Merry Christmas and All the Best Wishes for 2012

I've been very negligent on posting anything for the past few months. I have just been so busy re-starting my American life. On October 11 I shipped my little ball of fur, better known as Flanagan, to Seattle. It was a tearful farewell because I knew she was so very frightened. She hates the kennel and had to be trapped in one for 18 hours. At 6:00am, I bid her adieu at Shannon Airport. I'd planned to go down to Dingle to purchase a gift for Amy but I was so concerned about the pup, that I just headed back to Galway. I kept thinking about the morning she was to be spade but threw up due to fear of the kennel... I was afraid they'd call from the airport and say they couldn't ship her because she was sick. So, back to Galway and a long wait. At 9:00am, I knew she was in the air so I could relax. 7 hours later I checked the tracking and found she was in Newark but connected to an incorrect flight...an overnight in Newark. NOT!! I called and immediately got that changed so she could continue her journey the same day to meet Alex in the evening. She was fine, is happy here, loves the cat (not sure it's mutual!!) and all the birds and squirrels in the yard. She has had to learn to walk on a lead at all times (she's a country dog, not a city pooch!!) but I've found 2 dog parks where she can play off-lead. All is good. I returned to Seattle on October 23. Since then I've been to Missoula, checked out my house and confirmed that the renter wants to stay through the winter, bought a new car, rented a small cabin on Whitefish Lake for the winter and will move there on January 3. I'm really looking forward to time in the snow, walking with my pup, learning a new area, playing my flute in the community band, joining the camera club, helping at Amy's school and just exploring the area. When my house in Missoula is vacant in the summer, I'll return, paint, clean it out and re-rent it for another year. I have a return ticket to Ireland for late August, but time will tell whether I do it or not. I'm not finished with my vagabond lifestyle, but don't know where the next adventure will take me. For now, I'm happy to be with the kids. This is the first Christmas I'll share with all 3 of them since 2008.

I wish each of you who read this a happy holiday season and may 2012 bring you peace and happiness. Every day is a gift, enjoy each one!!

A Pot of Gold

I'm sure there must be a pot of gold in that Lucey Transportation truck. Since my maiden name was Luosey/Lucey, I just had to capture this photo while driving down the road!! Ok, not always safe, but essential.

I have to remember that very first day I arrived into Dublin at 6:00AM, picked up my rental and headed out to Cork. I was terrified of driving on the left, hadn't a clue where I was going, just listened to "betty in the box" until I looked up and there was a Lucey Transport truck in front of me. It was an omen..."come follow me" The truck was from Cork and headed that way so I tailgated for the first 15 minutes of my freeway/motorway experience... I just felt I was being directed by an invisible hand. So, here I am a year later, comfortable on the left, confident in most any situation...how far I've come in one year...but I'll always thank "Lucey Transport" for guiding me out of Dublin that early September morning and setting me free to celebrate every single day I've had here in Ireland. There truly has been a pot of gold for me!!

Copper Class

I took a class at Derryaune on felting early on when I came here. It was such a fun day and I learned so much...that I've continued to use. So when I saw the list of new class offerings, I decided to try my hand at working with copper. There were six of us...a real global blend...2 Germans, 1 East Indian, 2 Irish, 1 Irish/American and the teacher is from England. It was just such a fun day. I took Flan along this time since I couldn't leave her at home for the day...she'd get into trouble for sure!! She did very well...sat in the car the first couple of hours (but she sleeps in the morning anyway!!) Then the owner said "bring her in"....so Flanny got to come to class too. I put her leash under a leg of my chair so that she's stay near and not "visit" with the other ladies. She only ate two of the weaving sticks that had fallen under the table before I found out!!!!!! So I substituted a piece of firewood...with apologies to the owner. Then the owner's old, deaf terrier came in....the fun began. The two of them just had a ball. But, needless to say, it was hard for me to concentrate so I only managed to make one item. I was quite proud of it though and learned quite a bit of the technique of working with copper. I'll try my hand at it again with fewer distractions.

Foxford Woolen Mills

Well, I've made the decision to return to the US so it's time to pick up those last minute memories. One of my favorite places is the Foxford Woolen Mills. I think I've posted about it before. ( http://www.foxfordwoollenmills.com/through-the-years.php ) But the mill was begun in 1892 by the Sisters of Charity to provide employment for the locals. They harnessed the waters of the mighty Moy River to run the looms. It's still a wonderful place to visit and spend a few euros!! I had a wonderful lunch in the cafeteria, walked through the shop and then headed back for home. It's a 1 1/2 hour drive but through some beautiful fields and rolling hills. Another wonderful Irish day!

Thoor Ballylee

William Butler Yeats wanted a place in the countryside, where he could be rooted. I stopped by the tower after another walk at Coole Park with Flan the other day. A beautiful setting along a river far off the main roads and tucked into the rolling and wooded hills. My kinda place!! A river, woods, and fields all rolled together. WB Yeats lived here from 1919 to 1929 with his wife and daughter. Then it fell into disuse. In 1965 it was re-opened to the public as a visitor center. A flood last year damaged the tower so it is presently closed for restoration work. But it was still fun to stop, walk and photo... great day. Although the light isn't good (looking into the sun!!) I still made the effort. Flanagan loved being able to walk along the river too. Just a wonderful day.

Grocery Shopping

For years I've been saying that we should NOT pave over all of our land just for cars... why not put parking under the store!!  Well, they've done it here in Oranmore where I do a majority of my grocery shopping.  I love it!! It is very clean, bright, safe, easy to get to and quick.  You just pull down into the parking garage, park your car and ride the "travelator" up to the store.  So easy, no different than a parking lot.  You get your "trolly" at the top of the escalator and enter the store.  One thing that is different here is that you always pay to use a trolly...stick in a euro, release the little chain and go shopping.  When you finish, take the trolly to the stand, push it in, push in the little chain thing and your euro pops out.  So basically, you don't pay anything, but are rewarded for returning your trolly to the proper spot.  Works well.   So, after getting my groceries, putting them into my own re-usable bag.....EVERYONE brings their bags... I take the trolly out of the store, go to the travelator and push the trollyl on... I have no idea what is on the wheels, whether it's magnatized or just sticks, but it doesn't go whoosing down the ramp,...just stays with you.  When you get to the bottom, just shove it off, unload at your car, return to the stand and get your euro back.  Soooo easy....love it.  Ireland is way ahead of the US in environmental issues.  Wind, solar, no plastic bags, outlawed smoking in pubs long before many places... pretty progressive in a lot of things... 

So....here is my store:  Tesco

Tin Whistle Class

OK, there is a God... I've always wanted to learn the tin whistle (you know me, "I'm a jack of all trades, but a master of none" because I have so many interests!!) So when I moved here, my landlord/lady told me of a person who taught music in the village...in the pink house with the thatch roof...well, there aren't too many that answer to that description so I had no difficulty finding it. I signed up and started last night with a group of lovely women who have been taking for awhile. Sheet music is forbidden, which makes sense since you certainly don't see folks in a Trad session stop to pull out their music...they just have it all stored in their being. Music is just part of them. It is like watching a poor flute player and a good one. They may both have the notes memorized, but the good one just feels the music, can't help but move with it. Well, I'm going to move with the jigs this year. It's very hard to get out of visual and into audio mode but I'll keep working on it. We are working on "Scatter the Mud" for this first week. My teacher's name is Una ni Fhlannagain...yes, her last name if Flanagan...further confirmation of the humour of a higher being!! I'm just so excited...the house is amazing, the family is creative and inspirational... I'll enjoy.

Photos: House, Una, other ladies in the group.