Amsterdam doesn’t disappoint…We accomplished more than expected…Challenging but rewarding…Food photos…

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We were impressed by the stunning historic architecture on both sides of the canals in Amsterdam.

There’s no doubt I’m struggling to walk. I hope this pain will dissipate as I continue to wean off the awful medications, but a part of me is terrified it won’t go away. It takes everything I have to walk a block, let alone navigate stairs and ramps.  

We wished we could post the identity of all of these great highlights, but it wasn’t possible as the boat moved along.

My heart doesn’t struggle, or so it seems. It’s just the legs that could be entirely from the statins I stopped a few weeks ago.  Here’s the data on this situation from JAMA, and here’s the link to the report:

“Results  The mean (SD) duration of statin therapy before symptom onset was 6.3 (9.8) months. Resolution of muscle pain occurred a mean (SD) of 2.3 (3.0) months after discontinuation of statin therapy. Six patients (13%) were hospitalized for the management of rhabdomyolysis; 2 had reversible renal dysfunction, and 1 with preexisting renal insufficiency subsequently began lifelong dialysis. Hospitalized patients developed myopathy more quickly after initiating statin therapy (1.3 vs. 7.1 months; P = .048) and were more likely to be taking concomitant medications known to increase the risk of statin-associated myopathy (P = .03). Thirty-seven patients received another statin after an episode of statin-associated myopathy; 21 (57%) reported recurrent muscle pain, whereas 16 (43%) tolerated other statins without recurrent symptoms.
Conclusions  Patients with statin-associated myopathy experienced complete resolution of muscle pain on cessation of statin therapy. Although no deaths occurred, 13% of the patients required hospitalization for rhabdomyolysis. Recurrent muscle pain was common on statin rechallenge.”

The covered canal boat.

The above-highlighted comment about full resolution in 2.3 months makes me very hopeful. As we begin this big journey in our world travels, I do everything to stay engaged in our activities and avoid complaining to Tom.

The tour couldn’t have been more enjoyable.

He’s so helpful, guiding me across the uneven pavement, through crosswalks, up hills, and steps. Today was a real test of both of our resolve and determination as we walked almost 3.2 km, 2 miles, on the streets of Amsterdam, reveling in every moment, which was a good distraction for me.

What did we see and do? Firstly, all of my sandals and shoes to wear on the cruise had recently fallen apart. , My two pairs of long-wearing black and beige Clark sandals crumbled with pieces falling off in the suitcase. I’d been wearing them for almost seven years! Plus, the one pair of high wedge sandals I had were a thing of the past, and I left them behind in Ireland.

There’s a large hook hanging from the roofs that remain in place. Since most of the buildings in Amsterdam are so narrow, which results from a tax base determined by the width of a building, it’s impossible to get furnishings up the narrow staircases. Subsequently, these large hooks on the exterior of buildings are used to hoist the items to the appropriate floor.

Knowing we had to find a shoe store within walking distance was a daunting task, but I learned that trying to walk would be better than taking a taxi, forcing us to be out and about seeing a bit of this beautiful city.

Each building has its unique design.

After a very long walk, we stopped for breakfast along the way, we found a few shoe stores, and I was able to purchase two pairs of comfortable flat shoes, one a dressy flat black sandal and another, a very comfy pair of Sketchers slip-on shoes. I was thrilled.  

Surprisingly, the shoes weren’t more expensive than they’d have been in the US. Everyone talks about how expensive it is here. Yes, the hotel was twice as much as we usually spend, but we had accumulated points to use, which softened the blow.

Many elaborate former homes from the 17th and 18th centuries have been converted to governmental and diplomatic structures. Not this building’s construction year of 1843.

Dining out is comparable to the US from what we’ve seen so far. Last night we dined in the upscale hotel restaurant, Brasserie Flo, which turned out to be rated #720 out of 3736 restaurants in Amsterdam. I loved the food…Tom did not. He’s not the gourmet kind of guy. Here are a few photos of our meals.

Tom’s veal and mashed potato dinner.

