What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Sunday, March 17, 2024

A Visit to Ireland- A Creative Adventure Revisited

In honor of St. Patrick's Day and also in memory of our blogging friend Toni Taddeo...I wanted to repost this special little story.  I've shared it several times now over the past few years, but since St. Patrick's Day only happens once a year, I hope you won't mind reading it again if you already have, and if you are a newer friend here this may be your first time to enjoy this little Irish Fairy Tale.  Here is what I wrote in 2021, and prior to that when Toni was still here with us.

3/16/2021:
Our dear friend Toni Taddeo,  also known in the blogging world as Treasures By Toni, passed away several years ago.  Toni left us with such a wonderful heritage of creative writing adventures, poetry, and interesting blog themes. Those of us who were privileged to have been Toni's blogging and Facebook friends miss her daily smiles and wisdom.  Our friend Annie over at Cottage By The Sea has picked up where Toni left off with a Tuesday 4  weekly theme in memory of Toni.  You may want to check that out.

But today I wanted to do something a little different, in memory of Toni.  Toni used to do a "Toni's Creative Adventures" meme, where she would give us several unfinished sentences that we needed to complete with our own special creative adventure.  Here is one that I did, using Toni's prompts, back in March of 2018.  Since tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day I thought I would share this one again, as I also did last year at this time. So here we go, back in time and space to a happy place...won't you come along with me? Some of you have already commented in times past, but there are a few new friends who might not have ever seen this before. I hope you will enjoy it.

Original Post 3/12/2018

So, what did YOU do the Monday after the time change to spring forward?  I know what I did...I took a nap!  (I did yesterday too...and the day before that, and the day before that...) I actually look forward to nap time!  I snuggle down with my blankie and pillow and fall asleep within one minute (wish I could do that at night)...and I stay asleep for at least fifteen minutes...sometimes twenty or even thirty!

Well today I must have either fallen into a much deeper sleep, or perhaps something else happened...I'm not exactly sure... but I found myself...

1.   "Walking in a countryside in Ireland,  and I see a strange green glow coming from behind a large tree. Walking up to it I find a large pot of shamrocks...



 They were so lovely, they seemed to be glowing and smiling up at me...




2.   Being the curious kind I decide to pick a little bouquet...

3.   Much to my surprise as I bend to pick them, a sudden gale blew up and whirled me around and round and finally sat me down on a lovely garden bench. 

As I recovered from feeling a bit dizzy, I looked around, and sitting there beside me was a delightful little tea tray, with the prettiest little Irish red haired girl blinking her bright green eyes at me and asking me if I'd like to have some tea!

Well, of course, I said yes!  

And then she asked if I would do the honor of pouring since the teapot was so hot and a bit too heavy for her to lift...and so I did.  

As we sat there together, sipping our tea,  it was so peaceful and lovely in spite of the wind...and I noticed some dainty little wildflowers blooming across the lawn, and thought how perfect they would be for our tea table...

The little yellow flowers looked like miniature dandelions. 

The tiny purple flowers were so delicate and airy...it seemed as though they belonged in a fairy garden.  (Perhaps it was???)




4.   Deciding this must truly be an Irish fairytale, I laughingly think to myself that I must have fallen out of bed or hit my head or something, because how could I really be sitting in that lovely little garden in Ireland, sipping tea with this lovely young maiden when just a few minutes ago I was taking a little nap in my own bedroom many miles and oceans away?




Suddenly I woke up, sprang out of bed, rubbed my eyes and looked around my room. Everything looked just the same as it had before my nap.

And then I got up and went into the kitchen, and there on the windowsill was this tiny little bouquet...


But where did that shamrock come from?...  What do you think?

Thank you, Toni!  This was delightful!!!

Well, You have just come along with me on another of Toni's Creative Adventures...  and I wish Toni were still here to share more of her creative ideas with us.  These were a lot of fun, and I am sad that I didn't participate in them very often, because now all of her special creative adventures are lost to us.  Perhaps there are some of you out there who might have some of them saved in your blog archives, and maybe we could revive them again in memory of Toni...just a thought! It's another way to keep her memory alive and we could all benefit from the wonderful ideas she shared with us.





