Seven Quick Takes

Sometimes when Friday comes around, it feels like it was just Friday. Today it feels like it was Friday a month ago. I don't even feel like I really did very much this week, but apparently time slooooowed dowwwn.

1

A dear blogger friend became an "in real life" friend yesterday. What a joy. Faith and I drove to Cincinnati to meet Sara, at A Shower of Roses, and her daughter. We had a lovely (albeit short) visit, and they are such sweet (and beautiful) people. I was very grateful for the opportunity to meet them. Because they live in Georgia, if it weren't for the American Heritage Girl conference they were attending, we would not have. That is the unfortunate aspect of meeting people on the internet -- most we never meet on this side of heaven.

I, of course, forgot my camera, but Sara did not. She'll probably post her pictures on her blog and I'll let you know if and when that happens. Thanks, Sara, for a really nice time.

2

The windows are finally in. It took two days because of the rain, but now all of our windows have been replaced (half were done 18 months ago). Did you know you get a good tax credit if you replace your windows this year? If you are considering it, do it now. We spent $6000 18 months ago and there was no tax credit that year (grrrrr).

3

This weekend we'll get the dining room painted, but not before I get my husband to hang my curtain rod in the living room so I can take pictures. That man...you'd think he had something important to do everyday, like support his family. ;-)

4

The dear father of a family friend died early this morning. I never met him, but I know that it was a very sad death at the hand of Alzheimer's disease. He never forgot who the most important people were in his life, and for that his family is grateful, but he forgot to eat, and shower, and eventually he forgot to wake up. Such a wicked disease. My father died suddenly, which is a difficult thing, but I am grateful that I did not have to watch him forget to live.

5

My mother-in-law had a hip surgery yesterday. Amazingly, it was outpatient (not say that is a good thing, just that it's amazing -- maybe astounding is a better word). Thinking of her waking up from anesthesia and dealing with the pain brought me right back to my surgery two summers ago. I am so very grateful for my health. At my age, I realize it's a very precarious thing, which can change at any moment.

6

Happy Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. If you don't know about this particular devotion to Our Blessed Mother, you can read it here. Do you wear a brown scapular? I do. I love this particular devotion. It's a very basic thing, wearing the scapular, but private, and that's the part I love. I can carry around my love for Our Lord's mother and know that it is between her and me, like the love between a child and her mother.

7

And, related to number 6, we will enjoy Carmel Cake today to celebrate Our Lady's day. Catholic Cuisine has a lovely list of desserts that you can make. The cake we enjoy can be found here. I'm off to the candy store to purchase chocolate-covered caramels. Yum!

NOVELLI, Pietro
Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Prayer to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

O most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein that you are my Mother.

O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart, to succor me in this my necessity. There are none that can withstand your power. O show me herein that you are my Mother.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us that have recourse to thee.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us that have recourse to thee.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us that have recourse to thee.

Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands.

Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands.

Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, pray for us.

St. Simon Stock, pray for us.

Stop by Jen's for more Quick Takes.

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