Top Of The Mornin'

Happy St. Patrick's Day!



I know some of you were really ticked off disappointed that JJ wasn't my Letter J yesterday...because you know I could write about that little guy from here to Timbuktu! But I was saving him for today because he's Irish.


Here is a cute picture of him with his sister getting ready to party! Can't you tell he's excited? Before he gets to his first Guinness, he wants to share with you how Grandma J's paternal grandmother, Margaret Mary Spellman, happened to cross the pond. And to be sure, JJ's tutorials are far less wordy and more illustrative that Grandma J's. Just saying.



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This is the certificate we could have paid $29.95 for, because you can't print it out or even do a print screen without the people at the Ellis Island HOA Foundation smacking your hand, which is Grandma J's favorite way of stealing borrowing Internet data. Instead we had to take our own picture of the screen, which is when Grandma J said to no one in particular, "isn't this fun?"


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Margaret Mary Spellman boarded this ship, The Oceanic, in Queenstowne, County Cork, Ireland on May 31, 1900, arriving at Ellis Island June 6, 1900. Queenstowne was also the last port-of-call for the Titanic several years later. The ships manifest (which is hand written) states that Margaret Mary had the minimum $5.00 and was sponsored by an Uncle James of 35th Ave., New York, NY.

Grandma J's grandmother married the Frenchman.

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, just ask JJ....what say you?

I will be picking the Blog Birthday winner, with the help of a random number generator, and posting the results this afternoon. Good Luck!

The Letter J

I Thought I would use a Celtic Letter J since tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day. The Celts are famous for using knots, leaves and serpents in their artwork. I did a cross stitch of the Celtic letter J several years ago, and it's stored away somewhere. Every year I'm reminded to dig it out and get it framed...maybe this is the year.

But hey, let's get on with some fun stuff beginning with the letter J.

here's something I saw yesterday in my daughter's neighborhood....


June Bug! June Bug the Clown!


This is Blue Bell, June Bug's sidekick and granddaughter. They clown around at parties. Mostly children's parties....but not limited to children's parties.

She sort of brushed me off, like time is money but not before giving me her card. Actually she gave me two cards and told me to give one to a friend, and to spread the word about her business. For that reason, I'm giving all of you her card...right click on the picture to enlarge. If it's clowning you're looking for, June Bug just might be for you.

I wonder if I can get my granddaughter to go into clown business with me. Maybe JJ or Phillip Johnny Bob?

brought to you by A to Z Mondays

Let's Not Leave St. Paddy's Day in Haste.........


Just as I'm getting ready to go to bed, I come across a news flash that throws my whole week's schedule off. Because I take my obligation to blog seriously, I had really big plans to review the Dancing With The Stars ladies first thing in the morning. When I say "first thing", that's exactly what I mean because I have other appointments to get out of the way before my first nap.

So I'm faced with a dilema. Do I share my breaking news with you or do I say "screw it" and go to bed. Since disappointing you would make me sad, I decide to stay up and "share". Now I need a sandwich (or more ice cream). I make me a ham sandwich ...

Michael Rice is a 9th Grade Mentor at a high school in South Carolina. Michael works with a mentoring program preparing kids for college....and went to a whole lot of trouble to honor St. Patrick and make his students happy. NOT SO FAST Michael!!

Michael got called into the principal's office FIRST THING in the morning....Did he win a Best Hat and Sunglasses contest? No. School officials sent him home because he wasn't dressed professionally. No one else wore costumes....WHAT? Seems like there are plenty of party poopers in that school. But that's not all...



There was something else that made the principal steaming mad. Green hair!

All I can say is "You rock, Michael"

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling




Today is St. Patrick's Day.....a day for all things green. You wear it, eat it, drink it and pinch it. Ok, you're not supposed to pinch it, but rules can be broken, especially if you're color blind.

As popular as this day is for the Irish, and those who stake that claim for one day, this whole party started in New York City in the 1700's. Of course no one told those Irish immigrants that St. Pat was born in England. Nevertheless, he saved the Irish from the serpents. He drove them into the sea, never to be seen on the Emerald Isle again.

Many Irish countrymen were so sad about the snakes banishment that they traveled to the United States of America. That's what my ancestors did. My sweet paternal grandmother used to love looking for snakes on the farm that she lived on with my grandfather. It was in Rhode Island, so it was a small farm. The snakes she would find were small barn type snakes. Pretty much harmless. For my grandmother, catching these snakes was a sport she could brag about in her letters home.

Margaret Mary Spellman, arrived in the USA on June 6, 1900 aboard The Oceanic. She was seventeen and alone. She worked for a nice family in New York City as a nanny for five years as payment for her visa and fare. Luckily for Margaret, she really liked her "family" and not all the immigrant Irish nanny's could say that. In later years she married a Frenchman of all things. OOOO LA LA.

My maternal grandparents were both Irish too, which is probably why I have such a pleasant temper-free disposition. Ok, I hear all the snickers. So, today I salute my heritage. I will wear my claddagh and I will have a boiled dinner the way my family always did with ham, not corned beef.

Now go be Irish! Even if it's for just one day.