Barefoot Contessa - my favourite cooking show!

It's lashing raining here, I had planned on going for a cycle before work but it is just to wet.  Instead I am catching up on my favourite cooking show Ina Garten's "Barefoot Contessa".  I record all of her shows and then watch them when Ciaran is not about.  Today Ina is cooking clams on the beach for her friends - it is another world and it certainly helps me forget about he dreary weather outside my door!

While she was prepping the food for her guests she asked a friend to set the beach up for a simple beach party.  "Simple" does not seem to be in this man's vocabulary! He is a florist so he planted 4 palm trees on the beach along with bringing some fabulous beach blankets and a bench and a grill.  It was all finished off with some hydrangea's and glass vases filled with sand, shells and candles - it looked amazing.

After clams and burgers topped with caramelised Ina's guests were treated to "S'mores".  I always see S'mores in American films but have never tasted one, they look delish - might make some next time I am in Key West and using the bbq!  

Next up she is cooking swordfish with a garlic and ginger marinade!!!

PS. I should mention dinner yesterday in my parents house.  My mother cooked Pulled Pork for the first time using a recipe given to here when she was in New York with my sister last week.  It was amazing!  She got up at 6am to put it on to cook.  Wow, it was worth it!

Gobble gobble! Turkey time!

My twin sister came back from New York on Monday.  She brought Bones a new toy.  It's a turkey!

We are driven insane by him, he loves it.  I've never seen him pounce on something with such gusto!

For fun we put it up on the mantlepiece - he goes wild for it.  All of his toy chickens have been relegated, the turkey is his favourite.....for the moment ;-)

Tall ships in Dublin

We just got back from the Tall Ships festival.  It was great, town was really buzzing and all of the pubs were packed with people.  Most of the pubs had put on entertainment which really made the atmosphere fantastic.  We also heard The Undertones performing Teenage Kicks which was cool!

We cycled into the city but walked back home which was not so great for Ciaran given that he had played a few hours of squash today :-(  

Smart Car Belfast

A year ago my twin sister and I organised a "Smart Car Rally" in Dublin.  14 Smart Car owners from all over Ireland (and one lady from England) joined up for a great say out.  We met in the Phoenix Park where we had coffee and cinnamon buns while we checked out each others Smart and talked about them.  We then set off to Dublin City Centre and then on to Howth.  After that we made our way back to to the Hole in the Wall Pub which it on the wall of the Phoenix Park.  There we had some food and drinks and then finished off  the rally with some amazing cupcakes courtesy of "Lydia B Cupcakes". Of course the conversation revolved around all things Smart!!

We were able to link up and find Smart Car owners through the power of the Internet as well as diligence by Amy and I - every time we saw a Smart Car in Dublin we left a note on the car about the rally and the Facebook page.  It is great to have met all of these owners - they have proven to be a great resource whenever you need anything done to your Smart there is always someone who knows where the best place to buy the part or get it done it.

In September the Smart dealership in Belfast is organising a rally in aid of the Ulster Cancer Foundation.  Hopefully we can meet up with a lot of our buddies who went to our rally at this event!  

                         My car and Amy's 1967 MG.

If you have any questions about Smart Cars, feel free to email smartcarrally@gmail.com or join us on the Smart Car Rally Facebook page.

Stay safe my Key West friends!

It seems that Isaac will be popping in to say Hello to Key West on Monday.

Stopping off in Cuba and possibly Haiti this hurricane looks like it may cause serious damage to places that haven't even started coping from the last big storm.

I'll be keeping an eye on this one over the weekend but in the meanwhile I urge my friends in Key West to either make plans to get off the island or to stock up on necessary supplies.

My thoughts will be with you it if hits........hopefully this is not the big one that is expected after many quiet years after Wilma.

Update, Isaac is expected to hit Key West about 8pm tonight (Sunday) as a Category 1 hurricane.

At one with nature....

We just saw a fox on the wall at the end of our garden.  Wow!  It was amazing looking.  Gorgeous red coat and a sharp pointy noise.  

The other day I saw a squirrel in the tree in my neighbours garden.

For such a built up area it is quite amazing to see this type of wildlife in such close proximity.  

UFO's? No, it's Peter Zumthor's Lenticchia....!

The large Peter Zumthor Lenticchia lights were fitted in the hallway and the landing today.  I love them!

                            It fits so well with the surroundings.  

It is a white light but it diffused strangely when I took the picture and looks like a coloured lamp.

      Below picture is the smaller sized one in the bedroom.

They float so beautifully and look like they are suspended in mid-air.  Like a UFO's!

If you are interested renovating a home and like these lights feel free to contact ODKM for supplier information.