I received a panicky call tonight to make repairs on a special flag that had a grommet pulled out. I happened to have a fabric punch & grommet kit on hand and with the help of my assistant and inspector, I was able to make it better than new (added two new for a total of five replaced on the doubled-over edge binding). On the way home I realized our family had more than one flag story and maybe I should share the origin of the annual flag display with my Pixie family since it's become a tradition for the next two generation.

It seems that once upon a time, long long ago (19mumble-mumble) with the help of the GI Bill, I bought my first home and had erected a 17 ft. flag pole the previous fall. Those many years ago on this very date I was practicing at a local warm-up station called (would you believe) "Kilbain's" for St. Patrick's day. Over the bar hung the centerpiece of the permanent decor, a 'seasoned' Irish flag. At that moment I had an euphony and it became clear St Paddy's day wouldn't be able to come until I had an Irish flag flying atop my proud pole. :wobble:

I was just able to make my way to a nearby shopping center with a fabric store before their late closing and the elderly ladies were thrilled to see me stagger in. When I told them I just wanted material for an Irish flag, they nodded with this numb look on their face. .......... It is beyond me why anybody would hire people that didn't have physic abilities to wait on customers. I could see they needed help ............. "Just a stripe of green, white and orange material............. and the stuff that goes around the edge............ and some heavy stuff for the clip side." After showing me the flimsy material not suited for making a flag, they brought out the good stuff and wanted to know how much 10 ounce cotton duct I wanted? .... "A stripe of each" Now their 'yard' is not 36" but 42" wide. I could see they needed more help.

After some scribbling on paper bags, it was obvious I needed 3, 42" stripes which made a total of 126" long flag. If the width of a flag is 2/3 the length, they had to be 84" long. After chopping and mumbling and bagging and taking all my money, they sent me out the darkened store with my flag material, 336" of piping (the stuff that goes around the edge) and 84" of binding (the heavy stuff for the clip side), and locked the door.

(excuse the cell phone pic quality of the inspector assessing the situation)

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The only person more happy to see me that night than the store ladies was my wife. She seemed to be short on vision at first (probably from being locked away with two pre-schoolers) when I announced that we have the best flag on the street for tomorrow .......... (after she sews it together). When she explained that I had gotten her a junky sewing machine that didn't have room for a 3-1/2 ft. bundle of boat sail to pass through, I felt bad and knew I had to work something out. I knew we had to have a better view of the situation.

The kids were excited when I started moving the dinning room furniture into the living room. They thought it was fun to see the whole floor covered with bright colors. After a little 'discussion', we rolled one stripe of material the long way like a carpet, fed it into one side of the machine, I got a rope, tied it around the bottom of the portable sewing machine, and pulled it across the room as she followed, sewing as it went. We didn't even have to take the machine back across the room to do the other stripe. Just move over and go the other way. Worked great! The edges were a cinch with only a bit of twisting and shoveling a bit of bulk along the floor.

That 11 ft. x 7 ft. flag has flown every year since and I was happy to pass it along to the new family matriarch. My daughter has had to display it by hanging it on the porch these past few years, but son-in-law and I erected a flag pole befitting the legend. I just hope there is never enough wind to unfurl this thing or it may flip over the house. This all seemed to have worked into being a good thing, but .....














....WHAT THE FUCK WAS I THINIKNG?!?!





So what projects have came to you when you were 'inspired'? Even if it wasn't on St. Patrick's day, what seemed like a "good idea at the time", if it worked out or not.

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Sorry, I can't begin to match that one.

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Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating

lmao at the Bowser on the flag....

Dogs and cats....gotta love their sense of ownership


PF....where is the flag for the yacht??? lol

You are right Bibi. Briggs the cat and Murphy the dog know it's a special day and watch the flag raising.

Then to breakfast with green scrambled eggs, soda bread and the first taste of the 71 pounds of corned beef for this years open house.

As you know from past years, this is a big day for the family. Irish music has been playing since Valentines day and the kids love the day off from school. This year both of my first responders are scheduled off even though they both will be marching in the parade. We caught one of the nicest St Paddy days I can recall with both bright clear skies AND warm temperatures suppose to go into the 60's F (16C).

Going to be a fine, fun day.

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	Flag.jpg (128.2 KB, 242 views)
	Breakfast.jpg (133.5 KB, 234 views)

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Looks like fun. I've got my corned beef on and the nasty little leprechaun visited my classroom today.

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The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
~>My Scribbles<~
==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

Fantastic, PF. Great story and a great tradition!!!

Have a Guiness on me!

I do not like them, Sam I Am.

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Plug me into somethin'

If the theory does not conform to the facts, then the facts must be discarded.

No good deed ever goes unpunished

Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level, & beat you with experience.

That's a great tale, PF.

And an even better flag!

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Put me on wheels and I'll turn tricks.

Clever? Nah, I ran out of that years ago. But if you find this, let me know, k?
"The road goes ever on..." ~ Tolkien

In memory of my friend skip...
Go then, there are other worlds than these

It reminds me of all those huge American flags flying over those car dealerships on route 17,4, 46 and 37 in north and central Jersey lol I settled for a 2' X 4' under my red white and blue but congrats on getting it raised as for the corned beef we did 75 pound of it at church for our corn beef dinner..... and we ran out to boot

To correct you oh high and mighty PF the actual color orange I mean is really saffron they said it in the NYC St Patrick's day Parade coverage ..... but oh really please

I wonder if the fellows in Belfast know they are "Saffronmen" now, themi01? LOL

I think the day was just the tiniest bit too nice for a change. It seemed to bring everybody out and we too ran right to the wire with the CB for the first time. Good that it was at the very end of the evening. You can see the absolute last shavings that were finger picked to nothing. LOL Too bad the 8 pounds of swiss cheese didn't come that close to the line too......... or the 2 Gal. jar of kosher dills. But there didn't seem to be any moans ...... from hunger at least.

We guessed there were between 60-70 guests (+ LOTS of kids) from 16:00 - midnight when the last straggler got a ride home. Yep! All and all, another good year on a beautiful day.

Now we have MUCH cooler temps today and possible snow by the end of the week.

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