Happy St. Patrick's Day

1. Pot o' Gold

2. Rainbow

3. Leprechauns

4. Shamrocks. This stems from a more bona fide Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity.

5. Wearin' of the green.

6. For over 40 years, the city of Chicago has dyed the Chicago River green. The city uses a vegetable dye that starts off orange but with some Leprechaun magic, it turns green in time for St. Patty's Day.

7. A pint of beer. According to IrishAbroad.com, there are 800 registered Irish pubs in Ireland, 1500 in the U.S., 300 in Canada, 80 in Australia and even 15 in the Middle East.


8. Parades. New York City saw its first St. Patty's parade in 1762, when a group of Irish-born soldiers staged an impromptu march with their regimental band.

9. The feast.The traditional Irish meal of bacon and cabbage has evolved into today's corned beef and cabbage in the U.S.


10. School children pinching classmates who don't wear green on St. Patrick's Day



HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Read an excerpt from Love Me Knot.

Poem by Mary Quast

Hurricane is on the night
horizon.

Waves tumble like playful
children.

She glides out of the shadows and
sits.

Black velvet gown drapes across the cold
cement.

Satin ribbon laces the back of her velvet
bodice.

The bow is untying,
she doesn't notice.

Skin shines like a pearl against the stormy
backdrop.

Long, black mane cascades across frail
shoulders.

Wind whips her hair, enveloping the features of her
face.

Graceful white fingers attempt to control the wild
strands.

With her head dipped,
tears are unseen.

A silver chain adorns her slender, swan-like
neck.

The moon peeks for a moment from the dark
sky.

Her face lifts to feel the light, showing her mysterious
beauty.

The moon disappears from sight, taking her
with it.

Happy Humpday

Pensive

I was feeling rather pensive today. Several times I found myself pausing in deep thought. A quiet mood involving little thought at times, but emotion toiled within me like a hurricane approaching the beach. My contemplation was peppered with sadness without having complete understanding. As I tried to put my thoughts into some form of order, I fought an endless battle and lost.

Pensive moods usually hit me just before the storm erupts in my head leaving a well plotted story in its wake. This time there is more. A feeling of preparing for a loss, a moment of saying goodbye. Will it be that I'll have a sad ending? Or be forced to say farewell to a favorite character.

I love my characters like children, like lovers, like ... well... as if they are a part of me. Saying goodbye is like waving to a friend who you might every touch again.

I don't like saying goodbye. It makes my heart hurt. I guess I'll continue being pensive until my muse tells me it's time to write.





"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."

~ Maya Angelou ~

Sunday

Shhhhhh...

It's been a long week.

Pamper yourself.

Sleep in.

Spend some quality cuddle time with your honey.