Wrapping up our Irish Celebration

St. Patrick.

Most people probably get a mental image of a leprechaun when you mention that name. Perhaps a few remember the flat, icon painting of him, with a sad face, big eyes, and a shamrock pinched between two fingers.   But who really was St. Patrick? 

Patrick actually isn't Irish, he was Scottish. Of his early teen years he openly admits that he turned his back on Christianity. It wasn't until he was captured and taken as a slave to Ireland that Patrick was forced to turn and cling to Christ. As a humble slave- shepherd, Patrick spent hours alone, these he filled with prayer, and a longing for freedom.  

Patrick eventually escaped, but he did not leave Ireland for long. He returned and stepped into the shoes of a previous Irish missionary. With his knowledge and experience with the Irish, Patrick knew how to teach them. He is considered the father of Christianity in Ireland. 

Patrick wrote a beautiful morning poem,  it's been set to music here.

The words are a reminder of how our Savior is always with us, and how we can stand in Him. check it out! :)

Wrapping up our Irish blog event, I wanted to share just a few fun Irish things.

First off, for anyone who loves Irish music, check out this. Just about any Irish or Celtic song you can imagine is in there, with the melody and chords written in. I've almost worn out my copy! :)  (Fake book definition: Sheet music that contains, lyrics, melody, plus letters for the chords, basically to save room so that more songs will fit. )  :)  (Click image to purchase)




The Claddagh ring. This ring is of Irish origin, and is used to show loyalty or faithfulness, either between two very close friends, or as a token of love, or even marriage.  Click the image below for a lovely sterling silver, made in Ireland. :)  

And of course Irish music. Here are my lists of artists, understand that you still have to be careful, unfortunately I cannot absolutly recommend any of these, but for the most part their songs are great.
High Kings
Lisa Kelly (of Celtic Woman)
 Orla Fallon (Of Celtic Woman)    [Each of these women have their own CDs]
Charlie Zahm (offers a mix of Irish, Celtic, and Irish influence American Folk, He also does maritime [seaman] songs *grin*)
Irish Tenors (More operatic than traditional)
John McDermott (Of the Irish Tenors) (actually a Scot/Canadian that sings Celtic, however his soothing voice is too good to pass over. :)
Irish Rovers (with the exception of some of the songs, this is a traditional Irish group, complete with real accents :)
(I've also heard a lot about the Chieftains, but have yet to listen to anything other than their instrumental music, which, I must say has been great!)

Thanks to all who linked up! Feel free to add a few more links!

Fine print: Image at top not mine, images of products, and the names of artists are links, I will make a commission if you purchase those items, however if you use my link you'll also find the best price I could hunt up. :)  Works for both of us! Again, I do not totally and completely recommend any of the Irish groups mentioned above, caution and discernment must be used, as in any search for music.  

All Things Irish...

Ireland

I don't know when I first fell in love with Ireland. Probably the first time I heard the accent or listened to some of the folk music. 

When St. Patrick's day rolls around every year, I always wish that there was a different focus to the holiday. It's not really about leprechaun's or pots of gold, or luck. It's about the rich Irish history and it's influence on America.  It's a story of a remarkable missionary and his affect on a nation hostile to him. So this year let's make this a St. Patrick's day celebration to be remembered. 

First off let's start off with some music.  

Choose something classy to wear.  

And perhaps whip up something yummy. 

Ready to join in the party? Write about anything Irish, (well, keep it appropriate) Share a recipe, tell us about your favorite Irish music, Irish history, or Irish customs.  Go ahead link up your blog posts, visit each other's blogs, leave comments. Let's make this fun! To give ya'll a little more fun there will be a surprise giveaway, the more you link up, and share this blog event, and leave comments, the more chances you'll get to win the giveaway! :)  

Be sure to grab the blog button on the sidebar! :) 

Fine Print: Images not mine,  

We Interrupt to bring you a Special Announcement

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!  Announcing a blog giveaway!

