Writer's Wanderings

Irish Inventors

2012-01-31T07:13:00.000-05:00

I often get travel-related emails from companies wanting me to advertise their services and I usually don't post them. I want to keep my blog from being full of advertising and certainly not post something I haven't had experience with. But I couldn't resist this clever graphic that came from goIreland.com showing Irish ingenuity. So for what it's worth, here's a little more of Ireland for you:

To view it a little better, click on the graphic or visit the GoIreland blog.

Through My Lens--Still Practicing!

2012-01-30T07:25:00.000-05:00

I am still trying to get the hang of this new camera. I think I have most of the auto settings figured out but now I need to get into the more creative settings where I can play with shutter speed and other areas I have yet to discover.

Check out Friday's post for more shots from the Cleveland Aquarium.

In My Backyard - The Cleveland Aquarium

2012-01-27T07:59:00.000-05:00

The winter doldrums truly set in on a gray cloudy day in Cleveland that defines the term dreary. Rather than sit inside and wish for a peek at the sun that wasn't going to happen, we set off for the new Cleveland Aquarium that just opened on January 21, 2012.

To our surprise, it was better than expected. We have been in several aquariums around the world and this one, while not the largest or most exotic, was good--very good. It is located in a historic building, The Powerhouse, on the west bank of the flats along the Cuyahoga River. Also known as the Nautica Entertainment Complex, the building and surrounding complex hosts restaurants and entertainment venues throughout the year.

As you first enter, you walk through exhibits of local fish found in Lake Erie and the surrounding area's smaller lakes and streams. Not so colorful as those from the saltwater tropics but displayed in tanks that mimic their habitat somewhat. It's a whole different view of Lake Erie perch other than on the end of a hook or fried up on a plate next to a heap of potatoes.

The pathway winds through brick-walled rooms that give a nice abiance to the displays and allow for dramatic lighting in the tanks. We soon moved from the local fish to the saltwater displays where we began meeting with the kinds of fish we have seen while diving in much warmer waters.

The hallway near the display of clown fish echoed with cries of, "Look, Mommy! It's Nemo! Lots of Nemos!" I suspect many children will begin to nurture a love for our undersea marine life with their visit here. I look forward to seeing how the aquarium folks will use this as an educational tool in partnership with area schools.

My favorites among the displays? The seahorses. I've always been fascinated by them. They are hard to find when we are diving. Easiest to photograph were the lion fish. While deadly, they are beautifully graceful in the water as they flaunt their poisonous spines.

Lots of visitors were gathered near the touch pool. On tap to touch were a sea urchin (not a poisonous one), a starfish, a hermit crab, and a sea cucumber--yuck. We always call the sea cucumber a slug because of the way they look and amble across the bottom of the ocean floor. In all fairness, some are pretty but they all look like shell-less snails.

The most anticipated and probably hyped feature in the aquarium is the glassed tunnel that takes the visitor through the tank of sharks and manta rays and a few other fish that are just backdrop to the stars--the sharks. They swim back and forth and over your head giving you a good view of those lovely teeth.

While a bit pricey--tickets are $21.95/adult--I don't think they are out of line with many of the other aquariums we visited. We ended up buying an annual pass anticipating a couple of return trips. Some of the tanks were still a bit cloudy because of them being so new and freshly set up. We know how that goes. We have a 125gallon salt water tank ourselves. It's labor intensive--for my husband.

Would You Book This Speaker?

2012-01-26T07:59:00.001-05:00

Forgive me. I'm showing off a bit. But I had so much fun putting together this promotional video for my speaking ministry that I wanted to share it. What do you think? Would you book this speaker after seeing this?

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-25T07:44:00.000-05:00

Curse of Camilla

2012-01-24T07:51:00.000-05:00

We are getting cabin fever. It's mid January and we are still home with no where to go for some time yet. Imagine having an itch you just can't reach to scratch. So, here I was perusing some travel books and came across one I haven't really read cover to cover. It is a bit depressing after all. It's called Don't Go There, the travel detective's essential guide to the must-miss places of the world. Written by Peter Greenberg, it is somewhat tongue-in-cheek type reporting on places that are depressing (high suicide rates), toxic (remember the Love Canal, NY?), apt to get hit with a natural disaster (Florida hurrican season), etc.

I had to chuckle over a little side bar I found in cruise section of the book. The Noro virus is probably taking a backseat right now to the Costa Concordia disaster but this was a report about the Cunard ship the Queen Victoria at her christening. Camilla Parker Bowles was named godmother to the ship and it was her duty to christen it. Unfortunately, in front of 2,000 worldwide guests, the champagne bottle refused to smash against the hull. Not a good sign in maritime tradition.

It was only a few weeks later that norovirus broke out on the ship and 80 passengers were struck down with it. The British press, who are not terribly fond of Camilla, dubbed it the "Curse of Camilla."

By the way, Don't Go There is a fun book to thumb through but much of the information is now out of date since it was pubbed in 2009. Doesn't take long for statistics to change sometimes.

Books For The Road - Heaven Is For Real

2012-01-23T07:30:00.000-05:00

For our church book club discussion this month, we chose Todd Burpo's book, Heaven Is For Real. I've seen interviews with Burpo and his son several times. First when the original book came out and then when the children's version was published. The interviews left me wondering. Could this be truly what it is portrayed to be? Did four year old Colton truly visit heaven or at least have a vision of it?

The book came out in 2010 and immediately began creating a chasm between those who would believe it wholeheartedly and those who would dismiss it as bunk and a cheap way to make a buck. I put off reading it--actually probably would not have read it had our book club not picked it. Now that I have read it, I'm caught somewhere in between the two sides.

The experiences related by Colton's father as he retells his son's story are "backed up" by scripture. Too often I find that one can bend the scripture to the situation. On the other hand, some of the events Colton tells, like meeting a sister he didn't know he had (a baby that was miscarried), makes you want to believe. And then there's the possibility that a precocious young child could have absorbed much of his information of heaven and the other tales from adults who didn't know he was taking in their conversation. Yet, how did he know some of the details that seemingly would not have been talked about?

So you see, as far as believability, my jury is still out. If you are looking for an easy read, something that will touch your heart, and you want to believe in it, then by all means, take this book along and read it as you travel. It is a good read and will certainly have you thinking about more than just making that next connection at the airport.

Through My Lens - Snow Nice!

2012-01-20T07:44:00.000-05:00

Okay, I am not a great fan of snow but with a new camera and the need for more pictorial experimentation, I couldn't help myself. Here are some shots I took in the back yard after our new snowfall this week.

Safety at Sea--Tips For Cruisers

2012-01-19T07:21:00.000-05:00

Almost a week ago, people were arriving to embark on an exciting Mediterranean cruise on board the Costa Concordia. Unfortunately the excitement came in the form of disaster as the ship hit a rock shelf that tore a hole in its side. Most of the over 4,000 passengers and crew on the ship made it safely to land overcoming a catastrophe that could have been of "titanic" proportions.

With fifty cruises under our belts, we have never experienced the need to muster although we have had a couple of moments that made us take notice. (One in the middle of the Tasman Sea when power went out in half the ship.) So what do you do to make yourself a little safer on a ship should an emergency happen. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Life jackets used to be set on the bed upon arrival in your stateroom. Now that they are not required to be worn during the muster drill (too many people tripped on dangling ties after the drill, I suspect) the life jackets are often stowed under a bed or in the top of a closet. Upon arrival in your stateroom, check to be sure you know where they are and that there are enough for all in your room. Child sized life jackets should be requested immediately from the staff if you are traveling with children.

2. Be sure your life jacket fits and has the whistle and torch (small light) attached.

3. Check the back of the door to your stateroom to learn where your muster station is. It will be down/up the closest stairwell to your room and on the deck where the lifeboats are located--usually the Promenade Deck.

4. Take the time to explore the ship before it leaves port. Find your muster station if you haven't already and then get a general feel for where it is in relationship to other parts of the ship where you will be spending your time. This isn't as hard as it may seem even on large ships like the Oasis of the Seas. Most of the time ships are laid out very simply--dining is aft, entertainment center and forward. Decks for entertainment, main dining, and shopping are usually mid-level and of course poolside is near the top with other sporting venues. Having an idea in your head of where you are in relation to your room and/or muster station is a plus.

5. Set an example at muster drill by staying quiet and attentive. Yes, we all do get tired of hearing the same instructions--how many of us ignore the plane safety video? (At least on a plane most check for the nearest exit before take-off.) But there will be some who are on their very first cruise and need to know the basic safety instructions. This is not just a traditional part of your cruise with a photo-op. It is for everyone's safety.

6. Relax and enjoy your cruise. When you consider how many cruises are taken on a yearly basis and the incidence of extreme emergencies or disasters like that of the Costa Concordia, cruising, like flying, is very safe. Like any other mode of travel, use common sense.

If you have any other safety suggestions, please share them in the comments section. Happy cruising!

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-18T07:43:00.000-05:00

How Safe Are You On A Cruise Ship?

2012-01-17T07:51:00.000-05:00

When an airplane crashes do you stop flying? When a cruise ship sinks do you stop cruising? The answer is probably not. But the latest catastrophe at sea, the Costa Concordia, leads one to question the safety precautions put in place that all ships and crew and passengers are supposed to follow.

Each cruise line is a little different in its approach to muster drills or lifeboat drills as it used to be called. They are required to be held within 24 hours of a ship's sailing. Most are held before the cruise ship leaves port to embark on its itinerary. Holland America, of all the cruise lines we have experienced is probably one of the most stringent in enforcing attendance and attention at the drill. But even then, a lot depends upon the captain and crew and how well they conduct the drill.

Within the last couple of years it has been decided that life jackets need not be worn to the drill. I'm guessing that too many passengers were injured after the drill because of trailing straps from the life jackets tripping people. There is usually a demonstration by a crew member on how to put your life jacket on.

Celebrity has gone to showing a video--the same one that plays in your stateroom continuously the day of embarkation. Like on an airplane, most people ignore it. And on our last cruise on the Eclipse we found our muster station in the Photo Gallery crammed with people. I wondered if there would have been room for all of us had we worn life jackets? Imagining what it would have looked like had there been a real call to muster stations for an emergency, I could only guess a real disaster.

When all is said and done though, the safety of a ship lies in the hands of the captain. We have found some who may not be great at PR but they run a tight ship and it shows in cleanliness, order, crew performance, etc. He's not just a "pretty face" for the cruise company as I've heard some referred to. Hopefully the cruise companies will concentrate on what makes a good captain for the safety of their ships and passengers and not for how good they are at PR.

Check in Thursday for some tips that you can do to keep yourself a little safer and enjoy cruising more.

Irish Scones

2012-01-16T07:35:00.000-05:00

This is a recipe that I picked up from our stay in Galway, Ireland, from the Petra House's hostess, Joan. Every morning of the several days we spent there we woke to the smell of these baking. The recipe was easy to make once I converted her measurements to American. They are delicious. In England, you might eat them with clotted cream but in Ireland we were told, "a slab of Irish butter is best." Enjoy!

3 3/4 c. self-rising flour
2 sticks of butter (1/2 lb.)
4 Tbl. sugar
4 oz. golden raisins or other dried fruit (I found raisins that were coated with cinamon that were very good)
1 cup of milk
2 eggs

Cut in (rub in) butter until flour is mealy
Add eggs and milk to form a soft dough
Knead on a floured board. Be careful not to overknead
Roll out 3/4 " thick
Cut with biscuit cutter.
Put on baking tray (parchment paper works well with this) and brush tops with milk. Sprinkle with a little sugar.
Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Place on wire rack to cool a bit.

Many thanks to Joan for sharing. It's still better to wake up and smell her scones baking though. Fond memories.

Through My Lens

2012-01-13T08:22:00.000-05:00

Over the years, I have had a variety of cameras. When we had our first babies, the twins, we bought a SLR that by today's standards was really clunky and heavy. Still it gave me creative license and I even took a photography course at our local college and learned to develop black and white photos. That was long before digital but it was in the forcast. I remember the prof saying that eventually you would be able to put the picture in your computer and tweak it. Talk about cutting edge!

Well as the years went by, and cameras digitized, I ended up getting smaller and smaller versions. I loved the little Sonys that I used that fit in my pocket and I could pull out and take pictures with little trouble. And the pictures were good--enough. But then camera envy took over. My daughter-in-law began taking pictures with a DSLR that were outstanding. Much of it due to her creative eye but the clarity and the options of the camera lent to producing great results.

We were out together with the grands one afternoon and she laid her camera down long enough for me to pick it up and look it over. I snapped a few pictures and loved the feel of the camera in my hand. It was so much lighter than the old SLR we had so many years ago. As providence goes, my Sony wore itself out several months later and just in time for Christmas. So what you are seeing is the beginning of much fun to come and an even better record of our travels. So much fun!!

The Winter Zoo

2012-01-12T08:18:00.004-05:00

If you follow my blog, you know that the zoo is one of my favorite places to visit rather it is in Cleveland or on the other side of the world. I have my favorites but my love of the zoo started in the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo when I was three. It was my mother's favorite place to take me for the day and the trip was always exciting including the bus ride from our home to the corner where we would walk down to the zoo. There was always the added treat of a Royal Castle Hamburger.

Yesterday we took another grandchild to the zoo. It was a warm winter day--in the 40s--and the sun was shining for the morning at least. You have to look a little harder to find the animals in the winter time. Those that can't take the cold are in shelters but often the shelters allow you to get closer to them than when they are outside.

The Clemet Zoo is spread out. It's an old zoo and includes an upper level and lower level that is often a challenge to walk but there is always a tram and in the winter, it is a bus. This year it was a new minibus that was easy to board and comfortable with a driver who obviously was enjoying his job.

We stopped in to see the elephants who were inside for the early morning, then on to see the koalas and roos, and finished the main zoo with the primate building. Over in our Rainforest, we stopped for lunch and were amazed at the variety of foods at somewhat reasonable prices.

Once inside the area where the birds are we found that less traffic meant the birds were happy to come out and meet us. I was amazed at how close they got to us. A little too close at one point when one colorful bird about a third the size of our 2 1/2 year old granddaughter startled her and sent her running to Grandpa in tears.

We had a great time and I got to learn a little more about my new camera. But more on that tomorrow. . .

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-11T07:13:00.000-05:00

In My Backyard - What to do? What to do?

2012-01-10T10:53:00.004-05:00

We are home for an unusually long stretch of time here in the middle of winter. Thankfully our weather in Northern Ohio has been mild and snowed just enough for our kids from Florida to enjoy and then promptly melted. The wanderlust begins to grow though now that all of the Christmas decorations are stored and the weatherman promises that the warm spell (we consider 40s a warm spell) is about to snap. So, what to do?

Fortunately we live close enough to Cleveland and the University Circle area that we can take advantage of many of the cultural centers. We have a great art museum, a museum of natural history, several theatrical venues, the Cleveland Police Museum (did you know Elliot Ness was a big part of our history?), of course the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, and very soon we will have a brand new aquarium. All of that right in my backyard!

Now I know many of you are saying "But there's all those snow activities to do!" I hear you and I will happily watch you have fun in the snow--from a nice comfy chair near the fireplace.

Check back for posts about our Cleveland area sights.
What's in your backyard?

Invitation to travel/speak? NOT

2012-01-09T10:52:00.004-05:00

Every so often, someone goes phishing in the pool of speakers' directories online and extends what appears to be a really good speaking opportunity. Couple that with the prospect of it being in a great place--like London--to travel to, and you almost have me hooked. This is what the most recent one looked like (note: I removed the email address contact which was a gmail.com account).

Dear Karen Robbins,

I am Professor D K Arvind from the Edinburgh University Here in
London UK. We want you to be our guest Speaker at this Year Edinburgh
University Seminar which will take place here in UK. We are writing to
invite and confirm your booking to be our guest Speaker at this year’s
seminar.

VENUE: The University of Edinburgh Old College,
South Bridge Edinburgh
EH8 9YL
United Kingdom.

Expected audience: 1500
Duration of speech per speaker: 1 Hour
Name of Organization: EDINBURGY UNIVERSITY
TOPIC:BIBLE STUDIES
Date:20 January 2012

We came across your profile on http://nazarene.org/ and we say it’s
up to standard and we will be very glad to have such an outstanding
personality in our mist for these overwhelming gathering. Arrangements
to welcome you here will be discussed as soon as you honor our
invitation. If you have any more publicity material,please do not
hesitate to contact us.

A formal Letter of invitation and Contract agreement would be sent to
as soon as you honor our Invitation. We are taking care of your
traveling and Hotel Accommodation expenses including your Speaking
Fee. If you will be available for our event, include your speaking
fees In your email so it can be included in your CONTRACT AGREEMENT.

Professor D K Arvind
EDINBURGY UNIVERSITY

Sounds very professional, doesn't it. Clue #1, the email address. No university or professor would use a gmail account when there is one associated with the university that would most likely end in edu. Clue #2, there is a Professor D K Arvind and when you search his name, you can find a disclaimer that says to ignore the email as it is a scam. Need I go on? Note the mispelling of Edinburgh in the signature.

Ah, but a trip to London would have been so nice and then there was that expected 1500 in the audience. What an ego builder. Alas, my speaking ministry is not directed at that sort of audience. It is directed at those who want to come together and find ways to draw closer to their Savior, Jesus--no matter how large or small the audience and no matter how exotic the destination.

Books For The Road - Steve Jobs

2012-01-06T08:03:00.000-05:00

Walter Isaacson, the biographer for Steve Jobs, was amazingly given free reign in writing the book titled simply, Steve Jobs. The simplicity in the title echoes the simplicity Jobs strove for in his Apple products. The amazing part of Isaacson's free reign is that, after reading the biography, you realize what a control-freak Jobs was.

The book is an interesting look at the man, the products, and the building of an outstanding company. I enjoyed reminiscing as one product after another was introduced into the telling of his life story. The more I read the more I wanted to find a soft side to this man. There were a few glimpses but I don't believe Isaacson could find much more. Jobs was a perfectionist and expected the same from all he encountered.

One of the things that stood out to me was Jobs observation of our world. It is one I agree with. He was visiting Istanbul, Turkey, and they were sampling Turkish coffee. As he said, "All day I had looked at young people in Istanbul. They were drinking what every other kids in the world drinks, and they were wearing clothes that look like they were bought at the Gap, and they are all using cell phones. They were like kids everywhere else. It hit me that, for young people, this whole world is the same now."

