Happy Birthday William Robert! The Next Generation Has Arrived...

Congrats to my cousin Natalie and her husband Rob on the arrival of their son William Robert. He arrived on Monday March 23rd, weighing in at 7lbs 13oz. We were all suprised at how much hair he has because babies in our family are all born bald, including me!

Isn't he just the cutest? Look at those cheeks! If you were around when mom Natalie was born then you know where he got those cheeks from! :)

Ah, eyes are open!

Here is my Aunt Nancy with the little guy. Isn't he so small?

And here is a shot of little Will in his cute little outfit ready to go home.

William Robert is the first baby born into our family in 18 years! He has Great-grandparents in Ohio that can't wait to get their hands on him!

Welcome into the world Will. Can't wait to see you in June when we'll all be in Ohio together.

11. Ireland Day 8, Finale...

It was time, I had my things all packed and ready to load up the mini. I brought my things down and sat them next to the door and then I wandered around the house to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything. When I returned I found that what once had been a joyous welcoming committe had now turned into the "So...You think you're going somewhere do you?" committe! These fellas, I have been told miss me and wandered around the house for days looking for me. That is Lokii on the lower left and Spotty on the upper right. Though I have said that I am a dog person and I just don't seem to speak cat, these guys and I really got along. I miss you, you crazy lovey kitties!

After the mini was packed we were on our way. The agenda was to travel to New Grange then off to the town of Trim to spend the night with the lovely Olga and Bill! More on them later, I promise. This picture illustrates how you can be driving along and then BANG, there's a castle right there.

And I mean RIGHT THERE!

Here's a picture for you relatives back home! I just couldn't pass up this picture op. I mean Faulkner's? How cool!

You gotta love a construction sign where someone took the time to make their point. DON'T just wait for the green, wait HERE for the green!!!! I love this!

After a few hours of driving, getting lost, driving down roads that even a mini shouldn't have fit, stopping and asking for directions, watching as the GPS unit lost all roads and our digital car seemed to be flying off into space, we finally arrived at our destination of New Grange with literally only 4 minutes to spare before the last tour bus left the visitor's center! Phew, that was really really close.

This is the walk way up to the visitor's center from the parking lot. Again, me taking pictures of doorways, gateways or entryways! I know, I know.

After running to the tour bus and making it on board we took a seat and relaxed on the short drive up to New Grange.

Here is New Grange. The tour bus driver was kind enough to stop and let us take a picture from the open bus door. Perks from being the only three people on the bus! Private tour anyone?

As we were the only ones around the lovely tour guide was able to give us a wonderful private tour. Erynne and David had both been there before and said that was a great tour. Usually you are in a group of 20 people at a time. Now, as you are not permitted to take pictures inside I can not illustrate just how small it is inside so you'll just have to trust me that we were very lucky to only be 4 people in there. It was quite and experience. Standing inside the oldest man made structure on the planet. This is older than The Great Pyramids in Egypt! Standing inside seeing the carvings, imagining what it must have been like then was utterly mind blowing. It's something you just can't put into words.

After New Grange, we got back into the mini and headed off to Trim, destination Bill and Olga's house. They were so wonderful to put us up for the night so that we would be able to get to the Dublin Airport early in the morning.

And here are the lovely, wonderful Bill and Olga!! We all went out to dinner together and had a wonderful meal.

David took this photo of me during dinner. I did not realize until after my trip was over and I was back home going through the pictures David gave me that I had been sitting under this sign! The restaurant was decorated for the upcoming Valentines holiday.

After dinner we walked through town. I know I have been talking about castles but this one really truly took my breath away. This is what we walked by on the way to the pub.

This is just a picture of the sign that was out front.

This is Trim Castle. Interesting side note that no one told me at the time, they used this castle in the film Braveheart! Anyways, I digress. As we walked around Trim Castle, in the dark lit up it all seemed so magical. This castle's curtain wall is HUGE. Imagine, people live here and walk/drive by this every day on their way to work! How utterly unspeakably cool is that?

Really, I just can't capture this well enough to give you even the slightest twinge of how it felt to be standing there.

That would be us (minus David) walking from dinner on our way to the pub NEXT TO A CASTLE! Yeah, A CASTLE!

Again, how cool is this photo? Thank you David for this photo. I take back all those comments I made about you lagging behind us! :) No hard feelings I hope!

