Tea Talk~There's Always the Day After

May you always have walls for the wind.
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you
and all your heart might desire.
Irish Blessing

For all those who had a most grand celebration, recuperation may not be as hard as you think. Sit down with a hot cuppa tea, put your feet up, and be profoundly grateful it's only a headache you're havin'!

I'm having...Good Earth Tea with it's warm cinnamon sweetness.

My teacup is...my plain white mug (nothing too flashy this morning).

I'm feeling... Grand! Though the foot is a wonderful shade of black-and-blue I can walk on it without any discomfort today and have been without "the boot" for two days now!

On my mind...is gratitude for a strained foot not a broken foot!

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Thanks be to God!!

Now it's time for you to visit Ruth at Celebrate Friendship is hosting Tea Talk at her house.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

The Claddagh

The Claddagh is a traditional Celtic ring design that symbolizes friendship. The hands are the clasp of friendship, the crown represents loyalty and the heart, love. Moreover, the Claddagh has yet a deeper symbolism--that of the Holy Trinity. The drown represents the Father, The left hand represents the Son and the right had the Holy spirit. The heart is the love that exists between them and the overflows to all creation.

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Wishing all the blessing of Saint Patrick
and
Thanks be to God!

Art work and explanation of Claddagh by The Printery House,Conception Abbey, Conception, Missouri 64433

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Last minute addition to today's post...A bit of a challenge and some Irish Green!! Enjoy!

Blarney

BLARNEY

Blarney is the secret weapon of the Irish. They have enough stockpiled to last them until Judgment Day, at which time they will all be judged by "impartial" St. Patrick and allowed into the Kingdom of Heaven, it is said.

[from Irish Wit and Wisdom, published by Peter Pauper Press, INC]

A reminder that tomorrow, though all year long it's shared, with be the height of the "Blarney Seasons" so be prepared for more tales than you ever imagined!

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Thanks be to God!

Glimpses of Spirng~~Mosaic Monday

It was gloomy and rainy all weekend and as the sun rises today it will still be cloudy. But in spite of it all HOPE was springing forth in creation.

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Thanks be to God!

Please visit Mary and The Little Red House. Her pictures are grand and so are the pictures of others!

Glorious Weekend to ALL!!!

Isn't this angel just wonderful? She can be seen along with lots of other beauties at Banner Haus News! Visit and enjoy! I'm off to INDY!!! Wishing you all WELL!!!

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Thanks be to God!

Finian's Rainbow

If you've not seen this movie in its entirety I'd encourage you to see it. It stars Fred Astaire and Petula Clark among others. It's an enjoyable way to spend and evening. Sure and you'll be hummin' the tunes all the day long!

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Thanks be to God!

Will be gone the weekend to enjoy family! Wishing you a weekend of the same!

Tea Talk

"Tea pot is on the, cups are waiting,
Favorite chairs anticipating,
No matter what I have to do,
My friend, there's always time for you."
Anonymous

Welcome to my house. Come in and linger. There is nothing like a cup of tea between friends.

I'm having...Good Earth Tea with it's warm cinnamon sweetness.

My teacup is...my Irish mug.

I'm feeling... a bit ambivalent. It's gloomy, gray and raining outside. And after the glorious day here yesterday, a bit of a letdown. But I am excited, too, because this weekend we'll be traveling to INDY for fun with the kids and grand kids. In other words, mixed emotions.

On my mind...at this time is getting the chicken soup done for this weekend before we leave for INDY. It will b served for lunch for the women's Christ Renews His Parish weekend here at Saint John the Baptist. It's a privilege to serve!

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Thanks be to God!!

Now it's time for you to visit Ruth at Celebrate Friendship is hosting Tea Talk at her house.

Introducing...

I don't know how I did it, but I certainly did. I failed to introduce my friends O'Malley, McGlone, and O'Toole. Friends of mine for years, as they share a special place in my life daily...MY Computer Desk! For years, I've forgotten how many, they have brought me a bit of the light side of life...One cannot have TOO much "light side!"

God be with you!

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Thanks be to God!

A Bit of Irish Humor!!!

Father Murphy walks into a pub in Donegal, and asks the first man he meets, 'Do you want to go to heaven?'

The man said, 'I do, Father.'

The priest said, 'Then stand over there against the wall.'

Then the priest asked the second man, 'Do you want to go to heaven?'