Technology has made the world smaller and more in common. The question is will we lose the richness of the cultures and traditions that make us who we are?

Perhaps the best description of Jobs' character is summed up in the words of Ann Bowers who had known him since the early years. When he asked what he was like when he was young she replied, "You were very impetuous and very difficult. But your vision was compelling. You told us, 'The journey is the reward.' That turned out to be true."

Good read that I believe would be especially interesting to anyone with a computer background or an Apple product in hand.

Tips To Ward Off Vacation Pounds

2012-01-05T07:13:00.000-05:00

Unless I am diligent in guarding my calorie intake and looking for ways to exercise, I will return from a travel adventure five to eight pounds heavier. I know I'm in trouble because when I step on my WII Fitness board, the little voice says, "Oh-Oh." And as I age, the pounds are harder to take off. I did a little research and found some helpful tips that I think are easy to incorporate in your travel itinerary. Some of them I've done on my own and a few were new to me. But for what it's worth, here are some ideas to ward off those extra vacation pounds.

1. Water is your friend. Drink lots of it. If you absolutely cannot stand it straight, buy a box of the Crystal Light packets that can be added to a bottle of water and only have 5 calories. Water helps with energy levels and jet lag among many other physical benefits.

2. Eat fresh foods. Think fruits, vegetables, and nuts. If you are visiting a country where food contamination may be a problem, eat only cooked fresh produce or be sure to get something like an orange that has a peel you can wash and remove. Also avoid any uncooked foods that may have been washed in contaminated water. (In China the salad looked good but we were concerned with the water that had washed the greens.)

3. Stop eating when you are full. Did you say, "Duh?" But how many of us don't want to hurt the feelings of the waiter, chef, or dinner companions (especially in foreign countries) in the restaurant when they say you must "absolutely try the ___!" If you must, then share with another.

4. Balance carbs with protein. Carbs should be whole grains when possible and proteins lean--think fish, chicken, good cuts of meat. Take advantage of the places you visit that are close to the ocean. Nothing is better than fresh seafood.

5. Needless to say, avoid the cheesy and creamy dishes as much as possible.

6. Satisfy a sweet tooth with fresh fruit for dessert or sorbet. But be aware that some "sorbets" contain dairy and are not purely fruit based. I found out the hard way serveral times since I don't tolerate dairy.

7. Whenever possible, visit a supermarket, farmer's market, or grocery and look for the deli where they often make fresh sandwiches of your choice. We have had some "gourmet" meals that we've taken out and eaten in the parks in several European cities. It's often what the locals do.

At the airport:

1. Spend some time finding a place to get a nutricious meal or grab some fresh fruit or granola bars and/or nuts. Airplane food on shorter flights does not offer much good healthy variety and you have to pay for it. If you need to eat in the air, find something healthy and take it on board with you. Thankfully you can still get something to drink for free.

2. We all have to arrive earlier to assure getting checked in and then through TSA. Spend your extra time walking around in the airport rather than just sitting. You'll burn a few more calories that way. Burn even more by carrying your own luggage.

At the hotel:

1. Skip the minibar. Turn down the key to it. It'll save calories and money.

2. Stick to the fresh fruit and whole grain items at the breakfast buffet. In Europe, you will find different breakfasts in each country. For example, the French eat a lot of bread in the morning (you may want to pack a little peanut butter). You can still find eggs at many of the restaurants in tourist areas. In Italy, we found lots of sweet pastries on the morning buffet but there were also cheeses and cold cut meats. The English like to serve a hearty breakfast of eggs, bangers (sausage), baked beans, broiled tomatoes and breads. If you're at a B&B you may want to ask for something lighter.

On a cruise:

1. The best tip I saw for a cruise buffet: fill half your plate first with fresh fruits and vegetables. Then add little dabs of what looks interesting. Don't go back for seconds. Most of it will be there again throughout the week for you to sample.

2. If you splurge at the specialty restaurant one night, balance it with light meals the next day.

3. Many of the desserts are cream based. Order fresh fruit instead and if you really must have the dessert, split it with someone else.

4. Ordering from the "spa" menu is usually lighter and healthier but often if you just are careful in your choices from the main menu, you will do just as well. I often mix and match. I am on vacation, after all.

Exercise is not a dirty word.

1. Walk, hike, bike. They are great ways to see the country and also burn those calories.

2. I've mentioned walking around the airports before flights and between flights. You also need to get out and walk when on a cruise ship. All of them have some sort of jog/walking track.

3. Hit the gym on the cruise ship or in the hotel. I prefer getting to the outdoors when possible but this is a good alternative especially if you are used to working out at home.

4. Take the stairs. In some places you don't have a choice. In Paris, we lugged suitcases up and down subway stairs. In Italy, there was no elevator in our little hotel and the rooms were all on the second floor. In England, we were on the third floor of our B&B and breakfast was on the basement level. Whew!

Now let's see if I can practice what I've preached. Happy trails!

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-04T07:56:00.000-05:00

From the Ridiculous File-Speeding Cruise Ship?

2012-01-03T07:25:00.000-05:00

The lists of the best, the worst, the top, etc., for 2011 have been circulating the last week now. One list caught my eye. There is a group, Faces of Lawsuit Abuse, that publishes a list of the most ridiculous lawsuits of the year. The list ranges from a man who was suing for age discrimination and claiming a judge was too old to hear his case to a convict who sued the people he kidnapped for not helping him evade the police.

Somewhere in the middle of the list was the case of an Indiana woman who is suing Carnival Cruise lines because the ship she was on went too fast and swayed causing her to become ill and have "bleeding, which I had not has [sic] in three years." The court in Indiana threw out the case not because it is totally ridiculous but because the fine print on her cruise ticket says that she must file the case in South Florida where the cruise line is based.

Hmmm. The ship went too fast? Well, that would make the cruise shorter wouldn't it? Could we sue for that? Better read that fine print.

Chosen One of the Best

2012-01-02T07:37:00.000-05:00

The Irish Fireside Blog and Podcast has chosen their Best of 2011 and my travel series on Ireland made the list! It's a great site for those who love all things Irish. Check out their list of the best and indulge in all things "emerald."

Wow. What a great way to start the New Year!

What Kind of TV Are You Watching?

2011-12-30T07:56:00.000-05:00

TV sets just keep getting bigger and thinner and more techie (is that a word?). The latest need-want-just-gotta-have set is 3D. I refuse to have to wear glasses to watch television--especially when the programming has gotten so bad. 3D glasses would interfer with my multi-tasking. You see, I normally read and/or work on my laptop while I'm sitting with my husband "watching" TV.

I do remember watching it much more intently as a kid. Never missed a Mickey Mouse Club! Bonanza was a must on Sunday nights. And then suddenly Hoss, Adam, and Little Joe were in color! The first color TV sets actually became available on this day in 1953 and sold for $1,175. That would be the equivalent of buying on of those new fangled large screened 3D hi-def TVs today.

So, what's next? Smellivision? There's already been a movie that tried that with scratch and sniff cards. Heaven help us if they produce a TV that actually puts smells into the room. I really wouldn't care to smell the Cartwright's horses in my family room.

Infamous Day in 1170 in England

2011-12-29T07:46:00.000-05:00

It was on this day in 1170 that Thomas a Becket was assasinated in the Canterbury Catheddral. We made a visit there in 2010 and plan to actually stay a few days there in the coming year. Here is a little of what I wrote after our visit:

The history of the cathedral dates back to 597 when St. Augustine was sent to England as a missionary and eventually became an archbishop. He established the “cathedra,” the seat of the archbishop, within the Roman walled city of Canterbury and the cathedral was begun. Since his reign as archbishop there have been 103 successive archbishops including the famous Thomas Becket.

Our delightful tour guide pointed out the different types of architecture that dated the various parts of the cathedral. Most, if not all, of the churches and cathedrals in Europe are a combination of many different eras as monarchies rose and fell, countries were conquered, and ideals and philosophies affected not only the spiritual lives of the people but the physical facilities of the faithful. History is written in the walls, windows, and reliefs of church buildings.

The most notorious history of the Canterbury Cathedral dates back to the reign of Henry II who appointed Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury thinking he could have the upper hand over Rome with his friend in a place of power. Henry didn’t count on Becket changing his allegiance from the king to the pope and the church. There were many conflicts between the two. Disappointed and in a fit of anger, Henry is said to have muttered, “Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?”

Four knights took him literally and set off to Canterbury to please the king. They lured Becket into the cathedral and murdered him in a spot that is marked today by a modern sculpture mounted on the wall. The two swords represent the knights, but as our guide said with a sly smile, the four knights are represented—two in the shadow cast on the wall. This little proper English lady also explained in proper English terms and somewhat graphically how Becket was killed. The top of his head was apparently sliced off and his brains were spread on the floor beneath our feet. Somehow I wasn’t too sure we ought to be walking there if that were true.

Henry II was penitent for years after Becket’s death. He really had loved his friend. He set up a shrine that brought thousands of pilgrims who reported many miracles happening at the spot of where Becket’s remains lay. Later the shrine was destroyed by Henry VIII and Becket’s body disappeared. A lone candle now burns at the spot where it had been.

Our guide was also quick to point out several places in the cathedral that were connected with America and Australia since there were several in our group from those two countries. We came home with a pamphlet that describes 11 different places in the building that have some sort of connection to the USA including a stone from the Bell Harry Tower that was used to carve a pulpit for the Washington National Cathedral.

Just as we were nearing the end of our hour and a half tour, bells chimed and a voice rang out in the huge sanctuary calling all within the walls to stop and take a moment for prayer. This has happened several times when we’ve been in cathedrals or churches on a tour. It is a great reminder that this is a house of worship as well as a vault of history. And it is very uniting to say the Lord’s Prayer with hundreds of visitors from all over the world.

Wordless Wednesday- Almost

2011-12-28T07:48:00.001-05:00

Do You Perk or Drip?

2011-12-27T07:26:00.000-05:00

On this day in 1865, the coffee percolator was patented by James H. Mason. Who knew it had been around for so long? Not I. Yet I've enjoyed that technology and the gadgets to follow.

Apparently the earliest ways of making coffee was to pulverize the roasted coffee bean and add it to boiling water--kind of like instant coffee. But this coffee didn't dissolve in the water. Instead it let a thick muck on the botton that was undrinkable. It also gave a foamy topping to the beverage. In Turkey, they still make coffee that way in many places.

The percolator would have been quite an improvement letting the water boil up through a tube and spread out on top of the ground coffee beans. There was the danger of letting it perk too long though. Electric percolators were an improvement in that eventually they had a built in timer that stopped the action when the coffee was done. And now we have drip makers and one cup makers and. . .

What would we do without our coffee? So, do you perk it or press it or drip it?

Paraprosdokians

2011-12-26T07:12:00.001-05:00

Part of our Toastmasters' meeting includes learning a new word. A while back, someone came up with the word, PARAPROSDOKIANS. We had a great time with it. The definition is: Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation.
"Where there's a will, I want to be in it," is a type of paraprosdokian. Here are a few more:

1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

2. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

3. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.

4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

8. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

Wise Men Still Seek Him

2011-12-25T07:20:00.001-05:00

When we buy Christmas cards I like for them to be representative of something to do with Christ's birth. While hearth and home and Santa are a nice part of Christmas it is truly about God's Son. This year the cards I found repeated a theme I seem to have followed over our 43 Christmases together--Wise Men Still Seek Him.

Back when I was creating my own cards, one year I had the three kings on camels silhouetted against green construction paper. Throughout the years, homemade or bought, I think the cards have expressed that theme a dozen times at least. Why, I wonder, do I keep repeating that theme?

This year my cards have the wisemen's message again. But this year I think I know why I keep returning to the theme. It was after Christmas that the Wise Men came. Jesus was about two years old according to the scriptures. The wisemen didn't stop their search for him when they knew he'd been born. They didn't celebrate and then just go on with their lives. They sought him out to honor him and to bring him gifts.

The cards say "Wise Men STILL Seek Him." I guess that is the message I wanted to bring to those I know and love when I sent those cards. Seek Him. Honor Him. Worship--long past Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Past - The Barking Gift

2011-12-23T07:14:00.001-05:00

[This was a story I wrote a few years ago for my grandparenting column at Positively Feminine.org. It always makes me smile.]

It was Christmas morning. The night before, we had given reverence to Jesus, trying our best to put the emphasis on the “reason for the season.” Full of anticipation, my kids burst into the family room and then stopped short when their Christmas present barked at them. Tied to one leg of the TV was a black and white Beagle-Terrier mix puppy. It was the only thing we could think of that their grandparents had not already purchased for them for the holidays.

The dog received little attention that day and the weeks that followed. Instead, my kids played with all the toys that had come from my mother who collected their wish lists long before Halloween. Grandma brought the seasonal catalogs she received in the mail to our house for the boys to look over. She coined the term “wish book” long before JC Penney and Toys R Us used the marketing ploy. My mother always started shopping early, so by the time I got around to doing Santa’s work, my choices narrowed drastically.

While my mother’s heart was in the right place, beating her to the toy store became a contest the rest of the year as well. There were some things that we wanted to be able to do for our children. We wanted to provide their first bikes and their first baseball gloves—even if it meant having to save nickels and dimes to do it. We wanted to be the heroes in our children’s lives once in a while.

It took a lot of talking and negotiating to come to an agreement over the division of gift-giving responsibilities, but we finally worked out a compromise. The kids circled their desires in the wish books, and we met with Grandma before she started shopping and divided the list between us. Grandma got a few of the “hot” items and “Santa” got the rest.

It was not until I became a grandmother, that I understood my mother’s desire to shower gifts on her grandchildren. As a grandma, I want to see the delight in their eyes, to hear their squeals of joy.

I’ve used the same compromise with my grandchildren’s parents that worked with my mother. The wish list is made and divided for Christmas and birthdays. Often we celebrate the holiday after it has passed. When that happens, we try to buy something that compliments what they have already received—a cartridge for their computer game, extra clothes for a doll, more tracks or buildings for the train set.

The compromise has worked well. The excitement is still there, and I maintain the respect of my grandchildren’s parents who want to provide for their children as I once did for them. Besides, they remember the dog—the gift that kept on barking.

Christmas Past - The Purple Stocking

2011-12-22T07:56:00.000-05:00

[Here is another past post. This one is December 2004. The full story was eventually published in A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts.]

Sticking with the traditional, the colors I chose each year to decorate our home were always red and green. We had green and red stockings for each of our three boys thanks to my mother's new found interest in knitting Christmas stockings on her knitting machine. She was using the extra money she made selling them to pad the Christmas account she used for the grandkids.

When Cheryl and Don joined the family, it was time for two new stockings. Don still wasn't speaking well but nodded when Grandma pointed to green for his stocking. Cheryl, never one to lack decisiveness, blurted out her choice immediately. "Purple!"

"Mom," I pleaded, "you can't be serious. Not purple."

"Purple is what she wants. Purple is what she gets." It was spoken with the authority of a grandmother/mother.

For many years Cheryl's stocking was the centerpiece of our mantel hanging amidst all the greenery and fruit and, of course, the red and green stockings of the boys. I was writing an essay about our first Christmas one day and looking for a lesson in it all. It came as God's answers always do, quietly and with great impact.

Purple, Karen, is the color of royalty. Every year you hang that purple stocking, you celebrate the birth of a king.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-21T07:53:00.000-05:00

Christmas Past - The Tree

2011-12-20T08:14:00.000-05:00

[This week I am revisiting some posts from Christmas past. Here is one from December, 2007]

In a world where things are always changing and progress happens in the blink of an eye, there is one constant that brings most of us all together again--Christmas. The things of Christmas have changed over the years though. Take trees for instance.

Growing up, there was always a live tree. I don't know that artificial was even available in those early years. The bulbs were multi-colored and hot to the touch and silver tinsel was a must. Then came the years of the aluminum tree. The silvered branches changed color as a disc with four basic colors, red, green, purple, and yellow, rotated in front of a spot light that shone on the tree. Mom refused to have one. I'm grateful.

There was one year when she succumbed to the flocking. I don't know how she talked Dad into it because I seem to recall him wrinkling up his nose every time he looked at it. Maybe she sold him on the idea because it was supposed to preserve the tree longer.

Of course the more popular artificial trees became, the more outrageous they got. Pink and purple and white. Each year we passed on the lastest fad and stayed true to the real smell, the real feel, and the real mess of needles to clean up.

Mom gave in to the artificial world when the trees became a little more realistic looking and my brother and I were gone. That way she could get us to come home and put up the tree early. Mom was not above a guilt trip. "I don't think we'll have a tree this year," always brought us home to decorate.

Bob and I started out with real trees. Our first, which was probably the most perfect we had, stretched our budget at $5. This year we had to shop for a new artificial tree since we lost ours in a flood last year. We thought we'd wait until the sales after Christmas and this year get a real tree--until we looked at the prices. A nice tree around here goes for at least $70. We bided our time and found an early sale on artificial. Now there are no fire worries, no needles to clean up, and our decorating is done and ready for the kids to come home.

While out shopping, we saw aluminum trees trying to make a comeback and artificial ones that were flocked. It made me think of all the changes over the years and the one thing that has remained constant. The reason for the season--Jesus.

Christmas Thoughts- Picture This

2011-12-19T08:30:00.000-05:00

Our travels have almost circumnavigated the globe. It's an amazing thought. As we have visited so many different places and I have written about our travels, I struggle to clearly picture in words how those areas and people appeared to me. Think about the most glorious sunset you've ever seen and then try to put it into words. Once you are past the oranges, reds, purples, pinks, etc. it gets more difficult and it is impossible to capture the magnificence of the moment and the emotion it evokes.

Taking a photo or even a video of the experience does not do it justice either. There may be some beautiful pictures as a result, but it will still not equal that one stunning scene that will be embedded in the archives of your mind.

Now imagine the miracle of Christmas. In our heads, we see what others have told us. We see images others have painted--and those images are mostly as an impression of the words of others used to describe the scene. Scripture does not recall a donkey (exactly) for Mary to ride on. Nowhere does it say that there was an innkeeper but we insist on that as part of the story. The three kings were three wise men--but wait! Now we don't even know that there were three. There could have been more since the Bible doesn't really give a number. And they didn't arrive until Jesus was around two years old.

