Baked Beans

School lunch menus for the week of Monday, Jan. 7, through Friday, Jan. 11: Washington County Monday - Hot dog on bun or steak-and-cheese sub, baked beans, fresh vegetables with dip and mandarin oranges. Secondary also may choose chili. Tuesday - Chicken nuggets with mini biscuit or tuna salad sandwich, mashed potatoes and gravy, peas and pineapple chunks. Secondary also may choose cream of broccoli soup. Wednesday - Lasagna with meat sauce and Texas toast or beef ravioli with roll, salad, whipped sherbet and pears.

Jan. 2 to Jan. 8 The Washington County Commission on Aging offers noon lunches to anyone 60 years and older at seven locations - Hancock, Smithsburg, Keedysville, Williamsport and three in Hagerstown. A two-day reservation notice is required and a donation is asked per meal. For information, call 301-790-0275. Weekly menu Wednesday - Pepperoni pizza, cooked spinach, applesauce and milk. Thursday - Steamer, vegetable noodle soup, marinated black-bean salad, peaches and milk.

"Wake up, we're here," nudged my husband, Bill, jolting me out of a peaceful slumber. I peeked out the tiny window, at first not realizing I was in an Aer Lingus jet high above the Atlantic. There, in the black expanse below, twinkled the island I'd been longing to see. "A land of leprechauns, legends, and castles," I excitedly told Sophie and Grace, my 7- and 10-year-old daughters. They call it Erin in the old language. We know it as Ireland. After landing in Dublin, the five of us, including Bill's mother, Mary, began our three-week adventure in a silver Volkswagen, just as the sun was beginning to rise.