Erin Go Bragh!

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Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
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There are two kinds of people - those who are Irish and those who wish they were.

My maiden name is Bagnell and my ancestry is Irish. My (not sure how many greats) grandfather, Thomas Bagnell, immigrated to Canada in the 1800's; probably during the potato famine. We believe our family may have come from here. This town even has it's own website. I've never been, but feel the pull to go "home." I'm hoping before I die, I'm able to make it.

The Bagnell family has had some noteables in the past. A couple of recent ones are members of my family. One is my cousin Larry who is the Member of Parliament (or MP) for Yukon.

Also, my dad, Eric, is a well known and respected New Brunswick photographer & filmmaker. He worked for many years with the Provincial Government as well as with the now defunct Fiddlehead Films. With them he did many documentaries and television commercials including working on a commercial for the fire department that won a North American award. He is also one of the founders of New Brunswick Filmmaker's Co-operative and he also served as president and was director of the board for 3 years. Dad, along with his friend, Charlie McLellan, did the first award winning film for them. Over the years he also supplied some film & photographs to the National Film Board of Canada. I remember when I was still living at home, we'd sometimes have an evening of screenings. Dad would pick out some films and we'd spend the night watching some really good ones, some not so good and some just downright weird. It was great fun and I always looked forward to the "Bagnell Screening Room." Through the years, he has done so much that the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick has "The Bagnell Collection" containing loads of Dad's work.
Just a side note - remember me mentioning a few times about Jim's Aunt Peggy? Well, Aunt Peggy used to work in the archiving dept. at TVO. If someone needed specific footage or a photo, then Peggy was the one who would hunt it down for them. She knew my father's name from searching out film & photographs. She'd even used some of his stuff. How neat is that? Also, when I was in high school we watched one of Dad's films in geography class. He did all of this while building a house and raising 4 kids. He still lives in the house today.
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There he is. My little darling. It's Simon himself. The one for whom the blog was named. Isn't he cute? So soft and warm and cuddly. Uh-huh. Look what he did to my lucky leprechaun!!
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That makes me resort to two of Ireland's best cure-all's.

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Did you know....(remember - I love trivia) more Guinness is sold in Canada than in Ireland! Ah, yes. The almost black beverage with it's thick foamy head. Jim says there's no need for dinner. Have a Guinness, it's like a meal in a glass.





The other famous Irish beverage that's so wonderfully smooth, creamy & tasty - Baileys!

I bought the new caramel flavour and I think I might like it better than the original! It's fabulous in coffee and how many desserts now incorporate this delicious drink into their ingredients? A lady was into the LCBO the other night buying some Baileys and told me that she found a terrific recipe on the internet for Baileys chocolate cake. There is Baileys in the cake and in the frosting! I'm trying to hunt it down! My sister adores this liqueur and I'm sure she'd like the cake.

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing season
bring the best to you and yours!

I hope you all wear something green and enjoy the day!

For your added pleasure, I'm including some videos of wonderful Irish entertainment. Crack open that Smithwick's, pour a finger or two of Bushmills or add a dollop of Baileys to your coffee, kick back, relax and enjoy a few of my favorites.