Our sweet Siberian Husky Fiona has become a big fan of Bide A Wee, a non-profit group which helps animals in need. Not all animals are lucky enough to have good homes, good health, nutritious food, room to run and play. She’s got a lot of love to give and wants to help.

We discovered Bide A Wee first with an advertisment showing a Siberian Husky (what can I say – it was the right image for us) who needed surgery. We dutifully and happily made a donation. Their name was appealing to us for its Celtic origins – to “bide a wee” means to “bide a while” or “stay a while,” which all animals should be able to do in a just world.

Turns out Bide A Wee has a calendar contest for their 2011 calendar. We submitted a picture of Fiona along with a donation. The winners are chosen by popular vote. Please consider voting for Fiona or any other of the fine pets who submitted their pictures. And learn some more about Bide a Wee at www.bideawee.org because they really do good work…. They are always looking for volunteers and donations to help animals in need.

Here’s a link to Fiona’s page in the calendar contest - she’s the white Siberian Husky in the second row, on the left hand side:

http://www.bideawee.org/calendar2011/index.php?page=15

Voting ends September 13th!

At age six I didn’t just love the book ‘Noisy Nora’, I couldn’t live without it. My friend and I would take turns checking it out of the school library. She would have it one week and I would have it the next – we repeated this throughout the school year, which was first grade. Once May rolled around I realized with horror that I would be without Nora all summer long since school was closed and the library with it. The only solution was to copy the book’s text myself and I did so, on that yellow “learn to write” paper with the big dotted lines in each row. Whew – I would have Nora throughout the summer and once September rolled around I could start checking it out of the library again and enjoy the delightful drawings again.

My mother saw this excitement over Nora not just as my enthusiasm for Ms Wells’ craft, but as a love for reading and for writing. To say my mother encouraged this love is an understatement. When my birthday rolled around on May 27th, carefully wrapped was a hard cover copy of ‘Noisy Nora’ waiting for me.  I can still recall my delight in opening this particular present. It was followed over the years by many many books from my mother and countless trips to bookstores where I was given leave to choose whatever I wanted. My mother encouraged and abetted my book addiction, being a book addict herself.  

Looking back, I learned a few neat things from that book. First, the alliteration of the title’s double n’s. As an adult and a writer I see the allure of this. Second the great word “monumental” which was new and exciting at age six. Also the word “fell.” Nora doesn’t just knock chairs over, she “felled” them. I am sure my mother sent me to the dictionary for that use of the word, as she always did when I asked her the meaning of a word I did not know. Unlike Nora I was the youngest child and quite spoiled. So I learned a bit about how families relate from Nora’s little tantrum. I suppose the biggest lesson is about the tight knit nature of families, that love is always present even when you are not together, because the bonds of family are irrevocable. A child may not know this, and many adults unfortunately do not learn it, but Rosemary Wells teaches it in her Nora book, in a simple and beautiful way.

This past week I turned forty years old and celebrated the date by going to the Book Expo America in New York with my husband, my sister and my eldest niece. To my surprise Ms Wells was autographing copies of her latest Max and Ruby book. You needed a ticket to see her and we did not arrive early enough to get one. My husband took one look at my crestfallen face and disappeared into the expo. He called me on my cell phone half an hour later and said “happy birthday!” Someone in line had kindly offered him her ticket to give to me.  

I stood in line like a kid on Christmas morning. When I reached the desk, I thanked Rosemary for inspiring in me a lifetime of reading and told her my tale of ‘Noisy Nora’. I showed her my worn copy of the book which my mother had given me so many year ago. She asked me the magical words “would you like me to sign that copy for you?” I handed it to her and said “I’d be thrilled!” Not only did she sign it and write happy birthday, but she drew a little sketch of Nora as well! The author of Nora is, of course, a human being of the highest order and sweet just like her books.

I’ve now learned from her web site that Ms Wells is an advocate for literacy and travels around the country on behalf of her cause. Also that like myself she grew up at the Jersey shore. There’s so much more now in my head and heart than a little mouse named Nora. But it all started with her. Thank you, Rosemary Wells, from the bottom of my heart! You are an inspiration to me and to many other children as well.

New York City is fun for dogs!

