Motor Bike racing in Ireland

The big North West bike race was on a few weekends ago in the north of Northern Ireland and David said that it was something I just 'had' to experience :). I have to admit that it was impressive to watch them fly by at the crazy speeds that they get! SCARY!! It is an extremely dangerous sport because they are racing on regular roads (imagine pot holes, twisty corners, and unpredictable surfaces) at speeds of well over 100 mph! People are big lovers of racing here and they can be found lining many of the fields and yards all along the route (which is a circle between three towns). The famous racer, Joey Dunlop, was from around these parts as well.

We stopped by Paul and Karen's caravan for a visit as well. It was a rainy day and the kids were extremely impressed with Sarah's gigantic 'brolly'. 

Here is a shot of some of the race!

Despite the rain, it was a super day!

My first craft sale!

Since I am not working yet, I thought it would be fun to take up some crafty projects. I joined the library in Derry and found some really fun books on sewing and crocheting and so the crafting began. 

I wasn't too serious about it all until I found out that Fahan Presbyterian Church was having a bake sale the Saturday before Easter and were offering me a booth if I wanted to sell some craft items. It was two weeks before the sale when I found out, so I went into "crazy mode" with making stuff! 

I stuck a few of my hats on and actually sold a couple! (I was completely shocked and had to hold myself back from apologizing for them since I am such a beginner!)

I really fell in love with the hot pink set though! 

I also tried my hand at dish cloths, which is pretty hard to make any profit from, mostly because I am still so slow at making them! I think I figured that I ended up making around 50 pence per hour! Not so great but I had fun, so that counts as something I suppose. 

And last, but not least, I tried making these "Easter Blessing Baskets" which I filled with scones and chocolate chip cookies. They ended up selling the best of all, which I was very happy about. 

So that was my first craft fair and I really enjoyed it. I even found out that my picture was on the front of the Health section of the paper the next day! A HUGE full page picture. (kinda scary!) 

Camping trip

We are enjoying a little Easter break this week and next and so decided to try some camping! We headed out to the northern most tip of Ireland, a little town called Ballycastle. It was so beautiful that I think David probably got tired of me constantly telling him that it was. I just couldn't get over the gorgeous scenery all around me though! I took two video shots to give you a bit of an idea so you know what I am talking about. 

Here is our cozy campsite! 

One of my favorite parts of camping is how food seems to taste SOOOoooo good! David even brought his French press coffee maker...no sacrifices in that department! At the time of this picture, it was storming like crazy outside and raining cats and dogs. It just made it all the more exciting!

At the top of this picture, you can see an island in the distance...that is actually Scotland! It seemed so close. Someday David says he will take me there.  The first video is a shot from the top of this hill (it was very windy so the sound is pretty bad!).

Isn't God's creation spectacular?! Wow!

Beautiful days!

The days had turned cold again for a spell but now it almost seems as if summer has come! It was so warm yesterday (60 degrees F!) that I took a walk without my coat on for the very first time this year! It felt glorious!! However, they all warn me that in Ireland, it is extremely unpredictable and it could feel like the dead of winter again next week! So I am enjoying these days while they are here. 

I have had some pictures compiling up that are somewhat random but will give you a good idea of what we have been up to the past few weeks. So here we go...

Last Sunday we took a walk on the beach in County Donegal after worshiping with the Killult Christian Fellowship (wonderful people!). It was so windy that the sand was blowing in my eyes and ears! But what a gorgeous place!

More signs of spring are found in the hedges lining every field as they clothe themselves in brilliant yellow. 

I meet some wonderfully friendly creatures on my walks up our lane. 

This is Molly and she is my buddy and faithfully follows me on most of my walks. 

And the chickens! They give us yummy fresh eggs every week, bless their souls! (Wait, chickens don't have souls, do they?) Anyway, we are grateful to my wonderful in-laws for so generously sharing in their weekly harvest!

And last of all, a tribute to THE BIKE. (*moment of silence*)

A few weeks ago, David decided that it was time to sell his Honda Fireblade sports bike. So now it's gone and the shed looks very empty...sort of sad and lonely actually. He was very brave about it, even though he still can't help his gaze from following any and every bike that we pass on the road. It was an amazing bike and served him well for seven years. 

DISCLAIMER: I had nothing to do with him choosing to sell this bike! I even encouraged him to really think about whether he should sell it. (Although, deep down I am thankful that he did because of all the horror stories you hear about bike accidents.) Anyway, just felt the need to make that clear! :)

New life!

David and I took a bike ride the other day and saw these adorable lambs running all over the field. They were pretty cute and so full of energy! Everywhere we looked, there were baby animals. It's great living so close to farm life (except when they fertilize the fields! Uffda!).

They all stopped their playful race to stare at us for a little bit. Aren't they sweet?!

Speaking of babies...here is a pregnancy picture of me, now four months along (or, rather, I will be on Saturday). It's not too exciting yet...just a wee bump! But there's a baby in there and THAT is exciting!!

"For you formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are you works; my soul knows it very well. 

~Psalm 139:13-14

The birdies in the treetops!

Here is a little video that I took on my walk up our hill. I was listening to the birds singing and thought that you might like to hear them too! (Please don't pay any attention to my huffing and puffing as I try to climb the hill! I'm such a wimp!)

It made me think of this song that my mom used to sing to us when we were little...

The birdies in the treetops sing their song.

The angels in their chorus all day long.

The flowers in their garden, blend their hues,

So why shouldn't I, why shouldn't you,

Praise Him too?

Signs of Spring!

I feel a little bad posting these green pictures of Spring when I know that there are drifts of snow and ice back home in Minnesota! But they are just too fun not to post! Maybe this will give all you Minnesotans a little hope of what's to come...and it will come. Don't despair!

I am dedicating this post to my dear mother, who asked me to go out and take some pictures of the flowers. So here they are Mom!

My mother-in-law's flower garden

"Snow drops"...these grow wild everywhere!

Crocus, also growing wild (behind the chicken coup)

Daffodils!..

...nodding their pretty yellow heads in tune to the fresh breeze. 

I love Spring!