Shadow Shot Sunday

 
In between the rains, an ancient cypress stands claim to its ground in a dry creek bed, somewhere in central Texas.

 
 
 

Vacation Revisited

Well, the Euro is creeping up and the weather in Ireland is wet again. Seems like we were there at the perfect moment! My lovely daughter in law, Karen, threw a St. Patrick's Day feast (even though we know the only snakes St. P. banished were the ones the pagans viewed as symbols of wisdom - he was the real snake in the grass). Anyway, I overlooked my disapproval of the fabled saint and enjoyed the feast as a celebration of Ireland. I mean, what are ya gonna do, miss out on the fun and food? So we gathered for the evening, family and friends, including one friend who has been to Ireland many times, and we enjoyed a scrumptious meal: Irish Stew, which we all pronounced "real" having sufficient Guinness and stout used in the cooking of it, and just potatoes and carrots, none of that ridiculous peas or corn. She had started the dinner with an appetizer of a couple of kinds of Irish cheese - the irony being that we had had no real Irish cheese while we were in Ireland. (I did not tell them about the cheese fiasco at the B & B.) She also had purchased some good Irish soda bread and of course butter, although not Irish butter. But the real treats were 1. the Trifle she made - in Karen-style, she made two huge Trifles, the same but different, both picture worthy and both fabulous. and 2. Irish coffees with Bushmills and more whipped cream; I brought my Celtic Women CDs and the Street Music CD I had purchased in Dublin, put my photos on a computer slide show, and we all sat around and talked about Irish stuff - history, politics, our trips there, the wicked Catholic clergy, etc.

Wish you could been there!

Karen, thanks for the Memorable Feast!

I think we should all go back to Galway.

Echos of Ireland

 

 

 

 

Some more photos from Ireland. By train and bus, we crisscrossed the island from Dublin to Galway, spending a few days in Drogheda, a half hour outside of Dublin, then stayed in Salthill, a "suburb" of Galway. From there we made day trips to Doolin, Cliffs of Moher, The Burren and Spiddal, a quaint coastal village outside of Galway. Only actually spent one night in Dublin. That would be a trip in itself, and we really wanted to not be in a big city very much. My only regret: we didn't have more time.

The Emerald Isle

Seems like quite a while since I posted. Winter has come and gone, at least from my hill country spot. Meanwhile, I have been to Ireland again. Early March is not when it is at it's most Emerald, but it's still lovely.