2021: Current picture in my kitchen! The little Irish Maiden found a little Scottish Maiden friend, and they picked some fairy flowers for us to enjoy for St. Patrick's Day!  
They had a little help from another little "Irish Lass", 
who is all dressed up in her Irish Green so she won't get pinched!


And perhaps some help from the fairies as well...



Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV)

 "A merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones."

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 I hope you all enjoyed this little adventure in fairyland with me. In the midst of  the current world situation we need a little levity and creativity to lift us above our troubles and help us to enjoy some lighter, happier moments.  Have a blessed and beautiful St. Patrick's day...and be watching for the little fairies and leprechauns to bring some cheer to your day!

44 comments:

  1. Pam, that was so much fun!! Well done! Love the vignette too!

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    1. Thank you, Terri! It was fun...I feel like I was really there...

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  2. Beautiful photos. And a fun story.

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    1. Thank you, Glynn. I'm afraid that I'm not exactly a great fiction writer...but it was fun traveling along and seeing where it would lead me...
      So glad you decided to pop in for a visit!

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  3. Good job and I loved your little red headed Irish girl. Sweet! Fun imagination.

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    1. Do you really take a nap every day?

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    2. Thank you, Nonnie! I'm glad you enjoyed the journey! And yes, I do take a short "power nap" almost every day, unless we are where we cannot. It truly does refresh and re-energize me so that I can run the rest of the race to the final lap of the day!!!

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    3. I wish I could do that. I came back over today to see these pretty pics again.

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    4. Oh thank you for coming back again! You are welcome as the flowers in spring, I'm sure!

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  4. Loved, loved your version of the creative adventure Pamela. You always do such a great job with the creative adventure 4 meme questions. I'm so glad you join in. Have a blessed evening dear friend.

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    1. Thank you, Toni, for thinking up these fun adventures!! This was fun, and it was interesting to me how it all came about...I truly found myself on this little adventure, and then realized it dovetailed in very nicely with your meme! Gave me another excuse to play with my dolly and tea things!

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  5. Love your adventure, thanks for taking us along with you, Pam!
    Enjoy the day!

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    1. Thank you, Sylvia. It's fun to play sometimes, isn't it? We all need to take a "play-break" every so often.

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  6. Those naps sound wonderful and I enjoyed your imagination creating a delightful story around Toni's prompts. The little doll is perfect for the story! I love her little shawl wrapped around her...it really makes her so Irish looking...and of course the red hair and beautiful green clothing provides a true Irish look. The teapot is gorgeous, too. Have a wonderful day today...and keep enjoying those naps.

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    1. Thank you for popping in for a spot of tea with me! And yes, I enjoyed another nap today! It must be all this "Irish springtime"...

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  7. So wonderfully creative and enchanting, Pamela! And just in time for St. Patrick's Day - perfect!
    And I love that little doll!
    Blessings!

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    1. Thank you Martha! I was enchanted by this little "dream" myself, and wished to be back there again today...but instead I took a nap and actually slept...LOL. The doll is a Madame Alexander doll, one of her international dolls...given to me by my mother many years ago, but not when I was a child...just because...for the child in me!

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  8. Pam, what an enchanting story you weaved with Toni's Creative Adventures. You are truly a gifted writer!

    Blessings!

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    1. Oh, thank you, Kim! This little tale sort of wove itself around me without me really planning...it just all came together when I woke up and saw Toni's prompts...

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  9. So much fun Pam. Love the pictures too. Girl, I wish I could nap. I have never been a napper. I don't sleep well at night as it is and If I took a nap it would be bad! LOL! But I have heard that a good 15 minute nap a day does the body good. Happy Wednesday.. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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    1. I find that I need that little nap so much, that if I don't get it, my eyes just go ahead and shut anyway! But seriously 15-25 minutes is plenty! And it does give me the energy to get up and keep going until bedtime! Now I'm hooked...

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  10. "Suddenly I woke up, sprang out of bed, rubbed my eyes and looked around my room. Everything looked just the same as it had before my nap."

    You woke up in an extra replica of the world you fell asleep in!

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    1. I wonder how that happened? Two years later I am still rubbing my eyes and wondering...

