Hannah was eager to give me a break from carrying Moriah.
Aaron reluctantly displayed the brochure for Hannah to take a picture. The wrap on his hand was our method of ending his thumb-sucking habit. He did great, and we can now say that he used to suck his thumb!
Hannah is showing a map of the gardens.
This doesn't look pretty, but it was the most delicious, homemade mushroom soup!
Done with lunch - time to explore...
Samhain (pronounced Sow-en). Winter.The festival of Samhain or Halloween falls on the 31st of October and marked the end of the old cycle and the beginning of the new. This is a time of death and the promise of re-birth, a time of waiting and reflections. It was understood that in the dark silence comes whisperings of new beginnings, the stirring of the seed beneath the ground. The Samhain garden is enclosed by a long grassy bank in the shape of a sleeping woman, representing the earth in its winter rest. A figure of leaves cast in bronze rests in the shelter of the island. The pool is enclosed by a ring of birch trees, reflecting the stark simplicity of the season. This is a place to be still, dream and prepare for the movement of spring.
You might notice that it is not looking very green around here. For the last five weeks or so, West Ireland has been in a drought. It's been sad to watch the bright green pastures turn brown, but there have been a lot of sunny days!
These are pathetically-forced smiles if I've ever seen them! The boys were already annoyed with being the subjects of too many posed pictures between Mommy and Auntie - and the day was young.
They watched the salamanders for a long time.
Imbolc (pronounced Im-ulk). Spring.Imbolc is the Celtic name for the spring festival on 1st February, now St. Brigit's Day. The birth of lambs and the first snowdrops herald this season of new life. In the Imbolc garden the path leads through wildflower meadow and apple, pear and plum trees to a children's glade with its delightful basket swings. In the sunken garden a carved triple spiral shows the symbols associated with Brigit traditions. This stretches back through the life and stories of St. Brigit to the pre-Christian Brigit, goddess of the land, and is intimately connected with nature and the coming of spring.
"the path leads through wildflower meadow"
"to a children's glade with its delightful basket swings"
Silas got this far and said, "I think I better get down." Chicken.
"the sunken garden"
Can you see what they see?
A bumble bee.
I think this looks like the flower is as big as the boys. Perspective is an interesting thing.
(That was my deep thought for the day.)
Lughnasa (pronounced Loo-nasa). Autumn.
Wishing they could join in.
The herbs smelled so good!
Bealtaine (pronounced Belt-an-a). Summer.
"the path leads through wildflower meadow"
"to a children's glade with its delightful basket swings"
Silas got this far and said, "I think I better get down." Chicken.
"the sunken garden"
Can you see what they see?
A bumble bee.
I think this looks like the flower is as big as the boys. Perspective is an interesting thing.(That was my deep thought for the day.)
Lughnasa (pronounced Loo-nasa). Autumn.- We apparently got out-of-order -
The festival of Lughnasa in early August marks the beginning of harvest and the transition from summer to autumn. Named after Lugh Lamh Fhada, the hero of the mythical Tuatha de Dannan, it is a time of plenty and celebration. The thyme-covered mounds symbolise harvest baskets. They also represent the constellation of Orion, which ancient people saw as a warrior in the sky. Stone vegetable beds in spiral shapes host an abundance of healing and culinary herbs. More standing stones enclose a grassy circle for dancing and a huge oak table for feasting. As we approach the end of the cycle it is time to reflect, give thanks and celebrate all that has come to fruition. Three young yew trees stand outside the exit from Lughnasa, symbolising the moment of death. The cycle is now complete, and the possibility of re-birth beckons as a new cycle begins.
Wishing they could join in.
The herbs smelled so good!
Bealtaine (pronounced Belt-an-a). Summer.The great fire festival of Bealtaine or May Day celebrates the bright... [Moriah ate the corner of the brochure here]...year and the coming of summer. This is the time for marriages. The lovers theme is carried through to the Flame Figures sculpture in bog oak. Copper flames set unto the path bring the fire to a ceremonial fireplace. Magnificent granite standing stones mark the processional way to the ancient throne, made of 5,000 year-old bog oak and yew.
Aaron took a picture of Hannah...
...so Silas wanted a turn too.
This is how that turned out.
Done walking through the season-themed gardens, this is the "Living Willow Play Area."