This morning we had breakfast in a pub we encountered on our walk. They didn’t make eggs with butter or healthy oils, so I ordered a chicken Caesar salad. Tom had a ham and cheese omelet, which he said was “just OK.”  

My rack of lamb on a bed of assorted mushrooms was delicious.
Please understand, I am traveling the world with a picky eater, but then again, he has to live with all of my peculiar dining options. We figure it out as we go. It’s not perfect, but we’ve learned to live with these limitations, and now…others.
This seafood platter for two looked appealing, but Tom’s not a big fan of most seafood. It didn’t pay us to spend Euro $125, US $141 for this meal alone.

After we had breakfast and walked the distance to the shoe stores, on the way back, as we walked along with one of the 100 canals in Amsterdam, we spotted a canal boat tour starting in 15 minutes. This was ideal for us.  

As we walked down the narrow street, exploring and looking for a shoe store.

We’d hoped to tour the canals today anyway, and this avoided us going back to the hotel for more walking, only to find our way back to another tour boat.  It had been raining off and on all morning. It was sunny when we left the hotel.

The clock tower building.

This particular boat was fully enclosed with big glass windows we could open when the rain stopped. We were grateful that a few minutes into our tour, the sun came out once again, and we were able to take many photos, more than we can ever share here today.  

Ornamental pillars at one of the 1000 bridges in Amsterdam.

More photos will follow in tomorrow’s post, which we hope to finish before heading to the ship at noon. This is all happening so fast! This time tomorrow afternoon, we’ll be situated in our cabin and hopefully unpacked, ready for the cruise fun to begin.

Have a fantastic Saturday night, wherever you may be!

Photo from one year ago today, August 10, 2018:
Tom’s excellent new haircut. She cut his hair this time as opposed to using the electric clippers. Cost with a tip? ZAR 130, US $9.35 (includes tip). Wow! I love the beard! For more photos, please click here.

Food in Ireland…Favorite food photos…Four days an counting…

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I made myself a dinner of sauteed garlic butter calamari and hake.  My vegetables were on a separate plate.

Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland “
“Ireland has won the Eurovision Song Contest more than any other country
– a record seven times (1970, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996). It was
also the first country to win the contest three times in a row.”

When we envisioned spending three months in Ireland, we imagined we’d be dining out at least once a week, spending time at the bar meeting new people.
But, the reality of this area is that driving on these narrow winding roads is foolhardy and dangerous.

Whenever John, the fish guy, had fresh scallops available, we’d purchase two 12-packs.

Many local drivers whip through the bends and curves of the local roads at high speeds, making driving particularly risky after having a few drinks at the pub.  Early on, we decided it didn’t make sense for us to take risks.  

Scallops we cooked, sauteed in butter, garlic, and olive oil.  Delicious!

No, there aren’t many, if any, police cars on the road patrolling for drivers after they’ve had a few drinks, but equally, animals are wandering in the streets, particularly sheep. Avoiding them and the fast-moving cars and trucks on the narrow roads didn’t leave us feeling enthused to venture out for dinner very often.

Chicken dinner at Tigh Mheaic, a great pub, and restaurant in Carna, dined out with friends Lisa and Barry.

Add the fact that the cost for dining out at no less than Euro 89.35, US $100, for the two of us with a few drinks, taxes, and tips, made dining out nonsensical for us.  Subsequently, we only dined out an average of once a month during our three months in Connemara.

Scallops, potatoes, blood pudding, and salad at Tigh Mheaic.

After having lost vast sums of money due to non-refundable cancellations on prepaid bookings after my recent heart surgery, we’ve had to be extra careful on purchases of all types.  

Instead, we chose to focus on the best possible ingredients for cooking our meals, including a regular influx of fresh fish and seafood which has been more readily available in Ireland than anywhere we’ve lived in the past almost seven years.

Smoked salmon salad at Glinsce House, located five minutes from our house.

Our meals have been easy to prepare and spectacular. I can’t imagine eating scallops again when I now know what “real” scallops look and taste like. Also, the grilled calamari has been such a treat and will be hard to duplicate.

