DAISIES, DAISIES EVERYWHERE

I love daisies which is probably why Daisy Cottage is so named. Daisies remind us summer is on the way and that spring has truly arrived. What a way to welcome in these seasons!



At the weekend I could not resist taking lots of pics of little daisies as everywhere seemed covered in them. There is something about daisies that is reminiscent of childhood days, sunny days with these pretty little flowers all around. There is an innocence about them but under that innocence they are hardy little flowers which can pop their heads up on all sorts of ground from soft meadows, to velvet lawns, to stoney ground.



This poem by Emily Dickinson says it beautifully about the little daisy:

The Daisy follows soft the Sun --
And when his golden walk is done --
Sits shyly at his feet --
He -- waking -- finds the flower there --
Wherefore -- Marauder -- art thou here?
Because, Sir, love is sweet!



Apparently those who love daisies are happy optimists and I do think I fit that category just fine.

PARADISE

Easter Sunday was a spectacular day weatherwise in Donegal. We stayed down in Daisy Cottage and had intended to do work in the house that day but the turquoise skies beckoned and off we went, cameras in hand. And am I glad we did. The scenery in that area is wonderful and the sunshine only serves to enhance it further.

Around the corner from Daisy Cottage is St. John's Point, which at around 5 or 6 miles long is one of the longest promontories in Ireland. Under a mile from Daisy Cottage you see the ruins of MacSwynes Castle sitting on a little ledge on MacSwynes Bay. The road is narrow but so pretty and it is almost overwhelmingly tempting to stop the car every few yards to soak up the views.





Moving on, you come to the little Coral Beach where once again we were provided with spectacular scenery. There were a few people on the beach but not many as it is one of those secret places very few people know about. The weather was very warm and some of those on the beach were enjoying picnics, or diving and snorkelling, or simply taking in the view. A flock of Brent Geese were enjoying a little dip in the water too and were not even slightly perturbed by the people around them.







Further along the road you come to the tip of St. John's Point and the lighthouse. Looking forward you see the Atlantic Ocean stretching out to the horizon, to your right you have views across MacSwynes Bay to Killybegs and to the left you have views over Donegal Bay to Benbulben in County Sligo. If you gaze back you see nothing but open space all the way back along the point. It is 360 degrees of beautiful scenery.

On Sunday there were quite a number of people enjoying the good weather and the views along with many people down to enjoying the excellent diving into the almost crystal clear waters right down at the end of the point.

The Lighthouse and Atlantic Beyond:



The View Across MacSwynes Bay to Killybegs:



The View Across Donegal Bay to Benbulben, Sligo:



It truly is Paradise.

DINING OUT

A couple of weekends ago we were down Daisy Cottage way, doing our usual ~ taking photographs. We decided to eat in Killybegs in a restaurant we'd enjoyed before and I'm glad to report it is still as good. It is called 22 Main Street and enjoys a great position down a pretty little alley with views from the back of the restaurant over Killybegs.

We had our eldest grandson with us who just loves getting a trip out with catrin (his name for me) and pa (his name for my husband). Husband and I were clicking away taking pics of the boats in the harbour and grandson, bubba ~ my name for him, decided that he too would like to take pics. We had a spare camera in the car that my husband uses for work so after a little persuasion from me, he let bubba use it. It was really funny to see his tiny little hands working the camera ~ he's only six but boy does he learn quickly. He mastered the zoom and focus within seconds and off he went snapping away. It was quite a funny scene I'm sure, 2 adults and a little boy lined up taking pics of the boats, and all fully concentrated on the job in hand.

So after hours of wandering around taking our photographs we took ourselves up to 22 Main Street. Great welcome, friendly staff and so comfortable. The have a tented effect on part of the ceiling of the dining room and it looks really nice with the twinkling lights around it.

The bill for the delicious meal consisting of lots of fresh fish for us (2 starters, 2 main courses) and a very fine homemade pizza for bubba, 3 desserts (all homemade too), 2 cokes, 2 glasses of wine, 2 mineral waters, an americano and a cappuccino ~ €80! Now THAT is value for money.

This weekend my husband and I ate at a little bar in the adjoining village of Mountcharles, The Village Tavern. Once again a great welcome and friendly staff. I had a seafood cocktail to start with (delicious fresh fish - salmon, smoked haddock, prawns etc.), he had a seafood chowder. Mains were for me shank of lamb (melted off the bone) and for him breast of chicken wrapped in bacon in a mustardgrain sauce, all of which along with 4 mineral waters and one cappuccion came to €50. Again excellent value.

