Category / Uncategorized

by shannonchance

Christmas Presence

We’re never in a hurry to open gifts when we’re at Mom’s for Christmas.  Gifts just aren’t the focus of our gathering.  This year, we waited until today, December 27, to make our exchanges.

We had a lot of fun, nonetheless.  The pictures look much like the past five years (the same five characters, the same house).  This year, we’re just a bit older and, hopefully, wiser.  You’ll see from my photos that the gifts we give tend to be practical, educational, or cultural….

An ornament I brought Mom from Ireland.
Heather went to Rome and found this ornament for me…
…in the shop where I’d taken the picture behind me in this February 2012 gallery show.
Heather opening a package.
I received many books on teaching/learning and Ireland.
Dave got a book about modern Irish architecture.
Heather with wood carving. (Several years ago, Heather and Leslie were cultural envoys to Zimbabwe.)
Leslie gave many heartfelt gifts, cultural treasures he’s collected during his life.
Heather’s new boots. She really needs these for living in NYC.
Mom received an amazing cotton-picking doll from Leslie. She was deeply touched.
I got a quilter doll, significant to me because Ma quilted and several of my students have studied the connections between quilting and African-American architecture.
Heather Massie and Leslie Lee.
Candle holder from Esther and the rest of the Sterchi family.
Curious kitties!
by shannonchance

Heather’s Day-After-Christmas Feast

Heather spent hours and hours preparing a day-after-Christmas feast.  She made traditional fixings, as well as special vegetarian dishes for herself, and gluten-and-everything-else free dishes for me.  (I got a food allergy test done December 6, and the results have been a real downer for my Christmas meals.)

Christmas feast created by Heather.
Heather’s Tofurkey postcard.
Allergy food test — December reactions.
Allergy food test key.
by shannonchance

Irish Lore on the Blue Ridge

Mike Heivly's studio in Charlottesville, Virginia, filled with the essence of Ireland.

Mike Heivly, Kevin Donleavy, and Dave Chance at Mike’s art studio in Charlottesville, Virginia — filled with the essence of Ireland.

The fragile gift bag I toted from Ireland sheltered two vinyl records by Jerry Crilly’s old band, Rakish Paddy.  Jerry sent one home as a gift for me and the other for his friend Kevin Donleavy, who we managed to locate in mid-November.

This vinyl record is a collector’s item, Kevin tells me.  He played the CD version on his radio show a few weeks back.

Incidentally, he has a new show airing this Saturday, December 29 on the UVA radio station.  Click here for directions on how to listen online.

The vinyl records were both a heartfelt gift from Jerry and a plausible excuse for me to find Kevin — who, I’d informed Jerry, Dave and I would be driving right past on our holiday trek across Virginia.

We met Kevin at his colleague’s studio in Charlottesville.  Mike Heivly has filled the studio, located in a church’s unused classroom, with fascinating poems and images of Ireland.

Mike is as enamored with Irish lore as the rest of us, as you can see by the images of his work.

It turns out, Kevin has enlisted Mike to help with documenting the railway in Charlottesville that was built in the 1850s by about 2,100 Irish and 90 slaves.  A full account is posted by The Blue Ridge Railway Project (at www.clannmhor.org), which explains “Clann Mhór – which in Gaelic means the Great Family – wishes to honor the history of these forgotten railroad workers.”

Mike also has beautiful images of Newgrange and the famine village near Dingle town.

Mike Heivly’s Newgrange series.
Irish musician and historian Kevin Donleavy.
Mike Heivly’s photos of the local railway tunnel that Kevin is working to have formally recognized for its historic significance.
Mike Heivly’s photographs from the famine village near Dingle, Ireland.

Although Dave and I were instrumental in re-connecting Jerry and Kevin, it turns out that Kevin himself is a master at connecting people. Particularly around subjects of Ireland.  Here’s an email I received from Kevin after our visit:

Hiya, Shannon agus Dave,

That was a pleasant enough event at Mike’s studio Saturday.  You two seemed to enjoy it, too.  Pretty neat projects that Mike gets into.
Thanks for bringing the 33 lp of the Rakes.  Very kind of you to drag it across the western ocean. Lovely songs on it, just as I had dimly recalled.
Am including some info about Iroid sculptor Mark Connelley. Hope his work interests yiz and catches your eyes. Strange, isn’t it, that everybody who goes to Ireland gets caught up in aspects of its culture ? Mirabile dictu, and that ! (Did you know I taught h.s. Latin for years ?)
 
All the best, Kevin

Dear Kevin,

 
I am happy to have made a connection with you.  While I hope that a variety of people like my work, I particularly want to make an impression on folks of Irish influence. Much of my work is inspired by the many ancient treasures found in that part of the world. There are some who feel the same connection that I do to this culture, and it is always comforting to hear from them.
 
The best way to learn about my work is through my website: http://macworks-art.com/. I have images up of most of my work with stories of how each piece was influenced. You can also follow my business page on Facebook (click the ‘F’ below.) I post images there of installations like the one in Charlottesville. I also post discussions and images of other artwork.
 
