Chapter One, Part Two: In Which Jackie and Matthieu take a train to Galway to see the sites of misty, moisty east Ireland.

   After a car-rental gone wrong in Dublin, Jackie and Matthieu hopped on a train west to Galway for the weekend.  They arrived in the early evening and found a cheap room at a small but friendly hostel.  The got to pretend they were at camp with bunk beds, a basin in the room, and freezing cold tile floors with only cold water to bathe.  Sadly, unlike at camp, there wasn't any sunshine to go run around in afterwards. 

  The two spent Friday night hanging in a pub called the Crane, which is known locally for its musical sessions.  Musicians drop in every night just to play together and the results were phenomenal.  The pair had so much fun listening to the live music that they returned the following evening for an encore performance.  Saturday's line-up included a magical harp solo that hushed the room.  It was as if you were listening to a prayer.

   These two bone-chilled travelers (yet happy with the warmth of tea at every corner) boarded a musty tour bus for a day trip through County Clare.  Stops included castles, an area of land called the Burren (in which there are magnificent limestone shelves) and the spectacular and windy Cliffs of Moher. 

   Many thanks to Beatrice for hosting us in Dublin, and driving us through the hairpin turns and amazing sites of the Wicklow mountains and Sally Gap! 

Hi Mom!

If anyone knows how to flip videos in YouTube, I would love to hear how! Here is a clip from the Cliffs of Moher:

Chapter One: In which Jackie and Matthieu pack up 2 big backpacks, a carry-on each, drive a mint green VW Bug to an aiport and fly off to Europe for six months.

  The adventure begins in Ireland: home of Irish green, Irish charm, Irish whiskey, Irish wool and Irish accents. In their first outing, the couple wanders the streets of Dublin, enjoys a (FREE) museum of exceptional quality and interest, and samples some of Dublin's finest beverages.  Pictures of bogs, monastic ruins, harrowing cliffs, and dogs that discover America coming soon! 

The number one reason to move back to Iowa:

Glorious Sunset

M and I drove the back roads home from Iowa City to Des Moines, stopping in Pella so he could see where I went to college my Freshman year.  My grandma grew up there, so it was fun to walk the square and show M where the family's general store had been, and the house my grandmother grew up in.  We brought her back a dutch letter of course, and treated ourselves to the spice cookies I am always ready to eat! As we drove the countryside we listened to an amazing mix Amanda made me once upon a time and got to drive for 40 min through this glorious sunset.  I  do love the horizon. 

Gobble Gobble Gee

      It has been 5 years since I have had Thanksgiving in Iowa with my family, so it was a real treat to get to spend the past few days in Iowa City with my siblings and niece and nephew!  Matthieu and I took Ella and my old babysitting charge, and his little brother to the Iowa Children's Museum.  We had a blast playing with the different exhibits and got ice cream AND rode the carousel too!  I watched O for about a year and a half at the beginning of his life so seeing him as a SECOND grader is amazing.  Of course, the fact that he is a superb reader with a witty sense of humor is awesome.  His parents are smarty-pants so no surprises there!

       Jim had hunted down some great recipes for the meal and  he and Matthieu made up Stuffed Jalapenos that were a huge hit, dressing that was amazing, and fried up a turkey.  

         To top off the evening, we all watched the Iowa All-State concert on PBS- as Keegan made the orchestra.  He is a bassoon player and it is quite the honor to make it as a Freshman.  Jameo kept looking for him on tv and would yell "Keeg-keeg!  More Keeg-keeg!" anddelighted us with wonderful dancing to the music. 

     Hope everyone else had as wonderful of a turkey day as we did!

Artistic Downtown Des Moines

After dropping Keegan off (J's younger brother) at the Temple for Performing Arts for Youth Symphony practice, we passed the Des Moines Public Library

and wandered the recently completed Pappajohn Sculpture Park. 

 

We then enjoyed a delectable hummus and roasted red pepper sandwich with Peruvian coffee at Ritual Café. More pics in the gallery!

    Des Moines is not the doldrums you may expect. Jackie is amazed by all the changes in the past ten years.  Here is a fantastic city guide that she really likes: http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/09/des-moines-guide.html

 

Home Sweet Home - 10x15x8 edition

After a troubleless trip (Thanks Kevin!!!) that took us across NH, MA, NY, PA, OH, IN, ILL and IA, we have settled here:

Or at least most of our worldly possessions have. They will await, dry and cosy, our return from Ye Olde Continent. We have for our part enjoyed time with Jackie's family and will do so until just after Thanksgiving week-end, replete with its own excitement. More to come on that!

All the best from Iowa! 

                                                        

Book Group! I will miss you.

I have been lucky to have the most amazing book groups at the library. One has been meeting for THREE years!  I will miss this phenomenal bunch of kids.  They are witty, smart and incredibly fun. Last Thursday we had an online chat with author Sarah Prineas  the author of the intriguing fantasy book The Magic Thief.  It was a cool experience.  She was very giving of her time, and answered questions with humor and honesty.  Thank you!

My Etsy finds of the month.

I love no season more than fall, and fall in New England is glorious.  But, there is a chill in the air- and my feet are frozen.  My nose is a chilly little ice cube and THIS is what I need!

Etsy is one of my favorite websites- it is a storefront for many many crafters and one can literally find anything they could ever want, or at least the person to make it for you.

Below are some October finds. Fall, Halloween, scarfs, sweaters and pumpkin flavored beer makes me one happy gal!

Stunning Halloween cards that are classy and rich with the deep colors of fall

My favorite colors are cozy - burnt orange and mustard yellow

I think this brooch would make my life a little brighter- and British!  All of her tweed bags are stunning as well.

And finally...why are all the really cute wearable things made for kids?
I would like to wear this dress is my size!