy thoroughfare, Highway 100, at the Cost of Euro 1352, US $1532 for the 14 nights.  

In addition, we booked a car through rentalcars.com, a Ford Fiesta, which we’d had in South Africa and found to be perfect for us, for a total of Euro 362, US $410.

The one-way airfare from Fort Lauderdale to Minneapolis is Euro 328, US $372 plus the additional Euro $88, US $100 for baggage for a total of Euro 416, US $472 (for both of us).

Dining and food expenses out should run about an average of Euro 1765, US $2000 considering we’ll spend some evenings dining at the homes of our children.

A short channel at the pier.  The boat launch is on the opposite side of this pier.

Thus our total Cost for 14 nights in Minneapolis will be as follows:
Hotel:  Euro 1352, US $1532
Rental Car:  Euro 362, US $410.
Airfare:  Euro 416, US $472
Food:  Euro 1765, US $2000
Miscellaneous including entertainment with grandkids, etc.: Euro 706, US $800
Total Cost for 14 nights: Euro 4601, US $5214

It’s easy to underestimate costs for such a trip. Including visiting Nevada and Arizona, which we’ll post as soon as we’ve booked hotels and cars, we can easily expect to spend another Euro 8827, US $10,000.

All of these expenses are of particular relevance to us now more than ever, as our health insurance company fails to pay medical bills for the recent four surgeries.  We continue to be proactive at handling this but, at this point, have no option other than to pay large sums out-of-pocket.

We’ll be back with more tomorrow as we continue to contemplate plans for the future. Have a fantastic day!

Photo from one year ago today, June 12, 2018:
An elephant was scratching her right eye. For more photos, please click here.

Macronutrients…What am I doing in an attempt to avoid future heart issues?…

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A calf on a hill overlooking the sea.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
Over 80% of Ireland’s people are Roman Catholic.”
         
Last night was one of those magical occasions when I slept through the night without awakening until 6:00 am. Tom didn’t do quite as well. But, we bolted out of bed, showered and dressed for the day, and made ourselves scrambled eggs with sauteed onion, grated cheddar cheese, and bacon.

I only had one piece of bacon and one tablespoon of cheese with my eggs adding one of those tiny cans of tuna on the side. This will hold me until I have my required protein smoothie sometime this afternoon.

An old abandoned building facing the bay.
Lately, with all the confusion and lack of good research on how much fat a heart patient can eat, I’ve been keeping track of everything I consume in the free app, Cron-O-Meter, found at this link.
 
I’m attempting to keep my fat consumption under 70 grams per day, protein at 120 grams (As recommended by the plastic surgeon. I’ll lower this after my legs fully heal), and carbs under 50 grams per day (all sourced from vegetables and fruits as mentioned below: avo and tomatoes).  
An occasional sunny day gets us out to take photos.

Note:  Carbohydrates provide four calories per gram, protein provides 4 calories per gram, and fat provides 9 calories per gram.

Thus, my macronutrients are as follows:
Carbs:  4 x 50 + 200
Protein: 4 x 120 = 480
Fat:   9 x 70 = 630

Total calories:  1310
This amount leaves room for a little red wine and an occasional snack after dinner, all of which will increase the above totals bringing it up to a maximum of 1500 calories per day.

Wildflowers are surrounding our holiday home.

Using this app enables me to keep easy track of the above macronutrients and adjust my diet during the day if I end up grabbing something unplanned. I continue to avoid all starches, grains, fruit, and sugar. Although I continue to enjoy tomatoes and avocados, both of which are the only fruits I consume.

My caloric consumption is an ample amount and yet will keep me from gaining weight. Not that I necessarily pay much attention to calories but based on my age, activity level, and current weight this caloric amount is sufficient.

Exciting rocks and seashells line the outdoor ledge of the window.
Perhaps this method won’t have a positive impact on my cardiovascular health in the long run. But add in, walking 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, not sitting in one position too long, attempting to sleep well, and currently taking vitamins recommended by the doctors:  Vitamin C, CoQ10, Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc, and Vitamin D3. (Please see your nutritionist, dietician or doctor for vitamin doses).

I don’t know what else I can do other than keeping stress at a minimum which is more of a contributor to failing arteries than from diet based on what I’ve researched thus far. 
(These comments are not intended as medical advice.  Please see your doctor for recommendations befitting your medical health).
Stunning view of the bay from our garden.