I look forward to browsing your links and learning more about your group. I am a big fan too of traditional music. Our local radio station, WNCW, has a show on Saturdays named ‘Celtic Winds.’ They do a fair job, but it consists of too many reels for my wife’s taste. I disagree, but that is the joy of music.
 
Thanks again for contacting me. I look forward to meeting you in person sometime too.
 
All the best,
 
Mark
 
 
 

MARK A. CONNELLEY

macworks_logoemail.jpg

Sculpture & Landscape Art | 828.384.8318 | macworks-art.com

fb.pngli.png

On Nov 7, 2012, at 8:22 PM, KEVIN DONLEAVY wrote:
Hi, Mark,

 
Was driving in the Emmet Street neighborhood here in Charlottesville the other day and saw your sculpture of  The Storyteller. Very nice work, and in an a propos siting, too, since the street is named after heroic Robert Emmet’s nephew:  John Patten Emmet was chosen by Thomas Jefferson to be on the initial faculty of the new U. Va. in the 1820s. 
 
Several of us will help spread the word about your sculpture within the Irish mini-community here. There is BRIMS, the Blue Ridge Irish Music School;  you can google them.  I myself do a regular program of Irish trad music on-line and FM on WTJU.org  here  (next show is Sat., Dec.1, from 10 am till 12 noon).  Have a gander at our website, www.clannmhor.org, where our collective is documenting the 2,100 or so Irish and the 90 slaves who built the railway here in the 1850s.  
 
Why don’t you e-mail and tell me more about your ogham-sculpture and other efforts, which will give us some background to this work of yours.  If you are ever in Cville, especially on a first Sat any month, I can have you chat on the radio program.  How’s that ?
 
Hope to hear from you,
Kevin
by shannonchance

Dashing from Mennonite to Amish Country

The Christmas trek Dave and I make each year includes Harrisonburg (VA), Middletown (PA), and Salisbury (MD).  The drive from our home in the flatlands of Portsmouth (VA) to the mountains of Virginia something I anticipate with enthusiasm.  We usually experience snowflakes at points during our trip and we often get to see horses drawing Mennonite and Amish carriages along the way.  My aunt Kitty Lee lives in Mennonite country and my mom lives in Amish country.

Arriving in the foothills of Virginia.
I always love the first glimpse of Virginia’s mountains on Interstate 64.
Headed up Afton Mountain.
Sunset off I64.
Almost to the top of Afton Mountain.
Arriving in the Shenandoah Valley. Almost to Harrisonburg on Interstate 81. This is Mennonite country.
Between the Laymans’ and Mom’s we pass through northern Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. I thought this was “THE” Woodstock, but the McClures, upon reading my error, sent a text to let me know THE big music event happened in New York, not Virginia. (I learn something every day!)
Arriving near Mom’s house we love to see The Star Barn.
On December 24 we had to sail past it….
…so we could get to our favorite market in Lancaster before it closed for Christmas.
The anticipation of seeing our favorite cheesemonger!
Dave at Mandros.
Lovely downtown Lancaster…
…in Pennsylvania’s Amish country.
by shannonchance

Remembering Lillian

Last Christmas with Ma.

Last Christmas with Ma.

My grandmother, Lillian Forsythe Massie (aka, Ma) always loved Christmas and made sure that it was a special day for everyone in her family.  She’d plan all year.

This is our first Christmas without her (we lost her on January 26, 2012).

This is the last photo Dave took of Ma.  May she rest in peace.

by shannonchance

Another Norman Rockwell Christmas at Kitty Lee and Glen’s

Introducing my Massie grandparents — Layton (Pa) and Lillian (Ma) Massie.  They are my Dad’s parents, and they used to live in Staunton, Virginia.

Layton McCarthy and Lillian Forsythe Massie.
Heather with Lillian (Ma) and Layton (Pa) Massie.
Amanda and Lilli with Lillian Massie a couple years ago.

Although Ma and Pa are no longer with us, most of their kids and grandkids (as well as their great grand kids and their great great grandkid) gather at my aunt Kitty Lee’s home each year to celebrate Christmas.

I enjoy this outing and the chance to catch up with Kitty Lee and Glen (who live in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley), as well as my Dad and the rest of the Massie tribe.

This is the way we’ve celebrated Massie Christmas since the mid-90s.  Before that, we’d all gather at my grandparents’ cozy bungalow at 414 High Street in downtown Staunton, Virginia.

The pictures below were taken December 22-24, 2012.

Arriving at Kitty Lee and Glen’s house for Massie Christmas.
Kitty Lee and Glen Layman at home in Harrisonburg.
Kitty Lee always decorates so beautifully for the holiday.
Dave playing with Kitty’s cat, Whitney.
Kitty Lee’s most recent needle point project (one of two angles shown here).
Enjoying the Layman sunroom (that I helped design many moons ago).
A view of the Shenandoah Valley on a clear day…
…and then the snow rolled in.
And the hills and silos were shrouded by snowflakes.
Kitty watching the snow start to fall.
Massie family dinner. Thanks Dad, Kitty Lee, and Glen for hosting dinner.
The kids aren’t so little any more.
Michelle, Kitty Lee, and Dave looking over my grandparents’ high school yearbooks.
Pa was in the drama club…
…and on the baseball team…
…and on the basketball team too!
Dad and Kitty Lee trying to find their parents’ photos.
Kitty Lee Layman, Buddy Deaton, Heather Massie, and Maureen Deaton.
My cousin Michelle and her daughter Ryleigh.
Ryleigh and Michelle admiring ornaments that record our family history.
Lilli keeps us all in stitches.
Amanda (Lilli’s mom) and her sisters Chelsea and Kaitlin.
Exchanging Christmas gifts with Dad.
Birds enjoying the snow, including a cardinal (the Virginia state bird).

by shannonchance

Christmas Day

We’re enjoying Christmas day at my Mom’s home in Middletown, Pennsylvania, as is our annual tradition.

