Happy St. Patty's Day

Jilda and I have a St. Patty's Day tradition. Each year she buys a corned-beef brisket, cabbage, carrots, and a six-pack of Guinness beer for a St. Patty's dinner. We always invite friends and family.

The turnout is hit and miss most years, but my nephew Haven comes unless he lashes off a limb in  an unfortunate accident of some kind, and is spewing blood.

Today the turnout was excellent, probably because it was Saturday, and a beautiful spring day to boot. The sky was aquamarine - the color of Jilda's birthstone. 

We had some late "acceptors" but we had plenty of food. Her sister, brother and a bunch of her/our nieces and nephews decided to come. 

I put on celtic music on the stereo before people started arriving, and did a quick check of the house to make sure things were in order. Jilda had bought enough fresh flowers for the table, and for small vases in our bathrooms. Things seem to be right with the world when you have fresh flowers.

Haven's wife Alesha doesn't like corned-beef, so Jilda had roasted a chicken too. She also steamed new potatoes. I'm not sure what kind of secret stuff she does to them, but our guests ate everything but the pan itself. 

For desert, she served fresh-baked brownies with a scoop of Briars Chocolate Mint ice cream on top.

I was beginning to think her sister, brother, nieces and nephews weren't going to leave. 

They kept eyeing the kitchen -- I guess they were wondering what the next course was going to be :)

It was a delightful day.

I hope you all had a great St. Patty's day. May the luck of the Irish be with you.