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View From an Irish Back Yard

Musings, thoughts and anecdotes from an Irish-American Family

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Where will we go in 2021… through literature?

On January 23, 2021January 23, 2021 By maryannkIn Literature, travel, WritingLeave a comment

If you’re anything like me, it’s the time of year when you start pining for a vacation. Christmas is over, and the rest of the winter is spread out before you like a long, worn, gray army blanket. “Where will we go this year?” I ask myself. Will we return to France? Go back to …

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The Year We’ll Never Forget

On December 31, 2020January 27, 2021 By maryannkIn Crime, Family, Home, Ireland in General, Work/Life Balance2 Comments

Well, folks, it's New Year's Eve again! I'm sure I don't need to go through the reminders of what all has happened across the world in 2020. And I'm sure each and every one of you have had unique challenges and heartaches this year, and hopefully a few blessings and joys as well. As you …

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Aches and Pains

On November 20, 2019November 21, 2019 By maryannkIn Family, Parenting, Work/Life Balance5 Comments

Warning: the following is an acutely personal post. I usually try to keep things on the lighter side but tonight I'm going for honesty. Things have not been going the best for us this last while. I've been trying to hold it together, but the cracks are starting to show. This week I left work …

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Where do you come from?

On August 11, 2019August 11, 2019 By maryannkIn America, Family, Home, Ireland in General, Women3 Comments

Have you ever felt like you belonged in a certain place, as though your blood and breath ran through the ground beneath your feet? I used to feel that way about Bozeman, my hometown. I loved every blade of grass, every sidewalk crack, every crooked tree, every gentle mountain breeze, every snowflake. I felt like …

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Belle Bretagne

On July 26, 2019 By maryannkIn Family, Food and Drink, travel1 Comment

A couple of weeks ago, we took a family vacation to France. A work friend mentioned last year how her young family travels to Brittany every summer and it sounded so wonderful, I looked into it myself. I found an unbeatable Black Friday deal on Eurocamp.ie and booked us a week at a campsite in …

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Podcasts

On June 12, 2019June 12, 2019 By maryannkIn Entertainment, Politics, Religion2 Comments

Since last September, I've been doggy-paddling through the bottomless pool of podcasts on my daily commute (which can sometimes take over 2 hrs each way). I've subscribed and un-subscribed to quite a few over the last few months - some are just too heavy, or not very interesting, or simply just hard to listen to …

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365

On May 30, 2019May 30, 2019 By maryannkIn America, Crime, Film, Home, Ireland in General, Work/Life Balance3 Comments

We've hit the first milestone - it's been one year since we moved back to Ireland, after five up-and-down years in the USA. It's not been an easy year, but I have to say it's been a good one, all things considered, and overall we're happy with our "final answer." Perhaps it's just a thing …

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Messy Miracles

On April 1, 2019April 1, 2019 By maryannkIn ParentingLeave a comment

Today is Sunday, Mother's Day (UK/Ireland), the "Spring Forward" of Daylight Savings Time (UK/Ireland), and the last day of March. It's the beginning and end of many things, a fitting backdrop for the way I feel. Mother's Day is hard for me. I struggle with it every year because, true or not, I don't believe …

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Thoughts for International Women’s Day

On March 9, 2019March 9, 2019 By maryannkIn Religion, Women2 Comments

I love Ireland - you know this. Every day being back brings this country and its people a little closer to my soul. But, as with all things, there are dark sides to the ones we love. And there are parts of Irish history pertaining to women in particular that are extremely troubling - and …

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Catching Up

On February 27, 2019March 6, 2019 By maryannkIn Living with Purpose, WeatherLeave a comment

We've had a pretty mild winter this year in Ireland, all things considered. I haven't really minded being back in the world of grey skies and rainy streets because I love the contrasting warm fires and hot stews, not to mention misty mornings and lovely sunsets.  If anything, I would have liked to see a …

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