SAINT PATRICK'S DAY in QUÉBEC and CANADA...

Today, many Quebecers have an Irish ancestor somewhere in their family tree. The Irish brought the celebration of St. Patrick's Day to Montreal, making it one of the oldest of its kind in North America. Quebec's most praised poet, Émile Nelligan, is born of a Quebec French-speaking mother and an English-speaking Irish fathe

Saint Patrick's Day celebrations in Montreal

One of the longest-running Saint Patrick's Day parades in North America occurs each year in Montreal, the flag of which has a shamrock in one of its corners. The parades have been held in continuity since 1824.

In Quebec City, there was a parade from 1837 to 1926. The Quebec St-Patrick Parade returned in 2010, after an absence of more than 84 years. For the occasion, a portion of the NYPD, (New York Pipes and Drums were present as special guests.

^{Famous Irish Quebecers:}

• La Bolduc
• Pat Burns
• Jean Charest
• Jim Corcoran
• Sir Edmund Flynn
• Daniel Johnson, Sr.
• Daniel Johnson, Jr.
• Joe Malone
• Pierre-Marc Johnson
• Brian Mulroney
• Emile Nelligan
• Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan
• Robert Guy Scully
• Patrick Roy
• Yves Ryan
• Louis Saint-Laurent
• and , do you remember, I do, O'KEEFE 
• and the bear I first drank!!     

Montréal Shamrocks hockey club 1899

Source: Wikipedia

Forever Friends Saint Patrick's Day

A very cute version of the River dance.

ENJOY! and 

don't forget to CLICK on the title 

for a history of the orogins of Saint Patrick's Day.

And for some extra reading,

I'll post a very popular and

traditional Irish blessing.

LATER!

Suzanne

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS !!!

THE DAY AFTER ...

NEED I SAY MORE ...

Except that I'm going back to bed!

Have a great weekend.

Suzanne

TO SHOVEL, shovelled or shoveled AND SHOVELLING ALL DAY or shoveling

NEED I SAY MORE ...?

Right now,

I am shovelling 

You are shovelling

She is shovelling

We are shovelling

They are shovelling

He is watching the hockey game ...

OOPS!! ...

but in all fairness,

he has shovelled before!

What's so hard about English verbs?

I always shovel.

My neighbour shovels too.

Every one in Québec shovels.

I have been shovelling all winter.

I have been shovelling all day, today  :(

So right now, I am 'F...+ing' doing nothing!

Byeeeeeeeeeeee !!

Suzanne

WHY WE LOVE CHILDREN !

 The Logic of Marriage - A Child's View 

Jack, a very young boy of four, says to his father,

'Daddy, Daddy, I want to get married.'

His father explains,

'For that Jack, you have to have a boy and a girl.'

So Jack answers,

'I've already found a girl.'

'Who?' splutters his dad … 

'Grandma,' continues Jack happily.

'Now, let me get this straight,' his father says.

'You want to marry my mother?

 …  You can't do that, Jack!’

'I don't see why not?' Jack responds,

'You married mine!'

PRACTICE, PRACTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Note: should be spelled ELOCUTION

Hi! It's a grim and gray Sunday afternoon!
'Want to have some fun?

If you have some extra time and 

have the urge to practice English,

here's a TAKE ACTION CHALLENGE for you.

Just click on the following links and

see where they take you ...

Remember it has to be OUT LOUD,

never mind who is listening !!

And see how time flies!!!

Have a great afternoon,

Suzanne

1. http://www.englishmeeting.com/esl_video_pronunciation_lessons.htm

2. http://www.wordnik.com/lists/words-that-start-with-a-silent-h
3. SEE >>> TOOLS in the right-hand column of this blog 
    and click on: Online pronunciation exercises just to your right

OUR FRIENDS and OUR PETS! ..................... Love themmmmmm ...

     

How are you today!

Friday and the week is winding down!

This week, as you know,  I am cat-sitting my friend Sylvie's two cats: M. Oscar and Fi-fille. In the presence of these two very, very different cats, I think I am touched by who they are. Not having any of my own right now and not used to having them around,  I am more conscious of their two very distinct personalities. So I guess that this week's contact with a feline presence has made me more aware and I'm observing their ways.

Having been a cat owner for many years, I personally believe that animals DO HAVE personalities and they are also influenced by their environment. So has M. Oscar's attitude and behaviour this week. Normally he hides under the bed but these past days ... Surprise! He is following me around, like a little dog! Maybe it's because of all the attention he's getting! Or, maybe because he thinks that I am the new 'food source'. Or, maybe he just likes me, as I would like to think so, much better for my ego! Now, on to another little 'critter' !!!

One of you sent me a series

of animal pictures with captions,

THANKS Louise.

This image of a little mouse really

got my attention and 
became a source of inspiration 
for me as a teacher.
YOU became this little mouse!
OH! NOOOOO!!!
OH! Yesssss!!!

 

I have removed the original caption.

At first, when you look at it,

the little mouse makes you laugh with its helmet! 
But I think that ...

this little animal has a message for you !?

Forget your 'mouse-a-phobia' and 
let it become a source of inspiration for you too!
Think outside the box!

TELL ME how you are inspired by this photo.

Is there a message in there for us all?

How would you interpret this situation?

WRITE DOWN a CAPTION and

bring it to class or 
write a comment right here below this post.

We can discuss it next time

with this topic: your family pets.

Have a great week-end and I'll see you next week!

                                                     SUZANNE

NOTE ***

Last year, these two  stories (anecdotes) were written by Carole and Guy. 

I published them on my blog. To read them follow these steps:

     1. Scroll down to Blog archive (right column), 

     2. Click on 2010

     3. Then on December, The Purrrrfect Student from Carole 

         AND, A STORY from GUY :

          November 2010, Ta dammmmm ... and The Story of Chloé