Monastic Settlement, Avoca Weaving Mill

This will be my last post from Ireland. We leave this hotel bright and early . . . well, early anyway . . . to head for home. It has been a wonderful trip, but I am ready to come home. I miss my family, my kitties, and my sewing machine.

I don't want to go on too much here because I want to reorganize my suitcase to accommodate my many purchases. I didn't buy anything terribly expensive, large, or heavy, but I need to rearrange things anyway.

We started the day at St. Kevin's Monastic Settlement. All of the ruins you will see in the pictures are from there, including the very old graveyard. It was quite fascinating. I've shown you the whole of the settlement as well as portions of it. I've also posted an image of the inside of the one church that remains relatively intact. Also, I'm posting an image that shows what the whole settlement would have looked like in context. I think you'll be able to pick out the buildings that remain.

One of the images I've posted is from the graveyard looking off into the distance at a nearby home. You'll see the sheep whose wool is died with a blue. Our bus driver explained to us that the shepherds can identify their own sheep by these colors, something like a brand, and they can send their dog off with a whistle to collect a wayward sheep. We saw sheep died all different colors. He also told us, interestingly, that wool is considered a waste product in Ireland because there is an overabundance of it. The government pays people some amount of money per head to keep sheep, and that explains why there are so many. He also reeled off the names of a dozen or more different varieties of sheep. Who knew there were so many breeds?

Alas, all the hunky monks are otherwise employed pushing up daisies, but I've posted something from the gift shop at the weaving mills that I think will be just as good. See if you can spot it.

After that, we went to the Avoca Weaving Mills, which are the oldest mills in Ireland. What a feast for the eyes that was! Incredible colors of yarns and woven goods. We toured the weaving areas themselves. The hand weavers were all at lunch when we went through, but the machines were hard at work. If you are old enough to remember the movie, Norma Rae, then you'll know exactly what it sounded like in there.

The gift shop there was absolutely delightful.

Have I mentioned that I seriously need a grandchild?

I had a delicious lunch of lentil nut loaf that was served alongside a sort of spicy sweet tomato chutney. Also, I ordered a pickled beet salad. The loaf was so delicious that I courageously asked for the recipe. Luckily, the cafe publishes a cookbook that I snatched up without a moment's hesitation.

So that's about all I have to tell you for today. I'll be sorting through my pictures when I get home and publishing them in dribs and drabs with more information for those of you who can stand to read one more word.

Thanks to all who have followed and commented so faithfully. You saved me from yearning for home too terribly. As much as I love traveling, home is the best place to be. Til later . . .