There is nothing like stepping out of your comfort zone to shift your perspective on life…and creativity.
Last night I arrived home from a 12 day trip to Ireland. I am still processing the whole experience, but I have to say that the experiences that touched me deeply were the ones that took me back in time to a simpler but much more challenging time in history.
Visiting the Aran Islands with its bleak landscape, seeing peat harvested from the bogs to burn in chilly cottages, walking through tumble-down medieval ruins, seeing the ancient Book of Kells…and experiencing all of this set in a lush green landscape under heavy grey clouds…gives me a new perspective on phrases such as "stark beauty" and "bittersweet heritage".
The Irish people really know how to have fun, and they don't need much to be creative, to throw a party,(local pubs are family-oriented and full of music) or to express themselves creatively. During the trip I read "McCarthy's Bar" by Pete McCarthy, which gave me a wonderful inside view of living and traveling in Ireland. One of the quotes in the book said that – if it didn't rain so much in Ireland it would be overrun by tourists and Irish wannabes. The weather keeps all but the most serious Hibernophiles (lovers of Ireland) from staying too long. I took a brief class on the Gaelic language at the festival – and learned enough to know that this is a difficult language to master!
However my babysitter from when I was 5 years old, was one of those Hibernophiles, and she's lived in the Dublin area for about 40 years. Sadly, I was not able to connect with her during my trip, but I imagine I'll go back with my kids some time to look her up.
The Irish Quilt Festival made its premier appearance and despite a few birthing pains, it made a remarkable showing for a first-time festival. My congratulations and thanks to Jim West and his team, for creating such a huge event for the first time.
My thanks and hugs to my wonderful group of quilters who traveled the island with me. Together we discovered the magic of Ireland, and I would say pretty much every one of us has the intention of returning one day.
Be sure to watch my photo page as I post more images, and I'll be sharing more about my experience in the midweek Creative Nudge newsletter!
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What a lovely post. You carried me away from the dark-night roaring wind of the longest night here on the Aussie farm, thank you for that. Very nice!