Love of an Irish Woman

This week’s blog is a tribute to my sweet St. Patrick’s Day loving grandmother. I am also sharing the recipes on my take on Corn Beef and Cabbage.

In middle school I had a project about the 1930’s and had to create a newspaper with a handful of articles. I remember wanting to interview my Gramps for one of the articles. Fortunately (and unfortunately) he was on a trip when it was time to do the interview and my grandmother, MaMarie, asked why I couldn’t interview her instead.  The conversation with her opened my eyes to the incredibly amazing woman that she is. Growing up my cousins and I always idolized Gramps and don’t think we gave Mamarie the credit that she deserved. She is one of the strongest women that I have ever known with 94 years of wisdom. Who can beat that?

And she has some great hair and skin. Please pass those genes to me!

Mamarie is an Irish farm girl from Maryland. She grew up as the oldest of 4 with very little conveniences. She has told me stories of having to use the outhouse in the middle of the night during the Maryland winter, learning how to drive a stick shift truck in the middle of a field and giving birth to my 10-pound father at home in August! She supported my grandfather during WWII and the rest of his entire life. Talk about a dedicated woman! She has been the glue for our family since the 1940’s.

As I get older, I can appreciate our similarities more and more. She is a Renaissance woman and when I was younger, I don’t remember her needing much help with anything. With all her talents, abilities and hard work, her hair and makeup are always perfect. Unless you catch her in the garden, you will not see MaMarie without high heels or pearls. One big difference between us is her magical green thumb. She can grow anything and loves being outside. As a young adult, she would give me plants and ask that I bring back the pots after I kill the plants, LOL!