Happy Saint Patrick's and Half-Way Day

 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! A friend recently said I was proud of being Irish. But, it's not so much that I feel proud, but that I feel part of a larger group. My father was more aware of his Irish roots than others; he and my sister even researched our family in Donegal. 

Dad always loved to sing. I can hear him singing, "If You're Irish (Come into the Parlour." It's a welcoming song with lyrics like, "whoever you are, you are one of us" and "this is the place for you." 

Two years ago, I wrote about my DNA results from Ancestry. My results indicated 50% Scottish and only 19% Irish. I felt adrift, as if what I thought I knew about myself wasn't true at all. 

But that wasn't the final analysis. Ancestry added additional records. 

The July 2024 update listed 25% Scottish and 24% Irish (followed by Germanic Europe, England and Northwestern Europe, Wales, Spain, and Iceland.)

When I logged into Ancestry over the weekend, the analysis didn't break out the Scottish from the Irish. 

Current results:

Celtic and Gaelic

31% Central Scotland and Northern Ireland

22% Donegal, Ireland

7% Southern Wales

4% Connacht, Ireland

England

20% Southeastern England & Northwestern Europe

15% North East England

Southeastern Europe 

1% Slovenia

So, Gaelic and Celtic it is with 64%. 

 

Today is also Jeff's and my half-way-day: we've been married 37.5 years. Happy anniversary Jeff.

Update: Moving, Stress, Another Walk-Thru, and An Anniversary

Jeff and I have been married 37 years today. With all of the moving to-dos, expenses, and stress, we're not up to a big celebration. We were going to go out to dinner, but I was leaning to getting takeout. Then Jeff suggested lunch. It was a late one. We had a new mattress and box spring delivered and were the last of the jobs. 

In the middle of the mattress delivery, I quickly vacuumed the floor--years of dog hair and dust. Hmm, dog hair and dust. Could be a cologne on Wednesday. 

Anyway, it was drizzly when we finally headed out around 2:45, and we wanted to take Jace.  As we were waiting for the mattress, I researched dog friendly Norwalk restaurants that had covered outdoor dining areas. I selected Tavern on 7. It's basically a sports bar, but had some interesting specials. Unfortunately, they were out of the special I really wanted, shrimp bisque. A good lunch, but loud being right on Route 7. Our take-out dinner entree (I didn't want to cook today) and dessert were mediocre. 

People are telling me I'm going to miss Norwalk when we go. Right now, I'm pretty jaded with/by Norwalk Of course, it's more the people I'll miss. I've spent over half of my life here in Norwalk, in this condo. I hope I will find some fond memories.

We're driving down to Maryland tomorrow. Friday will be our second walk-thru of our condo. I'm packing some basic supplies in my car--what I can fit. It will be our first time seeing it empty.

We changed our moving date from September 25th to October 2. That gives us another week;  I hope it will be enough. 

Cinco de Mayo, Lola, Rabbits, and Traffic

Today is Cinco de Mayo, but it feels more like Cinco de Marzo. It's cold with a high of 52 degrees, overcast or rainy. I had to break out my gloves again. We'll celebrate Cinco de Mayo indoors. I made sure to use our Cinco de Mayo beagle towel today. 

May 5 is also Lola's designated birthday. We selected it because it was Spike's half-way day (explanation here.) We've had a lot of Lola's days recently. We still miss her. 

On Thursday, Jace and I saw our first rabbit of the season on our morning walk. Yesterday, we saw our second. This rabbit didn't react to Jace, just sat there. I urged it run away and it did. Eventually. 

There was a horrible three-vehicle fiery accident on Thursday that took out all the lanes of I-95; all vehicles had to leave the highway and most ended up on Route 1. That was also the day I finally returned to the gym on Route 1. Needless to say, the traffic was horrendous. Luckily, the highway has been reopened. Unfortunately, the fire seriously damaged the Fairfield Avenue Bridge, and it was demolished over the weekend. It will take about a year to rebuild, so we'll continue to have traffic issues. Walking with Jace on Saturday, I was surprised at how much traffic I saw on side, side roads. It shouldn't be as bad as it was on Saturday, but we'll have to deal with detours and additional traffic for awhile. 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

 

Jeff and I marked the occasion by going to Sedona Tap House for lunch: pulled pork and Kobe beef sliders, greens, shoestring fries, and Guinesses.

I've always considered myself more Irish than any other ethnicity. I look Irish; my last name is Irish. The other ethnicity I was conscious of is German. 

