Oh, Those Mischievous Little Leprechauns!

When my kids were little, and being of Irish and Scottish decent , twas the perfect excuse for the Leprechauns to pay a visit to my 3 dear ones in the wee hours of the morn on Saint Patricks’ Day. Causing mischief and fun in their rooms while they slept, and turning everything they could to shades of green  It was a day my children came to look forward to each year!  A family tradition that got its simple start from a small bottle of green food coloring.

    As my children slept the leprechauns would appear and work their Irish Magic, rummaging their rooms, stacking their books from floor to ceiling, inverting their posters and turning everything they could to shades of green.

    A little green goes along long way!  Green milk, green cream cheese, green butter, green eggs and ham, ( that’s another story) to name a few. As the years went by the leprechauns became more clever in their magical pranks.  A few green drops left over night to dry in the bottom of a mixing bowl filled my daughters minds with delight as I would take plain old pancake mix dumped into the “pre- greened” mixing bowl. All looked normal until with their help of dumping water into the mix, it would turn green before their very eyes.  But by far, their most favorite memory of Saint Patrick’s day when they where little was what they called “ The magic of the bathroom water” You see, a few drops of green food coloring in the toilet tank will change the water in the bowl a nice shade of green for the next few flushes. And don’t forget the bathroom sink.  You know those small tablets you get in egg coloring kits? They are just the right size to fit on the backside of the aerator in the faucet.  Turning on the water releases a magical flow of green water there too!  

St. Patrick's Day, although not a legal holiday anywhere in the United States, is nonetheless widely recognized and celebrated throughout the country. It is primarily observed as a celebration of Irish and Irish American culture; celebrations include prominent displays of the color green, feasting on corned beef and cabbage, copious consumption of alcohol, religious observances, and numerous parades. But don’t forget the bottle of green food coloring, a little goes along way!

May the leprechauns be near you, 
To spread luck along your way. 
And may all the Irish angels, 
Smile upon you St. Patrick's Day.
Beannachtam na Femle Padraig  "Happy St. Patrick's Day!"