The Hermit's Hut

Soon after I moved to Ireland a read a beautiful poem written by a tenth century Irish Saint. The words of the poem have stuck with me and often ring in my ears when I see an old ruined stone cottage. I often stop and reflect and dream of what it must have looked like years ago when it was full of life, peaceful, and was beautiful...

I wanted to share with you a bit of the poem...

The Hermit's Hut ...

"I have a hut in the wood, none knows it by my Lord; an ash tree this side, a hazel on the other, a great tree on a mound encloses it.

Two heathery door-posts for support, and a lintel of honey-sickle; around its close the wood sheds its nuts upon fat swine.

The size of my hut, small yet not small, a place of familiar paths; the she-bird in its dress of blackbird colour sings a melodious strain from its gable.
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A little hidden lowly hut, which owns the path-filled forest; will you go with me to see it?
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a tree of apples of great bounty,..., huge; a seemly crop from small-nutted branching green hazels, in cluster like a fist.

Excellent fresh springs - a cup of water, splendid to drink- they gush forth abundantly; yet berries, bird-cherries...

Tame swine lie down around it, goats, young pigs, wild swine, tall deer, does, a badger's brood.

Peaceful, in crowds, a grave host of the countryside, an assembly at my house; foxes come to the wood before it - it is delightful..."
...
Without an hour of quarrel, without the noise of strife which disturbs you, grateful to the Prince who gives every good to my in my hut...









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Fairies dancing in the garden....

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This is the first and only picture I have ever taken of fairies. The three little guys danced and played in the sunny part of the garden for only a few moments before my camera scared them off...

I have to tell you... getting pictures of fairies in Ireland is not as easy as you would think. They don't just come out and pose like a leprechaun - you know...! You really have to know where and when to look for them. The best time to spot them is in the evening when the Sun bathes the countryside with magical yellow glow - when the smell of peat fires is starting to grace the air... They always seem to be in green leafy areas... and only can be seen on the stillest of days.... You have to be very careful photographing them. If they see you trying to take their picture they will quickly disappear.


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Today's Random Pic...

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This is not a joke (The rest of the story)...

As it turned out my little leprechaun was not on his own... oh... and he didn't disappear. He was soon followed by two other leprechauns, a tiger, and a monkey. They actually stood on the street corner and waved at cars for a while. Now you might be wondering why this strange assortment of creatures would be seen walking the streets in Ireland... It turns out that my leprechaun was not a shoemaker for fairies, but rather was a cereal maker. He along with his two friends, Pop and Snap, make some kind of cereal. I forget the name but it is supposed to be famous. The tiger's name was Tony and the monkey seemed to be cookoo for 'Coco Pops' (yes, he is in Ireland!). The small gang was pointing the way to the finish line for a bike race that was sponsored by Kellogg's.

I don't think I will ever forget how funny it was to see that first guy (I think that his name was Crackle) walking down the road. I laughed so hard that I cried.


I also need to add that despite the fact that someone obviously staged having all these guys on the side of the road, I am still convinced the little person that I saw in the wood was INDEED the real thing!




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This is not a joke!

Here is the background: Before you read this post make sure that you read THIS POST: The little people in the wood.

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I need to say this first of all... I did not in any way construct or stage the following post. It all happened just as I say it did!!!

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Over the weekend Dee and I went shopping in the city. Well... Dee shopped while I walked around taking pictures. After about an hour I was tired of all the shops, and I decided to leave the city center and go to the University campus. It is a bit of the city that I have often wanted to photograph but never have had the time/weather to do so. I'm so glad that I decided to go on that day... I NEVER would have guessed what was waiting for me there!

I walked down one of the busiest streets in the city and was planning to turn up a little tree- lined road that leads up to the main administrative building. As I was walking I was also halfway watching a group of guys playing soccer in a field to my right. To be honest with you my mind was a million miles away, and I was just zoned out to the world. It was at this moment when out of the little tree-lined road ahead of me popped a real leprechaun! I nearly died of laughter and surprise. I fumbled around in my camera bag and got out my big zoom lens. I was just able to fire off a few quick pictures before he rounded the corner and disappeared.

You don't believe me.... do you?

Here is the proof! HA!

Little people in the wood...

I awoke this morning to the brightest sunbeams coming in through our bathroom window. The shafts of light came in through the skylight and lit up our bedroom as if it was mid-day. I decided to get up and make the most of the bright morning by taking a little stroll through the local wood. I don't go here often, but always enjoy the strange setting of trees and rocks all covered with moss. Ireland has the reputation as being a magical place... and this is one of those places that always seems to confirm it.




I walked the paths for a long time enjoying the sounds and sights but eventually decided to ignore the signs telling you to stick to the path. I know... I was breaking the rules... but I desperately wanted to see some uprooted trees off in the distance. I trudged through the mud and eventually made it to the beautifully twisted trees.




It was while I was standing there taking the pictures that something caught my eye. I thought it was a red bird at first and didn't pay it much attention... but the sound of rustling on the ground and a little grunt made me jump. I started to run in the direction where I had seen the flash of red, but it seemed to disappear over a little ridge. It was then that I saw it or should I say... him. Being the keen photographer I am I already had my camera with it's giant zoom lens out and ready... and I was just able to snap this quick shot before he disappeared for good.




I walked around in the wood for a while more but it soon started to lash down with rain... I plan on going back and taking some more pictures... I'll let you know if I see him again...