St Brigid of Kildare and quorn and onion pie

Today is St Brigid’s Day in Ireland. St Brigid is apparently way up there with St Patrick and is highly revered. Imbolc, also known as the Feast of Brigid, on February 1 celebrates the arrival of longer, warmer days and the early signs of spring. It is one of the four major "fire" festivals (quarter days), referred to in Irish mythology from medieval Irish texts. The other three festivals on the old Irish calendar are Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain.The word Imbolc means literally "in the belly" in the Old Irish Neolithic language, referring to the pregnancy of ewes.

In ancient Irish mythology Brigid was a fire goddess. Nowadays her canonization is celebrated with a perpetual flame at her shrine in Kildare.St Brigid’s Day marks the beginning of spring, lambing, and lactation in cattle. The spring part is difficult for me to believe because its supposed to snow again tonight and for the rest of the week!

 

My mom-in-law made these St Brigid’s crosses, and took them to the Chapel today to be blessed. I still need to master this skill, its kinda complicated!

Today also marks the start of a new eating regime for Karl and I. We are trying to cut out red meat, not entirely, but we have been eating far too much of it. So we have opted for quorn. Quorn, according to Wikipedia, is a “mock meat” made from fungus (can someone say YUMMY!). Its a healthier, fat and calorie reduced, cholesterol-free source of enriched protein. You get quorn burgers, chicken pieces and mince. I made a beef and onion pie for dinner with it tonight. And although it doesn’t taste like meat, or smell like meat, it tastes pretty good, considering its a fungus!

Snow

I stole these pics from a friend*, will take my own at some point over the weekend, maybe even make a snowman :)

 

*Thanks Sinead

My gratitiude list

We all get so caught up in what’s missing from our lives or what we can do to improve it, but we don’t often stop to count our many blessings, so I’ve decided to do just that: 

STOP and think of a list of things that I am grateful for.

I am grateful for/that:

 

A wonderful husband who goes over and above the call of duty EVERY TIME!

True friends who are there for you when it really matters

My parents (all five of them!)

My siblings and all the laughter they bring

My best friends

Hot baths

Decaf tea

Internet shopping

My part-time job which allows me to have pocket money AND me-time :)

Cold weather when I have to do my hair

Skype so I can catch up with my friends and family

Being able to read and finish my book in my own time

Coke Zero!

That I got to attend one of the most prestigious universities

My warm fleecy socks :)

Blackberry messenger

Learning to let go the things that don’t matter

Freedom to do things I am passionate about

Not having to do life alone

Chocolate

New beginnings

That I live in a beautiful area with easy access to the most amazing scenery

My swing cd set (4 cds)

My kindle

Date night ;)

My fireplace in the cold winter

That I have learned not to second guess myself and to stop ignoring my intuition

My health and the good health of those I love

For friendships: past, present and future

My toaster

Snow

My electric blanket

Nap time

Being able to travel

The little things

Today

Try it, it really helps/works.

More cake and the first of the snowfall

Friday night was a lot of fun, just a pity I was so tired after all the baking! Our house is just not big enough to accommodate everyone, some eventually had to sit in the kitchen. But the good thing though, was that the house was lovely and warm with all the bodies in it! The last of the bunch left just after midnight, so we still got a decent amount of sleep in the end. Here are a couple more pics of the yummy things.

Lemon and orange cupcakes, they were a hit - very easy and yummy recipe (mail me if you want it!)

Made a choc swiss roll ice-cream cake too, and despite the weather, they ate most of it!

Well, I woke up this morning to the snow! I was like a 5 year old. It is so beautiful, and oh-so-cold outside. Karl had to clean his back and front windows.

I actually have to drive into town today to get things for our Xmas dinner on Saturday, and today is the only day I can do it! A bit nervous about driving in the snow, but I have to learn sometime! All I want to do is curl under the covers with some soup and watch it snow! Enjoy the pics. xx

view from our front door! can you see the road is covered with snow.

my car :(

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