Monday Musings and Preparing For St. Patty's Day

Good morning! It's Monday! 😊

And what a beautiful Monday it is, too! Mostly sunny, windy, and 55 degrees! The tail end of last week's snow has completely disappeared and a high of 58 is expected. From here on out it look like smooth sailing with highs (most days anyway) in the 60's and 70's and lows in the 40's and 50's. Spring is definitely winning out as Old Man Winter slowly, but surely, loosens his frigid grip. 

To be honest this has been the longest, loneliest winter on record. (Not that there haven't been people around, because there has been. This is the kind of loneliness that prevails even if you're in a whole room FULL of people. There are no words to describe it.) Usually, I enjoy winter, but not this year. I'm so thankful that spring is on its way! I'm determined to enjoy each and every moment of it as I bask in its beauty and glory! 🌷

I've found that I've pulled in on so many fronts since my husband's death. In dealing with (and not dealing with, in some cases) my thoughts, feelings, and grief, I have built walls...some to protect myself; others to keep out what, up to now, I've been unable (or not known how) to deal with, but, little by little, I'm finding my way. I am determined that, no matter what it takes, I'm going to fight through the brokenness, the fear, and the grief, and, some way, some how, tear down walls and bust through to the other side of all that God has created me to be and do...period! I think that part of that process will take place through just being me and sharing myself...my thoughts and feelings...here, in my own arena, without guise nor pretense. My intentions are good at the moment. We'll see if I can stop flying by the seat of my pants now and actually settle myself down to do it. I appreciate those of you who stick with me no matter what. It means a lot. 

Okay...so here we are...the Monday before St. Patrick's Day! 

As most of you know, St. Patrick's Day has always been a special day for our family. It's a great day o' fun for the wee ones (young and old alike) and, generally, just a good overall excuse to call for a gatherin' o' the clan. We are celebrating this year tomorrow (on the 15th; I have to work the 17th).

We have always scheduled the event around Amanda's schedule. She and Aaron and Alysia, were supposed to arrive this evening, but, unfortunately, Aaron is not well, so they will be unable to attend. (Please pray over him. I just found out that they spent last evening in the ER.) The gatherin' o' the clan sure won't be the same without them and this is our first St. Patrick's Day without John. 💔

I love and miss you, my Darling! 💚

St. Patrick's Day 2021

Most of the clan had already come and gone last year

when our youngest son took this photo by doing a flyover

with his drone. I'm so thankful that he thought to do it.

Amber and I went shopping Saturday for the St. Patty's Day feast. I'm serving the same thing that I serve every year...corned beef and cabbage, baked potatoes, and Emerald Isle Cake. I purchased both deli corned beef and flat cut corned beef roasts (super nice and really lean). I cooked the roasts in the crockpot yesterday, then cooled and sliced them last night. I'm preparing to bake the cakes this afternoon and will bake the potatoes and cook the cabbage in the morning. I am greatly looking forward to having the children and grands here, even if some of them can only come for a short time. 

Well, it's almost lunch time. I guess I better stop for now and get busy. It's been good to sit down and visit with you this morning! You have a great day and I'll be with you again soon!

Until next time...

~Rebecca

Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...

Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - March 14, 2022 - The Sunday Night Edition

Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - February 21, 2022

Getting Ready For Gardening Season

Master To Do List and Menu Plan Monday - March 22, 2021

Happy St. Patrick's Day! (2020)

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

WARNING!!! This post is full o' blarney (as is the one writing it). To be fully appreciated, this post must be read in its entirety with a full Irish brogue. Otherwise it might lose some of it's flavor. 

Are ye ready? 

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

Top o' the mornin' to ye (although be it tis really afternoon)! Tis a fine St. Patrick's Day I'll be a wishin' ye fer sure!

Sadly, our annual St. Patty's Day gatherin' o' the clan is off this year. Tis a good thing that I'm easily entertained, because I'm havin' barrels o' fun all by meself! Although, I've had a bit o' fun from others, as well.

First thing this mornin' I awoke te a message from me weest daughter. She says...

"Top of the morning And good health To ya on this Corona virus Filled Saint Patty's day morn. May you avoid the gallows, escape the stress, and be as healthy as a trout. If God sends you down a stony path, may he also give you strong shoes. And I pray that at the end of the weary day when ye lay your head to rest that the leprechauns dance over your bed and bring ye the sweetest of dreams."

Now tisn't that a fine St. Patty's Day blessin' if ever I heard one te be sure! 

