Happy Friday in Ballinamore

So … there I was at 6.45am happily leaping out of bed and going for a 90 minute walk with Coco …

A mad dream you ask?

No … just a new kind of reality for lolling Liz.

I’ve been more vertical than horizontal in the last week … since Coco found me.

Linda, one of my great readers and commenters from Arizona left a lovely comment yesterday about the blog and how people enjoy commenting on it.

To me the so called mundane details of daily life are … magic.

I think people enjoy reading about daily life in a small town … where fun happens nearly every day … where people stop and chat with each other … where beauty (in the people and landscape) is everywhere …

In a world that sometimes feels too big, mad and sad … the tales of small town living (where big thoughts and actions can also coexist) … appeals to people.

I have people stopping me in the street and saying how much they enjoy reading the blog … that it makes them see their own town in a new light.

Here’s a challenge for you … for the rest of the day ‘look and see’ your town/city with fresh eyes.

So … yesterday evening Maggie and I took Coco and the dog pack [John Joe, Millie (totally blonde dog with single digit IQ), and Boysie (Adrian’s dog)] to Garadice Lake.

Coco sat quietly on my lap and just looked on with astonishment as the 3 big dogs barked and went back and forth in the car.

We went to Garadice lake … so beautiful … and let the dogs run free.

Mags and I walked under the canopy of the trees as the rain poured down … narry a drop touched us and it felt like being in a very special place.

Coco was great and played along with the dogs but never strayed too far from me … I’m the alpha female of her pack.

We walked a full circle over an hour and came to grave yard.

Mags told me about one of the old men who is buried there. He had a long life and outlived all his mates. His only companion was a wee dog. On his gravestone there is an etching of the dog. Adrian Smith did that one as well.

If the sun shines this weekend we’re going to go back to the lake for a picnic.

So … up again at the crack of dawn and I was looking forward to a new walk that Mags had told me about.

You go down the main street from my house … and along the way you see some great buildings.

This is our Credit Union.

Credit unions are like community banks … they are run by locals and they are deeply value driven … unlike banks (may they find a special place in hell).

I am about to close my bank account and just have a credit union account. The women in there are always friendly and helpful.

This is Smyth’s Pub … a great place for a pint and lunch by the fire. They also do dinner on the weekends in the restaurant.

I haven’t eaten there (no one has asked me … boo hoo … sad Lizzy) but I hear from other people (you know … the ones with mates) that the food is great.

Right next to Smyth’s is our County Library.

It is a wonderful piece of contemporary architecture and I love the juxtaposition between it and Smyth’s – old and new – both of value.

I live in the library and the staff are always helpful and friendly. You can access free internet and computer time. They also have an amazing history archive.

And just at the end of Main Street is the canal.

This is Lock 6 and there are a lot of boats in the marina.

We kept walking out of town and about 2 minutes walk brings you to Locoboat (love that name … are they crazy boats?).

They are a French company that hires out barges.

Coco and I walked briskly along the path for about 10 minutes and then came to the entrance to Lock 5 and a hikers path.

Lynda and Derek … you’ll love this place for your walks.

You enter a road and the beginning of a marvelous view.

Keep walking and you have the canal on your left and views of the hills and sheep.

Within minutes you come to the lock.

A boat was moored there … how peaceful would it be to sleep there?

On your right is a wooden gate that you go through and voila … you’re on the hikers path.

At 7.30am the sun was kind of twinkling in and the birds were doing their morning chorus … it was very engaging.

Coco ran free sniffing and playing and checking things out … she doesn’t stray far from me.

I meanwhile was ruminating on … the need to get some waterproof walking boots ... hmmmm … then I’ll need a wet weather jacket …. hmmmm … what colour? …. red to match Coco’s collar …. wonder if they do decent looking walking trousers … hmmm …. this walking lark has potential … blah blah blah

As I walked my soaking feet along I realised that in the week Coco had found me I had walked more than the rest of the year (bar Paris … but that’s special) … and I enjoyed it.

We were walking back when Coco decided to squiggle under a 4 strand barbed wire fence and investigate the foliage.

I tried calling her back but she ignored me.

So … I just walked away.

Alpha females control their pack by withdrawing attention (works with humans too).

Sure enough … Coco started to run towards me … straight at the barbed wire fence.

She was trying to get through the strands … ouch.

I ran to her and yelled ‘Sit … Stay’.

She did.

I then pushed her down (she hasn’t learnt ‘down’ yet) and pulled her under the bottom strand of wire.

We both had a fright … and I have a couple of interesting barbed wire cuts.

Coco is fine.

We sauntered back and dropped in to the Forge to say hi to Dee. That’s her with Coco.

I’ve said it before … that shop is an amazing treasure chest of …. everything.

It’s a great place to drop in to and see who’s there … and stay for a chat.

The fruit and vege man is parked outside my door. He’s there every Friday.

I bought a pile of stuff from him last week and it all came to only 13 euro.

Got a grapefruit for breakfast and will do a bigger shop later.

I think I’ll have lunch in the Moo Bar today and then I’ll be playing with the kids in the Sunny Funny Garden.

We’ll be planting Busy Lizzies as a border to the path and checking for strawberries and tomatoes.

A lovely day.

Have a good one yourself.

Liz

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Monday Monday

Morning folks.

I have a massive week ahead including a trip to Dublin and then Carrick.

Some important SKIL2 meetings tomorrow. I will hear this week if I won an Social Entrepreneur Ireland Award for SKIL2. My 7 inch Asus Eee computer is arriving.

And as I write – a courier is driving over to deliver my new SKIL2 business cards.

