Ten Days in Ireland - Part 2

These pictures may not be in the order of our trip, but they are close.

After leaving Dublin, we went to Waterford and toured the crystal factory. The "masters" were excellent in showing us how they blow and cut the crystal. The cutters have memorized over 40 patterns that they cut into the crystal pieces. Waterford makes the trophies for basketball, golf, football, etc. They made the crystal bat given to Derick Jeter at the final game in Yankee Stadium. When they make a trophy for a tournament, they make three identical ones. Two go to the ceremony (the extra they call the "oops" replacement) and one is kept at Waterford. Here are a blower, finisher (he was putting the lip and handle on a pitcher) and a six-foot tall crystal grandfather clock. The crystal ball is their extra of the new year's ball used in New York. They wouldn't let us take pictures of the cutters.

Then on we went to Glennalough (pronounced Glenda-lock). We toured the remnants of St. Kevin's Monastery. One of the better preserved round towers was on the grounds of the monastery. It is thought that it was used for a bell tower, but no bells were even found. Another theory is that they climbed to the top of the tower and rang hand bells. Because the round towers were so tall, they were beacons of safe haven for christian travellers. It also served as a lookout tower and a place to store valuables from the invading Vikings. The door of the round tower is about 12 feet above ground level. The monks would put a ladder up to it, climb in and pull the ladder in behind them.

Most of the older stone grave markers were in the shape of the Celtic cross. This one must have been about 10 feet tall.
This is what is left of the alter area of St. Kevin's church.

Did I mention it was cold and rainy on our visit to St. Kevin's? That's probably why I didn't get a lot of pictures.

TEN DAYS IN IRELAND

Just a few highlights of our first day in Dublin. I'll post more highlights over the next few days.

After ten days in Ireland, it is good to be back in the USA. Ireland is really the emerald isle. Everything is so green. That's probably because it rains 4 days out of 7 and the tropical climate. I didn't know Ireland was tropical. There are palm trees and some exotic plants and flowers.
Our Guide, Dominick, was fantatic. He filled us in on so much Irish history, and utlimately, US history. One story he told was how the Catholic church would not let miscarried or stillborn babies be buried in a Catholic cemetary because they had not been baptised. These babies were considered to be in limbo and could not enter Heaven. (Not a great story to start out with, but follow along.) These babies were relegated to unmarked graves out in the country. Because the families did not want to forget their babies, they planted a blackthorne tree to mark the area of the graves. Legend has it that the fairies come out at night and dance around the tree to entertain the babies. I saw this tree on our visit to a farmhouse for tea and scones. I can just imagine the fairies dancing around it for the babies.

We visited Dublin Castle--Ireland's version of our White House. Much of the original castle was burned down during some rebellion, but the stone perimeter survived and the interior was absolutely stunning.

In Dublin, Ireland's capital, we saw the Ha'penny Bridge (so named for the fare it cost to cross it). We also went on a tour of Guinnes and to Trinity College where the Book of Kells is stored. We couldn't take pictures in the library where the book is housed. The Book of Kells is the books of Matthew, Luke, Mark and John written by monks in an elaborate script.

Grand-Kittens

They were born August 1 and are 25 days old in these pictures. I'm such a proud Grammy!

What a face!

Millennium Quilt

A project I started in the mid- late-90's was a cross-stitched quilt. I was real ambitious back then. I named it my millennium quilt because I thought I could finish all 49 squares for a queen quilt top by the year 2000. Didn't happen! Life got in the way and the project was put away for 8 or 9 years. When I finally brought it out again, I realized there was no way I could do 49 squares in my lifetime. SO, I decided to make each of my grandsons a twin size quilt using 6 squares. My Aunt Louise put the squares together into a quilt. My grandson Tony received his quilt on his 10th birthday. I am on the third square of Joshua's quilt. After that, I'll start on Bailey and James' quilts. Hopefully, arthritis won't set in before I finish. And, hopefully, I'll find a kindhearted relative who can quilt it together for me.

GIANT LADYBUGS!!

Finally, all of my ladybugs found their way to their new home in Maryland. They will soon be joined by some giant bumblebees.

Going Home - Part II

The four remaining Murphy siblings
Heather, Bailey, James, James Jr., and Debbie

Shed Glenn built

Lady Bug bowling balls pictures to follow. :)

Going Home Again

A vacation in WV with Glenn and two of my grandsons. They had a great time. So did I. Growing up, I never imagined I would be bringing my grandsons to the place I grew up.

I walked the boys out to their great-great Aunt Polly's. Along the way they saw cows, chipmunks, squirrels, mud puddles, plants. On the way back, we spotted two fawns. Joshua tried to sneak up on them. He got pretty close.

They had fun blowing bubbles in the yard The next day I took them to see their great-great Aunt Louise. They ran around outside and had a blast. The following day they went with Glenn, my friend Linda and I to Lambert's Winery.

This is the main building

Breezeway between the main building and the storage area.

Waterfall. The boys loved it.

Underground storage area where the vats of wine are kept.

Then off to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. Neat old building but the mold was really bad. Had a headache for two days after the visit.

Stopped outside the gates to take this picture.

From the inside looking out

The room where the Ghost Hunters confirmed seeing a spirit.
The next day I took them to the WV Wildlife Center (formerly the game farm)

They liked the horned owls

With their cousin Justin
The really liked the bald eagle, even though their expressions don't show it

Then their parents came and the fun ended. The next day was the family reunion. Pictures to follow in another posting.

All week I worked on turning bowling balls into ladybugs. And Glenn worked on building a shed. Pictures to follow in another posting.