When Irish eyes are smilin'...

EDIT: I'm bringing up last year's post so that I can join in Kathleen's St. Patrick's Day blog hop. I've just been too swamped since getting home from our 6 wk vacation to catch up & re-photograph everything.
We're getting company for the weekend & I'm up to my eyeballs in preparations.
My Irish decorations & menu are exactly the same as last year anyway! LOL Enjoy!

Come join the party!
Kathleen at Cuisine Kathleen is having her
2nd...make that 3rd! annual St. Patrick's Day blog party.



Feel free to listen to the music while
you scroll through the pictures.



We've been busy getting ready for days!

The front entrance is decorated.



The windsocks are flying freely

in the March winds.

So is my bow!

( see below)

We've got 4-leaf clovers & Ireland's flag on display.


I made DGD Caroline a jumper to wear

for the celebration.

I've got my sweater ready, too.

The bakers rack in the kitchen has

lots of Irish items on display.

A basket with shamrock ribbon trim,

filled with chocolate candies

is My pot o' gold.

Princess Caroline has her own little candy stash

A Limoges plate to remind us
of our golf trip to Ireland,
where we played Ballybunion!

(poorly...too busy looking down the cliffs to the ocean)

I've made recipes
from this cookbook
all month long.

Darina Allen was featured on the Today Show last year &
just this past week Bobby Flay
interviewed her on his "Taste of Ireland" show.

She is probably Ireland's best known chef & owns Ballymaloe Cookery School located in the middle of its own 100-acre organic farm in Shanagarry, Co Cork, Ireland which is the county from which my ancestors originated.

The school's philosophy believes in the sustainable use of resources.
They avoid waste by using seasonal produce,
being conscious of 'food miles'
(the distance between the farmer & the plate)
& keeping to a minimum use of imported ingredients.
Very environmentally sensitive.

I hope to someday return to Ireland.
Its on my *Bucket List*.

Even my orchid put on a green & white show!

The kitchen table is set with
cute placemats from Kohls.

I made the napkins using a
3-thread narrow rolled
hem on my serger.
Fast & Easy!

The salad plates are part of a series by Fitz & Floyd

with various fruit motifs on each.


You'll see the rest of them in a future tablescape.

The large green leaf platter is
from Portugal & was a prize in a
golf tournament over 15 years ago.
Fun memories!

Hey, who moved that napkin out of place???

Honey!!

(wanna bet he was sneaking an olive & wiped his fingers)

The bowls for the Irish stew are
from Pier One Imports several years ago.

We have shamrock shaped muffins along
with homemade bread. Yum!

I'll share the recipe for this sourdough bread
made from my own starter in a later post.


I made Colcannon
using Cathy's recipe
found on her wonderful blog
Wives with Knives

Delicious & my most
favorite Irish side dish.


I made the muffins as well as
green Jell-O shamrocks
with this Wilton mold:

Caroline got a kick out of these!

The casserole cover, below, is
to keep food warm during transport.







I made it from 2 placemats.
I machine embroidered the design,
sewed 3 sides together then
added a button & buttonhole for closure.
A 9"x13" dish fits inside perfectly!

We've got cupcakes &
shamrock cookies for dessert.

I made Cuisine Kathleen's best ever Irish Soda Bread.

I cut the recipe in 1/2 & did a free form loaf.

It was wonderful!

Even my flowers
are showing off
their GREEN for the occasion!

My herb pots are struggling.
Not much sun in Ohio lately.



A little round table has been
set for tea in the bedroom.

The dining room table was
set early for photos
with green Chantilly Tiara dishes.
(Reproduction Depression Glass, 1980's)

Company is coming for dinner
so the faux botanicals went on the buffet &
fresh flowers adorn the table.

The napkin rings now hold a wee
bit of water & a few fresh buds.



Desserts are going to be easy!





After that,
a vintage American cut
glass wedding box


sparkles in the light
and holds chocolate treats
to go with Irish coffee
or tea, if they prefer.

Bask in the warm glow of the fire
as the evening fades &
a FUN party comes to a close.


Thank you, Kathleen, for allowing us
to share the festivities
with you & each other.

"May you always be blessed

with walls for the wind,

a roof for the rain,

a warm cup of tea by the fire,

laughter to cheer you,

those you love near you,

and all that your heart might desire."

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Everybody!

Fondly,