tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64318121580135121572024-03-13T08:05:39.661-05:00Alabama Empty NesterA blog about reclaiming life after the chicks have left the nest.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-14070881880331703462012-06-16T13:51:00.001-05:002012-06-16T13:58:34.990-05:00Zip Line At Red Mountain Park<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
After being driven away by a thunderstorm a few weeks ago we finally got to ride the <a href="http://www.redmountainpark.org/zip-line-trips">Red Ore Zip Tour</a> at <a href="http://www.redmountainpark.org/">Red Mountain Park</a>. Fear Cheoil and I were joined by our friend Renee. </div>
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We hiked up to "the can," a metal shipping container with all the equipment, and got geared up. </div>
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<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fear Cheoil all strapped in.</td></tr>
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When we got to the Tree House the lead guide introduced himself. </div>
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"Hi, I'm Daredevil." </div>
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Great. I was starting to get a little nervous and that ramped the butterflies up a notch. </div>
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I didn't have to worry, though, he and the other two guides, Chelsea and Jewels, were all about safety. There wasn't a time when we weren't strapped to a steel cable of some sort.</div>
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After one short zip, just to get us used to the idea, there was a rope Burma Bridge, then a rope swing. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fear Cheoil follows Renee onto the Burma Bridge.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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After that it was all zip line to the end. On one short section, Daredevil challenged us to go backwards. So, of course I did. It wasn't as scary as it sounds.</div>
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Renee is a small person and got stuck in the middle of one of the longer sections. Jewels had to zip out and pull her in. I was at the next "tripod" and didn't get to watch, but she told me it was like being hit head-on by a pro line backer. </div>
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After that first scary section, it was hard not to laugh the whole way. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">No, he's not screaming. Tarzan yell, maybe?</span></td></tr>
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Here's Renee on one of the longer sections.</div>
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We were on the course for about an hour and a half. It cost $50 each, which is a good price as zip lines go. Most of them I've seen start at $80. Since we'd never been zip lining before it was a wonderful introduction. Definitely worth it and worth doing again. </div>
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<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com0277 Lyon Ln, Birmingham, AL 35211, USA33.4445376 -86.861278533.4428816 -86.863745999999992 33.446193599999994 -86.858811tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-64233169277843198772012-05-29T11:35:00.000-05:002012-06-04T16:08:41.821-05:00Red Mountain Park<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Fear Cheoil and I hit the trail at Red Mountain Park recently. Offically open on April 14th, it's just down the mountain from where we live. After our first visit, it may become a favorite.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here's a link to their </span><a href="http://www.redmountainpark.org/brochure/" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">digital brochure</a>.</div>
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My great grandfather was a collier (coal miner) originally from Scotland. He moved his family to Birmingham from Ohio in the early 1900s. I'll have to check with my sister, who is the family historian, but I don't think he worked in these mines. </div>
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The park is being developed in stages and this is just the first phase. One of the features is a zip line, which we plan on going back to try out soon. For our first visit, we just walked the trails and took some pictures. I found it interesting that the path at the start of the trail is your typical beige, sandy soil.</div>
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However, as you get closer to where the mines were it changes to ochre. Same trail, different dirt. </div>
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One of the most exciting features of the park is the Red Ore Zip Tour. I've been wanting to try zip lining for a while now. It costs $50 per person and takes about an hour and a half. There are other elements, like a rope bridge and swing. </div>
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Red Mountain Park is dedicated to the people who worked in the mines here, from the 1860s to the 1970s. It'll be fun to explore and watch develop. I wonder what some of the old timers who worked here would think of it.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-89333087353340739702012-04-16T16:05:00.000-05:002012-04-20T18:16:16.828-05:00The Fiddle House<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
A few weeks ago, Fear Cheoil and I traveled to Nashville to visit with another family of Cunninghams, Sean and Frances. We aren't blood related that we know of, but we all love Celtic music and Frances and I both raise chickens. Go figure.</div>
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Recently, Frances, who usually plays Irish style bouzouki, has joined the Mike Snider Old-Time String Band. They have a regular gig on the weekends at The Grand Ole Opry, but the Saturday afternoon we visited, they were playing in East Nashville, at a wonderful place called The Fiddle House. Band member Brian Christianson and his wife opened the shop and listening room a year ago. It is small, but it is mighty.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The Fiddle House, East Nashville, Tennessee</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brian also makes and repairs fiddles and bows in the workshop that takes up the front of the house. He is very neat. I wish our workbench looked like this.</span><b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> Brian's workbench.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The back part of the house is set up as a listening room. It's small enough that you can hear acoustic music without a sound system. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> L-R Matt Combs, Brian Christianson, Todd Cook (in the back), </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mike Snider, Frances Cunningham.</span></b><b> </b></span></div>
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They usually play old time tunes, but Mike likes the Irish hymn, <i>Be Thou My Vision</i>. I have to admit it's one of my favorites, too. </div>
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Here's a video of them playing it at The Fiddle House. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I love to hear music like this. It invites you to listen instead of assaulting your ears. Maybe I'm just getting old.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com0Nashville, TN, USA36.1666667 -86.783333335.9615672 -87.099190299999989 36.3717662 -86.4674763tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-61573390640047707022012-04-16T13:35:00.000-05:002012-04-16T13:35:57.153-05:00Put a Fence Around Raised Beds<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
Spring is here! Of course, that means planting flowers and vegetables in my raised beds. </div>
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Last year our dog, Daisy, kept the chipmunk population from eating </div>
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everything in the garden. Sadly, we lost her in January. I planned to move the strawberries from the side yard to the center raised bed in the backyard. Knowing how much the little critters love to take tiny bites out of the ripe fruit, I knew there needed to be some kind of deterrence. Hence, the need for a fence.</div>
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I browsed around the fencing department at the local Lowe's home improvement store and decided on this simple but effective (so far) solution.</div>
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Half inch PVC pipe, nylon ties, poultry fencing and rebar (not pictured)</div>
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This is the kind of PVC I used.</div>
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I hammered the rebar next to the corners and in between</div>
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the end of the two beds.</div>
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I measured and cut the PVC with a pair of PVC cutters, </div>
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then put it over the rebar, driving it into the ground just a little </div>
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for added stability. </div>
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I used the nylon ties to attach the poultry netting to the PVC. For access, I added a gate by attaching the netting to a length of PVC and looping a nylon tie over one of the corner fixed posts. The netting is flexible enough for me lean over and pull weeds, etc but if I need to get to the inner section the gate lays back. </div>
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It won't keep out a determined dog, but so far the chipmunks and squirrels have left it alone. Anyway, I planted some strawberries just for them on the outside of the fence right outside the entrance to their burrows. </div>
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It took me about an hour to put it up by myself and cost about $25. The most expensive item was the poultry netting which cost about $18. At the end of the season, I can take the PVC off the rebar, roll it up and store it in the shed. As for the rebar, I can pull it up and store it also, or leave it in the ground, ready for next Spring.</div>
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<br /></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-81049799688060772672012-03-12T12:07:00.000-05:002012-03-13T12:36:08.570-05:00I Need A Platform?<br />
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When I started writing, I had no idea that it
would take years of trial and (mostly) error to even finish one manuscript.
