I just saw I never made any posts in March of this year (and I think January?). But March is kind of significant, because I had a lot of fun on St. Patrick’s Day. I requested off. It was a weekday. Not a hard day to be excused.
In the first photo, I’m wearing an older Patty’s Day top, and finally using the under-eye patches that were part of my gifts from upper-ish management at work. I think I took that pic around St. Patrick’s Day, as well– just before or just after.
Some of these are screenshots from my Instagram, as I had already deleted the photos by now. It looks like my cropping was less than perfect in a few. Pardon the black lines. I didn’t notice them until after I’d uploaded the pics to WordPress. Oops! Looks like the site gives you a cropping feature, but I found it rather confusing. Next time, maybe.
Here’s a view of what I wore the day of, taken outside my parents’ front door, with their Patty’s Day wreath.
You’ll have to use your imagination to fill in the jeggings with scattered bejeweling near the ankles, and sparkly shoes.
I began the day with a rousing shower, using some Dr. Squatch soap I’d picked up for a previous St. Patrick’s Day. Don’t even ask how much Squatch I have in my bathroom cabinet. I let it go for awhile, then briefly started collecting the specialty limited edition bars again. Have since mellowed on that.
I’ve heard that the legend of St. Patrick driving the “snakes” out of Ireland relates to his poor treatment of the druids. THAT I do not support or endorse. Religious conversion especially under threat seems really wrong to me.
Here in the US, the holiday is more about celebrating Irish heritage, and celebrating in general (and drinking, but I did none of that). It might be fair to say it’s more secular than religious, or at least that it’s become a part of popular culture.
Yes, I have learned through an awkward conversation with an Australian, in the London Underground, that I’m merely American. No one outside of the United States seems to really care where your ancestry comes from.
I took a course in American Ethnic Literature and argued this to the professor. That no one outside of America would even view these identities as legitimate– unless you were first generation, maybe.
He’d made the point that food-ways are one of the few remaining holdovers of many cultures incorporated into our family traditions. After class, I told him I partly disagreed, at least as far as it related to my family.
Like an Irishman in one of the novels we read, my dad used to keep a keen eye on the obituaries, and he went to SO many funerals, even when he wasn’t (as far as I know) especially close to the deceased. And he talks to people everywhere he goes. He’s fairly well-known around the community. Their bank, the grocery stores, at church, and so on. Many know him on a first-name basis.
We also have a strong tradition of storytelling in the family. It isn’t as pronounced now, but at extended family gatherings, there were certain memories that always seemed to pop up in the conversation. The time they were taking out the windows of the house to clean them on both sides, was a very popular tale. Hijinks of physical comedy proportions had ensued.
Beyond that, my mom used to keep holy water and holy oil on hand. When anyone was sick, she’d anoint their throat. And I seem to recall her blessing the walls now and then, during really severe storms.
They’re also big on praying the rosary. Their political and social views have progressed along with the times, but in other ways, they’re traditionally Catholic.
My mom used to make soda bread and stew every St. Patrick’s Day (usually with coleslaw as a side). This year, I bought what turned out to be the VERY LAST LOAF of soda bread from our local bakery. Luck of the Irish. An older woman buying goods at the bakery complimented my green lips, and we wished each other a Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
I wanted to give everyone a chance to enjoy the flavors of Ireland without having to do the work. I also suggested we go to a local tavern/restaurant that, while not an Irish establishment, was offering Irish food and beverages that day.
My friend tried an Irish pub in a neighboring city, and they were packed to the gills! She said they left almost immediately. I recalled that the Irish pub near us was a madhouse on March 17th, with a big tent outside, as the restaurant and pub couldn’t hold all the customers, alone. So we tried somewhere else. I had read about their specials online.
Me, in our booth, wearing my sparkly “Happy Go Lucky” sweatshirt I got new this year, and such. Better view of the shirt, but I think the natural light in the other pic flattered the makeup more effectively.
