Blog - Page 2 of 24 - Martha M. Geaney

Crow and the Origami Butterfly

When the universe sends you a barista named Crow and a yellow butterfly. This is the story behind the beautiful yellow Origami butterfly pictured below. Yesterday, I was tired, sad, and on my way to visit my mom (who is in rehab due to a broken hip). It’s been a tough time for her.

Just before I got into my car, a friend suggested I go get a coffee, a sweet, and take some time to center myself. So, I stopped at a Starbucks in Leesburg, Florida. And ordered a tall Pike. What happened next seemed to be just what I needed.

Picture taken inside Leesburg Starbucks. There is a yellow Origami owl sitting on my handbag. — Yellow Origami Owl

While I waited, at the counter, for my order, one of the baristas walked up to me with the yellow butterfly in her hand. “Here,” she said, “it’s an Origami butterfly. I make them all the time.”

“Thank you, I really needed this today,” I replied. Then, I took my coffee and my butterfly over to a table where I propped the yellow paper art on my bag and took the picture. But that wasn’t the only kindness to occur.

While I was contemplating the butterfly, drinking my coffee, and steeling myself to visit my mom. The barista walked over to my table and said, “I’m on my way home, but if you like, I can teach you how to make an Origami butterfly.”

I explained that I had an appointment to keep and thanked her. That’s when I asked her name. “Crow,” she replied. And, with that she left.

Crow and the Origami butterfly provided a brief moment of wonder and joy. I finished my coffee, gently carried the butterfly to my car, and went to bring some joy to my mom.

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The Lock Nut Key

I’d never heard of a lock nut key until a few weeks ago when I was in County Mayo, Ireland. I inadvertently drove my rental car over a large tuft of grass, which sat in the middle of a country lane. Unbeknownst to me there was a large stone, most probably knocked from a stone wall by a farmer’s tractor, lurking under the seemingly innocent ball of grass. Bam! Shredded front tire.

I immediately rolled the car to the side of the road and wondered what I’d do next. I didn’t think my Florida American Automobile Association card would work here. Luckily, a farmer came along who gave me a lift home. Long story short, a tow truck came the next morning and took the car to a local garage for the tire repair. But, like all good mystery stories the saga didn’t end there.

No! The rental car did not have a lock nut key so the garage wasn’t immediately able to repair the tire until they contacted another garage that had a master set of lock nut keys. It pays to have friends in rival businesses.

Finally, a happy ending. I had my car back in time to go for a coffee with my kind cousin who picked me up and took me to the garage when the car was mended. But all of this excitement came at a time during my trip when I’d just learned of issues at home. My mom fell and broke her hip; my partner came down with covid and suffered a fall which ended in a trip to the emergency room. And, here was I thinking I needed to abandon my trip and return home wehn the lock nut key incident occurred.

When you are a mystery author, everything means something. Take the lock nut key, for instance. Without it and the quick thinking of the garage crew, I might have been stuck for days without a rental car to get around. By the way, every lock nut key has a unique pattern which is meant to provide security to the vehicle owner. So, what did this incident mean to me? I had to take a deep breath. I had to stay in place. I couldn’t just respond to the emergencies at home. I had to trust that family members and friends on this side of the Atlantic would handle the situations. I had to let go. I had to practice some discernment and know that I cannot do it all.

So, in the end, a grass covered stone and the lock nut key might just have taught me to live in the moment. And, oh, one other lesson: always check your rental car for the lock nut key.

County Mayo – The Heather County

Another Name for County Mayo

County Mayo is often called the Heather County. Ling heather can be found in abundance throughout Mayo’s bogs especially in the bog of Céide Fields and in the Ballycroy National Park at the foot of the Nephin Mountain.

Pamela Norrington / Summit of Nephin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Did you know that heather comes in colors other than purple?

In addition to purple, heather may be found in white and pink. My favorite is the purple heather that I see whenever I ride along the narrow, regional road 310 from Castlebar towards Pontoon Bridge. As you draw near to Pontoon, there is a turnoff to the right which will take you through Parke and then to Turlough. My maternal grandmother, Maria Nolan Hughes, was born in Turlough. And, according my mom, Maria loved the heather which grows wild across the stone and rocky, boggy ground in that area.