And, that completing<i> </i>a novel was just the beginning. <i>The hard work comes after
that</i>. A story has to be shaped and edited and vetted. There were times when I
just gave up. It was too much work on top of being overwhelmed with job and
family tasks.</div>
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To date, I’ve finished three novels, two of which will never
see the light of day. The third is being commented on by a few trusted “beta”
readers who, hopefully, will catch the mistakes I missed. After they are
finished, it gets another round with a brilliant copy editor. Then the fork
meets the grits. I’ll have to start sending out query letters to agents and
publishers. </div>
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While I’m waiting for all this to unfold, the word at conferences and critique groups is: you need to build an
“author platform” on social media sites. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Great, but where do I start? Which
ones? What works the best? How much time does it take? </span></span>
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If it were built with nails and
boards, no problem. The Hunter has built shooting houses, tree stands, and a
chicken ark. But, the raw materials for a social media platform are things like
Facebook, Twitter and blogs. That’s one of the reasons I started writing this
one. That, and I wanted to show off my new chickens. </div>
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Any time you build something you need to have a blueprint or
at least a plan. Building a social media platform seemed like an overwhelming
task. To add to the confusion, the traditional publishing industry is in a state of flux right now because
anybody can write a “book” and fling it up for sale on Amazon/Kindle.</div>
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You know that old saying, when the student is ready the
teacher will appear? I can tell you it holds true in this case. I don’t even
remember where I came across <a href="http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/">Kristen Lamb's blog</a>, but reading it has taken some
of the anxiety out of trying to build a social media platform. She also blogs about
the craft of writing, the state of the publishing industry and other subjects
writers love to read about while we are procrastinating, I mean studying.</div>
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Kristen also offers what I needed the most, a detailed plan
of how to build a social media platform, an e-book called, <a href="https://whodareswinspublishing.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=86">We Are Not Alone</a>. I’m
making my way through it, step by small step. When my “work in progress” is
ready to be unleashed onto unsuspecting agents and publishers, I’ll be ready! </div>
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</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com0Hoover, AL, USA33.4053867 -86.811378133.2993432 -86.9693066 33.5114302 -86.6534496tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-5581269329073854692012-01-12T09:30:00.000-06:002012-01-13T13:12:57.685-06:00When Hunting Doesn't Go As Planned<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Next weekend is the end of dog hunting at Wolf Creek so we're trying to make each hunt count. The Hunter took a friend from Auburn, Alabama on Saturday and got a spike buck. He had to fight a black and tan hound named Oscar for it, but brought home the hindquarters and backstraps. I can see a little Zatarain's breading and an cast iron skillet in my future.</div>
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My dad and I went with him on Sunday. The forecast was for rain in the afternoon, but somebody forgot to tell the clouds they weren't supposed to arrive until after lunch. </div>
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Neither The Hunter nor I had any rain gear, but, as usual, Daddy was prepared. Folded up in the pocket of his jacket was a poncho he got from some kind of US Steel promotion, almost fifty years ago! About the time they let the dogs loose it started to rain. </div>
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I had my video camera with me and shot this little montage of my thoughts on the morning. Unfortunately, that's all I shot...</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy5RT-3KicUV_lFcIPhBv0Dl8bDgOjYjzg7ZDu1521-iVXMU3zRHaq7clvBM2IdtIhzAwdSynLZPxcsl8oCAg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Dog hunters use walkie-talkie radios to let everybody know when the dogs are let loose and which way they're headed. That's helpful if you can't hear the dogs. The only problem is: you have to know where you are. There are spots at this club called The Refrigerator, Ax Road and Double Buck. If you don't know that a refrigerator was dumped at a certain place thirty years ago or where Sammy killed two bucks with one shot, you are just outta luck. Of course, I usually don't have a clue where I'm standing, but it is entertaining to listen to them talk sometimes.</div>
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"I heard a shot over by The Lake. Who's over there?"</div>
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"I think it's John."</div>
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"What'd 'e get?</div>
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"A tree."</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Even though the hunt was shortened by rain, it was so much fun to be with my dad. He's the one who taught me to "roll with the punches" while I was growing up, and we certainly had to do that on Sunday.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BE_kGJLj8Nc/TwoieMStZxI/AAAAAAAAAbM/vho1VlYrclU/s1600/karen_bill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BE_kGJLj8Nc/TwoieMStZxI/AAAAAAAAAbM/vho1VlYrclU/s400/karen_bill.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com2Columbiana, AL 35051, USA33.1781718 -86.607205433.1250118 -86.6861694 33.2313318 -86.5282414tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-87231649415792735352012-01-08T17:20:00.000-06:002012-01-08T17:20:26.989-06:00Hunt 'Im Up!<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
When Fear Cheoil morphed into The Hunter this year, he joined a new club much closer to the house. Wolf Creek Hunting Club has three tracts and a little over 3400 acres. They also hunt deer with dogs on the weekends. I've never had that kind of a hunting experience and it's been many years since he has. It's much more social and you don't have to sit in a tree stand and freeze for hours at a time. I went once before the holiday craziness started and then again this past Saturday.</div>
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One thing I did to make hunting a little more comfortable: I
went shopping at Bass Pro Shop in Leeds, Alabama, and bought some
hunting gear that is actually made for women. I've always just worn
whatever The Hunter wasn't using or has, um, outgrown. Anyway, I got a
pair of camo fleece pants, gloves and cap. The pants are not at all
slimming, but they fit better than The Hunter's old
camo overalls and they kept me warm.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NzpLmv5nbuE/TwC3SKBmisI/AAAAAAAAAZk/Br_TdBCRfF0/s1600/IMG_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NzpLmv5nbuE/TwC3SKBmisI/AAAAAAAAAZk/Br_TdBCRfF0/s400/IMG_0493.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My new female friendly camo gear.</span></b></span></div>
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One of the best aspects of this club is that they don't start until about seven am. That seems very civilized to me. While I am a morning person, between the hours of three and six am, I'm really, <i>really</i> cranky. It was nice that I didn't have to make my way to a tree stand and climb into it without making a sound, in the pitch blackness of the predawn hours. </div>
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All the hunters load into the back of pickup trucks and get dropped off at 100 yard intervals along the prearranged club road. Then, they load the dogs up, take them to a couple of places close-by and turn them loose. The dogs find deer and drive them toward the hunters. At least that's the idea, anyway. The drivers and dog handlers coordinate by two way radio and the hunters can listen in. If somebody sees a deer running they tell everybody which way it's headed. Kind of like a deer hunting play by play. I could also hear the dogs baying and barking through the woods. Sometimes the dogs don't jump deer, they run rabbits. I find it fascinating that the dog's owners can tell which dog is following what. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A Beagle mix and a Black and Tan are ready to run a deer, </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">or maybe a rabbit, or maybe just run.</span></b></span></div>
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There are Beagles, Black and Tan Hounds, some Walker Hounds and a Blue Tick or two, plus several dogs of uncertain mixture. The one thing that unites them all, though, is hunting. They bark and whine and howl to be let out and run. We did two runs that morning then broke for lunch. When we got back they were planning another run for the afternoon. </div>
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As you can imagine, hunting is still a man's world kind of place. I know to just kind of hang back and watch what's going on. Sooner or later they'll get used to me. As a matter of fact, one of them nicknamed me "Double Barrel" because I use The Hunter's vintage double barreled shotgun, instead of a pump like everybody else. </div>
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I was standing in a patch of sunlight trying to warm up a little while they planned the afternoon run, when the only other woman hunter came up and introduced herself as Evelyn. She's from Pennsylvania but has been in Alabama since 1977. She is an avid hunter and even has a trailer at the camp. We didn't get to talk long because they started loading up for the afternoon run, but it was nice of her to reach out to me. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h34V5lDC2hA/TwC3lOp4K2I/AAAAAAAAAZ8/KpBnWKuBhog/s1600/karen_evelyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h34V5lDC2hA/TwC3lOp4K2I/AAAAAAAAAZ8/KpBnWKuBhog/s400/karen_evelyn.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Me and Evelyn. The white trailer in the background is hers.</span></span></b></div>
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They will only be running the dogs until the middle of January, then it's stand/stalk hunting only until the end of January. I hope my nickname sticks until next season. </div>
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<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com2Columbiana, AL 35051, USA33.1781718 -86.607205433.1250118 -86.6861694 33.2313318 -86.5282414tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-1892247461773725322012-01-01T16:35:00.001-06:002012-01-01T16:39:02.874-06:00Karen and Robin Get The Boot<div>
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One of the good things about being a school bus driver
is that you get two weeks off at Christmas. The week before is spent
putting up decorations, shopping, and planning the family get together. Combined, all those activities
take up all the available time and air in the room. However, the week
after, I pay myself back. One of my favorite things to do is go to lunch
with my friend, Robin. We usually try somewhere neither one of us has
been. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Boot at Preserve Village.</span></b> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On Thursday we tried a new place with the unlikely name of The Boot, which comes from this quote: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #2e3092; font-family: Palatino Linotype,Palatino,Serif; font-size: small;">"This Boot was a lone house of public entertainment... several people drinking there, and great merriment going on."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #2e3092; font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">-- Charles Dickens, <i>Barnaby Rudge</i></span></div>
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I<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">t's
a small, neighborhood restaurant, describing itself as "fast casual".