Here’s wishing you and yours a day full of peace and love!  From Heather, Leslie, Cynthia, Dave, and Shannon.

Christmas breakfast with my sister Heather, friend Leslie Lee, mom Cynthia, and husband Dave.
Mary and Tim Bigelow came to visit during breakfast. Haven’t seen them since October in Dublin.
The famous playwright, Leslie Lee, who recently retired from teaching screen writing at NYU.
Dave catching up on the news.
by shannonchance

You Must Have Had Your Weetabix!

Have you had your Weetabix?

Have you had your Weetabix?

I felt like a reindeer just before dawn on December 15, as I dragged two overstuffed suitcases, a backpack, and a fragile gift bag through the streets of Dublin.

I was headed for the 747 Air Link bus to Dublin Airport and Christmas was in the morning air.

A passing man remarked at the sight of my lanky frame tugging its equivalent weight in baggage:  “You must have had your Weetabix this morning!”

I nodded in agreement, though it took me a half-minute more to figure out what he’d actually said.  (At times, the accent still throws me off, and I’m not quite familiar with the Weetabix brand.)

Arriving home to the States, I found Weetabix in the cereal aisle of my local Harris Teeter.

Unfortunately, this cereal is chock full of wheat and gluten so it’s a total “no go” for me… but the sight of it still made me smile, thinking of my morning jaunt through Dublin and that friendly passer-by.

by shannonchance

Faculty Lunch Abroad

My last day in Dublin was filled with fun and with near misses.  (I tried to cram way too much into a single day and I ended up missing half of the events I’d planned to attend.)  A high point of the day was lunch with the faculty of Electrical Engineering Systems (EES).

At lunch, I got to joke around with people I had met throughout the fall (like Dave Berber, Colm Murray, Gavin, Kevin, Finn, Dave Dorran…).  I also met Mick Core for the first time, which was a treat.  He came to teaching after working in industry for decades, where he had 400 employees to supervise, so we had fun discussing organizational leadership in relation to college campuses.

I’ve no pictures from the pub where we went after lunch.  But I assure you, we had great fun!  I became too engrossed in conversation with Ted Burke to remember to document the event photographically — before dashing off to an Embassy party that I never found.

I’ve included photos of lunch, though.  You can’t miss noticing the demographics of this group are much different from my department back home!

This is the Kevin Street campus of DIT, which houses Electrical Engineering Systems (EES), among other programs. You’ve seen the glass penthouse in earlier posts.
EES gift exchange…
…in full swing. (Boy is Kevin curious about the manly gift Dave received!!!!)
Colm Murray lucked out with this gag gift.
Colm Murray, Dave Berber, Mick Core, Shannon Chance, and Gavin Duffy.
by shannonchance

Chili with Duane and Kitty Kat

Chili with Dave and Duane last Sunday.

Chili with Dave and Duane last Sunday.

Duane Wilson has been feeding Dave and me for the past 13+ years.  Duane was president of the Port Norfolk Civic League when we move to the neighborhood.  There weren’t many others willing to take office at that time; he clearly needed some help.

I was immediately drafted to serve as recording secretary and corresponding secretary (little did I know, these were two distinct and labor-intensive jobs). Duane was thrilled to have help and he has thanked us hundredfold over the years.

He lives just three blocks from our home and he phones us at least once a week with an invitation to head to his house for dinner.  Dave and I have learned to anticipate a call on Sunday night, when Duane is prone to be “cleaning out” his refrigerator.  He didn’t call this week, so we rang him and asked if he had any leftovers on… and by golly, he did!

He’s such a generous person that, in addition to feeding us, he has also:

  • Installed (with Dave and sometimes me) all four copper roofs on our house.
  • Let Dave paint the porch flooring in his garage.
  • Hosted our wedding shower at his house.
  • Taken us along to his daughter’s wedding (as his date — hee, hee!)
  • Thrown my 40th birthday party at his house.
  • Introduced us to dozens of his friends over the years.

Duane and I have learned yoga and opera-appreciation together. Our attendance at the opera is due to his girlfriend Julie; we all enjoy our time with the opera crowd.

It’s wonderful to have Duane, Julie, his Kitty Kat — and others from his group like Ann, Clara and Jimmy, Ken and Sally, Eric and Ann — to count among our friends.

My view from aside the fireplace at Duane’s house.
Dave chatting with Duane and Kitty Kat.
Ms. Kitty checked me out…
…and decided I was still okay!