Top o’ the mornin’ to ye!
Do you have any St Patrick’s Day memories?
In grade school, my teachers were nuns and many of them were Irish.
They loved to say that there were two kinds of people in the world:
The Irish,
and those who wished they were Irish. 😉
Now I’ll grant you those nuns may have been exaggerating, but it does seem as if everyone enjoys the March 17th festivities, or at least tolerates them! The Irish are known for having a fierce pride in their heritage. My grandmother was born in Ireland so we always made sure to wear something green on St Patty’s Day. When my girls were little, I would tie green bows in their hair.
Boston, Massachusetts, where I grew up, has a large Irish population. Every year there’s a big parade on March 17th. I can remember many times it fell on a cold, damp day that made us feel sorry for both the marchers and the spectators. The mood was quite merry, though, regardless of the weather!
There’s something about St Patrick’s Day that reminds me just how much I miss my Irish grandmother. I miss HER Irish Bread, which she made year round! I make it now but hers was the ultimate. She also made the most delicious lamb stew. I’d give anything for just one more bowl of that right now. When I was a kid, she lived with us for a while after my grandfather died. I’d often be with her when she was cooking or sewing. In the middle of our regular conversations, she would stop and say little things that taught me how to do what she was doing.
For example, we’d be chatting about a TV show as she was making dinner and suddenly she’d say: “Now see, when you are preparing the vegetables, just cut them in pieces of this size and they’ll cook quickly.” Sometimes, I can still hear her voice today, when I’m sewing or making a meal.
You all know this blessing but it was her favorite and so it became mine as well . . .
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rains fall softly on your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
And I’ll leave you with a more recent Irish “toast” that always makes me giggle.
“May those who love us, love us.
And those who don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn’t turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we’ll know them by their limping.”
Wishing you the luck of the Irish today! //(-_-)\\
Hugs,
Happy St. Pat’s Day, everyone!!
In St. Louis there is the big St. Pat parade that happens on the Saturday before the actual day. Then there is the real parade on the 17th that the Ancient Order of Hibernians’ host. This parade takes place in a neighborhood of St. Louis known as Dogtown. If you pay $5 (which goes to a local rescue group) you can walk your dog as part of the dogs of dogtown group. I have done this in the past and my dog becomes a Mal O’ Mute that day.
I also decorate for the holiday. My kitchen table has green placemats and napkins along with shamrock napkin rings. I have a stuffed hersheys kiss that wears a green crown and becomes an Irish kiss that sits on a small Irish quilt. Milele is sporting her lucky dog collar with the celtic cross and Kouga will wear his green bowtie.
I have a shamrock lucky dog pin that I wear.
Besides St. Pat’s Day the celebrations include:
Corned Beef And Cabbage Day (I’m lrish but I cannot eat this)
Submarine Day – the hero sandwich or the boat??
Happy Day!!
Well, I’m not Irish, but as you would guess, living in the near vicinity of Notre Dame, everyone in this area is either Irish or Irish for the day!
I went to Catholic school too, and if you didn’t wear green on St. Pat’s Day, you can bet you would be black and blue by the end of the day for all the pinches you would get. Since I am not a fan of wearing green, I always made sure I wore a shamerock pin, which I will wear today!
Have a great day….65 degrees in the forecast for 4 this afternoon. Finally!!
xx, Carol
I’m back.
I have just a little comment to make, addressed to all of you that visit Crissie’s blog everyday.
We are a nice little group and commenting here, and coming back to read each others comments has a different feel than any other blog I visit. Crissie, you make this a special place for each of us to speak to each other, and not just a comment about what ever your topic of the day is.
And Kellie, I’m pretty sure at my house its sub SANDWICH day, which sounds like a great thing to have for supper tonight. Thanks for suggesting it ~lol~
Tata again 🙂
Oh Kelly, the Mal O’Mute is hysterical!
I lived in St. Louis growing up & fondly remember the parade. Such fun, everyone went all out!
It is not such a big deal here in Memphis. (Here it just seems like a good excuse for people to drink)
My husband’s family is Irish, though, which is why Robert’s middle name is Patrick!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone! Wear green today so you don’t get pinched!
Carol,
Thank you so much for pointing out something I love about this blog! It’s really fun for me to know that we are . . . well … “a blog family”! 🙂
We want to know what the others think and what’s new with them. By the way, Clenna is away visiting family in TN where it’s spring-like now. Lucky girl!
xo Crystal
Happy St Patty’s Day!
I wore a green shirt today not even realizing that it was St Patrick’s Day because we had festivities last weekend, such as a big local parade, painting the green line down the street, and welcoming in the green beer truck. Sad to say, my biggest memory is the green shamrock shakes at McDonald’s and making shamrock crafts in elementary school.
lol….Mal O’ Mute is so cute!
I had forgotten about those Shamrock shakes!!
Do they still do them?
Hi Allison,
I was wondering the same thing! 🙂
St Pat’s Day has always been special in my house. My second child was born on St Pat’s Day. So we always decorate and have a great time. When the doctor delivered Eric, he sang When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. I loved it. When I came home from the hospital, the weather was starting to get green and warm. I thought it was for me and my new baby.
So I am now visiting that son and his family. It is lovely in TN – low 80 today, very green, cherry blossoms are blooming, birds are singing everywhere. It feels wonderful to be here. Would you believe people are mowing, trimming their shrubs and trees, planting and fertilizing.
Oh I forgot to say – I agree with Carol – this blog is so comforting. It is definitely my blog family.