So windy, so blue, so green, so wild.
Oh, for one of those hours of gladness
Gone, alas, like our youth, too soon!
- The Kerry Dance
Category Archives: Old World Travel
The Streets of Kerry
No time to chatter today so am taking you on a stroll for some window shopping in Ireland instead.
County Kerry, Ireland
My husband and I had a brief but extraordinary trip to Ireland this past week. It was a rare, early anniversary getaway alone – so rare we can't quite remember having gotten away completely alone before since usually alone means we only have one or two children with us. : )
We first checked into the historic Lake Hotel in Killarney, which was a sight to behold all by itself. (view from balcony)
What followed was a whirlwind journey through a couple hundred miles of coastal Western Ireland.
We trekked up mountainsides dotted with farmhouses surrounded by a patchwork of pastures separated by ancient stone walls.
We ventured down into hidden bays.
and colorful streets of local fishing villages.
We wrapped up with a drive through Killarney National Park just before dark.
Far too soon we were winging our way back to Germany. It is almost surreal to think of where we were. We are already plotting our return. If there was any way to stay forever, I would find it. Even taking into consideration my lifelong devotion to our Irish heritage this is an amazing place, full of warm, smiling faces. We talked to more people we didn't know in those few days than perhaps in all the months we have been in Germany. I felt so incredibly relaxed and at home.
I will resize and upload a few more pics before the wknd is over.
Just Being Sure
Mary had always been good. Sometimes she had been so good Laura could hardly bear it. But now she seemed different. Once Laura asked her about it.
"You used to try all the time to be good," Laura said. "And you always were good. It made me so mad sometimes I wanted to slap you. But now you are good without even trying."
"I know why you wanted to slap me," Mary said. "It was because I was showing off. I wasn't really wanting to be good. I was showing off to myself, what a good little girl I was and being vain and proud and deserved to be slapped for it… We are all so desperately wicked and inclined to evil as the sparks fly upwards" said Mary using the bible words. "But that doesn't matter."
"What!" cried Laura.
"I mean I don't believe we ought to think so much about ourselves, about whether we are bad or good." Mary explained…. "I don't know how to say what I mean very well. But it isn't so much thinking as, as just knowing. Just being sure of the goodness of God."
Everyone knows that God is good. But it seemed to Laura then that Mary must be sure of it in a special way. "You are sure aren't you?" Laura said.
"I am sure of it now all the time." Mary answered.
from Little Town on the Prairie
scenes below from another prairie in eastern France
Memorial Day – Meuse Argonne Cemetary France
When we learned that the WWI Memorial near my husband's birthplace was having a Memorial Day ceremony we decided to pack up and make the trip this weekend.
Measuring 130 acres, the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetary is the largest of several WWI era cemetaries scattered throughout the region. The Argonne Offensive called upon more US troops than ever before in history up to that time and was instrumental to winning the first world war.
The remains of over 14,000 soldiers rest here, marked by white marbles crosses and Stars of David. The original number was twice that, but in the 1920's the others were repatriated back to the States.
The grounds are owned and meticulously maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission. The land was given to the US, tax-free in perpetuity, by the French government in gratitude for the aid provided by the soldiers.
The memorial cemerony included US and French Army troops and dignitaries as well as smaller groups from the Boy Scouts, French Fire Brigade, local clergy, and many veterans.
We drove through some really nice little villages on the way there. Romagne, which is the nearest village to the cemetary, was in full patriotic array with red, white and blue flowers and French and US flags tucked into the flower boxes and planters in front of EVERY home. Sadly you will have to take my word for that because we took a different route home which was less lovely. It did however take us through Verdun, which meant a lot to my husband. He was born here while his father was stationed at Metz. It was a kick for him to see his birthplace.
flowering rapeseed
Someone had made an offhand comment several weeks ago that soon the plowed fields, which covered the hills with new green growth, would turn yellow. And in a short time the countryside was a yellow patchwork of rapeseed blossoms.
Retro Beach
Some retro beach fun from last week's Fence Friday. Bottom image in the shop. Loved the bikes. Looooved the bikes. : )
zon en zee
(remember I am editing all out of order)
We decided rather spur of the moment that we would proceed to the coast. We landed in Noordwijk between Den Haag and Amsterdam.
On the way we were held up for a bit as a boat passed through a canal ahead. The road was rising up in front of us which completely amazed the children.
We were able to park very close to the beach and spent a few hours roaming the beach. It has been ten years since I have stood on the seashore which means several of the little kids had no frame of reference. It didn't take long for them to decide it was a very good place.
First look at Keukenhof
There is nothing quite as magnificent as springtime in tulip country. Our first stop in the Netherlands was to Keukenhof Gardens, which boasts acres of bulb beds tucked amidst woodlands, streams, and reflecting ponds.
If I wait til I have a cohesive post you may never see them all so am just going to jump in and upload.
I had to challenge myself to step back and take the long view ; )
…and a challenge it was at times to shoot completely manually when the light and shadows changed at every turn.
But I still got plenty of close in shots to play with. I am a detail person. : )
peek
A little peek….
No not this little person hiding by the fridge. She is just glad to see….
This one….
Who just finished the Rome Marathon in a little over 3 1/2 hrs thankyouverymuch.
He and the big kids just arrived back from their fantastic week away. They fell hard for Roma. How will we ever keep them down on the farm once they've seen…. well, you know the cliche lol.
This is a crazy fantastic continent, I tell you, that you can be standing in Rome in the morning and 90 minutes later be driving through the German countryside. Incredible. This has been real life learning at its finest and next week some of the crew are off to England. I need to upload faster!
Starry Sky Journal 