This week, the Zentangle Diva challenged us to tip our tangling hats to Saint Patrick. I rather unimaginatively based mine around a 4 leaf clover, only to then look it up and discover that 4 leaf clovers have nothing to do with Saint Patrick nor Ireland. Oops. It turns out, I should have unimaginatively based my challenge response on a 3 leaf shamrock which is a sprig of clover. Oh well.
I did this challenge on a rainy day in Philadelphia with the smell of wet dog permeating the air—a cute dog, but a wet, somewhat odoriferous dog nonetheless. To over-compensate for the gloom, my tile has a Tripoli sun, shedding yellow and orange triangles. (Pretend they’re pieces of sunlight).
Gratuitous cute, wet dog (Dino) photo that has nothing to do with this challenge other than illustrating my reference to the background wet dog odor.
We are fortunate to have had the chance to visit the Emerald Isle where apparently, I managed not to learn the difference between a 4 leaf clover and a shamrock. First stop was Dublin, after which we rented (hired) a car and went for a terrifying beautiful road trip driving on the wrong side. We visited Kilkenny and the Rock of Cashel, Kinsale and the impossibly green Ring of Kerry.
The green Irish countryside meets the sea along the Ring of Kerry.
Last year, I did the Zentangle Diva’s Saint Patrick’s Day challenge in Ayvalik, Turkey, having somehow presciently thought to bring some green pens in my carry on tangling supplies. It felt very international to be an American in Turkey challenged by a Canadian to tangle something Irish.
View from the back porch of our 200 year old pension (hostel) in Ayvalik, Turkey where I did last year’s Saint Patrick’s Day challenge while listening to the Muslim call to prayer.
In a more grim recognition of the global nature of life, the quaint coastal town of Ayvalik, Turkey now figures in the desperate flight of Syrian refugees across the Aegean Sea.
In my home town of Philadelphia, we had our Saint Patrick’s Day parade yesterday and on Saturday, we shared our sidewalks with the somewhat intoxicated revelers of the Saint Patrick’s Day Erin Express Bar Crawl.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
A Happy tangle with a lovely colouring!
If you hadn’t told us, many of us wouldn’t have know that a four leaf clover can’t be a shamrock, even when it grows up. Sad. Nice tile anyway 🙂
So who says a leprechaun can’t find a four=leaf clover!! Like it and am jealous of your visit to Ireland. I would love that.
A happy, sunny tile. Just what is needed on a rainy day.
Hilarious… other than I thought the 4 leaf clover was symbolic of St Pat’s day too! I generally stay in for this auspicious holiday as my patience grows thinner with age for even good-natured folks who’ve drunk far more than is wise:)
I am so glad I’m not the only person on the planet who didn’t understand the difference between a 4 leaf clover and a shamrock. We had the white noise apps on our phones going full blast Saturday evening. Excessive drinking also led to a stabbing a block from our apartment very early Sunday morning (3:00 a.m.). I’ve been known to walk our dog there at that time. I’ll be re-thinking that.
Honestly, a clover! What am I going to do with you lol? Great tile though and very colourful. We call it Paddy’s Day here in Ireland and there wil be a little parade down the main Street on the day, no doubt we will be going. You visited some lovely parts of the country when you visited. Next time you must visit our side, it has some lovely areas.
Hi Suzanne, we did the Ring of Kerry and stayed in Dingle, which I loved but we found out why Ireland is green, since, in spite of it being midsummer, it rained every day. Every day. I’ll stick with the Med!. I too considered shamrock and then decided on a Celtic cross. My mother’s birthday was St Patrick’s Day so in our house it’s actually St Edna’s Day!
PS I like the four leaved clover anyway.
We also stayed in Dingle. We brought super duper water proof jackets and it. never. rained although apparently, it had rained for 2 weeks non-stop before we arrived. We probably inoculated ourselves by buying the jackets. That’s ok, we’ll take them to Scotland and England in April/May.
The shamrock is what I think of for St. Pat’s Day, love your spinning Tivoli. Thanks for sharing the beautiful Irish Isle shots.
I like your colorful tile! Since some years I don’t have a dog anymore and I still miss having one around. But …. never missed that smell 🙁
Normally the shamrock has 3 leafes, but when I was young I had a friend who was always searching for shamrock with 4 leafes between the hundreds with 3 leafes, somethimes she found one. In Belgium they say shamrock with 4 leafes brings happiness and you can buy them in the stores as a present for the one you love. therefore I like your tile, it means for me good luck, that is really an original idea and be sure shamrock with 4 leafes really exist!
The picture of the dog, I love him and thanks for the story you tells us, I also visited Ireland and was impressed by the beautifull scenery, the music and dance of the Irish people!
Love your tile and the tales of travel. We also always thought of the four leaf clovers as bringing good luck, and used to spend hours as kids looking for them!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful travels stories. I like your festive tile, looks like a party! We celebrate with margaritas. At home. It’s green, it’s festive and it’s safe. Have a brilliant day! Cheryl
Very lovely tile and a wonderful post! Thank you for sharing!
So cute! Love it!
NEVER hesitate to add a photo of the adorable Dino to any Boomeresque post. Dino enhances every environment he is in. (And I’ve told his adoption story to many people over the years. It’s a good one.)