You go to a counter to order but they bring it to the table when
it's ready. They have sandwiches, burgers, salads and shrimp. Most of
the food is locally grown and they serve crafted beer.</span></div>
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When we got there on Thursday, they were working on a large order and asked if we would wait for a few minutes while they filled it. We got soft drinks and<span class="yiv116297909Apple-style-span"> sat
at the table in front of the cozy fire place at one
end of the dining area. The owner, Mike McCowan stopped by the table
and chatted for a few minutes while we waited.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QF9TmV4NLmo/TwDbCvlChPI/AAAAAAAAAas/y60B9fvUxZM/s1600/PC290273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QF9TmV4NLmo/TwDbCvlChPI/AAAAAAAAAas/y60B9fvUxZM/s400/PC290273.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="yiv116297909Apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Very cozy. </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="yiv116297909Apple-style-span">We had an appetizer of NOLA shrimp, which is barbecued shrimp over grits. It has a sweet/spicy sauce. It's very yummy. </span></div>
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<span class="yiv116297909Apple-style-span"> </span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rSJWtnDqhHU/TwDaPCJtKhI/AAAAAAAAAaI/r6Tg3nXRmHc/s1600/PC290274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rSJWtnDqhHU/TwDaPCJtKhI/AAAAAAAAAaI/r6Tg3nXRmHc/s400/PC290274.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Shrimp NOLA.</span></span></b></div>
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<span class="yiv116297909Apple-style-span">Robin
ordered a Pecanwood bacon cheeseburger on ciabatta roll. I had a
Smokey Pimento Cheeseburger on ciabatta roll. They came with a choice of
fries and one side. The fries are a combination of white and sweet
potato fries with home made chips. I got the fresh fruit with walnuts
and granola. The burger was juicy and cooked medium.</span></div>
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<span class="yiv116297909Apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pecanwood Cheeseburger. </span></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zEk6LnRlS2k/TwDaqXNJQQI/AAAAAAAAAaU/19iClScgivk/s1600/PC290276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zEk6LnRlS2k/TwDaqXNJQQI/AAAAAAAAAaU/19iClScgivk/s400/PC290276.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Smokey Pimento Cheeseburger</span></span></b>.</div>
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<span class="yiv116297909Apple-style-span">We
enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. I would like to take Fear Cheoil
back for dinner one evening and try some of the craft beers. They have
happy hour from 4-6 on Tuesday thru Saturday. There are specials in the
evening, some of them are announced on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/The.Boot.Preserve">their Facebook page</a> and you can find the
daily menu and other information at <a href="http://thebootatpreservevillage.vpweb.com/default.html">The Boot at Preserve Village.</a></span></div>
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<span class="yiv116297909Apple-style-span">These days, chain restaurants and franchises seem to be the most common dining options around. It is very refreshing to find a place that isn't looking to be the next big thing, but is more interested in serving fresh, local food. That describes The Boot at Preserve Village.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com2Hoover, AL, USA33.4053867 -86.811378133.2993432 -86.9693066 33.5114302 -86.6534496tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-10340762518682473682011-12-29T15:09:00.000-06:002011-12-29T15:09:38.399-06:00Chattanooga<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
It's been a long time since I've written a post, but things in the Empty Nest have been busy! </div>
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Fear Cheoil and I traveled up to Chattanooga, Tennessee for our anniversary in November. My sister lived there for a few years and it's one of my favorite places to visit. The downtown area is alive and busy every time I've been there. With so many fun activities to choose from sometimes it's hard to make a decision, but we opted for a dinner cruise on <i>The Southern Belle</i>. The food was delicious and it was peaceful to sit on the deck and watch the stars and city lights roll by.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w0aIyJ4jIKA/TvzPPw45xTI/AAAAAAAAAYA/wJWLYKvmpfA/s1600/Pier+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w0aIyJ4jIKA/TvzPPw45xTI/AAAAAAAAAYA/wJWLYKvmpfA/s400/Pier+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">This psyched me out because it wasn't the boat. It was the pier. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">The boat was on the other side where the smoke stacks are.</span></b></div>
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On Sunday, we walked around downtown for a little while. It was the first weekend in November and the leaves were at peak performance.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UtkspRGQVYU/TvzVWe_K57I/AAAAAAAAAZY/OwL_b0b6q2s/s1600/red+leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UtkspRGQVYU/TvzVWe_K57I/AAAAAAAAAZY/OwL_b0b6q2s/s400/red+leaf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">'Nuff said...</span></span></b> </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zyaWR-tG-sw/TvzSmgaV5PI/AAAAAAAAAZA/3sR6Wk--950/s1600/Museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zyaWR-tG-sw/TvzSmgaV5PI/AAAAAAAAAZA/3sR6Wk--950/s400/Museum.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Hunter Museum of American Art. Or maybe a space ship? </span></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vtMxlg4qTLc/TvzQclcb6vI/AAAAAAAAAYM/bv2WtWeS95I/s1600/PB050033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vtMxlg4qTLc/TvzQclcb6vI/AAAAAAAAAYM/bv2WtWeS95I/s400/PB050033.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Walking from the Hunter Museum toward the Tennessee Aquarium.</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ySYx9_vrTFo/TvzQ6b_BjbI/AAAAAAAAAYo/ExWJqbc0iqw/s1600/dane+hi+five.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ySYx9_vrTFo/TvzQ6b_BjbI/AAAAAAAAAYo/ExWJqbc0iqw/s400/dane+hi+five.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fear Cheoil makes a new friend.</span></b> </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mg5WAZ2WQQ0/TvzTEjCd4SI/AAAAAAAAAZM/sKX4zexRMec/s1600/ped+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mg5WAZ2WQQ0/TvzTEjCd4SI/AAAAAAAAAZM/sKX4zexRMec/s400/ped+bridge.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pedestrian bridge across the Tennessee River.</span></b></div>
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The success of downtown Chattanooga is inspiring. It has taken a huge amount of dedication, collaboration and money to bring this kind of change about. There is a lot of history here. Some of it positive and some of it heart breaking. The city of Chattanooga embraces it all. </div>
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<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com2Chattanooga, TN, USA35.0456297 -85.309680134.8376362 -85.625537099999988 35.2536232 -84.9938231tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-1084167213002291522011-10-09T14:56:00.004-05:002011-10-09T14:56:53.740-05:00Old Baker Farm<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I took a group of kindergardeners from <span class="yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1318186628_0">Shades Mountain Elementary School</span></span>
on a field trip Friday. It's been a long time since I've been in amongst that
many five year olds. Most of them had never been on a bus before and the first
few curves and bumps the bus encountered caused a reaction similar to a flock
of startled starlings.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-atJRI6h2KsM/TpH4ZapFxgI/AAAAAAAAAVs/n2P0THTkuK0/s1600/PA060206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-atJRI6h2KsM/TpH4ZapFxgI/AAAAAAAAAVs/n2P0THTkuK0/s320/PA060206.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Of course they had to sing all the verses of "The Wheels on the Bus"(go wound and wound)
. It was a little noisy but since I drive middle school students, I'm
used to it. The destination was <a href="http://oldbakerfarm.com/">Old Baker Farm </a> near <span class="yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1318186628_1">Harpersville, Alabama</span></span>, just a forty minute
drive from the school.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8RxTPZSn6JI/TpH1ksH2GNI/AAAAAAAAAVY/w_qEwGS-a6U/s1600/OBF.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8RxTPZSn6JI/TpH1ksH2GNI/AAAAAAAAAVY/w_qEwGS-a6U/s320/OBF.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The farm has been a homestead since before Alabama was even a state,
and is still run as a family farm. They raise cotton, corn, and pumpkins. I
followed along as the kids got the tour. They got to go through the barn where they were introduced to: </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NHVlgakmEBw/TpH1izP9LnI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/64Gs9P1g7iA/s1600/lamb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NHVlgakmEBw/TpH1izP9LnI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/64Gs9P1g7iA/s400/lamb.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> a lamb, </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r_mTHn5gbX0/TpH2NZFjPBI/AAAAAAAAAVc/ZSE6UD3Edbw/s1600/PA060191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r_mTHn5gbX0/TpH2NZFjPBI/AAAAAAAAAVc/ZSE6UD3Edbw/s400/PA060191.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">a rabbit, chickens, geese, </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S0lymGntZjA/TpH1XUJoc6I/AAAAAAAAAU4/6ogaJGt2Iuo/s1600/gobblers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S0lymGntZjA/TpH1XUJoc6I/AAAAAAAAAU4/6ogaJGt2Iuo/s400/gobblers.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> some loud gobbling turkeys, ducks,</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fMWOERuO-JA/TpH1e_4yvKI/AAAAAAAAAVI/RXDVrxzPN90/s1600/horsedonkeygoat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fMWOERuO-JA/TpH1e_4yvKI/AAAAAAAAAVI/RXDVrxzPN90/s400/horsedonkeygoat.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> goats, sheep, donkeys and a horse. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QrMaSE1oG_g/TpH3HtoOVwI/AAAAAAAAAVo/ULto9Mnl9ts/s1600/PA060182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QrMaSE1oG_g/TpH3HtoOVwI/AAAAAAAAAVo/ULto9Mnl9ts/s400/PA060182.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They took a hay ride and picked out
