Family Hiatus

Our story

 

From August 2009 through July 2010, our family lived and worked alongside people with special needs on a biodynamic farm in Ireland.  This is our story.  One year of posts and an occasional post-script as we reflect on how the experience has changed us.

We were house parents.

We experienced the joys of living with people with special needs; we were challenged and stretched by being in a life sharing anthroposophical community.

We met some very special people -- students, villagers, co-workers, parents, teachers, friends.  We explored Ireland and traveled the British Isles.  We had a grand adventure!

Sunday Drive: Blessington Lake

Quick and easy drive just to get out of the house and away from the laundry and packing.

Came across some interesting history when we passed a sign for the 'Children's Burial Ground'.  There is a marker and boulder in the middle of a field but nothing more.  I researched it later and found that it was probably a Quaker burial ground.  Quite a bit of Quaker history in Ireland since at least the 1600's.

The view from the field --

 

Driving around the lake --

 

 

The rest of this week we'll be packing, cleaning, organizing, shipping, etc., and saying goodbye to Aine O., Liam, Dermot, and Thomas.

Next weekend we'll do some visiting in Limerick and perhaps take one last day trip to Galway.  I've been wanting to get back to Galway ever since our trip with students in December.

Derby weekend, Kildare

We were invited to Imelda's house in Kildare town on Saturday night to enjoy the Irish Derby festival.

We had a lovely dinner with Imelda and her family at their house and then walked to town for a street fair, and drinks at the pub.

It's nice to walk a town instead of driving through.  I never noticed some of the fine old homes along the main street --

It's also nice to visit a local pub, with a local.  The door on the left leads to a street-front pub.  Ah, but the door on the right leads to the local pub where you feel right at home --

On the way home on Sunday morning we drove through the Curragh and right past the start of an early race --

St. John's Fire

St. John's Day at Grangebeg, a sister community.

We sat in a large circle around a bonfire, sang songs and ate fresh strawberries with ice-cream.

The community is made up of a wonderful group of mostly independent villagers.  There are 15 people in the whole community.  That's smaller than our house.

The houses are beautifully decorated with plenty of space for everyone.  The community has a nice, comfortable atmosphere and great views.

Driving home around 10 pm -- Midsummer sunset:

 

Sunday Drive: Irish National Stud & Gardens

We took our Sunday drive today (Monday) and we had some company -- the whole house plus Imelda, our housekeeper, and her daughter Sophie.

We visited the Irish National Stud, the Japanese Gardens, and St. Fiachra's Garden.  All on the same grounds.

We admired the beautiful thoroughbred horses in the National Stud --

We walked through the Japanese Gardens.  The Japanese Gardens is a wonderful place to take a walk because it's a 'walk of life' starting in the birth cave and exiting through the gates of eternity.

We walked through the tunnel of ignorance, crossed the marriage bridge, parted ways, celebrated old age and reflected on the mourning hill.

We chose different paths: some took the easy path and some took the adventure path.

Some of us needed a little extra help along the way...that's life.

When the path ahead is too scary, ask a friend for help --

You'll get there with a little help from your friends --

Relaxing in St. Fiachra's Garden --

We stopped at a pub for dinner and everybody had dessert.  Happy day.

Good night on the summer solstice.  10:25 pm and still light outside.

House Trip: Dingle, Ring of Kerry, Lakes of Killarney

We were in Dingle from Tuesday afternoon until Saturday evening.  All 16 of us.

We enjoyed beautiful scenery, good food, and great craic across counties Limerick, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Laois, Kerry, Cork, and back to Kildare.

Lots of laughs.  Lots of memories.

A few highlights:

Dingle Bay -- we took a boat trip to see the famous wild dolphin, Fungi, who swam alongside our boat:

Beach off Slea Head drive, Dingle Peninsula -- we relaxed in the sun:

Inch Beach -- we walked in the sand, found starfish, and flew a kite:

The Ring of Kerry, Gap of Dunloe:

 

 

Sunday Drive: Altamont Gardens

We took our 'Sunday drive' on Monday this week, because it's a holiday.  It rained but you can't let rain stop you from walking in Ireland.

Altamont Gardens is a great place to take a long walk...

...past the old main house with moss covered steps and a peacock on the front porch

down the rose petal strewn path

 

under the hedge

to the lily pond

through the forest

down the ice age glen

to the river

and back up 100 steps

to the meadow

over the bridge

and back to the garden.

A wonderful loop.

After our walk, we drove to Dermot's house near Kilkenny to pick him up after the long weekend.  His mother served us pavlova and tea.  I must learn how to make pavlova.  With fresh cream and strawberries -- it's heavenly.

June Evening

What happens around the house when the students are away for a long weekend?

We had visitors -- good friends, Pat and Nora.

Karlijn's parents came for a visit from Holland.

Liam decided to stay rather than go home.  He's a very independent-minded student, and good company.

And, after we cleaned up the apartment so that our guests could walk through it (ahem...) we all relaxed, and played, and slept late.

This evening:

Ella & Dylan, barefoot and dirty in the willow tree house:

 

 

Dinner on the patio prepared by Karlijn and her parents.  Europeans -- they know how to live:

 

 

 

 

Ella & Liam playing ball:

 

Nature Spirits

This is the view from my bedroom window: a conference attendee camping out for the weekend.

The 3-day conference is "Working & Playing with Nature Spirits."  A workshop and talk with Tanis Helliwell, author of "Summer with Leprechauns".

If it didn't cost 190 Euros to attend (that's a lot of pixie dust...) I might have joined in just for fun.

June garden

 

 

 

Weavery

A quick peak into the weavery...