My Little Leprechaun!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  My own little Leprechaun arrived on my doorstep today...

...complete with cute little 'shamrock' socks...



Nana got busy in the kitchen making Irish Stew and Aidan helped prepare the Irish Soda Bread for supper.  For dessert we had Jameson Irish Whisky Chocolate cake with shamrock sprinkles.  Nana just HAD to have a Guinness...or two!

I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post!  It's not that we haven't been busy with crafts and activities...I just don't know where the days have gone!

When February arrived I decorated the house for Valentine's Day.  Aidan wanted to know "Where's the Valentine Tree, Nana?"  Hmmm...out came his little Christmas tree, and on went the Valentine decorations.  I made fourteen felt heart 'pockets' each filled with a treat...chocolate of course!

We have had no winter to speak of her in Canada! A few days of snow here and there, followed by sunny weather warm enough to melt it all away.  The toboggan hasn't had much use this year, but we have spent many afternoons at the park...

...and some days were even warm enough for a trip to the beach, or just to fly a plane...

...or maybe make some peanut butter and bird seed rolls, and feed the birds...

...or just hang out in the sunshine and let Nana take some photos...

It really doesn't matter what we do...so long as we're together and having fun!

Top o' the Mornin'

A Happy St. Patrick's Day to you, my little grandson!  My Irish wish for you today:

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.

It's a great day for the Irish!

It was my English Nana who was such a presence in my childhood, yet I did have another 'Nana'.  My mother's mother.  My Irish 'granny'.  I may have grown up in England, but my happiest memories are of the times I spent in Ireland.  For each of my six week long summer holidays my parents would send me to Ireland to stay with my grandparents and visit my family.  Ahhhh...the warm baps my 'Granda' would fetch home from the bakery every morning.  Lathered in Irish butter, they were all I wanted for breakfast.  And my Granny's soups...served with a heaping bowl of boiled potatoes.  And oh...the hot, sweet tea!  Auntie's and Uncle's and cousins galore, who opened their hearts and homes to me.  Such wonderful memories!  

I want Aidan to know of his Irish family.  They are in his blood, and in my heart.  For now...I sing to him the songs of Ireland.  Just the happy ones!  (Yes, there are a few!)  His favourite song is called "Paddy McGinty"...

Paddy McGinty had a rubber doll!

He washed it and dried it...

and then he let it fall!

He sent for the doctor,

but the doctor wouldn't come...

because he had a pimple

on his wee bare bum!

Indeed, the words are not very upliftin' but they come with a lovely wee tune...and the feminist in me loves that wee Paddy would even have a doll at all, rubber or otherwise...and I'm hopin' and prayin' he didn't drop it on purpose...and I'm still trying to figure out who it is has the pimple on their wee bare bum...Paddy? the rubber doll? or the doctor?

Top o' the Mornin'

All this thinkin' calls for a we drop of Guinness (or two..or three!)  Cheers!