As I prepared today’s post discussing it with Tom, we decided to head out this afternoon to O’Flaherty’s for one last order of fish and chips for him and some uncooked calamari rings for me to sautee and add to tonight’s plate of salmon, cooked spinach, cabbage, and broccoli.

My breakfast included scrambled eggs with onion and cheese, smoked salmon, and tuna pate from the Connemara Smokehouse.

Often readers write to us requesting recipes and meal suggestions. The ease of my low carb, starch-free, grain-free and sugar-free way of eating only requires a well seasoned and prepared source of protein along with a few low carb vegetables, cooked/and or raw.  

Tom’s fish and chips from John’s takeaway restaurant at the far end of Carna, O’ Flaherty’s Seafood.

In most cases, I can cook my meals and Tom’s in less than 15 minutes. Often, lately, he’s taken over preparing his meals, especially since he was cooking for me for so many months. 

Tom’s massive portion of deep-fried hake from O’Flaherty’s Takeaway.

The majority of the time spent in the kitchen is the cleaning and prepping of the vegetables and an occasional salad. We’ve recently taken a break from side salads after discovering fewer preservatives are used on lettuce in Ireland, including organic lettuce that doesn’t keep very long. Surely, sometime in the future, we’ll reintroduce them to our meals.

Today, a little more packing is on the agenda. Yesterday, we bleached and washed all of our white clothing, which we often do before packing. We’ll be in good shape when we’re ready to leave at 10:00 am on Thursday.

Have a pleasant Sunday!

Photo from one year ago today, August 4, 2018:

Impalas (male is shown here) and warthogs seem to get along well. For more photos, please click here.

Year ago photo…Adults only please… More favorite photos…8 days and counting…

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Breathtaking view over the bay.

Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland 

“Wet summers are no myth. They say, “it’s always raining in Ireland,” and the sad reality is that they’re not wrong. While we Irish love to think that we bask in the sun for hours on end during the summer, but the reality is pretty grim. We have one of the wettest climates in Europe: in the summer of 2007, for example, it rained in Ireland for 40 days straight!”
Today was one of those rare days when I didn’t feel I had it in me to do a post.
As I begin here now, it’s 1400 hours, 2:00 pm, leaving me little time to prepare a comprehensive post with stories and links.
John, our friend and the fish guy with Tom in the driveway.

So please bear with me as I race through it, feeling compelled and yet pleased to finally be typing on the keyboard of my laptop. A nap is beaconing me, and although I usually only doze for 15 minutes, it’s everything I need to spur me on for the rest of the day. We’ll see how likely that will be.

This morning, knowing Ann was coming at 9:00 am to clean the house, we both bolted out of bed in a hurry knowing we’d like to get breakfast out of the way, tidy some of our “stuff” throughout the house, and be ready for her to take over for several hours.

Mom and Baby.

As always, Tom made bacon and the perfect fried eggs on the planet. This morning there was a special treat to savor with my two eggs:  fresh crabmeat John had dropped off last night. Adding chopped celery and a bit of mayonnaise, I made a quick crab salad, along with a few ounces of smoked salmon and a tiny avocado on the side.

Tom enjoyed the bacon and eggs as usual while I savored my low carb, moderate fat, high protein breakfast. Portions were small, but together, it was a perfect combo of flavors.
Rescued donkeys are commonly found in Ireland, where love and respect for these animals are evident.

Once we cleaned the kitchen and hung a load of laundry on the rack in the entry room, we planned the menu for our remaining seven breakfasts and seven dinners in Ireland. It was effortless planning this together as we always do.

After chatting with Ann before we left, knowing we had many stops ahead of us, we took off ready to tackle the day. Tom needed a haircut, and I needed to visit the pharmacy for a few toiletries and to speak to the pharmacist about some of the meds I am trying to wean off in the next few months.

Messy, dirty sheep with red identifying paint.

I’ve discovered that one of the drugs makes me feel exhausted and results in too low of a pulse, often as low as the high 40’s when at rest. The surgeon suggested I get off several of the drugs at this point, which hopefully won’t cause any issues. I’m down two drugs with two more to go.

