Tuesday, March 18, 2014

My Scottish Thistle Mug

  Before I get into today's post I want to mention my GIVEAWAY POST. Please go HERE if you want to see what's up for grabs and have a chance-or two- to win!!

 Anyone celebrate St. Patrick's Day??? Well, I sure did. Hubby and I spent Saturday in town (walking distance- very convenient) for the Celtic festivities. We anticipated seeing the parade from the street but after we got there the wind kicked up considerably and it was a cold wind so we opted to watch the parade from inside the Hotel Bethlehem while enjoying a pint of Guinness then meeting with friends to see their honeymoon pics of their trip to Ireland and grabbing a bite to eat.


  The two young men at the top left played for hours and were excellent!! We found a table on the upper level where it was quiet compared to downstairs and enjoyed watching the parade from the huge windows. Oh, the many dogs-mostly in dress were SO cute! There was also a violin exhibition where you could buy, trade, tune violins and even sign up for lessons. The dessert was a special Chocolate Guinness cake- which our friend had. I just had a crab cake considering I'd already downed enough calories with the two Guinnesses I had:):)

 I also bought a new Scottish mug from my favorite local Celtic shop - Donegal Square (a birthday gift to myself). They have a lovely restaurant with the most wonderful fresh brewed teas and now a pub too!

  The thistle is the official flower of Scotland. I thought this was such a beautiful mug... and I also bought it (and wore my plaid top and a Celtic cross necklace) in honor of George Donaldson of the group Celtic Thunder the group I mentioned the last two Tuesdays and in previous posts. It was a bittersweet Celtic celebration. George died suddenly and unexpectedly of a massive heart attack (thankfully at home though in Glasgow with his wife and young daughter-13) this past Wed. at the age of 46. Hubby and I had the pleasure of meeting him and talking with him on several occasions. Yes, he came to live his dream of singing and playing for a living all over the world , but he still left us too early...

  In between tears and festivies I kept busy by baking:

                                                     two dozen raisin bran muffins

  and having wonderful phone calls, e-cards, messages, and cards for my b'day:


     Thank you all for all the sweet thoughts and wishes!! Special hand made cards from my dear friend LuAnn (the orange, green St Patrick's Day card and the yellow dress card) and a retro looking origami dress card-LOVE) from my friend Patty.

   Mostly I began blogging for art reasons but there is no art to share today. If you wish to check out the art part I tend to post most of that on a Friday. Thanks for stopping by and happy T Day!!

  Linking to Bleubeard and Elizabeth for "T Stands for Tuesday". Feel free to join us for anything "T" and/or beverage related :).

  I don't know about any of  you but I am both a coffee and tea drinker so I definitely related to the following quote :
 
 "If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee." Abraham Lincoln


22 comments:

  1. Your new cup is so pretty. It looks like you had a great St. Patrick's Day. I enjoy seeing the places people go to - places I've never been and unlikely to see in person. Belated Happy Birthday wishes, you did indeed get some lovely cards.

    Darla

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  2. those muffins look tempting :)

    i just love the quote. it reminds me of the response someone had to their cuppa: "i don't know if it's tea or coffee, but it's a pleasant enough warm beverage." lol i like to be able to tell!

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  3. Belated Birthday wishes! What beautiful cards you received.

    Your new mug is very pretty, and it sounds like you had a great St. Patrick's Day.

    Thanks for the visit andI did snatch a muffin to go with my coffee as I passed by. :)

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  4. I got sidetracked by your fabulous giveaway, but now I'm here. I'm not a drinker, but I admit (as I did on Patty S.'s blog yesterday), I will drink a Guinness beer any time someone offers it. Like my french roast coffee, it is dark and goes down smoothly. Glad you had the chance to drink it, too.

    Sorry to read about George. What a shame. Too young, indeed.

    Love those muffins. Did you save me one (grin)? Thanks for sharing your St. Patrick's Day celebration with us this week for T.

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  5. Hello Linda, so glad you enjoyed St. Patricks' Day. Great pictures for you to remember it by. I did go out for a cornbeef dinner with my dad since no one here eats it. WOW, those cards are all amazing and pretty!! I love homemade cards too, that's all I ask for each birthday. Actually my birthday is 5 months from today, YIKES!! Time is flying!
    LOVE THE MUG!!
    Thanks for sharing and have a GREAT DAY!