On Monday we were tired having done so much work in Daisy Cottage we were too lazy to cook and took ourselves off across the road from Daisy Cottage to Baskins Diner. A lovely young chap served us and we each enjoyed a meal of scampi and chips which at €4.20 a head was again excellent value.

There are still many restaurants in the area to explore but if they all prove to be of a similar standard and similar value then both we and our future guests in Daisy Cottage are sorted for eating out.

THE FIRST GUESTS IN DAISY COTTAGE

Us!

At long, long, long last we got to stay in Daisy Cottage.

Last weekend, being Easter weekend and with a few days off, we decided that we would stay over in Daisy Cottage.

I had picked 'our' bedroom after we first purchased the house four or so years ago. And even though it is not the largest, we still chose that as our choice.

This is the bedroom we chose:





This is the master bedroom:





And one of the twin bedded rooms:



I'm glad to report that it was totally comfortable, the heating works a dream ~ I switched it on and within a very short time the bedrooms were toasty warm. I ended up having to open the window during the night! It seems the old, thick walls (they're about 2' thick) holds the heat much better than our own home.

We arrived on the Saturday evening having spent hours earlier in the day packing the car with stuff we needed for the house. Our intention had been to get there early but that was impossible by the time we had everything gathered up and packed. We were like the Beverly Hillbillies leaving Letterkenny!

When we arrived at Daisy Cottage it took about an hour to unload and by that time it was getting late. We had intended to pay a night time visit to our neighbouring pub but by the time we had the living room tidied and arranged again, the fire lit, the bed made, the kitchen cleared a bit, it was too late to be bothered. But we did enjoy a rather nice bottle of chilled champagne, brought specially to celebrate our first stay in Daisy Cottage.


I noted the date on the cork and it now sits inside the cabinet in the living room! Awww ...

I LEARNED A NEW TERM!

I was speaking to an American lady recently and she informs me that they call the large fridge/freezer we bought for Daisy Cottage as a 'side by side'. I thought that was a great description. So from now on, I'll be Americanized (get the zee!) and call it a side by side. And here it is, in place and firing on all cylinders, alongside the glossy black dishwasher. Never thought of a dishwasher as being attractive before but I kind of like this one.

BLACK IS BLACK

The plumber is coming this week to plumb in the fridge and the dishwasher (which arrived last week) so we'll be all systems go (G&Ts with LOTS of ice at the ready!).

I chose the fridge/freezer in black as I thought it would match the vanilla units much better than a white f/f and once it's in situ I'll know for sure. But I think I'm right anyway. It's sitting with it's coat on in the hall at the moment just waiting for Mr. Plumber to arrive. At least he'll have 2 other guys in the house to help him move the beast!

And the dishwasher is black too. Yes, I chose it because it matches but also because I have never seen a black dishwasher before and thought it would look the bit. Hopefully it's a good dishwasher too!

APPLE BLOSSOM TIME

We were down in Daisy Cottage yesterday and the apple trees in the garden are heavy with apple blossom. It's so lovely to see the little trees spring to life after being so naked all winter. And the blossom lets me know that we will have apples later in the year. Hopefully this year I'll get to use the apples for the first time ~ apple jelly, apple crumble, yum!

CATASTROPHE!

My plan for the games room has been given a bit of a shake! I awoke one morning last week to the dreadful thought ~ we won't be able to get a pool table up to the games room!

The games room is in the loft of the extension at the back of Daisy Cottage. And in all the fuss getting the main part of the house ready, getting this area finished was last on the list. But now that finishing work is being done it has dawned on me that my perception of space is out of kilter with the actual space. There is no way a pool table is going to fit up the tiny stairs leading to the loft games room!

Now it seems we will have a football table instead, much to my husband's delight. He retains a love of those tables from childhood ~ completely lost on me. As is pool. But that's not the point. So no pool table.

Still, the games room is coming together. I wanted to keep the old stone walls but have now been completely talked out of it so we will have plastered walls instead. I can see the sense in this ~ the old stone walls are cold and draughty so a nice new wall will be better but I wish we could have just left the stone ...

The new stairs are now fitted. The old ones were scary they were so rickety so a new staircase was essential.

All that's to be done there is the walls (this week) and the floor fixed up (this week too).

And then we'll have a games room sans pool table.

UPDATE

Panic over. The pool/air hockey table DID fit up the stairs so is not in situ.