An Island Tour

Last night it rained very hard but this morning only puddles remained.  

Tom, my host's Dad took me on a tour of Achill Island.  First we went the local Beach.

When we stepped onto the sight the area was covered with beautiful rocks of various colors- all smooth but of various textures.  The sand was fine and smooth- more so than our California beaches.  

Then it was time to meet the neighbors.  They are everywhere using the roadways usually in a safe manner.  Tom says they are like people and stay in their lane off to the side of the cars.  Most here I have seen have black faces but there are others types as well.  

The coloring is put on by their owners to show possession.   Sheep dogs are used to track them down  but generally they roam about.  One pregnant one sat in the middle of the highway to keep her belly warm as I was told.  

This one was just taking a rest overlooking the view.

In the summer this cove overlooking Shark Island is a favorite picnic spot.  

One must walk down from the road to access the beach.  Even today there are other visitors who are exploring the beautiful area.  

This is my next door neighbor.   He called out to me when I went for a walk this afternoon.  I don't understand his language very well but he was quite loud.  I not sure if he was threatening me or asking me to help him escape.  

This is another neighbor who. Also was very vocal.  Such is the life.  

Making Scones on Achill Island

Before I left California, my Saveur magazine came featuring an article on scones- "A Case for Teatime" it was called by Claire Ptak.  I brought it with me in my suitcase to Ireland.  I'm trading places with a friend I met in Mammoth Lakes.  After leaving Dublin,  I traveled by train to Castlebar.  The train trip alone was an experience- not at all like riding the Surfliner from LA to San Diego.  

I had pre-bought my ticket.  When I arrived at the Dublin station I had to scan my ticket to get a "boarding pass" an easy task.  Then I had no clue where to find the train.  There was a patio of sorts where people were gathering.  I found a lady who looked friendly and asked. She pointed to a board I couldn't make sense of.  "Find the plat" she said.  "It stands for platform".  I saw my destination on a list of 20 or so others but still I was clueless.   Finally a number appeared indicating the track.  I had a reserved seat in coach C.  I found A and B- then the next coach was E.  Finally I saw a man in an orange vest.  He said, "sit anywhere".  The trip was about 3 hours long.  Along the way sheep were everywhere.  Then it started to rain.  A lovely rainbow finally appeared out the window. 

Tom, my friend's dad was to meet me.  I had not idea what he looked like but I figured he would know me.  And he did.  He took me to a lovely pub where we had a fabulous seafood chowders, fish with lemon and a beautiful sauce- then Baileys cheesecake for dessert.  

Next morning it was cold and rainy.  At the neighborhood market I picked up groceries.  I am making Claire's Sweet Cream scones- a few for tonight and I will freeze the rest unbaked.  

5 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

14 tablespoons butter (I used Kerry's  Gold- the Irish butter)

2 1/2 cups heavy cream (I had only 1 cup of cream so I added milk)

I put the dry ingredients into a large bowl and mixed the butter in with my fingers-  then added the liquid until the dough formed.  Then I looked at the oven.  They were supposed to be baked at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.   The oven was an "Aristan".  The settings don't list "BAKE" and go up to only

220 degrees.   How do I convert?  I had to guess.