A Magnificent Mother's Day

Don't panic international readers, yesterday was Mother's Day in the UK and here in Ireland! To celebrate, I had a lovely day out with my mum. My mum and I are very close, like best friends, so it was lovely to spend some quality time together. I'm never home at the weekends since getting a boyfriend so it was weird being home on a Sunday morning!

I started off the day by forgetting to bring my mum's card with me and forgetting to wrap her presents - bonus points. She recently won lunch for two at the Grass Roof Café in Rossinver so we booked a table for 1.30. As we would've been way too early for lunch we went to Strandhill Market first. I haven't been to Strandhill Market in ages - it's changed a bit since I was last there! I was delighted to see some new stalls such as My Lovely Lunchbox who serve unusual but tasty sounding 'lunchboxes' such as Indian dhal, spring rolls, salads and loads more (I'd love to have tried some!) and Wild Atlantic Food who sell raw vegan cakes.

We visited Ellie from Trimilawn Farm Herbs, one of our faves at the market, and I uhmmed and ahhed for a bit over a gorgeous elephant teapot she was selling. I absolutely love elephants; they're my favourite animal, and I decided in the end I would buy it - mostly because it was fabulous and partly because someone else was interested in it. That is so me. The teapot is all the way from Thailand and it's so unusual. I'm delighted I  bought it.

I also purchased a slice of vegan chocolate cake from Wild Atlantic Food. I've had cake from there before and it was divine so I decided to treat myself. We had another quick look around and then left before I impulsively bought anything else.

It was then time for lunch. We drove out to Rossinver, which is in the back arse of beyond really. The Grass Roof Café is located within the Organic Centre and their menu is set every weekend. They usually always have a  vegan option and vegetarian options which is nice, it's hard to find vegan options in local cafés and I usually rely on vegan food as I'm also lactose intolerant.

I could choose between either the falafel or the minestrone soup. I decided on the soup as I've eaten so much falafel lately I think I'll turn into one! Mum ordered the beef which came with creamy mash and veggies.

The food came out quickly and all looked fresh and tasty. My soup was gorgeous, easily one of the best soups I've had. It was loaded with celery, tomatoes, onion, garlic, courgette and beans. I do have one teeny tiny complaint which is that when I asked if the bread it came with was dairy free I was just told it was a 'French baguette from Le Fournil'. While French baguettes usually don't contain dairy it was a bit of a risk eating it with no allergen information given, but I didn't get sick after eating it so I assume it was fine! Mum thoroughly enjoyed her meal also and we were both pleasantly full after. Clean plates (and bowls) all round. My mum decided to have dessert - chocolate cake with orange cream and a White Hag stout shooter - and I chanced my arm by asking if there was a vegan dessert but to no avail. Aisling, who runs the café, assured me if I rang ahead the next time she'd put a vegan dessert on the menu which was a lovely touch. I ate my vegan chocolate cake I got from the market afterwards so I didn't feel too hard done by! As the café is so far away I'm not sure when I'll be back next but considering the food was so nice I'd definitely go back - Laurence and I may head there in the summer, fingers crossed.

After our lunch the day was still young so we drove out to Glencar waterfall and stopped for a hot drink from the Tea Shed. The café was handing out free truffles and energy bites for all ladies on Mother's Day. I have to rave about this place as they provided me the ingredients of the energy bites and I was delighted to see I could eat them! They were absolutely delicious. I ordered a soya hot chocolate to go with mine and mum got a cappuccino and pavlova. I don't know what the Tea Shed are like for lunch options but the staff were lovely and so helpful, I'd definitely go there again.

On the drive home mum pulled in at a layby by the lake like a mad woman and jumped out of the car. I had no idea what was wrong with her until I saw a man literally cycling ON THE WATER. I took some pictures with her camera and then noticed a remote control plane flying over the lake - more pic opportunities! As if that wasn't enough I managed to get a (not so great) picture of two swans flying over. Mum, the adventurous woman she is, just had to have a go of the water bike and the men who owned it were more than happy to let her try it. There was a small gathering of people watching, you couldn't make it up - only in Ireland!

All in all we had a lovely day, topped off by getting a Chinese takeaway for dinner under the excuse ''sure it's Mother's Day and also a year since we got Puggly'' (our second rescue dog). Hope you all had a lovely weekend and Mother's Day if you celebrated it!