Summer Day

Summers in DC can be brutally humid and hot, but today felt perfect.

It's nice, cool and bright.  The sun didn't feel threatening for a change and the sky looked clear. I wish every day felt like this.

I took this photo during my lunch break.

For Skywatch

iPhone

Ireland: Beauty And The Sheep

This wasn't the only sheep we met while driving through Connemara, but I thought this sheep is perfectly framed by its surroundings.

For a moment, I felt beauty and calm - at the same time, and that's truly rare.

For Skywatch

Ireland, May 2015

Ireland: Kylemore Abbey

Kylemore is home to a community of nuns of the Benedictine Order who came here in 1920 after their abbey in Ypres, Belgium was destroyed in World War I. Settling at Kylemore, the Benedictine Community opened a world renowned boarding school for girls and began restoring the Abbey, Gothic Church and Victorian Walled Garden to their former glory. (Source HERE.)

The Connemara Region is vast and there's just so many things to see and experience. We thought a day should be suffice to explore the area, but we had to constantly readjust our schedule and itinerary. It is doable in a day, but I'd suggest two days at least.

Our first stop for the day was the picturesque Kylemore Abbey.

Who wouldn't fall-in-love with this view? I did.

Kylemore Abbey between a mountain and Pollacapall Lough.

Gothic Church

Victorian Walled Garden

Azaleas in full bloom.

Does anyone know the name of this flower?

The weather was clear when we arrived at Kylemore Abbey, but by the time we were leaving, raindrops poured and the clouds came down to kiss the mountain.