This comes from the same lass who presented me with a title certificate of ownership te land in Ireland back in 2016. And tis not blarney! I legally own a one square-foot piece of property in County Roscommon, Ireland. Tis that not somethin'? Whoever would have thought of sech a thing? 

Next, twas a gift from me dearest one...my darlin' one (that twould be me husband fer them that don't know better)... 

...a sweet card and seeds fer growin' me own shamrocks! What a blessin'! I do so love the wee shamrocks, I do! 🍀

At present there's a fine corned beef a roastin' on the spit (that would be in the slow cooker) and twill be that served with cabbage and pratties a plenty on the supper-table t'night. 

I'm practicin' the wearin' o' the green by wearing this lovely bracelet...

...another gift from me darlin' one a few years back.

Tonight we'll most likely round the day out by watching The Quiet Man with John Wayne and Maureen O' Hara...

...or maybe Darby O'Gill and the Little People with Janet Munroe and a very young Sean Connery...

...and I hope te catch a bit o' The Torchlighters Heroes of the Faith episode on St. Patrick 'imself (twill be borrowin' that from me fine, young grandchildren).

I twill also be sharin' The Real Story of St. Patrick's Day with ye from The Voice of the Martyrs. Te read that click HERE.

Other than that...I guess that twill be all of the celebratin' we'll be afforded here this year. I do have treats for the grandchildren...

... tiny black kettles filled with leprechaun treasure and gold. I twill attempt te get those te them sometime this week. 

Well, I suppose that's it! I do hope that this post has served as a bit o' distraction from the seriousness of all the madness that is goin' on around us and, perhaps, maybe, even afforded ye a smile or two along the way.

Before I bid ye a fine farewell for the now, let me leave ye with this fine Irish blessin'...

"May your days be many and your troubles be few, May all God’s blessings descend upon you, May peace be within you, May your heart be strong, May you find what you’re seeking wherever you roam." 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...

Home Management Monday - March 16, 2020

National Day of Prayer

Peace in the Midst of Insanity (COVID-19)

St. Patrick's Day 2019

Shamrock Treats For The Grands

Guess what I was up doing at 6:00 this morning? Yep! Making those shamrock treats for the grands and blowing up green balloons! 💚

I made a quadruple batch of the traditional Emerald Isle Cake recipe on Friday, the corned beefs (three of them) have been in the crockpot overnight, and I've got eight heads of cabbage and 20 pounds of potatoes yet to prepare this morning before church. Our children and their families are expected to join us this afternoon for our annual St. Patrick's Day feast. 🍀

All, that is, except Amanda and Phillip. Sadly, Phillip is still in the hospital and they will be unable to join us for the first time since they got together well over a decade ago. They will be sorely missed. 😢

Phillip, this is for you...

This little guy will miss you, Phillip, and the hiding of the leprechaun will not happen this year. Knox will sit on the shelf and remain patiently awaiting until your return. 🍀

Have a blessed Sunday and a Happy St. Patrick's Day, Dear Reader!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...

Happy Homemaker Monday - March 11, 2019

Recipe - Emerald Isle Cake

More St. Patrick's Day Silliness At The Knox's

Wednesday Blessings

A Plaque That Hangs
On Our Kitchen Wall

Good afternoon, Sweet Ladies! 💗

It's not often that I get a chance to post during the middle of the week, but today is one of those rare and quiet days where I have opportunity, so I'm taking advantage of it.

How has your week been thus far? Mine has been good...busy, but I'm learning to relax and pace myself...to enjoy, and truly be thankful, for the work itself...not just be glad when a job is over and what was accomplished in the doing of it. 

After I finished my post on Monday, I went to the closet to gather hangers and grab the basket of dirty clothes so I could get the laundry started and I got side-tracked...in a good way. While there I started going through clothes. I ended up emptying the closet and sorting out, and packing up the winter clothes (most of them anyway) and pulling out the summer ones. In the process, I pulled out two bags of clothes from both piles to be taken to the second-hand shop and I know exactly what I've got and what I need before going into warmer weather. I did keep out my two favorite long-sleeved, snuggly-type shirts, and a couple of warmer nightgowns, but, other than that, the winter stuff is history! 😊 

Of course, after I did that the weather forecast changed and it's gotten colder again. In fact, yesterday afternoon it was SNOWING! Not alot...just a few big fluffy flakes, but still!!! 😲 LOL!

