Bunratty Birthday

Due to the recent pursuit of a piano (precipitated by the demise of my Plantingfield Way piano - literally, with the bed, a chair, and a table, the only things we owned as a young family moving into that house), a project that took me to Boston on the only day I had available, my birthday on Saturday October 22 - a fitting enough day to indulge myself, I'd say - I was also able to take in the Bunratty seisiun that afternoon. The day began auspiciously enough, with smooth sailing on the 7am ferry and an easy drive to Boston; the return, however, was anything but smooth. There's nothing worse than driving a couple of hours at the end of the day, tired, then having the (all-too-brief) satisfaction of arriving at the ferry terminal exactly on time, only to be told "All the ferries are cancelled due to the wind." Okay, there are worse things, and I'm an Island girl so I can go with the flow (after I've had a good night's sleep, that is). Edgartown to Boston: 3 1/2 hours; Boston to Edgartown: 17 1/2 hours. At any rate, I did end up with a piano I like - and this will go in the dining room, right where my childhood piano sat, coming full circle and making all things right again: though I have a nice keyboard in the studio, a home is not really a home without a piano. Happy birthday to me (and future generations). The session was frosting on the birthday cake. 


A reel set, starring Liam, Frankie, Connie, Colin, Pat, Joe, Wynter, and Laura.


6:30 a.m., Vineyard Haven Harbor, with the dory Grace gracing center stage.


M/V Island Home.


Look who came out to see me at Bunratty today - little Finbar (and his parents).


Joe, Wynter, Laura.


Wynter, Laura.


Frankie


Colin


Joe


Joe, Wynter.


Wynter, Laura.


Liam


Frankie and Connie.


Laura


Joe, Wynter, Laura, Liam, Frankie, Connie, Colin (and Sara's pint) (Pat was here, too, but I guess he arrived later).


Joe, Wynter, Laura.


Joe, Wynter, Laura.


Wynter, Laura, Liam.


Liam, Frankie, Connie.


Joe, Wynter.


Connie, Colin.


Liam, Frankie, Connie.


Wynter, Laura, Liam, Frankie.


Sunday morning: the Woods Hole in Woods Hole. This is the new freighter/passenger ferry (I have yet to ride on her). The first boat to sail was the 10:45 Island Home. Sitting in Woods Hole all morning (I arrived at 6:30) reminded me of the old days when only a few ferries a day ran and if you missed one it was a long wait in a very bleak Woods Hole with nothing open. All in all, a successful birthday. Thanks, everybody!