Good morning to all! Lucy, I love that color of cosmos. When I sowed some poppy seeds in a long rectangular pot, I put a piece of lattice on top because I knew the birds would be having a field day eating up the seeds! Of course you can't cover up the ground when you scatter wildflower seeds so don't know what the solution would be. Hope more flowers are just slow starting for you.

Happy St. Pat's Day to all who celebrate. Sometimes I pretend the day doesn't exist and I'm mostly Irish with a touch of Scotland and Wales thrown in - all immigrant coal miners in the mid 1800's. DD is half. As a child growing up in Castle Shannon (a suburb of Pittsburgh) March 17th was the feast day of St. Patrick, not really the huge drinking event as it is now. The day began with a Mass in the Cathedral and then we'd march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. I took step dancing lessons before someone decided that garish costumes and curly wigs were mandatory, sang all the old Irish songs with my dear Da, drank Brewley's or Lyon's tea with cream and sugar, and baked soda bread with currants with my Grandmother. We will have a special meal to celebrate this weekend when the kids come over for a birthday celebration. They always ask for corned beef and colcannon rather than the Irish stew or shepherd's pie we often had as kids. I took my son to Ireland for 10 days and we had great craic as they say - which means fun. He gallantly put up with me when I joined in the singing in the pubs at night but I spared both of us the embarrassment of dancing any jigs or reels. I hired a driver so that we could both sit back and relax and enjoy the scenery and not deal with the roundabouts and driving on the wrong side. DD's boyfriend is from London so we're trying to plan a trip to visit his family and then go on to Scotland or Northern Ireland. Maire

I have never been a fan of corned beef, but I've only had it from a restaurant and a deli.... none were good experiences. I get my "reuben" made with pastrami when I can. :O) ALL of your corned beef looks wonderful!! dcarch, what is your dark sauce in your 'shamrock pepper' photos? I'm guessing a soy or balsamic reduction, but my guess is probably wrong. :) Martha Scott, yum!!! Annie, that hash looks excellent and it makes me think of my Dad. He loved to make hash....

Thank you, everyone. Silly me, I forgot to mention that when mum fell, it was the day before gram died, so it's been a rough past month, but mum's doing a lot better (still sore in her, um, pride lol), but she's doing okay. Went back to the farm today, but no leftovers for supper since there wasn't enough. My friend said his mother usually makes Reuben sandwiches with the leftover corned beef and cabbage. I hope everyone had a delicious meal and a happy, happy day with your friends and families. Mum and I had lunch from the Dairy Queen and I had a grilled cheese for dinner at my friend's (his parents just live up the road). I was hungry a little while ago, so I had Wendy's leftovers (with some fries from lunch) while mum and I watched the season premiere of Trading Spaces. Brad AKA Moonwolf