Do You…?

Given the choice to explore one of two castles for the day, do you pick

the restored and maintained Cahir Castle100_1631

or the Ballycarberry Castle ruin?100_1568

Both great castles in their own uniqueness.  Answer in the comments below and tell me about your imaginary travel day.  Have fun climbing the stony, windy staircases in your mind.  🙂  Slainte, Lisa

P.S.  Yesterday’s cliff cave poll was tied….half of you would ask many questions, and half would stay in the boat.  Only one brave person would jump out and go, no questions asked.  🙂  In case you were wondering, me…water….boat…no question where I’m staying!

Would You…?

A bit of hypothetical fun for your Monday morning….presented for your consideration is a small cave at the base of a St. Lucia cliff.  A small boat takes you to this opening, and gives you the opportunity to explore the unknown cave and will wait for your (possible) return.   Take the poll below, and I’ll let you know what I would do later.  (although you can probably guess  🙂  )  Slainte, Lisa

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Everywhere is Home to Someone

Me posing in Anguilla while Rose is busy getting ready for her full day at the Dune Preserve.

Me posing in Anguilla while Rose is busy getting ready for her full day at the Dune Preserve.

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Busy port in St. Maarten

When I travel, I tend to forget that everywhere I go is still home to someone.  People live there, work there, get born there, go through good and bad times there.  I’m taking pictures like there’s no tomorrow, taking it all in like fresh air.  But to others, it’s what they see everyday and fight not to take for granted.  I’ve noticed it where I live also.  We live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and while I’m very used to the sight of the mountains, the hiking, the babbling rivers, others will travel in cars and big tour buses to stay in little cabins out here and experience it.  So no matter where you’re living today, where you call home is special.  I’m going to try to appreciate my corner of the world a little more today.  🙂  Slainte, Lisa

Our corner of the world during the peak fall tourist season.

Our corner of the world during the peak fall tourist season.

 

Thinking in a Castle

Ballycarberry castle ruins, Caherciveen, Ireland

Ballycarberry castle ruins, Caherciveen, Ireland

Thinking thoughts that only a two year old can…and only a two year old knows.  🙂  Enjoy thinking your thoughts today.  Dream of beauty, joy, peace, God, love, laughter.  Good things.   Slainte, Lisa

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.” ~Philippians 4:8

The Art of Getting Off the Ride and Not Looking Like a Wimp

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Have you ever been on a ride that you were terrified of, that you wanted to get off THAT minute, right now?  I’ve been on many of those kind of rides, from rollercoasters that I got talked into, to the Dinosaur ride in the Animal Kingdom (terrified me!) , to a rocking and rolling ferry ride from St. Maarten to Anguilla and back(another story for another day).  But in all those instances, the only way I could see to get off was to finish the ride.  Set my jaw, grit my teeth, and try to laugh through the fear a bit.  The best part of course, is the getting off, the being back on familiar terra firma, knowing that I survived, and even better, have a wonderful new tale to tell.  🙂

Life can feel like a scary ride, and many times you feel like shouting, “Enough!  I want to get off!”  But it’s best to ride it out, and keep remembering that it will pass, that things will even out, that the Maker of the all things can also calm storms with one Word.  And that maybe, when I get off, I can help someone else with my story of the ride.  Blessings, Lisa

“Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.  ‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples.     In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.’ ” ~Luke 8:24b-25