My husband Rob and I determined when she was a pup, that our Siberian Husky Fiona must be a good traveler. As a result, we have taken pains to expose her to all different people, scenarios and places. She is not phased by loud noises such as the roar of trains or screech of sirens, is comfortable with people of all shapes, sizes, and colors, and can navigate busy streets well following our lead and commands. We work on telling her to “leave it” well in advance of approaching another dog or small creatures such as squirrels and birds; this is because she has a strong instinct to play and we have to work to control her ebullience when she sees a canine or other companion coming her way. Our recent visit to New York City put her skills to the test and she did quite well.

One must have certain supplies when traveling with a dog. A travel bowl and lots of water. Most pet stores sell convenient folding travel bowls that do the trick nicely. There’s a company called Outward Hound which makes this and other travel accessories for your pet. You should have small treats to periodically reward good behavior. Carry along a chew toy to keep your pet occupied when you stop somewhere to rest. And an absolute must is poop bags to clean up when she needs to go. We also bring a brush with us in case her typical husky shedding gets out of control, but we rarely need that. The final, not critical tool, is a camera to document your dog’s adventures!

Fiona in Washington Square Park

In order for your dog to travel comfortably, particularly in a city environment, you must bear a few things in mind. Some dogs will not do their bathroom business on pavement – our Fiona is one of them. When walking around, keep an eye out for small strips of grass or parks so your dog can relieve himself. Dogs can also get overheated easily, especially with their paws on hot pavement all day. Stop frequently to offer water to your dog to drink. Fiona took an unconventional way to cool off on our visit to Washington Square Park – I don’t recommend this but, unlike most Siberian Huskies, she is strongly attracted by bodies of water. I won’t look at the Washington Square Fountain the same ever again!

After walking extensively you may want to stop to rest. You may not think that your dog needs it – most dog seem indefatigable and will follow you to the ends of the earth happily. However, if your dog “crashes” and can’t go any further, you may wind up carrying him or her. This happened to me with our family dog growing up; Lou was a forty pound hound dog-corgi mix. On a hot summer day he tired of our walk and refused to budge before we’d reached home. I can’t tell you how many neighbors said they saw me carrying him home that very long mile. It must have looked rather comical but it was a herculean feat for me at the time! So as you can tell, for a small toy dog no big deal – if you’ve got a St Bernard on the leash, this may be a problem. Take periodic rest breaks to avoid this dilemma.

Fiona still sometimes has the tendancy to jump when greeting somebody. The best way to prevent this is to step on her leash to shorten it. That way she is forced to stay in place to be petted. People often stop us to pet her. She’s very friendly and loves the attention. Not everyone loves dogs, however, so keep your dog on a short leash so as not to get in anyone’s personal space while walking. There are many people with a fear of dogs and no matter how sweet your canine, they do not want your dog near them.

Fiona and Rob at the Hollywood Diner

The most difficult part of traveling with a dog is finding a way to eat a meal. Restaurants understandably do not allow dogs indoors. However, some do allow your dog to join you at outdoor tables. This is a rare find so enjoy it when you find it. We were lucky to find the Hollywood Diner in New York and had a leisurely lunch sitting at an outside table in the sunshine, with Fiona luxuriating at our feet with her water bowl nearby. The other option is take out. Even most upscale restaurants will do take out. So order your food to go and make sure they include forks, knives, napkins, etc. If the weather is nice you can sit on a bench to eat or on the grass in a park. If the weather is not nice, you can always take your meal back to your car. If you are in a scenic location you can always sit facing the ocean or some nice overlook while you eat.

Many cities have fenced in dog parks. If your dog is young and you want to burn off a little energy, this is a good way to do it. We took Fiona to two dog parks in New York, one in Washington Square Park and another in Madision Square Park. Your dog must play well with others, must be fixed, and must have all of his or her shots up to date. There is a dual gate system to enter and leave most of these parks to ensure no dogs get loose. Enter the first gate and close it behind you. Take the leash off your dog in this enclosure.  Then enter the park,  close the second gate behind you and let him run! One note of caution if your dog is a climber or a jumper – check the height of the fence. If you think your dog will jump it, the park may not be right for you. However, most dogs have so much fun inside the park that they have no interest in getting out.

