Shopping Trip to the Kerry Mountains

This was the first real close up sight of Kerry's MacGillycuddy Reeks as we headed south towards Killarney.

They are called Na Cruacha Dubha in Irish, meaning The Black Stacks. However, today they were far from black. In fact they were all white and looked magnificent.

We had driven down as my mate John was buying a new toy. Once he had paid for it, he suggested I get behind the wheel (mad mad man) and I drove straight up into the mountains, out of Killarney.

Believe it or not, John had never been to Kerry before. So I got to be tour guide as I had previously lived down on the south west coast for a few years and am very familiar with the area.

We stopped for a coffee (I had hot chocolate as it was a tad chilly) at Lady's View. The above photo is the view from in front of the cafe and shop (the only thing up there apart from plants and rocks). It looks down over the lakes towards Killarney.

The whole place is just stunning...

Hmmm who said leprechauns weren't real ?

Last but not least - this stunning beauty was the reason for our trip.

It's a 2002 Land Rover Freelander 2 litre TDi...

And I want one !!!!!

I opened the savings account this morning :o)

The Foods the Food Safety Experts Won't Eat

I found this article/blog post this evening and though that as it was so clearly written and full of proven accurate information, that I would share it will you all.

I already knew most of it - but I didn't realise about the canned tomatoes.

And don't think it is exaggerated scaremongering - it most definitely isn't. I have drank organic milk for years, and eat organic fruit and veg as much as I can.

I wouldn't touch farmed salmon with a bargepole - I used to see what they were fed... And I have a friend who gets very sick within a few minutes every time she eats farmed salmon.

However, there is an organic salmon farm off the coast of Galway - but I seem to only be able to find the smoked organic salmon in local stores - not fresh organic farmed salmon.

Meat is another biggie - If I can't afford the organic version, then I buy local meat I know has been grass fed and has had an outdoor life. But I try and stick to organic - or simply eat wild caught fish.

Here is the link - The foods the food safety experts won't eat

More Floods & Sunday Market

These floods were on the way from my place to Kinvara - I had to drive via Kilcolgan to get there !

The photos are taken from the road. I couldn't go straight to Kinvara as the area between my place and there is under water.

This is one of the witches made by Helga Pikal. You can see how big she is by the man stood just behind her !

Looking down the stalls...

An original first lino print of a Celtic dragon design by Peter (Roshan's husband and I can't remember his surname !)

They are selling this, mounted, for just €10.

This photo doesn't do it justice.

If anyone's interested in them you can obtain them through me - I can ring Roshan etc.

Another original first lino print by Peter. Very evocative...

Boxes for everything by Roshan & Peter.

Their prices are from around €50, up to €150 for the biggest. All are handmade with recycled timber and painted by them both. All are unique.

This is the inside of one of the bigger ones - in fact it's my favourite one !

More boxes - sorry but I like them !

And more.....

Kitty Bedding & Ladybird Feeders

I have had an extremely busy day...

I fed kittens 20 million times... I changed kitten bedding 30 million times... I gave 2 kittens a wash... potty training 40 million times... mopping up 'accidents' 4 times... charged strimmer battery 3 times... strimmed grass 3 times... made 5 loaves wholemeal soda bread for a friend... cooked a roast dinner... did too much proof reading (yuk)... made 20 million peanut butter cookies for the same friend... watched the same friend fix my gate (thank you)... did 3 loads of washing (mostly kitty bedding)... loaded the dishwasher twice... did shopping for cat food and bought 20 millions tins of Whiskas (wonder if I could get discount for mentioning them...)...

Oh by the way all cat lovers. I discovered yesterday that a 6 pack is €3.72 in Dunnes and €5.72 in SuperValu ! Massive difference and well done to Dunnes ! By the way that's a 6 pack of Whiskas tins... Cats don't eat Stella...

Then I chilled.... and read the latest issue of 'Organic Matters', an Irish organic interest mag which is always different and fun.

I found an article on a wee store in Dublin, Dundrum in fact, called The Organic Foodstore (Ecologic). They are Ireland's first organic corner shop ! I can't wait to visit them, but meanwhile I have to make do with surfing their website at www.ecologic.ie.

I fell in love with the ladybird feeders they have for sale on there !

Well I had promised a few friends to have the latest kitten pics up here this evening... but I was just too tired.

Sorry.

I will post them tomorrow I promise !