We're all a little Nutty

So many beautiful things to be appreciated... Watching Dillon sail over hurdles Dillon's practically perfect date to Prom My sister's darling new baby Clouds on the way to yoga Unsolicited selfies on my phone The corsage I made Life is good.

DAY 6: Although weary of the relentless wind and continuous waves of stormy weather, we headed inland to explore "the Burren."  We started with the Mullaghmore Loop hike in the Burren National Park; then went to Pulnabrone Dolmen, an ancient portal tomb; Dysert O Dea archaeological sites; and ended our day with dinner and grocery shopping in Ennis. Aside from our map telling us this was where to start our hike, this gate was the only indication that we had arrived at the Burren National Park.  It was a rocky barren landscape that I imagine the first settlers felt a little ripped off to have acquired as their land share! We hiked uphill with the winds blasting us the entire time. Ian decided to climb the rock face instead of following the trail We had a hard time standing still for this photo because the wind at the top was blasting us so hard Looking down from the top over the bleak limestone landscape Pulnabrone Dolmen, a neolithic portal tomb, ...

DAY 8: We were sad to leave our cottage by the sea, but it was time to head back to Dublin.  Along the way, we stopped at Clonmacnoise, a monastic settlement by the River Shannon with an extensive history of religious teaching intermingled with violent pillaging and destruction. St. Ciernan's church (He was the founder of Clonmacnoise) While taking a photo of Lee in the archway of this church, I noticed that my kids were visible through the doorway on the other side. DAY 9: We drove to Howth, northeast of Dublin and spent a few hours walking along the cliffs around the peninsula.  Then we stopped at the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin for one last dose of art.  We ended our day relaxing in our hotel room while watching the first session of General Conference. Enjoying the views of the Irish Sea.  If it weren't so hazy, we could have seen all the way to England. Skipping rocks in Howth, into the Irish Sea Sea art at the Hugh Lane Gallery i...

Nature gave me a magical connection with my daughter so far away.  When I was with her in California back in March, there were swarms of migrating butterflies everywhere we went.  As I drove through town yesterday, those swarms had arrived here.  Little orange and black butterflies fluttering all around my car, darting wherever the winds led them.  I marveled at them in March and I marveled at them yesterday, feeling connected as I remembered I had seen the magic somewhere before.

DAY 4: On our drive to our cottage in County Clare, we stopped to learn and explore in two places - a castle ruin and a tour of a workhouse. The Rock of Dunamase was FREE to visit.  It was a Norman fortress in the 12th century and many of the remaining walls and structures were still standing for us to wander around, climb on, and explore freely.  We mostly had it to ourselves, though we also coincidentally met a family from 15 miles south of us here at home.  That was sort of funny. Our first glimpse of Dunamase as we approached through a little neighborhood The tour of the Portumna Workhouse was sad, but educational.  Ever since I saw the name of one of my ancestors listed as a resident of a workhouse in England, I have wondered what the purpose and conditions of these places were.  We learned that they were built to provide an option for the poor, but it was an intentionally unpleasant option so that people wouldn't choose it over the lif...