Love, Loyalty, and Friendship
By Megan Lardie
The Claddagh ring is a special piece of jewelry that comes from Ireland. It was first made over 300 years ago in a small fishing village called Claddagh, which is near Galway. The ring was created by a man named Richard Joyce, who was captured by pirates and sold as a slave in Algeria.
While he was a slave, he learned how to make jewelry. When he was finally freed, he returned to his village and made the first Claddagh ring for the woman he married.
The Claddagh ring has a unique design, with three important parts: a heart, a crown, and two hands. The heart represents love, the crown stands for loyalty, and the hands symbolize friendship.
People often give Claddagh rings to show their love and commitment to someone special. It is believed that it is bad luck to buy one for yourself.
The way you wear the ring can also have different meanings. If you wear it on your right hand with the heart facing out, it means you are single. If the heart is facing in, it means you are in a relationship. Wearing it on your left hand with the heart facing in means you are married.
In recent years, the Claddagh ring has become a symbol of solidarity and resilience in the face of tragedy, particularly in the wake of the September 11th attacks. The design of the ring has been adopted by many as a badge of unity and hope in the face of terror, fear, and destruction. Many firefighters and first responded view the ring as a symbol of bravery and strength in the face of danger.
Today, the Claddagh ring is popular all around the world. It has become an internationally recognized symbol of commitment across many cultures. Many people wear it as a symbol of their Irish heritage or to show their love and loyalty to someone special.
The ring’s beautiful design and rich history make it a cherished piece of jewelry for many people. It is no surprise that the Claddagh ring has endured as symbol of hope and unity.
Kid’s Lit:
The Unicorn Quest
By Kamilla Benko
Claire Martinson still worries about her older sister Sophie, who battled a mysterious illness last year. But things are back to normal as they move into Windermere Manor . . . until the sisters climb a strange ladder in a fireplace and enter the magical land of Arden.
There, they find a world in turmoil. The four guilds of magic no longer trust each other, the beloved unicorns have disappeared, and terrible wraiths roam freely. Scared, the girls return home. But when Sophie vanishes in the night, it will take all of Claire’s courage to climb back up the ladder, find her sister, and uncover the unicorns’ greatest secret.
For ages 8-12, 336 pages.
Love You by Heart
By Peter H. Reynolds
A poetic, universal, and joyful celebration of how we feel about the most beloved people in our lives – we love them BY HEART! The author brings to life this ode to unconditional love with a delightful and poetic tribute to the rare and beautiful love that binds us together.
From the intimate and unbridled love parents and caregivers have for their little ones, to the tremendous love of a lifelong friendship, and the boundless love of a grandparent – this is a heartfelt message to share with the people we cherish; like a song we have known all our lives, we love them by heart.
For ages 2-8, 32 pages.
Kid’s in the Kitchen: Roasted Veggie Quesadilla
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Ingredients:
- 2 medium red potatoes, quartered and sliced
- 1 medium zucchini, quartered and sliced
- 1 medium sweet red pepper, sliced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
- 8 whole wheat tortillas (8 inches), warmed
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the first nine ingredients. Transfer to a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 425° until potatoes are tender, 24-28 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine cheeses. Spread 1/3 cup vegetable mixture over half of each tortilla. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese; fold tortillas to close. Cook in a greased cast-iron skillet or griddle over low heat until cheese is melted, 1-2 minutes on each side.
Lardie’s Laughs
Q: How did the snow globe feel after hearing a scary story?
A: A bit shaken up!
Q: What do you call a snowman in the summer?
A: A puddle
Gab in Gaelic
Love of my heart = a ghra mo chroi (pron: ah graw muh kree)