Tomorrow, I’ll begin the slow weaning process he suggested, which may take a month. But, the process is slow since this particular heart medication requires a prolonged weaning process to avoid a sudden increase in heart rate. I can’t wait until the toxic substances are out of my system.

Ruins in the neighborhood.

So many of these medications have severe, life-threatening and debilitating side effects. Since I tend to be sensitive to drugs anyway, this surely is the right path for me at this point. I am looking forward to feeling like my “old self” once again, if that’s at all possible.

Ann and Eileen suggest we try Sullivan’s hardware store. Tom had accidentally broken the glass French Press coffee “plunger,” and we hoped to find a replacement in Clifden. Luckily, he found a replacement, and we were on our way to the supermarket.
Belted Galloway cow all possess this unique pattern of a white belt around their midsection.

He’d stopped at the barbershop while I started the grocery shopping at SuperValu to discover so many customers waiting. He joined me with a plan to return to the after grocery shopping. He had no choice. He needed a haircut, plain and simple.

Once we loaded the car with the groceries, we drove the few blocks to the tiny barbershop, put money in the parking meter, and prepared ourselves for a long wait.  Although three other men were waiting, within 25 minutes, Tom was in the barber chair.  

Piles of cut peat are often found at the side of the road.

After a good haircut, priced at Euro 12, US $13.37 plus a generous tip of Euro 5, US $5.57, we were on our way back to our holiday home. Ann was still here finishing the cleaning, but we worked our way around her and put everything away.  It was sweet saying goodbye to Ann once again. Such a lovely woman with whom we became very attached over the past three months.

Tonight, we’ll lay low enjoying a roasted chicken dinner with rice for Tom, cooked cabbage, a side of spinach, and broccoli for me. Later, we’ll hunker down to watch a few favorite shows.
Scenic lake.

As we wind down our time in Ireland, we can hardly believe three months have passed. We’re ready to move along, hoping a change of scenery and activities will be good for both of us.

Have a pleasant evening!
Photo from one year ago today, July 31, 2018:
Little attempting to mate with this young female. For more photos, please click here.

Breakfast?…Necessary or not so much?…Five year ago photos…

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The was my measly pile of clothing to pack as we prepared to leave Madeira, Portugal, keeping in mind this includes not only all my everyday wear but, also two Scottevest jackets, three remaining bathing suits, two sets of Bugsaway clothing including three hats and three small handbags which I no longer have.  For the post from July 28, 2014, please click here.

Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland 
“ Halloween
is derived from the Irish festival of Samhain. At the end of summer, the Celts
believed the gulf between our world and the world of ghosts and spirits
thinned, allowing malevolent beings to wander the Earth. Irish immigrants in
the US raised the popularity of Halloween in the 19th century.“

_______________________________________________________
In an effort to do intermittent fasting for health reasons, for years we didn’t eat breakfast except on cruises.  On a low carb diet (over 8 years since I started) eggs and bacon may be staples.
However, recently in an effort to increase my protein consumption and in consideration of the healing process, we’ve been eating breakfast most days.  Tom has taken over the cooking.  He makes neater and more perfectly fried eggs than I have ever done.  
These were all of my shoes in 2014, six pairs.  I don’t recall ever having so few shoes since I was a kid when I got one new pair of Buster Browns once a year.  Since this photo, I’ve replaced the water shoes which hurt my feet and the black sandals which bit the dust.
He makes three eggs and bacon for himself while I have two eggs, some type of fish and possibly one piece of bacon.  Occasionally I’ll add some veggies if I’m feeling extra hungry.  But usually, the eggs and fish is adequate, keeping me full until dinner.

We’re still doing intermittent fasting from 9:00 am until 1800 hours, 6:00 pm when we usually have dinner.  After dinner, another round of intermittent fasting begins from 1900 hours, 7:00 pm, until breakfast the next morning.  We’re avoiding any snacks during the day and in the evening.  

This plan works well for us in keeping our weight under control which seems harder and harder to do as we’ve aged and allows us the benefit of not digesting food for several hours each day.  
Late-blooming Bird of Paradise, aptly named.
I often wonder if all these health rules I’ve followed over the years were beneficial.  It didn’t prevent me from having open-heart surgery.  But my three doctors assured me if I hadn’t been so conscientious with my diet and exercise most of my life, I probably wouldn’t be alive today.  They advised me to continue my low carb way of eating.

