It’s very hard to close up and say farewell to Teach deBúrca, Kilkee, Loop Head and West Clare, in general! Our last event in Kilkee tomorrow is “cake day” at Eoin’s Nevsail Watersports Camp and we’re bringing lemon cake and meringues, freshly baked by The Pantry in Kilkee. Following camp, we’ll return to the cottage to say goodbye to this place we’ve called home for the past six weeks and then it’s off to a hotel in Shannon where we will be close to the airport for our Saturday morning flight and the beginning of the long journey home.
This trip has challenged us in many ways. I had to get comfortable driving a stick shift – with my left hand and on the opposite side of the road! We had to tame a cottage that was a bit wild when we arrived. I’ve had more contact with repairmen and workmen than I ever expected and spent a good part of the beginning of our stay in combat with spiders and even a few mice. I won the battle but I am not naive enough to think I’ve won the war – especially since I must retreat until the next trip back! War or not, I am leaving a clean and cozy cottage that has benefitted a lot by a good start to the improvements we knew we needed to make.
Eoin and I have spent the last several weeks in intimate contact with the ever-changing Atlantic coastline, surrounded by breathtaking beauty and local quirkiness, housed in a peaceful, rural setting, had a braying donkey as an alarm clock, and have even become so used to the local accents that when we heard an American accent today we looked at each other and laughed at the sound! Being back in the suburbs of Chicago will be an adjustment. However, we are thankful to have had this time in West Clare and equally thankful to have people we love waiting for our return home!
12 comments
Comments feed for this article
August 12, 2010 at 8:40 pm
lifeonthecutoff
It has been so much fun hearing of your Irish adventures and I am sure you will have more tales to tell when you return to Elmhurst. I just love your picture, so powerful, and Eoin’s declaration is priceless. We actually have a friend named Thor. I’ll have to let him know what Eoin said.
Safe home.
August 13, 2010 at 4:59 am
bloggingfromthebog
I could write a book based upon Eoin’s impressions of religion and religious figures! Once he told me that he was Jesus in a past life… which made me wonder if that makes him Buddhist, Christian or Jewish! Thor apparently has a very high post in heaven!
Isn’t that photo great? It’s hard NOT to take good photos of this place, in fact, I’ve had to make a concerted effort to leave my camera at home sometimes just so I won’t be tempted to keep interrupting whatever I’m doing to take photographs!
August 13, 2010 at 4:42 am
Dona Howlett
Again a soulful sharing of your love for your adopted Country.
I love the Photograph.
Have a good flight……….I’m sure you hubby is waiting with Open Arms.
August 13, 2010 at 5:02 am
bloggingfromthebog
Dona thank you for your kind words and good wishes for our flight! I’m a nervous flyer – so I plan to make a little stop at the local holy well, St. Senan’s Well before leaving in order to collect a little water to keep at the cottage while we’re away and to splash a bit on Eoin and myself for good measure! I like to cover my bases!
August 13, 2010 at 6:32 am
Declan Burke
I will be glad to have you home, I missed you both so much
August 15, 2010 at 8:01 am
bloggingfromthebog
And we both missed you too! I’ll bet you wish it was you heading back to Clare instead of us heading into the heat and humidity of Chicago!
August 14, 2010 at 11:08 am
Memie
Swift, safe journey home. As I always tell my kids “Nod off to sleep and when you wake up you’ll be there”. Vaya con Dios…
August 15, 2010 at 8:00 am
bloggingfromthebog
We made it home safely – and thanks to Eoin’s new pressure point wristbands, no air sickness to deal with!
August 14, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Patricia
Even though you have mixed feelings that your Irish sojourn has come to an end, it is just for now….you have all those future visits to look forward to, although Chicago’s Loop will take a bit of getting used to again after Clare’s. LOVE the picture – I’m sure it could win a competition, with Eoin’s comment as the caption. Seriously…look out for one. In fact all accompanying pictures have been great and we will miss them and all the news direct from Clare.
Looking forward to seeing you again soon.
Slan abhaile.
Patricia
August 15, 2010 at 7:59 am
bloggingfromthebog
Patricia, it’s really hard to take a BAD photo in Ireland, isn’t it? I’ll see you at Irish Class on Wednesday, that is if it’s still on at the moment, I’ll have to find out.
August 15, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Patricia
Glad you landed safe and sound – and minus a barf bag. Class is on again so, if you are over your jet lag, see you Wednesday.
August 15, 2010 at 6:38 pm
bloggingfromthebog
Yes, the jet lag will be the determining factor! Thanks for letting me know that class is on.