How could the night get any better you ask? Oh it can my friend, it can! We all went to Bill and Olga's favorite pub. We settled in for a wonderful time of great friends, great drinks and GREAT music!

Again, me with a "glass" and Erynne with a "pint"!
For those of you Moleskiner's out there here is proof that, yes I took it with me on my trip and yes I did write in it! See, there's the moleskine with pages open and pen in hand. Barb, do you notice what pen that is?

Here I am when we first arrived at the pub, and here is the musical group behind me. There is one guys you can't see, he's behind my head.

This is where the night gets magical and teary. Sadly as the night went on there were moments when I sat back in my seat quietly observing my friends, and the full weight of my trip and being with my best friend in the whole world would wash over me. I became very aware in those quiet moments that my time here was coming to an end in only a few short hours. As the music played and people were singing Olga, Erynne and I gathered by the bar infront of the musicians and were swept away by the beauty of it all.

Then the tears came. As us girls stood together it started. I got a lump in my throat, and my vision blurred and I became unable to hold it back. All it took was one look from Erynne and I let loose. The tears streamed down my face and there was no hiding it. I regret that I do not know the man's name that was singing that night but when he noticed my tears he inquired as to what the occasion was. Erynne explained my situation and that I was to leave for home the very next morning. He took one look at us and began to sing. They played the song No Woman No Cry to me. As they sang they changed the lyrics to "No Lassie Go Home". Olga leaned over and grabbed my hand and held it as Erynne hugged and held on to me. I tell you dear readers that I truly have NEVER felt so loved in my entire life. I sit here and type this blog entry with tears in my eyes again from the memory of that all enveloping love of that evening. I wish that each and every one of you feel that kind of love atleast once in your life.

I was so moved that before the evening was over I sat and wrote a note of thanks to the man who serenaded me letting him know in a few words as best I could just how special he helped to make my last night in Ireland. He hugged me and said that was the best compliment he had ever been paid. Please, if someone moves you in your life, never miss the opportunity to say thank you.

Sadly I do not have a video of that special No Woman No Cry song they sang me ( I was too busy crying) but I did take a short video of him singing another song. I didn't catch the very beginning but I hope you'll enjoy it as a brief look into that magical evening. Hopefully it will in some small way help to show you what magical adventures you can have if you just take the time to say yes and step out your door. Please take a moment to go and watch the video My YouTube Video

With a final hug and eyes full of tears, I was on my way home. My trip was over. A thousand pictures and a journal full of memories. Erynne, there are no words, just no words at all.

10. Ireland Day 7, Part 2...

And here we are at the second half of Day 7. The was the end of my last full day in Kiltimagh. The next post will cover my last full day in Ireland where I spent the night in Trim, but that's a post for another day. And we're off... A random picture of the country side as it flew by the window of the mini. I can still see this in my mind's eye as I listen to my adopted soundtrack of my Ireland trip, the album The Seldom Seen Kid by Elbow. Please go and check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Now I must say that I don't remember the name of this place. I'm sure David will post a comment and help me out so check back later for the name.

I do love a nice shot of a gate.

Here is another beautiful example of a stile. Remember these from the previous post? No? Well then you must not be reading the text and just enjoying the pictures, how dare you! I put a lot of effort into these posts. (Shhhh, don't tell anyone but most of the blogs I visit I just look at the pictures too :)

I'm sorry that you couldn't be there to feel the weight of these walls.

Yeah yeah, I know, Yet another doorway in a doorway!

As I wandered around I lost Erynne and David and found myself all alone staring at these stairs. I got a little creeped out as it was dark in here. I used a flash for this picture. It was a little moment when I felt as if I turned a corner into another demension or time and I just knew if I went back to find Erynne and David that they would have disappeared. To my surprise they hadn't really gone anywhere and David climbed the stairs with me to some good pics. Thanks David, you're the best!

And here's the view when we reached the top. Careful where you step, it's cold and there's ice everywhere! I slipped a few times.

This is the closest body of water to where Erynne and David live and in the summer if you're lucky you can find Erynne snorkling! Having grown up in Florida, she's a water baby!

The sun was setting and there was drizzle in the air. After we had out fill of wandering around it was time to head back home to Kiltimagh and make the best of my last evening in town.