As for Tom and his passion for sweets, bread, and starches, his weight would be out of control and he may not be free of taking any medications as is the case now.  When he was 18 kg, 40 lbs heavier, he was huffing and puffing handling our luggage and other tasks.  Now he has no health problems and takes no medication.

Apparently, his genetic component is less diseased than mine where many conditions ran rampant on both sides of my family.  There’s nothing one can do about their heredity.  
We never got enough of the clouds rolling in over the hills.  Each time it occurred we watched from the veranda in awe of the beauty.
Often, we hear stories of athletes and fitness aficionados developing numerous health conditions or dying as a result of heredity, regardless of any efforts they may have made to avert the possibility.

The magic of eating a low carb, high fat, moderate protein breakfast is its ability to keep us filling full all day and not thinking of food until dinnertime.  In our old lives when eating a high carb breakfast, we noticed how hungry we were in as little as an hour later.  I suppose that’s why “they” say that eating Asian food causes hunger an hour later…which most often is high carb due to sugary sauces, rice and fried doughy dishes. 

Of course, we only purchase organic free-range eggs and nitrate-free bacon (when available).  The quality of our food is more important to me than the quantity.
Our neighbors in Campanerio, Madeira were harvesting some of the treasures from their garden.
Today, we’ll lay low, catch up on a few financial projects and prepare a “Sunday roast,” a popular tradition in the UK and Ireland.  This will include three types of roasted meats, including lamb shanks for me, carrots, mushrooms, onions, cooked spinach, and cooked cabbage.  

The vegetables will fill 80% of my plate, less so for Tom.  But he loves the higher carb roasted carrots, of which I’ll only have a small portion.  Carrots, especially cooked and caramelized are high in carbs.

We’ll eat the roast for a few nights and then save some of the meat to shred for beef taco salads to which I’ll add a small amount of meat along with avocado and numerous diced vegetables.  Tom will add cheese, onions, olives, and tomatoes.  

We hope you’ll have a delectable breakfast today and a divine Sunday dinner.
___________________________________________________
Photo from one year ago today, July 28, 2018:
We had a full moon party in Marloth Park and got this shot of the “blood moon” from the veranda.  What a sight!  For more, please click here.

A local gem in Carna, Connemara…A little powerhouse of flavor…

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Don’t be fooled by this tiny building.  Its a powerhouse of flavor.  The finest takeaway in Connemara or perhaps even in Ireland, this tiny building offers outstanding fresh-caught seafood, fish and chips and many other items.  See menu below.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland” 

“The most popular sport in Ireland is Gaelic football, followed by
Hurling. Both sports are native to Ireland. Collectively – along with Gaelic
handball, rounders, and others – the sports are known as the Gaelic games, under
the aegis of the Gaelic Athletic Association.”
________________________________________



When I had fresh-caught hake ready to cook for dinner, Tom decided he’d like to return to O’Flaherty’s Takeaway in Carna for fish and chips.  I’d prefer not to cook this dish for him since it requires a deep fryer and lots of vegetable oil which we don’t use or have on hand.  Plus, it’s messy.

Located at the Carna edge of town, this spot offers an extensive menu with fantastic flavors, cooked to order.

We left the house at 1545 hours, 3:45 pm, to make the 20-minute drive to the small town of Carna.  The fantastic little takeaway restaurant opens at 1300 hours, 1:00 pm and later on other days.  It’s a great idea to check online to see if O’Flaherty’s is opened since opening hours may vary and they close during the winter months with less tourist.

The tinfoil packet contains non-breaded calamari for me.  This thriving business, owned by Theresa and John O’Flaherty, (John, the fish guy) is a must-visit when in the Connemara area. 

But, believe me, it’s worth the effort, the 30 seconds it takes to check online or call to confirm they are open, especially as the summer season ends.  They can be reached at 087 316 2444.

