Everyone’s Seeing Green

It won’t be long now and the excitement is building. The Shady Pines Community Center will soon hold it’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Shenanigans event Friday, March 17th for the kids at the nearby elementary school.

Community Center Director, Rita Mallena, is excited. “Shenanigans means spirited fun with a little mischief mixed in. That’s what I think about when I think of leprechauns and it describes our students as well. So that’s our theme this year,” says Rita.

A lot of folks around town are pitching in to help, including the Sanders family.

Harold and Edna absolutely love this event. It gives Edna a chance to cook up something special in Edna’s Kitchen. Harold dresses up and their four-legged kids like the commotion.A happy family hugging their pets

An Irish Treat

Edna Sanders makes a list of things she wants to get at the store.

“In honor of one of the symbols of this day, I’ll make my special Shamrock Cookies. The batter is easy to whip up. Next, I use my heart shaped cookie cutter to make the shapes, top with green icing and voila! Everyone seems to really like them.”

Harold strides into the kitchen and makes a beeline to the refrigerator. “What do we all like, dear?”

“My Shamrock Cookies.” (CLICK HERE FOR THE COOKIE RECIPE)

Harold looks in the refrigerator. “Are there any in here?”

Edna shakes her head. “No, I’m going to make some for the Shenanigans Event.”

“Oh, okay,” says Harold. “Guess I’ll just have some fruit. That’s right. St. Paddy’s Day is coming up. Should I wear my leprachaun costume again?”

Boomer and Halley Get Into It

Boomerang, the couple’s Australian Shepherd, wanders in carrying his rawhide bone in his mouth. He drops it upder the window seat where Halley’s Comet is sunning herself. The silver streak of a cat opens one eye and looks down at him. “What do you want?”

“What’s a leprechaun?”

Halley sigh loudly. “Honestly you overgrown fur ball. Everyone knows that.”

Boomer tilts his head. “You don’t know, do you?”

“‘Course I do,” says Halley. “Legend has it they’re little Irish guys who live in the forest among the trees. They make shoes or something. Oh, and they guard their pot of gold.”

“How do you know?” asks Boomer.

“Because mom told the kids all about them at last year’s shin-dig,” says Halley. “Let me guess. You weren’t paying attention.”

Boomer growls at her.  “What if someone finds a leprechaun?”

Halley yawns. “Then they get to keep the gold.”

“Really?”

“Uh-oh.” Halley sits up straight. “Boomer. I know that look. What are you thinking?”

Making Human Connections

“You know dear,” says Edna. “I really enjoy St. Patrick’s Day. It’s a delightful way to celebrate the country of Ireland – it’s people, art, religion and all the things Irish people like to do.”

Harold sits at the kitchen table eating his apple. “I agree. I think it’s also a good way for kids to learn about people in far away places like the British Isles.”

Edna nods. “We need to remember that even if we live differently, and maybe eat different foods, people everywhere are alike in many ways. That’s something to celebrate.”

Harold looks around the kitchen. “Hey. What happened to Boomer and Halley?”

Can You Dig It?

“Come on Halley. Let’s go!” shouts Boomer as he explodes through the doggie door.

Halley is shocked. But before you know it, she skeedaddles right through the swinging rubber flap and out into the backyard.

“What are we doing?” gasps Halley as she catches her breath.

Boomer is already rooting through the pine straw under the pine trees that rim the fenced in yard.

“We’ll find ’em.”

“Find who?” asks Halley.  

Boomer digs frantically at one spot under the blooming cherry tree. “I’m looking for the leprachauns and their gold!” shouts Boomer.

“You’re doing what?” asks Halley

Boomer stays at his task. “Halley, think about it. We’re going to have the luck of the Irish.”

Halley throws her paws up in despair. “Boomer you nit-wit. The leprachauns are in Ireland. Not here in Shady Pines.”

Boomer stops digging and wheels around to face her. “Huh?”

And that’s where we leave the Sanders family just before St. Patricks Day in the small Southern town of Shady Pines.

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