Viva Cinco De Mayo

Well its that time of year again. Kinda the Mexican Version of St Patrick's Day. Cinco de Mayo, the day everyone celebrates with mas cervezas, well, almost everybody.
I would like to take this time to thank Mexico for its many gifts to us, tacos, arroz con pollo, corona, but mostly I'd like to thank the country for my Esposo.



My beloved husband claims that he looks like he recently crossed the rio grande in this picture. I kinda like it regardless.
His mother's maiden name was Saldevar and when I look at the old family photos (none of which I have scanned into my computer yet, sorry), you can see the Mexican and Indian heritage. I always felt bad that mi bonito esposo's madre, never taught her children spanish.
At the time when she and Mr. G. married in the 1930's, in Texas, it was dangerous to marry a white man, a gringo. My mother-in-law had been betrothed to another, a mexican, approved of by her family. But, she climbed out her window and ran away with Mr. G. instead.

I am grateful for that. Very grateful.
So I shall raise my glass of imported mexican beer tonight at dinner with my husband and give thank for Mexican Imports!
Gracias!

Blog-Hermit

My apologies all around for having been absent here in blog-land. I haven't even been hitting the site once a week . . .
No excuses really. I have been battling a weird restlessness that I have found very unsettling. Especially since it being kept company by a hermit-like attitude.
One big problem for this hermit, is the fact that I have no privacy at home. It has been invaded by carpenters, plumbers, and inspectors, (oh my!).

It will only get worse this next month, when they take away two of my walls and put up a thin layer of plastic between me and them. Sigh. Now I know the contractor, so that is comforting, but I am not use to sharing my space. Writing, my solace, has been sporadic at best because I am finding my concentration sucks.

I know it is only temporary, really I do, sigh.

So here I sit, at the public library. It's pleasant. Nice air conditioning, no phones, no distractions. But I can't have a nice hot cup of tea next to me. Ah well, here is hoping I can write a bit.

Bye for now . . .

Mistress Mischief

As the title implies, this is another alter-ego.
Mistress Mischief to Mielikki's Mistress Mayhem.

These things are too much fun. The site is a blast
for those who haven't tried it and have some
free time on their hands.

Update

Here we are as of 4/18/08 . . .

The long awaited door.





Close up of the glass . . .



Door from the outside.




View from the road





New entry from the side.

I have all the pictures from beginning to the current ones on facebook, if you care to sneak a peak. Look for celticrose . . .

Anyhow, so far so good . . . it's hard to sleep when I am working the night of all the work being done, but it is worth it. It is all getting so exciting :)

Time in a Bottle

"If I could be put time in a bottle . . ."
Time is so elusive. No matter the number of good intentions to call or write friends and family, touch base in blog-land, or any number of other things, it still slips away from you, like water through your fingers.
I remember as a child, how time seemed to last a lifetime, extending endlessly before me. Swinging on a swing, climbing trees, or playing tag, hopscotch, jump-rope . . . there was always time.
When I was a teenager I use to think of all the things I wanted to do with my life, all the places I wanted to go . . . surely there would always be time to do any infinite number of things . . .
I remember being told that time would gain speed as I aged. Boy, were they right!
I am not an old woman, but as I have gotten older, I have become able to see more facets in time. Time can be both a blessing and a curse.
There is so much I still want to do, but I know find I must temper my desires with reality and practicality . . .
Life has a way of happening while we are making big plans . . . it is sneaky.
I wish I had spent more time playing games and make-believe with my daughter, time stole her away from me. Don't get me wrong, I love who she has become, I am proud of her. But I miss the small child she once was.

I have some time off from work just now, and although it feels like it took forever to get here, I know that it will be gone in the blink of an eye. So this is a nod in your direction, for those who care to read this. May your day be filled with some time, precious time with which you can spend anyway you like.

If we had all the time in the world, or at least more of it, what would we do?
Would life become boring or dull if our lifespan and average good health take easily to triple digits?
I wonder . . .

Beannacht Lá Fhéile Pádraig

We are the sons and daughters of Hibernia
proud heirs of an ancient legacy
We’ve settled every corner of the globe
driven from our homeland by famine and oppression,
or simply by the restless spirit that is our birthright.

Wherever we go, we bring with us a love of freedom,
a melancholy humor, a biting wit, and a golden tongue.
But regardless of where our destiny may take us,
we’re linked to the land of our ancestors
by an ethereal thread that binds the heart
and reminds us always that we are a unique people.

