Celebrating the Green!

St. Patrick's Day is today.

This year I started celebrating a little early with a 

Green Tea Frappuccino from Starbucks.

Matcha and Green heaven! Ha!

And, if it is too cold for a Frappuccino,
perhaps some hot tea will do the trick.
Always nice to get out the Belleek for St. Patrick's Day.

Corned beef and cabbage are usually on the menu.
This year I'm changing things up a bit and plan on having
Pasta, Peas, Asparagus, Spinach and Pesto!
Adapted from a friends recipe that you can find here.

*

Daffodils have arrived at Trader Joe's and I'm in heaven!

Spring is definitely arriving around Twisty Lane.

In almost every room.
The daffodil is such a happy flower!

“Daffodils are an optimistic flower, and foolproof. 
You know what Shakespeare said: 
"Daffodils,
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty."

...I plant them in big clumps with a trusty shovel. 
I make several large holes all around and put quite a few in. 
That's why it makes such a spectacular look when they bloom.” 
― Tasha Tudor, The Private World of Tasha Tudor

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I finished the Cottage Charm Afghan.

Yes, I ran out of blue and had to get more.

The color is a close match, but the texture is a little different.

I always make the first of a project for myself.

The difference in texture won't bother me! 

I think my favorite part of the afghan is the little white bow!

It's going to work well as a lap-ghan for me.

Most importantly -- It has Mr. Oliver's approval!

The blue matches his eyes...... 

I'm reading the last of the Amish mysteries - A Churn for the Worse.
I'll be sad to finish. I really like the characters and the setting.
I hope there are more to come in the series.


*

May your joys be 
as deep as the oceans

Your troubles 
as light as its foam

And may you find
sweet peace of mind

Wherever you
may roam.


Wishing YOU well and much joy on this St. Patrick's Day.


Five on Friday
(Thank you Amy for hosting!)

Willy Nilly Friday

Monday Social

Mosaic Monday

Make It Pretty Monday

Keep Calm Craft On

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Irish Drinking Team

With St. Patrick's Day coming up
I've joined the official Irish Drinking Team
with one of my favorite drinks ---
TEA! 

The tea I've selected for the month of March is one of

 the Literary Teas from Simpson And Vail.  

The Literary Tea Line is a collection of blends that were created with a specific author in mind.
The teas vary from a black tea blend to a flavored herbal blend
and each is inspired by the authors' works and lives.

I filled the Belleek teapot with Simpson and Vail's Walt Whitman Tea Blend.
Simpson and Vail's Walt Whitman Tea Blend is inspired by his beautiful nature imagery in Leaves of Grass, especially the poems he wrote about roots and herbs. In one of his memoirs, Whitman describes a man who "express'd a great desire for good, strong green tea." This blend in an earthier and more mature variation of Simpson and Vail's Lemon Ginger Green Tea. It combines an unobtrusive green tea base with the earthiness of ginger and eleuthero roots (ginseng) and the sweetness and acid bite of lemon (with lemongrass, lemon peel, and lemon flavoring)."

From Simpson and Vail:

"Walt Whitman was born May 31, 1819 to a house builder and his wife in Brooklyn. He was introduced to the written word at the age of 12 when he began working as a printer's apprentice. There, he taught himself to read and devoured the classics. When the printing house burned down, Walt taught for five years until he decided to pursue journalism. The first edition of Leaves of Grass, a rough self-published volume of only twelve poems, was printed in 1855. Whitman would continue to revise and reprint Leaves of Grass until he died. Though his contributions to poetry are considered some of the most important in American history, Whitman did not enjoy success in his lifetime. He spent much of his life struggling to get by with only a meager clerk's wage to support himself as well as his mother and invalid brother. An 1882 edition of Leaves of Grass finally afforded him enough wealth to buy a house in Camden, New Jersey where he would work on Good-Bye, My Fancy until his death in 1892.

(Surprise! I share my birthday with Walt Whitman!)

May you always
walk in sunshine.
May you never want for more.
May Irish angels rest their wings
right beside your door.
~ Irish Blessing

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

No Place Like Home 

Tuesday Cuppa' Tea

Bernideen's Tea Time Cottage and Garden Party

Green Tea On St. Paddy's Day?

Nope,
I'm having Harney and Sons Irish Breakfast Tea
especially on these cold, blustery days.

I love my Belleek teapot and teacups.

