Happy St Patrick's Day

If you like, you can double click on the photo to make it bigger.

I think Chicagoans really know how to celebrate St Patrick's Day in Green style.
As part of a more than forty year old Chicago tradition, the Chicago River is dyed green in observance of St. Patrick's Day every year.

The idea of dyeing the Chicago River green originally came about by accident when a group of plumbers were using fluorescein dye to trace illegal substances that were polluting the river.

The EPA has since outlawed the use of fluorescein and the City of Chicago now uses a whole bunch of vegetable dye(40 gallons)and other SECRET ingredients to dye the river the perfect shade of green!
(If I tell you the secret, then I'll have to kill you}

Experts say that the vegetable dye is safe and not harmful to the thousands of living organisms that find a habitat in the Chicago River.

The tradition of dyeing water green for St Patrick's Day seems to be catching on. In 2009, in keeping with the Chicago St. Patrick's Day tradition, and at the request of First Lady Michelle Obama, the White House fountains were dyed green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
Gotta admit, it's a nice touch.

It's been said that everyone is a little bit Irish on St Patrick's Day,
So we can all celebrate in some way if we choose too,
I like that!

My toast for you.

May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.
(My friend Kay loves that last line)

Btw, I think we have a tradition starting, the fountains at te White House are again running green.