Traveler

The Arans are a group of three islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay, 

on the west coast of Ireland.

Cows of Aran

May 8, 2013

Cindy de la Taos Ireland 2013

I Madonnari 2013

"In the mid 1970's, street painting came to the United States.  Given the moderate weather, festivals began cropping up all over, starting with the I Madonnari festival at the Santa Barbara Mission in Santa Barbara, California.  Although the festivals are modeled after the Italian tradition, American artists have been reproducing modern works and art from all over the globe making the festivals a diverse feast for the eyes.' History of Street Painting 
La Femme Pastel 

Father Virgil Honored at I Madonnari

 By Mark McDonald

St. Vincent's, celebrating 155 years of serving those who are poor and marginalized in Santa Barbara County, is taking part in the Annual I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival, May 25-27, at the Santa Barbara Mission.

Street painting


DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE by Edhat Subscriber

Memorial Day, WAR HEROES, WAR CRIMINALS

    MEMORIAL DAY

+ Mary McHugh mourns Her slain fiance, Sgt. James Regan, a US Army Ranger killed in Iraq, at Arlington National Cememery +

Why Bush, Blair should be charged with war crimes over Iraq invasion

WAR HEROES, WAR CRIMINALS REMEMBERED ON MEMORIAL DAY

"Memorial Day, an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May, honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, at least, it marks the beginning of summer" H I S T O R Y  + stats

How to deny your crime and relieve conscience
"George Bush takes some of the veterans he sent into illegal wars to have their limbs blown off for a bike ride. Oh, well that should make up for everything!"

Mother’s Day is celebrated around the world, a day to thank mothers, grandmothers, aunts and other important women in our lives.

Mother’s Day is a holiday honoring motherhood that is observed in different forms throughout the world. The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. Jarvis would later denounce the holiday’s commercialization and spent the latter part of her life trying to remove it from the calendar.

At first glance, Mother's Day appears a quaint and conservative holiday, a sort of greeting card moment, honoring 1950s values, a historical throw back to old-fashioned notions of hearth and home.

Mother's Day History

Contrary to popular belief, Mother's Day was not conceived and fine-tuned in the boardroom of Hallmark. The earliest tributes to mothers date back to the annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to Rhea, the mother of many deities, and to the offerings ancient Romans made to their Great Mother of Gods, Cybele. Christians celebrated this festival on the fourth Sunday in Lent in honor of Mary, mother of Christ. In England this holiday was expanded to include all mothers and was called Mothering Sunday.

MAY 2, 2013: The Merry Month of May

LILY OF THE VALLEY, Hawthorne or Lily

  May 2013 Calendar

Events in May

May Birthstones

The wonderful green color of emerald is unparalleled in the gem kingdom. Emerald's precious green color is caused by small amounts of chromium and enhanced by traces of iron. Unlike other beryls, emeralds usually contain inclusions and other flaws. These flaws are not looked on as negative aspects for emerald like they would be for other gemstones. Indeed, these flaws are considered part of the character of the stone and are used to assure the purchaser of a natural stone.

Meaning and Symbolism of the Emerald:
Loyalty, faithfulness and friendship
Memory, clairvoyance and faith

  This day in history....

In the merry month of May

Flying Folk Army
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III

May Day

MAY 1:  Imagine living in a village surrounded by meadows. On the first of May, the girls wake at dawn to gather wildflowers in baskets to be left on doorsteps, and the boys create all sorts of mischief to disguise their awkwardness as bashful suitors. The day culminates in ritual dancing around a maypole to acknowledge and tame the high spirits brought on by the perfumed air warmed by the sun's new brightness. May Day celebrations seem to stretch back forever in time...  read more here Martha Stewart Living, May 2001

Beltane...may day 1st May...

Kate Braun : Beltane Seasonal Message

Traditional English May Day celebrations include Morris dancing, crowning a May Queen and dancing around a Maypole.