In our joy--in our desire to celebrate this great miracle, we have tried to picture what we were not physically there to experience. In doing so, we have created lovely pictures on cavases and in words that have come to symbolize our Christmas story. While every detail may not be exact, the truth still remains. God sent his only Son so that whoever would believe in Him could have eternal life.

In my mind, I have a picture of heaven. It's based on several places in the Bible where heaven is described. I'm sure the real thing will look nothing like what I've pictured. It will probably be much more glorious than I could ever imagine. Does it diminish what God has prepared? No. It just gives me something to look forward to.

However you picture your Christmas story, a stable or a cave, a donkey or a cart, three wisemen or a dozen, may you focus on the one thing we all know to be true: God's promise fulfilled in His Son, Jesus.

Will The Christ Child Come?

2011-12-18T07:44:00.000-05:00

[This is a story that has circulated and been enjoyed by many all over the world. It came to me in an email from friends we had made on board the Queen Mary 2 this past year. Curious, I searched for the "unknown author" online and connected with her finally. Her name is Gaye Willis and she lives in Alaska. The story was written in 1998 and published at LDS World's Countdown to Christmas. Gaye claims she's not a writer but even in telling how she has received feedback from so many all over the world, I think the Lord has blessed her with the gift of words. Here's her story.]

One Christmas we had an interesting experience that I would like to share. Halfway through December we were doing the regular evening things when there was a knock at the door. We opened it to find a small package with a beautiful ceramic lamb inside. We looked at the calendar and realized that the 12 days of Christmas were beginning! We waited excitedly for the next night's surprise and only then, with the gift of a matching shepherd, did we realized that the lamb was part of a nativity set.

Each night we grew more excited to see what piece we would receive. Each was exquisitely beautiful. The kids kept trying to catch the givers as we slowing built the scene at the manager and began to focus on Christ's birth.

On Christmas Eve, all the pieces were in place, but the baby Jesus. My 12 year-old son really wanted to catch our benefactors and began to devise all kinds of ways to trap them. He ate his dinner in the mini-van watching and waiting, but no one came.

Finally we called him in to go through our family's Christmas Eve traditions. But before the kids went to bed we checked the front step -- No Baby Jesus! We began to worry that my son had scared them off.

My husband suggested that maybe they dropped the Jesus and there wouldn't be anything coming. Somehow something was missing that Christmas Eve. There was a feeling that things weren't complete. The kids went to bed and I put out Christmas, but before I went to bed I again checked to see if the Jesus had come -- no, the doorstep was empty.

In our family the kids can open their stockings when they want to, but they have to wait to open any presents until Dad wakes up. So one by one they woke up very early and I also woke up to watch them. Even before they opened their stockings, each child checked to see if perhaps during the night the baby Jesus had come. Missing that piece of the set seemed to have an odd effect. At least it changed my focus. I knew there were presents under the tree for me and I was excited to watch the children open their gifts, but first on my mind was the feeling of waiting for the ceramic Christ Child.

We had opened just about all of the presents when one of the children found one more for me buried deep beneath the limbs of the tree. He handed me a small package from my former visiting teaching companion. This sister was somewhat less-active in the church. I had been her visiting teacher for a couple of years and then, when she was asked to be a visiting teacher, she requested to go with me. I had learned over time they didn't have much for Christmas, so that their focus was the children. It sounded like she didn't get many gifts to open, so I had always given her a small package--new dish towels, the next year's Relief Society lesson manual--not much, but something for her to open. I was touched when at Church on the day before Christmas, she had given me this small package, saying it was just a token of her love and appreciation.

As I took off the bow, I remembered my friendship with her and was filled with gratitude for knowing her and for her kindness and sacrifice In this year giving me a gift. But as the paper fell away, I began to tremble and cry. There in the small brown box was the baby Jesus. He had come! I realized on that Christmas Day that Christ will come into our lives in ways that we don't expect. The spirit of Christ comes into our hearts as we serve one another. We had waited and watched for him to come, expecting the dramatic "knock at the door and scurrying of feet" but he came in a small, simple package that represented service friendship, gratitude, and love.

This experience taught me that the beginning of the true spirit of Christmas comes as we open our hearts and actively focus on the Savior. But we will most likely find him in the small and simple acts of love, friendship and service that we give to each other. This Christmas I want to feel again the joy of knowing that Christ is in our home. I want to focus on loving and serving. More than that I want to open my heart to him all year that I may see him again.

Quick Toffee Treats for Your Party

2011-12-16T08:28:00.000-05:00

If you know me at all you know there are times I am truly challenged in the kitchen. I never make Jello. Not because I don't like it but because it never turns out right for me. It's either too rubbery or you can drink it with a straw. I can make these delicious treats though and to my surprise, successfully every time! This is a recipe we circulated on postcards from our book, A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts. There are lots of other great recipes in there as well--from the other authors who are much more successful in the kitchen.

10 Minute Toffee Treats

1 sleeve saltine crackers
1 cup butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil, then line with a single layer of saltines. In saucepan bring butter and sugar to boil. Boil 3 minutes. Immediately pour over saltines. Spread. Bake for ONLY 4-5 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over top. Wait 4 minutes and spred. Sprinkle with nuts Cool and break into pieces.

Disclaimer: These can be addictive.

A Crafty Christmas

2011-12-15T09:05:00.003-05:00

For several years the Word Quilters contributed to the blog created for our book A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts. While we have not done a lot of posts this year, there is still lots of great material at the blog having to do with Christmas. If you are a crafty person looking for some more ideas for Christmas gifts and decorations, here is the link to the list of posts on crafts:

Crafty Saturdays!

Happy crafting!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-14T07:30:00.000-05:00

10 Ways to Make Home Safer While Away

2011-12-13T13:12:00.000-05:00

1. First and foremost is a security system. Whether you hook into a system that sends a response unit to your home or just sets off a loud alarm, it is a good deterent.

2. Most communities will let you call the police station and ask for a house watch while you are gone. They will ask the dates you will be gone, if you have any lights you will leave on or are on timers, and whether you have anyone coming to check the house while you are gone.

3. Random light timers are a good way to make it appear that you are home. If you don't use random timers, set the regular timers to correspond to your usual routine at home.

4. Tell a trusted neighbor you will be away and ask them to keep an eye for anything unusual.

5. Be careful who you tell about your holiday plans. I was in the post office one day and heard a lady loudly explaining how many months they were spending away in Florida. It would not have been difficult for someone to find where she lived and take advantage of her absence.

6. Make sure to stop your mail. You can ask for a vacation hold for up to 30 days. If you plan to be away longer than that, you need to make other arrangements like forwarding or having someone collect your mail.

7. Contact your newspaper carrier and stop delivery for the period you are gone.

8. Ask a neighbor or friend to put a bag of trash out on trash day where yours is usually set--especially if you are gone for more than a week.

9. One of our relatives had a mannequin head that she put on a pillow on the couch and stuffed pillows under a blanket to make it appear someone was sleeping on the couch. Did it work? They never had a break-in but I'm not sure if that's the reason. Still. . .

10. And then there's the fake dog bark. It was set to go off whenever the doorbell rang. And just for good measure, it "barked" occassionally for no reason at all. Just be sure it sounds like a really BIG dog.

The Polar Express - The Special Passenger

2011-12-12T10:49:00.009-05:00

As the Polar Express (CVSR) pulls away from the North Pole, there is a distant jingle of bells. The lights in our train car shine brightly now and everyone has returned to their seats. We sing Santa Claus Is Coming To Town and suddenly the door to our train car opens and there he is himself--the man in the red suit trimmed in white and ho-ho-hoing as he is welcomed with squeals of delight.

Santa makes his way through the car stopping to hear the wishes of all the little ones. As he greets each child, his assistant elf hands him a sleigh bell (after she checks it to be sure it jingles) and soon the whole train car is alive with jingle bells. The car must be full of "believers" since everyone can hear the bells jingle.

Upon Santa's departure, we of course must sing a chorus or two of Jingle Bells. Then it is on to The Funky Chicken, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and other popular requests. Some nights there is a fashion show of pajama ensembles.

Little ones and some big ones begin to fade and eyelids flutter on the ride home. As we pull into the station, coats are gathered, little ones hoisted in arms, and thank yous ring out all around. It's been a great night as always and the memories will last a lifetime.

When the last passenger has left, elves get busy cleaning up the train car for the next night's run.

"Did you see the look on that little one's face when she got the bell?"

"The one in the blue Star Wars PJs really got into the Funky Chicken!"

The memories for the elves will last a lifetime as well.

[Most everyone is familiar with the story of the Polar Express either through the book or the movie. If you aren't, discover its charm this year. Many areas of the country have a Polar Express during the holidays. Check in your area but be sure to book early. It's quite a popular tradition and growing.]

The Polar Express to the North Pole!

2011-12-09T07:18:00.000-05:00

The Polar Express, also known as the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, sits at the station at Rockside Road in Independence as eager train riders board and are led to their seats by the elves on the train. My job involves serving the hot chocolate and cookies but I help to keep the energetic little ones--and big ones--entertained as we wait for all to board and be seated. Most, including the adults are wearing their pajamas. It is quite a flannel sleepwear fashion show.

Our trainman in the car informs us that all are aboard and the conductor has given the signal for the train to begin moving forward to the North Pole. Our lead elf, Patrick, begins his welcome, introduces the other four elves in the car and the trainman, and then begins the story of The Polar Express. During the telling, the assistant elves and trainman add sound effects, illustrations, and lots of cheering.

Meanwhile back in a little cubby hole, I and another server elf begin pouring hot chocolate into cups, adding lids, and wrapping packaged cookies (straight from Mrs. Claus' oven) with napkins. As soon as the story is finished, they will be handed out.

Between the refreshments and our arrival at the North Pole, we break out in song but soon, the lights in the car begin to dim. It's the signal that we're getting close. All the children are asked to move to one side of the car and the adults to the other and the "Northern Lights" begin to give the landscape a festive glow.

Elf Patrick announces that we are arriving. We're here! The North Pole! We pass the hobo warming himself by the fire and then we see them--the North Pole elves! They are surrounded by thousands of Christmas lights and displays. And, wait! There's Frosty and the Gingerbread Man and Reindeer and Mr. and Mrs. Jack Frost with their dog, Snowflake! We pass the train cars that are holding all the gifts that Santa will deliver on Christmas Eve. As the train pulls through so that all the cars get a view of everything, Elf Patrick points out the Winking Lizard, the watering hole for the North Pole elves (a little humor for the adults).

We stop and wait a few minutes and sure enough, there's Santa! His sleigh is being pulled by a smaller version of the Polar Express and next to him sits Mrs. Claus. Is that a little flour on her nose from all her baking?

It is at this point that all the hours of volunteering are worth it. There is nothing so special as the faces of little ones who are magically transported to a world of their imagination. Faces pressed against the windows are softly lit by the glow of the Christmas lights. I remember my wonder as a child at all that was magical about the season. But our adventure isn't over yet. . .

All Aboard The Polar Express!!

2011-12-08T09:56:00.006-05:00

It's five o'clock and I finish off my elf trappings by making my cheeks pink with my lipstick. Mine is not the whackiest elf costume on the block. In fact if you were to rate it with 10 being the craziest, mine would probably be there at 0. But it fits me--sort of a mix between Mrs. Claus and a pointy earred elf.

Bob, my trainman husband, has already donned his uniform. He looks quite handsome in it and the brass buttons we added to the vest and jacket have really set it off. He doesn't have a hat yet. Trainmen earn their hat when they have a hundred hours of volunteer work in.

I grab my large bag to store my coat in later, and a roll of paper towels. The towels are for wiping up the hot chocolate drips and any spills that might occur in the exitement of visiting the North Pole. They also help to wipe off the windows of the train when they begin to steam up from all the excited little bodies of children whose one wish is to see the big guy in red.

Arriving at the train yard, I park my car, say a silent prayer of thanks that it's dark early and no one saw me driving in costume, and scurry off to check in for my assigned car. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway becomes The Polar Express for the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is quite a transformation.

After a quick bite to eat, the train suddenly jolts and then steadily moves toward the station where we will pick up all the eager children and their families for the journey to the "North Pole." I join the other elves in my car and we ready everything for the storytelling, the hot chocolate/cookie partaking, and all the fun, singing, and games along the way.

It isn't long before our car begins to fill with eager voices and spirited Christmas energy. It's what fuels a little elf for the adventure ahead. . .

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T07:37:00.000-05:00

Christmas Greeting from Writers

2011-12-06T08:32:00.002-05:00

Our Ohio Chapter of American Christian Writers put together a Christmas greeting.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Water Island - A Ferry Ride From St. Thomas

2011-12-05T07:25:00.000-05:00

On our recent cruises in the Caribbean, we stopped twice at Charlotte Amolie on St. Thomas. I am not fond of that port no matter which pier (Havensport or Crown Bay) we dock at. Crown Bay is a little nicer because it is less congested and we are close to the Crown Bay Marina where we can catch the Water Island Fe rry. Actually it's more a water taxi than a ferry since it is a small boat for passengers and suitcases only.

We have visited several times (see an earlier post) and this time we decided to go over and tool around the island in a golf cart. We happened upon a golf cart rental through the suggestion of someone we met. The Apollo Auto & Golf Cart rental agent met us at the pier on Water Island and gave us a quick overview with a small map.

For $35 we toured around the small island and caught views of St. Thomas that were very scenic. Best of all there was no congestion, no sales people hassling you, and it was nice and quiet. The island is mostly privately owned with many get-away homes that are occupied during the winter months.

At the top of a lookout point was Fort Segarra, and underground fort that was in the process of being finished when the war ended. You can still see the "pill box" and the gun mounts that were never used. It is all a part of the fascinating history you can find at the Water Island History site.

It only took an hour to tour the island, even in a slow moving golf cart, but we had planned to stop at Honeymoon Bay beach for a swim and lunch. The beach got busy with excursions from the cruise ships but there was still plenty of room to enjoy it and the beautiful waters of the Caribbean.

All told, our excursion (including lunch) cost us about $75 for the two of us. A bargain these days.

Books For The Road - Reclaiming Lily

2011-12-02T07:20:00.000-05:00

As a Patti Lacy fan, I couldn't wait to read her latest, Reclaiming Lily. My patience was rewarded with yet another great read. Reclaiming Lily is the story of a Chinese doctor, Kai Chang, whose youngest sister was adopted by an American family, the Powells, who feel threatened not only by the arrival of Kai who wants to meet with her sister but also the news of a possible medical problem that could affect their daughter.

The story plays on many levels--the medical problems associated with a genetic disease, a defiant teenager who is rebelling against the fact that she's adopted, an adoptive mother who fears losing her child's affections, and a sister on a mission to heal as well as fulfill her mother's dying wish. All of these mix with the background of Chinese tradition and heritage.

I can relate to several of them. Perhaps that is why I found Lacy's tale so striking. I am an adoptive mom and I know what it's like to have a daughter rebel against her situation. I know what it's like to have your adopted child meet with her biological family. I know the fears that Gloria Powell experienced in the story. I've also been to China and learned a bit about the Cultural Revolution and the culture in which China exists today. It is fascinating and Lacy has done her homework.

I write all of this just to say that you will have a good read and what Lacy has presented in her novel, Reclaiming Lily, is quite on the mark.Share

The Best of Oasis of the Seas

2011-12-01T07:24:00.000-05:00

My Yahoo article lists what I thought were the ten best things from our cruise on the Oasis of the Seas. Check it out here.

Here are a few more pictures from our week.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-30T07:17:00.000-05:00

Books For The Road - The Best of Me

2011-11-29T07:30:00.000-05:00

Romance novels are not necessarily one of my favorite reads but I enjoy the story-styling of Nicholas Sparks so when I wanted a nice easy read with a little depth and some romance, I picked his recent release, The Best of Me.

The Best of Me is about two teenagers who fall deeply in love but due to circumstances of who their families are, they are torn apart. Actually in the name of love, Dawson releases Amanda when it is time for her to go off to college and her parents have completely forbidden her to see him. His reasoning is that love should be able to set someone free. Amanda wonders if that is because he expects love to return to him. It does. Years later when the two of them are reunited by the passing of a common friend but now the two have led very different lives. Still, they realize their love for each other has never faltered but life is complicated at best and the two struggle with what the consequences could be should they reunite.

Sparks will make you truly care about these characters and by the end you will definitely need tissues handy if you are in the least sentimental. I’m not sure if I liked the fact that I saw the ending coming probably sooner than I wanted but at least I was prepared for it. Good read for the road.

Beef & Guinness Stew

2011-11-28T07:25:00.000-05:00

While in Ireland, we had Beef and Guinness Stew several times for dinner. The recipes were a little varied. Some were very rich and hearty, gravy-based and served over potatoes, once with a filo dough topping, and other times the dish was more like a soup. When we visited the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, we picked up a recipe card for the popular stew. You can find other recipes to use with Guinness at their website.

Beef and Guinness Stew

7 oz. (200ml) of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
1 lb. stewing beef, cut in cubes
1 medium onion, diced
1 large carrot, diced (the carrots in Ireland were huge so I'd use two or three of ours)
1 large celery, diced
1 large parsnip, diced
1 quart beef stock
sprigs of fresh thyme and rosemary (to taste)

Brown the meat in large pan. Add vegetables and cook until tender. Pour in the Guinness and simmer to reduce by half. Add the beef stock and herbs and simmer for an hour to hour and a half. (You might want to thicken it a bit if you like more of a gravy than a soup.)

It is said that the stew is better made a day in advance and served over champ potato.

Champ Potato

2 pounds potatoes, peeled and halved
1 cup milk
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 cup butter
1 ground black pepper to taste

Place potatoes into large pot, and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender, about 20 minutes.

Drain well. Return to very low heat and allow the potatoes to dry out for a few minutes. Meanwhile, heat the milk and green onions gently in a saucepan, until warm.
Mash the potatoes, salt and butter together until smooth. Stir in the milk and green onion until evenly mixed. Season with freshly ground black pepper.

The Irish also make a potato called colcannon which is the same only with a little cabbage added to the potatoes.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-23T10:55:00.000-05:00

Slán go fóill, Ireland

2011-11-22T07:22:00.000-05:00

Our last day of touring Ireland we left Belfast and traveled down the coast with the Irish Sea on our left as we headed for Dublin. This last little bit of roadway would bring us full circle around the Emerald Isle. We stopped in Newcastle for one last tea and scone and arrived in the last place on our itinerary my husband wanted to see, Bru na Boinne.