My schedule has changed this week somewhat (the boss needs me to work tomorrow), so I decided to go ahead and pull out the St. Patrick's Day decorations yesterday and got most of them put up. 

St. Patrick's Day is a big day around here! Actually, we always celebrate the Wednesday before (unless the 17th happens to fall on a Wednesday, of course) because that the only time our youngest daughter and her husband can make it down. In keeping with our family tradition, we have corned beef and cabbage, baked potatoes, and Emerald Isle Cake every year and the whole clan is invited. It's a fun time for the children and it always makes for a good excuse to spend a little extra time with family. 🍀

Well, Ladies, it's time to fix supper, so I guess that's it for today. You all have a great rest of the week and I'll talk to you again soon!

Love and blessings to all...
~Rebecca

Recent posts that you might enjoy reading...

Happy Homemaking Monday - March 5, 2018

Happy Homemaking Monday - February 26, 2018

Valentine's Day 2018

St. Patty's Day Celebration 2014

On Wednesday, March 12, 2014, our clan gathered together for it's annual St. Patty's Day extravaganza. Traditionally, we do it the Wednesday before St. Patrick's Day so that our daughter and fun-in-law from North Kansas City can join us (Amanda is off work on Wednesdays and Thursdays, so they come down Tuesday night after she gets off and stay until Thursday afternoon each year).

Anyway, the party started when company started arriving around 11:00 in the morning and it continued until about 11:00 that night. There were a total of thirty-three people here (not all at once, but in and out throughout the day) and let me tell you! There was a lot of food (4 corned beef briskets, 8 heads of cabbage, 2 10-pound bags of potatoes, 3 tubs of light sour cream, 1 1/2 pounds of butter, and 2 double (the equivalent of 4)  Emerald Isle Cakes), a lot of laughter, and a whole lot of fun!

Here are few pics taken throughout the day...

Nana, Audrey, Silas, and Isaih

Great Grandpa Brown, Audrey, Silas, and Isaiah 

Granddaughter Lizzie

Grandson T.J.

Gifts From My Fun-In-Law, Phillip

Daughter-In-Love, Crissy, Playing A Game Of Hide-And-Find-The-Gold With The Grandlittles

Daughter, Amanda, and Fun-In-Law, Phillip

Granddaughter, Sarah

A Wee Leprechaun In The Pot O' Gold

Our Youngest Son's Friend, Gavin

Grandlittles, Gianna, Abby, Lizzie, T.J., and Silas Enjoying A Game 

Recipe - Emerald Isle Cake

Every year around this time our family gets together to celebrate St. Patty's Day. We always do it when our youngest daughter and her husband from Kansas City can join us, which is usually the Wednesday before St. Patrick's Day...thus, this year...tomorrow! (I can't wait!)

Tonight, after Amanda and Phillip arrive, I will put the corned beefs on to cook overnight in crockpots; tomorrow I will bake the potatoes and cook the cabbages. I just got done making a quadruple batch of this recipe (one of our favorites, but I only make it once a year). There will be enough food to feed the whole clan, plus friends, at noon and again at 5:00.


EMERALD ISLE CAKE

(This recipe tastes sort of like those dunkin' doughnut sticks. It's very good!)

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk

Mix all ingredients together well, then pour into an 8 x 8 square baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Make glaze (below) and pour over hot cake fresh from the oven. Allow to cool, cut into 4" x 2" pieces and serve with tea or coffee. Delicious!

     Glaze

     1 cup powdered sugar
     2 teaspoons milk

     Stir together until smooth. Pour over hot cake fresh from oven.

Just In Time For St. Patrick's Day

Free From Hillbilly Housewife

Today and tomorrow only Hillbilly Housewife is offering us a free copy of ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE CAN BE IRISH (Kindle edition)! I've already downloaded mine. To get your copy just click HERE!

More St. Patrick's Day Silliness At The Knox's

For several years now our son-in-law, Phillip, and I have played an on-going game of 'Hide the Leprechaun' over the course of his and our daughter, Amanda's annual St. Patrick's Day visit. For the duration of the visit we take turns, first one, then the other, hiding this little resin leprechaun that I picked up at the Dollar store, then we give each other clues in the form of rhymes and poetry that leads to the discovery of the hiding place. The game continues on until it's time for Amanda and Phillip to leave, and it always ends with Phillip hiding the leprechaun for the final time and calling me with a clue after he's well on his way home. It's silly, I know, but we both look forward to it with great anticipation every year (as does everyone else in the house), but, this year, Phillip outdid himself completely when he, not only came prepared to play the game, but brought along a few little surprises to add to the fun. Over the course of the visit, not only did I find Knox (the name that Phillip has officially deemed our leprechaun), but I found one of his new little friends, Broggie, a beautiful shamrock for my wall, AND my very own pot of gold! Wow! And, on top of all that, Phillip wrote and illustrated an awesome little book for me that tells the story of our own little leprechaun, the history of his people, and how we came to obtain him. It's really cute and he intends to add to it year after year. Like I said...silly? Yes! But fun? Definitely!!!

