Happy Birthday Gma

Gma and Gpa and all the kiddos

My Three Sons

Last night, my three sons where home again. Each brought a gift. Zach brought Stacy, Sam brought his sensibility and a promise to help me give Yak a bath, and Andrew came with a smile. Wow. Zach and Stacy's baby, Teddy, entertained us and wore out his parents. Cherry and Yak kept cornering Teddy and Zach would rescue him. Cherry was very brave and wanted to play. Paul and his boys loaded up a dresser and took it to Andrew's house. Everyone slept in their bedrooms from long ago.

All is well

Today was ....

ahahahah I love/hate my laptop. Sometimes I type along , writing a Pulitzer Prize Blog with correct grammer, spelling and then ZAP, it is erased. How does that happen, where is that stupid button that zaps my beautiful word. My memory is so bad, I am unable to recover my lost data. My memory is so bad, I can hide my own Easter Eggs.

Monday I spent the day at the Burka Mansion, in the land of Fountain City. Mom, Dad and I floated about in the exercise pond for a couple of hours with lots of "young "bathing beauties, plus one man who has informed me that he takes Viagra. ( That is nice to know, I have filed it into my GROSS file )We went to the house and Mom and I then set our noses to the grind stones...beads...and began making goodies for the craft show. We are only in one show this year. Last year I spend $2 for every $1 I made. This year will be the same. Hey , we are having fun and making nice stuff.

After we hit a creative block, the three of us went for a walk around the block. Dad declared that he has been trying to find a way to walk down hill for the entire walk, but so far, he has to walk uphill half of the time.

Like he said, it is all uphill from here.

Maloney

Our gggggg gpa was Hugh Maloney. His brother, Robert Maloney was a tailor in Greeneville, TN. Andrew Johnson asked Robert to make his marriage suit. They were friends and Robert signed Andrew Johnsons marriage certificate. A copy is in the Andrew Johnson Museum in downtown Greeneville. Andrew Johnson and Robert Maloney's name are on the second and third line. Robert signs the certificate at the bottom right. Andrew Johnson was also a tailor and must have liked Roberts work. Andrew Johnson later became President of the United States

Looking for Lucy

For my millions of readers that might not be aware, I have been searching for Lucy. Lucy was Paul's Grandmother. She has always been a woman shrouded in mystery that holds the key to family history of Paul's family, the Wonderful Whalens. The Burka/Allen/Murphy/Maloney/Cunnyngham families have made themselves known in many ways and are easy to trace, discover, and ponder. The Whalens are on the opposite side of the family history story. This family is very private, shy, and somewhat secretive. The known facts are few, the family stories confusing. Thus the adventure I call, Looking for Lucy. Lucy's story alone would make a wonderful novel. Two husbands, maybe. A third love but not marriage, two children, red-hair, wild mountains, beautiful coves, coal-mines, a last train ride home from Alabama. A devoted son, many grand-children, millions of great-grands.
Paul and I are following the family story that Lucy is buried in a cemetery in Oliver Springs. We have spend the last three Sundays, looking for Lucy.
It is a beautiful time of year to be looking.

Happy Birthday Andrew

Happy Birthday Andrew
Your Dad and I are so proud of you. You have grown up in so many ways. We love you and pray for you everyday...
MOM and DAD

Zach, Stacy and TEDDY

We drove down to Florida to visit Zach, Stacy and Teddy. We had a wonderful visiting, playing and resting. Teddy sometimes turns Zach's world upside down! Oh but he is such a wonderful dog and friend.

Sam

Paul and I just returned from a trip to visit the family. First went to visit Sam in Statesboro Georgia. Sam is doing well at Georgia Southern. He took us on a tour of the school and his office. We got to meet many friends and professors. We only met people that love Sam and think he is great. Sam is very organized and working his plan to move to the next level in school. He is sorting through his options for the PHD level in his field. We are so proud of Sam.

Cute Couple

Oh, here I am with my boyfriend.....

The View from the top

A beautiful day in the mountains. A view from Clingman's Dome

Cades Cove

Paul is trying to reconnect with the real world. He has been out of town most of the year. We went to Cades Cove and paused at one of the last stops and watched the sunset. We have passed this place manytimes. We decided to walk out to the trees, while we waited for the long lines of cars to pass. There is a cemetery under those trees. The stones are so old, that no ingraving can be read. We then walked out to the trees, out in the distance. It was so awesome. We realized that you can stay in the Cove, after the front gate is closed, because they do not close the back gate. We soon had the place to ourselves, so beautiful, so quiet.

