(1/11)...streaming

It's already the 11th day of the year, and I truly have nothing (well, almost nothing) to show for it.

I do have a rather messy house to show for it, and a Christmas tree still up, and stockings still hanging by the fire. And the never-ending piles of dirty laundry.

I guess I also have a sinus infection to show for it. Do you feel like I am always sick, because I know I do. This is the third antibiotic I've been on since November when I had cellulitis. Of course, one antibiotic does not work for another infection because each bug has its "own" drug. I am hopeful that I will, at some point in the near future, be able to sleep through the night. I've been coughing at night for weeks. My throat is sick and tired of coughing. I can't find my absolutely-must-have-for-cough original Nyquil anywhere. My Kroger used to carry it behind the counter at the pharmacy, but they stopped carrying it. I guess they didn't make enough money on it to make it worth the few minutes it took for the pharmacist to have me sign my life away with proof of identity. I was desperate enough to try wild cherry bark and horehound tincture in hot water with honey and lemon, and then tea made with apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, clove and ginger. Nada. I finally broke down and went to the doctor this morning. I'm sick of doctors too, and I have to see two more next week. Bleh.


On the schedule for tomorrow is a much-overdo dinner with Joshua's girlfriend's parents. At our house. I look forward to seeing them, and we have really come to love Taylor, but I don't look forward to cleaning tonight and cooking tomorrow. I am seriously considering ordering pizza, and making a big fresh salad and tiramisu. I know a lot of people would consider that perfectly game supper for company, but I am having a really tough time with it. Stupid, I know.


I wanted to update you on Kelly from The Careless Catholic, but I don't know much, and she hasn't updated on her blog. I do know that she is home, and her sweet baby girl is still in the NICU. Hopefully she will be ok with me telling you that much. I won't divulge any more details, but I do want you to be able to pray for her recovery and for her sweet little dolly to get bigger and come home.


A few of you asked to see Faith's gingerbread creation after I posted that she requested I leave her completely alone with it. Because we used a prepackaged gingerbread village, it wasn't quite as cute as it could have been, but she did make one of the buildings into a church after all.

I am a little behind the crowd this week -- I recorded Downton Abbey on Sunday but I haven't watched it yet. Tonight...hopefully. I won't fight for the television, so it's rarely mine to view, what with football, basketball, and all. I saw a few of you posted about it, and I'm not ignoring you (Hi Jamie!), but I was afraid to read a spoiler, so I skipped over the posts. I will secretly admit (I guess it's not a secret now) that I am rather annoyed that Downton has become so popular, because secretly (or not) I am not at all a joiner. I greatly dislike the popular anything. Are you shocked, or did you know? So now I am a bit torn about watching. I suppose I can just not admit that I do (silly), but I really do enjoy it. I was trying to explain to a friend why I watch (because she is also not a joiner) and I had to admit that the show is rather soothing to watch. Any conflict is handled so properly, and even that one now-infamous episode with Thomas, was just not that shocking in the way it was depicted. Maybe I am talking myself into being a fan, but I know I can't BE a fan of anything. It's just not in me. Not since Andy Gibb anyway.

And by the way, if you are a fan of Downton, please do call it by its proper name. This afternoon I watched Downton Revisted, which aired just before the show in our area, and two higher-ups at PBS called it "Downt'n Abbey," with a very soft "t" and entirely skipping the "o." It's most definitely Downton, proper "t" and "o." Thank you.



Last Sunday we celebrated both the Twelfth Night and the Epiphany with a cake (same BIG cake).

This Sunday is the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. In past years, I have made Christ's Diapers for dessert on this feast day, which is actually kind of funny if you can imagine Our Lord's diapers, especially since Jesus was Baptized as an adult. If you don't feel like celebrating with fried dough (and I don't think I will), the feast day provides a good opportunity to talk to your children about their own Baptism, get out their Baptismal clothes and candle, and remember when they were so tiny, and freshly cleansed little Catholics.


To close here are a few pictures of some of my daily backyard visitors. We feed the Blue Jays peanuts every day. I know a lot of people don't like them, but Blue Jays are my favorite bird. Whenever they come to eat, they call all their friends, which I find incredibly endearing...a tea party for the jays. Mr. Squirrel is my friend, too. After living here for 14 years I finally have my husband feeding them (this one has an almond in his mouth). When we first moved here he wanted to shoot them. {wink}

Hello, Mr. Squirrel.