The fun shamrock shape of the cups. 

The shell design on the teapot and cups and the wonderful harp handles.

Fine Parian China -- so delicate and yet so strong!

Harney and Sons Irish Breakfast Tea is 100% Assam from India.

It has good body and can take milk (the way the Irish like it) and sugar.

Subtle notes of malt.

Not bad with chocolate (or vanilla) cupcakes!

I'm joining several tea parties:

Tea Time Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea.

This and That

The good news:
One of my favorite bloggers is back
Along with Random Five Friday!
YeeHaw!

Welcome back, Nancy!!!

- I am taking part in Liberate Your Art 2015. This is the third year I've signed up for the swap. It's lots of fun and I "meet" new folks. This is my postcard for this year. Do you see the fairies?!

- I think everyone is getting tired of winter. This week, I am sure, confused even the weather gods. The one thing that was constant -- the cloudy skies. Otherwise, cool, cold, damp except for two days in the middle that brought heavy fog and 80 degree temps. All I have to say is: Old Man Winter -- MAKE UP YOUR MIND!

- St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner. I have my leprechaun flag flying from the balcony and Irish Luck hanging on the front door.

- Major League Baseball Spring Training has started. There were three games today on the MLB Network. I'm happy!

- For Downton Abby fans: the lovely young lady who plays Rose is the beautiful Cinderella in the new Disney movie.

And that's my Random Five for this Friday.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Jump Start

I'm getting a jump start on St. Patrick's Day with 

Irish Breakfast Tea in a rose decorated depression glass cup and saucer.

The card on the inside says "is Irish for I love you".

Too cute! 

The white hobnail vase is home to some mini-hydrangeas. 

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

A big thank you to our tea party hosts:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Potpourri

St. Patrick's Day is coming, along with corned beef and cabbage.

This is a vintage reproduction postcard.

No artist or date was listed.

Thank you to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

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I am creating...
Granny Squares!
The month of March is National Crochet Month.
YeeHaw!
Pictures coming when I have all the squares made. 

I am excited about...
being asked to taste test some teas from Tea Vivre.
I love Chinese teas and tea ware.
It will be fun to research and taste!

YiXing Tea Pot

I am hoping...
to win some handmade soap!
Nancy at a Rural Journal is having a give-a-way.
Get over there and sign up!

A favorite quote for today...
It's from the Walt Whitman poem  O ME! O LIFE!
"...The question, O me! so sad, recurring - What good amid these, O me, O life?
Answer.
That you are here - that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse."
It may sound familiar especially if you have seen the Apple commercials. 

One of my favorite things...

This is a Miltonia Orchid, sometimes called a pansy orchid.
When I brought her home from Trader Joe's she had one flower spike opened.
She now has two more spikes open and 2 more coming.
She is quite impressive and fragrant!

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

A big thank you to Nancy for hosting.

Sunlit Sunday: Surprise!

I'm sharing with Sunlit Sunday

 a surprise or two that I found in my garden yesterday.

What a surprise to find daffodils!

I first planted daffodils in Musashi's Garden in 1998 when we first moved in.

It was December and I planted them in a pot.

There were no flower beds, but I was determined to have some Spring color!

Over time the pots were emptied into the garden beds and I forgot all about the bulbs.

That brings us to this year and my surprise.

Mother Nature -- WOW!

**

I was looking out the back door when I saw this little guy flying by.

I grabbed my camera hoping he would stop someplace close.

He did.

I believe this is a little yellow Sulphur butterfly.

He didn't stay long -- zipped right off after I took the shot.

Good thing the glass was sort of clean!

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a very happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wishing you always-

Walls for the wind,

And a roof for the rain,

And tea beside the fire-

Laughter to cheer you,

And those you love near you,

And all that your heart 

might desire!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Eating of the Green!

I'll be wearing green on St. Patrick's Day and I'll also be eating green!

Better Homes and Gardens has some wonderful recipes for St. Patrick's Day.

BHG

MidWest Living has some wonderful recipes, too.

MidWest Living

I'm having shredded brussel sprouts with bacon along with my corned beef.

