OK the IRISH talked me into this.

OK I will blog again today. The Irish talked me into it.  This day is a big one - St Patrick's Day 2011. Not for everyone, I know. But for those of us who have an affinity for the day for any reason, let's celebrate together.

Butte Montana is in my heritage because my dad was sent there by the State of Montana when I was five, so he could help keep track of all those businesses that were booming because of open copper pit mining - at the big one - The Berkley.  To the Berkley, in the 1950's  came people of every heritage. My family were not miners, nor Union folk, so we didn't totally fit in.  But hey, they let us go to the parades and the schools and the 4th of July and neighborhood picnics, and say we were from Butte, even if we weren't really, I mean like since forever, like some of 'em, so that's how I got here.

So, today being a big big day in "the Ireland of the West", I am watching the townsfolk squash into the M&M bar and cafe, in uptown Butte, via the website http://www.ustream.tv/channel/st-patrick-s-day-2011 

The video might not stay live after today, so, if you want to see it you can see it today. You will have to wait for the obligatory ad to finish, but after that, maybe you'll see your friends and relatives or someone who looks like your friends and relatives.  Lots of green, and lots of getting drunk, I think. I don't know, one guy has been in there since 8:30 this morning, sitting in the same place.  (I left Butte before it was legal for me to go in there.) Oh wait, I think I see my French teacher - what's he doing in there??

So, you don't imbibe so much at one time? then go to the epicurious.com website, see recipes for Chocolate Guinness Goodness or authentic Irish Soda Bread.  http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/stpatricks/stpatricks. 

Hubby and I had our corned beef and cabbage today from downtown Sioux City Arby's, in their 'market fresh" sandwiches. (I think it was turkey corned beef!  So how do they do that??)  Again... epicurious has the cure for the turkey version, in a recipe by Ireland's foremost cooking authority and cookbook author and teacher, Darina Allen  http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/cuisines/cuisineguides/irish.

Another webplace, you should go where you can meet the real characters of Ireland and hear music,  www.discoverireland.com/go  or http://www.discoverireland.com/us/ireland-places-to-go/explorebyvideo/

Watch the video of Gerry, on a walking tour through Cork City. He says it "Kawrk". Try to catch ALL the words. I couldn't.

Around noon today, I went to the Sioux City St. Paddy's Day parade. Quite a wee bit smaller than the Butte parade, and short enough that the folks cleared out in time to go back to work, and not linger all the dang day long, like they do in the mining city. I took my green crayons and markers along to capture the leprechauns, but... everything moved along at such a clip, I just put those green things away, and watched the goings ons. Lots of green tshirts, leggins, skateboards, and wiggly antennaes and dangly earings, but nary a horse. Lots of daddy's carrying wee ones, skateboarders carrying wee dogs with green ribbons, lots of folks in green tights and shiny derby hats tossing things from beer trucks, at which time the wee ones scampered around the street like barn rats, gathering the booty. Seems like young and old, business man and homeless folk were out in various shades of verde, enjoying sunshine and smiles. Hooray for Sioux City and its 3rd annual parade... and long live the riders, steeds, drummers, bagpipers, fiddlers, drinkers and banner carrying brave ones in Butte!  (I heard your leader was picked up for DUI?? is that true?? sheeesh); (And with so much sadness across the world, our hearts pray the people of Japan soon can return to their traditions, parades, music and sacred ways).

PS. I am not a LOT Irish, but.. I hear, just enough;  enough that some day I do hope to visit that bonnie green island of Ireland, and see what there is to see and hear some music.