It's been such a long time! Love this shamrock page of yours as I love the Emerald Isle. I haven't been here much - all my time on the computer has been devoted to class assignments, but luckily I'm almost through with this html course now. I won't go on with next one (CSS) until this autumn. I need to get off the computer and do other things.
Are you busy making videos? I haven't been in on facebook I'm sorry to say.
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Here is a little History for you.
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity's most widely known figures. But for all his celebrity, his life remains somewhat of a mystery.
Taken Prisoner By Irish Raiders. It is known that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. He is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D. At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian. (It is also believed that Patrick first began to dream of converting the Irish people to Christianity during his captivity.) After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. According to his writing, God's-spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland.
To do so, Patrick walked nearly 200 miles from County Mayo, where it is believed he was held, to the Irish coast. After escaping to Britain, Patrick reported that he experienced a second revelation-an angel in a dream tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted more than fifteen years. After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland with a dual mission-to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish. Familiar with the Irish language and culture, Patrick like many before him including Christ, chose to incorporate traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity. Rather than of attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs he would give them new meaning. For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish. Although there were a small number of Christians on the island when Patrick arrived, most Irish practiced a nature-based pagan religion. So for the most part St. Patrick did indeed Christianize Ireland.
Did St. Patrick remove the snakes from Ireland. Well some contend there were never were any physical snakes there to begin with. But in a symbolic way he did indeed remove the snakes from Ireland in the hearts of the Irish people. The "banishing of the snakes" was really a metaphor for the eradication of pagan ideology from Ireland and the triumph of Christianity. Within 200 years of Patrick's arrival, Ireland was completely Christianized.
The first St. Patrick's Day parades were in not in Ireland but in NYC staring March 17, 1762.
For symbols and recipes and more fun facts click the link below from the History Channel.
Greetings, dear friend! I was glad to hear from you! So sorry that it has taken me this long to get back to you. Our weather here is warming up so I have been busy outside in my gardens trying to pull weeds. I have a few hyacinths, daffs and tulips coming up. I actually have a daffodil that bloomed out today. First one. I have been doing alot of beading also. Had a lot of Easter things to do and they have sold pretty well. I still have so many patterns that I need to work on. Started spring cleaning right after Christmas. I have one more room to do and then I want to have a yard sale and get rid of this stuff. Also crocheting an afghan for middle granddaughter. By the time I get to the computer, can't hardly keep my eyes open. Been kinda lax today though. Hope all is well with you and I hope that You enjoyed your mini vacation away from NOTH. Sometimes we do just have to get away. How is Mr. Darcy? Hope he is well too! Please give him a little rub on his head and a treat! Spike is doing great. Walks the neighborhood everyday and thinks the roads belong to him. Drop in when you can. Have a wonderful week ahead! Take care and be safe! Hugs, April
I name this one for a change.. I call it "Artistic Celebration" for it is honoring the arts.
My mother was a well known artist.. It rather brought it home this past little while when my brother Tom was staying in our regional hospital and on his floor near him were two of my Mom's paintings. When I wasn't sure what was going to happen to my brother somehow those paintings brought me comfort. Mom was painting yet when she went to the hospital that last time. She had just finished her final painting and signed it. Mom also was so great in writing, as in journalism but also was a playwright, she also did acting for the arts council, and she directed plays, was a makeup artist, and taught theater. Dad was very musical and sang from the time he was a young man and even until just before he passed away in 2005. Not far from where my brother was, on the same floor, I saw the last place Dad was before he went home to heaven. I don't mean to sound sad here. It was comforting really strange as it might be and so in honor of my parents who were such talents and blessings in my life I didn't get a photographer in this one but Dad was also a great freelance photographer, I was thinking of his music. Anyway although when it went to save some of the animation died a bit one never knows when doing a Blingee if it will work the way you see it until it saves. This one didn't but liked it well enough I decided to send it out anyway.
As for me well it will be another busy week with doctors visits for my brother all the rest of the week.. Tomorrow is filled then one in the afternoon on Thursday and still another one in the afternoon on Friday thus all week will have to go to Hays each day that is a lot of driving. But one expects that in NC Kansas in the middle of no where. :) But it kills the day.
Because I have been married to the most wonderful man for 30 years. now.. It was a wonderful weekend here... Hubby and I ran errands, ate lunch out, and just played and had a good time on Saturday as it was beautiful out... on Sunday because the rain (drizzle) was here early and all day, we stayed in and watched all the shows we had on tivo all day long... I even cooked brunch and an early dinner... what a wonderful way to celebrate 30 years together... and I love him more than the day we married... Just wanted to stop by and check on you. and wish you the best of weeks... Hope you wil stop by when you have time and know that even though I don't get here as often as I would like, I am thinking of you...
Hello my friend, I just wanted to stop by and let you know that I am alive and well. Things have been kind of hectic here lately with the transitioning of the new company into our new home at work. This began the middle of February and we have just completed the moving part a week ago today. Now all we have to do is work out the bugs of the new networks (both computer and phones) and figure out where we put everything! So far everything is going well. We were able to make the move and still make and repair product and ship the product to our customers.
Yesterday, I had an appointment at the VA Hospital in Manchester, NH to have an eye exam as I am noticing some changes in my vision. I will be getting a new prescription to include trifocals so that I can stop tilting my head up or down to clearly see the computer screen! I also told them that I was having problems at night time with the glare of headlights of other vehicles. Hopefully the anti-glare coating will take care of that. While I was there, I had to have a couple of prescriptions renewed and also got both the regular flu shot as well as the H1N1 shot. I seem to be dragging a bit today and feeling stiff all over.
Please accept my apologies for not being on the Hill as much as what I used to be. Working 10 hour days does have a habit of taking its toll on a person. I wish everyone a very Happy St. Patrick's Day and
I always enjoy my visits Kate and would love to see your Mermaid return. I so loved visiting with her too. Wishing that our sweet Mr Darcy is doing all of the things that a gent of his caliber should do and sending luv and hugs for You.
GOOD MORNING KATE, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU...SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE VERY BUSY MY FRIEND..LOL..AND NO PRECIOUS, THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH CHOCOLATE OR CUPA..LOL..YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND HAVE FUN..AS ALWAYS YOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS..HUGS, AND XOXOXO, ANN