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  6. Your birthday coming around the time of St Pat's Day means you're entitled to celebrate for as long as you like!!! I must try a glass of Guinness one day!
    Beautiful birthday cards from all your creative artsy friends!!
    A beautiful Celtic mug you'll use every day! I didn't know that singer, but I'll go to Youtube and have a listen - sad to lose a talent so young!
    Hugs
    Shane

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  7. What a way to celebrate St Pat's Day! You really threw yourself into the spirit...and the Guinness. It is always a shock when I hear that a young person has had a heart attack. Such a shame...and with a young family. Not fair.

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  8. Sorry to read about George.... such a young age. So sad.

    I enjoyed the rest of your post and the pretty mug and gorgeous looking cakes and cards.

    I'm going to treat myself to some Peerless Watercolours and know you have some - just wondering if there is a particular set (colourwise) you'd recommend. How many colours does yours have? I will have to get them mail order - and it is hard when you can't actually 'see' something. Hope you don't mind me asking. No rush to get back to me.

    Karen x

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  9. Leave it to you to find another perfect quote.
    I do drink both and enjoy them equally and speaking of drinking Guinness is a nice healthy and tasty drink in my view too!

    I thought of you when I heard the news of George Donaldson's sudden death...so hard for all those left behind.

    Your thistle mug is very colorful and festive...
    thank you for the sweet shout out...
    you are always so thoughtful and kind dear Linda ♥

    Keep celebrating your beautiful life!
    oxo

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  10. Hi Linda, Happy Belated St. Patty's day to you! It looks like you had a wonderful day enjoying the festivities! Your new celtic mug is just beautiful. I'm so sorry to read about George, such a tragic and sad death.

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  11. Love the mug, your shirt and pretty green nails and the chocolate Guinness cake looks devine :) sounds like fun.
    Your cards look lovely and I'm off to see your giveaway post, have a great day :)

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  12. Your new mug is so pretty--I hope you enjoyed a cuppa with those yummy looking muffins. Best wishes-hope your birthday was lovely!

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  13. Happy T-Day!
    What a beautiful mug! Looked like you scored big in that outing! Lovely cards as well. Happy be-lated b-day!

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  14. I love that mug. Very appropriate for me being a Scottish Country Dance Teacher!!
    I would love a guinness but it is Lent so will have to abstain. My Irish ancestors would be tutting at me right now.
    Hugs
    xx

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  15. Happy birthday!!
    But--OM!! Is that the guy you just saw and he died? So very young, indeed! How terribly sad.
    Looks like you guys had the best view with warmth and good drink and food to eat.
    Happy T-Day! :)

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  16. your mug is beautiful and it looks like you had a wonderful day!

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  17. Oh ~ Happy Birthday to you and glad you had a Guniness for St Paddy's Day ~ Wonderful post and love the Celtic cup you bought for you birthday ~ beauty for you ~ Sorry about your friend passing ~ hard to lose them so young ~ or older ~ Happy Week to you ~ xxx

    artmusedog and carol

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  18. Yum...Guiness. We have an Irish pub that does genuine Guiness pours...best beer I've had in my life. Totally worth the wait.

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  19. Happy Belated Birthday wishes!!! Your cup is beautiful ♥ Sounds like you had a fun day :)

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  20. My birth father was Irish although I never knew him so I don't feel Irish at all!

    After I'd had my first baby the midwife recommended that I drink a Guinness every night to build myself back up again - yum! and on medical orders :)

    Such sad news about George - that is much too young to leave his family and friends :(

    xx

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  21. Hi, please forgive my tardiness. I ran out of time to visit everyone's blogs on Tuesday, so here I am on Wednesday.

    How very sad about your favorite musician's sudden death. Sending you hugs. It looks like you honored him well, and you can think of him every time you drink from the lovely new mug that you bought.

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  22. Sounds like you had a very lovely st.patrick's day and your Scottish mug is gorgeous. That's such a shame about your friend from Celtic Thunder - 46 is far too young. I'm so sorry to hear that. X

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Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!