That time Dan, Hannah, Lucy and David came to Ireland and we went fishing and had a festival and went to an abbey

look at that handsome dog

Dan looking serious in front of St Brendan

Well we had a pretty adventurous start to the Mulranny 2016 Heather festival which Josh and I have been on the organising committee for (though he hasn't been to any of the meetings). Dan arrived and we immediately took him to Mayo's best kept graveyard in 2014 where we started a 4 hour walk.

Josh's beer was very popular and over the weekend 147 beers were drunk by Mulranny and then we ran out so we couldn't offer any more. During the weekend, St Brendan's new shop was officially opened by the RTE correspondent for Religious affairs.  Father Tod shook some holy water on us and blessed the shop and we gave out the beer! Now you can buy all the produce I have been making officially.

Hannah at the farm

Hannah helped me harvest in the morning so the shop was stocked for the opening - which was lucky because we sold out of everything almost immediately. 

After the festival was over and the yawl race was coming to an end, we said goodbye to Hannah and went to get some Indian takeaway with Dan and Archie. Yum.


Then Lucy and David arrived the next day and I (Brian from St Brendan's farm) took them out on my first fishing trip - we were promised shoals of mackerel. But it turns out either Lucy or David is Jonah and bad luck and we caught none. But we also weren't sick (probably thanks to some pills we were given) and Brian from Achill took us to a deserted Island called Achill Beg. Which was pretty cool.
There was a moment of panic (maybe more than a moment for Lucy :) ) When we turned up and got in this little boat that Brian then told us he made himself, and then the waves started to get pretty rough....and then Brian started describing how the sea was a cruel paymaster.....but it was worth it and after a while the waves started to lull me into a bit of a dream.

Brian thought it was the funniest thing ever that Lucy would be known as a giant woman on Achill Beg because she is so much bigger than the door. So at Brian's request, we staged a photo. Lucy is the giant and David and Brian are running away.... Lucy is much taller than the door because the sheep poo over the years means the floor got a few feet taller!

And then we went to Kylemore Abbey which used to be a school till ten years ago and is literally HOGWARTS. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE. And the gardens..... they are so amazing

how pretty

Love at Kylemore :)

More love at Kylemore :)

A couple of pals that I work with at St Brendans farm. Brian is wearing tights on his head which he uses to keep away the midges!

 

Lucy happy on the calm bit of the sea

David, a real fisherman

The walk at the festival. It looks like we are on the quest for the ring.

I mean, Check out that scarecrow!

scarecrow at the Weizman

Remember last time, when I said the Summer had been pretty great? Well I spoke to soon. Our summer finished halfway through June and now we are back to good old rain and wind which to be honest I don't mind. I have just spent 11 days in Israel reminding me I could never live in a hot country, even if their food markets are bursting with watermelon, basil, tomatoes, basically everything and we only JUST have carrots.  Still, I have harvested my first potatoes and one of my tomatoes is finally turning red!

FRIENDS

Well I was in Israel for 11 days so I got to see a whole bunch of lovely people there. Adina managed to put up with me for 9 so that was pretty impressive. It was so nice hanging out with Emma (and fam!) watching her cook while I sat in front of the fan.

Me and dad

We also had a whole load of guests before and after Israel which has been so fun. Miyako came for her birthday and we went to the hotel for the fanciest meal you can get on the west coast of Ireland. It was nice to get out of farming clothes for a bit.  And some international guests! Yuval from Israel, Sabine and Yudit from Switzerland and even some of my parents old friends came for dinner from Germany. And our favourite returning guest Craig :)


PRESERVING

Oh I am so deeply into it right now. The shop has been doing well so I have been increasing output to include: Sauerkrauts, sugared ginger, rose sweets, tea, rose syrup, elderflower and mint cordial, other cordials and even dog biscuits from the spent grain from Josh's brewery... I have also been harvesting the Fuchsia flowers because they are edible!

dog biscuits

These are for the Dandelion wine which will be ready soon:

 

 

josh's hands

 HARVESTING

First potatoes, mini carrots,  beetroot, turnip (finished now), broad beans TONS OF SALAD which I am selling at the shop, herbs, first red tomato and doing a whole lot of foraging.

me and carrots

Jerusalem artichoke taking over

new potatoes and beetroot