Late Irish Blessings to You

It is late on Thursday, March 17....St. Patrick's Day, that I finally have a few moments to finish a post I started earlier in the day.  It has been a pleasant and productive day at work.  After having been in my new job for a month now, I am feeling like one of the family.  This feels good.  And so....I will continue with my post....

With a maiden name of Schmitz, not many would ever know I have Irish blood in me.  I am proud to say that I do though.  Actually, more than I thought.  With a paternal grandmother whose name was Marie Madeline McQuillen, there is no denying it.  She was born in Canada, but her father and grandfather, both named Mathew McQuillen, were born in Ireland.  Even with my Ancestry.com research, I know not where in Ireland.  But I recently learned that my mother's kin...the Davis', were Irish too.  We always thought they were English.  So more Irish blood....  With green eyes and natural blond hair (at least it used to be) and fair to medium skin, I would appear to lean towards the Irish. (And a sweet granddaughter with big blue eyes and red hair!) That pleases me.  As proud as I am to call myself as one with Irish decent, I know the Irish were not looked upon too highly when they first came to America.  I will have to brush up on some historical facts before I misquote myself, but that does sadden me.  However, today I have enjoyed perusing some Irish blessings, toasts, sayings....  Here are a couple that I am particularly fond of:

Like the warmth of the sun

And the light of the day,

May the luck of the Irish

shine bright on your way.

and then there is...

May joy and peace surround you,

Contentment latch your door,

And happiness be with you now

And bless you evermore.

I know many are familiar with the "May the road rise up to meet you" blessing.  I enjoyed reading many others.  As the Irish have a history of being happy and mischievous, and sometimes inebriated....here is toast I thought was funny:

Here's to our wives and girlfriends:  May they never meet!

My work week is over.  It is Spring Break for our school district, so the 12-month employees work four 10-hour days.  Coupled with daylight savings time....it was torturous.  I'm glad to see the week come to a close. 

My mother is traveling from Georgia tomorrow (Friday) for a visit.  I am looking forward to seeing her.  She will enjoy seeing her great-granddaughter walking and talking up a storm!

I will start on a dresser that I am refinishing/painting for a friend.  I wish I could work as fast as Miss Mustard Seed, but I don't.  I know I take more time than is needed, but it is a labor of love. I will take pictures along the way to share. (She has finally revealed the secret paint....click the link to learn more.)

I got my Country Homes and Gardens magazine in the mail today.  I have been non-renewing all my magazines this year....boo hoo, but it is time to scale back financially and spatially.  However, I will renew this magazine as I love it so.  It only comes a few times a year.  I am enjoying a beautiful article on Tovah Martin and her Connecticut garden.  She lives in a converted barn!  How cool is that? It has low ceilings and windows that do not pose a problem for her as she is under 5 feet tall.  I did not know that.  And....she only gardens in vintage dresses and owns no jeans.  I like it!  Anyone who truly stays true to his or her own style appeals to me greatly. 

I invite you to enjoy the journey of one of my favorite blogs:  Stories from home by David Patterson.  He and his eldest son are in Ireland at this very moment....his original homeland....for St. Patty's Day.  He is an incredible photographer who lives with his family in Maine and the pictures coming from this trip so far are fabulous.  Please stop by and follow his journey.  You will not be disappointed.

I wish you all a wonderful night....be it with green beer (not for me, personally), corn beef and cabbage (again, no thank you), or just a quiet evening at the end of a long week.  I say to you....Erin go Bragh.  One interpretation of that phrase is "May I go back to Ireland forever."  

May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day.

May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.

May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue,

And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.   

P.S.  I am finally getting this post out as my computer kept losing its connection last night.  Talk about frustrating!!  I know we've all been there.  Happy Friday!!