In Bru na Boinne, the area between the towns of Slane and Drogheda lie prehistoric passage tombs. There are about 40 mounds in the earth which are the oldest surviving traces of human activity in the area. The largest of the mounds is Newgrange which is surrounded by a kerb of 97 stones, the most impressive of which is the entrance stone that is covered in engravings.

Much to our chagrin, we found that the tour would take too long for us to do since we had arrived a little too late to catch the ride to the tomb and would have to wait until the next scheduled one. We explored a bit the visitor's center and added on another reason to return to Ireland.

Along our journey I picked up quite an eclectic collection of observations of Ireland and its people. Here are a few:

* Hubcaps are often tie-wrapped not because of theft but because they could pop off on the rugged roads.

* Side view mirrors are the most likely auto repair job because of the narrow stonewall lined roads. We managed to return the rental with both still intact.

* M roads are fastest and widest. N roads are wide enough for two cars and can be quite fast. R roads are a bit unpredictable in size and speed. L roads are usually one lane, sometimes with grass in the middle and even though the speed limit may say 80 kph keep it much lower.

* The Irish like their butter. As one woman put it "we use it by the slab."

* With lots of drizzly rain and sunshine, you are guaranteed to see rainbows--although we found no pots of gold.

* No matter how fast you travel on a road, no matter how narrow the road, the locals will pass you.

* Portions in the restaurants were always huge which begs the question, Why aren't more Irish people obese?

* Black pudding is a spicy breakfast sausage. If you have a squeamish stomach, don't ask why it's black.

* Count on dramatic sky-scapes to be ever changing.

* Pitch and Putt courses are not your regulation golf courses. It's a whole different game.

* A sign that shows a road narrowing is usually accompanied by the words, "Traffic Calming Device." Huh?

* Rest assured that if you hesitate whether in your car or on foot, someone will ask if you need help with directions.

* And if a gentleman should happen to come up to your table while you're having tea and start a conversation in Gaelic, just smile back at him, nod your head a bit, and keep quiet. He'll never know you didn't understand a word of it. Then again, you could be meeting up with a leprechaun and not know it.

With that, I say Slán go fóill, Ireland. Goodbye for now. I suspect we will return. You have totally enchanted us.

Belfast, The Black Taxi Tour

2011-11-21T07:53:00.006-05:00

We stood in front of the Titanic Quarter where our tour had ended to wait on a Black Taxi that was about to pick us up for our scheduled Black Taxi Tour, a tour to take us through the area of Belfast that was most active during The Troubles. When the taxi arrived the astute members of our group realized. . .it wasn't black. It was gray. When we pointed that out, we got quite a barrage of language explaining that not all "black taxis" were black. We moved on.

The taxi driver/tour guide who looked like he might have lost a few battles in the street, or the bar, wanted to know where our car was since he would not be bringing us back to where he picked us up. He drove us the short distance to the lot where we'd parked, spoke a few moments with the guys as they determined where our B&B was, and then led the way to the B&B so the guys could leave the car there. Still not where he would drop us off but we could return more easily there.

That left my sister-in-law and me in the car with the driver. We just kept giving each other glances wondering what would come out of his mouth next. But without the men there, he was very polite.

Still feeling a bit uneasy about this whole thing, I relaxed a little as the guys joined us again and even had to laugh at the looks on the other three faces when our driver asked if we'd had any "crack" in Ireland. Actually the word is craic (pronounced crack) and means fun. They looked at me like I was crazy when I said, "Yeah!"

The tour consisted mainly of stopping to look at all the murals Belfast is so famous for. Depending upon which neighborhood you are in, Protestant or Catholic, Unionist or Nationalist, Republican or Loyalist, the murals change expressing that point of view. With all the labels associated with basically two groups of people, it got very confusing. Even after researching, it still is.

Since the Good Friday Agreement on April 10, 1998, things have quieted down. As in Londonderry our guide had emphasized that Troubles were over, our taxi driver repeated the same thing. It was hard to be convinced when each time he got in the back of the taxi to sit on the extra jump seat and give commentary, he kept looking around the area and over his shoulder. While I read that the Black Taxi drivers are both Catholic and Protestant, I'm guessing ours was maybe Catholic since when we appeared to be in the Catholic area he relaxed a bit.

The tone of the murals has changed somewhat. There are 17 walls in the city that separate the Catholic areas from the Protestant. On one such wall along Falls Road, the murals have been toned down a bit and are now more generally political and often have to do with international issues. In the Shankill Road area, there is a housing project that surrounds what look like practice fields for soccer perhaps. I shudder to think that there are lots of children playing on them because the mural that made the greatest impact on me was one our driver said was so very unusual in its perspective. The gunman's eyes in the picture, as well as his gun, seem to follow you no matter where you stand on the fields. The UFF under his picture stands for Ulster Freedom Fighters a part of the Ulster Defense Association.

The history of the Catholic vs. Protestant struggle is very confusing to me especially since it doesn't really seem to stem from religious beliefs so much as that your religious preference (or what you were born to) determines your political affiliation. With all the historical places we visited the best I could piece together to try to understand how it all began was that when Henry VIII was king in the 16th century, he broke with the Catholic church. Remember the eight wives? Rome was not pleased with him. He tried to force Ireland to become a Protestant country as well sending his emissaries to destroy monasteries and do away with anything Catholic.

Animosity developed. Then later, in the 17th century came a struggle for pow er between William of Orange and King James. William was Protestant and James, you got it, Catholic. This is the struggle that led to the gates of Londonderry being barred as King James tried to storm the Protestant city loyal to William and the slogan, "We will not surrender." Now all of this is a little too simple an explanation but it points out one thing--hate festers.

In more recent history, the rule of England (the UK) over Ireland led to the Protestant politics invoking severe sanctions against the Catholic contingency often sending Catholics to jail for minor reasons. Remember there was also that potato famine. In 1922, the majority of the Irish island seceded from English rule and formed the Republic. For some reason, Northern Ireland chose to remain a part of the UK. So you see, there are actually two different countries that have a common heritage.

Are you confused yet? I still am.

In a way, I wish we had not taken the Black Taxi Tour--oh, by the way, the taxi driver's language improved greatly when he realized we weren't users of certain words. The tour was depressing in that we could see that even with the peace agreement in effect, there are still walls that separate, still back yards completely screened for protection, still places where mistrust and hate appear to brew. It cast a shadow on our view of Belfast which had been so positive in the morning on our Titanic Walk.

The taxi driver left us off at the Crown Bar in the "neutral" area of Belfast, the area he claimed where everyone got along. The Crown Bar was beautiful inside and out. It is one of the oldest landmarks in Belfast. We looked around and then headed across the street for a coffee. We needed to sit and absorb all that we had seen.

We walked a bit around a very nice shopping area. Perhaps had we been able to stay an extra day, we would have enjoyed it even more but we called it a day and found a taxi to take us back to our B&B in a nice residential area of Belfast.

One more note and I will finish my philosophizing. Over the years, we have been to many places all over the world. Just a glance at the category listing of my posts will show you that. Lots and lots of history has been explored in each place and the struggles of the world all seem to stem from two things: the desire for power and greed. Enough said?

Books For The Road - Glastonbury Tor

2011-11-18T07:51:00.001-05:00

Glastonbury Tor by Leanne Hardy fell on my reading list at exactly the right spot. We had just returned from our trip to Ireland and I was steeped in Irish and English history and still marveling at the old abbeys we had visited rich with history and folklore. But whether you've traveled to such places or not, you will be drawn into the story of a young man caught in the struggles of the times.

Colin, faced with his mother's death and an overpowering father, runs to the place he feels he will be accepted--the abbey at Glastonbury Tor. While there, he is drawn into the struggles going on between Henry VIII's rampage to destroy all the monasteries and the church that he was taught to love. Unfortunately he discovers that there are some in the church who are not what they should be either. He must face his own fears, find courage within himself to follow what is right, and above all, learn to forgive as well as be forgiven.

Hardy paints a wonderful picture of where this all takes place--a real place in the south west of England. She did a heap of research including a two week stay in the area and the results are a very accurate portrayal of the events that took place around the abbey. While Colin's story is fictional as is Colin himself, his story is made all the more believable by the setting into which Hardy has thrust him.

This would be an excellent read if you are planning a trip to the UK or Ireland. You are bound to visit some very old churches and abbeys and the story will enrich your visit.

Belfast, The Titanic Connection

2011-11-17T07:36:00.000-05:00

It was an early morning for us. The drive from Portrush to Belfast would only be a little over an hour, but we wanted to arrive in time for the tour we had booked online: Titanic Walking Tour. Southampton is always the port associated with the Titanic but the ship was built in Belfast, a fact that Northern Irelanders are beginning to capitalize on. Up until recently, they were a little nervous about calling attention to their building an "unsinkable" ship. Now they have realized what valuable innovation went into the building of the ship and they are taking pride in that.

We met our guide in front of the hotel, the Premier Inn, that was the starting point and immediately fell in love with her. She was absolutely a Titanic enthusiast--a Titanorak, as they say. She walked us along the street that led to the yards where the Titanic was built. On the way, she stopped to show pictures of what it looked like back then and talked of what the future holds for this area as they construct the Titanic Quarter, a waterfront community with business, residential, and commercial enterprises that will center around the Titanic theme and preserve the historic aspects of the area.

In the distance a silvery white building with an unusual shape stood out among all the other buildings. It was actually in the shape of a star if viewed from above, a white star. White Star Line was the name of the prominent British shipping company that commissioned the Titanic. Significantly, it is the same height as the Titanic was as it sat in that space being built.

A red brick building, the former Harland and Wolff Headquarters Building and Drawing Offices, was our first real stop on the tour. Our guide stood for a few minutes outside the iron gate and helped us to imagine what it might have looked like as the workers came through that gate every morning to their job building the world's largest ship--at the time.

The white star-shaped building loomed in the open space beyond the gate. It looked even bigger now that we were closer and if you squinted just a bit, you could almost imagine that it was the hulk of a ship, a very large ship. How awesome it must have been to see that grow each day and be a part of the construction process.

Inside, the building was showing it's age, but was still in great shape considering not much has been done to restore it yet. Beautiful stairways and unusual glassed in offices spoke of a time that was much more elegant than our sleek modern lines of today.

Goosebumps broke out on my arms as we entered the original drawing room where Thomas Andrews designed the Titanic, the Olympic, and the Britannic. After a brief explanation that painted a picture of past times in this room with the help of a photograph our guide held up, we were left to explore and soak up the history.

In the corner, was a display of clothing from the period. The Titanic was built between 1909 and 1911 when it was launched. And the fateful day was April 14, 1912 when it hit the iceberg and sank. Thomas Andrews, by the way, was lost that night as well.

We exited to the street again. The slipway where the Titanic was built and launched was inaccessible due to the construction going on with the Titanic Quarter. A little ways down the street however, we were able to look through a fence and see a bit of the HMS Caroline's bow peeking out from its construction cover. The Caroline, the last remaining WWI ship in existence, still commissioned by the Royal Navy, has been docked in Belfast for 86 years. It will be on display to the when renovations are finished.

At the pumphouse we grabbed a little something to eat. Here the guide collected tickets and money from those who had joined without booking online. In the dining area were several pictures and video displayed on the walls of ship building including the Titanic. After a half hour, our first guide handed us over to a second who walked our group to the dry dock where Titanic was sent after launch to be inspected.

Down the center of the dry dock are the blocks upon which Titanic rested. The guide held a photograph and pointed to a building nearby to try to give us perspective on the size of the Titanic. Eventually there will be a park area in the Titanic Quarter with grass and trees and in the shape of the deck of the Titanic. You will be able to walk from one end to the other as if strolling on the promenade deck. In comparison to today's huge cruise ships, the Titanic is actually small. The Oasis of the Seas is 1184 feet and 222,900 gross tons compared to Titanic's 883 feet and 46,000 gross tons. But for its day, it was the largest.

In the Pump-house, the working side, we were able to see the old pumps and view a video about how the pumps worked to pump water in and out of the dry dock so workers could repair or finish what needed to be done on the hulls of the ships they built there.

When we were finished, I was still in awe of the whole story. We have now been to every place the Titanic has a connection except for one port, Cherbourg, France, which we hope to cover on a trip in the near future (Southampton, Cobh) . We have even been over the spot where the Titanic lies on the bottom. I don't know what continues to draw me to the story of the great ship. Perhaps the little stories of all the people and how they came to be on board the ill-fated sailing. Whatever it is I guess I could be labeled a Titanorak--as long as it just means I'm totally interested in all things relating to the RMS Titanic.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-16T07:54:00.000-05:00

A Giant of a Tale!

2011-11-15T07:37:00.001-05:00

On our second day to explore the Antrim coast of Northern Ireland, we found ourselves in the land of legendary giants. The Giant's Causeway, a spectacular work of nature or giants if you would believe folklore, was fascinating. The rock formation is made from an estimated 40,000 basalt columns which were formed from a volcanic eruption over 60 million years ago.

The causeway was discovered in 1692 by the Bishop of Derry who immediately reported it to the tourist bureau in Dublin--just kidding--but it was reported to Dublin authorities who in turn contacted authorities in London and the theories and research began in an attempt to explain the phenomenon.

But who wants facts like lava flowing and filling in fissures and creating a layer of basalt and then sun and rain eroding them, more lava flowing, cooling slowly, more cracking, and on and on until you get all of these columns of mostly six-sided stones? Give me the legend. It's much more fun.

It is said that an Irish giant named Finn McCool lived along the coast and was insulted by a Scottish giant, Fingal, who lived across the channel. In anger, Finn lifted a huge chunk of earth and hurled it at Fingal. The earth fell into the sea. Fingal retaliated with a huge stone tossed in Finn's direction. He taunted Finn saying that Finn was lucky he wasn't a strong swimmer or he'd come over to the Irish shore and give Finn what for.

Finn was enraged and began throwing large clumps of earth into the channel to make a walkway for Fingal to come over and face him. It took him a week to complete the walkway but since he hadn't slept in a week, he was worried that he was too tired to face Fingal.

Now here's where it gets interesting. One account says he asked his wife what to do and she told him to disguise himself as a baby in a cot--which is what he did. When Fingal arrived, Finn's wife said her husband was out but showed Fingal her "baby" laying in the cradle. Fingal saw the size of the "baby" and wondered how big the father was. He high tailed it home tearing up the walkway as he went. The Giants Causeway is all that's left.

Now isn't that better than a lot of geological facts? Before we left, Bob and I were feeling a bit adventuresome. We climbed to the top of a group of rocks for a Kodak moment. After all, we were nearing the end of our Ireland trip and a turned ankle now wouldn't be disastrous.

Our final stop along the coast was at Carrick-A-Rede which means "the rock in the road." The road is the sea route for the Atlantic salmon on their journey west past Carrick Island. For over 350 years, fishermen have strung a rope bridge 90 feet above the sea to allow them to cross over to the best places to catch the migrating salmon. We were here not for the salmon but to cross the rope bridge.

I wasn't sure what to expect but I wasn't about to chicken out either. Talk about a group of grownup kids. . .It was a long walk and climb up and down to get to where the bridge is hung over the drop between the main shore and Carrick Island. An attendant sits in a shed at the top of the bridge and collects your ticket and instructs you that the bridge is one way only. If someone is coming toward you and on the bridge first they have the right of way. Oh, and no more than 8 on the bridge at a time.

Relief flowed over me when I saw that the rope bridge was really planking suspended by ropes and that I wasn't going to have to toe a rope like a circus performer. Actually it was easier to cross this rope bridge than the one in Disney World's Adventure Kingdom. It really didn't move much and no one was standing there jumping up and down to try to make you fall.

The island itself wasn't much more than a grassy covered rock. Probably a nice place to do some fishing from. Some of the shoreline was dramatic but we didn't spend a lot of time there. The adventure was in the bridge crossing.

On the way back, halfway across, I did aim the camera down for a view and snapped. I'm not sure I had my eyes opened looking down though. The last place you want to swoon from looking down 90 feet is in the middle of a rope bridge.

Beaches, Castles, and Irish Whiskey

2011-11-14T07:42:00.001-05:00

We arrived in Portush, Northern Ireland, on a nice warm and sunny afternoon. I was amazed at being this far north and finding a beach town that apparently is booming during the summer months. Who knew it would be that warm this far north? We kept hearing about the Gulf Stream reaching up in this direction but didn't realize just how much it affected the climate and water temperature.

Lunch was in a cafe we found along the main street of town. Again, the waitress was fascinated with us being Americans and choosing to visit Northern Ireland. Her only warning was, "Be careful in Belfast." Derry was a pleasant enough experience. Wouldn't Belfast be too? A little later we met some folks enjoying the sun from a park bench. They, too, thanked us for coming to Northern Ireland and were hopeful more tourists would venture north now that things were quiet.

We wandered the town a bit on a wild goose chase trying to find the TI which was actually marked by a large fake lighthouse that we could see but didn't know that was the TI. We passed the amusement park now closed for the season and ended up at the shore near a park area. Bob and I decided to explore the hill and see what kind of a view we could get. At the top of the cliff was a sign that declared this to be Ramore Head--which means Big Ring Fort.

Another ring fort? If so, this one had little left of the stones that had once been the fort. The sign also told us that we could see the hills of Donegal to the west--check. And the islands of Scotland to the north--not so clear. The two of us soaked in the view and the sun for a few minutes and then headed back down.

Our little tour group of four decided to take it slower the next couple of days. We had been spending lots of time in the car and it felt good to be in the wider open spaces of outdoors and our roomy B&B. Good thing because the next afternoon it rained so much that we spent it indoors in front of a wide screen TV watching--football? Rugby actually. We found it amusing that the rain did not deter the golfers on the course across the street from us.

The morning had started out all right, a bit damp but doable. We trekked off to the Bushmills Distillery to learn how Irish whiskey is made. Just as they had at the Guinness Storehouse, the end of our tour included a tasting of whiskey. I asked for the mildest flavor, sipped it, choked, wiped tears from my eyes, and totally remembered why I didn't like whiskey of any kind.

A ways down the road was another castle on our list to visit--Dunluce. It was probably the largest of all the medieval castles we'd seen so far although it wasn't in as great a shape. Some of it dates back to the 16th century to the original owners, the MacQuillans. Notice that it is a Scottish name. This area of Northern Ireland is very close to Scotland. If you go to this site for the castle, you'll find a virtual tour (it's on a sunny day!) and if you click for the Panorama view, as it pans across the water, in the distance you can see what I believe are the islands of Scotland.