Freshly prepped ingredients may be added to certain menu options.  Theresa makes the tangiest, best-tasting tartar sauce I’ve ever had.

Please see this map for easy directions to O’Flaherty’s from anywhere in Connemara.  With all the excellent reviews they’ve had, many tourists are inspired to make the drive, regardless of how far away they’re located.

Although the cooking area is small, it’s kept meticulously clean.

We knew John, as our weekly “fish guy” who stops by the house weekly with his truck filled and chilled with the fresh local daily catch.  There are many options and I’ve never had a problem deciding on what to purchase. 

John’s visits have inspired me to try types of fish I’ve never tried in the past and have added to our Irish experience.  See this post here when we included a photo of John and his weekly visits.

The daily menu changes based on the availability of fresh fish John’s brought in for the day.

As mentioned in the past, Tom’s not a huge fish enthusiast. But he can’t get enough of fish and chips, especially those from O’Flaherty’s.  He’s often ordered this meal in many locations we’ve visited throughout the world but only O’Flaherty’s and at Namale, Tony Robbins Resort and Spa in Fiji in 2015, are memorable.  See this link here for that meal.

There are plenty of delicious non-fish items for those who accompany a fish lover that longs to try the seafood options.

I was literally drooling on the ride back to our holiday home as he ate the sizeable portion of chips (fries) from a sturdy cardboard cone container.  He enjoyed them so much, he had to go out to the rental car this morning to wash the steering wheel. But, I never tasted one, nor have I eaten a single chip in almost eight years.  It’s best not to.

Tom always orders the fish and chips.  He can choose the type of fish he’d like as shown on the daily menu.  The fish is at the bottom of this sturdy cardboard container.
Theresa, John’s lovely wife was friendly and welcoming. We chatted about the restaurant, our travels and raved about John for the good service he’s provided since we arrived in Glinsce on May 11th.  We gave her a business card suggesting she check out our site later today after we’ve uploaded this story.
Tom’s fish and chips.  I gave him my chips which he ate in the car on the ride back to the house.  Piglet.

The restaurant was ultra-clean, the ingredients and fish fresh and ready for the day’s requested items and the location conveniently located at the southeastern edge of the town of Carna.

My grilled calamari and hake sauteed in garlic, olive oil, and butter.  Delicious!!!

Once back at home with the hot food, we prepared our plates.  Earlier in the day, I’d made a new favorite vegetable side, sauteed shredded cabbage with onions and garlic.  Since we’re grocery shopping today, we were out of green vegetables, which surely would have made my plate more pleasing to the eye.

Theresa and John have five or six friendly, adorable dogs hanging out in the backyard.

But the taste?  Over the top…wonderful!  I can’t wait to return a time or two before we depart on August 8th, a mere 20 days from today.


O’Flaherty’s Restaurant is a special spot,  big on charm, local history and some of the finest food in the land…add the two warm and friendly hosts and it’s absolutely irresistible.  These types of experiences leave us with memories emblazoned in our minds forever.

We not only got a “food-fix” but also a “puppy fix” while visiting.

Have an enriching day and evening.

___________________________________________________
Photo from one year ago today, July 19, 2018:
The gestation period for African zebras is typically 13 months.  For more zebra photos on Zebra Day, 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.

Our friends have left Connemara…A challenge handled…Tom’s stunning photos.

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Rainbow view #1 from our window.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
The country has had a high birthrate for the last 50 years. Subsequently, Ireland has one of the youngest populations in the world.”
           

Lisa, Barry, and Chuck spent the day and evening with us. With my left leg and foot very swollen from sitting too much over the past few days, I’d decided to stay behind while they drove to Clifden for lunch in a pub/restaurant.

It was the first time in a long time I was alone for several hours. The time went quickly while I sat with my feet up, made a salad for dinner, and even managed to take a nap after a fitful prior night’s sleep.

Rainbow view #2 from our window.

Before too long, Lisa called to let me know they were on their way. The plan was to play a fantastic card game, Five Crowns, we’d played with them while on the cruise we met.

But, once we all sat down together in the living room to catch up on the day, we never got to the card game until 1900 hours, 7:00 pm. Since the three of them had a late lunch in Clifden, they were in no hurry to eat. For me, it didn’t matter.

