So lots of activity while the bayou family was here. There was fishing. We made two trips to catch fish. The first trip wasn't that great. The boys didn't catch anything, but the girls did. I told the boys, "That's what happens when you take girls fishing, they always outfish you." I don't think they were consoled by that bit of fishing wisdom. Trip #2 was much more productive. Different lake. The fish bit all the time. I'll have to have our son bring up his family and go to this lake again. The girls outfished the boys again, but everyone caught fish. Sparkle caught the most, I think it was 17, and Faithy caught the second most and the two biggest. They were both pumpkin seed sunfish and were pretty big. Everyone had fun and on the way home we sang the Banana Song about a million times.

The Bayou family visit

Well it's been a week since the Bayou Family flew home. I feel recuperated enough to write again. What a great week it was to have them here. The weather was good, although a bit hot. That Monday was Gramma and my 40th anniversary. Hard to believe anyone would put up with me that long. And we started going together 5 years before we got married. Yikes! Saturday was my 60th birthday. Yikes again! What a great day. My favorite daughter-in-law made her fabulous chocolate-cherry cake for me. Yumm-O. It's so good I think it might be illegal. The cousins all got to play together again and a good time was had by all. GGG Gramma came down and stayed for my birthday party and I thank her for that. I think she had a good time. Lots of things happened during that week and except for me falling in the lake all were good. I'll post pics and stories as this week goes on. I want to thank EVERYONE for making this perhaps the best birthday ever. It ranks right up there with when I got a Schwinn 3 speed. I love you all.

Landscaping and deck

Well we finally heard from the landscaper. Looks like they'll get started next Tuesday or Wednesday. I put the deck beams on and yesterday I put down weed fabric and covered it with rocks. I guess I'll start building it after lunch. The landscaper will just have to work around it. I would like to have it done since we bought a new picnic table to put on it. Tomorrow Gramma and will go shopping for the Bayou Family. The list must be huge by now. The plane gets in Saturday night at 8:00, so it will be a late night. Next Thursday we are going to the Farmer Daughter's. Maybe she'll have new piglets by then. We should be seeing some fawns pretty soon too. While the kids are here we'll have to put an addition on the chicken coop cause the new chicks are too big for the garage pen now. Always something. A farmers work is never done.

Later.

Man Vs Fish

Well, got home from the fishing trip, or should I say the "Where in the heck are the fish" trip. The weather was great the lake was nice and the beer was good. However the fish were on vacation. A guy I used to work with, Doug Oberg fished with me and he caught a small northern,so at least I know the boat works. I guess I'll have to wait til the grandkids get here and they can show me how to catch fish. Now as to the picture of the little stone hut in my last Irish blog, that is what is known as "Irish Pork Butt". I thought I might post a few more pics from our trip in a different post cause I didn't want to add anything to what I actually wrote while we were there. Does that make sense? Anyway I hope you enjoyed what I wrote.

The R.F.

Ireland Day 10

Cloudy day today and some rain. We ate at a Chinese restaraunt last night. Good food and something different. Had a Chinese beer. Light and sweet and not my favorite. People in this country don't seem to use ice. Only one place we stayed at had ice, and then you had to ask a porter to get some from the bar. Or else you have to find a big grocery store and even then you have to ask someone where it is cause they only carry a couple bags. People here don't seem to like pepper much either. The pepper shakers are filled with a very fine powdered pepper. It's almost not worth it cause it takes so much to get the taste. (Our oldest daughter would like this) Well this guest house is another place where the hot water seems to be kept in another town. Took ten minutes for it to get here and then it's just a trickle.We stopped at Bunratty castle today. It was pretty neat. It was mostly restored and they have medieval banquets here. There was one table that was over 500 years old. It was one solid piece of oak 22 feet long 3 feet wide and about 3 inches thick. They have a village set up here and it's pretty cool. Some of the buildings were here and some were dismantled from other parts of the country and reassembled stone by stone. It's set up like a village in the late 1700's and early 1800's. Got to the hotel in Shannon. HOT WATER RIGHT NOW YAYYY! Leave at 10 AM. Fly to New Jersey and change planes to get home. Well it sure has been an adventure.

At the airport. Flying business class gets you into the private lounge, where snacks and drinks are free. Comfortable chairs to sit in while you wait for your plane. Bought some stuff at the airport store and it was actually cheaper. Finally found the tweed hat I have wanted for years. Cost me 48Euro wow. Oh well I make it look good.

THE END

Ireland Day 9

Monday 10/4 /04

Last night we unplugged the portable heater when we went to bed because the cord was all frayed and didn't look safe. Finally warmed up in the room about 5 AM. I now understand why it didn't get warm in the room. The heaters are the old fashioned hot water radiators and apparently hot water DOES NOT GET TO THIS FLOOR. Took a cold shower this morning. BRRRR. Going to grab breakfast and run. Heading to Limerick.Another interesting thing in this hotel is the elevator. When you get in and push the button, the elevator drops about a foot and then goes back up to level before it goes up or down. When you get to the correct floor, it goes past it about a foot and then slowly moves to level after the door opens. Also it stops at a mezzanine level and then you go up or down some stairs to get to your room. Weird. Yesterday we found a Purvis in the phone book. Made Gramma's day. She was starting to worry she wasn't Irish. The sun is out today, no clouds at all. Stopped at Blarney and saw the Blarney castle. Way cool. I did not kiss the Blarney Stone for luck like your supposed to. Sometime ask me why. I did see it however, not impressed. But the castle was very impressive. Tiny stone steps go up around inside the towers. Very steep and narrow. Small rooms all over. Small passages too. It is built on and around the rocks, so the natural rock formation is part of some of the rooms. Went on to Limerick. Hotel is very small and no lift. Went to see King John's Castle. It was OK, but not like Blarney castle. They run it like a museum with a slide show and short film. Tomorrow we drive to Shannon, about 12 miles away. Going to try to stop at Bunratty Castle. It is supposed to be the most complete and authentic medieval castle in Ireland, authentically restored in 1954.

Rain and rain.

Well on Saturday Gramma and I put in the posts for the deck. On Sunday(Mothers Day) our son and his family took us to brunch. Very nice to spend this time together. It was 9 in the morning but our granddaughter "The Princess" had Mac&Cheese and our grandson Bubba had a huge hamburger. The waitress seemed to want me to eat from the "Senior Menu" but I refused. You only get one egg on that menu. I like senior discounts, but only if you get more for your money than the young whippersnappers. Sunday afternoon the Farmer Daughter came over and helped Gramma and I put in the big posts for the hay shed. Couldn't have done it without her. Thank you. Monday the landscaper called and said he was behind because of the weather and wasn't sure when he would get here. Monday night it started to rain and as I write this it still hasn't totally stopped. So that will put him farther behind I'm sure. I understand though, having worked outdoors most of my life. Oh well, que sera sera. It will get done when it does. Fishing opener this weekend. I will finally see if I can catch a fish out of that new boat. I'm betting on me. Wish me luck, I'll file a report good or bad.