Much of what survives was built by the next owners in the 17th century, the MacDonnell clan. They loved to entertain and the improvements they made to the castle centered on that. There is a large guest house that you pass by before going across a small bridge that leads to the main quarters where guests were entertained and the family lived.

Since the castle sits right on the cliff's edge which is continually wearing away from the elements of wind and water, it has lost some of its mortar and stone. Legend has it that one night the kitchen with all of its servants fell into the ocean and that was why the countess of Antrim packed up and moved inland. Perhaps, but there is still a large fireplace-like space marked "oven" in what appears to be the castle's kitchen. One look at that and I am so much more appreciative of my microwave.

County Donegal

2011-11-11T08:02:00.000-05:00

With Derry as our base for two nights, we were off to explore the area known as County Donegal. We had planned a route that we realized now was a bit too ambitious so we sat down and readjusted our expectations. The day before, on our way to Derry, we had stopped by Belleek Pottery which is just over the border of Northern Ireland from Donegal and gone on their tour. Watching the artisans at work took me back to my days in college as an art major working in my pottery class. Only we never worked with porcelain.

Much of the Belleek porcelain is made from slip, a more liquid clay than the red clay we had to work with and pound the air out of. The slip is poured into a mold and sets for a bit until it coats the mold with a thin layer. The excess is poured out and then it's left to dry before going into the kiln. There are several other steps including some glaze and adding decorative flowers and such made from a more solid porcelain clay.

The flowers that were added on to the vases were being made by one lady who was turning out tray after tray, each flower looking as good as the next. She was quite practiced at it. At another station, two women were using thin strings of clay that had been extruded through a machine (we always had to roll our clay into strips) and making open weaved porcelain baskets. Another was painting, with an extremely steady hand, shamrocks on a table full of dishes.

My walk through the retail area was short after a few glances at the prices. I kind of like my 40 year old stoneware that was a giveaway at the grocery store. If it breaks, it's no big deal.

Our day in Donegal was going to cover a few of the things originally on our list starting with Newmills Corn and Flax Mills. Fortunately we arrived a day before they were to close for the season. Unfortunately, the mill was not working because they were putting everything into winter storage. Still, we could not have asked for a more thorough tour.

The guide took us through the corn mill first explaining how things were done back in the 19th century. It was all very interesting but I was really wanting to see how the flax was prepared for weaving into linen. I know the process for cleaning, carding, spinning, and weaving of wool but I'd never worked with flax in my fabric arts class.

The flax plants had to be pulled out by hand so that none of the fiber inside the stems would be wasted. It is soaked in water and then spread out to dry. This does something to the pectin inside the stems that helps to loosen the fibers that will be extracted. The dried flax is put through fluted rollers to break up the outer bark of the stems. The broken bits that cling to the fiber are called shives. To remove them, the flax is put through a shiving machine which has rotating wooden paddles. If a shiver wasn't careful, he could loose a finger or two.

The flax fiber is then combed in preparation for spinning and then weaving. The mill only took it as far as the shiving. It was then shipped off to another place to be made into linen. One of the most amazing things I learned during the tour was that linen was used in the wings and fuselage of WWI and WWII planes. The reason? Linen was an extremely strong material yet when a plane took several bullets, they would pass through and the material would still hold its shape allowing the plane to hold together and hopefully land safely.

From the mills, we drove to Glenveagh Castle and were able to enjoy the gorgeous landscape and gardens during a sunny afternoon. The castle was built in the late 1800s and as all castles, has a lineage of owners. For more of its history, visit this site.

With the sun shining brightly, I spent a long time strolling through the gardens that were beginning to show the effects of the change of the seasons. There were still lots of brilliant blooms though and several butterflies. I could have lingered longer but we had one more spot we wanted to visit before going back into Derry.

Just outside of Derry, on a tall promontory, was another ring fort. But this time we really weren't there to see the ring fort. We were there to enjoy the view--even at the risk of being blown away, literally. The wind was so strong it was almost hard to stand against it. The fort was hard to find and we were aimlessly wandering down side roads until a lady pulled up along side us and got out to see if we needed help. When we told her what we were looking for, she started to tell us how to get there and then said just to follow her. I'm sure she wasn't headed in that direction but she went out of her way to be sure we found the right road to the fort.

That's how we found most of the Irish people. Willing to go out of their way to be friendly and helpful. They are a charming lot.

Derry or Londonderry?

2011-11-10T07:54:00.000-05:00

If you are driving into Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland the signs will read "Derry." When you are in Northern Ireland driving to the city, the signs will read "Londonderry." That is, if one faction or the other of the political divide hasn't painted in or blocked out the names on the signs. And that's only the tip of "The Troubles."

We arrived in the city close to noon which is when a tour of the wall that surrounds the old city was to begin. While we waited at the appointed spot just outside an indoor mall, we quickly downed some McD burgers. They don't quite taste the same as back home but we needed some sustenance before our hour long tour.

Our tour guide was excellent and began by reassuring us that Londonderry or Derry (he explained the name problem) was quite a safe city. "The Troubles" as the conflict between Protestant and Catholic political factions is called is said to have begun in 1963. As history was revealed to us though, it seems Ireland's troubles began way before that with the conflict between William of Orange (a Protestant king of England) and James II (Catholic heir to the English throne). They both fought for control of Ireland and Derry was the site of one of the battles with the town being besieged by James and defended by those loyal to William. The black and white sign pictured refers to the Protestant young men who closed the gates to the city and refused to surrender.

Did it have anything to do with religion? Maybe. But to my thinking, it was just how the line was drawn in the sand to defend the politics. In the sixties, our guide said, the Catholics who had been oppressed by the Protestants who were in power rose up and formed opposition which at times got very ugly when the two sides clashed. And so The Troubles began in earnest. I would suggest you search for information on the history of it all. I still am a bit confused by it. There is a lot to absorb.

The Good Friday Peace Agreement was the beginning of an easing of tension between the two sides. While some are still keeping to the efforts to kindle the disagreements, most are trying to live in peace. At some point, our guide said something to the effect that all had been peaceful for the last three years. Then in the next breath he applauded the local officials in capturing three IRA fellows who had a bomb in their car.

During The Troubles, there was one huge incident that happened in Derry--Bloody Sunday, January 30, 1972. A demonstration by Roman Catholic civil rights supporters turned violent and British paratroopers opened fire on the group killing 13 and wounding 14. For years it was a point of contention over who fired the first shot. (The story reminds me of the Kent State shootings.) Finally in 2010, resolution was made and Prime Minister David Cameron went before British parliament and apologized to the Irish people. The picture of a dove painted on a building is where the shooting took place.

Several other murals in the area mark the time of The Troubles including one called "The Death of Innocence." It shows a young girl of 14, Annette McGavigan, who died in 1971 when she was caught in crossfire. The butterfly over her shoulder was only recently painted in (2006). The artist left it in silhouette until he was sure peace had come.

On a lighter note, our guide also told us that the treed area of the wall was a spot where high society used to come and walk with their ladies on their arm as a way of showing off the high fashion of the era. The less fortunate would point fingers and say, "Look at those cats!" That's what gives us the term catwalk. Irish tale? I'm so suspicious.

When we finished our tour which took us about 3/4 of the way around the wall, we walked to the center of the walled city to admire the large department store that was celebrating its 150th anniversary. The outside was a lot more impressive than the inside. We didn't stop to shop.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-09T07:52:00.001-05:00

Sligo, Ireland--Another Day, Another Abbey

2011-11-08T07:29:00.001-05:00

Our drive from Westport to Sligo was unremarkable except for the always beautiful Irish countryside. I don't think I could ever have tired of the lush green fields, the purple heather, the sheep roaming everywhere, hillsides full of grazing cows, quaint cottages--some with thatched roofs, and spectacular skies that were ever shifting and changing their mood. Oh yes, there were some more modern areas that resembled our American shopping centers but they were few and far between.

For some reason, Rick Steves does not include Sligo or the area around it in his travel guide. Surprising since this area is famous for William Butler Yeats having spent some of his early years in Sligo and is buried in Drumcliff, just up the road. After many unflattering comments about Steves and his guidebook from those associated with the tourist industry in the Ireland we had already visited, I can't help but wonder if there wasn't a good reception for him there and he chose to keep it out.

The city of Sligo was actually quite nice I thought. There was a river running through it out to the Atlantic Ocean and several bridges that spanned it were very picturesque. We ate in a little cafe where the waitresses were excited to see Americans or foreign tourists for that matter. The farther north we traveled, the more we were a welcome sight. But more of that in posts to come.

We made our way over to the Sligo Abbey. Sligo also had a castle at one time but it did not survive the test of time. The Abbey has and part of that is due to the fact that the O'Conor Sligo family (obviously someone important) had made it the family burial place.

I was surprised to find a rood screen in stone here (the three small arches in the picture). We have run across rood screens in other old churches my first awareness of them being at a church in England where it was pointed out to me. I found that the rood screen was used as a way to separate the clergy from the laity.

There were quite a few graves in the floor of the Abbey and markers that stood as well marking places where people were buried. I have never quite understood how people concentrate on worship as the step over graves in the floor (Westminster Abbey is a good example).

The Dominican Friary that ran the Abbey was founded in the mid-13th century and the high sculpted altar that sits behind the rood screen dates back to the 15th century.

While I wouldn't go so far as to say "If you've seen one ruined Abbey, you've seen them all," but I had lost count of how many we'd been to. Not being an archaeologist or a historian, it all begins to blend together. I was beginning to get a better grasp on Irish history though and how religion played a part in dividing people politically. Sad that what God intended to bring people together could tear us apart so much--even today.

Connemara, Ireland

2011-11-07T07:07:00.000-05:00

Actually Connemara is not a town, city, or county. It names an area, the western portion of Galway County. Said to be one of the most beautiful areas of Ireland, we were excited to explore it. Several places were on our itinerary to stop. The first was Leam Bridge, famous for being in one of the scenes of the movie The Quiet Man starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. The movie itself was shot in the Connemara area and is about an Irish-American boxer, Sean Thornton, who accidentally killed a man in the boxing ring. They say it looks much the same as it did in 1951 when the film was made but others say that so many souvenir hunters have removed rocks that it must have been rebuilt three times since.

Moving on, we next stopped at the beautiful Kylemore Abbey. There is quite a beautiful and yet sad story that surrounds the Abbey. Originally a hunting lodge stood there and Mitchell Henry, a doctor, industrial tycoon, politician and pioneer, visited there with his new bride, Margaret, on their honeymoon in 1850. Margaret was so enamored by it that Mitchell returned and bought the property that included 15,000 acres as a gift for her. The hunting lodge became a fairytale castle with all the innovative and modern conveniences of the time.

Unfortunately by the time it was finished, Margaret had only a short while to enjoy it. In 1874, the couple travelled to Egypt where Margaret fell ill with dysentery and died leaving behind nine children and a husband with a broken heart. In her honor, he built a beautiful Neo-Gothic church to the east of the castle in her memory. That was where we began our tour.

The church has been wonderfully restored. The before and after pictures are amazing. There is every type of marble found in the Connemara area used in the decoration of the church. One of the stained glass windows made quite an impression on me and I posted about it as one of my Sunday Worship Thoughts.

Moving back to the main building which is now an Abbey run by Benedictine nuns, we began learning more about the history of Kylemore. Eventually, in 1903, the Henry's castle was sold to the Duke and Duchess of Manchester--King Edward VII having passed on it saying it was too expensive for a king. The Duke was actually broke from gambling debts and it was his wife's father, an American oil baron, who footed the bill for the castle. The castle passed through several hands until finally in 1920 the Benedictine nuns were able to purchase it.

There was until recently a famous international boarding school run by the nuns with such noted attendees as Angelica Houston and Indian Princesses of the Maharaja Ranjit. The Benedictine sisters still occupy the upper levels of the Abbey.

By the time we were on our way to the gardens of Kylemore, the sun was breaking out and, as the Irish say, it was going to be a glorious day. The 6 acre walled garden was blooming with color even though it was late in the year. The garden was quite innovative in its original building as there were steam pipes that connected to the greenhouses (two of which have been rebuilt) to give heat. We peeked into the gardener and head gardener's houses, the first being called a bothy (a hut or small cottage). As you can see in the pictures, rank had its privileges.

After a bowl of soup and the ever popular Irish brown bread, we continued on toward our destination for the night, Westport. We had been warned by other travelers we'd met that we would see lots of sheep in Connemara and that we did--close up!

The peat bogs were everywhere as well. The peat is dug up, dried, and used as fuel. It has a funky smell though that I found hard to place. Definitely not a wood fire, it was almost like burning oil.

As we reached the mountainous area where we would find Croagh Patrick, the mountain on which it is said St. Patrick fasted for 40 days and then rang a bell chasing all the snakes out of Ireland, we stopped by a very moving memorial. Between the mountains, is Doo Lough Valley and along the road is a stone cross memorial for the 200 who died crossing this valley during the potato famine. In 1849, 600 starving Irish walked 12 miles from Louisburgh to Delphi Lodge hoping to get food from their landlord but they were turned away. The 200 died along the side of the road on the walk back.

As we passed Croagh Patrick, we caught a glimpse of a white object way up on the summit. It was the statue of St. Patrick that pilgrims climb the mountain to reach and honor him by doing so--some in their bare feet. Hopefully they are remembering his work to bring Christianity to Ireland and not the snake thing. Today we know there never were any snakes in Ireland. Right?

Books For The Road - Shoo Fly Pie

2011-11-04T07:48:00.000-04:00

At a writer's conference, I heard Tim Downs speak. He was informative, funny, and encouraging. The publishing house gave each attendee out one of his books, Wonders Never Cease. While I enjoyed that read, I really wanted to get into his Bugman series and finally I have. Now I'm hooked.

Shoo Fly Pie is the first in his series. (For once I'm starting at the beginning.) I actually bought the book for my husband to read while we travel. He's never finished a book so quickly. He usually puts it down and lets it ferment a bit between readings. I caught him smiling and laughing out loud. I knew it had to be good.

The story is of a woman, Kathryn Guilford, who wants to investigate the death of a friend that was officially ruled a homicide. She can't believe it and goes in search of a man who's been reported to be an expert in forensic entomology. Translated, he used flies and beetles in all stages of life to determine how long a body has been dead and even if it's been moved. A problem arises when Dr. Nick "Bugman" Polchak insists she be part of the investigation. You see, Kathryn has a phobia--insects.

Downs' character, the Bugman, is a compilation of Indiana Jones, Monk, and CSI. He is delightful and his physical description as well as his personality lend to some fun times in the reading. Mystery and action are all part of the story as well which makes it a great mix.

I'm ready for the next book!

A Saturday in Galway

2011-11-03T07:17:00.000-04:00

Maybe it was because it was Saturday and many were enjoying a day off. Maybe it was because we didn't have to get in the car and drive anywhere that day. Maybe it was because it was a gloriously sunny day. Maybe it was all three but we thoroughly enjoyed our day dedicated to exploring the city of Galway.

Galway is a city that is more like a small town. There are no skyscrapers. No extremely tall buildings like in Dublin and Waterford and Belfast. We started our day getting information about a bus tour and then walking down to the Saturday market that stretched around the grounds of St. Nicholas Church. Since it was the annual Oyster Festival that weekend there was quite a display of oysters and a booth where you could have one shucked fresh for a euro. I passed but Bob enjoyed a couple later in the day.

We happened upon a farmer selling all sorts of eggs. I recognized the chicken eggs and the quail eggs but he had several large eggs that were cream colored with brown speckles. When I asked what kind they were I got quite a lesson in turkey eggs. It was great fun to listen to him.

The hop-on hop-off bus that did an old town tour was parked in front of the hotel near the TI when we returned. The tour was an hour long and took us out to some places that were a bit too far to walk. It also gave us a good chance to get oriented to where things were. And of course hear some of those great Irish tales.

Once back to our starting point, we hustled to the town square and watched the Oyster Festival ceremonies where the mayor was presented with the first oyster of the festival. She downed it in one gulp. Then there was a small parade around the town square to celebrate. It was all quite festive. The Oyster Festival itself however was very expensive to enter so we passed since we really aren't great oyster fans.

Bob and I started out for the Galway Cathedral we'd passed on the bus tour. It was a bit of a walk but a beautiful one as we found the path that followed the Friar's River. We strolled with all the others who were out enjoying the warm sunshine, blue skies, and fall colors.

The Cathedral is huge but inside it is certainly a place that welcomes worship. As stone Cathedrals go, this one is relatively young. Construction was begun in 1958 and it was dedicated in 1965. Mosaics and stained glass windows are featured in the sanctuary and the floors are made of a light green marble.

We found another route to walk down to the harbor of Galway where the Spanish Arches are. I was hoping we would find a restaurant with a view of the bay but no such luck. Instead, we found a small cafe that featured pizza and sandwiches. I saw nachos on the menu and ordered those breaking my rule of not eating Chinese, Mexican, etc. when you are not in China, Mexico, etc. I should have stuck to my rule.

The afternoon was spent wandering up and down the pedestrian mall and enjoying all the musicians that were set up every few feet and playing/singing their hearts out. Some were drowned out by others who set up amplifiers but we enjoyed some very traditional Irish music along the way as well as some more modern renditions. We stopped and watched a few minutes as a little boy broke out in spontaneous dance to the foot stomping music two musicians were playing.

It was planned that the four of us would meet at Taaffes Pub around 4 so that we could secure a seat for the traditional Irish music session that was scheduled to begin at 5. It was an interesting hour watching people come and go and mingle and mingle some more. Finally, about fifteen minutes before five, a bartender came and placed a "reserved for musicians" sign on the table next to us. At least we were sitting in good seats.

At five two musicians made their way to the table. The bartender placed a Guinness down for one and a cup of coffee for the other (Irish coffee?). One got out his fiddle and the other his guitar. Before they got started, my brother-in-law leaned over to the one with the fiddle and asked, "You're not Irish, are you?"

The guy shrugged a little, shook his head slightly and said, "No."

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-02T07:53:00.000-04:00

The Aran Islands

2011-11-01T07:37:00.000-04:00

Another ring fort? I groaned. How many circles of stones do we need to see? But this one was on an island, Inishmore in the Aran Islands, and said to have a spectacular view. What the tour guide didn't say was how far UP you had to walk to get that view.

