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

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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.
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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
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