While I can’t lay claim to an Irish heritage, I do have a great love for Ireland and you’ll never find me passing up a chance for Irish soda bread.
Aren’t these vintage place tags adorable? I feel lucky just having one propped up by my cup of tea.
Several years ago I travelled to Ireland with my husband and three other friends. We rented a farm on the outskirts of a small town in County Mayo and we had the most wonderful time. It was the familial hometown of one of our friends who happens to be from the lineage of the Irish Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley. Needless to say it was quite a magical time and one I’ll never forget. Even so, it was fun to keep a journal while there and now to look through it periodically. And I thought today I’d give you peek at a few of the pages as well.
Like all my journals it’s stuffed to capacity. It’s how I roll.
I took my love of flora with me to Ireland and was delighted by all I saw.
Where we were staying was within walking distance of a strand, and we visited several others as well. And that’s where I became enchanted with tide pools.
I think one of the images that will always stay etched in my mind is what Ireland looked like from the airplane. The green really was unlike anything I’d seen before – it was breath-taking. And the perfect ending to a wonderful flight as well, having been bumped up to first class. It makes all the difference in the world for a 10+ hour flight!
In honor of a Corpus Christi celebration all the houses in the town were freshly painted.(6)
Ireland – land of emerald green, glorious stone walls, and wonderful sheep everywhere.
While I returned to the States my husband and friends remained for another three weeks. One of the places they visited was Croagh Patrick. While they were gone, I was visited daily by a crow I named Crow Patrick. It was magical. And of course I had to carve a stamp of him.
When I was in Ireland I made everyone tell me proverbs and colloquialisms. I love: “The windy day is not the day for thatching.” And “There are two sides to every story, and twelve versions of every song.” “Pull your socks up” means get to work. And I bet you can guess the meaning of “As useful as a lighthouse on a bog.” And I have to say I’m rather fond of “The quiet cat also drinks milk” which means even those you can’t imagine doing something do it.
Here’s hoping you have a wonderful day, and perhaps find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Now tell me – what would that pot of gold be? Where’s the favorite place you’ve traveled? Have a favorite proverb? Love soda bread? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
I have a little bit of the Blarney in me (my paternal grandfather was Irish), but I only know two Irish (I think) proverbs: “It is often that a man’s mouth breaks his nose.” And, “You will never plough a field by turning it over in your mind.”
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you, Deborah.
Top of the morning to you Sarah. And those are great proverbs – I love them!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. It was interesting to hear of your trip and I’d love to thumb through your journal.
Thanks. I’m so glad you stopped by. And I hope you had a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day as well.
What a gorgeous journal you created on your trip! And that just sounds like an amazing time! My dream is to take my mom to Ireland with my sisters. Was it hard to find that rental property?? Sounds like a dream! Happy St. Paddy’s Day to you!!! Nicole xoxo
Oh that sounds like a wonderful dream trip Nicole – hope you get to do it soon. Renting the property for our visit was one of those magical bits of synchronicity and serendipity that seemed to mark our whole trip. The farm belonged to a distant relative of one our group and they just happened to need to rent it out as they were going to be out of the country for an extended time. Gotta love when circumstances align like that!