Moving on into March...

Can't believe we're well into March already!! Where has the time gone? More importantly, why haven't I been posting all this time? The answer to both questions - "I haven't the foggiest idea!!" (Come to think of it, we have had a lot of fog lately!)

I usually look forward to March as winter in our part of the country is generally pretty much done for by the middle of the month. If it wasn't for a calendar, we probably wouldn't know we had even had winter this year! We've had less than 2 inches of snow all season (knock on wood !) and there isn't any predicted for the rest of this week here. I must say, we did have some heavy flurries for about 15 minutes today - close to a white out! It was 40 degrees at the time! WEIRD!!!

St. Patrick's Day is also something to look forward to. I like the party atmosphere taken on by the entire community. I really enjoy the corn beef and cabbage. It's a dish The Big Guy isn't so crazy about so we really do eat it only once a year. I love the excuse to make it. I can take or leave green beer but it does give the joint a festive air so, go ahead, pass me one! And, hey, where would be without at least the possibility of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow - put there by leprechans, of course!

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MARCHPHOTOADAY

I've decided I really need a push to get me back to daily posting here so I've joined the Marchphotoaday Challenge along with Mama Tink and some other bloggers. Basically, every participant posts a picture of a specific subject for each day of the month. I think I can do this!! Wish me luck. (Please.)

Today's subject is "a smile":




Here's the list if you'd like to play along, too.

The Ides of March are upon us!!

Do kids still study Shakespeare in high school? For that matter, so they study ancient history and know who Caesar was or do they just associate him with a casino in Vegas?
If your answer is "No" and you are among that younger generation who have no clue, the Ides of March is the name given to March 15th in the Roman calendar and probably referred to the day of the full moon. The 15th of May, July and October were also referred to as the Ides.

So, why does March stand out? The Ides of March gained fame as the date Julius Caesar was killed. On his way to the Theatre of Pompei (where he was killed) he stopped off to see a fortune teller (okay, they called them "seers" then). This psychic had previously warned him that harm would come to him no later than the Ides of March. He gloated, "Well, the Ides of March are upon us," indicating nothing had happened. So there! But the seer responded with, "Ay, they have come but they are not gone." Before the night was over, Caesar died, stabbed 23 times. And so, the term the Ides of March has come to represent coming danger.

So much for the history lesson.

In our modern culture, the term is often used as a promotional phrase for everything from a reason to party in the local bars (like we need a special reason this close to St. Paddy's Day!!) and for clearance sales in the department stores. Some folks try to look like they are paying homage to history by conducting some sort of annual event.

Photo is taken from the Rome Hash House Harriers blog site
which incidentally boasts their self-proclaimed label as
"a drinking club with a running problem"

My favorite of these is the Hash House Harriers in Rome who celebrate each year with a toga run through the streets of Rome, winding up in the spot where Julius Caesar was killed. Yep, picture a fraternity toga party on the move! (The Hash House Harriers is an international group of non-competitive running, social and drinking clubs.)

For me, the 15th of March carries a whole different meaning. In my mind, it marks the point where we begin to really move into Spring. We rarely see snow after this date and usually we do start seeing some green sprouts breaking through the ground. I can see buds forming on the forsythia (although our ground is too soggy for me to get close enough to post a picture of these). This week, it seems the sun has come out and it actually feels Spring-like. I sat outside and simply inhaled the fresh air on Sunday. I watched the geese and ducks play at the edge of the pond. (Yes, that is an actual pond and not a puddle, although all that rain last week makes it hard to tell the difference!)

Well, it's sunny again today and I want to get out there and soak up some rays. Hope y'all are starting to see Spring in your near future, too. (Spring officially arrives on Monday!!!)

"The Ides of March"

“The Ides of March” are upon us! Yep, it’s the 15th! So, what exactly are the “Ides of March”? We’ve all heard the line from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar where the soothsayer warns Caesar of his impending death, “Beware the Ides of March.” Most of us consider it an ominous and doom laden date. Why? I’m not sure. I doubt most of us are mourning Casesar’s death!

In the MidAtlantic region, there is a running joke, that this is when Mother Nature sneaks in with one more blast of winter. We don’t deal well with snow here so such a forecast is doomladen. I’ve checked the forecast and we look safe for this year!

So, seriously, what are “the Ides of March”? The ancient calendar system divided each month into three distinct sections and “the Ides” merely meant the middle of the month. So, where does all the doom and gloom come from? Maybe because in ancient Rome, the 15th was the deadline for paying taxes. Today, many suddenly wake up and realize they only have a month to get it together before paying Uncle Sam his share. For many, the date has simply been passed along as a “superstitious” warning of sorts.

For the superstitious, this was a tough weekend since Friday was Friday the 13th, too. (Hopefully, you had a good weekend despite all these warning signs.)


As for us, we’re heading to the winery for a fun afternoon of music, wine and stew with family and friends. This follows a quiet, laidback Saturday which culminated in dinner at our closest BBQ restaurant where we had some of the area’s best smoked brisket sandwiches. Nothing fancy but definitely delicious!





Some of you, I’m sure, began celebrating St. Patrick’s Day a little early with parades and partying. Many communities held big parades and there were a number of events taking place to celebrate the Luck O’ The Irish! (Perhaps, it’s a counter-attack for the Ides of March!)


I hope it’s been a HAPPY and creative weekend for you !