Little scenery for you...

We've had a group here from the States this week, and it has been great. One of the things I love about time with groups that come is that I usually get a chance to see some neat stuff around our area. Usually, it's places I've seen, but sometimes that one spot you see over and over just has that certain difference that makes it a little "different." Here's one of our favorite spots near our house up in the mountains: it's a beautiful waterfall that isn't always running this much, but with the rains we've had the last few days, the water was really moving.

These walls have ears...

The other day, I went back to the horse-fair I went to last fall. It was a bit different this year, but still fun. Just a day of people showing their horses, buying, selling, and trading all sorts of animals. I didn't too many great pictures, but this one I got of some donkeys was a great moment. I was walking along a bunch of trailers when I looked up and saw this one with just these ears sticking up. I thought it was great, and got this shot...hope you get a kick out of it too!

Another trip to the Cliffs - only this time it was...

Yeah, the absolute best I've ever seen them. There was a couple of friends in town, so I went with them so they could see the spectacle that is the Cliffs of Moher. I've been there many times now, and I know I say this all the time; they get better every time I see them. I hope it's always that way! This time however, I ventured farther along the cliffs than I ever had, and the view was a-mazing. The sky was clear, and the water was amazingly calm for the day...well, enough of the words...here's the picture...

More Spring time...

A few days ago, I posted about a spring-time tradition of ice cream as a spring time tradition. Well, as I had said in that post, lambs are another major aspect of spring. I have seen a ton this  spring, but haven't actually had the chance to take any pictures of them. Well, I looked through my pictures from last spring and saw a few that I hadn't posted. So, with that, here's a couple lambs!

Local wildlife

Since moving in our new house, we've been seeing a bunch of animals that are around. Of course, there's cows, donkeys and horses, but much more interestingly, there's pheasants, badgers and foxes. Over the last week, the pheasants have been going crazy around the house, and I hear them at different points of the day. A couple mornings ago, I saw a few so I grabbed the camera and got a few pictures:

On the prom...

Another photo that I'd taken a while back...one evening on a nice day a couple months ago, we took the girls for a bike ride on the promenade in a neighboring village. It was a great evening, and we had a great time. Well, I was looking at the pictures, and I saw this on of the sun as it was coming down...

Random picture

I was just going through some old photos when I came across this one. It was taken just before Christmas on a nice night just before sunset...

Spring time traditions

What comes to mind when you think of spring? The April flowers bring May flowers rhyme we all learned in school? Baseball season starting in April? I don't know...for all of us, it's different. Even if Spring isn't necessarily your favorite season, there's always something special about it. Winter is over, warmer weather is coming. It's just a great time of year. Here, the signs are the same as home; flowers are blooming, everything is turning green(er) and there's new life around every corner like the lambs and calfs that dot the country-side. Well, another tradition here that I think is awesome is the ice-cream. Yep - ice-cream. All the gas stations have soft-serve ice-cream machines that make their way out every year in the spring. After talking to some friends of ours, they equated this happening to mark the official sign of winter being over. The weather would begin to warm slowly, and the anticipation every time they would pass the station to see if may that was the day that the machines would be put into action. It's funny to see how many people get a cone; when you make a trip to the shop, on the way back to work; just going for a stroll; men enjoying their cones while driving to the job site in their trucks - it's everywhere. Makes me think of a new slogan: Ice Cream - the official sponsor of Spring

Here's the "sign" - a giant ice cream to state that the ice cream is available

Squaring Off

The other day a friend of ours was in town and I took him for a drive through the mountains near our house. As we were driving, we saw this monster ram (on the left) and thought it was neat, but then another ram came up to it and started to challenge it.

Sunsets

The other night, me and the girls and a friend went for a walk at about 4:30. Here at that time of day and this time of year, means sunsets. We're living in the middle of short days and darkness, but when we do get the chance to see the sun, it's pretty amazing. Here's a couple of shots of the sun setting over the bay.

Thatched Cottage

Jen took this shot of a thatched cottage.

High Cross at Sunset

Tonight we had a great time at some friends' house enjoying a great meal, and just hanging out. The day today was just an absolutely gorgeous day, so after dinner, we decided to go for a walk on the beach, just a short walk from their house. Along the way, the sun was setting, and we came across this high cross...making for a great shot. Unfortunately, (of course) our good camera was at home...but my new phone did a good job! Enjoy!

Great Day for a Horse Fair

The other day, I went to a horse fair. Yes, that's right, a horse fair! This particular horse fair is very famous, and very historical. It's held annually in a town called Ballinasloe, which in Irish translates to mean 'The town of the mouth of the meetings' for the two rivers that meet there, and this fair. Though the fair was more known for cattle centuries ago, it became a horse-centered event. In fact, the horse that Napoleon rode on into the Battle of Waterloo was purchased for him at this fair. Every year, farmers from all over Europe bring horses to trade or sell. Going to the fair, I really had no idea what to expect...other than what was told to me - "A lot of horses, and a lot of people." Well, what I saw made me think of the Battle for Minas Tirith in the Return of the King! In a field no bigger than a couple of football fields, it was just FULL of horses. I spent most of the day there, and really enjoyed myself. From seeing classic looking Irish Man dressed in his wool jacket and smoking his pipe, to seeing a trade for a horse agreed upon by the slap of hands, made me feel like I'd stepped back in time.

The number of horses was unbelievable

Strolling through the crowd, scoping out the right horse

All sorts of breeds were represented from Clydesdales to miniatures

Of course, walking through a fair like this, you have to be cautious! Horses all over were rearing up and kicking each other. But it makes for great shots if you're quick!

This was a great scene - the man was eating some chips (or fries to most of you) and this horse was just drooling! You can almost imagine a conversation between them...

Many people were selling accessories for all sorts of horse-related stuff from saddles, to bits and leads, to this classic parts for making a wagon

Gambling is very common here too; but not actually allowed. I snuck this shot of a shell game

Row Your Boat

One of the things I love about Ireland is the connection it's always had with fishing. Being surrounded by the ocean, and countless streams and rivers, it's not wonder that fishing has been so important to life. Salmon and trout can be found inland, and many fish such as cod, mackerel and Herring are found in the shores off the coasts; not to mention crabs, lobster and oysters. And to fish, you need boats! On a recent outing, I took some shots of these boats seemingly resting after long days of fishing.