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  11. Naps....they're such sweet blessings! Love all of your Irish decorations!

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    1. Thank you...I am late answering...only two years late...it was a LONG nap!!!

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  12. I remember this lovely story from 2018, Pamela. Thanks for sharing it again!
    Blessings!

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    1. I'm glad you came back for a second visit! This was one of my favorites of all time!!

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  13. This was absolutely delightful, Pam! Such a cute little story and the pictures are great! You have a wonderful imagination! This was perfect for St. Patrick's Day!

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    1. This was one of my most favorite posts! I love living in "fairyland". LOL. Thank you for stopping by for a visit. We need some levity these days!!

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  14. Fabulous fairy tale, Pam! It's so good to meet another grown-up who enjoys her naps! I smiled all the way through. 😍

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    1. Oh yes...naptime has become a must every day...I am not ashamed to say. This old gal needs her afternoon "siesta"...even if it is just a few minutes. Then I can get up and keep going. I have to keep up with Lily Grace...LOL.

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  15. Hi Pam, I had a nice visit here tonight. I like your Madame Alexander dolls. I have 2 of them but they are packed away. I also have the same tea cup that is on the right on that last picture. I miss Toni too. I knew her for more than 15 years. We met when we had our country websites ands she made lots of her own graphics. Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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    1. Oh Susan! Maybe you should unpack your Madame Alexander dolls and show them to us! They are very special. These two my mother gave me (as an adult), and I have another little one that my grandmother gave me when I was a child, and then I have one larger one, Anne of Green Gables. My mother collected M.A. dolls, but after my parents both died most of her dolls were sold except for the ones each of the girls in the family received. I wish I had known Toni longer. I only met her in the last few years before she passed away. She was a very talented lady, and she inspired all of us who were privileged to know her. I hope you have a Happy St. Patrick's Day too!

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  16. Absolutely CHARMING my friend, I loved reading this! Beautiful pictures and what a sweet sweet story. I love the new pictures too, with the dolls and the pretty cups and flowers, you make such pretty scenes, I love coming her to see them. And Miss Tracie is jumping up and down wanting to go look at the pictures of Lily Grace in that beautiful long dress again!!!! so here we go..........

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    1. Thank you so much, Debbi. I enjoyed this little adventure into fairyland...and now with Lily Grace along, it made it so much more fun. We are having such a wonderful time! Thank you, dear friend.

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  17. Pam: I look forward to reading your blog. It always cheers me up. Peace and blessing to you and yours.

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    1. Thank you Cecelia. I am so glad this is a place of peace and cheer for you. I hope it is for everyone. It is a kind of escape from the real world for a while, and a safe place where we can have fun and fellowship in a special way. Thinking of you and praying all is well... (((hugs)))

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  18. The doll-loving girl of years ago still lives inside this senior citizen! Love the composition-photographs of flowers, dolls, and tea-things. So pretty and feminine. And the accompanying story a delightful read. Thank you, Pamela!

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    1. So happy you came and joined us!! Yes, I believe we are never too old to enjoy playing with dolls...I think I appreciate their beauty and "value" (not monetary) more now than when I was a little girl. They give me an opportunity for my inner child to pop out now and then and be imaginative once again. And little dolls can say things that we big people can't get away with! LOL. Thank you for visiting. Please come back again!!

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    1. Thank you! It was a lot of fun!! Sometimes you just never know where you will wake up!! :)

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  20. We are seeing so many neat signs of Spring! And more butterflies! YAY! Love seeing your precious dolls. Mine are neglected! heehee! I keep going outside to play. Enjoy your weekend. Don't blow away! Hugs!

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    1. I love that you are seeing the butterflies and other wonderful signs of spring. I enjoy seeing what I can here and there. Every little "sign" is a treasure! You are blessed to be able to get outside and "play" every day. Your dollies will wait for rainy days to play with you. And yes, don't YOU blow away either. It has been quite windy. We really feel it here on the pond. Today felt rather "raw"...no sunshine, so we had to make our own sunshine inside! :) Blessings.

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  21. She sure did do those adventures!! I remember them well. Glad you used one today for St Patrick's day.

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Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.