We are coming into my favourite season. I love the countryside at this time of year - the leaves are beginning their display of autumnal splendour and there is a nip in the air. It's time to hunt out warm sweaters and woolly scarves. It is such a blissful treat to go for a long, afternoon walk and return to flop in front of a roaring fire with a glass of wine, all the day's newspapers and well-exercised, happy dogs snoring at your feet.
Recently, we had friends from England staying with us. Jean and John both enjoy walking and there is much to explore around here. We realised waiting for the rain to stop was not going to be a feasible option so we decided to set out no matter what the weather.
As we sat eating our breakfast and watching the raindrops chasing down the windowpane, Jean and I exchanged an "are you sure this is a good idea?" look. However, determined not to reveal ourselves as wimps, we booted and waterproofed up - only for the rain to stop and the sun to come out just before we left the house.
We set off down the road to Gowlan and, taking the road to the right of the church, we walked around Garvagh Loch. I haven't been up there before and it is absolutely breathtaking, with majestic views over the Cuilcagh Mountains.
The mountains have that awesome beauty that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up and certainly puts the petty niggles of everyday life into perspective. We were pretty lucky with the weather. It didn't start to rain again until we were back at Gowlan. Of course, we then got absolutely soaked.
There are a lot of Neolithic sites around this area and the next day we decided to explore the Burren. I have to admit it isn't as good as the one in Co Clare, but it is still interesting. We particularly wanted to look at the wedge tomb with its cup and ring decoration.
It was raining when we set out, but as we began walking through the woods, up towards the tomb, the rain stopped, and just as we reached a really pretty glade the sun came out. The trees created a dappled light that danced on the lichen-covered rocks. Of course, it's the rain that makes the countryside so amazingly green and a combination of rain and the pure air around here mean the lichen is particularly lush and abundant. It was an utterly magical moment.
My Irish granny would have laughed at this. She loved to tell the story of how, when I was a very little girl, I would strip off and run out into the garden to dance in the summer showers in the firm belief I was a rain fairy. The reason for this is now obvious. I have never minded the rain and was simply anticipating my future life in west Cavan!
Now that I have a kitchen and my dishes and pans are mostly unpacked I am enjoying cooking again. My granny taught me how to make beef in Guinness and it is an excellent dish for when you have visitors. Not only is it comfort food, but also allows you to enjoy sitting around and talking instead of sweating over a hot stove. I don't know how other people cook it, but my granny insisted carrots are an essential ingredient. I think perhaps they sweeten it a little.
Our local butcher in Blacklion supplies very good quality meat and is really helpful with advice on quantities and cuts. As people who have spent most of their adult life relying on pre-packed supermarket meat, for Tony and me this is yet another bonus of living here. The dogs are also very pleased. The butcher keeps them supplied with really good, big bones - a new feature of their life.
While Jean and John were visiting us, I also introduced them to the pleasures of home-made potato cakes. My granny was a whizz at making them and they are far superior to anything you can buy in the shops. It's a good way of using up leftover mashed potato and everybody loves them piping hot and covered in melting butter.
On the subject of butter, I would like to thank the people who e-mailed me about crumpets. I am currently following up several leads in my search for them and, as requested, will let you know the results of my investigation.
sbooth@irish-times.ie
