Well, last night's dinner party was a success. Excellent conversation, good food, lots of wine flowing..
And then you wake up Sunday morning and it is a fine sunny day and you think Spring! But you look out the window and the temperature is -11C. Oh well.
However, I am a glass-half full kind of gal, and it IS a sunny day, and though I didn't sleep well (blame it on the cupcakes, not the sparkling rose), I have woken up to a radio full of Irish music.
I am quite sure if I have Irish blood in me it is well hidden. Nor will I be going to any big celebrations today at one of our local pubs, where the green beer (!) will flow freely and a close friend of mine, an Irishman through and through, will likely drink half of it. I will wear some green, because well, I like green, especially emerald green. I was tickled pink (sort of ironically intended) this past week when reading the great blog, That Damned Green Dress to read that she will NOT be wearing green today, so I will do it for her, though I don't have any plans and the only ones who will get the benefit of my nod to the Irish will be my family, who likely will not notice anyhow. My son has green eyes and looks spectacular in green, but he avoids all colour now, because well, hipsters wear black. I will be glad when he embraces colour again!
I love all shades of green, though I do think that Emerald is my favourite shade (you recall my post earlier in the week about my new Swamp Thing bracelet - now I am second guessing myself - was it the Swamp Thing or the Creature from the Black Lagoon that glowed? Oh the dilemmas I face in this world and I am too lazy this morning to look that up!) both because of the Wizard of Oz and because I look good in that colour. We are in the end, slaves to those things that make us look, and I have those weird kind of eyes that can look green or blue depending on what I wear. My favourite piece of green clothing is a green cashmere long sleeved T shirt from J Crew I bought a couple of years ago that is heathered green with bits of yellow wool and I love it. Once I am dressed, I may even take a picture of me in it, depending on how soon I look less bleary-eyed...
If I had a decorating mantra, which I don't but should try to get one soon, it would be to surround yourself in colours that you love and that make you look good. Looking around my immediate surroundings, I see green everywhere.
The kitchen
My plants
A chair and a throw
A small pot made by my grandmother in the 1950s
The green leather chair we bought many years ago when Barry was promoted. Why do we buy things when people are promoted? Hmmm... Must have been because we needed a chair and we had some more money!
Some plates from Anthropologie
A bottle of vermouth...
Yes, I am surrounded by soothing shades of green. Green symbolizes nature and is supposed to be the most relaxing colour to decorate with, so is it any wonder that people are adding food colouring to their beer on St. Paddy's Day? All those relaxed folks, sitting around the pubs as soon as they open this morning, singing with their friends...
And in that spirit, I will leave you with a little treat, Steve Earle singing his wonderful song, Galway Girl, which I adore:
So if you are Irish, I wish you the best of days! And if you are like me, and simply like the Irish and the colour green, well enjoy the day, too!
Happy St. Patrick's Day and have a wonderful Sunday! Stay safe out there! me? I am off to see if TCM is playing The Quiet Man sometime today...
And then you wake up Sunday morning and it is a fine sunny day and you think Spring! But you look out the window and the temperature is -11C. Oh well.
However, I am a glass-half full kind of gal, and it IS a sunny day, and though I didn't sleep well (blame it on the cupcakes, not the sparkling rose), I have woken up to a radio full of Irish music.
I am quite sure if I have Irish blood in me it is well hidden. Nor will I be going to any big celebrations today at one of our local pubs, where the green beer (!) will flow freely and a close friend of mine, an Irishman through and through, will likely drink half of it. I will wear some green, because well, I like green, especially emerald green. I was tickled pink (sort of ironically intended) this past week when reading the great blog, That Damned Green Dress to read that she will NOT be wearing green today, so I will do it for her, though I don't have any plans and the only ones who will get the benefit of my nod to the Irish will be my family, who likely will not notice anyhow. My son has green eyes and looks spectacular in green, but he avoids all colour now, because well, hipsters wear black. I will be glad when he embraces colour again!
I love all shades of green, though I do think that Emerald is my favourite shade (you recall my post earlier in the week about my new Swamp Thing bracelet - now I am second guessing myself - was it the Swamp Thing or the Creature from the Black Lagoon that glowed? Oh the dilemmas I face in this world and I am too lazy this morning to look that up!) both because of the Wizard of Oz and because I look good in that colour. We are in the end, slaves to those things that make us look, and I have those weird kind of eyes that can look green or blue depending on what I wear. My favourite piece of green clothing is a green cashmere long sleeved T shirt from J Crew I bought a couple of years ago that is heathered green with bits of yellow wool and I love it. Once I am dressed, I may even take a picture of me in it, depending on how soon I look less bleary-eyed...
If I had a decorating mantra, which I don't but should try to get one soon, it would be to surround yourself in colours that you love and that make you look good. Looking around my immediate surroundings, I see green everywhere.