pumpkins to take home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I stayed back at the barn and got up close and personal with a couple of jersey
calves.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DQrJGpXmW1c/TpH1TRLl31I/AAAAAAAAAUw/gD388b-UPrU/s1600/calfnose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="351" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DQrJGpXmW1c/TpH1TRLl31I/AAAAAAAAAUw/gD388b-UPrU/s400/calfnose.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Somebody feed me! </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rraUqSZsRQg/TpH1c-ch4lI/AAAAAAAAAVE/5MyFRE_zSLQ/s1600/headstogether.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rraUqSZsRQg/TpH1c-ch4lI/AAAAAAAAAVE/5MyFRE_zSLQ/s400/headstogether.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If we put our heads together we can figure out</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> how to get her to feed us</span></span>!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There were a good number of chickens of course. What farm would be complete without a few feathered yard ornaments? They had what looked like a Red Star, a New Hampshire Red, some Barred Plymouth Rocks and some Light Brahmas.<br />
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The farm is open to the public on weekends in October, offering families and
groups hayrides, horse rides, corn and hay mazes, a Civil War re-enactment and
Indian festival dancing. Check out the <a href="http://oldbakerfarm.com/">website</a> for specific dates and
activities.<br />
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It was a lot of fun. In fact, I might try to talk Fear an Cheoil into going down there before he morphs into The Hunter in the middle of November.</span><br />
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<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com0Harpersville, AL, USA33.3439995 -86.438035733.29094 -86.5169997 33.397059000000006 -86.3590717tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-15298896551675207242011-09-27T09:45:00.000-05:002011-09-27T09:45:54.149-05:00Lessons From My Grandparents<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
As I was packing my lunch to drive a field trip the other day, I took a cold
canned drink out of the fridge and wrapped it in a couple of thicknesses of
paper towels, then in a layer of aluminum foil. It struck me that my
grandmother used to do exactly the same thing and in fact that is where I
learned it from. At times like these I miss my grandmother and feel thankful
for all the life lessons she and my other grandparents passed along.<br />
<br />
With the economy tanking more every day, it is kind of comforting for me to
remember that all of them lived through The Great Depression. It may have been
a little easier for them since most of them were farmers and could at least
grow their own food. Even after they all left the farm to work in the city,
they brought that same sense of independence and self reliance with them. <br />
<br />
Their houses weren't fancy, but they were clean, comfortable and paid for. The
same went for their cars. They both had a vegetable patch in their backyard
for growing tomatoes and strawberries, mostly. One of my grandfathers taught me
how to make a compost bin and the other showed me that just because you had
open heart surgery doesn't mean you can't play softball at the family reunion. <br />
<br />
These weren't lessons they beat me over the head with. Instead, they were
spread out like a warm, comfortable quilt, practical, useful and even colorful.
It's not that there wasn't any turmoil in their lives, but those times were weathered under
that same quilt, with patience and faith in God. <br />
<br />
I'm not a grandparent yet, but when I do get the chance, I hope I can pass that
same quilt along to my grandchildren.</div>
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com2Hoover, AL, USA33.4053867 -86.811378133.2993432 -86.9693066 33.5114302 -86.6534496tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-10450121584944011212011-09-16T21:16:00.000-05:002011-09-16T21:16:08.488-05:00Daisy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-29sCbsSXTUU/TnP6KU_M7KI/AAAAAAAAAUI/lqHO7cNlsb4/s1600/Daisycrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-29sCbsSXTUU/TnP6KU_M7KI/AAAAAAAAAUI/lqHO7cNlsb4/s400/Daisycrop.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>We got this hairy dog from the Birmingham Humane Society.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I can't understand why anyone would give her up. </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div><div class="Body1"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Last night our friends Trent and Paul came over to practice with Fear an Cheoil for the</span> <a href="http://tennesseevalleyscottishsociety.org/North-Alabama-Scottish-Festival.htm">North Alabama Scottish Festival and Highland Games</a>, which takes place in Scottsboro, Alabama, the first weekend of October. Daisy waded into the circle of guitars, mandolins, accordions and bagpipes, tail wagging. I think she would have laid right there for the entire time they were playing if I hadn’t dragged her away. She wouldn't stay in my office with me but laid at the top of the stairs so she could at least hear the music, even if she could not see the musicians. This is a new behavior for her. She usually just ignores them. Doggie dementia, I guess. She is eleven.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1AQN-4POZNI/TnP-pulPeoI/AAAAAAAAAUY/VLa66PgBQwY/s1600/55529_10150107871520200_812495199_7583002_6062435_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1AQN-4POZNI/TnP-pulPeoI/AAAAAAAAAUY/VLa66PgBQwY/s320/55529_10150107871520200_812495199_7583002_6062435_o.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Starting to show her age.</span></b></div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She was content there until Trent started playing his Highland Bagpipes. At the very first squawk, she ran back down the hall and cowered behind my chair while I was sitting at my desk. Her eyes pleaded with me to make him stop. We compromised. I let her out into the backyard while he was playing. Funny, that dog has not willingly gone into the backyard unless there was food involved since the beginning of June.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RNq3BUTqpL4/TnP-vPc_aCI/AAAAAAAAAUg/HSxlaVZPx1M/s1600/IMG_3095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RNq3BUTqpL4/TnP-vPc_aCI/AAAAAAAAAUg/HSxlaVZPx1M/s320/IMG_3095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Daisy, chillaxin' in the kitchen.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Since May she has been a constant fixture on the kitchen floor, kind of a large, furry rug taking up about half the room. She wants to be ready, just in case anything edible gets dropped. We don't allow her in the dining room while we are eating but as soon as she hears the chairs scoot back she is doggie on the spot. Rattle a little plastic or paper, Daisy is instantly under your feet, looking up in anticipation.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jhEA127L9OQ/TnP6PYFEmLI/AAAAAAAAAUU/eGzZ0r4Vlh0/s1600/P6181791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jhEA127L9OQ/TnP6PYFEmLI/AAAAAAAAAUU/eGzZ0r4Vlh0/s320/P6181791.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-size: x-small;">My furry kitchen rug.</span></b></div></div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I guess I can't really blame her. She is used to having the run of the backyard, chasing squirrels, chomping on chipmunks and eating baby birds that fall out of the nest. Oh yeah, I know it's gross, but that's what dogs do. Last May she was diagnosed with degenerative liver disease, as well as significant arthritis in her back. We were devastated at first, but the vet put her on a detoxifying supplement called Denamarin, a special low protein diet and subcutaneous fluids three times a week. Right now, she's holding her own, having more good days than bad. I don't mind at all that I have to step over her to get to the fridge. I'm just glad she's still here to step over. </span><br />
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</div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-34324472931789639532011-08-19T10:25:00.000-05:002011-08-19T10:25:42.119-05:00The Girl Goes Traveling<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My daughter, Brenna, left for a well deserved vacation recently. One of her friends from high school lives in New England and that’s where she decided to go for a long visit.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I drove her to the airport. On the way, I warned her, then gave The Mom Lecture. She listened with good grace and patience. She’s old enough now that it doesn’t offend her, but understands it means that I love her. I even asked if she had a jacket! Of course she did. I raised her to be responsible and independent and she certainly is. That’s wonderful but it means I don’t have too many chances to be Mommy any more. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When we got to the airport I went in with her to make sure everything was okay with the ticket. That was the story anyway. The truth is: I just wanted to actually see her off on this new adventure. I saw her first breath, I saw her off to kindergarten, middle school, high school and college. I’ve seen her grow and change and blossom into this intelligent, beautiful young woman. Sometimes it just amazes me.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When I was hugging her goodbye at the security entrance, I had an intense flashback to when she was a baby. I loved holding her and kissing her sweet little baby head. It feels like I just blinked and here she is, all grown up and going off alone on an airplane. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I wasn’t going to cry, but of course I did. Silly of me really. I know she’ll be back. Her car is here! Just kidding. Her family, friends and roots are here also. That's a powerful magnet.