The sun is setting on this ST PATRICK'S DAY. It began with the making of 
traditional Irish Soda Bread and bringing it to the office along with some Irish Breakfast Tea. My recipe for the Irish soda bread tastes like a creamy, caraway scone...real butter is encouraged, and the tea was the perfect beverage that hour of the day.
The traditional Irish Blessing is offered with the bread.
This afternoon I was back at my computer, and happened to come across a really cool photograph of a St. Patrick's Day parade in Belfast, Ireland. The photo was very interesting (and very cute!) and slightly confusing, as the young paraders were all wearing curly, purple wigs, orange shirts and yellow coveralls...a few were carrying yokes with milk buckets hanging off of them, and some were carrying large, paper-machie mushrooms, painted in oranges, reds and blues. My first thought was: 'Are we color blind?' I don't understand the lack of green, and I'd love to learn the story behind this colorful St. Patrick's Day parade that lacked GREEN! I was entirely enthused about sharing the photo find. It was posted by the Associated Press. For the first time ever, I actually went through the process of writing to them for permission to use this photo for a blog post---and, of course, promising to credit AP and anything else they wanted.
After several emails back and forth, mainly reassuring them of my intent, I was told I could post it for one month for $75 or for a year for $150, and then it would have to be removed. NO LUCK! I was more worried that I might forget to remove it in a year, and then I'd worry all year about forgetting. I just couldn't afford it financially or psychologically, if you know what I mean. I was not happy to have my fun spoiled. I really wanted to share it with YOU! So...a little leprechaun sketched it out and did somewhat of a rendering of the photo. I hope it gives you an idea of the St. Patrick's Day Parade today, in Belfast, Ireland----with colors like you'd never expect at a parade on this day---like the one in Chicago!
WISHING YOU LUCK FOR A HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!
© Copyright 2009 - This posting and the contents written here, except where noted, are the property of Mara Hawks, All Rights Reserved
Active in Alabama, Mara Hawks, REALTOR with FIRST REALTY of Auburn, AL, #1 Real Estate Team in Lee County, THE LEADER in professional real estate services in Auburn, Opelika & Lee County for over 3 decades! Committed to INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE.
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One of out Title Reps brought by Irish Bread today, with fresh butter.
Can we say yummy?
Helloooo Mara, I love the drawing!!! That bread looks good too...but I'm still waiting for that cookie recipe young lady.
I have never had it. I will have to try. I like tea, but tonight I think I will have some green beer. Thank you for sharing and I wish you the best.
Missy - yes, YES! OMG Yummy!!
Cynthia - where are my marbles??? I have it written on 2 or 3 lists already! (It's gonna happen, I promise!)
Nate - Green tea is a good choice too! Enjoy the 'Pints & Quarts' (and mind your "P's & Q's") this evening!
Best to you today too...though I know it's a traditional bread it would probably go down better with a glass of Bushmills?
Happy St. Patricks day ! Here's to good food and better friends.
That bread looks beyond yummy-- and with butter -- you just know it. Yum.
I was a little under the weather yesterday so I never got the chance to come by and say HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!
Your Irish Bread looks delicious! And I think you're rendering of the parade is more fun that the photograph...although I haven't seen the photograph. Great Job!
It might not be St. Paddy's Day today, but I did just finish a plate of left over Corned Beef and Cabbage. Your photo of the bread really looks inviting....but since I am late, guess it's all gone. Have a great week my friend :)
Yummmm. Why didn't you bring any with you??? LOL :)
Really loved meeting you this week!
Hello Mara,
Just got around to reading your great blogs and wanted to comment on your confusion of why orange and not green
Here is Answers response: "Orange is symbolic of Irish Protestants while green is symbolic of Irish Catholics. On the Irish flag, there is an orange stripe, a green stripe and a white stripe. The orange is for the Protestants, the green is for the Catholics and the white is for the hope of peace between the two."
Thanks for the Irish blessing. My husband is English Irish and explained the origin of wearing orange to me years ago, when he would wear his orange tie and I wore my green clothes for the sake of my Irish Catholic name.