Happy St. Patrick's Day

(check out Karen's Whimsy for all kinds of cool vintage art,
like the postcards I have throughout today's post.)

Ah, the day when everyone suddenly remembers that somewhere on their family tree there is a twig extending into Ireland. (I should know; my dad claims the island in his heritage whenever it is convenient to be Irish. He also claimed ancestry in each of the countries we visited last year when we were visiting my brother in Europe.)


Some of my favorite quotes about this day, and Ireland in general:


May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
~Irish Blessing

There's a dear little plant that grows in our isle,
'Twas St Patrick himself, sure, that set it;
And the sun on his labor with pleasure did smile,
And with dew from his eye often wet it.
It thrives through the bog, through the brake, and the mireland;
And he called it the dear little shamrock of Ireland...
~Andrew Cherry

Oh, the music in the air!
An' the joy that's ivrywhere -
Shure, the whole blue vault of heaven is wan grand triumphal arch,
An' the earth below is gay
Wid its tender green th'-day,
Fur the whole world is Irish on the Seventeenth o' March!
~Thomas Augustin Daly















Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter
Lullabies, dreams, and love ever after.
Poems and songs with pipes and drums
A thousand welcomes when anyone comes.
~Author Unknown


For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way -
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.
~Author Unknown



The list of Irish saints is past counting; but in it all no other figure is so human, friendly, and lovable as St. Patrick - who was an Irishman only by adoption.
~Stephen Gwynn


And my favorite:
Never iron a four-leaf clover, because you don't want to press your luck.
~Author Unknown

Have a wonderfully green and lucky day!