Ya'll are paying attention now aren't you. :)


Life with Abibliophobia (that would be me) is hosting a giveaway over at Defective Compositions. I've thoroughly enjoyed her inspiration challenge, you should check it out! The giveaway closes March 9, so you'd better hurry up! :)





Also announcing my own blog event, to which you are all invited.

I love Ireland, and have declared myself Irish, (still working on the brogue). :) I'll be sharing some of my favorite Irish things, from music to recipes.

Interested in joining me? For all you Irish wanna-be's, I'll be putting up a linky on March 16 you can all link up your Irish themed posts. These could be recipes, fashion, history, culture, music, or literary. Basically anything and everything Irish. :)  Grab the button from the sidebar!

Interested in sponsoring a giveaway for this blog event? Contact me here. 

Fine Print: 1.) feel free to steal my blog button, the more the merrier. :)    2.) No go sign up for that giveaway! 

Of Cupcakes and Sprinkles

I like cupcakes. I like them to be moist and sophisticated, bursting with flavor and fascination, and topped with mounds of gourmet icing and lots of sprinkles.

Basically, I have the ideal cupcake in my head. I've never tasted it before, I've never seen it, but it is real and it is something that I will some day discover.

Today was not that day.

~sigh~

I measured, whisked, and baked. I carefully cut off the tops, and filled them with fluffy strawberry cream. I carefully matched each cupcake top to it's original owner, and carefully sealed in all that strawberry goodness. Vanilla butter-cream icing was carefully swirled on top. Then, because cupcakes no matter how gourmet, are still just cupcakes, I pulled out the bag of sprinkles.

My little sister and I are firm believers that sprinkles are necessary to life. We have a pact: I bake, she sprinkles. It's her domain, her sphere, her outlet of creativity. And she's really good at it.

The cupcakes were good, they were cute, and definitely edible. But my quest must continue. Someday when cupcakes are about as popular as fondue or aspic, I'll discover the perfect recipe.

Until then I'll keep measuring, whisking, and baking. My little sister will keep sprinkling. Because, after all, baking cupcakes is an adventure, and sprinkles are to be enjoyed. Perfection isn't the goal, enjoying creating is. Now go forth and create something! :)

Fine Print:  Anybody know a good cupcake recipe?  Life with Abibliophobia (that's me :)) is hosting a giveaway over at Defective Compositions. Go sign up. :)  Cupcake images not mine. Linking up with Kellie as we share our blessings.  

Tiny Record Book

My eyes opened, a warm paw patted my cheek. Brown, cat eyes looked into mine, impatiently begging me to wake up and replenish her food bowl. Soft sunlight spilled into my room, making visible the floating dust particles, like sparkles.

There was something distinctly happy about waking up today. Not that I wake up grumpy or sad every day, just that today I was happy. Perhaps it was the lovely evening I had before sleep. An evening full of new library books, Charles Dickens, and happy music. Maybe it was the remembrance of the red winged blackbird and the robins I had seen the day before. 

The happiness has continued all day. The sun is bright, the daffodils are bursting their little green heads through the ground. There is a hum of new life, new hopes, new dreams. Not to be poetic, but it is a simply lovely day. Spring seems to be a reality now, just sitting right around the corner. 

Not every day is a happy day. There are way too many depressing days. That's why when I saw tutorials for tiny books I knew I had to make one. 

Well, come on, it's a tiny book, that alone makes it something necessary. :) 

I decided to combine it with a necklace, like those tiny necklace charms, only mine is a real book.  

Now here is how this tiny book necklace ties in with my happy day. There are exactly 100 pages in my book, that's just enough to write 200 happy things. It will be my new remedy for sad days, a constant reminder that life isn't always as crummy as it can look. I call it my "Record" book, in which I record all those tiny things that make like bright. 

Why don't you make one too? Or perhaps you would just like to have one already made and waiting for your happy things. If so, check out my etsy shop where you can order your own custom made tiny book. 

Fine Print: Images are all mine. Don't mind if you use them as long as you provide a link back to me.  Linking up with Defective Composition's Inspiration Challenge. Check it out!  Now go take a walk in the sunshine and list some of your happy things.