Then I took a DNA test from Ancestry.com. The results were a surprise: 

• Scotland 50% 
• Ireland 19%
• Sweden and Denmark 11%
• England and Northwestern Europe 11%
• Wales 7%
• Germanic Europe 2% 

Still Irish enough to celebrate. 

And happy half-way day Jeff. 

35

Jeff and I got married 35 years ago today. 

My mother said I had wasted too much time on two old boyfriends and would probably never get married. A random co-worker said, "Aren't you kind of old to be getting married?" 

Whatever. Here we are. Happy anniversary and half-way day.

Erin go Bragh

I didn't have the greatest morning. Only one washing machine in the building was working. I did two loads of laundry here and three in the Maple Street building next door. At Oyster Shell Park, a policeman lectured me about how the park did not allow dogs. Hey--at least Jace and I had finished our walk.

Then Jeff suggested we go to Sedona Tap House after he finished working. We had Kobe beef sliders and Guinness. It was nice to get out and turn the day around. 

Happy Half-way Day Jeff. 

For Spike and Lola

Today is Spike's birthday; he would have been 21. Okay, I know that's not a realistic age for a beagle; we were happy that Chinese herbs helped Spike reach 15. Spike joined us when he was one-and-one-third years old. We gave him a good life, and he gave us love, joy, and new dog park friends. Every year around this time, I think a lot about him. I still love Spike and miss him. Here are a few of my favorite pictures of him.

Lola joined us four months after Spike died. She was around five then. She's been with us for over five-and-a-half years. We didn't know her real birthday and picked May 5th because it's Spike's half-way day

Here are some pictures of our sweet Lola. 

Jeff and I have been blessed with two wonderful beagles. For one thing, both Spike and Lola like to sleep in. We never had dogs getting us up at 5 or 6 AM. 

Beagles are love.

Happy Birthday Spike

Spike's been gone for almost five years, but he is still often in our thoughts. We will never forget him. He would have been 20 today. 

Jeff suggested we honor him and Lola (this is her designated half-way day) with a steak dinner. That works for me.

Here are a few of my favorite photos of Spike.

Here's one of Lola.

Thinking about Spike

As we were walking along the NRVT on Sunday, I suddenly realized why I'd been thinking so much about Spike lately.

Today is his birthday; he would have been 19. Here are a few pictures of Spike from this blog through the years.

Spike was special; he is special. That's why he's the star of this blog with 169 posts so far.

I need to write his story.

Today is also Lola's designated half-way day. Since we don't know her real birthday, we chose May 5.

We're lucky to have shared our lives with these two special pups. 

Lola's Birthday Weekend

Sunday was Lola's designated birthday. I had hoped for nice weather so we could go out for lunch at Sedona Tap House or The Beer Garden in Stamford. Jeff and I both bought steak for dinner. We hadn't discussed our purchases beforehand--just thinking along the same lines.

The weather was nice Saturday and it was New Canaan Dog Days. First, we did the Paws Walk on the New Canaan Nature Center's trails. Lola loved it--lots of good scents for her. Then we checked out all the vendors and got many food and treat samples.

We stayed to watch some Doggie Fun Zone runs. We used to see Doggie Fun Zone at Taylor Farm; Spike loved it. I remember staying at the park all Sunday afternoon so Spike could run it over and over. At first Lola seemed scared of the sound of the lure; later she acted as if she wanted to run the course. We signed her up, but she didn't even complete the first turn. Oh well.

We had lunch al fresco at Sedona Tap House. Sliders, fries, and a flatbread with a flight of four margaritas. Later Jeff made us a steak dinner.

Sunday was raw and rainy day--not a fun day. We made the best of it and celebrated with a duck dinner. We remembered Spike. May 5 was his half-way day. That's why we chose it as Lola's birthday. It was a way to honor both of them.

St. Patrick's Day

Found this image in my files--this is timely.

I had two tutoring appointments today. Jeff made a Guiness lamb stew. As it cooked in the crock pot, he met me at Sedona Tap House for snacks and beers.

I was a little disappointed that there was nothing at Sedona Tap House to indicate the day. Even the Italian deli next to my office had a shamrock in its planter. It was still a nice afternoon. We miss the Brewhouse in South Norwalk--now it's an office of a marketing company. They had good food with Irish specials, Irish music and dancers.

Things change.

Home to walk Lola and then have a good dinner.

Happy half-way day Jeff.