Today I have to design, write and develop a slide presentation of SKIL2. If you’re ever looking for copyright free images – go to Flickr – it’s a free photoshare network.

And even though I’m flat out busy – I will always find time to do a post on this blog. It also helps that I have the Funny Sunny Garden kids nagging me

‘ Liz we didn’t see the photos from Friday … when are we ?… soon? soon? … when? …now?… really now ?’

Yup – nagging works.

So dear reader-here are some photos from Fridays play. Our moo poo was delivered and there was much rejoicing.

Our moo poo (and we made up some great songs) is vintage 2006-so it smells just like really good dirt.

I shovelled moo poo on the centre of our sun garden.

We had great fun planting strawberries and tomatoes. All the rain had softened the cardboard.

All we then needed to do was kind of dig/jab thru the cardboard and plant the plants. The moo poo covers it all.

We also had a great time saying hi to the worms. I explained how they help make the soil yummy. Here is the interprid Maeve again.

All the kids are welcome to bring their friends.

Eoin brought along his best mate Danny.

At 5 Danny is something of an IT genius- I’ve seen him working away on the computer and it’s an amazing sight.

He enjoyed the garden but I think he was wondering where the computer connection was!!

I encourage the kids to help each other and not depend on me. There is only one rule in my gardening team – (or any team I work with) …

Be Kind & Thoughtful with each other.

I find that the kids can be better at kindness than some of the work teams I’ve facilitated.

Maeve was the official photographer on Friday and took many of the lovely shots in this post.

She sent the 2 boys into a slight frenzy as she tried to set up shots. I kept hearing a lot of

‘Eoin -no – Eoin -stop moving – stop moving – now smile…’ The boys were very patient and Maeve was very creative.

When the kids had left I worked away planting a few more things- and then Aishlin and Niamh turned up with some blackberry plants which have now happily settled into the garden.

Niamh had some fun with my camera. I will spare the world the shots of my bum.

On Saturday I spent some alone time in the garden and set up one of the sunbeam pathways for planting. It now has mint, sage, strawberries and nasturtiums.

Thanks to Eamonn in the garden centre for the herbs. I also made a wee stone path to stop me standing on the little white flowers we planted.

In the afternoon I gathered elderflowers and made 15 litres of elderflower champagne and about 1 litre of elderflower cordial. It’s all fermenting in 5 litre buckets for a few days.

And Saturday night was party night.

Maggie, Adrien, Lynda, Derek and me all went to the Moo Bar for a variety night hosted by Joan Walsh.

Joan has a great voice and treated us to some of her own songs and great chat.

The bar was crowded.

Aislinn also sang and it was a delight.

I suppose the nature of a variety show is …. variety.

There seemed to be a lot of ‘readings’.

Unfortunately they weren’t astrology readings … they were … poetry and improv…. sigh.

Now dear reader – I believe and support every persons right to express themselves … I just don’t have to listen.

So – every time someone got up to express themselves … I went outside and watched the traffic go up and down the street and chatted to passers by.

I’m 50 next year and have decided to age disgracefully … or at least to please myself and still be as kind as possible.

My life is far too short for readings of any kind – unless it’s the will of a long lost relative who died of a great old age and left me their island and champagne collection and books and vintage cars and … sorry lost myself there for a minute.

A good time was had by all and when we got the chance to chat there was a truckload of laughter and bantering.

We left Moo Bar somewhere near 1 am and went back to Maggies for a barbque under the stars … and the misty rain.

Mags had set up a cocktail bar and I had some yellow concoction … but it had an umbrella so I was happy.

So – we ate and chatted and laughed and sang until 4 or 5 in the morning.

Sunday was definitely a day of rest.

What a great bunch of people as neighbours. I foresee a few more celebrations.

I send you big wishes for a fab week.

Liz

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Caroline – this is for you

So – yesterday I go away to Letterkenny (Donegal) for the day (work) and a pile of my faithful readers start commenting and chatting on the last post – a veritable covey of conversation.

I was exhausted after what felt like a long long drive (well 6 or so hours in one day is a lot … in driving rain.)

Home by 7pm and feeling that tired – but want company feeling.

Where to go?

Easy Peasy – Moo Bar.

As I wandered out who should I run into but Lynda and Derek finishing a day of cleaning the cottage.

I told them where I was going and also to check all the comments (including Lynda’s) on my last post.

John Joe has become a love object. And Maggie will be thrilled.

I mentioned to Lynda that one of the people who had commented was from Georgia – was that her Ma? Yup.

So – off to the wine bar for sandwiches and a glass or 2 of red wine.

Here we are relaxing.

And Caroline – doesn’t your daughter look happy?

Both she and Derek said they feel like they have been here forever (all of 4 days but time stretches here in the Bermuda Triangle of Ireland.)

They have been loving their stay in Ber & Damien Hamill’s B&B.

Caroline – when you come visit you must stay there. The Irish breakfasts are legendary.

Tomorrow I’ll post some photos of Derek & Lynda and the cottage – we’re painting it.

They can’t get over how a small town (relatively speaking – around 900 or so people) can have:

• a wine + imported beer bar
• an art gallery
• a mobile cinema that shows contemporary film every Monday night
• great small shops
• a great library
• and a range of enterprising businesses

Ballinamore’s slogan is – The Friendly Town – and it is.

The rest of Leitrim is a package of surprises as well -I’ll write more another time.

It’s full of amazing small businesses and artists and film makers and musicians – clean air – and – softly beautiful sky + land + lakescapes.

It’s the kind of secret you only want to share with your friends and family.

So – Caroline – your Lynda is happy and I’m delighted that she and Derek are living here.

Come visit us real soon.

xx Liz

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