We arrived on the 10:30 ferry from Rossaveal and were met with a dozen or more vans and as many horse carts all clamouring for our attention. If it hadn't been so cold and drizzly, I'd have sworn we were in the Caribbean. We took the first van whose driver approached us and climbed in. For 10 euros each we were about to get a tour of the island.

The tour went something like this: "This is the grocery store. This is where we recycle. That's a house that caught fire and burned the thatched roof off. . ." There were only two significant places we stopped and one of those was the ring fort, Dun Aonghasa. He let us out and said we had two hours to explore, have lunch or a cup of tea, and do a little shopping (there were two tiny gift shops there).

We decided it might be prudent to have lunch first before we began the trek to the fort. The Cafe was quaint with a nice fireplace warming it up and making it cozy. The vegetable soup was delicious and fortified us. We were soon ready for our climb.

It took about 25 minutes to walk/climb to the fort stopping several times along the way to "take pictures"--my way of catching my breath. The fort was larger than the others we'd seen but this one certainly did have quite a view. We rested. Took pictures. Then looked at the return path. From this vantage point, it was all downhill. Thank goodness!

We killed a little time in the gift shops and right on time, our van showed up with our driver. The trip along the coastal road back to the ferry dock was pretty much like the first of our tour: "That's the school. That's the graveyard. That's where the seals would be if the tide was in. . ."

We arrived at the little town area about two hours before our scheduled return trip. Once we'd wandered through the sweater outlet, there wasn't much else to do. We found a cafe in an inn across from the ferry dock and stopped in for a very slowly sipped cup of tea. The ride back on the ferry was exhilarating. At least it was for me. The rest of our group fell asleep. I enjoyed the ride as the ferry literally surfed the big waves on the way back to mainland. It's my kind of surfing.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner at the Castle?

2011-10-31T07:18:00.001-04:00

About a half hour outside of Galway in Kinvarra lies Dunguaire Castle. It is also called a Tower House, a tall square stone structure built with a commanding view and towering over enemies so that it would be easier to defend. This one was built around 1520 by the O'Hynes clan who were basically farmers. The location on the water made it easier for them to take their goods into Galway to sell as the area around them was very boggy and difficult to travel by land.

In 1642, the mayor of Galway, Richard Martyn, owned the castle and modernized it with glass windows and chimneys. The castle was not updated much in the 1700s perhaps due to the fact that the Martyn's were Catholic and were just lucky enough to hold on to the property even though the penal laws forbid Catholic ownership. The Martyn family held the property until 1924.

When Dunguaire was purchased by Lady Christobel Amptill after World War II, it was in ruins. In 1954, she began restoring it and added living quarters as well as a garage. The modern-looking apartment in the picture was her main living quarters. She lived there for almost 20 years and eventually sold the castle in 1972 to Shannon Development to be preserved as a historical building.

Our self-guided tour through the castle was part of the tickets we had purchased in advance for the evening Medieval banquet. We did the tour in the afternoon and then hustled to our B&B in Galway so that we could freshen up and return for the banquet.

Legend has it that King Guaire looked out his window one day and saw 150 poets who requested his hospitality for a festival. The request was immediately granted as in Gaelic custom hostpitality was highly regarded and a king's greatest gift was generosity. Each night a banquet was held and poets would recite and musicians play. The festivities continued on for a year and a half. Ours would not last that long.

The evening was outstanding. The banquet hall holds about 50 people. Our host and hostess were also our entertainers and servers for the evening. I don't know how they did it all. We were seated and a "king" was appointed to reign over the event. The evening continued with Irish tales and stories and lots of song. Our hostess looked so much like our niece that it was almost uncanny.

The "servants" from the kitchen brought the food up. It was plated and passed out to us. The terrible part is that I can't remember what we ate. The good part is that it was probably because we were having such a good time listening to the entertainers. I do remember there being plenty of food.

The entertainment for the evening included a wonderful harpist who accompanied the singers/performers. The fare for the evening included many stories, songs, and tales from the many famous Irish authors, poets, and composers including such notables as Yeats, Joyce, and Wilde. This would definitely be a redo if we ever visit Ireland again.

Books for the Road - The 1st To Die

2011-10-28T07:36:00.000-04:00

The 1st To Die is the first in a series of books featuring the Women's Murder Club. Lindsay Boxer is a homicide detective in the San Francisco police department who pulls together three other women, a DA, a forensic medical examiner, and a reporter to form a group who brainstorm and investigate a killer who is murdering newly wed couples. Lindsay is also dealing with her own mortality as she has been diagnosed with a possibly fatal disease. Add to that the complication of falling for her new partner assigned for this case and you have quite a complicated emotional plot line.

James Patterson takes you on the emotional journey with Lindsay right up to the very end with a twist I didn't expect. I enjoyed the characters and will probably try out the second in the series to see if they are just as strong and the story just as exciting.

I do believe this is one of the books that James Patterson actually wrote himself. So many now are written under his tutelage by other authors. It's a good read for the road.

Doolin and the Burren

2011-10-27T07:01:00.000-04:00

Doolin was probably the smallest town we stayed in. You truly could not blink or you'd miss it. Once we checked in at our B&B, we headed off to the two pubs that were recommended by our host for dinner. One, O'Conners, was obviously full of people since there were a couple of tourist buses parked nearby. We discovered later that it was because the traditional Irish musicians were playing through the dinner hours. Usually the pubs didn't start live music until 9:30 p.m. or later.

Undaunted, we turned around and headed the other direction and up a little farther on the hillside to McGann's. We were rewarded with what I would call a true town pub as you might imagine it. An all wood interior with heavy wooden tables and stools rather than chairs. We ordered at the bar and our food was delivered to us at a table. I had the biggest hamburger I've seen in quite a while and the French fries were quality. In Ireland, they fry them the old fashioned way--real lard.

After a great breakfast at our B&B, we were on the road again and headed for the area known as the Burren. It literally means "the rocky place" and that it was. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Our first stop was at the "gateway to the Burren," Kilfenora. The site to see here was the Kilfenora Cathedral that dates back to 1189. While the cathedral is actually in ruins, it still holds several high crosses (standing crosses with a circle) the most famous of which is the Doorty Cross because of its carving of a bishop on it. Apparently during the potato famine in order for the very poor church to survive, the Pope declared himself bishop of the area.

Next up was the 15th century Leamaneh Castle. Only a shell now at one time it was a fortified tower house. As less fortification was needed, the house was expanded and the windows were enlarged. It was a bit eerie to see large blackbirds flying around inside. All it needed was a scraggly old tree outside, a little twilight, and a moon rising behind it and, well, you get the picture. Lots of stories of the owners are told here at this site if you're interested.

We pulled into the parking area to see another ring fort and I have to confess, I was up to my ears in ring forts and their history. Just inside the pretty little cottage entrance to the fort was a very inviting cafe with tea and scones. I opted out of the ring fort excursion and had some quiet time enjoying a scone with whipped cream and jam.

Between the fort and our next stop the Poulnabrone we drove through the Burren and marveled at the landscape. It was no wonder there was not much farming in this area. It would have been near impossible to remove that many stones to make the land farmable. For as far as the eye could see there were rolling hills and mountains of stone with a little greenery tossed in between.

The Poulnabrone or "portal tomb" we stopped to see was truly in the middle of nowhere. It is said to be 5,000 years old and archaeologists discovered remains of more than 30 people there. While the tomb is interesting it is far more interesting to wander over the limestone formations there. Crevices in the limestone formed by water erosion are called Grikes and the blocks that are formed are called Clints. Here and there you will find a hole in the limestone formed by rainwater dissolving the limestone. These are call Kamenitza and look like nature's flower pots. A little soil forms in the bottom, a seed falls, and with a little coaxing from nature, you have a blooming plant.

The Burren is said to be at its best when the wildflowers are in bloom. While we found a few, I can imagine that at the right time of year it must truly be spectacular. Wonder exactly when that is? Time for research. My bucket list is growing again.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-26T07:52:00.000-04:00

The Cliffs of Moher, Ireland's beautiful coast

2011-10-25T07:12:00.001-04:00

Maybe growing up near a body of water has made me fond of the sea--although the coast of Lake Erie in no way compares to the dramatic sea coast of western Ireland. I love the power and majesty presented in the meeting of land and water, the changing of colors as the sun rises and sets, and certainly the mystery of what the deep waters might hold. That is why I was so excited to visit the Cliffs of Moher.

The Cliffs of Moher stand 200 meters (about 600 feet) high above the Atlantic Ocean. Almost 1900 miles to the west of them lies Newfoundland and North America. (I recall seeing a sign advertising a bar along the way that was "closest to New York City.")

The cliffs are said to be formed from compacted mud, silt, and sand washed down toward the sea over 320 million years ago. Doesn't seem like that would be very sturdy made from those elements but they stand strong and tall as the sea assaults them.

Wind whipped at us as we walked the trails to get a good view of the cliffs. It blows so strong at times that small streams flowing over the cliffs are actually blown back and up. Unfortunately the time of day, late afternoon, put the sun in a bad position for good picture taking but we still managed some good shots.

As we wandered the grassy knoll to O'Brien's Tower, a viewing point built for tourists in 1835, I couldn't help but think of Wuthering Heights and Heathcliff and Catherine. Are the Yorkshire moors like this? Some day I'll have to see.

Dingle to Loophead

2011-10-24T07:31:00.003-04:00

Only in Ireland can you find lyrical names for towns like Dingle and Doolin. Sadly we said goodbye to Dingle. I could have lingered there. If we ever return to Ireland, it will be top on my list. We drove along the coast to Tralee and then headed north to Tarbert where we boarded a ferry to cross the Shannon Estuary to Killimer. Of course we stopped along the way for pictures. You don't accumulate over 1400 pictures without stopping here and there.

We traveled out the Loophead Peninsula to the Loophead Lighthouse. Why? I can't remember. It was a long trip out there and the closer we got the more the weather deteriorated. But there it was--a beautiful white lighthouse sitting on the rugged coast of West Clare. We were warmly welcomed by the two men who were manning the lighthouse--actually they were there primarily for the tourists, I think.

While the group ahead of us explored the lighthouse, we sat in a small cozy room and watched a video of all the things to see in the area which was very informative and came in handy later. When our turn came, one of our hosts announced that we would be delayed. A heavy rainshower had moved in and the winds had picked up. Even if we didn't blow off the top of the lighthouse, we wouldn't be able to see much. He gave us the option of waiting it out.

After two weeks of seeing Ireland's weather changes, we decided to wait. We knew the weather changed faster than it did in Cleveland (a local joke) and it had been a long drive for nothing if we didn't get to the top. Sure enough in about ten minutes, he announced that it had cleared enough for us to safely make it to the top.

Our guide to the lighthouse gave us the pertinent information before we began our climb. The first lighthouse on Loophead was built back in 1670 and was basically a platform on the roof of the keeper's house where a coal burning brazier or chauffer (a metal container for hot coals) was positioned. In 1802 it was replaced by a more conventional lighthouse with a lantern. Along the way to present day, a fog horn was installed (but discontinued in 1972) and electricity added. Today the lighthouse is completely automatic and actually monitored from Dublin. With modern GPS direction today, lighthouses are really becoming decorative.

We climbed the curving stairway to the top. Just before he opened the door, the guide told us to hold onto our glasses or anything else not attached permanently to us. The wind was ferocious. This was not an Irish tall story. It was. And the rain was still coming down although it had slowed some. Our view was a bit foggy. This is what we would have seen if it had been a clear weather day.

Wet but refreshed, we got in the car and drove back to the main road to our next stop--The Cliffs of Moher.

Dingle--the town, the bay, and Fungie!

2011-10-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Dingle was a sweet little town on the Dingle Peninsula along the west coast of Ireland. Our second day spent there, we tried to take a boat trip from there to the Blasket Islands which were supposed to be very interesting in history as well as wildlife. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate. The wind blew strong and the seas were a bit too high for the tourist boat to comfortably make it there and back. We opted instead to wander through the Blasket Island information center and exhibition and then spend some time in Dingle and take a trip into the Dingle Bay to see the town's big tourist attraction--Fungie!

But I'll save Fungie for last. Our walk through town took us to several points of interest pointed out in Rick Steves tour guide but our biggest interest lay in seeing the much talked about stained glass windows of Diseart. Diseart is a cultural program housed in St. Joseph's Convent where the stained glass windows of Harry Clark can be seen. They were well worth the stop and climb to the chapel.

There are twelve windows in all that show six scenes from the life of Christ. For a long time after they were installed in 1922, they were only appreciated by the sisters of the convent but have since become open to the public. Upon entering, you are given a guide to the windows which give the scripture verses from which the scene is taken. They are stunning. The detail is magnificent and the colors rich and vibrant. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures although bits of the windows are illustrated here.

Outside the church, we wandered a bit in the gardens that were so peaceful. I imagined many of the sisters enjoying times of prayer there.

We gathered on the downtown dock near the information center at our appointed time for our Dingle Bay tour. The harbor is full of fishing boats like the one I have pictured here. Once out on the water, you can see the beautiful rolling green hillsides of the farmland that Dingle is surrounded by.

Of course while the Bay is picturesque, the main selling point of the boat tour is the promised sighting of the Bay's resident dolphin--Fungie! In 1983, a dolphin took up residence in the Bay and has never left. To the delight of tourists and of course the tourism industry in the little town, Fungie appears almost every time the tour boat goes into the harbor. So much so that if you don't see Fungie, you don't pay for the trip. Money is only collected after the sighting. There are signs all over the town advertising Fungie and a special sculpture near tourist central.

While Fungie was sighted by us and swam around the boat several times playing in the wake, he didn't do any tricks. But then this poor guy has been earning his keep for quite a while now and in dolphin years he's getting up in age. They can live to 40 but the average age is 25 and he's already exceeded that. Wonder what they'll do when he's gone?

The Dingle Peninsula, Ireland

2011-10-20T07:24:00.001-04:00

One of my very favorite parts of this Ireland trip was our time spent on the Dingle Peninsula. It started with a beautiful B&B, The Greenmount House, to stay in for three days. The B&B sits up on a hill overlooking pastures and the Dingle Bay in the distance. Our room faced that view and in the bayed window, had two very comfortable easy chairs to cozy up in.

Our drive around the peninsula was a bit more pleasant than the Ring of Kerry, I thought. The sides of the road were not as hedged in and so there was more to see. One of our first stops along the way was the Dunbeg Promontary Fort, another ring fort, very small, however there was apparently more area below ground in the mounds surrounding it. Our question was who would you defend against? Surely no one would be foolish enough to try to scale the cliffs from the sea and we didn't think anyone would back themselves up to the cliff's edge to defend someone coming at them from the land. I'm sure there was good reason. We just couldn't see it.

To get to the fort on the cliff's edge, we had to walk a path that ran alongside a stone fence. These stone fences are found all over Ireland. In order to do any planting, farmers had to pick stones from the fields. Instead of hauling them over any distance, they made fences around their fields. Some of the fences have been there for centuries and are only held together by the clever way they were stacked.

Another stop a little further up the road was to see some houses that had survived from the time of the potato famine. If you spend any time at all looking at Ireland's history, you cannot miss the potato famine of the 1840s. Groups of cottages were made up of a house for the main farmer and then smaller peasant cabins. The particular group we visited had been inhabited right up through the 1960s and fixed with electricity at one point. They are now just a tourist attraction and have several mannequins set up in period clothing to depict the famine years.

Along with the famine houses, as they were called, were several fenced areas containing some farm animals. As we paid our two euros at the entry, someone on their way out mentioned that there were a couple of goats on the loose. The guy collecting entry fees whistled to the two sheep dogs he had nearby and yelled something to them--possibly in Gaelic since I didn't understand what he said. They took off up the hill. A while later, we were entertained by their shenanigans in trying to get the loose goats back in the pen. As you can see in the picture, the dogs weren't above terrorizing the goats into submission.

The other significant stop we made--other than lunch which was always significant--was an oratory, the Gallarus Oratory. It is an 8th century church used by early farmers in the area for worship. Shaped like an upside down boat, the stones are so well laid that it stays dry inside even in the rains that hit this area. It is about 24 feet long, 15 feet wide and 15 feet high and would fit a very small congregation.

Instead of parking in the large lot and going through the visitor center, we parked on a side road nearer the oratory and a bit shorter walk. It was also quite a beautiful walk as the path was lined with fuchsia bushes that were so thick they gave us shelter from the strong winds blowing that day.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-19T07:50:00.000-04:00

Muckross and Derrynane Houses

2011-10-18T07:15:00.000-04:00

Several places were suggested for stops along the way as we traveled through Kerry and on to the Dingle peninsula. One of our stops was the elegant Muckross House in the Killarney National Park. The house was built in 1839-1843 for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife, Mary Balfour Herbert, who was known for her watercolors some of which are displayed in the house.

A later owner's love of hunting is evident everywhere in the house but mostly in the original entryway and center upper hallway. Some of the deer heads are stuffed. Others are mounted in the old style of earlier years before taxidermy was prevalent. They are mere skulls of the deer, antlers attached of course, and dates and names of the successful hunter engraved on the bleached bone.

The big event that marks this house is the visit of Queen Victoria in 1861. The Herberts spent years and much of their fortune preparing for the visit in the hopes that it would give them favor and secure a position for them in the royal order of things. Victoria stayed for two nights and according to the press enjoyed her visit immensely. Bad luck for the Herberts followed however when a few months later, Prince Albert, Victoria's husband died of typhoid. In her grief and mourning, the queen forgot all about the Herberts and elevating them to a higher position. Eventually, their fortune depleted, they forfeited their home to the financial institution that held their mortgage.

We had no idea who Daniel O'Connell was when we stopped at the Derrynane House where he grew up visiting his uncle and then eventually buying the home. History is always so much more fun to learn when you can "walk" through it. Daniel O'Connell was a lawyer, politician, and statesman in the 1800s and was known as "the liberator" because of his work to win political rights for Irish Catholics. His approach was a peaceful one which upset another movement for freedom for Ireland who felt his methods were too slow. O'Connell was hailed as a champion of liberty and democracy throughout Europe.

By the time we were done going through the house, we were quite impressed with him as well. He was anti-slavery and welcomed Fredrick Douglass when the abolitionist visited Ireland. One of the tour guides gave me a quote that is accredited to Douglass upon his observing O'Connell's eloquence with speech. His words, said Douglass, are "like a summer thunder-shower upon a dusty road." As a writer, it gave me something to ponder.

