How We Do (AKA Downtime In Louisburgh)

Greetings! It's been a while since I've blogged, so I figured I'd put up a quick post of some of my favorite sights around Louisburgh. It's been a very quiet few weeks since Dublin, and I've gotten very bad at carrying my camera around with me -- so most of these pictures were only taken on sunny days. Surprisingly, we've had a few of these these past few weeks, so you'll be seeing the 'best of' of Irish weather :)

The sun trying to peer through on our way to school!

I realized the other day that I hadn't actually taken a picture of the outside of our cottage yet -- Cabin 6!!

Katie Murphy, over to visit :)

The view out of our living room/dining area window, where I sat my butt down at the table and made myself write for almost an entire day. I mostly took the picture because that black speck in there is definitely a random cat wandering through the underbrush. Made my day.

One of my favorite views in Louisburgh -- a hill near the beach, which I try to walk or run or jog to every day.

The road to the beach! The left branch brings you down to the beach, the right one brings you to another neighborhood. I haven't explored down there yet, but I will soon, I think.

The beach <3 If I could somehow have a little hut right where I was standing when this picture was taken, I would easily be the happiest person ever.

One of the islands off in the distance; Clare, if I'm not mistaken. There's a saying here that one of the locals told us -- "If you can see Clare Island clearly, it will rain tomorrow. If you can't see Clare Island clearly, it's raining today." :)

Good old Croagh Patrick -- rumor has it that if our beautiful clear weather continues, we might try climbing it tomorrow!!! Challenge accepted :D

Proof that it really is spring here -- there are daffodils blooming EVERYWHERE. Love it!

The spider episode: we got back to our cottage to find this guy chillin' on our wall. I took a picture (still kind of blurry because of the poor light) and Katie, from her perch on a chair, instructed me to kill it. Since I like spiders (how can you hate something that kills mosquitoes?!?!) I refused and tried to haul it outside using newspapers. He pulled a runner, though, and I ended up stepping on him on our slate floor. I have since been lectured several times that I have to kill spiders on sight...

This ice cream bar deserves two awards -- one for how delicious the ice cream was, and another for how excellent that wrapper is. I have never seen any other item that shares my love of the paired question mark/exclamation point. ?! is just so wonderful for conveying a certain point!!

LOOK AT THE SUN!!!!! We really didn't know what to do with ourselves today, because the sun is very warm but the wind is still chilly and so is the air temperature. I tried sitting outside to do some homework, and it was great until the wind picked up. I was sent scurrying back inside thinking of putting on mittens, and how pathetic that would be, so instead I'm at the pub, posting this for all of you lovelies back home :)

 So that's kind of a summary of how life has been thus far -- tomorrow we might climb Croagh Patrick, which will involve me documenting the experience, and Saturday we have a day trip to Kylemore Abbey/Castle, and Clifden. Pictures will indubitably result from this trip as well, since it's supposed to be a very picturesque area. 

ALSO, the week after this one, MY PARENTS AND BROTHER WILL BE HERE TO SEE ME!!!!! This will be a very well-documented experience, full of adventure and excitement on everyone's behalf :)

Until then,

-S