It was decided that we would go back to the hotel for dinner and get something yummy into the tummies. Brian had been asking me if I ate any fish and chips, well my friends that just what I had for dinner. Let me tell you, this meal really filled me up. Erynne also had the fish and chips and later as we were walking around I was so full I described it as "a fish fillet swimming in a sea of chips" in my belly. Just that thought made Erynne groan, as we were both filled to the gills!

Here's us gals pausing outside one of the many pubs that we wandered into that evening. They didn't want me to miss out on seeing them all since they are all sooooo different.

Hey, is that a cigarette machine? Gee, I don't think we even have any of these left in the states. If you click on this picture you can see just how spendy a pack of smokes is in Ireland. Woo!

Sadly the time came when we had to head home. The sun had set on my last evening in this beautiful town. I have never felt so welcome so far from home. Erynne my darling, I miss you more than words can say. Our soul's truly walk hand in hand. I love you unconditionally and without regret. Though we walked home for the last time that night, I hope I can walk off into the sunset with you again someday. Now that I've had a taste of the wonderful world in which you live you better make sure you always have a spare bed ready!

9. Ireland Day 7, Part1...

Welcome to my last full day in Kiltimagh. Come and stroll with me! David's Uncle Noel has a bakery. This bakery has been in the family since the late 1800's. Sadly Noel will be the last in the family to run this bakery. He has perfected the craft so well that the mere smell as you open the door will bring you to tears.

There is nothing like fresh baked bread made with love and crafted by the hands of someone you know and love. Those donuts were hands down the BEST I've ever had the privilage of eating! Thank you Noel.

Directly across the alley way from the bakery is the house that David grew up in and where his mother still lives. She is a lovely lady that I am so very glad I got a chance to meet. She made sure that we had the best loaf of bread and two donuts each to take back home! Yummy!

Now it would be unthinkable for me to visit Kiltimagh and NOT go to the local library! It is however completely unbelievable that Erynne has lived here for 4 years now and has NEVER even so much as stepped a toe into this oh so adorable little library. I mean if you even know Erynne just briefly you know just HOW MUCH SHE READS! This girl is a crazy VORACIOUS bibliophile. She reads a book a day easy, no sweat and she rereads her favorite books on a regular basis. So why never go to the library? Hmmm, I still can't figure that one out.

So off to the library we go. David shouted out after us as we were walking out the door that the librarians name is Bridie. Useful info when you live in such a small town.

I LOVE how the signs for the different sections are in English and Irish. A great way to start to learn the language.

I was able to secretly sneak a pic of Erynne signing up to get her library card.

Here is a shot of Erynne well earned library card. She was told that she would be able to use this card at any of the area libraries except for two and that would be because they are so remote that they are not computerized yet! For those library ladies back home in Ohio and you know who you are, I hope you enjoyed this little peak into the little Kiltimagh, County Mayo library!

On our walk back home Erynne made sure that we crossed the road to photograph the other statue in town. You have to love a town that loves and appreciates art so much.

This is what the plaque says.

After our walk around town and library trip we all got in the mini and took a drive to Killeadan Cemetery.

Once you pass through the gate you can physically feel the weight of the history encased within.

Here Erynne is demonstrating the use of the stile. These are stone steps that allow a person entry over a stone wall. It keeps animals in or out depending on how you look at it. It makes you step back and imagine all the people over the years that have also taken these steps.

As we walked around David recounted how he and other locals got together to help restore this church. It must feel so great have been apart of preserving history for all future generations.

We wandered around in silence most of the time just taking in the atmosphere.

I walked into the crypt to look around. The green moss, the rich colors and the textures make you want to sit and take notice for future paintings.

Looking through a doorway through another doorway is always a favorite. Jenny, doesn't this take you back to all those days we spent watching the movie Robinhood? I think next time I'm home we need to sit down with a bowl of popcorn and relive old times, whatcha say babe?

Talk about texture!

After we had wandered around the cemetery we walked out to the "road" and walked a bit. As I mentioned earlier the roads around this country can get pretty small. This pretty much illustrates my point. This road and bridge are typical of the road we were traveling. Can you see David on the bridge? Yeah, it's that small, one mini, maybe.

Well tune in soon for my last night in Kiltimagh, for tomorrow we head to New Grange and on to spend the night in Trim with Olga and Bill. *giggle* I said Trim :)