Ring of Kerry

2011-10-17T07:59:00.001-04:00

Was it really Day 9 of our trip around Ireland? After an overnight stay in Kenmare, we set out early in the morning to drive the Ring of Kerry which is actually a scenic tourist route on Iveragh Peninsula in southwest Ireland. According to our Rick Steves guide, we were supposed to go in a counter-clockwise direction. Our problem was that we were not going to complete the circuit and we wanted to end up in Dingle. It was more to our advantage, even if it meant meeting up with large tourist buses on small roads to go the opposite direction. Actually, it wasn't all that big a deal.

Along the way, we found some truly beautiful spots but much of the road traveled was not only narrow but edged by thick hedges and/or stone walls. One of the most common repairs needed on rental cars is the replacement of the side mirrors. Pass a few cars on a road like that and you can understand why. Each close call was answered with, "We still have the mirrors!"

On our way down a narrow road, we were met by a herd of sheep coming down the middle of the road straight at us. We stopped the car and waited and a few seconds later, the shepherd came around the curve in the road--in his van--with the sheepdog nipping at the tires. Modern day shepherding, I guess. By the way, you'll notice in the picture that the sheep have bright colors on them. This is the way the owners can tell which sheep are theirs. Each owner has their own colors and design. Most of the sheep we came upon throughout our trip were not behind fences but roaming wherever the grazing was best.

One of our stops along the Ring of Kerry drive was a stone ring fort. There are a lot of these in Ireland and it is kind of a seen-one-seen-them-all experience. This was our first and we found it interesting enough. We parked along the road that ended in a farmstead. A gate across the path to the fort had a homemade sign next to a coin box that asked for one euro entrance fee.

While the fellas were fishing for euro coins in their pockets, I kept hearing a the sweetest chirp of a bird. It sounded so close to me. Just about the time I was ready to break out in a rendition of one of the Disney princesses' songs, I spotted the little bird in the bush. He cocked his head in several different poses as he looked me over and chirped away. Only when I got really close with my camera did he fly away. Later I would learn that the bird was an Irish robin and was as tame as a wild bird gets.

We explored the Staigue Fort, a round fort made out of stones that have no mortar to hold them together. It is said to date back to the early centuries AD before Christianity reached Ireland. The walls were about eighteen feet high in the tallest parts and were about twelve feet thick. It was only about 90 feet in diameter but was said to hold the chieftain's family, guards, and servants. I couldn't imagine too many people concentrated into that small an area. I think there may have been some living space inside the walls but not much. It is amazing how perfectly it has survived though.

The fort was interesting but I found the skies held my focus even more. Ireland seemed to have such dramatic skies. Clouds raced across them at times. They were constantly changing. Sunny and blue one moment and dark and foreboding in the next. The reason Ireland is so green is because it rains--a lot. Although most of our days had at least some rain, usually drizzly, there were always long periods that were dry and sunny.

Everywhere we went we found bright red and purple fuchsia bushes. Hardy bushes with thick sturdy branches. They formed many of the hedges we drove past. Somewhere along the way, we found a sign that told us the fuchsias were originally from Chile and took well to the Irish climate. There was no denying that. And at least they were a little softer to brush against with your side mirror than a stone wall.

On our way back from the fort along the very narrow road with a grassy middle to the main road we were bouncing along and up a small incline. Suddenly as we topped the hill, we were met by another car coming straight at us. My brother-n-law followed his natural instinct and veered right. (Remember we should be driving on the left.) At the same time, the other car veered sharply to his right. We sat a bit and laughed hard at our near miss. We'd obviously met another American driver--thank goodness!

So, What is a cozy mystery?

2011-10-14T07:29:00.001-04:00

When I began writing Murder Among The Orchids, I was just having fun writing a mystery with a kooky character that I fell in love with as she developed. It wasn't until I began to shop it around to publishers that I realized it was really a cozy--well, almost. The editor said she really needed to have a cat. I'm not a cat-person. I would have had a hard time writing in a cat but I thought a plant might solve the problem. After all, didn't that gardener named Jerry suggest that plants were like people and you should talk to them? People talk to cats. I rest my case.

Seriously, cozy mysteries do include some common elements: usually a very likable woman who inadvertently becomes an amateur detective--a sleuth; humor; a small town setting; and the list goes on. If you'd like a truly good run down of what a cozy mystery is, I found the Cozy Mystery List site explains it as well as anyone. When I searched for a definition this site was referred to by countless others trying to explain what a cozy is.

If you are looking for some light reading, a cozy may be exactly what you need. Oh, and one other thing--the sleuth always "gets her man."

No Baloney--It's the Blarney Stone!

2011-10-12T08:34:00.006-04:00

Do you know the difference between baloney and blarney? Baloney is when you tell a 50 year old woman that she looks like she's 18. Blarney is when you ask a woman how old she is because you want to know at what age women are most beautiful. Or so one of the signs said as we made the climb up to the top of the Blarney Castle to see the infamous stone.

We had determined well before our trip that we would not be kissing the Blarney Stone. As I showed in a previous post, you have to lay on your back, stretch out over an open space with a drop of about a 100 feet below you and stick your lips on a stone that countless others have slobbered on. Nope. Not gonna do it.

The castle was an interesting visit however. You climb very narrow stone steps to get to the various levels. The kitchen had a huge place that at one time must have been the fireplace where food was cooked over an open fire. It was about halfway up to the dining area which means that food would have had to be carried up to the kitchen to cook and then carried up more steps to the dining hall. Guess that's why you had servants.

The castle was built back in the 1480s by Cormac Laidir (the Strong) MacCarthy and was said to have come from quite a noble lineage. He was probably the first occupant but was shortly killed by his brother who in turn was killed by Cormac's son. Quite an unsettling start to the castle's history.

As ancient castles go, the actual building went through many changes--additions, repairs because of fire, etc. But this castle holds the legend of the Blarney Stone endearing it to so many throughout the world. Legend says that a descendant of the first Cormac, Sir Cormac MacDermod tried to play both sides during the Nine Years War (1594-1603) when the native Gaelic aristocracy came together in open defiance of the English Crown. The term "Blarney" came to refer to smoothly flattering and cajoling talk.

While I fully believe that some are born with the gift of Blarney, the Monsignor Fulton Sheen had this to say, "Baloney is flattery laid on with a trowel. Blarney is flattery laid on with the lips; that is why you have to kiss a stone to get it."

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-12T07:56:00.000-04:00

Kinsale, Ireland

2011-10-11T07:32:00.002-04:00

After Dublin and Waterford, it was nice to spend some time in a small town and Kinsale was all you could hope for in a quaint Irish community. Our Bed and Breakfast was in a historic building dating back to the 1800s that used to be the residence of the priests of the parish church. It was only a few steps from the main part of town.

Our first order of business was to take a historic walk of the town. Dermot Ryan's Heritage Tour had come highly recommended through Tripadvisor and Rick Steves' book on Ireland. He was a wealth of knowledge and took us through the town relating interesting bits of history using lots of illustrations that he had organized in a looseleaf binder. Why so many drawings? Because many of the very historical markers of the town had been destroyed. Still, it gave us a look into a history we were just beginning to grasp of Ireland.

Some of the buildings were painted in very bright colors. In Dublin, we had seen some very colorful doors and the story was that they were different colors so that the Irish husbands who stopped by the pub on the way home from work would be able to tell which home was theirs after their pints of Guinness. But it sounds like the colorful buildings and doors we ran across were more a statement of independence from the rule of the British royalty years before that demanded bland colors.

The harbor was full of boats but some sat on the bottom as the tide went out. The level of the water would drop about 8 feet. It was amazing to see the difference when the tide came in again.

After our dinner at the Crackpot Restaurant--all the restaurants seemed to have funky names like Fishy Fishy, The White House, Man Friday and the Stolen Pizza among them--we walked over to the Tap Tavern to get in on the Kinsale Ghost Tour. I was a little leery of this but it turned out to be great fun.

Two fellows are involved. One takes you around the town after dark and tells tales and stories of some of the folk lore. The other dresses like some of the characters in the stories and runs through the crowd in several places like a ghost run amok. It really wasn't scary and was more history and lots of fun. They ended with a tale of The White Lady who haunts the fort there. She lost her brand new husband through a serious of mishaps that all started with her wanting some flowers that grew on a cliff. We thought the story was a made up Irish tale but when we went to the fort the next day, there on one of the placards describing some of the history was the same story.

Bottom line: the Irish have a great way of sharing their history and spin a great yarn doing it.

Cobh Heritage Center, Ireland

2011-10-10T07:28:00.000-04:00

Cobh is known as the city with three names. Originally its name was Cove, named because it was located in the cove of the harbor of Cork. But after 1849 it became known as Queenstown, named after Queen Victoria who visited the town. It seems Victoria loved to change the names of places she visited. Over the course of our visit in Ireland, we found lots of Queens Streets and names with Victoria in them that stem from her visits all over Ireland. But in 1920, it took back its original name only in the Irish form, Cobh. The name change occured at a time when Ireland was establishing its freedom from British reign.

The American connection to Cobh is through a young woman named Annie Moore who left this port on a steamship, the Nevada, on the 20th of December, 1891 with her two brothers bound for New York to join her parents who had already immigrated to the U.S. On the first of January, 1892, she was the first person to be processed at the brand new facility just opened on Ellis Island. For the distinction, she received a $10 gold piece.

Many Irish immigrated from this port to escape the extreme poverty brought on by the potato famine in the 1840s. When families or members of families decided to emmigrate to America, the remaining family and friends would hold what they called an American Wake. Now we all are familiar with the stories of Irish Wakes. These were the same type of celebration--dancing, singing, fiddling, and drinking. Quite a send off.

Cobh is also connected to the famous ship, the Titanic. This was her last stop before setting out for New York. With our fascination for all things Titanic, we couldn't pass up the chance to go through the exhibit that was set up. Since Cobh was not a deep water port, the ship had to anchor in the outer harbor and provisions and last minute passengers, both first and second class, were loaded by way of tenders. Enterprising shopkeepers also used small boats and tenders to take their fine linens, lace, and souvenirs out to the huge ship so they could sell their wares to the wealthy passengers on board.

One of the exhibits was set up to look like one of the staterooms. While I don't think this was the finest accommodation, judging from the fur in the box on the bed it had to be at least one of the first class or second class. Certainly not steerage. And certainly not what today's cruiser experiences.

The Kennedy Homestead in Ireland

2011-10-07T06:42:00.005-04:00

The Kennedy Homestead was not an easy place to find. As a matter of fact, we thought we might be in danger of losing one of our side mirrors to get there. The roads in Ireland are labeled with an M, N, R, or L. The M roads are super highways, nicely paved, 4 to 6 lanes and usually divided. The N roads are at least two lanes and usually paved well although there were some that could have used another topping of asphalt. The R roads are a little iffy. They are almost two lanes but can sometimes become more like one lane. They sometimes have a dashed line down the middle.

But the L roads. . .well, these are anything. They are usually only one lane with hopefully enough room to pass the oncoming car. If not, you back up to a wider spot or inch your way along and tuck in your side mirrors to pass. Side mirrors are the one thing replaced most often on Irish rental cars. Why? In addition to the narrow road, there are often stone walls lining the street covered with vines or hedges making them appear softer than they are. And then when you see grass growing in the middle of the road, you know you are on a back road--probably a LL.

Such was the road we found ourselves on to get to the Kennedy Homestead. Just finding the turnoff to the road was a challenge since the direction we came from didn't have it marked well. But it was worth the bumping, the dodging of cars, and the whomping of bushes against the car doors.

We were welcomed by a descendant of the Kennedys whose grandmother had welcomed JFK on his visit to the homestead in 1963 just a few months before his death. He took us into a viewing room where we watched a ten minute video of the visit. For a few minutes, we were transported back in time to see the president that had made such an impact on our lives when we were teens and young adults.

Once the video was finished, we were escorted around the small grounds that we had seen in the video. It is hard to imagine how they fit so many people into that courtyard for his visit that included tea and sweets for all provided by the locals. It was a down-home get together for all the world to see.

Our host pointed out the collected documents that show the lineage of the Kennedys. Patrick, of course, being the one who went to America. Our host's theory was that he went for love not for money. The Kennedys were in a situation that was much better than most during the potato famine and he wouldn't have had to emigrate to the U.S. because of financial problems.

It is a great story and he told it well including all the details of the story told him by his grandmother of JFK's visit. In the middle of his talk, a beeper went off. He apologized. "Wife's workin'. I need to turn the oven off. Dinner's cookin'."

He stuck the beeper back in his pocket and went on prompting all the wives in the group to worry about an overcooked meal. Finally one lady said, "We'll wait if you want to go over and turn the oven off."

"Naw," he replied just like a man, "It's okay."

The tour over, we were left to wander the out buildings a bit, read the tidbits of ancestry, and peruse the pictures. Our host disappeared long enough to turn off his oven. Meanwhile, we found a wreath in one of the small buildings that JFK had placed at the graves of those executed in the 1916 Rising. It was given to the Kennedy family.

Bob couldn't stand it. He had to ask. "What's for dinner?"

"Some kind of spaghetti thing," he answered. "Bolognese?"

"Ah, my favorite! What time's dinner?"

Having spent enough time in Ireland at this point, I almost expected him to tell Bob, "Why don't you stay."

Hook Head Lighthouse, Ireland

2011-10-06T07:15:00.001-04:00

We wound our way through the streets of Waterford to find the laundrette that was recommended to us. It was time to get some clean clothes. Four people in a VW Passat--you definitely want clean clothes. The laundrette charged by the pound but it was worth it. We only had room for a small carry-on sized piece of luggage each. Four of them fit snugly in the trunk along with our small backpacks for travel.

After leaving the laundry for pickup at the end of the day, we turned the car toward our first destination of the day, Hook Head Lighthouse. At Passage East just a bit outside of Waterford, we took a ferry across the River Suir to Ballyhack on drove on to the lighthouse that sits out at the point Hook Head Peninsula. It was built back in the 13th century by the Earl of Penbrook to help his ships navigate into Waterford Harbor.

We climbed the 115 steps to the top for a view of the seaside. The lighthouse has been fully automated since 1996 and is one of the oldest operational lighthouses in the world.

As an interesting side note, Cromwell is said to have coined the phrase "by Hook or by Crooke" when he said he would take Waterford. Hook refers to the Peninsula and Crooke to a small town further in toward Waterford.

We took time for a morning tea break. It's hard to pass up the smell of fresh scones. As I walked out of the cafe, I went through a small art center that holds classes for children during the summer. The artist/teacher also holds watercolor classes for adults. We struck up a conversation and compared notes about teaching art. Who's easier to teach? We both agreed. Kids!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-05T08:01:00.000-04:00

Waterford Crystal

2011-10-04T07:44:00.000-04:00

While glass making in Ireland dates back to the 13th century, the Waterford Crystal that is so famous was begun in 1783 when two brothers, George and William Penrose, started their crystal making in the town of Waterford. They were renowned for their crystal but unfortunately less than 100 years later, the company failed. In 1947, a crystal company was started up again in Waterford. This time the company flourished and, as they say, the rest is history.

Recently the company reduced its size and moved its headquarters into the city. A couple thousand employees, including artisans, were laid off. What has happened, we suspect, is that many of the artisans have set up their own small shops in other towns throughout Ireland. There is crystal to be had almost any where you turn.

The tour through the Waterford complex was a lot nicer than we expected. We actually got to see close up how the crystal pieces are made. It was amazing. After a short video, our first stop was the wooden mold shop where we watched a worker use a large lathe to make a mold that would help to shape one of the glass products. On the ledge near us was a mold marked "American Football." Keep that thought for later on.

Next we got to watch one of the glass blowers work his magic on a glob of hot glass. What makes the glass crystal is the added lead content. Lead oxide or "red lead" is added to the glass formula.
The glass was shaped and reheated and shaped some more. As he blew into it, he placed it in one of the wooden molds to be sure the shape would be standard. The piece is then placed in a cooling unit that gently brings the temperature down.

Quality control comes next. The pieces are inspected for flaws and rough edges sanded down. Then they are ready for the truly interesting part--the cutting.

The pieces, in this case vases, are placed on a turn table that is set up with black ink pens that draw lines on the glass to guide the artisans who will cut the familiar patterns into the vase. I was amazed at their concentration even with the tour group standing so near. At the end of the room there were two large cabinets where large bowls were being cut by robots. Sad to think artisans might be replaced by machines.

Once the glass is cut, the piece is put in a solution of sulfuric and hydrofluoric acid for a specified time which makes all the milkiness disappear and leaves only the clear sparkling crystal.

At another station, we watched other artisans carve special order pieces like trophies. Remember the American Football mold? It was actually for the NCAA College Bowl and we were probably the closest any Buckeye will get to it this year.

One piece we saw on display during the tour that caught my eye was a scene of Santa sitting in a rocker surrounded by a Christmas tree and presents. The unusual thing was that you looked through a window etched in one side of the vase to the scene etched on the other side of the vase.

After seeing how it is all made, I have a new appreciation for Waterford Crystal. Still, considering the breakage in the dish washing process at home, I'm still not sure I want to spend that much money on glasses for our table.

Ireland - Rock of Cashel

2011-10-03T08:06:00.000-04:00

Our first attempt to visit the Rock of Cashel was foiled by Hurricane Katia. By the time we arrived at County Tipperary and the little town of Cashel, the winds from Katia who had found her way to Ireland along with us were so strong that the heritage site which sits high atop a hill was closed because you would have been blown off of your feet. While Katia was the reason for closing this time, it is not an uncommon problem. The winds are always strong there. But we returned the next day to explore.

The Rock of Cashel is actually a complex of buildings dating back mostly to the 12th century. The landmark tower, the tallest structure, dates to 1100, the chapel to the early 1100s and the large cathedral to the early 1200s. There are several tombs that were excavated that they believe date back to around 900. It is amazing that things that old can survive so much especially when they are in an area like this where the elements can wear away at them.

We were unable to get into Cormac's chapel which is said to be the most important building historically and architecturally. They are doing major work there to preserve the frescoes inside. That's as good an excuse as any for having to return and visit again.

The arches in the cathedral are dramatic and if you look closely, you can see some details in the work. Legend associates St. Patrick with the Rock and there is a cross dedicated to him outside the cathedral.