This is a typical Celt dwelling, called a Crannog.
And we set off through the Woodland Nature Trail.
Caught on a thorn.
Then they ran up and down this hill a dozen times...
...across the grass to the sundial.
And back for more!
It was no short distance for short legs.
Then they were entertained for a while with the sundial.
This is the largest sundial in Ireland and is a "Calendar Sundial" which differs from a normal sundial in that it tells the date as well as the time.
Aaron took a picture of Hannah...
...so Silas wanted a turn too.
This is how that turned out.
Done walking through the season-themed gardens, this is the "Living Willow Play Area."
I must have left out the picture of the boys playing in the sandbox among the willows.
This is a typical Celt dwelling, called a Crannog.
And we set off through the Woodland Nature Trail.
Caught on a thorn.
Then they ran up and down this hill a dozen times...
...across the grass to the sundial.
And back for more!
It was no short distance for short legs.
Then they were entertained for a while with the sundial.This is the largest sundial in Ireland and is a "Calendar Sundial" which differs from a normal sundial in that it tells the date as well as the time.
How someone invented this in ancient times amazes me.
I don't remember why they started dancing...probably Silas started making up a song incorporating all his potty words.
This may have been when she ate the corner of the brochure.
This was not set up - my Little Botanist Aaron :)
The replica Stone Chamber.
(See "Dublin" blog about the stone chamber at Knowth for context.)
They whispered through this pipe to the other standing inside the chamber.
I was surprised that Silas went in all the way alone. It was dark inside.
Hannah posed Moriah for a picture...
...and seeing her chance to escape, she was off!
We all cheered her on!
Starting to lose speed.
She almost reached the top - the chubby thighs just gave out there at the end.
Silas kept yelling, "Spirit of God!" at the top of his lungs from the top of the mound.
Moving on to the Ring Fort or Fairy Fort.
We enjoyed our visit to Brigit's Garden. We sure burned a lot of energy!
On the way home...there are a few calla lily gardens that we pass often in Galway.
Hannah took the kids to Spar for a missing supper ingredient while I went to pick up Daniel from work.
Hannah took a picture of supper. She is intending to learn one new meal per week this year in preparation for becoming a wife. (Jon, you should be expecting a selection of 52 gourmet meals at the tip of her fingers.) This looks questionable, but my family likes it - chicken with marinara&cream sauce, fresh tomatoes, garlic, and basil. I don't claim to be a chef.
Later, Hannah and I went to Monroes to hear Irish music and watch Irish dancing.
I enjoy watching the generations dance together. At first, there weren't enough dancers for a set, so a couple volunteers from the crowd paired up with seasoned veterans and learned as they went along. They all looked like they were having fun!
I don't remember why they started dancing...probably Silas started making up a song incorporating all his potty words.
This may have been when she ate the corner of the brochure.
This was not set up - my Little Botanist Aaron :)
The replica Stone Chamber.(See "Dublin" blog about the stone chamber at Knowth for context.)
They whispered through this pipe to the other standing inside the chamber.
I was surprised that Silas went in all the way alone. It was dark inside.
Hannah posed Moriah for a picture...
...and seeing her chance to escape, she was off!
We all cheered her on!
Starting to lose speed.
She almost reached the top - the chubby thighs just gave out there at the end.
Silas kept yelling, "Spirit of God!" at the top of his lungs from the top of the mound.
Moving on to the Ring Fort or Fairy Fort.
We enjoyed our visit to Brigit's Garden. We sure burned a lot of energy!
On the way home...there are a few calla lily gardens that we pass often in Galway.
Hannah took the kids to Spar for a missing supper ingredient while I went to pick up Daniel from work.
Hannah took a picture of supper. She is intending to learn one new meal per week this year in preparation for becoming a wife. (Jon, you should be expecting a selection of 52 gourmet meals at the tip of her fingers.) This looks questionable, but my family likes it - chicken with marinara&cream sauce, fresh tomatoes, garlic, and basil. I don't claim to be a chef.
Later, Hannah and I went to Monroes to hear Irish music and watch Irish dancing.
I enjoy watching the generations dance together. At first, there weren't enough dancers for a set, so a couple volunteers from the crowd paired up with seasoned veterans and learned as they went along. They all looked like they were having fun!
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