Got Green Bloghop

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone. In honor of St. Patty's day Mark Koopman is hosting the Got Green Bloghop. Hop over to his blog, check it out and become a follower!

The details:
What does St. Patty's Day mean to you?
I'd love to hear your Irish stories. What your traditions are? What do you cook? What are your favorite memories, or future plans to visit the Emerald Isle?

My favorite St. Patty’s Day memory is easy. When I was in kindergarten we left the classroom like we always did for lunch. We pushed our chairs in and formed a single file line as the teacher escorted us to the cafeteria. On our return, the classroom was not how we left it. The pushed in chairs were pulled out, some placed on top of our tables others laid on their sides. Gold glitter was sprinkled across the floor and green shamrocks were placed in various places around the room. A note on the chalkboard advised us that a Leprechaun stopped by and hid a Pot O’ Gold and we had to find it. It was filled with gold chocolate coins that we got to take home to our parents along with the coolest story ever about how a Leprechaun came to visit. 

I used to celebrate St. Patty’s Day twice a year. My parents have their boat at a marina/restaurant and have been a part of this marina for twenty years. The owners are Irish, but since boating season doesn’t start until after St. Patty’s Day they always celebrated it in July. On the deck they would have Irish step dancers, bagpipe players and an Irish Rock band who sang drinking songs while holding their beers up high.  Every year we would go with my grandparents and have a traditional Irish meal. My grandfather had red hair, fair skin, freckles, the brightest blue eyes, his nickname his whole life was ‘Red’ and he was Irish and absolutely loved his heritage. I always sat with him and watched as he downed one of the strongest Irish coffees I have ever come in contact with and the smile that would permanently form on his face. When he passed away I stopped going. It just wasn’t the same. 

Today on the actual St. Patty’s Day I will be doing what I have done for the past several years. I will be spending the day at my boyfriend’s parent’s house celebrating not only the holiday, but his mother, Patty’s, birthday as well. It’s her birthday, but she will be cooking corn beef and cabbage (which I will politely decline as I do every year. Sorry just not my thing), we will hang out with family and throw back a few beers. For me it’s perfect. 

What are your St. Patty’s Day Traditions? And if you don’t have any, it’s never too late to start making some :) 

I can’t wait to hop around, but I will have to do so later when I get home. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone. Have fun and be safe!