hope lives

stately on Flickr.

she rests with those we cannot see on Flickr.

could be ireland on Flickr.

yes, that is a hint of mountains in the background. take a moment. you’ll see it.

liquid leaves on Flickr.

connemara, shrouded *photo taken by beth mercer

i wrote a story set in these hills years before i ever saw them for myself. and since the day i drove through it was overcast and misty - i feel like i haven’t yet truly seen them… next time.

[this was taken in 2005. in 2009, i did return and spend time in connemara. a lovely, mysterious place.]

sligo sheep
*photo taken by beth mercer

killarney stairs *photo taken by beth mercer

i have always loved path and stair pictures - that perfect depiction of the unknown’s allure. i remember turning from the waterfall to hike back up to the parking lot and seeing this as the path. of course. even a necessity can be magical in ireland.

blue net *photo taken by beth mercer

donegal, ireland. with my friend, marilyn.
saw this fishing gear laid out on the docks.
this fabulously blue netting, sprawling in heaps.
a dream.

slane hill *photo taken by beth mercer

oral tradition says that st. patrick lit a paschal fire on this hill top in 433 in defiance of the high king laoire who forbid any other fires while a festival fire was burning on the hill of tara, which is about 16 km away. logaire was so impressed by patrick’s devotion that, despite his defiance (or perhaps because of it), he let him continue his missionary work in Ireland. [wikipedia]

tiny and bursting

i had no desire to take pictures today, until i passed this little one.
i actually laughed aloud with joy.

tiny tree seemed to be thrusting blooms out on tiny arms,
soaking in the sun and singing.

i told myself, it was enough to just see.
in the end, i turned around and went back.

i think she was glad i did.

a little heart

an autumn valentine

i heart redbuds