Dogs are a part of your family and it’s fun to bring them along when you travel, even on a day trip. Bear in mind our few tips so your trip is enjoyable for human and canine alike. Oh, and about Fiona – she is still sleeping off her New York City adventure at twelve noon the next day!

There are many hotels which allow dogs. This really expands your travel possibilities. More about that in a future post

Irish tea with scones and cream

There’s nothing quite like a strong cup of Irish tea with lashings of milk. Add a plate of buttery short bread and Irish soda bread with homemade jam or lemon curd, and you’re sure to impress your guests and please their taste buds. Combine this with small sandwiches filled with smoked salmon and cream cheese and you’ve got an all out event.

So let us address the basics. How do you brew that strong, delightful beverage known as a “cuppa” or cup of Irish tea? 

• Fill your tea kettle with fresh, cold water. Place your tea kettle on the stove and turn on the burner. In old Ireland, this oft repeated task was referred to as “putting the tea on the hob.” It brings visions of fireplaces and cast iron cookware to mind, but today’s tea kettles serve just as well.
• Warm your teapot with hot water by swirling it around in the pot then pouring it out. Do the same with your tea cups. This allows your tea to stay warm longer as the warm pot and cups don’t absorb as much of the heat from the boiling water of the tea kettle as cool ones would.
• Bring water to a rolling boil then shut off immediately.  Do not let the water boil for a long time. This depletes the oxygen in the water and your tea will simply not taste as good.
• Some tea drinkers like to place their milk in the tea cup first, before adding the tea bag and hot water.  This is simply a matter of preference. I personally think it doesn’t steep as well this way but it does prevent the milk from cooling my tea too quickly.
• Place tea bags or loose tea in the tea pot.  Pour water over the tea bags or loose tea and allow black tea to steep for three to five minutes. Stir the tea and allow it to steep for another minute or two.  Do not steep for longer than five to seven minutes as the tea may taste bitter.
• Note – dunking your tea bag does not allow the tea to steep properly. The result will be weak, tasteless tea.
• Remove the tea bags with a spoon or strain the loose tea.  You may press the tea bag against the spoon if you like a stronger brew.
• If the tea is too strong for any of your guests, simply add more water or milk.
• Add milk and sugar to your liking.
• Sip and enjoy!

 A word about dunking cookies or biscuits in your tea… some may not consider it polite but it can taste delightful – especially with a plain, sweet, crunchy tea cookie. You may consider me gauche, but I highly recommend it!

Not sure which tea to choose? Most Irish teas are of excellent quality because the Irish are serious about their tea. Visit Celtic Reader for Irish tea at great prices. You can even sign up for regular tea shipments so you never, ever run out!

Copyright Janet McGrane Bennett 2010

Irish tea with scones and cream

There’s no doubt that the Irish are mad for their tea. Drinking hot tea became popular among the wealthy in Ireland in the 18^th century but high prices kept the average Irish person from enjoying the new beverage. Tea sales blossomed in Ireland once Irish traders, spear headed in 1835 by merchant Samuel Bewley and his son Charles, began to import tea directly from China. Luckily their gamble paid off – the Irish importers were able to lower the price and hence discovered a very receptive market for tea in Ireland. By the mid 19^th century tea was commonly found everywhere in the Emerald Isle. Popular teas are now produced by several Irish companies, including Bewleys, Barrys and Lyons. Incredibly, the Irish now drink more tea per capita than any other country in the world.  

Tea in Ireland is above all things a social tradition and one which blends well with the time-honored rules of hospitality which go back to the ancient Celtic ancestors of the Irish. Upon entering an Irish home or even a business, it is a common courtesy to greet visitors by offering them a cup of tea. Ireland’s frequently damp climate makes hot tea a welcome beverage to the traveler, who often gladly accepts. A cup of strong Irish tea helps to warm up and get the conversation going. Conversation is an important part of Irish social life, whether it be in the pub over a pint of stout or virtually anywhere over a cup of tea. Tea is drunk by everyone – men, women, children and adults.

Tea may be taken at any time of the day but traditionally around 11 am and 3 pm there is a tea break, often with cookies or cake. On special occasions the afternoon tea may be a fancy tea served with an impressive variety of finger foods – tiny sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, cookies and cake. The evening tea around 6 PM is essentially the evening meal – a hot meal served with good strong, black tea. The Sunday evening meal however is usually a late afternoon tea accompanied by something savory and delightful like a roast chicken and mashed potatoes.

