No alarm set this morning but we woke up at 5:30 anyway I didn’t go to sleep until 3:30 so it was a short night. Guess I’m still on Texas Time. Maybe I’ll get squared away soon.
We went down to breakfast at 7:30.
Maura’s homemade Irish soda bread
Two rashers and scrambled
Vegetarian full
Today’s all about laundry and chilling out. Maura was very gracious and let us use her washer. She even kept a fire and fan going in the room all day to help everything dry. How considerate is that?
Mick came in and Patch (the dog) jumped in his lap to give him a hug.
Patch taking a biscuit from Mick.
Maura washing dishes
Mick getting another hug
After breakfast, we hung out with Mick and Maura for quite a while. He shared some amazing stories about the area and mentioned that I totally remind him of an author he knows. When they showed us a photo of her, I admit that I was a little hurt.
The story of the cuckoo:
The cuckoo has a unique spot in Irish folklore. It’s seen as a weather predictor, a sign of farming luck, and a symbol of both good and bad fortune. With fewer cuckoos visiting Ireland, it’s super important to protect these birds and the stories that come with them.
“The cuckoo comes in April.
She sings her song in May,
Then in June another tune,
And in July she flies away.”
In Donegal, anything unusual was called a “winter cuckoo.”
We all know that the cuckoo doesn’t build its own nest or raise its chicks. Instead, she lays her eggs in other birds' nests. In Ireland, the meadow pipit often plays host, known in Irish as “riabhóg mhóna” or “banaltra na cuaiche” (the cuckoo’s nurse) and “giolla na cuaiche” (the cuckoo’s servant). Some folks even call the pipit the “ground lark.”
When the young cuckoo hatches, it pushes the other eggs out of the nest, making sure it’s the only chick left. Its poor foster mom ends up exhausted trying to feed the hungry little bird.
Once we got our shoes on, we strolled around for a bit and snapped a few pics. Check them out below!
Barberry
Warty barberry
Love watching and listening to all the baby lambs.
Gall Wasp
The gall wasp is a tiny, non-stinging insect that induces large, woody galls, known as "oak apples," on oak trees. These galls are the largest insect-induced galls, serving as a protective, nutrient-rich home for the wasp's larvae.
Mallow
English daisies
Sycamore maple
Baa baa black sheep
Aren’t they the cutest?
Kody caught this amazing shot of a pheasant in flight.
These are a couple of memorials to Michael Dwyer.
Michael Dwyer (1772–1825) was a well-known Irish rebel captain and a key player in the 1798 Rebellion. He earned the nickname "Wicklow Chief" for his guerrilla tactics against British troops in the Wicklow Mountains. After dodging capture for years, he was eventually exiled to Australia, becoming a legendary figure in Irish republican history.
The stained glass is absolutely amazing.
Wicklow County Council teamed up with Irish/Italian glass artist Bianca Divito to create a stunning memorial piece for the Michael Dwyer 200 commemoration. This beautiful stained glass artwork is set in Wicklow Granite and is permanently displayed at Drumgoff Bridge in Glenmalure, a spot Dwyer knew well.
Bianca’s art shines with detail and tells stories through light, all while respecting the local landscape. Drawing inspiration from the Glen’s natural charm, the design showcases flower river lines, local plants, and Celtic patterns, with a subtle silhouette of Dwyer woven in—a lovely nod to his lasting impact. The piece uses the Tiffany Copper Foiling technique for intricate details, featuring a gorgeous mix of etched, painted, and fused glass.
After a little stroll, we were making our way back to our room when Mick swooped in and invited us to join him for a cow-feeding extravaganza. Turns out, the lodge has been saving their bread and veggie scraps just for him! Check out the videos from our farming escapade below.
Calling the cows
Feeding them
Herding the sheep
Eating carrots
We had a 2 PM reservation for lunch/dinner today, and thank goodness we did because they were super busy!
Inside the pub
I had corned beef and cabbage again - so good
Kody had the ricotta and spinach ravioli today.
No stats today
I was thinking about the lady yesterday who thought Kody was Irish but then detected a southern drawl. When I travel, people often ask where I'm from. I guess I have a unique accent (maybe it's Texan?). I definitely don’t sound British, Irish, Thai, or like anyone from the other places I’ve been. It’s a reminder that even though we’re all living in this world, we, as Christians, are separate from the world.
Our lives have a different "accent". There’s something “foreign” about us that we can’t hide. Even if people can’t pinpoint it, they should notice and respond. That’s a big part of how we share our faith and why someone might ask about “the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).
So, we need to embrace that “accent,” instead of trying to blend in, and pray that the Lord uses it—through how we live, talk, and interact with others—so we can shine as lights in the world, pointing to the Light of the World (Matt. 5:14; John 8:12, my Mom's favorite verse again).
“He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.” (John 3:30)
Isn’t that how we want it? So Christ can shine more, and we can step back, letting whatever draws people to us, point them right to Jesus Himself?