This is our very own Knox...the original leprechaun.

Knox's new little friend, Broggie.

This is the book that Phillip wrote and illustrated for me. It is so cute!

Isn't this wall plaque beautiful? 

My very own 'pot o' gold'!

The annual  green carnation.

RECIPE: Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread

IRISH SODA BREAD

3 cups flour
2/3 cup sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup raisins
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups milk
1 T. oil

In a large bowl, combine first five ingredients. Stir in raisins. Set aside 1 Tbsp. beaten egg. In a bowl, combine the milk, oil, and remaining eggs; stir into flour mixture just until moistened (dough will be sticky). Transfer to a greased 9-in. round baking pan; brush top with reserved egg. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool. Slice or cut into wedges.

St. Patty's Day At Our House

St. Patrick's Day at our house has always been a fun day of family, food, and fellowship...more to celebrate the Irish side of our Scots-Irish heritage than anything else, and, believe me! Sometimes it gets pretty wild! And this year was no exception!

We did have to celebrate a day early this year in order to accommodate our youngest daughter, Amanda's work schedule (she and our son-in-law, Phillip, only make it down here once or twice a year, so we do whatever we have to on this end to make that come about), but, as always, we had a ball! Here are a few shots of yesterday's events...

Grandlittles Silas, Audrey, and Lizzy

 

 

 

 

 

 

I made each family a shamrock garland to decorate their own home with and each of the children a shamrock necklace to wear. Here are three of the grandlittles wearing their 'made-by-Nana' necklaces.

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Irish Soda Bread

Emerald Isle Cake

Traditional foods included corned-beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread, and our personal family favorite, Emerald Isle Cake. I also served baked potatoes with Best Life and low-fat sour cream. I did have a little bit of a problem with the soda bread. I've only made it a couple of times in the past and that from a mix. This time it was from scratch (and I'll share that recipe with you later), but I think I needed to put it in something a little bit bigger around to bake it in. The Pyrex bowl that I used was fairly small, so it made the loaf thicker. When I cut into the middle of it, there was a hole it in and it was doughy, but we worked around it and ate the outside edges. The flavor was excellent!

Daughter, Amber, and Grandlittles Audrey and Silas

Daughter-in-law, Christy, and Grandlittles Lizzy, T.J. and Our Littlest Leprechaun, Sarah

Grandlittles Silas, Audrey, Abby, Gianna, and Liz Laughing At Uncle Phillip

'Uncie Toe' and Baby Sarah

As I look through the photos I find that there just aren't that many. I had my youngest daughter start out taking pictures early on, but, as more and more guests arrived (25 in all), I think that the camera got laid aside in favor of  laughing, talking, visiting with family and friends, and baby-holding! (Amanda hadn't even met her newest niece yet)...so I can understand. (smile)

Well, that's a little of what went on in our home yesterday. For now I'm out of time and have to run, so you all have a great day and HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO YE...one and all!

All My Love,
~Rebecca

SHAMROCK GARLAND GIVEAWAY ON HEARTH AND HOME

Just in time for St. Patty's Day I've made up a bunch of these cute little shamrock garlands and I've got one to giveaway! For a chance to win a SHAMROCK GARLAND of your very own leave a comment here telling me what your favorite "green" thing or, if you prefer, what your favorite shade of green is.

For a second chance to win share my link on your site or comment about my giveaway on your blog, then come back here and leave a comment telling me that you did so. (Don't forget to leave a link to your site so my readers can visit!)


This contest ends Friday, March 4th, 2011. Thanks for entering!

Latest Listing On Etsy - Luck O' The Irish Shamrock Garland

Click Here To Go To My Etsy Shop

St. Patty's Day 2010

St. Patrick's Day has always been a favorite in our family. Yesterday afternoon we had a houseful of dear family, good friends, good food, and music. Thought I'd share a few images of our day...