Why take a break for tea that is not a meal? Much like we stop for a cup of coffee here in the US, the tea break is a chance to relax and enjoy some conversation with friends or co-workers. Everyone needs to recharge the mental batteries and tea of course offers that little extra kick of caffeine to help you finish the day without dragging your feet.

 Tea in Ireland is brewed strong and served with lots of milk, or “lashings” of milk, to “color the tay.” Sugar may be added to taste. When I was in school in Ireland I drank my tea black with no sugar or milk and people looked at me askance, for this was not a proper cup of tea! I’ve since learned the error of my ways.

Visit the Celtic Reader shop online for a wide selection of Irish teas.

Copyright Janet McGrane Bennett 2010

The druids were the educated class of the ancient Celtic tribes who settled in large numbers in England and Ireland in the century or so before Christ. They did not believe in writing down their history, legend and lore, but preserved it orally. The sad thing is that this means a great deal of their knowledge was lost to us over time as their culture waned. Their practice of keeping verbal history not only shows a tremendous respect for the spoken word, but was also the ultimate answer to Celtic fears for data security and integrity. Information was controlled because only certain people were privy to it.

The wise men and women of the druid class held the power of knowledge like a weapon and wielded it with mercy and mindfulness. They passed the knowledge down to the next generation of druids, like Yoda from the Star Wars movie sharing his Jedi wisdom with young Luke Skywalker. Of course Yoda, unlike our druid friends of old, lived for many hundreds of years. Druids were unfortunately human and quite mortal.  Their control of the dissemination of information over time was consequently limited.

The druids were said to have incredible powers of memory. They were the repository for all the knowledge of the Celtic tribes: the lineages of warriors and kings, the history of the tribe, the medical, astronomical, and legal expertise. All in capacious human memory banks.

I have a hard time remembering dates and facts and I’m sure I’m not alone in this. In our modern era of high technology, the tiniest fact can be “googled” and easily found out. I force myself to dial phone numbers rather than use speed dial, so I don’t forget them out of lack of use.  Technology after all can fail and then where are those numbers? The druids, with a wealth of information at their mental fingertips, were the “google” of their day.

Picture a young boy climbing to the top of a mountain to ask a burning question of a wise man living in a cave at the summit. He sweats and toils, he loses his footing and falls a great distance, only to get back up on his feet again and continue on his journey. The answer lies with the reclusive sage and no one else. The boy’s quest for knowledge overcomes his dread of the mountain and the fearsome wise man.

Knowledge of this type today is of a different class. So much is now known. Google Earth helps a scientist discover an unknown predecessor of humanity. Chinese terra cotta warriors are dug up in their thousands after two millennia. The heavens are mapped out and distant stars and galaxies named and logged.  Our DNA is decoded like a map of our humanity. There are fewer and fewer scientific mysteries as research and technology advance and the information unearthed becomes quickly and readily available on the internet to inquiring minds.

The burning questions of today deal mostly with mortality – the cures for cancer and heart disease and Alzheimer’s and other such maladies of body and mind still remain beyond our grasp. There are also the big ifs – What if an asteroid socks into our planet and causes global devastation? What if global warming is indeed real and reaches a tipping point and causes irreversible changes to our planet?  What if we make first contact with an alien species?

The Romans were the conquering nation of the day back in the time of the druids. When they decided to take on ancient Britain in the first century AD, the druids’ power was a challenge to them. Nowadays you control the media or blow up the radio stations if you want to take charge. For the Romans, burn the sacred groves on the Isle of Mona, kill a few druids, and the enemy tribe was silenced and in cultural disarray. The Celtic records of law and history and science were permanently damaged by the Roman incursion into Britain.

Does this mean knowledge is ephemeral? Maybe not, but it is subject to interpretation. Sadly what little we know of the druids today is what was written down by their Roman conquerors and the Christian monks whose religion replaced the pagan beliefs of the Celts.

When each druid died, his or her full data base of information was irretrievable, lost with the death of the druidic mind which housed it. With their cultural structure shaken up by the Roman legions, there was no longer a safe way to pass the information on to the next generation. Of course some information survived, just like the handful of phone numbers I remember after my cell phone dies and its speed dial capacity with it. A great deal of Celtic history, however, was simply lost.