'Certainly, Father,' the man replied.

'Then stand over there against the wall,' said the priest.

Then Father Murphy walked up to O'Toole and asked, 'Do you want to go to heaven?'

O'Toole said, 'No, I don't Father.'

The priest said, 'I don't believe this. You mean to tell me that when you die you don't want to go to heaven?'

O'Toole said, 'Oh, when I die , yes. I thought you were getting a group together to go right now.'

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Thanks be to God!

Going My Way?

Wishing you a GRAND DAY~~~

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Thanks be to God!

Songs of the Season

I was guided to this song by Breadgirl. I am one who loves Celtic music and I thought I had heard as many as there were. Well, of course, that's not true. There are many more for me to hear and enjoy. This is one I have not heard but is nostalgic none-the-less, for it brings back memories of sitting on the floor a Sunday afternoon in front of the record player listening to Daddy's wonderful records. Please enjoy!

I would ask you to share your favorite Song of the Season by linking us to your post. I have many listed in my music on my side-bar and in the days to come I will be adding to their numbers. Please join in the fun and share one or more of your favorites!

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Thanks be to God!

Oh!! I must not forget! Please stop by Thou Art Jules and enter her contest. She has some lovely gifts to offer in celebration of her 100th post!

Introducing...

PAT and MIKE

Sure and it's going to be a glorious weekend all round! With impish little friends like Pat and Mike it's sure to be grand!

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Thanks be to God!

Tea Talk

There is a great deal of poetry
and fine sentiment in a chest of tea.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson, Letters and Social Aims

Welcome to my house. Come in and linger. There is nothing like a cup of tea between friends.

I'm having...Constant Comment tea with a bit of Splenda

My teacup is... A Suzy Toronto mug I got a couple of years ago. The verse on the outside of the cup says, "I may do foolish thing...But at least I do them with Enthusiasm!" and along the inside rim it say, "Sometimes my inner-goofball just slips out." It makes me smile at who I can be sometimes.

I'm feeling... Perky! They say the sun will shine today and I am soooo looking forward to that! Wishing everyone a grand day!

Thought you all might like to try this recipe. These cookies melt in your mouth!

Scottish Short bread Cookies

1/4 cup EACH: confectioners sugar, granulated sugar
1-1/4 cups butter (2-1/2 sticks), refrigerated and cut into 8-10 pieces
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. Place sugars in food processor and process until very fine. Ad butter; pulse until sugar disappears. Add flour; pulse until no dry flour particles remain. (Mixture will be moist and crumbly.) Place in plastic bag and press together to form dough; knead lightly until dough holds together. Remove from bag. Shape with a cookie press, fork, or the bottom of a glass lightly moistened with water. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until pale golden. Remove from cookie sheets; cool completely on wire racks. Yield: about 4 dozen cookies.

Thanks be to God!!!

Now it's time for you to visit Ruth at Celebrate Friendship is hosting Tea Talk at her house.

Picture Puzzle Day

Wishing all a grand Picture Puzzle Day! Sure and isn't is a grand time to be sharin' your own wonderful puzzles?! Come join the fun with "Father Mike" and me! We'll have a fun time all round!

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Thanks be to God!

If you wish to add a "bit o' the Irish" to your blog in the form of a puzzle or if you just wish to share in the celebration in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day just join me via Mr. Linky below.

Proof of Life

I spy!

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Kelly at Musings is offering us a chance to share moments in our lives when children cause us to pause and reflect on the impact their lives have had on us. So from time to time I will be going into my picture archives and bringing out those pictures that have caused me joy, laughter and love, proof of life. I will even endeavor to leave only a short title for the picture! So go visit Kelly and share in the fun!

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Thanks be to God!

Celebrating Friendship

I'm a bit late in posting today as it is our Saturday to volunteer at Mother Teresa's Treasures. This is wonderful opportunity to work, share and chat with others who find this a grand way to spend time. This is also a day I am reminded of a dear lady, Margaret, to whom I owe a lot through her friendship, charity, and her wish to make life better for all.

These pictures were sent me by a friend in an email. They are awesome and cause me to be awe-filled. Niagara Falls is a place of power and might and yet it was still and unmoved in 1911. I share this with you because Ron and I were privileged to travel with Margaret and Bill to Quebec, Canada in 2000. On the way we stopped by Niagara Falls. It is Magnificent!!!!! And we had such a grand time.




