Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Dingle Distillery Tour.

Take a tour of the award-winning factory that produces some of the best Whiskey and Gin in the world.

Tour of Conor Pass.

Breathtaking views of entire Dingle town and northern peninsula.

Dingle Bay Boat tour.

Learn history of the harbor and hopefully see some dolphins and other wildlife.

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Cruise of the Blasket Islands.

Monday, April 28, 2025

Visit the Harry Clarke Windows at Díseart.

The Diseart acts as the centre for a lively community giving expression to and promoting Celtic Culture and Spirituality as an integral part of our local heritage.

Housed in the former Presentation Convent premises in Dingle/Daingean Uí Chúis. Founded in 1998, An Diseart developed as a centre for research into all areas of Irish Spirituality and Celtic Culture including theology, language, literature, art, laws, folklore, values, spirituality, history, music, archaeology and customs led by the late Msgr Padraig Ó Fiannachta and associated with his valuable collection of manuscripts and books now housed in the Dingle Library.

Located in this peaceful haven on Green Street, Dingle, Díseart occupies a neo-gothic building designed by JJ McCarthy. Described as “breathtaking”, “magnificent” and “a national treasure”, by some of its visitors, the building is home to a beautifully proportioned chapel in which can be found twelve lancet windows created in 1924 by one of the foremost stained glass artists of all time, Harry Clarke. The windows, along with the tranquil walled gardens, first laid out in 1849, have become a popular attraction for the many visitors in Dingle.

The landscaped gardens are developed in three parts according to plans made by Mary Reynolds. 

Since 1998, Díseart Institute of Education and Celtic Culture has occupied the former Presentation Sisters’ convent on Green Street, Dingle. This beautiful, stately, neo-gothic building designed by JJ McCarthy, was home to the Presentation enclosed community of sisters, established in Ireland in the last quarter of the eighteenth century, and who first arrived in Dingle in 1829. Since then hundreds of sisters have given a labour of love and service to the people of this area of West Kerry for over 170 years, educating and helping all especially the poor during very difficult times.

In 1922, Sister Ita Macken commissioned Irishman and one of the foremost stained glass artists of all time, Harry Clarke to design and install 12 stained glass windows in the convent chapel. For the princely sum of £1,000.00, Clarke installed a series of windows that have been described as “breathtaking”, “magnificent” and “intensely moving”, by some of the recent visitors and vividly illustrate Clarke’s unique style with lively animated faces, a profusion of rich vibrant colours and generous ornamentation.

About the Harry Clarke Windows:

1. The Visit of the Magi 

And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11).   

2. The Baptism of Jesus 

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven: “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:9 -11).   

3. Let the little children come to me 

And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them: “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:13 – 14).   

4. The Sermon on the Mount 

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain ………… And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth…” (Matthew 5:1 – 5).   

5. The Agony in the Garden 

“Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed the more earnestly; and his sweat became as great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. (Luke 22:42 – 44).   

6. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene 

Jesus said to her: “Woman why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him: “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her: “Mary”. She turned and said to him in Hebrew: “Rabboni” (which means Teacher). (John 20:15 – 16).



Sunday, April 27, 2025

Arrive at Shannon Airport in Co. Clare around 5:35am (Ireland time).

Load up bus and head to Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis, Co Clare for a traditional Irish Breakfast.

Then head from Ennis to the Dingle Skellig Hotel

On this day in 2006...

Metacomet Marathon

On this day in 2006, I completed a Metacomet Marathon with my dog Tippi;  it was just us.  

By 2005, most of my running turned toward exploring and mapping routes through the forest of Western Massachusetts and North Central Connecticut, with an emphasis on picking out ways to connect big tracks of land, and turn them into runs of marathon length.

Tips taking a look toward the quarry in West Suffield, Connecticut.

This run began in Sunrise Park, Suffeld, Connecticut and flowed south through Penwood State Forest in Bloomfield and Simsbury, Connecticut.  

We spent 6:27:00 completing a little over 28-miles or so.  

This was my 31st marathon completed, and Tippi's 7th.
 
Hueblin Tower in the distance; we would be turning around just prior to it.

Notes:  A great day;  started out 50 degrees at the 9:45 A.M. start time.  I believe it reached 70 degrees during the day, with most of it in the mid to upper 60’s.  Sunny and blue sky entire time, with a bit of a nice breeze every once and a while.

Tippi taking a look back off a ledge.

Much of the route is a ridge trail, with weather beaten trees still standing.

Tippi at the finish, ready to eat and rest.
  
 The Route we managed in April of 2006.

Saturday, April 26, 2025

"Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #15 for 2025...

"Vanilla Ride" by Joe R. Lansdale, published in 2009.

