BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Irish Culture Gathering round the hearth...

I think everyone loves the Irish myths and legends. My father used to talk to the Leprechauns. There are faeries, wee folk, and all kinds of mythical characters throughout the green hills of Ireland. They have been there from the beginning and still roam the green hills and glades.

Hello Helen,

Hang on a second, dear, I have some photos of the Joisey Shore (exit 109) to convince your "Show Me" guy that there's more to Jersey than a comedian's sarcasm. I thank God every day for those self-same comedians, though, because it keeps (most) of the riff-raff out...that and the prices lately.

When my parents dropped down the shore via the Port of New York, they saw it as unspoiled, which it was, at the time. Living on the shore took the heartscald out of being 3000 miles from "home." Often I saw my father squint into the horizon, and not only did I know what he was thinking, but I could see what he could see: my grandmother and her hens...and all of our family. There's a flash in "Dancing at Lughnasa" (Meryl Streep) that transports me to that place and time; it's when the hen in the yard is catching drops of water from a faucet. Enough!

I will post some photos that even a Buckeye would find pretty nice. Keep the faith, Helen. It's still here, and still the Garden State!

Hi Mary,

3 years ago my daughter and I went back to Jersey for a week, to visit our memories. Of course, one of them was Seaside Heights. I took a bunch of pictures to show the nonbelievers here what beautiful beaches New Jersey has.

Once you spend time out here in the "heartland" you find out what a totally undeserved bad reputation NJ has. But, I'm preaching to the choir here, I'm looking forward to your photos.

New Jersey snow.

Are ye home, Mary? I brought ye a c�ste milis. Got caife?

Sweet cake and coffee, yum. Yes, I'm home. A quiet cuppa and a bit of cake would be very nice.

It's been a wild day. My two dogs were very upset by a lot of people outside the house today. Then my friend came in with her little dog. They all know each other well, but one of mine is a young male, rescued at Christmas. I guess he started it, but my friend's dog got me good, and I'm missing a few inches of skin on my forearm. (I will never tell her it was her baby, as it could just as well have been one of mine. It was a true accident.) Then earlier in the day, I had the young dog out. I tied him to a tree with a rope while I did some gardening. Of course the rope was wrapped around my ankle when he went off after a squirrel. Rope burn is ow.

Would you have some of this potato leek soup I made? It really hit the spot after all the excitement.

I love potato leek soup, Mary.

Hope you are doing better now. what a day you had!