Watercolor Landscape

While I was in Ireland I tried painting again. I stood at the window and painted the landscape. It has been a long time, my friends, since I have painted.

Landscape

This is a quilted landscape. Of course it isn't finished, that is my trademark.

Allens

This Burka / Whalen family is a busy lot. Work, school, adventures, and sports. We are such an interesting bunch. I have been researching our ancestors and they were also a busy group. I have been concentrating on the Allen side this summer. This side of the family came to America in it's early years. To date, I have charted seven men who fought in the Revolutionary War. They were from the Virginia, Georgia, NC, and SC colonies. Captians down to wagoneers and privates. These men were given land in the Tennessee area as reward for service. The settlers in the area welcomed them and together they fought the Indians and settled the land. Many became active in starting churches and politics while they farmed their land.
More later
Your Wild Irish Rose Reporter

ps.... Andrew's picture was for another post which disappeared into blog world....only his picture remained and refused to be removed...so there he is, the man of the moment in the Burka / Whalen story

Third Place

This is my third place photo. Paul and I hiked on the Cumberland Plataue last fall and climbed 200 steps down a ravine. Looking back up the stone steps, I saw this fantastic shot.

Award Winning Photos

Oh yes, went to the Fair and entered photos one more time and Bingo!, won three awards. Actually they are just ribbons. but hey, they are mine, don't ya know.

This photo taken in Ireland, took second place in it's catagory, waterscape.







The Cliffs of Moher got an Honorable Mention Ribbon

I will go now

I will arise and go now, for always
night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low
sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on
the pavement grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

w.b.yeats

May you have warm words on a cold evening
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.

The view outside my bedroom will change

I've made new friends

I've seen many sights...

The Burren

Yesterday I headed back to the Burren and Cliffs of Moher. I walked with Miss Tennessee 1999-2000. She was beautiful and lively. She lives in Nashville and her traveling companion lives in Franklin. She pointed out that her jacket said Miss Tennessee, Sr. but I told her that I had not noticed the Sr. part. She dubbed me Miss Knoxville for the rest of the tour. A young woman that lives in London, but was from Japan sat with me for the tour. She was there with her employer, an older gentle man and his handicapped friend. I believe she was their companion, she helped them with lunch, walking and tickets. We discussed Japan's candy, greetings and her teenage sons.
This morning I once again had breakfast with Ann. This was her last day here and she was on her way home. She lives on the edge of Galway Bay. She plans to walk six miles along the shore when she gets home and then to prepare evacuation beds for her family. Galway Bay is expecting the highest tide ever on Friday. Her Sister's home, just down the road, will probably be underwater. Ann's home is somewhere in this picture of Galway Bay.
We spent out last breakfast discussing flowers, US politics, and exercise. She was an instant friend, and I shall miss her. We plan to write.

Murphy

Cork is full of Murphys.....look and see

More of Cork

Cork City Streets

More of lovely Cork

Cork City

Cork City is the second largest city in Ireland. The streets are built on hills and around canals that have been filled in and made into streets. Many of the older streets are cobblestone. Cork is still an active port. Many Irishmen emigrated to Canada, Australia, and American from this port. It is estimated that two million left from Cork during the potato famine of 1848. Oh, it was grand. Their hurling team was playing that day so many of their supporters wore red.

Blarney

What a beautiful day in Ireland

Cork, Ireland

We had a lovely Sunday visiting Blarney Castle and Cork City. We toured with a couple from England, and a mother, daughter team that told off the driver in French. Next to Blarney Castle was a Druid ruin, and Blarney Mansion. The Blarney Stone is at the top of the Castle and it looks a long way down when you are hanging upside down. But , it was grand...

Out of my castle window

Blarney

On Sunday I kidnapped Ireland's International Computer Super Star and took him to Blarney Castle and Cork City, Blarney Castle and grounds were impressisve. Even though it was not needed, I kiss the Blarney Stone and was granted the gift of Gab. Blarney means to eloquently deceive without offending.

Hello?

"Limerick , Ireland calling, collect, will you accept the charges?"

Murphy

Oh the Murphy family is still here, don't ya know....

Green green Ireland