Spring Song

by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Hark, I hear a robin calling!
List, the wind is from the south!
And the orchard-bloom is falling
Sweet as kisses on the mouth.

In the dreamy vale of beeches
Fair and faint is woven mist,
And the river's orient reaches
Are the palest amethyst.

Every limpid brooke is singing
Of the lure of April days;
Every piney glen is ringing
With the maddest roundelays.

Come and let us seek together
Springtime lore of daffodils
Giving to the golden weather
Greeting on the sun-warm hills.

Ours shall be the moonrise stealing
Through the birches ivory-white;
Ours shall be the mystic healing
Of the velvet-footed night.

Ours shall be the gypsy winding
Of the path with violets blue,
Ours at last the wizard finding
Of the land where dreams come true.

Calling all lads and lassies

I can't claim any Irish blood running through my veins, but I have always been a bit enchanted by the Emerald Isle. Some random facts about me:

1. I love the color green.

2. A favorite word of mine has always been verdant: adj. green, lush, leafy, fresh, grassy, flourishing. Doesn't that describe Ireland perfectly?

3. I sing "Christmas in Kilarney" year round. Have for years. And I never get sick of it. (My family probably does, though.)

4. I wish I could really do Irish jigging. I try, but it is more a good workout for my abs (due to hysterical laughter at myself) than amazing dancing.

5. I love bagpipes and Celtic music and Irish pub songs.

6. "Darby O'Gill and the Little People" is a movie I truly enjoy. I mean, who doesn't love Sean Connery in his younger years - singing nonetheless - and little leprechauns dancing?

And, speaking of leprechauns . . .
This is the cutest little leprechaun I have ever seen. Don't you agree? He even led me to his pot of gold.

7. Thanks to my dear friend and true Irish lass, Sarah, I now love corned beef and cabbage. Unfortunately, Sarah is in Spain this year and so I missed my yearly feast with her. Even my kids missed it. I think I may actually try my hand at it on my own.

8. And Irish Potatoes. Ever had 'em? A couple will do ya - they are super sweet. But, oh, they are yummy. I actually have a recipe for homemade ones that I prefer to the overpriced store bought ones. And the kids love to help make them. You know what we'll be doing this afternoon!

If you want to try your own, here's the recipe (I usually halve it and it still makes a ton.)

1/2 lb. butter, softened

approximately 2 lbs. powdered sugar

approximately 1 large package coconut

approximately 1/3 c. light Karo syrup

approximately 2 T vanilla extract

cinnamon as needed

Mix (with your hands) butter, powdered sugar, coconut, Karo syrup, and vanilla. Knead it until you get a texture that is not too sticky but will hold together. (Add more sugar and coconut if needed.) Form mixture into small, round balls and roll in cinnamon. Voila! They look like tiny potatoes. (The filling also makes great little Easter eggs when dipped in melted chocolate.)

Anyway, enjoy your St. Patrick's Day! We will be filling out bellies with yummy food, jigging around the family room, and settling down to watch "Darby O'Gill and the Little People". One day I hope to search for wee folk myself in beautiful, lovely, verdant Ireland.

Luck 'o the Irish to You!

A little wiggle here . . .

My tooth is loose.

It won't come out.

My tooth is all I think about.

I wiggle it when I first get up.

I wiggle it when I pat my pup.

I wiggle it when I do my math.

I wiggle it when I take my bath.

Wiggle. Giggle. Wiggle. Giggle.

Will my tooth come out today?

Maybe I'll try to twist it this way. . .

Mom, Mom! My tooth came out!

Let's all dance, and sing, and shout!

First tooth lost

$2 gained

Super excited boy