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     This is John Kearns, a stone mason who lives in the area. He cleaned off some of the lichen and then he and I placed a large sheet of thin paper over the words carved into the stone and with the side of a large black crayon rubbed over the paper to reveal the words that had gotten so worn down they were illegible. The following is the full inscription: Erected by John McCoy in memory of his wife Anne McCoy who departed this life Jan 26, 1872 aged 65 years Also of his son Richard McCoy who dep'd this life on Nov 29, 1872 aged 30 years Also his son James McCoywho died Aug 15, 1880 aged 40 years Also the above John McCoy who died Nov 1st 1893 aged 96 years. The rest of this week I'll be storytelling in County Antrim about an hour north of Belfast. Irish storyteller Liz Weir arranged these school tellings and I'll be staying at her camping barn. This will be my last entry on this log since next week my husband Bill and I will be traveling doing The Ring of Kerry, Dublin and Bunratty Castle. See you all when I get home on Oct. 25...........it's been a fantastic journey. 

First off the internet has been out for three days here. Which was very frustrating  because I wanted to share that last Thursday after stumbling around an old grave yard for two hours that I found the grave site which has the remains of my great great grandparents and two of my great great uncles. The cemetary is very old... the last people to be buried there were in the 1890's. I can read the names and dates at the botttom of the marker but the top is so cover with lichen you cant make out anything. A stone mason from the area is coming out tomorrow to work on removing some of the lichen. Hopefully this will enable us to read all of the information. I can't tell you what a thrill this is. Tomorrow I'll be heading on up to Dublin and then County Antrim.

Here are some of the sheep on the farm. They are so funny and timid. They all ran to the other side of the pen, when I walked up to them, and stood there huddled together looking the other way.

This is the view from my window at O'Leary's Bed and Breakfast. It is a working sheep and cattle farm in Kilrane, County Wexford. Philomena and Gabriel run the place and a more delightlful couple you'll never find. Phil has been invaluable in guiding me in the search for my great great grandparent's graves. Hopefully in a few days I'll have some more news to tell on that front. The food and the company at this establishment have been first rate and the scenery is spectacular. Out my window every morning I've seen the sun rise over St. George's Channel. Many folks call it the Irish Sea but Philomena says it is officially St. George's Channel.

Today I told stories and sang songs to two delightful groups of Irish school children. Just like the kids in America they too have "messy rooms" and love to eat at KFC (I sang "Ghost Chickens" in honor of Halloween coming up. Having a great time but these narrow winding roads in Ireland are a bit stressful.

To say that the world is small is no exaggeration. Above is the B&B in Dublin that I stayed in last night. After I checked out I headed down the street towards the train station. Concerned that I might be headed in the wrong direction I stopped an older woman as she came out her door to verify where the station was. She said, "And where might you be from?" I told her and she said "Oh My Lord! I am a former sister of charity of Leavenworth, Kansas. My name is Phyllis Gibbons and I taught for several years at Most Pure Heart Elementary School in the early 1960's. Two more suprised people you couldn't have found in Ireland this morning. 
    I made it to Rosslare Harbour, rented a car and drove (in the rain AAAAAGGGGG!!!!!) to the O'leary Farm Bed and Breakfast where I'll be spending the week while doing my storytelling gigs and searching for my great great grandparent's graves. The driving?..............it wasn't so much the driving on the left side that bothered me. It was getting used to cars coming headed toward you on the right.
    To tell you more of how I did driving on the right side of the car on the left  side of the road will take much more space and time than I have right now. Just let it be said that I survived the first hour. My nerves are shot but I'm sure the weather will be better tomorrow so I can get some good practice driving time. Just keep telling yourself "Drive on the left.Drive on the left. Drive on the left......."  Also....Bill, if you're reading this I'm having trouble getting onto my Cox Webmail. I'll try again tomorrow........

Yesterday I went to Auburn Elementary School to practice some of the new material that I have been working on to present in Ireland. Being a one woman traveling show I have to find non paying audiences to rehearse in front of before presenting the new material for a paying group. Usually the teacher's are very open to letting me come in and try out my new material because I talk about how I create my stories and how writing fits into creating works of music. I am usually invited to present during their language arts block. The stories I presented yesterday were The Three Sneezes (a Swiss/French folktale), Hold on, Jimmy! (an original story that I wrote), and two new songs My Grandpa Likes Sadines and Messy Room.

The funny thing about being a storyteller is you can let your inner child out. In fact you can let your inner child run amuck all over the place and people will love you for it. Below is one example of where my inner child decided to take over. This photo was taken at an elementary school in Dodge City, Kansas. I was doing a story called The Big Bad Bear.

Today I am posting from the romantic HyVee coffee shop at 29th and Wanamaker. I am testing out how to post on this blog from a location other than my house. So far so good. I've also downloaded some photos from last night's family birthday celebration and am going to see how that goes. 13 DAYS AND COUNTING TO IRELAND!!   

    My main source of storytelling income is through school programs and libraries. Having been a teacher for 23 years this combines my two great loves...performing and working with children. The biggest thrill for me is when a child who I haven't seen for awhile says something like, "I really liked the story where the piper married the mermaid and went to live in the sea." The story stuck. That child has that picture in his head of a magical place where men can live beneath the sea. He has the exciting news that the imagination can be just as powerful as a TV cartoon. 
    I can't wait to try out my stories on some children in Ireland. Will I get the same reactions? How many of my folktales have they heard? Two more weeks and I'll be on my way. 
    Keep posted.