</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-46374892981236291062011-08-03T21:03:00.000-05:002011-08-03T21:03:46.529-05:00Last Night and Goodbye<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What a great time we’ve had here in Gleann Colmcille. We’ve learned some Irish language, made some friends, and had a wonderful experience at <a href="http://www.oideas-gael.com/index.html">Oideas Gael</a>. Thanks so much to Siobhan Ni Churraighin and Liam O Cuinneagain! They really do wonderful work, helping people like me and Fear na Cheoil learn more about Irish culture in a deep and meaningful way. Go raith maith agat, y’all. (Sorry, you can take the girl out of the South, but you can’t take the South out of the girl.)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The last evening in Gleann, we had dinner with The Belfast Lasses, Manuel and Cathy, all from my husband’s level a haon (one) class. They rented a two bedroom cottage right by the campus. Dinner was delicious; we had wine and conversation, most of it in Beurla (English) about Gaeilge.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manuel takes a picture of Rick, taking a picture.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good food, good friends, good evening.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We drank a dram of whiskey and walked up to join the festivities in the rest of the village. Fear na Cheoil stopped off at Roarty’s Pub to play in the session there and the rest of us walked up to the Halla na Mhuire (St. Mary’s Hall) for the Ceilimhor (big dance). The Lasses and Manuel decided it was too bright and busy for them and went back to Roarty’s. I stayed and did a couple of ceili dances and a waltz. I don’t have a clue what dances I did. The MC was calling and giving the directions all in Irish.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose and her partner step through the Slieve Luchra set.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Back at Roarty’s, The Lasses had saved me a seat. There were so many people in there it was difficult to get to the bar and say, “Ba maith liom pionta Guinness, le do thoil.” (I would like a pint of Guinness, please.) We talked and drank and played Harold’s bodhran and before you know it the lights were blinking last call and it was time to go back to the house. A look at my watch told me it was three am. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helen tries out Harold's bodhran.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The next morning, we said our goodbyes to Margaret Cunningham at Teach Gleann Dobhar and went to the final meeting at Oideas Gael.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ypSa3ZePZAQ/Tjn64mlG2jI/AAAAAAAAAT8/ADST-ysnEvA/s1600/P7290204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ypSa3ZePZAQ/Tjn64mlG2jI/AAAAAAAAAT8/ADST-ysnEvA/s400/P7290204.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our housemates, Mert, Elisabeth, Paula and some guy I don't know.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Under sunny skies, we sang some Irish songs, ending with Mo Ghille Mar, then the set dance class did one figure of the Slieve Luchra set, I think. It was fun to see the President dance. She looked like she was really enjoying it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N24G3QR6Te0/Tjn62Rx_3rI/AAAAAAAAAT4/jMlJ3fD48is/s1600/P7290199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N24G3QR6Te0/Tjn62Rx_3rI/AAAAAAAAAT4/jMlJ3fD48is/s400/P7290199.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Irish President (blonde hair, black blouse) cuts a rug, uh, parking lot.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It was hard to say goodbye to everyone, but with email and facebook, we won’t lose touch. If we can go back next year, we might just fly in through Belfast. We know some people there.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7hDP5LsHSJQ/Tjn5v_GZCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/vKg5xmtmG2M/s1600/IMG_3400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7hDP5LsHSJQ/Tjn5v_GZCLI/AAAAAAAAATY/vKg5xmtmG2M/s400/IMG_3400.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle, Ruth and me.</td></tr>
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</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-58113154666191645352011-08-01T16:42:00.003-05:002011-08-03T00:09:07.982-05:00Rossan Point<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The last walk we took from <a href="http://www.oideas-gael.com/index.html">Oideas Gael</a> was around the coast to Rossan Point. We were mostly looking for wildlife. Tony pointed out a stream the otters use to wash the salt water out of their fur. Sadly, none of them showed up while we were crossing the stream. Mostly what we saw were nesting sea birds and a lone seal. But we did see something on this walk that we had not seen all week. Sunshine!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JK083icV7pY/TjR7Zrqo59I/AAAAAAAAATM/e78Gu2x3ka8/s1600/P7280133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JK083icV7pY/TjR7Zrqo59I/AAAAAAAAATM/e78Gu2x3ka8/s400/P7280133.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_iaxgU1P68o/TjR7fodMXmI/AAAAAAAAATU/FV6YUKXX07U/s1600/Rossan+Point+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_iaxgU1P68o/TjR7fodMXmI/AAAAAAAAATU/FV6YUKXX07U/s400/Rossan+Point+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I can’t believe how blue the water was and how white the wave caps were. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The walk wasn’t quite as difficult as the hike up to Glen Head on the first day.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cN189DpC-3o/TjR7VFbr7WI/AAAAAAAAATI/yOk3aY09wtI/s1600/P7280077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cN189DpC-3o/TjR7VFbr7WI/AAAAAAAAATI/yOk3aY09wtI/s400/P7280077.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Glen Head, waaay over there with the tower on top.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ocno07YISwo/TjR7eh54xTI/AAAAAAAAATQ/jXTAHxLOGyM/s400/P7280135.JPG" width="400" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I really enjoyed the time I spent tramping around Gleann Colmcille. It’s going to be really hard to leave tomorrow. But, I’m not going to think about that now. Tonight, we have dinner with the Belfast Lasses and the final Ceilimhor. After this walk, I hope I can hold up for at least a dance or two!</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com2Glencolumbkille, Co. Donegal, Ireland54.711063 -8.7219837000000154.7082325 -8.7279187000000089 54.713893500000005 -8.71604870000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-1069965423540498322011-07-30T16:00:00.007-05:002011-07-30T16:00:01.926-05:00Frustration<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thursday turned out to be a very frustrating day. The Music Man (an fear na cheoil) and I stayed out way too late on Wednesday night. (We got to bed at two am) On the way to the language class, he started feeling really bad and went back to the room. I couldn't concentrate on the lesson and walked back to Teach Gleann Dobhar at the tea break. He was feeling a little better and wanted to drive to Killybegs to get some money and find a pharmacy. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I wanted to do at least one of the set dance classes and since it was still cloudy and very windy, I thought today would be the day. An added incentive is that the President of Ireland is at <a href="http://www.oideas-gael.com/index.html">Oideas Gael</a> this week and is in the set dance class in the afternoon. I'd like to say that I've danced in a set with her. Maybe I'll get the chance at the Ceilimhor on Friday night! </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My husband said we could be back from Killybegs in a couple of hours. In my heart I knew it was going to take longer than that. It did. It took nearly three hours, which meant I missed the start of the dance class.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, we decided to visit Tra Ban (Silver Beach) at Malin Bhig, just a few kilometers away. We had heard that there were 150+ steps down to the bottom. That's a lot of steps but it was so worth it!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pz9bhI7xAVQ/TjHgfdFhopI/AAAAAAAAASc/m41JI2pQ6mg/s1600/tra+ban+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pz9bhI7xAVQ/TjHgfdFhopI/AAAAAAAAASc/m41JI2pQ6mg/s400/tra+ban+1.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">From the car park. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-825KBSyo0Yg/TjHgnyz_dYI/AAAAAAAAASk/ACM_RpTa4DA/s1600/tra+ban+waves3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-825KBSyo0Yg/TjHgnyz_dYI/AAAAAAAAASk/ACM_RpTa4DA/s400/tra+ban+waves3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fv0uZrNx_l4/TjHggnoo4zI/AAAAAAAAASg/4d_N_MGT0QA/s1600/tra+ban+steps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fv0uZrNx_l4/TjHggnoo4zI/AAAAAAAAASg/4d_N_MGT0QA/s400/tra+ban+steps.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The famous steps. There might be 150+ I didn't count.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SGJJ1ndT_dU/TjHgpGe_v2I/AAAAAAAAASo/bIsJVl2jpHo/s1600/tra+ban+waves+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SGJJ1ndT_dU/TjHgpGe_v2I/AAAAAAAAASo/bIsJVl2jpHo/s400/tra+ban+waves+1.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Atlantic waves</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Tomorrow is our last day, so it's language class in the morning and hillwalking in the afternoon. I'm already gearing up to say goodbye. Sniff.</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com0Glencolumbkille, Co. Donegal, Ireland54.711063 -8.7219837000000154.7082325 -8.7279187000000089 54.713893500000005 -8.71604870000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-48881639139409540852011-07-29T16:06:00.006-05:002011-07-29T16:06:00.954-05:00Coastal Walk<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In Alabama when somebody talks about a coastal walk, you know they’re going to be in Gulf Shores walking along the sugary white sands in their bathing suit. Coastal walk here in Gleann Colmcille means something quite different.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On Wednesday, the weather was cool and wet, <i>again</i>, especially on the heights, so Tony opted for a walk along the headlands just to the northwest of the village.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I’m sure he sighed heavily when he saw Sean and myself waiting in the parking lot with the others. Slow pokes again. Sean said it seemed to be the natural order.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X3N_NZSkwhM/TjHPvD3gZaI/AAAAAAAAARk/gr8HSyUmjn8/s1600/cw3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X3N_NZSkwhM/TjHPvD3gZaI/AAAAAAAAARk/gr8HSyUmjn8/s400/cw3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This walk wasn’t anywhere near as strenuous as the first two, in the beginning, at least.