Hello, February

 

Former President Obama posted this factoid on Twitter today:

February

4 Mondays 

4 Tuesdays

     4 Wednesdays 

  4 Thursdays 

4 Fridays 

  4 Saturdays 

4 Sundays 

 This only happens once every 823 years!

And, since I don't think I'll be posting on Slight Detour on Feb. 1 in 823 years, I thought it was worth sharing today. 

Thanks to the Winter Olympics, February is a loaded month for television sports viewing this year. 

So, it should be fun times for pretty much all 28 days. 

The weather forecast is also looking fairly pleasant  this week AND I saw and heard robins in the north lawn yesterday. 

It appears to be a definite emergence from the winter doldrums as we also greet more light with the ever-increasing longer days. 

All good.  

🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

Today is St. Brigid's Day in Ireland.

I learn a little more each year about St. Brigid, the second most famous saint in Ireland.  

She seems to be a multi-tasker as far as saints go cuz she watches over so many aspects of life in Ireland. Plus, she's multi-faceted as both human and myth. 

Because we spend at least one night on each of our Ireland trips in Kildare---where her story is most prominent---we've become St. Brigid admirers. 

Over the years, I've brought home and given away many St. Brigid's crosses like you see in the photo below.

If you are one of my Facebook friends, go to my site and be sure to see the multi-media artwork my favorite Irish artist Suzie has posted today.  

It's lovely and exquisite, like all the work Suzie does. 

I saw this post last night and kept trying to remember to follow its guidelines, but the intensity of the ZAGS-Gaels game got in the way. 

☘☘☘☘

Put your scarves, hats or whatever outside tonight, folks! Tomorrow (Sunday) is Imbolc (or Imbolg), the traditional festival that marks the beginning of Spring in Ireland. 

It was originally a Pagan festival but when Christianity was introduced into Ireland, it morphed into the Feast of St. Brigid (nickname: Bridie).

Now that's tomorrow (now today) but celebrations for Irish festivals always begin on the eve of the day itself because that was considered a very liminal time when the otherworld was close, so appeals for protection and blessings were extra effective. 

Tonight, on the eve of the festival, Brigid is said to walk the earth.

Traditionally, families would have a special St. Brigid's Eve supper and leave some of the food and drink aside for the saint. 

By doing so,  they were inviting her into their house. A bed was made up for her and before retiring for the night, each member of the family would leave a piece of cloth outside the house for the saint to bless. 

The cloth is called Brat Bhríde (Brigid's Cloak), and can be anything from a strip of material to a scarf. 

In the morning it's brought inside and, because it now possesses powers, will be used for healing and protection throughout the year. Bill (the author's hubby) and I both both have our scarves out. 

Once they're blessed they can be wrapped around the head to cure a headache and, traditionally, were widely used by midwives to help women in childbirth (Brigid being, among other things, the patron of healers and midwives). 

There were no epidurals back then of course, but no need! All the mother-to-be needed to do was hang on to a scrap of cloth and she'd be grand.

This is a fun song about St. Brigid's cloak. 

On Friday when I went to the Riverside building to have my hair done, I saw a neat chair in the lobby of the building which serves salons and other small businesses, including that of a local artist. 

I loved the design on the chair, so had to take a photo.  It adds a wonderful splash of color to the "old building," mentioned in the note below. 

You may have guessed that the flyer with a message was taped to the inside door of a bathroom stall. 

Does this mean that all old buildings often have "remnants" left over for others to enjoy and do we just have to expect to flush twice if the building is old?

Just wondering.  You can be sure that I left no remnants after my visit. 

Yes, it was a tight ball game last night when the St. Mary's Gaels came to the Kennel for what may be the last time.   

Gonzaga is going to another league, so the two teams won't necessarily meet each other again, unless a nonleague game is scheduled. 

The narrative that Graham Ike, who's been sidelined for a couple of weeks with an injury, pretty much played out the way he had envisioned.  He was not going to let St. Mary's win for a third consecutive time in the Kennel. 

Thirty points later for him, mission accomplished.  The ZAGS won. 

It was a good day for Bulldogs yesterday, as Willie's Sandpoint Bulldogs took a 46-26 win on an away game matchup with Moscow.  

Willie said it was a grinding out game, but it was a convincing victory. 

Congratulations to all Bulldogs.