Here's a nice stew recipe for you:

-  1 pound boneless lamb or boneless beef chuck roast, cut into 3/4 inch pieces

-  4 cups beef broth

-  2 medium onions, cut into wedges

-  1/4 teaspoon pepper 

-  1 bay leaf

-  4 medium potatoes (peeled and quartered)

-  6 medium carrots, sliced 1/2 inch thick (3 cups)

-  1/2 tsp. dried thyme, crushed

-  1/4 tsp. dried basil, crushed

-  1/2 cup cold water

-  1/4 cup all-purpose flour

-  Sprigs of fresh thyme (optional)

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, combine lamb or beef, beef broth, onions, pepper and bay leaf. Bring to boiling and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Skim off the fat.

2. Add the potatoes, carrots, dried thyme and basil. Bring to boiling and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 30 to 35 minutes more or till vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaf and discard.

3. Stir together the cold water and the flour. Stir into the stew. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for one minute more. Season to taste with some salt and pepper. Garnish with the thyme, if you like. Makes 6 servings. 

(I always add a little wine (!!!) and it always tastes better the next day.)

A BIG thank you to Mary for being our hostess for Mosaic Monday.

Wishing you well and a JOY filled week!

A Bit O'Blarney

St. Patrick's Day will soon be here.

I'll be having corned beef and cabbage in honor of St. Pat and Mr. Dragon.

Just what is blarney???

How about smooth, flattering talk?

(I can just hear the Irish accent ... can't you?!)

or

Deceptive nonsense.

I think a little of both is definitely in order!

I can imagine there is a Bit O' the Blarney going on with this young man and woman.

The back of the postcard is dated March 16, 1909 and reads:

To my Star In the East I

write these lines,

For her heart is true to me

And from her soul a bright light shines

To guide and strengthen me.

I always wonder about the people involved with the postcards.

What's the story behind the message and who sent it to Ted Dixon, Esq?

Postcard Friendship Friday is hosted each week by the lovely and talented Beth.

Thank you Beth!

Wishing you well and a JOY filled weekend.

Postcard Friendship Friday

The lovely hostess for Postcard Friendship Friday is Beth.

Be sure to visit!

I've been away from the blog for awhile, but now that Mr. Dragon is home,

I hope I'll be able to catch up with all of you.

Since St. Patrick's Day was this week, I'm posting another of the Lillian Vernon Corporation's reproduction vintage postcards.

Hope your St. Patrick's Day was fun, with lots of green beer, corned beef and cabbage!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May the heavens smile upon you.

May bright sunshine fill your days.

May the joy of special blessings

Warm your heart in countless ways.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here's a recipe for you from Zabar's. Enjoy!

Anna Marie's Corned Beef and
Cabbage Dinner with Applesauce

From Tiffany Ludwig

Corned Beef Ingredients:
1	pre-seasoned Corned Beef (leanest cut available)
2	cups Dry White Wine
	Water to cover
Side Dish Ingredients:
12 – 18	Small Red Potatoes
7 – 8	Carrots
1	Large White Onion
1	Cabbage
	Butter, Salt and Pepper to taste
	Water for boiling
Applesauce Ingredients:
12	Macintosh Apples
	Water for boiling
Corned Beef Instructions:
1.	Put corned beef into large pot or Dutch oven.
2.	Add wine and enough water to cover.
3.	Add seasoning packet (seasoning packet should be included in package of corned beef).
4.	Bring to boil and cover.
5.	Reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes per pound of meat or until tender.
	(You can also cook this in a slow-cooker on low heat 8-9 hours or until tender.)
6.	Remove Corned Beef from pot and let sit covered for about 10 minutes. Slice against the grain.
Potato Instructions:
1.	When Corned Beef is almost done, put 12 – 18 (depending on size and appetites of diners) washed red potatoes in a large pot of enough water to cover twice over.
2.	Simmer 15 – 25 minutes or until just beginning to get tender.
3.	Once cooked toss potatoes with a pat of butter, salt and pepper to taste.
Cabbage Instructions:
1.	Wash, scrape and cut 7-8 carrots into 1-1 ½ inch lengths.
2.	Add to pot of boiling water along with one large white onion, sliced.
3.	Simmer for 5 minutes.
4.	Add the head of cabbage cut into eighths.
5.	Simmer 15 minutes more or until tender.
	Serve with Homemade Applesauce and Irish Soda Bread and Dijon Mustard.
Homemade Applesauce Instructions:
1.	Put 12 Macintosh apples, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces into steamer basket.
2.	Place in pot over boiling water.
3.	Steam until apples are tender.
4.	Remove from basket and mash.
5.	Allow to cool to room temperature or may be chilled.