This is the eighth book in the Hap and Leonard series. 



Depart West Springfield for Ireland. 

Friday, April 25, 2025

Guitar VI

Next completed was Nicola Mandorino's Alternating Bass Guitar Method, First Level and All the Instructional Level for Second Level.

Prep for Ireland Trip. 

Thursday, April 24, 2025

"Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #14 for 2025...

"The Sour Lemon Score" by Donald Westlake writing as Richard Stark, published in 1969.

12th in his acclaimed Parker series.



JMH and TA Shifts. 

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

David Thomas, leader of Pere Ubu, passed today.

David Lynn Thomas (June 14, 1953 – April 23, 2025) was an American singer, songwriter, musician and poet. He was one of the founding members of the post-punk group Pere Ubu from 1975 to 1982, then 1987 through to his death in 2025.

Thomas also lead the short-lived proto-punk band Rocket from the Tombs in which he played under the moniker "Crocus Behemoth," previously in 1974 to 1975. 

Pere Ubu Studio albums:

  • The Modern Dance (1978)
  • Dub Housing (1978)
  • New Picnic Time (1979)
  • The Art of Walking (1980)
  • Song of the Bailing Man (1982)
  • The Tenement Year (1988)
  • Cloudland (1989)
  • Worlds in Collision (1991)
  • Story of My Life (1993)
  • Ray Gun Suitcase (1995)
  • Pennsylvania (1998)
  • St. Arkansas (2002)
  • Why I Hate Women (2006)
  • Long Live Père Ubu! (2009, with Sarah Jane Morris)
  • Lady from Shanghai (2013)
  • Carnival of Souls (2014)
  • 20 Years in a Montana Missile Silo (2017)[75]
  • The Long Goodbye (2019)[76][77]
  • Trouble On Big Beat Street (2023)




He also released several solo albums and collaborative projects. 

  • David Thomas & the Pedestrians
    • The Sound of the Sand & Other Songs of the Pedestrian (1981)
    • Variations on a Theme (1983)
    • More Places Forever (1985)
  • David Thomas & His Legs
    • Winter Comes Home (1982) (live -disavowed by Thomas in Monster liner notes)
  • David Thomas & the Wooden Birds
    • Monster Walks the Winter Lake (1986)
    • Blame the Messenger (1987)
  • David Thomas & Foreigners
    • Bay City (2000)
  • David Thomas & Two Pale Boys
    • Erewhon (1996)
    • Meadville (1997)
    • Mirror Man (1999) (as part of The Pale Orchestra)
    • Surf's Up!! (2001)
    • 18 Monkeys on a Dead Man's Chest (2004)
  • With Unknown Instructors
    • The Master's Voice (2007)
  • David Thomas and P.O. Jørgens
    • Live Free or Diet (CD, LP 2017)

Though primarily a singer, he was an instrumentalist who also occasionally played melodeon, trombone, musette, guitar or other instruments.

Thomas had a distinctive, high pitched voice; Emerson Dameron comically described Thomas' singing as "James Stewart trapped in an oboe", and Greil Marcus writes, "Mr Thomas's voice is that of a man muttering in a crowd. You think he's talking to himself until you realize he's talking to you."

Visit with my Mom in Williamstown.  Excellent Visit once again.

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Auction with Pop.

JMH early shift.

Yearly Physical afternoon.

Monday, April 21, 2025

Baseball at Waconah with K2 and Pop. 

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Yard Work on Patio with DL.

Walk 1.5-miles on Main and around the Academy.

Beautiful Easter Dinner with DL and TC.

Saturday, April 19, 2025

Visit with my Mom in Williamstown.

Visit with Pop in Adams. 

Stopped off in North Adams to a somewhat obscure cemetery.

Plaque on Stone at entrance:

Near this site was erected The First Congregational Church.  The earliest house of worship in East Hoosuck. This Church and burial ground were within the grant assigned to the Rev. Samuel Todd, its first Minister 1766-1778.

Erected by its sussessor The First Congregational Church of North Adams Massachusetts at its centennial 1927.







Friday, April 18, 2025

Hike a mile with K2 at Cowles. 

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Beaver Pond Wildlife: Part 5 - Fall to Winter

Watched Part 5 today.  It is a wonderful video from RA at New England Forests.

According to the webstite, this film series spans a year's time at typical beaver ponds in New England. 

In this, Part 5, we'll see:

New England fall foliage change.

Various creatures in winter.

A bit of the history of beaver exploitation.

And more.


Shift at JMH & TA.

PT in afternoon. 

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period March 1st through March 31st, 2025:


Trip to Captain Jack's with DL and TC, to celebrate their recent birthdays.