Red Letter Day

Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo.

Kentucky Derby day.

The Norwalk River Valley Trail Mutt Strut day.

Lola's designated birthday.

Spike's half-way day.

and.............

drum roll.......

Lola walked around the block with us for the first time.

Let's build up to that.

We met other dogs and people at the Route 7 commuter parking lot at 10 for the Mutt Strut. A police officer stopped traffic for us so we could cross busy Route 7. Lola seemed comfortable--a vast improvement over last week's crossing. Maybe we just need a police escort for her at all times. It was cooler and less humid than the previous few days--perfect for a long walk. We walked over an hour--Lola set a slow pace with lots of sniffing stops.

We picked up a goodie bag after we finished and headed to Mathews Park for the Norwalk portion of the Mutt Strut. After another 45 minutes--walking to Oyster Shell Park and back--we went to lunch at Burger Bar, where dogs are welcome and people tolerated.

All three of us dozed off after we returned home. I felt like another walk, but didn't want to drive somewhere. At first Lola was afraid to leave the parking lot. I took her out front, and we sat on the steps for a few minutes. Then we started our walk, turning onto Maple. Our previous best had been a walk up Maple, turning onto Fairview where Lola balked.

Yesterday we made it completely around the block (technically six block lengths.) Lola didn't seem to mind when a few cars passed us. She enjoyed herself. We saw her happy face the whole time.

We're so proud of her; it was a special birthday.

First Friday of May

April was a cold month with a few exceptions; it ended on a cold note. On May 1st temperatures jumped 30 degrees. This meant several nice walks with Lola during the week. We visited three different parts of the Wilton branch of the Norwalk River Valley Trail, Taylor Farm and Oyster Shell Parks.

Last night was the return of DPF (Dog Park Friday.) I put Lola's short leash on her and let her run semi-free. We've been doing this at DPF with her long leash for about a year. Unfortunately, the long leash gets caught under the picnic table, and we have to release her.

After we got home and gave Lola her dinner, Jeff and I headed out to First Friday Wall Street Lantern Parade. Some people carried handmade lanterns--probably made in the Norwalk Public Library's lantern assembly party that afternoon. It was fun; as we passed Banc House, people applauded us. We had a beer at Fat Cat  and got take-out pizza and kale salad.

First Friday was a beautiful spring night.

Erin Go Bragh

Here's to a happy Saint Patrick Day's by the numbers.

For Jeff and me, a  special half-way day.

Spike and Lola and Fall Back

Today is Spike's birthday; he would have been 17. It's also Lola's half-way--based on her designated birthday of May 5.

Jeff cooked today. For breakfast, he made blueberry pancakes. We drank toasts of prosecco to Lola and Spike. Later we all went to Schenck's Island for a walk. It was raining lightly for much of our walk, but Lola was intrigued by various scents. I remember Spike also seemed to especially love the scents after it rained.

We had a snack of pumpkin-apple soup and toast in the late afternoon before I headed out for a tutoring appointment. When I returned Jeff had made a prosecco drink and a dinner of flank steak, broccoli and a veggie medley of potatoes, peppers, onion and garlic. (I love the term vegetable medley.) Delicious.

Then we watched Outlander and vegged: a nice evening together.

We miss you Spike; we'll love you forever.

Happy half-way day Lola: we will make you happy.

Happy Birthday Lola!

We don't know Lola's real birthday. We designated today as her day mainly because it is Spike's half-way day. Making today her birthday gives Lola a link to Spike.

Unfortunately, today was not the best. It rained all day. Lola and I managed a walk with just light rain by going out around 7 AM. We returned home to brown water running from our spigots. I didn't wash my hair. I didn't do the laundry. I was hesitant to clean veggies and cook with the brown water.

We got take-out for dinner. Jeff brought home steak for a proper celebration tomorrow. He assures me that Lola won't mind waiting another day.

We'll make it up to her.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day and Half-Way Day!

I don't know anyone who celebrates today as a religious holiday. Let's face it--at least here in the US-most people just use today as an excuse to drink. We had a few Guinnesses with dinner and are now drinking Irish whiskey. 

Since my family is from northern Ireland, we usually choose Bushmills, as my father suggested. He got me into the habit of noting what Irish whiskies are available in bars. He would have loved bar-hopping in Boston where many bars had both Bushmills and Jameson.

Today is also Jeff''s and my half-way day. Here's the story of now we discovered the concept of half-way day.