WE ARE THE IRISH

***


I wish I could take the credit for such fair words above,
but though they may not be mine, they express
what I feel in my heart.

Recently I was told that I was not Irish because
I was not from Ireland. I was told (as if a child and being
scolded) that I was an American.
True . . . I am an American and a proud of it.
Also true is the fact that I am the grand-daughter of an Irish Grandmother
and a Scottish Grandfather, both of whom were also Americans.
Crazy as it may seem, I have long felt the call, almost longing for a country that I know only in my heart and from books.
To the dismay of my daughter and husband, I love and listen to celtic music which seems to sing in my blood, and there is something about the humor and tales from both Ireland and Scotland, that lightens my soul.
To balance out the accusation or as a means of rebuttal . . . I was once described by a dear friend as having an Irish Soul, (thank-you Mielikki). Why not, I have the temper, and I have been told that I,
as well as my brothers, sister, and my father, are full of it, (I do believe they are talking about shi*t),
and that is loosely the translation for blarney.
Ah well, sure and this St Patrick's Day I shall be lifting a pint or two with my sister,
Aine and we shall toast our ancestors, among other things. I will toast all of you here as well
and wish to you good health.
I hope all of you have a good St. Patrick's Day or what ever day you decide to celebrate.

As for her?
Well, I hold no grudge with this misguided woman.
(At least I don't think so . . .)
I don't expect this her to understand what it is to be an Irish American,
or a Mexican American, you see, she is not even American.
She is but from but one country, but from but one nationality.
She was born there, grew up there, but now lives here, but she hears no call. Her heart is silent.
How sad . . .





http://www.irishcorner.com/

As of Yesterday

As you can see it is coming along quite nicely (dances gleefully). Our faithful builder tells us that it should be "weather-tight" in about 2 weeks. Then the really noisy stuff starts as he begins to work on the existing carport/laundry room conversion. that's when I shall sleep over at my parent's house on the nights I am working. It is a small price to pay . . .

A Picture Says a Thousand Words

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and since my time is limited, I shall let the picture speak for me. It is much more eloquent than I could ever hope to be anyhow.
This picture is from my file labeled, 'Wishful Thinking.'
I have various pictures from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Cornwall, all places I hope to visit one day. This is somewhere in Ireland, (Eirinn), after a storm. It is so lovely and green, peaceful.
I imagine myself on a hill looking over this lovely valley with the wind pulling at my hair and cloak . . . sigh.
What does it bring to your mind?

This Old House Update . . .

And then there were floor joists and walls!!! TaDa! I think I wrote and loaded the pictures in reverse order. Damn I hate that!
The weather is suppose to be clear this week to or at least most of it, so . . . oh goodie. The windows and doors have been ordered. I can hardly wait to take a picture of the front door so you can see it. It is 3/4 th glass, beveled glass with a "craftsman" design and a little bit of stained glass color.

To Mielikki

At the Risk of Being Thought a Sap, These Are My Birthday Wishes to You, My Dearest Friend . . .


hyvää syntymäpäivää!
I give a nod to your roots, for all that you are . . .




Joyeux Anniversaire!
May your love of culture and art continue to flourish . . .



La breithe mhaith agat!
May you never be at a loss for direction . . .



Co` latha breith sona dhuibh!
May your creative spirit, and love of adventure never be hampered . . .




Otanjou-bi Omedetou Gozaimasu!
May your love of travel always lead you somewhere new . . .



Penblwydd Hapus i Chi!
May your sense of loyalty and honor return to you tenfold . . .



Doğum günün kutlu olsun
May your 'spicy' sense of humor . . . well, I am sure you will always find fodder for that . . .



May your friends always be true, always appreciate you, and may love never forsake you . . .





May your day be filled with all the best . . .

CelticRose

A Little Further On This Old House

Here is Gray-C (gray cat) and Ziggy modeling the latest in concrete and gravel, ooooh, ahhhhh . . . .





The above pics show the First pour of concrete and the preparing for the second pour.





The final pour of concrete . . . in the far corner of the soon to be remodeled car port are the tiny little tracks of a certain little grey cat. She barely weighs as much as a feather, good thing it wasn't our twenty pound cat, Tucker.

This Old House

I live on a street called: Easy Street
It's true, don't laugh!

Here's what's been going on of late . . . more pictures will follow, today they are pouring concrete . . . .

Oh goodie, one step for construction, one leap for us!

Can't You Read the Sign?

This of course is my favorite . . .







This one kinda ties for first place.





YIKES!
















Love this one . . . must be a government sign or better yet, placed for insurance purposes






See Above