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!!

Thanks for Giving....

....me such joy....such Joie de vivre.

**A poem for you.**

Nature XXVII, Autumn

The morns are meeker than they were,

The nuts are getting brown;

The berry's cheek is plumper,

The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,

The field a scarlet gown.

Lest I should be old-fashioned,

I'll put a trinket on.

~Emily Dickinson

Yes...I got a trinket to wear tomorrow to dinner at my brother's.  (Emily said I must.)  I debated all day whether to shop for a Fall-colored outfit of some sort.  However, I have a new lightweight sweater in that very popular color that I call "blush"....you know, not really pink, not really beige.  I really like it.  I scored a lovely trinket at Anthropologie today to wear with that sweater.  In the grand scheme of things, it was not a major bargain.  It was an Anthro bargain, however. 

Isn't she lovely?  The blush beads coupled with
two sizes of clear beads.  Ooh la la!!

Do you love the fabric pouch she was put in?
Simple drawstring with snappy cotton fabric.
Love it!

All their jewelry hung from these simple tags with ribbon loops.

The best part....ON SALE!!
(Not the Made in China part.)

Are these exclusive to Publix?
Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim salt and pepper shakers.
I have a "thing" for salt and pepper shakers.
I didn't realize it until I counted them one day.

Another set...



One of several little Autumn vignettes with another s/p
set.  All will get put away Friday when I start on the
Christmas decor.

Tomorrow we will enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving dinner at my brother's new home.  We will make our rounds to other family homes as well.  I pray you all will enjoy a most special day with whomever you choose to spend it.  Families come in all shapes and sizes, and consist of friends as well.  Enjoy a blessed day.

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare.  They are consumed in twelve minutes.  Half-times take twelve minutes.  This is not coinsidence.  ~Erma Bombeck

(Wasn't she wonderful??)

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.  But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.  ~Robert Frost  (One of my favorite quotes by one of my favorite writers.)

And finally, as I write this, I am wearing my new trinket, paired with an old brown plaid flannel shirt.  One can never be over accessorized....right?

May Thanksgiving blessings abound to all! 

From Sea to Shining Sea

My husband and I had the honor of attending the most patriotic of events last night.  Lieutenant Joseph B. Abeyta of the United States Coast Guard (my husband's second cousin's husband, who we know as "Bert") took his first official post command at the Coast Guard Station in Miami Beach.  We were invited to attend his Change of Command ceremony.  Can you think of a more appropriate way to celebrate the 4th of July....Independence Day?  I thought it was perfect!

We arrived in Miami about an hour early and drove down by South Beach.  It was packed...no surprise for a holiday weekend.  The sights, as always, did not disappoint.  We rolled down the windows to take in all the music being played at the road-side restaurants.  Beautiful art deco designs were everywhere.  I hadn't been down there in a few years, so I whipped out the camera and played tourist.  Check out the pics.

Mango's is owned by Gloria Estefan and her husband.  It was jamming!

This was once a hotel.  Gianni Versace bought it and turned it into his home.  It is right on the main drag of  South Beach on Ocean Drive.  He was shot one morning, after having gone for his morning coffee, right on these front steps of his house. For a long time, the blood stains remained as a reminder.  So sad.  It is now owned by his sister, who has turned it back into a hotel.  It is really beautiful property.

I told you there were "sights" to be seen.

Wonder how they keep these hedges trimmed?

Art deco styling at its best.  Just beautiful.

~~~

Okay, time to get to the ceremony. I was awestruck!

That is Lieutenant Bert on the left.  We are under a large tent, it was raining, about 85 degrees, and very, very humid and sticky.  These gentlemen must have been baking in their dress whites, but they did not flinch.

After several speeches, Lieutenant Corbett (on the right) hands off command to Lieutenant Abeyta (on the left).  The official Change of Command.

These are just a few of the men and women who will serve under Bert.  These young people put their lives on the line for us by patrolling the waters off the coast of Florida protecting us from pirates (yes, they really exist), drug traffickers, and other illegals.  Other duties include monitoring controlled burns being used on NCIS Miami and Burn Notice, checking out every flare fired from the water (can you imagine how busy this weekend will be?), and every distress call in any kind of weather (even a hurricane).  This post is one of the busiest in the area as this is the waterway corridor often entered by boat people fleeing their homelands and drug traffickers. There was an "on duty" crew sitting in another area who were ready in a seconds notice if a call were to come in while the ceremony was going on.  I was half-wishing for something ever so minor to be called in just to watch them do their thing.  I was honored to be in the presence of these men and women who keep us safe.  We really will never know all that they do.  I'm proud of myself for not crying through the entire thing.  That is my usual reaction to being so close to such patriotism.  I'm a sap....what can I say?

A reception followed at the Miami Yacht Club.  This was the cake to honor the outgoing commanding officer.  At this point in the evening, our own Lieutenant Joseph B. Abeyta of the United States Coast Guard is in command!  We wish you a successful stay in charge of our shores.  We feel safer already!  Godspeed.

And certainly not to be forgotten....welcome back to Florida cousin Layla (Bert's wife), daughters Savannah and Madisen, and son Jackson.  We look forward to your presence at family events very soon.

Thank you forefathers and all the men and women who keep us independent every day. 

Enjoy a most special and wonderful Fourth of July!!