Failte!

I'm excited to share my adventures with all of you! I want your first taste of my life in Ireland to be this poem that I wrote very late one night when I was a Junior in College. Its meaning seems eerily prophetic now. More than anything, I've created this blog to make the actualization of this life-long dream of mine visible to those I love: my friends who are my foundation, my endlessly supportive family, my mentors and co-workers who inspire me, and my former students who have given me enough satisfaction and fulfillment to last two lifetimes... Have the courage to believe that your wildest dreams can come true.

Is fhearr fheuchainn na bhith san duil, (It is better to try than to hope)

e
Mourn (A Seaside Peak in Southern Ireland)

The dark, earthen sod saturates her fair feet,
but briefly since she frolics fast in knee high
blades of greenest grass that blow dizzily in the Celtic-sea air.

Her wool skirt, stiffened by ware of evenings past
is splashed by cresting waves that break
against a beach blacker than her hair.
Those once stiffer fibers were loosed by nights upon nights
of hanging perfectly on his line before being wildly blown dry
by the crisp Hibernian salt air.

The pair sits to rest a while instead of dodging
breakers or skipping paler stones.

"Indian summer's here," he says softly,
but all of summer here feels like the edge
of autumn to her, even though she grins in agreement
as she dangles her pale, soft feet off Achilles' peak,
where Erin's vermillion-gold sky meets
an ocean that is grey with years.

She sleeps with her eyes closed tight most nights.
He asks her if she believes in Tier-Nan-Og,
and she asks him if he believes in anything eternal.
Outside the tide is rising, or it's receding—
She never can tell but for the strengthened smell of
salty freshness strained through his light, lace curtains.
She thinks to herself that he is like trying to hold the sea 
and she imagines the water running between her fingers--
clenched so tight.

And so, the night calls her out of her sleeping,
like daytime chides her into dreaming.
She slips her white fingers through the holes of an old loose scarf
that affords her more company than warmth
on these newborn autumn evenings. She is off-- 
Night clouds reflect emerald from land to sea,
And the tara that she never eyes from long hours of
staring too far into star blanketed skies,
feels cool against the thickening pads of her pallid feet.

Elisabeth Lewis (2005)

31 August 2011

Designing on a Dime (Perfection with Only Pence)

Lovely sitting room: <60 e

First of all, please email me if you don't have our new address in the lovely city center! I'm actually sitting at the Starbucks across the street to write this. Don't hate me--I know it's cliche, but the wireless is free and the leather is sooo comfy.

Candace and I are super proud of the before and after status of our new flat. This week I went to Ikea for the first time. And then I went again. Frightening. Most people who know me know I'm not a shopper, and this is SERIOUS. SHOPPING. Also, most people who know me know that I am not much of a heavy lifter or "Sherpa" as C and I call it. Frank might know this more than anyone, as he hiked >60 miles with me and I refused to carry anything after the first day. Anywho, Candace and I might've blown through our cab money allotment searching for apartments the first few days, so we decided it was rational to take the bus to and from Ikea outside of the city. We managed to Sherpa 8 full Ikea bags, backpacks, and purses back on Sunday. I think Candace had 5 and I had 3. Unfortunately, the bus stop is 3/4 of a mile from our apartment, so Sherpa-ing between 60-80 pounds felt like the longest journey ever.

Then we get home and we are missing 2 pillows. Wounded soldiers, lost along the way perhaps? now used as cosy seat cushions on the 140 bus line in Dublin?A sturdy neckroll for a homeless person in St. Stephen's Green? All possible. So after setting up we realized a couple things: A) I was going to slowly freeze to death sans comforter and B) We needed a few details to perfect the place. SOMEHOW Candace convinced me to go back on Tuesday, despite my aching back and desire as of late to sleep until noon ( I am back in college!) SO the result you see in the pictures is from 2 days effort to make our home a happy one to be in, not only for us, but for all of you who are planning visits/extended stays! Hope you enjoy and remember that I was "Ikead" for you.

Cute window we made into seating! 28 e
I should add....Candace only made me carry bags of pillows the second day and then I waited for her on the stoop as she hobbled down Adelaide Road carrying things like mirrors, trashcans, hangers, dishes, rugs, etc. This, along with beans on toast and celery meals might account for the dramatic weight loss occurring in our home. Needless to say, if you're looking to hire a Sherpa, Candace is your woman. Off to cross the canal for a movie!

Proper (and warm) Archeologist bed. note greens, plaids, flannels, and wool 76 e

The Canal Behind our house
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2 comments:

  1. Anna Kate02 September, 2011 20:26

    Oooh love a window seat. Ikea is terrifying. I like the rug in the sitting room too, was that Ikea? You've done a great job!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Elizabeth03 September, 2011 14:06

    The apartment looks so cute! Can't wait to see it in person!!

    ReplyDelete

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