Just a couple more stops...

I have to hurry and get this post finished because in real time, today is my 25th wedding anniversary and we're getting ready to take off for a couple of days.

This was my second time in Ireland...and like Scotland, there's just something about that place that makes it very hard to leave.
We did tour Belfast and the surrounding areas and while it has some beautiful scenery, it's the area around Dublin that I really love.

I did have to take a picture of this little house along the road outside Belfast...we were told that it's for sale and needs someone to clean it up a bit. Don't you think it would make a great sewing cottage?



When we were in Dublin 2 years ago, my dad and I chose the tour that's called "Powerscourt Gardens and Shopping" because the name has two of my favorite words. I loved it so much that this time I promised him he could pick all of the other tours as long as we could do that one again. Not a hard sell.

Here's what you see if you glance up when you first walk in...if there was any way to carry that home on my lap I'd have done it.


They've got some roses...



And fountains...and hey,what's that through the gate over there? I think we should go see...








It's a great place if you have hydrangea-love...





And what about the shopping?



If the girl on the left looks a little chilly, that's because the sweater she was wearing now belongs to me. And yes, it was on sale.



Avoca is an amazing shop...food, beautiful Irish wool...darling clothes...and even a touch of Cath Kidston and Greengate.
And if you noticed on my sweater's tag, Avoca has been around awhile.

Well, sadly I did have to leave Ireland. But how's this for cool? I've got a quilt top that is getting ready to head on over there! (more on that later!)