The kitchen
A chair and a throw
A small pot made by my grandmother in the 1950s
The green leather chair we bought many years ago when Barry was promoted. Why do we buy things when people are promoted? Hmmm... Must have been because we needed a chair and we had some more money!
 |
| Knityarns - knitting basket still out - not used yet, but waiting for me! |
A bottle of vermouth...
Yes, I am surrounded by soothing shades of green. Green symbolizes nature and is supposed to be the most relaxing colour to decorate with, so is it any wonder that people are adding food colouring to their beer on St. Paddy's Day? All those relaxed folks, sitting around the pubs as soon as they open this morning, singing with their friends...
And in that spirit, I will leave you with a little treat, Steve Earle singing his wonderful song, Galway Girl, which I adore:
So if you are Irish, I wish you the best of days! And if you are like me, and simply like the Irish and the colour green, well enjoy the day, too!
Happy St. Patrick's Day and have a wonderful Sunday! Stay safe out there! me? I am off to see if TCM is playing The Quiet Man sometime today...
GREEN SCENE Well, WMM, a pox on green beer, but my single favourite Irish celebration is how they dye the river emerald in Chicago (with a natural, eco-friendly splash these days). Really like your g-mas handcrafted vase and glad your fete was usual success. I have finally grown out of sonny boy's penchant for black and feel the better for it. That jumper sounds cosy. My only nod to the occasion will be a few pages of some Irish writer (not Angela's Ashes ilk, too grim.) That and looking at the dancing lassies and lad on Google. Have a great one!
ReplyDeleteDid you get your new sabbatical chair (for the family room) yet - or is it still on order?
DeleteNope - no chair yet - first chair ever ordered cutom made! Wow - I never even made the connection to major life events and our penchant for purchasing new chairs until this am! We have no more room in this house - no more chairs after this! Wait till you come visit -you will see that there are chairs for every person who reads this blog!!! Angela's Ashes is a bit grim - something lighter perhaps!
DeleteI would love to be in Chicago to see the river turn green!
As noted, definitely no Angela. And funny the chairs are some kind of milestone, take a seat and celebrate/ think thing. My Dad's basement "party/rec room" is sorta same, think four rockers all inherited from various greats, *squeak, thump*. However does also some cane seat Amish/ Mennonite type chairs dragged back in back of station wagon from PA. Must get story and will be stealing for ceildahs some day (they stack).
DeleteOophs ceilidh.
DeleteI will be interested to hear that story!
DeleteWell my dear it sounds like you might be a little green around the gills as well this morning! ;) I remember feeling that way last Sunday morning!
ReplyDeleteI am Irish but I will be avoiding all of the pubs etc today. I will wear green and toast my picture of my Irish American ancestors, one of my most prized possessions, my great-grandfather sits in the corner of the photo as just a wee lad. It's a picture that people find really creepy as the family resemblance is so startling. I call it The Others. Do you remember that movie with Nicole Kidman?
I remember The Others and actually liked it - it was creepy good.
DeleteThat is so funny Dani! We have a picture of my grandfather as a little boy that looks EXACTLY like my son and I and another of him at age 18 and his hair is even identical to my son's. We had them up at my dad's funeral and people kept remarking about it! I love stuff like that!!!
DeleteAnd I am like Kathy - thought the Other was creepy good!
I love all your green home things, and that vase your grandmother made is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathy - both of my grandmothers were really creative - I really need to start exploring that side of me!
DeleteHow was the studio tour yesterday?
Kathy have a good trip! And WMM, have your tried a low cluster of your beloved peonies in that vase? Not sure of scale, maybe too small, but the colours would be brill.
DeleteYOu know - it is funny - I hardly use it as a vase! Will definitely think of that when my peonies arrive this year! They are late out m way - I have 10 or 12 around my property, but due to our elevation and zone, don't bloom till end of June!
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ReplyDeleteHappy St. Patrick's day to you WMM! I have always felt that people surround themselves in colors that flatter them. I am green-eyed too, and have plenty of green in my house. The leather chair you picture could be custom made for me- dark green is my favorite, and as I have lamented before, the Tippi cardigan in Garland is my "one that got away" this year. I was very heartened to note quite a bit of dark green on the runway this year, so maybe next fall there will be another iteration. That chair with in that cozy nook with a knitting basket looks heavenly! If nothing in that basket is inspiring you to pick up your needles, start a small, portable and new project, just to get your feet wet. Thanks for the glimpse into all of the special green spots of your home. Lovely and individual. Enjoy the wearing of the green today!
ReplyDeleteThanks Knityarns! Good advice on the knitting project! I hope the garland comes back around again - they usually do a slight variation. I think we will be "in the green" for at least another year!
DeleteSorry, running late. Green eyed, pale skinned, mistaken for Irish a lot. Dunkin Donuts lady pinched the guy ahead of me and all I could think of was "Bitch better not pinch me". Feeling feisty today. Oh, I think she read my thoughts.
ReplyDelete