Still Life: The Color Of Hope

Springs Eternal

Everybody around here is getting pretty antsy for some spring like temperatures. We'd like a little more than just one day sandwiched in between never ending polar vortex stretches. It's been a long cold, snowy winter. Which we can usually handle when there are hopeful signs that spring will get here eventually. 

When I went to the store yesterday to get my ingredients for my St. Patrick's Day Shepperd's Pie, I spied what is a true harbinger of spring.  

Daffodils, in all their yellow glory.

We are far from daffodils in bloom here.  So, to be able to grab a bunch to brighten up your home gives you a tiny taste of spring, and confidence that it surely will arrive in the not so distant future (even if today's 26 degrees doesn't support the fact that it supposed to arrive this week!).

 In Ireland at this time of year, the daffodils are everywhere.

They're blooming in the parks..................

 
.............in the fields...............

..............in the middle of the highways............

.....in the middle of the 'roundabouts'.

Everywhere you look.................mass plantings of daffodils. As if a flower fairy sprinkled magic daffodil dust over everything.

It's a beautiful sight.

At least I can have a reminder of that beauty in my home for a the small price of $3.00.  A steal for a little hint of spring to brighten up these last days of winter that just won't seem to release their grip.

I forgot to tell you yesterday, our pal Lucan turned 14! He celebrated St. Patrick's Day and his birthday in grand style.

 

The neighborhoodlums came over for a little St. Patrick's Day cheer and Shepperd's Pie.  A good time had by one and all.

Busy with a ton of design work at the moment.  Doing my best to juggle like I've been on tour with the circus before.

What's happening in your world?

Ciao for now,

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day From Your Dublin Connection

Wishing I Was Here

{A repost from year's past this is as much applicable today as it was when I first posted}

St. Patrick's Day is a day of mixed emotions for us. We always have fun celebrating, but in our heart of hearts we wish were with our family and friends here:

James Toner's, Baggot Street

having one of these

if we could score the snug like we did two years ago, we'd be very happy

(as you can see by Gar's face)

and if we weren't there, then perhaps we'd be here at Connolly's aka The Sheds

(this was leah's first visit)

visiting with our family

or maybe walking along the river liffey

or we could be in Cork hanging with my bestie Tina

then again, we might be in Dublin at toddy's in the Gresham Hotel

or we might be enjoying the parade

of course, if Niall was cooking, we'd probably be here, in his and Caragh's kitchen

if the ferris wheel was up, we'd have to take a ride to see Dublin from above

we might take a walk up the Christ Church

of course, we've also been known to hang out in Fran & Fiona's kitchen

or maybe Gar and Gra would be cutting a rug at the Gardai Club

then again, we might just stay at James Toner with some of
our favorite people

or we might be in John and Angie's kitchen having a bit of a sing-song, but we'd all be quiet first and give  JenJen the floor (don't get dizzy from my video skills).

 

missing dublin (and cork) today, we'll do our best to muddle through

We had a St. Patrick's Day weekend filled with celebration.  Friday night Irish youtubing, singing a dancing. Followed by a visit to our favorite pub RiRa in Portsmouth on Saturday. The neighborhoodlums went up with us for the merriment and Sandee gets five gold stars for being the DD. We came back to the house to had a bit more of the craic ('good times', not the drug) with -  you guessed it- more youtube singing and jigging.  Yesterday our pal from Cork popped over and then we were off to my parents for a proper corned beef dinner and some irish music.  Today, I'll probably make a big shepard's pie and we'll enjoy even more Irish music and merriment (when our work is done~!).

That's it from St. Patrick's Day Central. Make it a good one!

Ciao for now and Slainte!

4 Favorite Finds

Etsy Style

I know what you're thinking..........you were able to come up with only four favorite finds? Talk about editing, right?

Trust me, my favorites folder is full of many, many, many more, but here's just four that are tickling my fancy on this Monday.

anchor earrings via rosesandruins; cardigan via subrosa123; mixed media art by rania hassan of shoofly; verdigris house via 2 of 2








How was your St. Patrick's Day weekend. Ours was grand.  Enjoyed some fun Irish music Friday night at home, then Saturday we met our friends the LaPointes at RiRa for a jar and a sing song.  Of course, being our usual boisterous selves, we made requests and sang along to everything.  Thank goodness, because the crowd was a bit quiet for St. Paddy's Weekend. The guys from the band thanked us from getting the rest of them going.  Dave the manager was quite sneaky and caught us on film rowdying up the place. Yes, we're the loud clapping table front and center. My back is to you (in brown vest), but Gar is in the Guinness cap.  We did have fun. And that's all that counts, right?  Thanks to RiRa and Oran Mor for good bit of Craic!

Yesterday we stayed close to home and celebrated with neighbor Tom followed by the obligatory Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner.  A great weekend all around.



Sunset Meadows

Ahhhhh. Always makes me feel good at the end of the day.

Enjoy your Monday. Back to work now, all of you!

Including me........

Ciao for now,