My home in Ireland this year and last was on a former dairy farm that dates to the 17^th century. My hosts, Dick and Susan, sold their cows and some of their land a few years ago and turned to hosting visitors in their three self-catering rentals. (“Self-catering is a British term for a vacation rental with cooking facilities.) I discovered Fruit Hill last year, While there I made new friends.

This year I stayed in a small cottage that Dick built in the early years of this century around a massive chimney that was all that remained of an old “bake house.” Dick and Susan have rescued a large late-17^th century house from ruin and live there now with several of their children. They never seem to stop working, but they always made time for conversation with me.

Just outside my windows a local farmer grew a field of hay.  After he harvested and bailed it and hauled it away he brought in a large herd of steers. Sometimes they peered at me over the stone wall separating us.

The view from my window.

Opposite the cottage there’s a beautiful view from my kitchen window of a large field of hay. I enjoyed photographing the changing of the seasons there. (A photo of the view from my kitchen window is here.)

Fruit Hill farm has truly become my Irish home. I am very comfortable there. I feel fortunate to have found it. I now have two more generous Irish friends. I have the luck of the Irish, indeed!

Libbie

The photo at the top was sent to me by Susan. It was taken by Gareth Landy.
The lower photo is of a nosy steer who wanted to know what I was up to. He was just outside my living room window.
Here’s a link to a post with many photos I created last year at Fruit Hill.

Here’s a link to Fruit Hill’s website: fruithill-cottages-ireland.com