St. Patrick's Day

March 17th, 2006 - St. Patrick's Day

We Gallagher's are known to have a party to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. This year, while in Sarajevo, it was no different.

Because I was in NY just the week before for Uncle Bennies funneral, I was able to go shopping for "green" things. (There isn't a hint of St. Patrick's Day here!!) I found green forks and spoons, St. Patty's Day paper plates, napkins and decorations. The apartment certainly had the flavor of Ireland in it. The weather in Sarajevo was snow, snow and snow.......didn't think it would ever stop!! However, this doens't stop anyone in Sarajevo from going out. I had been cooking and preparing food since the beginning of the week. I even made Mark go out and buy me a new refrigerator! (The refrigerators here are VERY small and to have a party for 20+ people, I needed more refrigeration, even if it was snowing outside!)

The menu included pulled beef (Jane's terrific recipie), eggplant, tortellini salad, shrimp with holiday green sauce, hummus, guacamole, shamrock cookies, blarney stone cookies and Irish Soda Bread. There is no corned beef here.



Here Dzelila and Ana are tasting some of the goodies.







Cola, Pero and Tamara are fixing plates of food.






Pero and Cola giving me the smiles they are known for that they didn't give me in this other picture!
Jane flirting with Sam. Thank heavens Tom was there to keep an eye on her!!

Majda and Amina laughing while Ana lectures Fikret on God knows what!!






Irish music has always been a big part of this family's life. Irish music can be thought provoking or insightful. There is one philisophical song that explains why there are no unicorns. And cleverly enough, it's called, "The Unicorn".

A long time ago when the earth was green,
There were more kinds of animals than you've ever seen,
They'd run around free while the earth was being born,
But the loveliest of them all was the Unicorn.

There were green alligators and long necked geese,
Some humpy-back camels and some chimpanzees,
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born,
The loveliest of all was the Unicorn.

Now God seen some sinning and it gave Him pain,
And He said "Stand back, I'm going to make it rain."
He said "Hey brother Noah, I'll tell you what to do,
Build me a floating zoo. And take some of them...

Green alligators and long necked geese,
Some humpy-back camels and some chimpanzees,
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born,
Don't you forget My Unicorn."
Ole Noah was there to answer the call,
And he finished making the ark just as the rain started to fallin.
He marched in the animals two by two,
And he called out as they went through, "Hey Lord, I got your..."

Green alligators and long necked geese,
Some humpy-back camels and some chimpanzees,
Some cats and rats and elephants, but Lord I'm so forlorn,
I just can't see no Unicorn."

Then Noah looked out through the driving rain,
Them Unicorns were hiding, playing silly games.
Kicking and splashing while the rain was pouring down,
Oh them silly Unicorns.

There were green alligators and long necked geese,
Some humpy-back camels and some chimpanzees,
Noah cried "Close the door, cause the rain is pouring,
And we just can't wait for no Unicorn."

The ark started movin, it drifted with the tide.
Them Unicorns looked up from the rocks and they cried,
And the waters came down and sort of floated them away,
And that's why you'll never seen a Unicorn... to this very day.

You'll see green alligators and long necked geese,
Some humpy-back camels and some chimpanzees,
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born,
You're never gonna see no Unicorn.

When you sing the part about the green alligators and long necked geese, some humpy-back camels and some chimpanzees, some cats and rats and elephants, and unicorns, you have to do the arm movements that go along with these words. So we had to teach our new friends how to do this and these are the photos of them singing and doing the arm movements.

Tom is doing the unicorn while Sam is....well...I think Sam is telling a fish story!



Eddie laughing while imitating the Chimpanzee










Ana and Emily are doing the long necked geese or the elephant......I think Mark made the movements the same.




Rudy doesn't know what's going on, but he's having fun anyway. Tim is intently reading the words and Harris, well, Harris doesn't even know where he is!!!




Jane is doing the elephant and Sigrid is doing the alligator.....What song are we singing?????


Bernt, a very classy German gentleman, is caught with his hands in his armpits acting like a chimp!!










Tom is still sure he's suppose to be doing the unicorn, Sam looks like he's doing the peacock!!





Pero is doing the unicorn, Tamara reading the words and too timid to get the actions down just yet.


Jane's not timid, she thinks she's in the shower!! Oh, no, it's the humpy back camel. Sigrid doing the elephant?? In the backround, I think Cola fell asleep!!










Rudy's got it now!! Doing the elephant or long necked geese. Tim keeping his hands in his pockets and eye's on the paper









Pero, Tamara and Cola laughing it up acting like chimps!








Here are some rats! Tamara is not timid anymore!! Looks like everyone is on the same animal.

Looks like everyone is enjoying themselves.













Tim took his hands out of his pockets. Yup, I think everyone had a good time. I know I sure did. If we're here next year, we'll have to do this again!!


Erin go Bragh!!