Rainbow view #3 from our window.

Tom had purchased three roasted chickens for the meal to keep the work minimal for me. He cooked a big pot of rice as a side dish.  Later, when we finally dined at 2100 hours, 9:00 pm, all I had to do was butter the buns and grill them in a pan on the stove, heat the chicken in the microwave, and cook the broccoli.  

We were ready to eat. We all sat at the dining table, and everyone went back for seconds. We were done with dinner in less than 15 minutes, hoping to get back to the game. It was an easy meal, perhaps not as exciting as meals we’d made for guests in the past, but it was ideal for us to make at this point in my recovery.

Tom wasn’t quite sure what this animal was at first sight until they turned around.

After dinner at almost 2200 hours, 10:00 pm, we continued playing the card game. Something was amiss with my bad left leg and foot. I took off my sock to discover my ankle, foot and toes were grossly swollen. The efforts I made all day were of little consequence in reducing the swelling.

Also, there was a lot of moisture on the compression sock. I knew I couldn’t sit comfortably and play cards, plus it was getting late, and our guests needed to head back to their hotel in Carna on the winding roads, riskier than usual on a Friday night. It was nearly 2300 hours, 11:00 pm, and it was still light outside.

This morning, Tom took these photos through the glass of the kitchen window to avoid scaring off the hare.

After warm hugs and heartfelt goodbyes, they left. It had been a fantastic two days. We plan to meet up shortly. With Barry, an airline pilot, they travel a lot and can easily meet us anywhere in the world. We’re all looking forward to seeing one another again.

Tom and I cleaned up the glasses (Tom had done the dishes earlier), and we headed upstairs to remove the compression socks and bandages to see how the wound was doing. Much to our surprise, it looked a little better than the previous day. He did the usual every other day treatment, and we called it a night.

Cute hare in the garden.

This morning, the swelling was reduced by 50%. Today, I’ll walk but avoid sitting with my feet on the floor or spending any time standing. Tonight, we’ll have leftovers and spend a quiet Saturday evening, perhaps watching a movie. Again, it’s raining off and on and cool and windy.  

This morning the temperature was 8.33C, 47F, but with the winds, it’s not appealing to go out sightseeing, nor does it make sense to be sitting in the car with my feet on the floor for a few hours.  

And so it goes, the recovery continues, albeit not at a pace we’d like to see, but it’s moving forward nonetheless. However, we’re cheerful, grateful for the fun two days we had with our beautiful friends, and look forward to another good day in Connemara, Ireland.

May you have a great day!

Photo from one year ago today, June 8, 2018:

A leisurely drive in Marloth Park resulted in spotting these giraffes. For more photos, please click here.

A day to remember with friends…Lunch in, dinner out…More fun today but limited activity for me…

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Lisa took this selfie of all five of us at the bar/restaurant in Carna, Tigh Mheaic. After drinks, we moved to a comfy booth and enjoyed lively chatter and dinner. At the bar, Lisa, me, Tom, Barry and their friend Chuck.The boys drank Guinness and Lisa and I enjoyed part of a bottle of cabernet sauvignon.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
A peace agreement between Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Britain was signed in 1998. Ireland gave up control of Northern Island to the United Kingdom as part of this agreement.”
                  
It was quite a wonderful day. Lisa, Barry, and their friend Chuck arrived at noon.  Ann, our housekeeper was finishing cleaning the upstairs and the house was spotless and organized.

I set the table with what we had on hand.  Unfortunately, we didn’t have any linen napkins but we did have a placemat with Irish ocean scenes and wine glasses. I folded oversized sturdy paper towels to resemble cloth napkins.

I’d already made the side dishes and all we had left to do was cook the Rueben sandwiches in a big skillet, based on everyone’s preferences such as; Barry doesn’t care for sauerkraut and Lisa doesn’t eat bread, sugar, or starch due to a medical condition that has tremendously improved after changing to her way of eating.

