St. Patrick's Day part 2

One of my most popular blogs since I started "Another Day in Catasauqua" is  St. Patrick's Day Trivia that I posted last year, it has almost 6000 hits - you can find it here:

 http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3960544181181866141#editor/target=post;postID=7197431007522557707

So while the corned beef brisket cooks on the stove and before I add my potatoes and cabbage I thought I share some Irish one-liners with you.  I had come across them when I was getting ready for my Friendship Circle earlier this month.

my favorite part of St. Patty's Day - The Shamrock Shake

Q: What is out on the lawn all summer and is Irish?
A: Paddy O'Furniture 

 

Q: What do you call a fake stone in Ireland?
A: A sham rock. 

 

Q: Why do people wear shamrocks on St. Patrick's Day?
A: Regular rocks are too heavy. 

 

Q: Why can't you borrow money from a leprechaun?
A: Because they're always a little short. 

 

Q: How did the Irish Jig get started?
A: Too much to drink and not enough restrooms! 

 

Q: Why do leprechauns have pots o'gold?
A: They like to "go" first class! 

 

Q: How can you tell if an Irishman is having a good time?
A: He's Dublin over with laughter! 

 

Q: What would you get if you crossed Quasimodo with an Irish football player?
A: The Halfback of Notre Dame! 

 

Q: What would you get if you crossed Christmas with St. Patrick's Day?
A: St. O'Claus!

 

Q: Do leprechauns make good secretaries?
A: Sure, they're great at shorthand! 

 

Q: What do leprechauns love to barbetrcue?
A: Short ribs! 

 

Q: How did the leprechaun beat the Irishman to the pot of gold?
A: He took a shortcut! 

 

Q: When is an Irish Potato not an Irish Potato?
A: When it's a FRENCH fry! 

 

Well that's enough blarney for now,  Happy St. Patrick's Day and that's another day in Catasauqua.

Batter Batter Swing in the Snow

Parke, with snow on his hood at Coca-cola Park

Woo Hoo it was time to pick up our 18 game plan tickets for the Iron Pigs with only 19 Days until the first game and IT'S SNOWING!!!!!!!

Yup, snowing, now my grandfather would call this onion snow, because it is time to plant the onions which he always did around St. Patrick's Day, which is tomorrow.

However, did you know the term is basically only used in Pennsylvania.   I didn't know that; and it is defined as a light snow in late spring, after onions have been planted.  So I guess this isn't onion snow after all.

Well, there's only 3 days to spring so I guess - let it snow - for it shall melt quickly.  Spring is just a hop around the corner in Catty and so is baseball at the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.  I can't wait!

So batter, batter swing and this is .....another day in Catasauqua

The New Year's Resolution

If you thought you were going to find out what my New Year's resolution is, sorry - I didn't make any this year.  I resolve occasionally  to try to do things better.  Sometimes after a great sermon, like the one Pastor Mike of Salem UCC, in Catasauqua did a few weeks back on Attitudes;  I resolved to have a better attitude at work.  However, like many resolutions, it is difficult to keep.  The pressure of deadlines, and attitudes of others, clients included can affect my way of thinking.  That's why resolutions are so hard.  We set high goals once a year and expect ourselves to meet them.  I rather work my way gradually to a goal, like eating better.  From years at Weight Watchers I really know how to eat better (I just don't always do it).  However, we eat less fried food and more vegetables and whole grains, but at Christmas some of that eating flies out the door.  I had also quit Weight Watchers in the beginning of November so I could have more money for Christmas Shopping; but, I will rejoin this Thursday, mainly because I am noisy and want to know what the new plan is all about.(I have to brace myself though, lots of people will be joining, just like lots of people go back to the gyms)   It will also help me and my family get back on a healthier eating track.

So where did New Year's Resolutions start?  Well, the ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.




The Romans began each year by making promises to the god  Janus, for whom the month of January is named.


In the Medieval era,  the knights took the "peacock vow" at the end of the Christmas season each year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry.

 At the end of the Great Depression, about a quarter of American adults formed New Year's resolutions. At the start of the 21st century, about 40% did.

So how successful are New Year's Resolutions?   A 2007 study by Richard Wiseman from the University of Bristol involving 3,000 people showed that 88% of those who set New Year resolutions fail, despite the fact that 52% of the study's participants were confident of success at the beginning. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, (a system where small measurable goals are being set; such as, a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends.

So, if you really want to make a New Year's Resolution, go ahead, share your goals and find the right support, and you are more likely to succeed.

In the meantime I have some Christmas candy and cookies to finish off before Thursday .......and that's another day in Catasauqua.

One of the best presents ever

Sometimes the smallest present can become one of the best presents ever.  Such as, the dough scraper.  Yes the handy and might dough scraper was given to me as a gift from my cousin Sandy.  She was working at Ace Hardware when they got them in and she immediately bought me one and one for herself. 

On Saturday I made one roll out recipe that I have from an Aunt of Annette's.  It's a good cookie, but sometimes it can be challenging to roll out.  This is where the dough scraper comes in handy.  From scooping up the cookie to putting it on the tray to cleaning off the board when dough gets stuck-- it is a super gadget.

