Skip to main content

St. Patricks MONTH (yes, it has already started for me)

By
St. Patrick's Day is one of my favorite holidays. Some people would find that strange, due to St. Patricks Days association with people claiming what shred of an Irish heritage they can, kissing or pinching people, green beer (really, that has to take SO much dye. Gross) and public forgiveness for being drunk.

Those things are not really me. I do have a shred of Irish heritage, along with lots of other nationalities. I only kiss people in my family and the same is mostly true for pinching. I am not a fan of green beer or drunkenness (though it may be entertaining to watch at some sporting events.)

I like St Patrick's Day better than Valentine's Day (lucky husband), better than 4th of July (totally not because I am unpatriotic), and better than my birthday (which often falls on Labor Day). I would be tempted to say more than Thanksgiving or Christmas, but I have too much great family time at those, I actually enjoy being thankful, and well, Jesus is the reason for the season.

Some people would find my obsession strange, but let me explain.

This is how I feel about Ireland. This little boy and I, kindred spirits.
I have been blessed to be in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland on several occasions, and so a part of my story is based there. The above picture is in Northern Ireland, in a small quite valley, not far from where I lived.
It truly is an Emerald Isle. This was taken as I was driving with friends up the North Coast. The colors are so brilliant and vibrant, that it takes your breath away.
Yeah, I enjoyed my time living there immensely and most of all, I loved the people.
Each year, I find new ways to pay tribute to the time I was there. Generally it involves grabbing my recipes that I got from Heather and Allen, concocting a feast and watching some favorite old movie or another. I often get out my pictures and remember my friends: Ewelina (whose birthday is St Patricks Day!), Cynthia, Richie, Jane, Claire, Ben, Emma, Martina, Stefanie... I could go on.
I also think of my friends in college, who put up with me making an Irish feast and eating with me each year. I even took a whole group back with me around St Patrick's Day for a wonderful week serving at Murlough House. (If you ever want to do mission work in Northern Ireland, let me know!)
I always make Blarney Stones from my Grandma's recipe and send out St Patricks Day cards to my family. For me, it is a deeply personal holiday that resounds with love and laughter.

This year, I wanted to bring a more vintage feel to my St. Patrick decor. And yes, I started celebrating and decorating the day after Valentine's Day. So, I got some pictures of vintage St. Patricks Day postcards and reprinted them on card stock. I changed the images size so I could have some little and some rather laarge ones.
I pinned four of them to my wreath on my door and the other two went elsewhere.
Its the little things that bring you joy, invoking memories of drinking tea in a small flat above my room at Murlough House, looking for the Green Box that my grandparents always hid for us, and soaking up the sunshine or the rain as it fell on the fields in the reserve in Dundrum.
Labels:

Comments

Parson's Wife said…
Sniff, sniff, you are making me homesick for the "auld sod..."
Tooralooraloora that's an Irish lullaby. Pass the green hanky. Mom
February 27, 2012 at 9:12 AM
C said…
Och, aye, I would agree, so I would...youse are tugging at me wee heart strings...but quite honestly? I feel this way, too (could be why I found in you a kindred spirit?! =) and I'm privileged enough that God brought me here and made it 'me' home, so I am! Have I ever told you how much I miss you?...tis true, tis true!
February 27, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Simple Truth Organic Thin & Crispy Vegan Crust & Pizza Sauce

By
We were sent samples of Simple Truth Organic Thin & Crispy Vegan Pizza Crust & Pizza Sauce.  We rounded out our samples with Kroger Pizza Blend Cheese, Kroger Pepperoni and Kroger Bella Mushrooms.  What can I say - we're a Kroger loving family! My little helper loved spreading the sauce and then all the ingredients.  I'm not sure all the cheese made it on the pizzas! Overall, this was good, but I'm not sure we'll purchase the crust again.  The "vegan" part didn't affect the taste as far as I could tell.  I LOVED that the crust was crispy (like a cracker almost), but where the toppings were it was a wee bit softer.  The texture was a+.  I felt like the crust had zero taste.  I did, however, enjoy the taste of the sauce.  I don't like my pizza sauce overly spicy or sweet and this one fit the bill - this we will purchase again. Can’t top the great taste of this #SimpleTruthOrganic Vegan pizza crust! #MyMagaz...
Post a Comment
Read more

Robin's Egg Blue

By
What color is more vibrant, calming, and fun all mixed into one? For me, it is a bright robin's egg blue. It can be a statement color, and accent color, or whatever you want it to be. I have to give my boy the credit for finding this chest sometime last year. I apologize I didnt really get a "before" picture. The chest was painted brown. Why you would ever really paint wood brown, is beyond me. Especially this chest. It is a cedar chest, smells wonderful and has beautiful, rich natural wood. I sanded this one down, because I wanted to salvage the beauty. However, even then, the brown paint remained in the carvings on the front and in the grooves of the legs. I would have saved that beautiful wood too, but you already know I did not. Why did I not, you may ask? (Especially when I keep going on and on and on about the wood...) Because of this. The top. Sigh . The pictures dont really do it justice, but there are grooves going opposite the grain, making it look scratched. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

What's Cookin Wednesday - Sweet Potato & pinto bean tacos

By
SWEET POTATO AND PINTO BEAN TACOS adapted from thugkitchen.com ....but there is offensive language on the site (and in the recipes) - so you've been warned! 3 cups of cooked pinto beans (about 2-15 ounce cans) 1 teaspoons of coconut or olive oil (Olive oil is what I had) ½ cup veggie broth or water (water....) 2 teaspoons smoked paprika or chili powder (I went chili powder) 2 teaspoons blackstrap molasses (I used what I had in the cabinet) 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (I have both of these at home usually, went with lemon juice this time around) 2-3 garlic cloves 1 pound of sweet potatoes (this should be about 2 cups when you chop it all up) ½ of a yellow onion 1 teaspoon coconut or olive oil salt to taste soft corn tortillas standard taco toppings that you like to add. Warm the first teaspoon of oil in a medium pot. Add the beans, water, chili powder, molasses, vinegar, and garlic. Get it to start bubbling slowly for about 5 m...
Post a Comment
Read more