Amanda: Getting Ready

Most people want maple syrup of a Canadian, visiting a  foreign country, particularly, a Canadian like me who makes her own.  But Maree Cashen has a list: three chains for her Stihl ms211 and a sixteen inch bar, a chain for her Stihl m390, and helmut with a protective visor so that she won’t repeat the injury to her face like she a had several years ago.  Not the regular answer to the question “Can I bring you anything from Canada?”  I mention this, to indicate the kind of trip I am expecting.  A practical sort of a trip, where I will weed gardens, saw up trees, look at dogs, try out dogs, admire dogs and sniff around Ireland.  I am bringing over a couple of extra crates just in case I see a canine  someone cannot live without.  But I have lots of nice dogs at home, so I feel no overwhelming need.  Just the luxury of desire.

I leave from Kingston on Friday, arriving in Dublin on Saturday morning.  On Saturday night the Cashens and I will be in Northern Ireland, at a  dinner-dance celebrating the most recent Irishmen to win the International, Michael Gallagher and his now famous Cap.  In a small world story aside, his uncle Neil lives here in Kingston, working at Queen’s University.  We will spend the night there and go south to Wexford the next morning .

I have only been in Ireland a couple of days.  Now I am really going.  I have Leslie Norris taking over at home.  Things are wintering down to minimal chores.  Hay every few days.  The sheep are with the new North Country rams.  My mother says I’m crazy but that is a constant in a sea of change.