“Trees,” he said.
A bit disappointed in my creative artist, I followed up……. “Okay, how about thoughts on the Irish?”
“Emer,” he said, referencing our Irish friend from New York.
Turns out that George does not remember hearing of St. Patrick’s Day until adulthood.
“No pinching?” I asked.
“For what?” he replied.
(pictured above, The Three Brothers United, acrylic on canvas, 2008)
Determined to blog on St. Patrick’s Day, I’m faced with no stories and little text. Rather than give up, I perused the archives and found a collection of appropriate paintings, sprinkled throughout this post.
(pictured below, In the Greenhouse Again, acrylic on linen, 2000)
For a guy who (this is the truth) asked me yesterday,
“What date is St. Patrick’s Day this year?,”
…George embraces green, and not only in the trees.
(pictured below, Blue Moon at Midnight, acrylic on linen, 2010)
In honor of our friend Emer Ferguson, who introduced us to Cadbury Chocolates, Mini Shepherd’s Pies, and Irish Coffee with Delectable Cream, George and I honor the Irish not only today, but often throughout the year. Although we avoid the Irish whiskey and the stout Guinness beer, we toast Emer and her country on St. Patrick’s Day with a glass of champagne (on my part) and a collection of green paintings by George.
(pictured, Born with a Green Thumb, acrylic on linen, 2001)
I also share with you a few of my favorite Irish authors, recommending Anne Enright’s The Gathering and Colum McCann’s Let the Great World Spin, both excellent titles gifted to me by my Irish friend.
(pictured, Don’t Grow Grass on Me, acrylic on linen, 2001)
Finally, I leave you with an Irish blessing and wishes for a Happy St. Patrick’s Day-
“May the light always find you on a dreary day.
When you need to be home, may you find your way.
May you always have courage to take a chance
And never find frogs in your underpants.”*
Wendy
*Undated, Anonymous
Pictured above, Emer Ferguson and Jacques Rodrigue
For a New York museum adventure with Emer, see the post “Miniatures: Manuscripts, Landscapes, Blue Dogs and Blogs”
I hope you enjoy this week’s post for Gambit’s Blog of New Orleans: “Just Another Old Dress … Or Not,” a fashion story about finding one’s own style, including vintage clothing versus just plain old-
That picture is PERFECT!! I just have to share that Emer is a delight. She generously showers my boys with Irish chocolates and other goodies. May she always have the luck of the Irish!
An Irish ditty:
In Heaven there is no beer, that is why we drink it here.
Happy St. Pat's Day!
Love the color green and Blue too
Love, Love, Love Blue dog…
Thank you so much for posting. It cheered up my St.Pat's day tremendously!
Hi Everyone! Thanks for writing in! George adds a comment:
"I did have something to say, because the Christian Bros in New Iberia did not make much of St Patrick's Day, because they claimed that chasing the snakes out of Ireland was not a big deal, and that he wasn't important enough to be made a saint. The Brothers used to say that the Irish-Catholics obviously had some pull with the Vatican. But my wife felt she shouldn't write about that."
Good grief. Thanks for reading – Wendy
Anyone that gets rid of snakes is tops in my book. And St. Pat's Day is special to me because my first son was born on St. Patrick's day and he has red hair. May you and George both be blessed this day and always.