To the Maigh Eo Coast
The land and sky showed changing moods as we headed out with the Duffys into the more remote coastlands of County Mayo yesterday. Some blue sky, but more areas of mixed white and dark gray clouds with intermittent periods of moderate rain as we drove out north of Achill Island and toward Dohooma (Dumha Thuama in Irish). A vast expanse of desolate bog toward the interior and a surprising number of holiday homes as we approached the coast. Although the Celtic Tiger has been tamed, it appears that more people have the wherewithal to invest in luxuries than one might expect - a positive sign of optimism among a group that has been so battered by the bankers and the politicians. In places, the landscape was dominated by rhododendron, pink flowers beautiful in presentation but toxic to the environment due to their dense foliage which chokes out any growth beneath. Padraic helped us understand the peril of this exotic (non-native) bush.
We stopped for a coffee on our ride back and the Duffys insisted that we stay for dinner - “nothing fancy mind you, we’ll just whip together something quickly.” So........ A lovely salad of locally grown greens with beautifully translucent locally smoked salmon. Seabass for Candee and Marion and a tender, favor-filled Irish strip steak for Padraic and me. Potatoes prepared two ways. Fresh steamed broccoli. Sauteed mushrooms. And a fresh orange, pineapple, strawberry, and banana fruit plate covered with double cream for dessert. Heck, Candee sliced the fruits and I cored the pineapple. It’s not like we’re complete freeloaders! And, of course, Marion can always find a bit of chocolate to top off the meal properly. In this, I fear I am a bad influence, having not the capacity to ever say no. Alas, Marion does seem easily led.
I would be remiss to not mention the chill chasing fires Marion has built in their fireplace each night. They have been welcome, but have been cause for Padraic to lament the lack of summer this year. To be honest, we have welcomed the respite from the heat and humidity of Florida.
Much excitement here about young Rory McIlroy’s dominance in the US Open, and it’s fun watching the event each evening on Padraic’s gazillion inch hi def TV.
By the way, for those stateside friends worried about the dinner we hosted the other night, let me just say the Duffys are as gracious as guests as are they are as hosts. I will not comment about the food itself; I will only say we did our best (we may take Candee’s sister Pat’s suggestion next time and get take away pizza).
We stopped for a coffee on our ride back and the Duffys insisted that we stay for dinner - “nothing fancy mind you, we’ll just whip together something quickly.” So........ A lovely salad of locally grown greens with beautifully translucent locally smoked salmon. Seabass for Candee and Marion and a tender, favor-filled Irish strip steak for Padraic and me. Potatoes prepared two ways. Fresh steamed broccoli. Sauteed mushrooms. And a fresh orange, pineapple, strawberry, and banana fruit plate covered with double cream for dessert. Heck, Candee sliced the fruits and I cored the pineapple. It’s not like we’re complete freeloaders! And, of course, Marion can always find a bit of chocolate to top off the meal properly. In this, I fear I am a bad influence, having not the capacity to ever say no. Alas, Marion does seem easily led.
I would be remiss to not mention the chill chasing fires Marion has built in their fireplace each night. They have been welcome, but have been cause for Padraic to lament the lack of summer this year. To be honest, we have welcomed the respite from the heat and humidity of Florida.
Much excitement here about young Rory McIlroy’s dominance in the US Open, and it’s fun watching the event each evening on Padraic’s gazillion inch hi def TV.
By the way, for those stateside friends worried about the dinner we hosted the other night, let me just say the Duffys are as gracious as guests as are they are as hosts. I will not comment about the food itself; I will only say we did our best (we may take Candee’s sister Pat’s suggestion next time and get take away pizza).