Summer surprise

Now, I have to start off by apologizing for some lack of posting. I have some new software that I'm trying to get used to, and actually, I'm waiting on some other equipment to arrive :) So, in the mean time, I'm going to take some time to catch up on some over-due posts...

One evening a couple weeks ago, I was in charge of the kids, and to help bridge the gap to when Isaac was ready to go to bed (or perhaps the correct way to say that is that Isaac is past-ready to go to bed, but we just can't bring ourselves to put him down for the night at 4 in the afternoon. So days like that one when he boycotted his nap, much of the late afternoon is spent trying to help him bide his time...) I decided to just take the kids for a stroll up our road and kill some time. That's when our neighbor came rushing out of her house to ask if I'd seen the random patch of flowers that had popped up in the field next to hers. Since she's been there for many, many years, she knows for sure that it's been about 10 years since this particular patch of flowers had bloomed, and she was just overjoyed by it all. Amazing how the slightest event can bring us loads of pleasure, huh?

How to use a swing set...

So, at this moment, the girls are outside enjoying an absolutely gorgeous summer evening. A perfect mid-sixties evening with just a little hint of a breeze. I just finished putting Isaac to bed, and came out and heard delightful squeals...and then I saw why:

In the paper

So, Tuesday night was the big photo exhibition. It was a great time! The Mayor came and spoke, there was a collection taken for Autism Ireland (which thankfully raised a bunch of money) and plenty of snacks and drinks. The turnout was really good! Some of our friends showed up in support, and some that couldn't sent their well wishes for us. This is the second exhibition I've been involved in now, and I was just as proud to be a part of this one as I was the last time! The most exiting part came today though: Our family was chosen to be one of the artists put in the local paper! Here's the picture of all of us!

Unexpected Joy Received Today

Today was a long day for me. Make that a very long day. I shot my second wedding today, and I have to say that it would take me a while to really get the hang of this to where I don't feel like I just finished a marathon! I did surmise that taking photos of a wedding is similar to an athlete performing during an important do-or-die game. You only get one chance to get it right. Lots of pressure, and the opportunities really go quickly. Like, say, the kiss at the end of the ceremony. That only happens once!!! But that all is beside the point to this entry...

This morning I showed up at the grooms house to document some of the action of the guys getting ready for the day, attempting to tie ties when they've never worn one, etc. It was a good time. The coolest thing happened at the end as we left the house to go to where the ceremony was being held. All the groomsmen loaded up in a traditional wedding car and where whisked away to the hotel. As soon as they left, I grabbed my gear, got in the car, and set out to follow them. Now, the house itself is really neat. It's registered as the oldest inhabited house in Connemara dating back to 1552 when it was originally built. To get to this house, essentially you have to drive from one end of the village to the other, and wind down a long stretch of road that's two way, yet barely wide enough to fit a single car. All down this lane, there are houses lining the road...probably about 30 in all. As I'm driving, I began to see smoke, and lots of it. I quickly realized what was happening. You see, in Ireland, the bonfire for ages has been a way the people have marked celebrations, major events and even the changing of seasons; a tradition that lives on today. On our own road into the city, for instance, if the local team wins a match, there's places along the road where fires are lit to show the support for the team. There's bonfires lit every Halloween night, and every Summer Solstice. You get the idea. Well, as I drove along, I noticed that every house had a fire lit next to the road. And not just a measly little camp-fire, I mean a fire. Hot enough I could feel it through the car as I zipped past. I was stunned at the symbolism of what this meant. Here's two people that have been living in this little village for several years getting married, and as a show of support, they light the fires. I know the fires in themselves weren't much, but the show of support, the "we're behind you in your new life" statement really touched me. I think they may have caught a glimpse of what "community" truly means.