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We saw sea caves.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dt05IXNWJTA/TjHPtm0jQVI/AAAAAAAAARg/OYp_DBkKwOw/s1600/cw2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dt05IXNWJTA/TjHPtm0jQVI/AAAAAAAAARg/OYp_DBkKwOw/s400/cw2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OT2nyzPHC-E/TjHPrHGJefI/AAAAAAAAARY/_Lr9lalLT88/s1600/cavepool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OT2nyzPHC-E/TjHPrHGJefI/AAAAAAAAARY/_Lr9lalLT88/s400/cavepool.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uF4-mzqMEnE/TjHTKWP0LQI/AAAAAAAAASY/V54W1l1MahM/s1600/sea+cave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uF4-mzqMEnE/TjHTKWP0LQI/AAAAAAAAASY/V54W1l1MahM/s400/sea+cave.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We saw quartz outcroppings.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8lcK2AD8MYA/TjHze4KBmMI/AAAAAAAAATE/UbSNE7439pY/s1600/quartz2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8lcK2AD8MYA/TjHze4KBmMI/AAAAAAAAATE/UbSNE7439pY/s400/quartz2.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KF-41R5IFww/TjHzbt21f5I/AAAAAAAAATA/-lN38Gi0WNs/s1600/quartz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KF-41R5IFww/TjHzbt21f5I/AAAAAAAAATA/-lN38Gi0WNs/s400/quartz.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We saw rocky areas that looked like they could be on the surface of the moon.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bxu6tSgNmXY/TjHQANda8ZI/AAAAAAAAASA/N_P1xBLO9jc/s1600/moonwalk1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bxu6tSgNmXY/TjHQANda8ZI/AAAAAAAAASA/N_P1xBLO9jc/s400/moonwalk1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">This is our housemate, Elisabeth.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LZhbPsM93YI/TjHP980U9LI/AAAAAAAAAR4/1lEe60_3q2o/s1600/elisabeth1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LZhbPsM93YI/TjHP980U9LI/AAAAAAAAAR4/1lEe60_3q2o/s400/elisabeth1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">We climbed down rock faces. Well, some of us did.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O-7f7gVK5ZQ/TjHzYXNz-3I/AAAAAAAAAS8/CffLyGOHFoQ/s1600/nonclimbers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O-7f7gVK5ZQ/TjHzYXNz-3I/AAAAAAAAAS8/CffLyGOHFoQ/s400/nonclimbers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We were going back by the beach, but the tide was in and we had to tromp through a farmer’s cow pasture. That was the steep part on this walk and while sheep are prolific, um, poopers, they got nothin’ on cows.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My boots stayed in the car all night. I hope they don’t charge us the extra fee for cleaning it out. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com0Glencolumbkille, Co. Donegal, Ireland54.711063 -8.7219837000000154.7082325 -8.7279187000000089 54.713893500000005 -8.71604870000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-42069966852610966332011-07-29T14:32:00.004-05:002011-07-29T14:32:00.325-05:00Belfast Lasses<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We’ve met some wonderful people here. After the orientation on the first night, we met three women from Belfast, Northern Ireland. This is their first time here at Oideas Gael, too. They are Helen, Michelle and Ruth. I don’t know anybody’s last name. It’s like they don’t really exist while we’re here. The Belfast Lasses, as The Music Man and I call them, are a little younger than we are and a lot of fun for me to hang out with while my husband plays in the pub sessions. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Session at Roarty's on Wednesday night.</span></b></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We have explored the Church of Ireland graveyard.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Belfast Lasses and me in the church graveyard.</span></b></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We save seats for each other at the evening concerts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Michelle and Helen at the Wednesday night concert. </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i66F0wgq0Nc/TjG91v6k0qI/AAAAAAAAAQs/QL4_EHlXtFg/s1600/P7270150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i66F0wgq0Nc/TjG91v6k0qI/AAAAAAAAAQs/QL4_EHlXtFg/s400/P7270150.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ruth at the concert.</span></b></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i66F0wgq0Nc/TjG91v6k0qI/AAAAAAAAAQs/QL4_EHlXtFg/s1600/P7270150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>We’ve talked about our children, our pets and our jobs. It's fun to see them around the village and wave hello or stop to chat in the miniscule grocery shop. Makes it almost like home.</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com0Glencolumbkille, Co. Donegal, Ireland54.711063 -8.7219837000000154.7082325 -8.7279187000000089 54.713893500000005 -8.71604870000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-34277837050614108312011-07-28T15:51:00.000-05:002011-07-28T15:51:30.391-05:00Tomb Walk<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Our second hillwalk was to a five thousand year old Neolithic tomb. The weather was cool and wet again.The climb over the hill was a long one and I lagged behind all the others just like the first day. Luckily, there is another slow walker in the group. His name is Sean and he’s a retired member of the Irish Parliament from Dublin. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We started out at the <a href="http://www.oideas-gael.com/index.html">Oideas Gael</a> campus and took several back lanes to get to the road over the hill. It finally leveled out and then started downhill. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once on the other side, we could see the tomb, or what’s left of it, on the other side of the road, in a bog.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nyLX60VeGLc/TjHHKvMH-MI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/UUiDOsOj1Z0/s1600/megatomb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nyLX60VeGLc/TjHHKvMH-MI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/UUiDOsOj1Z0/s400/megatomb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Our guide, Tony, said this kind of tomb is called a court tomb. It has small antechambers and was rather large. There are spiral carved into some of the larger stones, but they are very hard to see, especially on a cloudy day. Archaeologists found burned and unburned bones inside, but can only speculate on what that means. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Further along the walk, he pointed out a collapsed dolmen in somebody’s sheep pasture and told us about an uncollapsed dolmen that a local farmer uses for a dog kennel. Why not? Dogs gotta have shelter, too.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com0Glencolumbkille, Co. Donegal, Ireland54.711063 -8.7219837000000154.7082325 -8.7279187000000089 54.713893500000005 -8.71604870000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-63371405434379776852011-07-28T14:30:00.000-05:002011-07-28T14:30:52.881-05:00Relax, You're In Gleann<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When we arrived at <a href="http://www.oideas-gael.com/">Oideas Gael</a>, Siobhan greeted us and we followed her to the B&B they assigned us to. It was a pleasant surprise to be staying with the Cunningham family at Teach Gleann Dobhar. The house is big and it is definitely a family home. There are two boys, two girls and Bailey the dog. Martin and Margaret Cunningham, the owners are warm, accommodating people. In fact, The Music Man came down with a cold on Monday and Margaret fixed him a hot toddy. There are six of us from Oideas Gael staying at the house, Jim from Belfast, Paula, from Italy, Mert and his French wife, Elisabeth, who live in Dundalk, my husband and me. There are also people taking this course from Japan and Russia. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The orientation was Saturday afternoon and the first class was Sunday afternoon. The Music Man is in level one and I'm in level two. We have language in the morning and the chance to take an elective in the afternoon. I opted for the hillwalking and of course, my husband is taking a Gaelic song class.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The first hill walking session was quite a climb and we passed by several stations of the Turas Colmcille, which is a pilgrimage walk, usually done in the summer. The tradition of it is very old and most likely predates Christianity. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5NjX6xqw5Nc/Ti9AYgY48WI/AAAAAAAAAQg/ybn4LE7rk0s/s1600/Tober+Colmcille+reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5NjX6xqw5Nc/Ti9AYgY48WI/AAAAAAAAAQg/ybn4LE7rk0s/s400/Tober+Colmcille+reduced.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Tober Colmcille or Colmcille's Well. All the stones around this well</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">were brought by pilgrims.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CAtUYNrnLN8/Ti9AZ4DD0JI/AAAAAAAAAQk/XeknpJdruV4/s1600/Tuir+reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CAtUYNrnLN8/Ti9AZ4DD0JI/AAAAAAAAAQk/XeknpJdruV4/s400/Tuir+reduced.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A watch tower from the 1700s I think. I missed the history lesson.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6cd6i3HFxms/Ti9AUJIO89I/AAAAAAAAAQU/soxWJQJk3wQ/s1600/Hill+walk+reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6cd6i3HFxms/Ti9AUJIO89I/AAAAAAAAAQU/soxWJQJk3wQ/s400/Hill+walk+reduced.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sea cliffs northwest of Gleann Colmcille.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">The weather is very changeable. Down in Gleann it was cloudy, but this was 600 meters higher and the atmosphere was very different. It's a wild and beautiful place. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com0Glencolumbkille, Co. Donegal, Ireland54.711063 -8.7219837000000154.7082325 -8.7279187000000089 54.713893500000005 -8.71604870000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-53670784087848122032011-07-26T17:48:00.000-05:002011-07-26T17:48:30.979-05:00Drumcliffe To Gleann Colm Cille<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We’ve been to Donegal all three times I’ve been here. Google maps said it would take four hours and thirty-seven minutes to get from Ennis to Gleann Colm Cille. I didn’t believe it and I was right. We did make some extra stops looking for a USB car charger to no avail. We also stopped at Drumcliffe. The weather was gorgeous so we had some lunch al fresco at the tea shop just outside the graveyard.