~ A Wee Bit O'History & Belleek ~

St. Patrick was born in southwest England around AD389, which means this patron saint wasn't even Irish.

When he was 15, Irish raiders kidnapped Patrick & took him to Ireland. He escaped & returned to Britain, where he dreamed an angel told him to become a missionary. He became a priest, & in 432 the pope sent him to Ireland, where he converted the country to Christianity. It is believed he died on March 17, somewhere between 460 & 490. After he became a national apostle in 688, churches honored his memory on March 17. Legend has it St. Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity.

***Mother's Mother, Maggie Carty Neu, came to this country as a young lady trained to be a clerk & briefly worked as one before moving & became a cook in the Somerville Mill in Napavine, WA, where she met G'pa Bob Neu.

~~These Belleek pieces are my pride & joy. Mother & I gave one another these pieces as gifts, our love for this exquisite Parian china.

The hanky was one of Mother's, she probably embroidered it herself.

~~This little piggy bank we bought for Joshua when he was born.

***I personally applied for Irish citizenship, as a second generation Irish gal ... I treasure that dual citizenship after all the time it took to acquire it. You can not know the excitement when it was approved ... my roots are deeply set.

~~Mother bought this truly treasured vase for my Christmas gift just a few short days before she passed over on Christmas Eve, going home to share Jesus' birth.

~~I have these sitting on the end of my kitchen bar to enjoy each day. They are little ornies that used to hang on my tree.

~~The cross I have hanging on the wall with the family pictures to enjoy each day ...

*** May you be showered with blessings & Irish love ...