This also reminds me how much I miss Margaret for it will soon be three years since she passed from this world into the one of Our Father. Good Friday always remind me too of a lady who was valiant and strong to the end. A true model of life's dignity.

Niagara Falls
June, 2000

So today I want to remember a friendship gone for the time being but the prospect of meeting Margaret again one day is one which I anticipate with happiness!

Please treasure your friendships. They are far more valuable than gold...

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Thanks be to God!

I invite you to join Ruth at Celebrate Friendship and other friends in this special celebration.

Bad Haiku Friday

I love the cookies.
Shamrock shapes I cannot eat.
Lenten fast is good.


I love the cookies.
I look at them and wonder.
No cal'ries for me!

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Thanks be to God!

Tea Talk

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough

or a book long enough to suit me."

C. S. Lewis

Welcome to my house. Come in and linger. There is nothing like a cup of tea between friends.

I'm having...Namring Upper Estate tea steeped for 3 minutes. It was gift from daughter, Marianne. The first time I prepared this tea I steeped it for 5 minutes. I drank it and was wired for the entire day. It's not a feeling I am particularly fond of. That's when I learned that the time you steep your tea is most important.

My teacup is... a favorite mug of mine. It is white with simple white roses on it. When I drink from this mug I am reminded of my friend, Fay, who spent many hours with me drinking tea and chatting for hours. The mug recalls one of those visits.

I'm feeling... a bit tired. Amazing isn't it that after a retreat one should feel fatigued, but here it is three days after I returned from Saint Meinrad and I'm bushed. I guess it's haveing to return to the real world and all its challenges.

I'm wishing you all a wonderful day! Sun is supposed to shine today, so in anticipation of that, I say, "Enjoy!" And...

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Thanks be to God!!

Now it's time for you to visit Ruth at Celebrate Friendship is hosting Tea Talk at her house. I'm wishing all a grand day!

Anticipation...

Thought that it would be good to have some diversion. Spring is a mere 4 weeks away. Looking forward we are a people of hope, and so it is that I thought I would offer a puzzle that might be fun and offer some hope of spring. So here it is for your pleasure.

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Thanks be to God!

If you'd like to add to the diversion by adding your picture puzzle of spring please allow us to visit you and play along.

Mosaic Monday~St. Meirad Archabbey

Saint Meinrad Archabbey
February, 2010

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Thanks be to God!

Please visit Mary and The Little Red House. Her pictures are grand and so are the pictures of others!

Retreat at Saint Mainrad Archabbey

St. Meinrad

St. Meinrad, martyr is venerated as the patron and in some sense the founder of the Benedictine abbey of Einsiedeln in Switzerland which has kept an unbroken continuity since Carolingian times. He settled as a hermit at Einsiedeln, where he was murdered by two ruffians to whom he had given hospitality in 861. His feast day is January 21st. (Catholic Online)

Feast Day: January 21

I'm off to a time of prayer, instruction and community. May God bless you all most abundantly this weekend.

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Thanks be to God!

++Today's reflection is at Provident God++

Tea Talk

It's Thursday after Ash Wednesday. A perfect time to reflect on our journey this Lent with a warm cup of your favorite tea. Join me, won't you?

I'm having...Irish Breakfast tea this morning.

My teacup is... is a plain white cup. No frills. A reminder of the simple life we are called to

I'm feeling... happy in anticipation of the retreat I begin tomorrow at Saint Meinrad Archabbey.

Pray with me this Prayer For A Lenten Journey found in Lent and Easter, Wisdom from St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi. Compiled by John V. Kruse.

Almighty, eternal, just and merciful God,
give us miserable ones
the grace to do for You alone
what we know you want us to do
and always to desire what pleases You.
Inwardly cleansed,
interiorly enlightened
and inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit,
may we be able to follow
in the footprints of Your beloved Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
and, by Your grace alone,
may we make our way to You,
Most High,
Who live and rule
in perfect Trinity and simple Unity,
and are glorified
God almighty,
forever, and ever.
Amen.
~St Francis of Assisi~
"A Letter to the Entire Order," 120-121

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Thanks be to God!

Now it's time for you to visit Ruth at Celebrate Friendship is hosting Tea Talk at her house. I'm wishing all a grand day!