As a result, I made two regular Ruebens with corned beef, sauerkraut, smoked swiss cheese, and thousand island dressing, and a third with the same but leaving out the sauerkraut. Lisa and I used lettuce to wrap our sandwiches which proved to be so delicious we didn’t miss the dark rye bread.

Yesterday morning, I baked lemon cake topped with powdered. None for Lisa and me due to our wheat and sugar-free way of eating.

After lunch, we moved into the living room with exquisite views of the sea and chatted and laughed for hours. We got so wrapped up in conversation, we failed to get out the door for dinner in Carna until after 1830 hours, 6:30 pm.

It was pouring rain when we left and continued raining throughout the evening.  They didn’t want to impose upon us and chose to stay in a hotel in Carna not far from the pub/restaurant, Tigh Mheaic, where Tom and I dined a few weeks ago where the pub is superb, the food excellent and the service beyond reproach.

My photo of the four of them at the bar in the pub.

We sat at the bar until 2030 hours, 8:30 pm, when we finally moved to a cozy booth with a banquette. Shortly thereafter our dinners arrived. The food was hot, fresh, and overall very good. The animated conversations and laughter continued.

With their hotel in Carna where we were headed for dinner, we drove separately.  Tom and I had decided to leave the pub before darkness fell. Here in Ireland, this time of year, it stays light until around 2230, 10:30 pm. We wanted to head back before it was dark.
Tom’s chicken dinner.  He was thrilled to have both mashed and roasted potatoes. Most Irish restaurants serve two types of potatoes with each meal. He thoroughly enjoyed his meal.

The narrow winding roads are dangerous during daylight hours and even more so in the dark. When one thinks of who may be driving after dark in this remote location, the risk of accidents is substantially increased.

Last night, before heading to bed, after sitting so much all day, I noticed my left leg had become very swollen. During the night, I tossed and turned, well aware I’d obviously caused the swelling by sitting with my legs down all afternoon, sitting on a barstool in the pub, and then again at the dinner table.
Chuck ordered the scallops which we’d had last time we were there.  The little dark round on the right of his plate is blood pudding. Delicious!

Lisa picked up on my discomfort after dinner, although I hadn’t said a word, and insisted I put my legs on her lap while we were seated at the banquette. It felt comfortable to do so allowing us to stay longer than expected.

Alas, the entire day resulted in my awakening this morning with a very swollen left foot and leg. As I write here now, my feet are on top of a little table with a small cushion.

Barry ordered pizza which we all know isn’t always the best when ordered in a regular restaurant as opposed to a pizza restaurant.  Barry agreed it wasn’t ideal.

However, it appears I won’t be able to go to lunch in Clifden today. I’ve insisted Tom go with Lisa, Barry, and Chuck while I’ll stay behind continuing to rest my legs and walk around the house which seems to help. Sitting with my legs down is definitely a huge deterrent to the healing process.

In any case, they’ll go to town, have lunch and return here for dinner and to play cards. Tom will pick up some roasted chickens at SuperValue and make rice as an accompaniment while I make salad and vegetables for tonight’s dinner. I’m fine with this plan knowing how important it is for me to get the swelling down.
Lisa and I each ordered the smoked salmon salad and shared a side dish of blood pudding described as follows: “While black pudding has some positive nutritional traits, it’s not something we should be eating in abundance. Black pudding does have some benefits. It’s high in protein, which can keep you feeling fuller for longer. It can also be rich in zinc and iron as it contains blood.”  We both loved the four little rounds of blood pudding we shared.

Later, while we dine and play cards, we’ll arrange my chair with the little table and pillow nearby to allow me to keep my feet up. There’s no way I’m going to miss the evening’s activities and the last evening with our friends.

We are so fortunate to have friends from all over the world, a huge benefit of our almost seven years of world travel which began on October 31, 2012. Seeing Lisa and Barry after meeting them on a cruise in November 2017 makes us grateful, so very grateful. Our heartfelt thanks and love to them and Chuck for coming all this way!

Be well, dear readers.
Photo from one year ago today, June 7, 2018:
A stunning scene of the Crocodile River from our visit to Wild & Free Rehabilitation in Hectorspruit.  For more details, please click here.