Fall in Dublin

Last year, we arrived in Dublin on December 1st, missing all of fall, arriving in the dead of Dublin Winter. So, this year, as fall came around, I felt some excitement for the one season we have yet to see here.

The leaves changing are beautiful and the weather has been pretty good to us.

There are rainbows almost every day and they're almost more beautiful here - given the whole Ireland-Rainbow connection. (I also learned from a friend that they don't say there is a "Leprechaun with a pot of gold" at the end - there's still the pot of gold, but it's being guarded by a troll instead.)

 

 

Norah and her Mom.

 If there were an industry called "Big Broccoli" - we'd be rich with this little spokeswoman. I missed the part when she was taking each bite and going, "mmmmm...mmmm I love broccoli".

 

 Sunset over the Marry Poppins' homes (around the corner from us).

 Clearly, Norah has been in a bit of a hat phase. She just discovered these two berets and she's all about them.

 "She wore a rasssssberry beret!"

 Dublin Castle

Norah and the nose-whistle:

Clearly, we've been spending a lot of time indoors lately, as this is what makes us giggle. Potty training has taken a LOT out of me. The last couple weeks, we've spent several days indoors from the time we wake up, until the time we go to sleep (following the timer I set for every 35-45 minutes for Norah to go potty). Yes, it IS as fun as it sounds. If you could see the size of our apartment, you'd understand the level of my insanity. The end is in sight though and soon this child will be potty-trained.
Wayne is doing really well in his work and the many jobs he's juggling. He is a natural teacher and truly loves this subject matter. He's putting in lots of 12 hours days and we try to help him keep his sanity too. Right now, we're sort of caught up in the 'slog' of daily life. I think we're both just trying to keep it together as we look toward a very long, cold, and unforgiving Dublin winter. On sunny days we get out and try to remind ourselves that beauty still exists despite the drudgery (hence the trip yesterday in to the city centre). We desperately needed to have a day of fun as a little family so we took Norah to a playground, went to 2 museums (both free which we love!) and ran around the grounds of Dublin Castle.
I think people look forward to Fall because it's a contemplative season that reminds us how nice it can be to 'bundle up' with our thoughts, before the darkness of winter arrives. We're very much there and I'm trying to enjoy this space instead of falling down the worm-hole that is "Gloria-contemplating-anything" (I may be more prone to obsessive rumination than romantic contemplation). Happy Autumn everyone!