Finally, after weeks and months of begging....................the Chef decided today was the day to make cabbage rolls for dinner. I think most of you remember this as the meal he served at Rondo's to all the lucky ones but never ran it as a special or put it on the menu because it was just Cabbage Rolls! Well, I for one am happy to have this fine dish to celebrate our Thanksgiving Day Dinner!
Ron has recently decided to grow a beard and the jury is out as to whether or not he is going to keep it!
Practical Magic. An oldie but a goodie.
Winter is here, more movies and books to watch to while away these wintry & wet evenings by the fire!
On Friday afternoon we took them to the home of my late Uncle to pay our respects and I would venture to say it was the first time all 3 of them had ever seen a corpse. They had no real feelings on the matter. I thought it would get a little more chatter out of them, but they seemed indifferent to the fact that someone was dead in the living room and more concerned about the Apple Pie in the kitchen.
Now - on to a lighter subject! Whilst Keira Leira Loo was here with us (and this is where I have to THANK my brother Shane for allowing us to keep her for the weekend!!) we felt the need to spoil them all rotten and cram as much junk food and crap into their little bellies as possible. 
As most places like Supermacs (Irish equivalent of McDonalds) give a little gift, the kids left with a toy, balloons, ice cream and very full tummies. This photo is a little blurry but I thought it was a true image of the way they actually were all hyped up on sugar!
Hmmmm, I am not sure where to start with this blog. You see, I - Móna Wise do NOT LIKE GRAVY BREAD. I realise that many of you out there are shocked by this statement (sorry Kurt) but I just do not get it.
So, when Pizza night rolls around every so often here at Chez Wise - the children sing the same tune every time - More Cheese Please!!
So, how am I really doing? Well, it has been rough these past few months since returning home to the old sod. After realising there was NO STARBUCKS on my side of the island, it took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I would be saving myself so much money and instead of pining for my favourite brew, I needed to get out there and rejoice!
We belted away on Saturday morning to visit one of my Uncles (Michael) who happens to live at Lough Talt, Co. Sligo. Lucky Man!
He was kind enough to allow the children some time on his donkey! This poor old boy lives quite a quiet retired sort of life and I could not believe just how placid and accommodating he was.
I see stars in her eyes. "Oh, Daddy. I would just love a pony for Christmas". And of course, the Chef will not know how to say NO! Thankfully, I showed Rory the size of Donkey poo and she quickly changed her tune after realising that were her new friend to come home with us she may someday have to actually clean up something that smelly!
For what feels like a millisecond in their tiny little lives, I feel like they are really getting along quite well these days. I treasure these moments and photos because there is usually so much hair pulling and the usual things little siblings like to argue over. OR, is it just that Jack has been coached ever so well by big sister Rory in the art of posing for that perfect photo to keep Mum happy?
That is all the WiseWords for today,
WiseMóna
Granny popped over for supper this evening. We had a lovely roast duck dinner that the chef had let slow roast over the afternoon and as he knew it was one of Granny's favourites he made a lovely orange and cranberry chutney to dollop on top of it.
After dinner and too much ice cream for the children, they wanted to show Granny their art project from last week. Ron had taken a bucket of old clothes pegs and asked the children to paint them.
I guess we can send them to her when they come home with the idea that they want a tattoo as well!
Traffic around here is a killer sometimes. As we are living in the sticks you have to be careful of rush hour 'Cow' traffic. Either early in the morning or right around supper time you can be barreling along down the road only to have to come to a screeching halt to allow the cows to cross the road in order to get home for milking. Ron is very amused by this as are the children and sometimes want to go for a 'Cow' drive just to sit in 'Cow' traffic...................I wonder how long this will last???
We went over to Rinville bay for an evening walk and stumbled upon this cool old castle right beside the kids playground. I have no idea who this once belonged to, but it was a functioning restaurant at one point.
It is such a shame that many of these structures are let go into ruins. In saying that, there are still A LOT of them all over the country that are very well maintained and still lived in. Beggars can't be choosers.
As you can see from the photo above, they are wrapped well but happy to be out and about for a walk. And who wouldn't be with a view like that in the background???
Ron, is seriously considering buying a pair of sunglasses. He broke his favourite pair right before we left Switzerland and he chuckled saying it would not be necessary to replace them as he was going to the land where 'the sun don't shine'. Well, since we arrived over 3 months ago, 80% of the time, the sun has shone. Yes, there may be sun showers or watery sunshine as Ron likes to call it, but nonetheless - the weather is gorgeous here right now.
A trip with the kids to Coole Park to enjoy the colours Autumn is displaying and it is quite spectacular.
The kids love this park. There is not a swing or slide anywhere insight. Nothing but miles of hiking trails and lakes and gorgeous old trees.
A quick walk by the sea before lunch to work up a ferocious appetite. We cut through this beautiful golf course and Ron was itching to get his clubs and play a few rounds.
That is all the WiseWords for today,
