Depends...

Basket of Chocolate Eggs and Easter Pictures

Once upon a time in a land far, far, far away (Kilkenny, of course) there lived a beautiful young princess named Princess Katie. Princess Katie was sad because she didn't have any new clothes to wear for Easter. The evil custom's office in Portlaois, Ireland was holding her magical package of dresses hostage in a tall tower that was guarded by cruel customs charges and tax fees.

Just in the nick of time, Katie's fairy Grandmother appeared at the front door disguised as the Post Man. S/He waved the magic wand and...Hooray! The box had been delivered! Everyone in the kingdom cheered as Princess Katie was once again the most beautifully dressed girl on Easter Sunday.

Princess Katie spend her formative years watching E! Red Carpet specials and studying imported People magazines. She was, therefore, well prepared for her princess posing duties in the new royal gowns.

Like a true diva princess, Katie insisted on multiple costume changes throughout the holiday. As she wore the plaid dress for Saturday night mass, she said she would rather eat a poison apple and sleep for a thousand years than be seen in the same thing Easter morning.

The king and queen wished their royal camera had a video feature in order to catch Princess Katie as she twirled around the bedroom to show off all angles of her polka dotted dress.

That magic box from Grandma was surely magical indeed, for in addition to many beautiful clothes (more even than shown above), there was all kinds of easter goodies for Katie's Easter basket. The Irish have different traditions, giving all the princes and princesses in the kingdom large hollow chocolate eggs that are filled with other chocolate treats. Katie had bestowed upon her many of those cocoa confections from her royal Irish subjects; Lord Papa and Lady Nana, Count Brian and Countess Bronwyn and the great court jesters, Oisin and Connor.

The day's festivities began with the Royal Egg Hunt. Princess Katie insisted on imported plastic eggs as again, the tradition was foreign in the land of Erin. Once again, all the king and queen had to do was wish upon the brightest star and the fairy Grandmother made a multitude of plastic eggs magically appear.

After the eggs were found and the chocolate consumed, they all lived happily ever after, at least until the sugar rush kicked in.

The End

400 reasons to love Kilkenny (and springtime)

Kilkenny celebrates its 400th year as a city this year and Saturday was opening day of the festivities. We walked into town to enjoy the blue skies, warm weather, blooming flowers, and, of course, U2..

We walked into town on Saturday, ran around in the castle park, drooled over the baked goods and artisan foods for sale at the farmer's market, then met up with Nana and Papa for lunch OUTSIDE at Bollard's Pub.

Bollard's is on Kieran Street, a pedestrianized lane that has become home to a number of cafes and coffee shops and also, a new Kilkenny find; the Hemporium. And it only took 400 years for that beaut to show up. (omg, I am getting old... frowning upon the patrons oogling the glass pipes and such. Le sigh) -Also note, next to the House of Wacky Tabacky is the "Playwright" Pub.. Those Guilfoyle brothers are at it again- Eamon runs the Miami Beach locale and Richie does a bang-up job here. For me, it's a little taste of home. There are 4 small tables outside Bollard's usually reserved for the desperate few that must brave the cold, damp wind for a smoke during their imbibing sessu'ns, but for that one day a year of warmth and sun...Look out sista- we were there, enjoying a Toasted Special and a front row seat to the passing street acts in town for the quadricentennial.

Our once smile-at-everyone child hated every minute. She liked to hear the drums and I saw some covert toe-tapping, but for the most part...

In a valiant effort to believe that Spring warmth is really here to stay, we bought Katie some outdoor toys. She loves playing with "VA-TA" and though Nana will let her splish and splash with her tea set at the kitchen table; mama no likey. Water, rocks and dirt are great "Outside games", as we say here at Ol' #9.

I remembered playing with rice as a kid and my friend Mary once blogged about how much her daughter loved dried beans so when I saw that bag of red lentils in my pantry...

And the asshole thing is that I really thought she would keep the legumes and water separate...

We shall be blessed with a bountiful crop of lentils this year in our garden. Soup for everyone.

And now, for your "GLIMPSE of S.I.M.P." (Self-Indulgent Mother Pride)

Note the lentil by her mouth. yeah. she ate some. It was a beautiful teaching moment.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Post Script: The weather has been shit since Saturday. (%#@! Ireland!)

Post Script II: Perhaps the SON will come out in August... BOY! oh boy!... wouldn't that be a nice addition to the Walsh family? Too bad the delivery won't come by male.. (if you voted hot dog - you were right. Manus says it's sure to be a 'footlong'. Just so long as it's a kosher weiner... okay! enough!)