Catching Up

Summer has been most delightful so far this year.  Lots of sunshine, warm days and bright evenings. It's  been the ideal summer for holidaying at home, for enjoying the Irish countryside, for spending time in the garden and going for evening walks.
I've been neglecting my blog because it seems a shame to sit  indoors at a computer when I could be enjoying the warm sun outside or relishing those special long summer evenings.
So here is a quick collage to catch up with both June and July.

In June I enjoyed the excellent Co Louth Agricultural Show which was held just down the road in Bellurgan Park, we discovered the beauty of Connemara on a short trip to the west coast (which really deserves a post of its own) and the garden began to bloom.

As the warm weather continued in July, I loved spending time in the garden, taking my breakfast out before going to work in the mornings.
The perfect summer evenings enticed crowds to Gyles Quay where local teenagers had great fun jumping off the pier.
Even those days with showers brought their own beauty with rainbows.
The teen is learning to cook in preparation for  leaving home and going to college in September - he treated us to a delicious meal of turkey and mozzarella meatballs.
Doris, who has a very interesting blog over as Inspired Follies  has kindly nominated me for a Liebster Award, even though I've only been an occasional blogger of late. I'm deeply honoured by her nomination and will fulfill the tasks in the coming days. If you  haven't read Inspired Follies, I suggest you pop  over there and have a look.

Beauty On Our Doorstep

The Mountains of Mourne

The question of where to go on our summer holidays is being discussed in our household at the moment.
However, as the task of deciding on a destination, finding flights and accommodation always falls on me, it's been a rather one-sided discussion so far.
Himself would be quite happy with a Stay-cation - and a real one at that, not moving from home apart from day trips.
I thought about supporting the Irish economy and exploring our beautiful countryside as I'm somewhat ashamed to admit that the average American tourist has probably been to more parts of Ireland than I have.
The teenager wants to go abroad and the more exotic the better.
So there are still lots of decisions and compromises to be made.

Mourne Mountains

If the weather was always as nice as it was at the weekend, I would have no problem with not going abroad. But unfortunately, if recent summers are anything to go by, there's no guarantee of sunshine and every guarantee of rain.

Looking towards Greencastle

Greenore Beach

One thing I do know is that if we decide to travel around Ireland, our dog won't be coming with us.

I had thought that it would be nice to take him as  it would save having to put him into kennels.

However,  although he is perfectly well behaved at home and when going for walks locally, once we go further afield, he forgets all  his manners. The sensory overload of scents and sounds sees  his  training go out the window and, being a strong dog, he pulls the arm of the unfortunate on the other end of the lead. 

Fudge Enjoys A Dip