Happy Belated

I had meant to post this picture for Missy's birthday, but got busy at work (only place I have access to a scanner.) It also kind of fits in with my previous post of kids "dressing up", so I decided to post here. I don't think we ever get past enjoying dressing up and pretending we are someone else.

EEEII-YAH!

Leonardo, Donatella, Rapheal and Michelango had nothing on these guys. They studied the cartoons, went to see the movies and had the moves down pat. It was no wonder that when a neighbor had left over material from re-webbing her lawn chairs, they turned themselved into Ninja's. I offered to take them to the lastest movie, but so far no takers.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

May God grant you many years to live,

For sure He must be knowing

The earth has angels all too few

And heaven is overflowing.

It had been my intention to post something "Irish" everyday from March 1 on but I got off track. Here is todays selection, another Brehon Law:

"A layman may drink six pints of ale with his dinner, but a monk may drink only three pints. This is so he will not be intoxicated when prayer-time arrives"

I don't know - with some of the priests I have known, intoxication could be a plus!

The Brehon Laws that I read were quite interesting. Many were plan old common sense, some were just different versions of what we have heard before, but this one put me in mind of Angie:

"If a pregnant women craves a morsel of food and her husband withholds it through stinginess or neglect, he must pay a fine"

Get that Mickey?

Brehon Laws

The Brehon Laws were passed down orally from at least the 1st century until they were written in the 7th century. A Brehon was a traveling jurist. By the time of Elizabeth I, the brehons were considered lewd and barbarous and were banned. Here is one that caught my eye:

"When you become old your family must provide you with one oatcake a day, plus a container of sour milk. They must bathe you every twentieth night and wash your head every Saturday. Seventeen sticks of firewood is the allotment for keeping you warm."

Two Irish Riddles

According to the previously mentioned book, a true riddle is not meant to trick or puzzle, but to offer a fresh view of the world. So, I offer two selections:

"Two brothers we are, great burdens

we bear

In which we are bitter pressed

The truth we do speak, we are full

all the day

And empty when we go to rest."

"Neither fish nor flesh

Nor feathers nor bone

But still has fingers

And thumbs of its own"

Countdown to St. Patty's Day

"Men are like bagpipes: no sound comes from them till they're full"

From the Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom