Cead Mile Failte

The Heiress was 8 years old when she started dancing in her little homemade skirt and shawl. She couldn't wait to get her first pair of hard shoes. On the weekend before St Patrick's Day, the kids would get on a bus and they would literally run into pubs, dance, then run back onto the bus. They would do this from late morning until midnight and yet they looked forward to it every year. Every St Patrick's Day, the kids would be in the pubs again clapping and dancing until late into the evening. And this was at a time when people smoked in the establishments, oh how they reeked! Those kids worked so hard for their medals and trophies during competitions but on St Patrick's Day the dancing was all about having fun.

Snack Food

One of my favourite snacks is toasted spiced almonds. I used to eat them plain but once I tried them this way there's been no going back. Spread 2 cups of unblanched almonds on an ungreased baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and toss to coat. Bake at 350 F - 5 min. Sprinkle with a mixture of 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp curry powder, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/4 tsp cayenne and 1/4 tsp salt. Toss and toast another 5 min. They're so delicious and healthy for you too! Enjoy.

Sunday Morning

This morning we got up and drove to Tim Horton's for coffee/tea and a bagel to munch on while we drove up to Lowville Park. Deacon starts whining once we're in the van because he knows we're on our way to his favourite spot. He turns his face to the sun once we get there.

This 'teepee' sort of structure has been here for years. I have no idea who built it but throw a tarp or two over it and you could camp out for the night. You wouldn't find me staying there but somebody would.

Inspired by the lovely images of snowdrops featured in the Spring issues of so many magazines, I went in search of well, anything I could find sprouting. This little bit of moss and the leaf of some plant was all that seemed to be peeking through the forest mulch. Once we got back to the house I was greeted by a single yellow Crocus by the front door. In the end, I didn't have to go very far did I.

Mr Bennett

Last week, whilst writing up a customer's hold at the library, I spied this little treasure. It's Alan Bennett's first book and if you enjoyed The Uncommon Reader about Queen Elizabeth II discovering the mobile library van then you may delight in this novella as well. Inside the book flap reads: When the sedate Ransomes return from the opera to find their Notting Hill flat stripped absolutely bare - down to the toilet paper off the roll (a hard-to-find shade of forget-me-not blue)-they face a dilemma: Who are they without the things they've spent a lifetime accumulating? He had me at the toilet paper. If I'm laughing before I've even started the first page then I'm fairly certain of the promise of a good read. By the time I've finished Wuthering Heights and leave the moors behind I'll be so melancholy that this will be just the thing needed.

Notre Dame presents...

On Friday night R and I went to see Pride and Prejudice at Notre Dame Catholic High School. I have to say that Dominic played a fabulous Mr Collins and stole every scene that he was in, he played him as being more ridiculous and less of a weiner if you get the idea.

Ahhh, Elizabeth and Darcy. We know how this ends up don't we.

Daria, in the red dress played Caroline Bingley. She lives across the street from us so I can say "we knew her when...". She's lovely!

The Bennet Sisters on an outing with Mr Collins, poor girls!

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There was a young boy, around 6 years old, that was there to see his friend, Katie (Elizabeth Bennet). He stood throughout the whole play and I couldn't resist turning around to watch his face just glow with sheer delight. He was waving to Katie as if she were up on stage for no one else but him. His whispered commentary had those of us around him in stitches! "He really does like her" or "She's just jealous" were a couple of the things he would say in a quiet moment, very intuitive child!

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Thanks to the students for a wonderful night!

Embossed Leaves

Tonight I'm going to start the toe on this sock and it should be interesting, the pattern decreases in such a way as to create a star design. It may very well end up looking like some other constellation. The Louet Gems wool is very soft to work with and the Waving Lace socks, made with Gems as well, have held up just swell through a few washings. Not to mention 25 minutes in the dryer when I suddenly remembered that I had forgot to hang them to dry. For the five seconds that it took me to run from the kitchen to the laundry room I thought Deacon had himself a pair of paw warmers. Phew!

Louet Gems

After knitting three pairs of fingerless mitts and a pair of socks in muted earthy tones I needed some colour. My next sock project is Embossed Leaves in the lilac because I really, really need to think Spring thoughts. R bought the wool for me because he said he hadn't bought me flowers for ages so would the wool do. Yes, it does.