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">St. Columba’s church at Drumcliffe is a protestant Church of Ireland. W.B. Yeats is buried just outside the front door. After lunch, we took a stroll around the church and graveyard. Just past Drumcliffe is Benbulben, a spectacular, mesa like mountain. It makes a dramatic backdrop. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The church was open so we went inside. To my surprise, the entire back wall of the church is lined with memorial plaques for one Jones or another. Since that’s my maiden name, I guess some of my ancestors could have come from there.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After being stuck behind tractors and “caravans” on the N15, we turned off and headed toward the dreaded village of Killybegs. It’s a very nice village with a large fishing fleet that operates out of the harbor, but the last time we were there, a slashing Irish rain was pelting down on us as we tried to find our way to Sliabh Liag to do some hillwalking. No matter which road we turned onto, we ended up back in the center of Killybegs. On Saturday, however, the sun was shining and we thought there would be no problem, until we came to a sign that said “diversion”. With all the orange cones and fence, they weren’t talking about entertainment. But, the Fair Ones were smiling on us and we found our way to Kilcar and Carriagh, and just past that to Gleann Colm Cille.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There are not adequate words to describe how beautiful this place is. Everywhere you look is a picture postcard. Even if we don’t learn a word of the Irish language, I feel blessed to have come here. </div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com3Glencolumbkille, Co. Donegal, Ireland54.711063 -8.7219837000000154.7082325 -8.7279187000000089 54.713893500000005 -8.71604870000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-76945919239589937932011-07-25T17:58:00.000-05:002011-07-25T17:58:30.228-05:00Ireland, Finally!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Traveling to Ireland by plane can be grueling until you realize it used to take months to cross the Atlantic. Our flights went from Birmingham to Houston, Texas, to Newark, New Jersey, to Shannon, Ireland. We were afraid we were going to miss the flight to Shannon since we were held out on the taxiway for over thirty minutes. When we finally got off the plane we rushed up the jetway, only to be told our flight to Shannon was going to be on the same plane. Somebody was watching out for us.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wODNO8kVN4s/Ti3vnqcmQYI/AAAAAAAAAPs/E66IYiWQxZk/s1600/P7210018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wODNO8kVN4s/Ti3vnqcmQYI/AAAAAAAAAPs/E66IYiWQxZk/s400/P7210018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We made it to Ennis without smacking any car mirrors and found <a href="http://www.sleepyhollow.ie/">Sleepy Hollow Bed and Breakfast</a>, run by Elizabeth Ryan. It is easy to find and a very comfortable place to stay. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Our Ennis adventures included driving down O’Connell Street, the main shopping district, on a Friday afternoon. We managed to find multi-storey car park. The Music Man got the car in a spot, the whole while, muttering “I don’t like this." </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b84KAoNW320/Ti3tBI_23-I/AAAAAAAAAPc/jSkH_d6ZALI/s1600/P7210031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b84KAoNW320/Ti3tBI_23-I/AAAAAAAAAPc/jSkH_d6ZALI/s400/P7210031.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We found Custy’s Music Store and wandered around in there for a short time. It’s much smaller than I expected but they did have a button accordion that my husband wanted to play. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On the recommendation of my friend, Renee, we ate at Brogan’s, which is right around the corner from Custy’s. There is a restaurant in the front and a bar in the back. Kind of like an Irish pub mullet. We found a seat in the bar and The Music Man started looking at the posters for local bands that play there. Of course, he recognized one of them as a facebook friend and asked the waitress about it. She got on her cell phone and called the guy, finding out that he would be playing in Brogan’s that night. My husband vowed to go back after we had rested. I wasn’t so sure about it. We had smokey bacon panninis and chips for dinner. The food was delicious, but I've realized that by bacon, the Irish mean smoked ham. If you have bacon for breakfast, they are called rashers. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7becazaaMeE/Ti3s3OqYYDI/AAAAAAAAAPY/_9cFICM_2kI/s1600/P7210030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7becazaaMeE/Ti3s3OqYYDI/AAAAAAAAAPY/_9cFICM_2kI/s320/P7210030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When we got back to Sleepy Hollow, I plugged my iPad in to recharge it. The power inverter lasted about twenty seconds. I tried not to panic and managed to be just disappointed. The Music Man came up with a plan to find a USB car charger. That would mean I couldn’t use the computer much but the iPad would be operational. There aren’t Best Buy stores on every corner here, so I decided I’d have to punt and use the low tech option.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pfAV8Rlb2qo/Ti3tLLDNgUI/AAAAAAAAAPg/dbmUmgAIrQA/s1600/P7220035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pfAV8Rlb2qo/Ti3tLLDNgUI/AAAAAAAAAPg/dbmUmgAIrQA/s400/P7220035.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Driving north on Saturday, we tried to find an electronics store in Galway City, but Race Week was due to start on 25 July and the traffic was already horrendous. We waved at Galway Bay and kept traveling north to Sligo. No luck there, either. We made one last ditch effort in Donegal Town. Nope. That’s when I decided to just relax and have a good time. After all, we were almost to Gleann Colm Cille!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kRElaPRAzDI/Ti3vHUn1WqI/AAAAAAAAAPk/dtYNYpZ6GlU/s1600/Donegal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kRElaPRAzDI/Ti3vHUn1WqI/AAAAAAAAAPk/dtYNYpZ6GlU/s400/Donegal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com0Donegal, Co. Donegal, Ireland54.654487 -8.110714099999995654.638247500000006 -8.1354920999999951 54.6707265 -8.0859360999999961tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-56174448161036560512011-07-20T16:19:00.000-05:002011-07-20T16:19:40.003-05:00What To Take, What To Leave<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:PixelsPerInch>72</o:PixelsPerInch> <o:TargetScreenSize>544x376</o:TargetScreenSize> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span>Tomorrow, we leave for Ireland and I'm starting to think about packing. Actually, I've been <i>thinking</i> about it for the last two weeks. Every time I came across something I wanted to take or bought something especially for the trip, I put it in a pile in the guest/writing room. The result is a mountainous pile of stuff. We're only allowed to check two bags each and carry on two bags each. I hope it will all fit, especially with all the friends we've promised to smuggle through in our luggage. Just kidding, of course. </span></div><div class="Body1"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CiKgdWlkG3U/TidBSwJYg-I/AAAAAAAAAPM/OfdvDj_6ZPI/s1600/P7180011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CiKgdWlkG3U/TidBSwJYg-I/AAAAAAAAAPM/OfdvDj_6ZPI/s400/P7180011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span> <b>This is just stuff. It doesn't include any clothes.</b></span></div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span>I have decided to take the iPad, though. I don't think I could stand being separated from it for the amount of time we're going to be in Ireland. </span></div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span>What kind of clothes to take presents somewhat of a problem. The daily high temperature in Donegal is in the sixties and the nighttime lows can be in the forties. We haven't seen those kind of temperatures in Alabama since early April! I'm going to have to dig out the blue jeans and long sleeved shirts and pray they still fit. </span></div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span>According to <a href="http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/weather/maps/city?PLZ=_____&PLZN=_____&LANG=en&CEL=F&SI=mph&CONT=euro&LAND=IE&REGION=0002&WMO=u3978&R=0&LEVEL=100&NOREGION=1">this Donegal weather service</a> the weather is supposed to be pretty nice, but there's always the possibility of rain. Part of the curriculum is hillwalking, so we went to Academy Sports and got The Music Man a rain suit and I borrowed one from a friend. We have boots and socks and trekking poles. I think we're set. </span></div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span>What we may not be set for is the language class. We ordered a beginner CD a couple of months ago and I've been listening to it in the truck. I can introduce myself and say where I'm from, in the truck, with nobody listening. This may prove to be almost as hard as singing in public. I'm not really sure what to expect. I haven't taken a language class since eleventh grade. Trust me, that was a long time ago. </span></div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span>My dad said he's be here to pick us up and take us to the airport about two and a half hours before our flight. No sense in waiting til the last minute, I always say. Now I know where I get that from. </span></div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span>My sister and daughter are watching the house and the critters. I hope I've covered all the bases but I'm sure I've forgotten something. Whatever it is, the world won't end, I hope. </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com1Hoover, AL, USA33.4053867 -86.81137810000001333.3051367 -86.974981100000008 33.505636700000004 -86.647775100000018tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-48716782268522420802011-07-20T05:26:00.007-05:002011-07-20T05:26:00.525-05:00Meet Donna Parker<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eyIBTFyIenI/Tg9QYFe8jlI/AAAAAAAAAKs/7ObAiKgY23Q/s1600/fiddlers+lament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eyIBTFyIenI/Tg9QYFe8jlI/AAAAAAAAAKs/7ObAiKgY23Q/s1600/fiddlers+lament.