In the picture you see both my grandmother's rolling pin and her bread board, as she called it, which I roll out my dough on.  It's funny, when I was small I thought both objects where huge. Time has made them smaller.

Making cookies is a long family tradition.  One that my cousin Sandy and I kept going.  I remember the one time, she brought tons of cookie sheets and we rolled and stacked and roll and stacked and then baked, we practically looked professional. Ah the good times.  This year we almost lost her, and as I rolled out the cookies and scraped the dough I thought constantly of her.  It is funny how something so small can hold so many memories.

Here is wishing you many merry memories this holiday season. 

and that's another day in Catasauqua.

The Stare Down in Catty

I started telling this story to Parke and he said "Why don't you blog this story, you haven't been blogging?"  What a good idea, that's why I keep him around.

Anyway, the story starts this morning early AM.  I was  going to breakfast with a bunch of bff's from church and I wanted to quickly walk the dog.  We were doing good until Petey started a staring match with a certain large gentleman across the street.

I have learned a lot about dog behavior from Petey's Obedience Classes at Chaar.  Dogs will stare especially at each other.  The first dog that moves determines the type of behavior.  Example, the dog on the one side of where I live came forward with a low growl, she was showing aggression and they started a barking match.  On the other hand last weekend a new dog was visiting on the other side of where I live.  His name was Harley and he was a large 7 month old.  They did the stare down, but Harley went bouncing up the yard which showed playful behavior.  Harley really tired out Petey last week, he ended up napping all night.

But this morning's stare down wasn't friendly, the man didn't move, he just keep staring, and Petey started with a low growl, warning the man to look away, but the man didn't, so Petey started barking, which started me laughing, because you see, the man was blow up Santa.  Yes, Petey was barking at blow up Santa and I couldn't get him to stop.  I had to tell him "leave it"  which is the command to walk away but he was sure that this man meant trouble.  I had my hand over it mouth the one time, but he kept trying to bark. It was muffled by my glove and he cheeks would puff out in effort to make a sound.  I had to pull him for about a half a block until we were away from the Jolly Elf.

Oh poor Santa, I better make sure I have Petey is in his cage Christmas Eve.  I shudder to think what might happen if Santa bent over him to say Merry Christmas.

Oh my, and that's another day in Catasauqua.

Tis' the Season

There was the laughter of children, some shrieks, screams and the occasional crying child with a father saying "that's it we're going home."  What can incite all these different responses?  Well, Santa of course, especially when Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by firetruck for the annual lighting of the North Catasauqua Christmas Tree. 

I almost didn't go this year.  Most of the bff's I go with are sick and I didn't feel like going by myself even though I was going to be singing with "We Sing" North Catasauqua's Community Choir.  So I called one of my other bff's Shirley and went up with her.  Let's face it, I really go for the free hot chocolate and cookies, but the atmosphere is great.  I don't know where all the people come from. 

One of the highlights are all the Gingerbread Houses that you can judge, my personal favorite was the one the marshmallow wall. 

All in all it is a great way to start the Chrismas Season.  There is something about standing out on a really cold night singing Christmas Caroles and watching Santa light up the tree that warms the heart.

So, You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout, I'm telling you why....that's Another day in Catasauqua 

I'm Back!!!

Hi everyone.  I guess you might of wondered what happened to me.  After the passing of our beloved dog, Digger, I could't find the inspiration to write.  THEN we decided to adopt a dog from the Lehigh County Humane Society.  We adopted Petey and he is more work than I remembered a dog ever being.  He is also more work than having a baby.  Between Vet visits, Obedience School and training I haven't found the time to think, let alone write.  Besides whenever I tried to get on the computer he was sitting right by me being a pain in the you know what.  Usually chewing something to get my attention.  He is a little better now.  More settled and only seems needy 23 hours a day now.

This is what I see when trying to write

 Mind you, his 60 pound plus body is sitting on my lap while I am trying to type.

So what do I owe the inspiration to blog again to.  Well, a lady sitting out on the curb.  No, she wasn't begging, she wasn't hurt - she was painting our fire hydrant on the corner with a picture.  A while ago I featured a blog on all the painted hydrants in Catasauqua.  The project is called "Catasauqua Hydrants, Revitalization through Art".  You can read that blog here:  http://dayincatasauqua.blogspot.com/2011/07/catasauqua-hydrants-that-are-work-of.html

There it is - my house!!! How cool!

Anyway - the real exciting news about this picture on this hydrant is that IT IS MY HOUSE.  It is an inspired work of art featuring the first four houses on the block.  WOWSERS, my house has been immortalized; and you can bet that I won't be letting Petey pee on this fire hydrant. 

I am excited to be back.  There has been much I haven't written about.  The mural in Catty is done, we have had a lot of events and even about Petey.  So I will try to write a little more often.  Time to open my eyes and ears to Catty again. 

I better go - Petey is acting suspicious - I better see what kind of trouble he is in.

So watch out, you never know where me and my little dog will show up.....and that's another day in Catasauqua.