Copyright J McGrane Bennett 2010

part of Celtic Crossroads in action

I had the good fortune to see Celtic Crossroads last weekend at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ. I was happy to see that the theatre was packed for this Irish event. Celtic Crossroads is a multi-talented group of seven musicians and two dancers who honor the Celtic musical tradition with their spirit, talent and enthusiasm. Their show was entertaining from the first note to the much appreciated encores.

 The performance began with the sole playing of the Irish uillean pipes. The band members stood in a semi-circle and the center stage was achingly empty at first. The picture filled in as each band member joined his or her sound to the pipes – harp, accordion, banjo, fiddle, guitar, bodhran and then – a pair of dancers! Now the scene was lively and the audience enraptured. It was an enticing build up of musical tension and theatrical mastery.

What struck me most was when one of the band talked about a “party piece.” The party piece is a tradition of old Ireland, pre-tv and pre-radio, that lingers to this day in some folks. Each individual would know at least one piece of entertainment – whether it be a song to sing or play on an instrument, a dance to dance, a poem to recite, or a joke or story to tell – for the enjoyment of all gathered together. If each person had a party piece the entertainment would go on all night long. Thank goodness the members of Celtic Crossroads all have lots of party pieces, and they took it in turns to play the lead, telling stories, cracking jokes, singing songs and playing music. In this unique manner we got to know every one at the party – in this case, each band member.

Celtic Crossroads takes as its roots the old Irish tradition of gathering at the crossroads between towns to dance and make merry. Musically speaking, they also blend many traditions which come from or were influenced by the old Irish music – American bluegrass music, Rumanian gypsy music, Cajun music, Appalachian music.

The dancers were a joy to watch. A tall lanky man in black and a fiery young woman in a short burgundy dress. The man at one point fell off the stage, accidentally on purpose I assume, threw his arms around a very surprised woman in the audience, then jumped back on stage. His was a hilariously comic presence on stage, but he danced like a champion. The dancers walked on and off the stage throughout the evening, a natural progression like at a party.

Some of the songs covered were Crooked Jack (Bluegrass), a gypsy tune which ran the gamut of fast and wild to sweet and slow, a slip jig, a sean nos piece, a complement of jigs and reels for “the purists”, Ned of the Hill, Wild Mountain Time (Will Ye Go Lassie Go), and the crowd pleaser Cotton Eyed Joe.

The Celtic Crossroads will be coming to New Jersey again this summer 2010 in Wildwood. Why not take a trip to the Wildwood Convention Center in August? Celtic Reader will be a vendor there.  We look forward to seeing you!
Click here for details of Celtic Crossroads at Irish Summerfest

Copyright J McGrane Bennett 2010

Fiona at 8 weeks old - a Siberian Husky with a most Celtic thirst! photo copyright C.M. McGrane 2009

Some of you may have met our sweet Fiona, who is a young Siberian Husky puppy. I call this image “thirst personified”. Fiona’s name means the “fair one” and I think it is Scotch Gaelic actually. We also call her our “Celtic white wolf.” She’s very sweet and is in training to be a therapy dog – eventually. She has a lot of puppy energy which you can enjoy on her many youtube videos with her dog cousins - click link below to view them:
FIONA ON YOUTUBE

Fiona is a year old now but when first we met she fit right in with the family, as you can see by her fascination with this black and tan. A black and tan is a drink comprised of half Bass and half Guinness – you achieve that perfect split (seen here in the picture) by first pouring the Bass, followed by Guinness poured over the back of a spoon. I personally prefer Guinness alone but to most of my family this dual-coloured beverage is the nectar of the gods.

This photo has been rather popular when we’ve shown it at festivals and we thought we’d share it here on our blog for your everyday enjoyment! It does bring a smile to the lips.

photo copyright C.M. McGrane 2009

I began to wonder what truly spurred such intense love for St Patrick. Although a few had preceded him to the Emerald Isle, Patrick was apparently the first successful Christian missionary to Ireland.

