I think everything on my web site is up and working again.  There were a few glitches to work out and although I really like my web site host, their tech support leaves something to be desired.   I absolutely loathe having to contact them for anything because I know how frustrated I'm going to become by the end of the chat.  But with any luck I'm done with them for now.

Today's is St. Patrick's Day! In honor of that, I thought I would talk about leprechauns. A leprechaun is an Irish fairy taking on the appearance of a miniature old man. Folklore tells us they possess a hidden pot of gold.  Solitary, mischievous, little creatures, they are known to live in remote places.  They spend their time working on a single shoe (brogue). You know you have found him, if you hear the sound of his hammer while he's working.   If you capture a leprechaun, he might reveal the location of his gold to escape. But, keep your eye on him. If you look away, even just for a moment, he might vanish.

To read more:

 

Leprechauns

Irish Fairies

Leprechaun Watch

Today is Groundhog day. Do you wonder, as I do, how this furry little animal got his job as a weather forecaster? The tradition dates back 123 years to 1887. It shares similarities with Candlemas Day (also celebrated today).

According to the folklore, once the groundhog emerges from his burrow and fails to see its shadow, winter will end soon and it will leave the burrow. If the shadow is visible, the groundhog will return to the burrow and winter will continue for six more weeks.

A tiny hill called Gobblers Knob in Punxsatawney, Pennsylvania holds the largest Groundhog Day celebration, but celebrations take place all over the U.S. and Canada.

For more groundhog lore visit Groundhog Day

Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered 72 years ago today at the Carthway Circle Theatre. It was his first full-length animated feature film to be made in Technicolor.

A couple of months later it was put into general release and became a major-box office success, making four times the money than any other film released in 1938. It still registers as one of the top ten moneymaking American films of all time. Because of Snow White's success it allowed Disney to move ahead with other feature-film productions.

November 9, 1799--Napoleon Bonaparte pulled off a coup and declared himself dictator of France.