The place we dined, business was only just starting to pick up, as we were leaving. We came right around the time they opened for the Irish dinner menu. Dinner was delicious, and we really enjoyed ourselves (my mom and myself). That particular place offers some German specials year-round, which I would like to eventually try.
I had the stout beer-braised short ribs, with Colcannon mashed potatoes, and roasted baby carrots.
My mom ordered the Corned Beef with the same sides. She doesn’t eat very much at this point and offered me her leftovers to take home. Both dishes were AMAZING!
For dessert, we split a mint drumstick torte.
Wow, it looks like my silence for all of March also means you missed out on my Mardi Gras fun. I didn’t ask for that day off and had to work, but I did wear beads all day.
Wasn’t up to whipping up any shrimp etouffee, or red beans and rice, or gumbo. Mom and I did, however, stop at the same bakery where I got the soda bread later that month, so we could pick up Paczki. I think mine was Maple Bacon. INCREDIBLY rich but very delicious.
In other news, I somewhat-recently FINALLY invested in a fresh Oracle deck. I had a Celtic one a long time ago. Actually, it was a set of three. One was full of quotes, and the other two I think were more visual.
My friend had been asking me to stop at her work for the longest time. When I mentioned that I was looking for someone to go with me to the Apothecary to shop for a deck, she said they had several at her place, as well.
Here’s a card I drew, from that deck, somewhat recently. I love the art, and the nuances of the interpretations. The author really emphasizes the importance of building your own working relationship with the imagery, rather than just relying on the guide.
Here’s a pic of the outside of the box. The image on the cover is another of the cards. Such beautiful attention to detail, and intricate archetypes!
LASTLY, my friend in Arizona had told me of a trend of adding fresh greens to pizza to make it healthier. I pictured it differently than what she eventually showed me as to how she does it. Greens and a bit of Balsamic vinegar.
What I started doing was adding fresh spinach to frozen pizzas, when they were just 5 minutes or so shy of being cooked through. I found this works especially well if you also add an extra layer of shredded cheese, to help the spinach adhere. Then, I drizzle the works with the vinegar, slice, and eat.
My friend does more of a salad-on-top-of-each-slice method. But mine while not as vegetable-y is still delicious.
That one’s a Mediterranean-inspired pizza with the spinach. Not having frozen pizza at home SUPER often, but it is a nice occasional treat. I have found I prefer the spinach on meatier pizzas so I feel fuller, longer, afterward. But hey. Pizza is pretty good regardless.
I think that’s a fairly decent catch-up for the time being.
A lot of it was food, I know. LOL.
But I suppose it might be a welcome break from vampires?
AH but as a short aside… so one of my characters, in my ongoing vampire romance series, is named Jared Winter. I had seen a name with the last name “Winter” on a service vehicle, in my neighborhood, and thought it was interesting. Plus, canonically, Jared grew up in the Midwest, even if he lives in California. Had totally forgotten that the actor who plays Marko also has the last name “Winter.”
BUT, what’s really interesting… so the mutual love interest, I named Haven (the “Star” character). Just today, I got a “like” on a dating app from someone from Winter Haven. Right after writing a pivotal scene the night before. SO much synchronicity.
Also, I have been sharing details of the story with a couple coworkers when we’re empty. One of them got all flustered when I paraphrased dialogue and said Jared (“Michael”) initially feared Dorian was about to dump him. He’d just told Dorian and Haven, “I’m already yours,” or something like that.
Dorian replied, “About that…”
DRAMATIC TENSION!
Then, I revealed to my coworker that it was actually a preamble to Dorian proposing. She’d told me not to play with her emotions like that, because she was already attached to Dorian, even without reading any of the stories. HA!
I guess morally-gray romantic leads are her thing, too. And she loves his name.
Mkay, enough vampires, for now. As if such a thing were possible.
Anyway, have a lovely rest of your day or night, whenever this finds you. May the road rise up to meet you, and the wind be always at your back.
All the Bright and Sparkly Things 
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