The only stress I am experiencing now is the ongoing issues with the health insurance company and their refusal to pay, claiming I had a pre-existing heart condition (which I did not).  

Each time I get an email from any of the parties involved, I can feel my heart beating faster with frustration and anger over this unbelievable situation. I can’t wait until this is finally resolved. Each time I think this way, I get up, walk around the house and take lots of deep breaths.
As for today, we’re busy online planning our upcoming trip to the US in less than five months. The time goes quickly, and this has become a priority. Soon, we’ll report back with plans we’ve booked for November.
 
Have a stress-free and pleasant day!
Photo from one year ago today, June 11, 2018:
The rhino’s skin looks a little too large for their bodies. From this site: “Members of the rhinoceros family are some of the largest remaining megafaunas, with all species able to reach or exceed one tonne in weight. They have a herbivorous diet, small brains (400–600 g) for mammals of their size, one or two horns, and a thick (1.5–5 cm) protective skin formed from layers of collagen positioned in a lattice structure.” For more details, please click here.

Tricky situation…

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Happy on a hill.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
“Guinness
Beer is widely popular in Ireland. It first originated in the country and can be found in Pubs and grocery stores.”
     
It’s challenging to decide on how to begin describing this dilemma. We encounter such challenges in our world travels and usually can figure out a solution. But, the situation we describe here today is challenging.

Picture this…we purchase SIM cards in each country we visit, resulting in our getting a new phone number each time we move to new lands. For us, this works well, avoiding the cost of paying for a US contract we’d never use nor want to use, based on international roaming.

Wildflowers in the garden.

As described in yesterday’s post here, based on the fact our international health insurance isn’t paying my medical bills, we are delivering the outstanding bills out-of-pocket, hoping to get reimbursed at some point which is highly unlikely.

We’ve been able to pay the outstanding bills using credit cards, for which we call the payee and provided credit card information over the phone, except for one.  Thus, this is the dilemma we describe.  

Pretty pink flower in the side garden of our holiday home.

The only way this particular provider will accept payment is through a bank transfer. This is well and good under normal circumstances. However, this morning our bank informed me they require verification of the wire transfer through a verifiable US phone number.  

We don’t have such a number, nor can we receive texts through Messenger on Facebook or locally on our Irish SIM card. For friends and family worldwide, this has worked perfectly. We do have a Skype number but cannot receive texts via this means.

Excuse the tilted photo taken while the car was moving.

When we arrived in the US, we’ve decided to purchase two Google phones. These phones can have a US number and be used at affordable rates for calling and texting worldwide. If we had those phones now, it wouldn’t be an issue.

However, we didn’t want to order the phones to be shipped to us to avoid the possibility of theft and high customs fees. While in the US, this won’t be an issue. We’ll order the phones to be delivered before arrival in the US to be shipped to our hotel in Minneapolis.  

Overcast day view of the Twelve Bens (mountains).

Upon receipt of the Google phones, we won’t ever need to purchase a SIM card again. One weird factor of these phones is that it is expensive for us to call one another. Subsequently, we can use Whatsapp at little cost using the included data plan we’ll select with Google, which may be around Euro 26.53, US $30 a month.

While living in the US before traveling in 2012, our Verizon phone bill with unlimited data, text, and calling was approximately Euro 199, US $225 per month.  If we had a US contract these days, we’d spend more than we can imagine.

Unusual markings on this cow who looks pregnant.

Another benefit of using Google phones is that as soon as we land in a new country, we can call Uber instead of grabbing an expensive taxi waiting outside the pier or airport. Plus, we’ll always have the availability of MAPS the moment we drive off in the rental car.

However, the above is a moot point. For now, we can’t receive a text, nor will our bank accept a phone number belonging to a family member. They will only accept a phone number in our name in the US.  

Her calf is suckling.

How will we pay this bill? I have contacted the payee’s billing department, asking them to suggest an option such as PayPal or, can we mail them a check? Our bank doesn’t handle BillPay payments outside the USA. But we can send a check to our mailing service and have them snail mail the payment, which seems to be our best option.  

We’ll see how this rolls out. We’ll report back.

Have a happy, healthy day!

Photo from one year ago today, June 10, 2018:
Mongooses stay close to one another, often seen grooming and cuddling one another. For more photos, please click here.