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VaB_b8S1Rx8/Tg9QYU3X_7I/AAAAAAAAAKw/SIq-zn1BUJk/s1600/Jig+of+bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VaB_b8S1Rx8/Tg9QYU3X_7I/AAAAAAAAAKw/SIq-zn1BUJk/s1600/Jig+of+bones.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Donna Parker was born in the rural Missouri Ozarks during an ice storm. Despite some circumstantial evidence to the contrary, she did <i>not</i> grow up in the 1800s. The most important things in her life are her Christianity and her family. She loves books, both reading and writing them; old things and their histories; and music, especially Celtic and Bluegrass fiddle music. She and her husband of over three decades currently live in Alabama. They have two adult sons.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When Donna and I met years ago, she had already started writing mystery fiction. My kids were still little at that point so that was just a distant dream for me. Since then, times have changed and so have we. Donna now has several novels to her credit and occupies an interesting niche. These days, when a lot of books are praised for being, "edgy" and "gritty" Donna's novels are, well, novel! There is no graphic violence, sex or foul language. </div><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Donna has a new book coming out soon and agreed to answer some questions about her writing life.</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">K: How long did it take you to write <i>Constancy’s Waltz</i>, your first published novel?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">D: <span style="font-size: small;">I can never keep track of how long it takes me to write a whole book.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> I think <i>Constancy’s Waltz</i></span> took several years.<span style="font-size: small;"> I can tell you that <i>Waltz</i> wasn’t the first “Fiddling With Murder” book I wrote.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> I wrote <i>Dark Diamond Reel</i>, then realized I had put so many hints about back story into it that I had some pretty good material for another book.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> So <i>Constancy’s Waltz </i>was born.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> I don’t recommend that method.</span></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">K: How many novels have you written and which one is your favorite?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">D: I have seven novels out now, the four in the “Fiddling With Murder” cozy series, and three “fairy-tale mysteries”. The three aren’t exactly a series, but some of them share some common background and/or characters. I think my very favorite <i>is Donovan’s Dream</i>. I have a sentimental attachment to the real-life setting of that one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">K: Who is your publisher and how did you get started with them? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">D: My books are all published by </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.wingsepress.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Wings e-press</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">. I think I originally found them by an internet search. I loved that all communication was done via email and I didn’t have to wait months to hear whether my manuscript had been accepted or rejected. My experience with them has been great and I’m happy being with a small publisher. By the way, they are open to submissions now, if any of your readers have a good manuscript ready to send out.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">K: Do you have an agent? If so, who? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">D: I don’t have an agent. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">K: Where do you get your ideas?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">D: Oh, wow! Ideas can pounce on you from anywhere. Usually I don’t know where mine come from. I like to imagine that all the stuff I’ve seen and heard and read and experienced during my lifetime has gone into a big cauldron in my head. It all simmers around in there, breaking down, recombining, taking on new flavors, until it’s done just right. Then something bubbles up into an idea for a story or a character. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I do like to blame my fairy-tale mysteries on my (now deceased) Aunt Edna. When I was six, she gave me a big book of fairy tales with the most beautiful, imagination-stirring green cover. It was my first big book. I was hooked on fairy-tales forever. I still have that book, although the poor thing has been read nearly to death. Sometimes I wonder. If my aunt had given me a book on animals or flowers or sports, would my writing have been different?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">K: What is your writing process like? (Do you outline or not? Do you write every day? If so, for how long? Etc)<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;">D: I have tried to outline.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> I’ve read about and tried various tricks and methods other authors use, but I th</span><span style="font-size: small;">ink my brain just isn’t made to be that orderly.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> I usually know what the final outcome will be, but I have to write the story--walk along with the characters as they experience the story--to see what happens between the beginning and end.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> What that means in practical terms is a whole lot of dead ends and re-writing, but eventually I get there.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I have a goal to write a certain number of words per day, but life gets in the way. So, I write when I can, think about the book(s)-in-progress when I can’t, and somehow books come into being. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">K: Has your writing changed over the years? </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">D: I don’t really know the answer to this question. I would like to think I’ve become a better writer, but maybe only a reader would be able to tell.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">K: Tell us a little about your new novel.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">D: Here’s the back cover blurb for <i>Dullahan Mountain Breakdown</i>: “At age seven, when Maura Tasgall saw her parents murdered, she gave up on happy endings. Now, if she stays alive long enough to unearth the evil that killed them, she may find justice and closure, but still no happy ending--not unless her mother’s fairy tales <i>weren’t</i> fiction.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">The book is set in the Missouri Ozarks and, among other things, explores a possible origin for the Fair Folk. If you’ve read <i>The Cameron Connection</i> and <i>Donovan’s Dream</i>, you will meet a few familiar characters and ideas. The books don’t constitute a series, but let’s just say they, along with <i>Breakdown</i>, share the same fictional world. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">K: When does it come out? </div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">D</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">:</span><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> Dullahan Mountain Breakdown</span></i></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> will be released on August 1, 2011 from Wings. All the books are available there in e-book formats (including Mobi-pocket, which will work on Kindle). They’re also available directly from Kindle and from Amazon. Best prices are at Wings.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://donnaparker.w4aw.org/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">http://donnaparker.w4aw.org</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> (web page)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://dhparker.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">http://dhparker.wordpress.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> (blog)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I wish Donna the best of luck with all her books and look forward to reading </span><i style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dullahan Mountain Breakdown </i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">on my Kindle when it comes out! </span></span></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com0Hoover, AL, USA33.4053867 -86.81137810000001333.3051367 -86.974981100000008 33.505636700000004 -86.647775100000018tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431812158013512157.post-74326180722982816122011-07-14T18:25:00.001-05:002011-07-14T18:27:37.404-05:00To iPad Or Not To iPad. That Is The Question.<div class="Body1">I<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">n one week until we leave for Ireland. Of course, I'm trying to decide what to pack. Not just clothes, but electronics. I'm not exactly a techie but that's the biggest decision facing me about what to take in the way of devices. A girl's got to blog, after all. </span></div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Music Man got me an iPad for my birthday and I love it almost as much as I do him. I thought I'd just take it and leave the big honkin' laptop at home. I got a neat little toy to get pictures from the camera to the ipad. BUT I don't know how to load, store or edit video on the iPad and the camcorder is definitely going! There's not enough room on the iPad to store videos anyway. And yes, they do have broadband access at <a href="http://www.oideas-gael.com/Leathanacha/cursai.html">Oideas Gael.</a> </div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, I take the laptop, but do I take the iPad, too? I'm still undecided. I can use the iPad as a reader with iBooks or Kindle, leaving the Kindle at home. But, I don't want to show up in Ireland like the main character in the movie <i>Local Hero. </i>He shows up in a small village in Scotland with all kind of technology, only to lose it as he "goes native". Not to mention I don't want to have to keep up with all of it either. </div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've got seven days to decide. </div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830260748054809362noreply@blogger.com2Hoover, AL, USA33.4053867 -86.81137810000001333.3051367 -86.974981100000008 33.505636700000004 -86.647775100000018