Provisioning

The weather forecast, if it was what one would hear in Ottawa, seems rather benign for this time of year. In England, Scotland and Ireland, it's considered frightening. So, since there wasn't enough food in the fridge to last the week, I figured I'd better go shopping. That's what everyone else was doing.

Getting dressed for the outing I put on a long sleeved t-shirt, a blouse and a fleece jacket and out I went. I was quite warm enough thank you. After parking at Aldi, the first person I saw was wearing a full length fur coat! What will she wear when it does get cold?

Ah well - I'm here so it's provisioning time. My supply of veggies has been replenished and sufficient protein was also added to the basket along with a loaf of brown (soda) bread. I can't eat it fast enough to avoid it going mouldy but the fridge is tiny so the loaf has been stashed in the bread box.

As promised, here are some photos from the past few days.

With Margaret at the entrance to the 'not so dark' hedges at Maynooth University

Padraig Pearse's school and now museum in Dublin

At the K Club, as close as I'll get to teeing off

Marg and Michelle at Castletown

the Burnell sisters in the Courtyard at Carton House

after snooping through the halls and reception rooms at Carton House

At the entrance to the main passage tomb at Loughcrew Cairns - after a long climb

a smaller passage tomb at Loughcrew

a kissing gate at Loughcrew

start of the ascent or the final downward steps, actually both

near Loughcrew cairns - some restored thatched cottages, now a cafe and museum

Fore Abbey - in Westmeath

the Cloister at Fore Abbey

Margaret Stephens at Fore Abbey

Genealogy alert - you can stop reading now

Today after shopping I prepared for a visit from John McKenna who is a DNA cousin. Having exchanged a few emails we determined that our match must be on his and my maternal McGrath lines. We had a great visit and if the weather cooperates, I'll get a little tour of the McGrath pubs and other haunts in Kilkenny city next week. John has since this afternoon, been in touch with a few people who may have done enough research to connect all the pieces. Fingers crossed.

What is amazing and proves the smallness of our world, his uncle Dick was married to a woman I know in Ottawa. In fact, I've known her slightly for a very long time. She's another Margaret. I really must make an effort to find friends with a different name. Conversations are getting mixed up.

Tomorrow is forecast to be chilly, with some possible snow. I'm hoping that doesn't materialize as I'll be on the road to Carlow. Actually, it's not far away but is a most puzzling place to drive around. I've seen most of the streets but in every case, did not plan to see so many. I'll have to get an address for the library and be sure to leave extra early. I'm meeting a genealogist there at 2 pm for a free consultation, hopefully followed by a landslide of information on my Walsh and McDonald folks. Subsequently I hope to visit the townlands where they lived before emigrating.

Now it's pretty late so I'll call it a day. I will make a greater effort at literary proficiency tomorrow.