What made Patrick so different? Well you see Patrick’s first trip to Ireland was not exactly voluntary – it was a journey by force.  Born to a wealthy family in Roman Britain around 373 AD, Patrick was kidnapped by Irish pirates when he was just sixteen years old. He was sold into slavery to an Irish farmer and forced to tend his flock of sheep.  You may think of Little Bo Peep and her frilly outfits – ancient Irish sheep herding was by no means a picnic. Patrick was most likely enslaved on a farm in the west of Ireland and forced to go out in all weather, day in and day out, to care for the sheep, defending them from wolves and other deadly predators.  He states later that he almost died while in servitude.

Although he’d grown up in a Christian household, Patrick was somewhat of an atheist in his youth. While enslaved in Ireland, however, he had a spiritual awakening. He spent long periods of time alone watching his flock and he began to believe in God, to fast, and to pray morning, noon and night.

Patrick’s faith inspired him to survive against the odds, for six long years, until one night when God spoke directly to him in a dream, waking him from his sleep. “You have fasted well – soon you will be going home,” said the Lord.  Although this was obviously good news, Patrick wasn’t quite sure what to do with this remarkable pronouncement, so on the next night God was a bit more explicit and said to him – “Behold, your ship is ready.”

Patrick was situated at least 200 miles from the closest Irish port with ships departing for his British homeland and heeding the message from God was not easy. He was a slave, someone else’s property, and not at leisure to just up and leave. He did escape, however, and set out in stealth to the nearest port. Once there, he managed to find passage to Britain by offering his services as a ship’s hand. He returned home to his astonished parents, who rejoiced heartily, for they had believed him murdered by the pirates.

Patrick’s parents begged him to remain with them. One would think he would not hesitate to embrace a quiet, predictable life after all he had been through, but Patrick had had another life changing dream. In this dream, a friend delivered an armful of letters to him. Patrick opened one letter which read at the top “Voice of the Irish”, and from this letter came forth the actual voices of the Irish he had met, beseeching him to return.

Patrick’s dream of the “Voice of the Irish” inspired him to begin a course of study to become a priest.  Amazing as it may seem, after he was enslaved and almost killed by the Irish, he left his home and family to return to the land of those who had so mistreated him. He wanted desperately to save Irish pagan souls by converting them to the ways of Christ.

As I sit down to write on this incredibly blustery March day here in New Jersey, I think of the early monks and priests who traveled to remote, inhospitable areas of the globe to spread the news of Christ. In the fifth century AD, well before the convenience of Aer Lingus, central heating and creamy pints of Guinness, Ireland was actually considered by many as a forgotten land on the edge of the known world – Patrick himself described Ireland as “the end of the earth.” St Patrick was a brave priest indeed when he decided to journey to pagan Ireland and make his home there all those many centuries ago.

Setting up a Christian church in Ireland was a difficult task and a dangerous one. Although there were some Christians there already, among them many enslaved Britons, the pagan ways of the druids were still predominant. He was under constant threat of bodily harm in his work: a band of nine druids at one point set out to assassinate him, a king reputedly tried to poison him and he had to bribe landowners to allow him to travel safely through their lands to spread the word of Christ. In his book “Confession of St Patrick” he writes that “I keep expecting to be murdered, assaulted, sold back into slavery, or some such thing. But I’m not afraid because I know Heaven waits for me.”  Patrick persisted with great courage, and bit by bit grew his ministry in Ireland, building the strong foundation of the Catholic Church of Ireland today.

Many converts, Irish women in particular, tried to offer him gifts of jewelry, often times leaving them on the altar in his chapel. Patrick was a humble soul and he would dutifully return them each time, saying thanks but he could not accept them. It was very important to him that the faith he preached not be tainted by money in any way, so he lived a simple life.

Patrick saw his former life as a slave as key to his success in Ireland. “God” he writes, “used the time to shape and mold me into something better.” God indeed molded a spoiled, atheistic, aristocratic kid into a thoughtful, kind-hearted Christian adult.

What endeared Patrick most to me in his writings was his singular plea in his Confession. He was afraid at one point that the Roman church would recall him and make him leave Ireland. He begs, “If I have ever done anything worthwhile for the God I love, I ask that I might be allowed to die here for his name with these converts and slaves – even if it means that I won’t have a marked grave…” Despite his kidnapping and enslavement, despite his patrician upbringing in a Roman household, Patrick became like many after him, more Irish than the Irish. Thanks be to God for that!

Copyright J McGrane Bennett 2010