This is not a dream of Ireland. And it's not a depressing post.
We're in snowy Wonderland here at the moment, but it's also relevant to the story I'm about to tell.
Younger daughter was co-producing the 5th Year play in her school - "Alice in Wonderland". It ran for 3 nights last week. She has put an enormous amount of work into this, adapting the script, doing up selection rehearsal schedules, fundraising, programme, and about a million other things I don't know about. What I do know is that we've seen very little of her in the last 3 weeks; in the evenings and even on weekends she has been at the school.
So, opening night was Thursday, and she wasn't home at all after school, busy organising last-minute stuff. I was just about to make dinner when she rang me, asking if I could bring down a booklight. Searched high up and low down and could not locate the booklight.
After many phone calls the easiest thing was to head into rush-hour traffic and buy a booklight, which I safely delivered.
After that, I nipped into the local deli, pictured below, to get some lasagne and coleslaw for dinner. 
I always chat to the man who owns the deli, and told him about the play, the daughter etc, being the reason why I was here buying dinner. And yes, I was being a proud Mama too.
He told me they were providing the canapés for opening night.
The following morning, daughter informs me that I left my credit card in the deli!
Apparently, when he delivered the canapés, he told them to tell the producer that her mother had left her credit card in his deli! And I got a big slagging for being a show off!
But I am proud as punch of her. She is so capable, carries out tasks in a committed, enthusiastic way, and really did a fantastic job of juggling the many tasks of producer. And she made a wonderful speech on closing night!
I'm including a photo of her, which also has a touch of ruby in the chair, from last summer when she played solo at a Feis Ceol (music festival), yet another proud moment for me as her mother. Here she is, on the right, with the accompanist just before she began playing.
If you'd like to see more Ruby, head over to Mary T by clicking on the slippers at the top.
