I couldn’t think of a better way to spend Christmas and New Years than in the Irish countryside with my mother. A day after our arrival, we were treated to a dusting of snow; a wonderful welcome and sure sign that Christmas was on the way!

Even though we had arrived, it still hadn’t sunk in that we were going to live in Ireland for an entire month(!). Even harder to believe was the beautiful renovated farmhouse in which we would be living, located in the outskirts of a quaint coastal town on the southern coast of Ireland. The best word to describe it… idyllic.

In addition to the lovely landscape and lodging, we also got to care for two sweet dogs during our stay, a lab and a shitzu. They were energetic and playful and spent a lot of time running around outside or wrestling with each other indoors (our favorite entertainment). The outside pets included two chickens and two semi-feral black cats. It was fun earning the trust of the cats as I was eventually awarded with some soft kitty cuddles.

During our time here, we visited with the locals at nearby pubs, bought and decorated a Christmas Tree, baked and decorated sugar cookies, listened to the local choir and brass band perform a Christmas concert, attended a charity country music concert, took a tour of the town’s Christmas lights from a vintage double-decker bus, went shopping in Cork, took long walks with the dogs on the beach and through the forest, and much more. Simply put, we’ve kept fairly busy in an attempt to soak up the Irish lifestyle.

Sadly, we only have 8 days left on this beautiful island and there is so much more we still want to see and do. I suppose another housesit is in order… maybe during a warmer time of year? Winter is sure cold in Ireland! 😉

Duties:
– Care for 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 chickens
– Twice daily, apply ear drops and give oral medication to one of the dogs who had ear mites and an infection
– Gather mail
– Keep home tidy

Unexpected Benefits and/or Realizations:

– Only the FIVE best things one could have during the winter to keep warm: a fireplace, heated floors, and a deep bath tub, scalding hot water on demand, and Powers whiskey to make the best Hot Toddy ever.

Unexpected Events and/or Challenges:

– A hungry fox killed one of the chickens! While the homeowners confirmed this is a common occurrence (they used to have 4 chickens) and didn’t blame me, I still felt awful!
– The cold! I forget how spoiled I am living in the mild California weather. Ireland’s wind and rain (and sporadic snow) certainly gave me a reminder. Brrr!