Home at 4:00PM from a wonderful three day CWI Gathering.   Things went SO well.

Got there at about noon, in plenty of time to check in and get the conference room set up.   Everybody loved the hotel and the convenience of the room.   We had our registration and a wine and cheese reception at 4:30PM.   Then over to Brococh's Irish Inn for dinner, which was great.   A nice Irish Atmosphere.   Got lost on the way back to the hotel, but finally made it.  Then Felicia and I did our presentation on the trip to Scotland we went on last September.    Next year, I can do Cornwall and the Isle of Man.

Saturday brought our annual meeting and election of board members.   All went pretty well except we don't have a volunteer to chair next year's gathering.  Oh.  Well, things always seem to work out.

Then we carpooled to Black Earth to Brigit's Rest and The Black Earth Institute where were treated to a fabulous lunch and a tour of parts of Brigit's Rest by Michael Mc Dermott, the co founder with Patricia Monaghan, an author, poet and dear member of CWI who passed away two years ago.  We had the tree circle explained as we stood in the middle of 18 different trees in the circle.   We went to the Brigit Well on the property and to the place where Pat's ashes are under a tree in a special area of trees that are dedicated to special people.

Back to Madison, I was able to have dinner with Richard and Brenda.   Such a great visit.  We had dinner at the Imperial Chinese Restaurant a few blocks down from the hotel.    I was so happy to be able to tell them that Nicky is playing with the little squeaky hedgehog they had sent to him when I first got him.   Nicky is finally learning how to play.  

That evening one of our members, Sherry Avila gave a talk on the Hedge Schools that were in Ireland from the 16oos to the 18oos as a result of the Penal Laws.  It was fascinating.   It is hard to believe that an invading country could deny education to the youth of an entire nation to keep them subdued, then call them barbarians.  Then we had the drawing for the door prizes which is a very fun part of the gathering.    The baskets and other door prizes are always so spectacular, donated mostly by our members.

We had a scattering ceremony this morning led by our Sheila, sending us on our way to continue to support Celtic Women around the world.

Luann, Felicia and I went to Mass at St. Denis Church (which is the church that I always attended when Dick and I visited Richard in Madison before he got sick.)   After Mass, we headed for home and I picked up my Nicky at about 3:30PM.    Was he ever happy to see me.   Chris said that he was a sad little doggy for the first 2 days and wouldn't eat or drink.   They were afraid that they might not be able to care for him again.   Then he finally got hungry enough and started eating.   He liked the other dogs that were also guests and enjoyed walks.   But he was just frantic and wanting to get in the car to go home.   Guess I am his favorite.   I am glad.

So the day and weekend are both over, I am exhausted and will go to bed.  That will really make my puppy happy.

Dia Dhuit

Mary
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