Courage, strength, and heather

The purple ling heather is thought to represent beauty and strength. Strength means so much to me in the last few years. Not physical strength but the spiritual and moral strength to care for those in my family who needs caring.

Two years ago, my mother took the Claddagh ring from her finger that her mother had given to her when my mom left County Mayo at the age of 17 and presented the ring to me. My mom said “when I left Ireland my mother told me to have courage and strength. And now I am giving this to you and always remember courage and strength.” That ring had been my grandmother’s wedding ring (made one of her brothers).

I have always loved heather and purple. Funny, I loved that color and plant long before I knew it was a favorite of my grandmother’s (whom I never met). I love the color but I also love heather’s strength: its ability to survive in the wild surrounded by craggy rocks and boggy desolation. So, I take my grandmother’s and mother’s words to heart and try to remember each day, during the caring, that courage and strength is my legacy.

Photo by Martha Geaney – Bit of heather on the road between Parke and Turlough, County Mayo

The Mysterious Cuckoo and Spring in Ireland

The Mysterious Cuckoo

The first time I heard the mysterious cuckoo it was May. I was exploring the scenic route between Finney, County Mayo and Clonbur, County Galway near Lough Mask. I was intrigued because my partner, Bill, loves cuckoo clocks and several hung in our home in New Jersey. But this was the first time I’d ever heard an actual cuckoo’s call.

The Cuckoo Summers in Ireland

The cuckoo arrives in Ireland from its winter home in Africa during the late spring and typically departs the Emerald Isle in August. Although, I’ve been told by some of our neighbors in County Mayo that the best months to hear the cuckoo is between April and June.

Not Everyone Hears the Cuckoo

I have heard the cuckoo many times since that first discovery, many, many years ago, along Lough Mask. If I happened to be in Ireland during the spring season, I’d purposely listen for the bird’s call whenever I walked along Barney Road in French Hill, Castlebar. If I were lucky enough to hear the call, I got a great sense of joy…not everyone hears the cuckoo.

Very Few Ever See the Cuckoo

And, very few, have ever seen the reclusive cuckoo. The cuckoo usually looks for open country side and stands of trees where the cuach (Gaelic for cuckoo), can remain secluded just below the tops of the trees until it is time to roam the globe again.

Early morning image of several sheep in a field on Barney Road, French Hill, Castlebar, County Mayo. — Sheep in a neighbor’s field on Barney Road, County Mayo. (Consolation prize for not getting to see a cuckoo).

Mysterious, isn’t it?

Have you heard the cuckoo? And, if so, where were you when you heard these first sounds of spring in Ireland?

Turlough – The Schipperke Character

Turlough, my schipperke, is quite a character. And, he will feature as a series character in one of my upcoming County Mayo Mysteries. The schipperke breed can best be described as a small dog who believes he inhabits the body of a King German shepherd. As a result, schipperkes exhibit a guard dog personality: protective, devoted to family members, and courage.

My Little Schipperke’s Character

In addition to the guard dog behavior, my little schipperke, Turlough, is also a noisy barker and a mischievous little character who like to grab towels from counters so you’ll chase him to get them back. When Bill and I take Turlough to agility training each week the little guy runs, jumps, and weaves. We’ve been in a few agility trials and he has won a few ribbons. But not always! Sometimes he gets out on the field and just does the zoomies until the buzzer rings and the judge says “it’s over”.

The Schipperkes Origin

Schipperkes originated in Belgium and the breed name means “little captain”. Turlough lives up to the name: he’s independent and investigates everything and everyone. I named my little schipperke Turlough in a tip of my heart to my mother who was born in Turlough Village, County Mayo, Ireland. And, Turlough’s breed line is of the Skydance and I Believe in Magic lines.

Turlough the Schipperke as a Character in the County Mayo Mystery Series

So, the Skydance and Magic lines align nicely with the role Turlough the Schipperke will play in a new County Mayo Mystery Series I am developing. Right now, I’m world building. And, I’m having fun with it. I hope you will too. I’ll be posting more as I continue to work on the series.