Before Ireland in June comes our new Stone Harbor, NJ condo.

If you ever visited us on Paradise Bay (about a mile south of here) you might recognize part of this tidal marsh/bay view.  But, now that we’ve been there for a couple of weeks…we think our “new view” is better!

We look back at the island of Stone Harbor from our perch in Harbor Landing Condos; just over the bridge.  And, those birds are even closer.

We worked with our friend, builder Ralph Johnson, from January to May and he did a great job of renewing the condo.  Most all was completed by the move date of May 8th to bring our furniture out of storage.

We have lived in the place for about 10 days now and the view is the dominant feature.

But, the kitchen/living room/dining room is exceptionally comfortable.  Our friend, designer Collier Kirkland’s eye for space is amazing….he changed our furniture arrangement in ways which made the area look twice the size as our original design.

And, our sunsets meet the test of spectacular again as well.

We look forward to welcoming guests here in the Summer of ’17.

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Now, to pack for Ireland.  I took this photo, below, yesterday as the start of my “roots trip”, June 3rd…my Seventy Fifth birthday present.

My parents are buried right near the house where I grew up in Gladwyne, PA, outside of Philadelphia.   In the coming days, I plan to visit (& do this kind of photo) at the final resting place of my paternal grand-parents (near Villanova, PA) and of my paternal great, grandparents in NE Philadelphia.

Then, on June 13 or 14th at the end of our County Donegal stay, I hope to find the graves of my great grandmother’s parents – Denis Martin and Mary Quin Martin near Edenmore, CO. Donegal in the Irish Republic.  Their daughter, Catherine Martin, came to the USA in 1865 (at 14 years of age) and in 1874 married William Francis Roach, my great grandfather.

We will see.  Wish me the luck o’ the Irish, please.