I is for Italian

I is for Italian.

No, not salad dressing.

My Italian.  My honey.

Well... only half Italian really.  His Dad's side of the family is 100% Italian.
He's as good as they come and I think I'll keep him.

 (Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

(family photos may not be borrowed or pinned)

I is also for immigrant.   And immigration policy. And speaking of that (I know that I'm opening a whole can of worms here, but...) what do you all think about our borders and our government's current immigration policy?   If it were up to you, what would you do to make it better? 

Today is Alphabet-Thursday.  Visit Jenny's to see all the other I posts. 

Irish Dance Solo Dresses

 (Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

Here is daughter and one of her best friends at an Irish Dance competition at Gaelic Park in Chicago a few years ago.   They met in an Irish dance class when they were about 9 or 10 years old and have been friends ever  since.  

I wanted to show you some of the fantastic dresses Irish dancers wear when they compete on stage.  These are "solo dresses".  Each one is different.  Some are designed by the girls themselves.  These dresses have to be earned.  Girls have to advance to a certain level in competition before they are allowed to wear a solo dress.  Each girl will also have a school costume, which they wear for their first few years of dancing (before they qualify for a solo dress), and later for team dances when uniformity in look is important.

These pictures represent various styles of solo dresses from the past 10 years of Irish dance.  Note the different fabrics and styles as fads came and went in the competition world.

   

Have you picked out a favorite? Or two? Or three?

(Only two of the dresses above belonged to my daughter.   The others were owned by other dancers.  I found most of these pictures at the websites that sell new or used solo dresses.)

I am linking to Mary's Mosaic Monday.    And Cuisine Kathleen's St Patrick's Blog Crawl.  

  

Irish Blessings

"May your home always be too small to hold all your friends."

"May you have warm words on a cold evening, 

a full moon on a dark night, 

and a smooth road all the way to your door."

"May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.  

And trouble avoid you wherever you go."

"May the saddest day of your future 

be no worse than the happiest day of your past."

"May those that love us, love us.

                                   And those that don’t love us,

May God turn their hearts.

And if he doesn't turn their hearts,

May he turn their ankles,

So we'll know them by their limping."

On Tuesday, March 16, Kathleen is hosting the St. Patrick's Day blog crawl.  I hope you can join in.

Announcing Winners of the Giveaway

Goodmorning everyone!  I had Mr. Garden draw the winners for the Giveaway and they are:

For Giveaway #1

Mimi   of  In the Middle of Nowhere


  And


For Giveaway #2

Carolien  of   Carolien's Stitches and Patches


Congratulations!

H is For Hoolie!

H is for Hoolie!  That's Gaelic for party.  It's all about good company, good music and good fun!
If you are from around here, the Hoolie is held the weekend before St. Patrick's day and includes a little bit of this:

(The O'Riada Academy Of Irish Dance Performing Group.  I did not take these pictures.  I think one of the other  parents did.)

And a little bit of this:   The Elders!!




It's Alphabe-Thursday, so head over to Jenny Matlock's to read all the other H posts.

Don't forget to enter your name into the drawing for my little giveaway.  Let me know if you want to enter and if you are interested in  #1, #2 or both.  Last chance to sign up is Friday.  I will draw names on Saturday morning.   Good luck to everyone!

Afternoon Tea For One

Gathering up everything I need to make a simple pot of afternoon tea for one.  The kettle will be whistling soon.   Since St Patrick's day is coming up and it's only me, I'm using my shamrock 'Herself'  mug.

Twinings Earl Grey is one of my favorite teas.   And I really love my speckled green/brown 'Denby Greystone' teapot.  It has a delightful round shape!  

Do you use a teapot or do you make tea right in the mug?  I use a teapot to brew my tea.   Do you use loose tea or a teabag?  I use both.   Do you use milk? Sugar? Lemon?  I only use lemon in mine, but bring out the milk and sugar when friends are over.  

I sliced up the lemon and put it in a little green 'Block Optic' depression glass dish.

Ummm.   The tea is such a perfect golden honey color after you add a squeeze of lemon.  And it tastes great!  Such a wonderful way to relax for a few minutes each day.

I have a little giveaway going on at my blog this week.  Come on over and enter your name.  You do NOT have to be a follower (unless you want to)  and I WILL ship internationally.

Be sure you stop by Rhondi's to see all the pretty tables set for tea at  Tea Party Tuesday,  and
Katherine's for Tea Time Tuesday.

Thank You Friends! And A Giveaway At Garden Of Daisies

Two things happened this weekend.  The last bit of snow melted and we are completely snow free for the first time since Christmas Eve!   YAY!!     I also hit a milestone here at Garden of Daisies, with my 100th follower.   WOW!  I don't really know how that happened, but it did.  

I want to say THANK YOU  to all of you who have followed my blog and made such kind and thoughful comments over these past few months!  I feel as though you are becoming treasured friends.    So, I thought I'd celebrate with my first giveaway.   Actually two little giveaways.

Little Giveaway #1:   Posy Garden

Vintage Green and Pink Daisy Hankie

 Little Victorian Floral Refrigerator Magnets

Sunflower Recipe Cards 

Waving Wheat - Oatmeal, Milk and Honey Soap

Little Giveaway #2:  Farm To Market

Large Canvas Shopping Bag With Fruit and Veggie Design (and fun food quotes on the back)

Sunflower Recipe Cards

Waving Wheat- Oatmeal, Milk and Honey Soap

Here is what you need to do to enter:
* Leave me a comment under this giveaway announcement post, or any other posts to my blog this week (between today, Monday Mar. 8 and  and Friday Mar. 12)  and let me know you want to be entered.   Tell me if you want only #1 (Posy Garden),  or  only #2 (Farm To Market),  or  both.  (If you do not specify, I will automatically enter you in both.)
*For an additional chance to win, you can mention my giveaway on your blog.   Please let me know if you do that.  (Yes, you may use pictures from this post to share info about the giveaway.)

That's it.  Simple!

I will draw the winning names on Saturday morning, March 13, so be sure to check back here.

*The giveaway is not limited to those in the USA.  I will mail to international blogging friends if they enter and win.   

*It is possible to win both #1 and #2.  I will not remove your name from the drawing for #2 just because you already have won #1.   

*You do not have to be a "follower" to win.  I do enjoy making new friends, but I don't want anyone to feel pressured to follow me.

(My mosaics this week were just the giveaways.  But you can see lots of fun creative mosaics over at Mary's.

Fish And Chips And Irish Stew

We had a yummy dinner at a local Irish restaurant.   Mr. Garden had fish and chips.

I had Irish stew.  Delicious!

The restaurant's cozy booths, dark wood wainscoting, sports team jersey's and posters created a fun and welcoming feel.    

 Anyone going  to an Irish breakfast or to the parade on St Patrick's Day?