There is a large cemetery full of crosses and grave markers. Just outside a door of the cathedral is a beautiful example of a celtic (pronounced kel-tic) cross. Legend says that when St. Patrick was preaching to some soon to be converted heathens, he was shown a sacred stone marked with a circle that symbolized the moon goddess. St. Patrick made the sign of the cross through the circle and thus created the first celtic cross. The legend thus implies that St. Patrick was willing to meld some of the Druid practices with Christian beliefs. It is consistent with the stories that he converted many Druids into becoming Christian priests.

Of course St. Patrick is also said to have cleansed the country of all snakes--for which I would be eternally grateful. But it seems there never were any snakes to begin with. Instead it is thought that the snake being a symbol of evil was associated with his driving the old evil pagan ways from Ireland. Whatever the case, St. Patrick is honored all over the countryside.

Kilkenny Castle

2011-09-30T07:45:00.002-04:00

Kilkenny was a nice change from Dublin. I prefer smaller towns to large cities. This one fit somewhere in between. It had a large pedestrian area with shops that unfortunately closed pretty early. This was our first opportunity however to see a real Irish castle that wasn't lying in ruins.

The Kilkenny Castle site dates back to a timbered castle orginally built there sometime before William Marshall, 4th Earl of Penbrooke (sounds impressive, doesn't it) built a stone structure in the late 1100s to early 1200s.

James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond, purchased the castle in 1391. At that time, the castle was said to be situated in the middle of orchards and meadowland. However, it was Thomas, 10th Earl of Ormond, who would transform the castle from a fortress-like structure into a more livable castle with lavish tapestries, silver service, damask draperies, etc. all lending to a more opulent style.

When Thomas died, his only heir was a daughter, Elizabeth, who took over the castle and continued the lavish life-style. She and her husband unfortunately died young and the castle contents were sold off.

Over the years, there were other members of the Butler family (Dukes and Duchesses, Earls) who refurbished the castle, worked on the gardens, etc., to make it a "magnificent palace." The family continued to alternately fix the castle up and let it decay over the centuries until finally in 1935 they moved out and auctioned the furnishings. There followed a period of time where nothing was done in the castle but in 1969, through some generous donations, the state was able to take over the castle and begin restoration.

It was at this time, September of 2011, that the Earls of Buckeye. the Robbins, visited the castle and found it to be delightful. The rooms being furnished with period pieces and the story of the castle being told lent to their enjoyment. Ah, Kilkenny Castle. If only you flew the Buckeye colors of Scarlet and Gray.

Ireland - Jerpoint Abbey

2011-09-29T07:59:00.001-04:00

Jerpoint Abbey was an if-we-have-time stop. I'm so glad we did. Our guide painted a wonderful picture of what life might have been like with these Cisterian monks. With a half smile, she told of their vows of simplicity and poverty and then went into the colorful stories of how much of that seemed to change when money was needed to keep the abbey going. It seems the powers that controled the monastery were a bit lenient with these monks or just didn't know exactly how wonderfully they had enhanced their monastery.

The abbey dates back to 1180 and the Cistarian monaster ywas active until Henry VIII dissolved all monasteries in the mid-1500s. Of course throughout the centuries other things were added to the abbey and several old tombs are there as well.

Intricate carving can be seen on some of the lintels and around the tops of several columns. There is also evidence that many places in the building were painted with bright colors. Patrons of the church were honored along the square walkway that encloses the central grassy area, the cloister. There is even the wife of one pictured in stone at a time when women were not allowed in the building.

We left before the heavens opened up with another cold drizzly shower and continued on to Kilkenny arriving just in time to see a huge parade containing a variety of race cars in town for the Cannonball race.

The little town was also alive with hurling fans. Apparently there was a great rival game being played that weekend. You might ask, "what is hurling?" We did.

In Ireland, hurling has nothing to do with a sour stomach. It is an ancient Gaelic team game played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. We were told it resembles lacrosse a bit but with different rules and is obviously as popular as some of our major team sports in the US. Checkered flags were flying all over the place. When the colors of the checks changed, we knew we'd crossed into a different team's territory--kind of like a Buckeye crossing into Wolverine territory.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-28T07:45:00.000-04:00

Glendalough, Ireland - The Monastic City

2011-09-27T07:23:00.004-04:00

In the Wicklow mountains, we found Glendalough (pronounced glen-da-lock). It is actually a valley carved out during the glacial period and contains two lakes. It also contains one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland. It was founded by St. Kevin in the sixth century.

There are several monastic remains there but the largest is a round tower that is about 90 feet tall. The cathedral is one of the largest known early Christian churches in Ireland. It ceased to be a cathedral in 1210. The earliest stone walls are thought to date back to the 10th century.

As we walked across the bridge over the babbling brook, we noticed that the water had a brown hue. We had noticed that at Powerscourt Waterfall as well. Then it struck us that the water was flowing through peat bogs and that was what was giving the water the strange color.

The Monastic City was an interesting stop and a chance to stretch our legs but as a chill wind made me shiver and a misty haze clouded the valley, it reminded me more of a scene for a good vampire picture or maybe just a Halloween card.

With plenty of time to spare before our scheduled arrival in Kilkenny, we made one more stop. Jerpoint Abbey.

On To Kilkenny, Ireland

2011-09-26T07:41:00.005-04:00

Our hopes for taking a walk along the cliffs in Howth were dampened by an early morning fog and light rain so we turned our car in the direction of Kilkenny our next destination. Along the way we stopped at Powerscourt Ho use and Gardens, an estate that dates back to the 1300s. We walked through the three large rooms that were available to see and then strolled through the gardens blooming with dahlias, roses, asters, delphinium, iris, and an assortment of other flowers I couldn't name. They were outstanding in the morning sun that broke through the hazy skies above.

Even though Rick Steves had advised against it, we drove down to the Powerscourt Waterfall and paid the entrance fee. The guard had a bit of fun with Bob who was driving and claiming to be the tour guide and therefore should get in free. The guard said, "Of course!" I'm guessing it added up to all of us getting in for the senior rate.

The waterfall is said to be Ireland's tallest. It is very picturesque and was a nice diversion. On our way out of the park, we stopped to ask the guard what was the best way to Glendalough, our next stop on the road to Kilkenny.

"Do ye want to take the easy road or the road with the best view?" he asked.

"The best view, of course," came the answer from our driver.

The guard told us to take the Military Road that wound through the Wicklow Mountains. The road was actually built back in the early 19th century to help the British troops move through the area to put down the insurgent Irish remnant from the 1798 uprising. While the surface was made of modern material, I don't think they made it any wider. But then we were finding that many of the Irish roads were about wide enough for two small cars to pass with a few inches to spare. At least this road did not have stone walls on both sides of it.

And it was the best view. As the trees vanished and we could look out over the vast area around us, we could see mounds and mounds of lavender colored heather. The road wound back and forth and eventually through a pine forest before we got to Glendalough and the Monastic City.

Sunday Worship Thought

2011-09-25T12:02:00.006-04:00

It's always difficult on a Sunday when you are on the road traveling and away from your regular worship time in your own church. This morning was no different in our time here in Ireland. We were up and away early to be able to make our next destination. Lord, it's your day. How and where can I worship?

Worship began shortly after breakfast at our B&B which was named Petra House. I wondered, was there any special meaning in that name for our hosts? I asked. The answer was softly spoken.

"Ah, yes. When we built our first house there was a huge rock that had to be moved to secure the foundation. Then, when we built this one, there was another rock. Petra means rock so we named our house Petra. It has been good for us."

On this rock, I will build my house. Build your house on rock not sand. Thank you, Lord.

Our major sightseeing stop this day was Kylemore Abbey in the Connemara area, Galway. It starts with a love story and ends with the castle being turned into an abbey for the Benedictine nuns. (I will post more later on what we saw.) We first walked the path to the small church. It was a quiet morning. Tour buses had not arrived yet and few people were on the path from the main building to the little chapel.

We heard a familiar songbird, a robin, and the sound of the wind stirring the autumn leaves still on the trees. The quiet made me think of the members of the convent walking to prayer--praying along the way. Huge mossy tree trunks were evidence that the forested area had been there a long time. How many prayers, Lord, have these old trees heard over the years?

Finally, inside the chapel was a beautiful stained glass window with five women representing the ideals of charity, faith, hope, chastity, and fortitude. Fortitude had a shield to protect her. Take up the shield of faith. My faith lies in you, Lord. I praise your name.

Dublin - The Book of Kells

2011-09-23T07:22:00.000-04:00

Dublin's red Hop on Hop off bus took us round the block where Trinity College is located. The college was chartered back in 1592 and experienced a bit of a rocky start in the 1600s. But the 18th century brought a bit of peace in Ireland and the college's academic roots took hold and flourished. In 1904, the first women students were admitted to the college and not without a little Irish humor and wit to the story.

We toured the campus with a student who pointed out the various historical buildings on site and of course with a crooked Irish grin, explained that the Dean who was in charge when women were struggling to be admitted to the college stated firmly that "women will be admitted to Trinity over my dead body." In 1904, the dean died and a few months later, women were finally admitted. As the story goes, the dean's body was buried where women would enter campus from their dormitory thus stepping over the dean's body, so to speak.

Our guide smiled again and shook his head. "Of course that's not true, he's not buried on campus. But it does make a good story."

At the end of our tour of the main area of campus, our guide pointed out the old library where the Book of Kells is located and we entered to view the ninth century gospel manuscript with its colorful hand drawn illustrations. The manuscript comes from a monastery founded in 561 by St. Colum Cille on Iona which is a small island off the coast of Scotland. When the Vikings invaded in the early 800s, the monks moved to Kells where they finished the manuscript.

I was a bit disappointed in the exhibition. There was mostly just large eight foot high banners showing pictures of the illustrations in the book. Something I could have seen more clearly online. The manuscript itself was open to one page of illustration and one of text (in Latin, of course) and was perhaps 16" X 18". Maybe my long hours of travel and no sleep were getting to me. I felt like a little of our precious time in Dublin was wasted--until we entered the old library.

My heart breaks that I couldn't take a picture of it but I did find one online here. I understand that they are trying to preserve the old volumes there and too many people take pictures using flash. But if you are a fan of the Harry Potter movies and you recall Hermione wandering through an old library for books on spells, that is what this library resembled. Down the center was an exhibition of old books from physicians and teachers of the old school of medicine--always a delight to see how far we have come since then.

With our heads bobbing as we fought to keep our eyes open, we found our way back to the DART station and boarded a train for the 20 minute ride to Howth where our B&B was. Just across from the car park was a restaurant that looked good for dinner and we climbed the stairs to the second floor for a seat overlooking the harbor of Howth filled with fishing boats and seagulls clamoring for the leftovers from the day's catch. After a delicious meal of mussels and fish and chips, we were ready to call it a day.

Sure there was more to Dublin to see--the castle, the pubs. But it would have to wait for another opportunity. Just a reason to have to return.

Dublin Town

2011-09-22T07:38:00.000-04:00

Since our time in Dublin had been shortened by at least a day and a half, we checked off what things were absolutely must-sees for us. There were really only two and a possible third if we had time: The Book of Kells, the Guinn ess Storehouse tour, and Dublin Castle.

The red Hop on Hop Off bus would get us a good over all view of the city and drop us off at our points of interest. We were issued ear buds and plugged into the recorded commentary as we made our way around two-thirds of the loop. We exited at Guinness and queued up for the tour.

While the tour of Guinness is not through a working brewery, it is an interesting step through time and the brewing process. Mr. Guinness was an astute business man who managed to sign a 9000 year lease for the building where the Guinness brewery is located. The brewery in Dublin only makes a small portion of the world wide distribution. Their product goes mostly to Ireland and the UK. There is a large brewery in South Africa that distributes to the rest of the world.

The process was interesting to follow as we made our way up a giant circular "glass" building fashioned after the distinctive Guinness glass. The dark color of the Guinness which they say is a deep ruby red (we couldn't see it) comes from the barley that is roasted before going into the mash process. But the most important part of the Guinness is the pouring.

When it first comes out of the tap, the Guinness appears a light chocolatey color and as you let it set, the bottom of the liquid becomes a deep brown (ruby red if you believe Guinness)and to the top rises a creamy froth that is distinctively Guinness. On one of the floors of the tour, you can give up your ticket stub for a free pint and learn to pour the perfect glass of Guinness. It starts by pulling the handle toward you and filling the glass to the Guinness symbol. Then you let it settle for a few moments and top it off by pushing the handle to the back which adds a little more froth. Of course you get to drink your pour as well. Not being beer drinkers, we saw a few eyebrows lift when we left our pours on a table. We did taste it. It is a milder tasting beer than I'd imagined and the creamy froth adds to that taste.

We passed on using our remaining free pint tickets at the bar on the top floor of the building and just opted to take pictures of the view. It was spectacular but we had to gently persuade the drinkers to let us through in a few places to get some pictures. No one complained. They were all imbibing free Guinness. What was there to complain about?

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-21T07:17:00.000-04:00

Dublin -- At Last!

2011-09-20T07:50:00.000-04:00

After two days delay and one very rough night bouncing around Hurricane Katia, we arrived in Dublin. Bleary-eyed and tired, we made our way through immigration and customs. When the immigration officer heard we would be driving through Ireland, he got an Irish twinkle in his eye and said, "Best be drivin' on the left side, ye know."

Dick, Bob's brother, and his wife met us at the airport in the rental car. Dick had hoped to get experience in less crowded conditions than when they had first arrived. Bob, the more experienced with left-sided driving, was originally to get the car first. Dick was immersed quickly and during rush hour traffic when he arrived. The side mirrors were still intact though so he had done well.

We ventured on to our B&B in Howth just outside Dublin--not the one we'd planned on however. When Dick and Polly arrived, the originaly booking told them they had mistakenly overbooked and he sent them to another who could accommodate us. Not our first choice but the compensation was that the hostess was extremely friendly and gave us lots of background on the area and the people.

After a quick refreshing face wash and tooth bruhsing, we took off for the DART, the train into Dublin from Howth. At last we were in Dublin, our first stop on our 28 day--make that 26 day journey through Ireland. How were we going to condense two days worth of sightseeing plans into one?

Dublin or Bust!

2011-09-19T07:59:00.000-04:00

In all our 25+ years of traveling the world, we have only occasionally experienced delays in getting from one place to another and never more than a few hours or a day at most. After two years of planning and anticipating our trip to Ireland, the last thing on our minds that would keep us from going was a hurricane. Don't those just happen in the Caribbean?

Hurricane Lee wrecked such havoc with our East Coast, that flights were delayed and canceled from the Carolinas to Massachusetts. As the announcements kept making our flight to Philadelphia later and later, we started wondering how fast we could run. Ever the optimists, we figured if flights into Philly were delayed surely flights out would be to thereby giving us enough time to make that flight to Dublin. Wrong.

At the time when we should have been boarding the last scheduled delay, US Airways announced that the flight was canceled. No problem. We would certainly be rebooked for the next day. Wrong again.

While Bob talked with one rebooking agent on the phone, the ticketing agent searched for flights. We could get to the East Coast, but flights from there to Dublin were all booked for two days. How could that be? To add insult to injury, Bob's brother who was flying out of Columbus was rebooked on a flight that got them to Philly albeit late, but they were able to get a flight to Manchester, England, and from there Dublin and arrive only a half day late.

We collected our luggage and the rebooking slip that the ticket agent had given us. She at least was kinder than the agent at the 1-800 number and got us on a flight and in first class! Even though US Airways belongs to the Star Alliance, they were unwilling to book us on one of their partners because it would cost them money and the fine print reads, "Cancellations due to weather. . ." You get the idea.

And so we spent the first two nights of our vacation in quite comfortable surroundings very familiar to us--home. First class seating would have to compensate for our delay. But would the next hurricane, Katia, right on the heels of Lee interfer as well?

Travel Tools - Hairdryer vs. Foreign Outlets

2011-09-16T07:41:00.000-04:00

In the battle of hairdryer vs. foreign electrical outlets, I've lost--several times. Once the hairdryer was of no use because even with all the extra adapters and converters it couldn't get up to speed and then there was the oops-plugged-it-into-the-wrong-one incident which ended in sparks, smoke, and a nasty smell in our room for a while.

Almost all hotels and B & Bs supply a hairdryer but I have a hard time blow drying my hair with a dryer and a brush. If you don't, you are set and I applaud you. My styling brush/dryer blows air through a brush on the end of it and I can handle that quite well. I just can't travel with it to foreign places.

Converters and adaptors cost any where from $25-50 depending upon how many you buy if traveling to different countries. There are dual voltage hairdryers (run about $25-35)that are 110/220 but I've read reports that they too do not always work properly.

The best solution I've come up with is to get to a store shortly after you arrive and purchase a cheap hairdryer/styler in that country. In Australia, we found a Target and a Kmart in Sydney by using Google Map and searching store addresses on the web before we left. I paid about $18 for a dryer/styler that was very similar to what I have at home and never had to worry about plugging it in.

This next trip is to Ireland and I plan on doing the same thing. Dublin is our first stop and I found a Dunnes store(Ireland's department store chain)close to where we will be sightseeing on our second day there. I figure I can sell the stylers on E-Bay when I'm done or loan them out to friends who might be traveling to those places.

Rather I sell them or not, I've saved my nerves, salved anxiety, and kept my dryer/styler from dying at the surge of a foreign current.

Cleveland's West Side Market

2011-09-15T08:16:00.000-04:00

My head hangs in shame as I tell you that I have lived most of my life in the Cleveland area and have never gone to the West Side Market. I've truly missed out on a great historical Cleveland landmark and place to shop. The market has been around since 1840 and the building that now houses it was built in the early 1900s.

We have been to Seattle's market and several markets in various cities throughout the world--some of them much larger and other's much more, shall we say, primitive.

As markets go, I was pretty impressed with our market. We walked through the fresh fruit and vegetable section first. The produce was laid out beautifully and certainly was enough to entice us to want to buy probably more than we could eat.

From the produce section, we wandered over to the main market area that had displays of meats, dairy products, candies, bakery, sweets, nuts, and on and on. Some of the stalls, I believe, have been in the same family for generations. This is truly a place where a bit of the ethnicity of our city shines as well--perogi, kolachky, sausages of all sorts, fresh made pasta. Oooh the mouth waters as I think of it.

If you live in the area, or you're just in Cleveland for a visit, don't miss the opportunity to take a trip through the aisles of the market. You won't be disappointed.