T.

Back to no internet at the house. Our little device
that apparently works in 85% of Ireland doesn't
work chez-nous, being situated as we are in the
15%-rural-out-of-network-where-in-the-hell-is-
that-Carrowholly. Well that's just grand.

But I can't complain about sitting outside
at Dunnings Cyber-Pub, sipping my tea
as the world goes by. (Except that I'm wearing
my parka and on the verge of shivering and black
storm clouds loom. And now sun! And now clouds!)
Welcome to Ireland.)

I had a hankering for tortilla soup last night,
and found what I thought were corn tortillas
at the store, only they turned out to be a corn/flour
blend. Interesting. Instead of frying them I rubbed
them with a little oil and baked them, and they
came out as crunchy crackers.

So the soup -- "Cracker Soup" --
Saute some onions and garlic and peppers --
I used a jalapeno and a small red pepper, I think
it was a Thai chili pepper. Add a couple of cans
of chicken stock, a can of chopped tomatoes,
some cumin, chili powder, ground black pepper,
and let simmer for about a half hour. Then throw in
some cooked shredded chicken. I also had half a jar
of salsa in the fridge, and added that. Serve in bowls
with fresh lime wedges, chopped cilantro, some
cheese (I used "Mild Irish White".) Crumble the
"crackers" into the soup. Eat. Yum.

Oh, and sliced avocado is a must. I had to go
to three stores to find a ripe one. They are relatively
inexpensive here -- two for 1.44 euro.

Citizen K. has some great shots of Downpatrick Head.

A crow just swooped down and caught up a
mustard packet in his talons from the next table!
Didn't even land. Now I wouldn't get that if I had
internet back at the house! I love this town.

Today is the first day of the Westport Music Festival
and the traffic is thick. There's a bandstand set up
by the river, with music every evening. Hope this
changeable weather changes to less of the wet
and more of the warm.

Our time here is winding down, and there are still
roads I want to explore. The Nephin Beg mountain
range north of us is one of my favorite places, and I
found some roads up-and-through on the ordnance
map. Picnic time. (And now Paul has my cold,
poor man.)

We shall rendez-vous with our friends Herb and Marie
from Seattle next week, then it's down to the Aran
Islands for a night, and lastly to Shannon for the long
journey home.

I miss my boys.
I miss my cats.
I miss my Seattle friends.
Life is good.