Gifts for St. Paddy's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! To celebrate, I would much rather talk about the country and its people than drink in a bar that Americans call an Irish pub. If you feel the same way, or even if you don't--I don't mind--I've got some things to brighten your day.

Throughout the day I plan to share some of my favorite photographs from Ireland over on my Facebook page. You can find it here: www.facebook.com/cindyswriting (and don't forget to click the like the button while you're there.)

And here's something fun! My friend Corey over at the Irish Fireside is sharing a free ebook of sites to see in Ireland. If you're not already, you really should be following the Irish Fireside!

Download it at http://irishfireside.com/remarkable/

A Chance to Actually See the Setting My Characters Lived In

This is so incredible. If you've read Grace's Pictures, you'll remember the characters riding the trolley. You may have tried to imagine it. Well, now you can actually see it! I just ran across this clip. What do you think?

5 Family Trees For Your Wall

Yes, you can keep your family records online, and you really should. Just back them up! But I love graphic family trees. Anyone else? Here are few I found on Etsy that I think are beautiful. I tried to link to the sites, but I'm not sure it worked. If not, just search for family tree on Etsy. (I don't get any kickbacks. I was just window shopping!)

Love the Bible verses!

What a great idea to use photos!

Names like a trunk, leaves, and branches. Beautiful!

Reminds me of candy hearts. :)

Why not frame your chart as a tree? It's a map of humanity!

Do you have a tree hanging on your wall? Here is mine, made by my friend artist Deirdra Doan.

It's on top of my bookcase and it was no easy feat to get a picture for you. Hope you can see it all right. And by the way, visit Deirdra for more of her artwork! 

5 Phases of Being a Writer

1. I have this idea...

photo credit: Ben K Adams via photopin cc

2. It's an amazing story!

3. This won't work at all!

4. I'll make it work if it kills me!

5. It's an amazing story!

Why Ireland is for Lovers

My husband and I spent our honeymoon at Virginia Beach, VA, for the sole reason that it was the shortest drive to the ocean from where we live. Virginia is fond of its motto: Virginia is for Lovers, which is nice when you spend your honeymoon there.



But I would like to make the argument that Ireland is for lovers, and not just because of its incredible beauty. (Virginia is nice too, but it's no Ireland!)

Ireland is the resting place of the relics of Saint Valentine, a saint martyred for marrying two Christians, as the legend goes. The remains are in Whitefriar Church in Dublin.

Dublin is a bustling city and even with a GPS on our phone, my husband and I had a difficult time finding this church. But I shouldn't blame it totally on the GPS. The outside of the church is rather ordinary and it fooled it as we passed it a couple of times.




Here is the inside (and by the way, these photos are thanks to Flickr as I did not take any of my own.)




So, if you didn't know before, now you do. Ireland truly has reason to be called the place for lovers.