July 23d-
Much has happened! I fell in Killkenney and hit my forehead/cheek/nose, my left hand, and my right knee. OUCH! But nothing is broken, just awful bruises! I look terrible--like Beverly Holman after she was whackd with a tree branch! Many folks have commented that it looks like I've been in the wars! I'm healing well--the bruising has gone down.
Yesterday we went to the CLA Game Fair at Blenham Palace grounds. It is a HUGE thing, a gigantic county fair with mostly dogs and horses and fishing and shooting featured. But there were people there dressed to the nines as well as our friend Ken in his shorts and sneakers! Fortunately the weather was beautiful: warm but not hot, a few sprinkless of rain, and enough sun for me to face to reduce the jaundice(Shades of bili-lights!)
Today is Jerry's hunting and fishing day. I will spend the time wandering the village of Crick Hollow. We'll drive down to Aberevergenny to stroll later on.
Tomorrow we are off to Bath. We will go to church at the Cathedral and stroll the town.
Next time I find a computer I will check in again.

We are in Kinsale this evening--on the SouthEastern coast of Ireland. It is quite windswept and beautiful. We drove the "Ring of Kerry" which is the coastal road around the Kerry Penninsular. It is like driving 101 up through California and Oregon. Tonight we are staying at a lovely B&B called "The Presbytery." We hear the breakfast is fantastic. We plan to walk the town this evening and then go to a pub to hear some music. Another beautiful Irish memory!

Well, this is a real bummer! My IPad is down, the wifi is absolutely FRIED!!! I will NOT be sending daily pictures and notes from Ireland. Suffice it to say, we are having a wonderful time. The weather is JUST like Washington: "Liquid sunshine!" But the countryside is BEAUTIFUL and the people fall all over themselves being helpful and friendly! We have seen some fantastic old crosses and mounds. I will do pictures for you all when I get home. In the meantime, rest assured we are fine and doing all we hoped to do. To my children, we pray for you daily. To Sara, keep up your fine blog!
Joan--and Jerry!

Memories of the Night Before

Jerry always schedules us to leave at 6:15 a.m. which means we have to leave here at 4:45 for the airport. He says it never takes all that time to get to the boarding area but I ALWAYS have to be "wanded." That, of course, entails (1) going through the checkpoint even though I tell them I have an metal knee, (2) being told to "step aside" while a female attendant is called to search me (actually, they don't "wand" anymore), (3) being carefully searched by the female attendant who finally appears (a 5-10 minute operation), and then (6) retrieving my stuff and putting my shoes back on so I can make it to the gate. I try to wear funny or fancy sox so the attendant and I have something to talk about! (My grandchildren give them to me for Christmas!)

We are all packed. The suitcases are by the door so that when the taxi comes, we can just step outside and be on our way. It is hard for me to sleep the night before: I should either stay up all night reading so I'll be ready to leave when the taxi comes or go to bed at 7:30 since I'll wake up a dozen times before 4:15!

Looking for Great Grandmother

In just a few days Jerry and I will be in Ireland in the little town of Rathwire, Ireland, at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church. There we hope to see the baptismal records for my great grandmother, Etta Powers. She came over here to either New York or Connecticut in the 1850's, married Michael Walsh, and gave birth to several children including my grandmother, Henrietta Walsh Carley (Grandma Carley.) Pictured here is her gravestone in Sharon Connecticut. It would be nice if we could find out more about her. I half expect someone to look at her picture and say, "Oh my! That looks just like Rosie O'leary over in Killicun!" and we'll find some long lost fourth or fifth cousins! What a memorie THAT would be!

Sunday Breakfast

Every Sunday for the past several weeks after church Jerry has made breakfast for us. He cooks up a can of roast beef hash (Mary Kitchen, remember?) in the fry pan and tops it with two eggs (each) over easy. YUM! Mine also gets a slice of toast so I can sop up the liquid egg yolk. We sit in the breakfast nook and catch up on the past week, discuss church, and make plans for the next week. This week we are making plans for our trip to Ireland. We will actually be traveling all over "the British Isles" and Ireland. I intend to look for the baptismal records for my great grandmother and also sing along to some Irish music--good old fiddlin' foot stompin' music. And oh, yes: we will indulge in Irish food and drink.
But you know, this roast beef hash is really good! Delicious memories!