Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7



Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Hump Day(book)



In the garden...
..mud. The weather doesn't know quite what it wants to be. Yesterday was sunny part of the day, and part of the day enormous snowflakes fell in showers. It's gray today, just slightly warmer (36 degrees) and the weather man says light rain showers expected. The dog comes in muddy each time she goes out. Grrr.


I'm thinking about...
...my mind is rather empty, and I suspect my brain is shutting down as a defense mechanism -- my to-do list is so very long. I was on such a good roll blogging regularly, but my brain shutdown just flattened me.

Today I am blogging as I sit here trying to move Faith along in her schoolwork because I have some errands to run outside the house today (although pushing always seems to result in schoolwork taking twice as long). 

I'm still trying to get that very first practice dress sewn, but I ran out of lace. I decided to try to use this beautiful edge of the lace for the hem, but that involved modifying the pattern and I used more fabric for the skirt than the pattern calls for, thus I ran out (one of the errands today). I'm not certain the modification is going to work as the dress is supposed to be rather fitted and though I cut for minimal gathering at the waistline, the modification requires some gathering in the lace layer (unless someone else has a better idea for getting this lace edge at the hemline).






The kids (the happy couple) did make some headway on Monday by choosing all of the hymns for the Mass. Mostly Taylor chose them because other than a few vetoes, Joshua wasn't disagreeable (or actively participating). It is rather unfair that most men just show up at their own weddings, and participate very little in the planning and execution.

They still have to choose all of the prayers and readings, which is going to be about a ten-hour session, and Taylor will probably have to order pizza, get Chinese carry-out, and bake cookies to keep Joshua interested. I have looked through the planning book they were given and post-it noted the prayers and readings I think will be their favorites, but there are still over a dozen decisions to be made regarding the Mass.

Even a simple Catholic wedding isn't simple (but it's all for Our Lord!).


I am wearing...
...a brown skirt, brown v-neck and a scarf. I'm stocking footed because I'm not sure which shoes will be necessary when I leave the house.



I am reading....
...The Storyteller on my Kindle. This is a long book and I haven't picked it up in a couple days.


I am creating...

...a sweater for Faith is on the needles. Yes, still. I have about 20 rows of sleeve left and then the attached i-cord collar. The end is nigh.

I am also working on a commissioned rosary and Stations of the Cross chaplet, and nine scapulars. See note above about brain shutdown.



In the kitchen...
...I just baked some of these yummy biscotti. I made a batch over the weekend and they were such a hit I made another this morning. I followed the ingredients and most of the directions but I didn't fuss with neatly smoothing the rolls -- just rolled them out on the parchment and then flattened them. I also bake them on their sides and flip them halfway because I like them to get a little color and be very toasty. I also added a large handful of sliced almonds. Delish!







Last week I made a pot of Wild Game Chili (for those of you with hunter husbands -- mine is not, but our wonderful neighbor shares). I used half vension and half beef (fresh out of boar!), and I added two cans of spicy chili beans. The gang loved it (just don't tell Noah it had venison in it!). Cornbread here.




For the rest of the week:
Wednesday: chicken tenders, french fries and milkshakes with "wooly" whipped cream for St. Agnes
Thursday: Baked Potato Soup, salad
Friday: Teriyaki Burgers and Hawaiian rice for St. Marianne Cope's feast day
Saturday: pizza


At the school table...
...at the moment, a math test which is going on an hour (better to blog, my dear). Cranking away on everything else. I think a field trip to the conservatory is in order as science lessons are on Carl Linnaeus and scientific names for plants.


Plans for the rest of the week...

...surviving -- no plans.


A few of my favorite things...

...almond biscotti and a cup of tea
...daily Mass, especially on Saturday, which I have neglected until recently
...Simple Solutions English -- this has been such a help and Faith actually enjoys it. It supplements our Voyages in English and Exercises in English, and works as a daily review of many topics


Prayers sent heavenward...
...for my husband and children, to do God's will every day
...for all priests and religious, especially our priests Fr. Sill and Fr. Schmit, and for Fr. Howe
...all babies whose mothers are contemplating abortion, for a change of heart


Photos for the day...




The Epiphany Blessing (scroll down)



My lumberjack husband. Some enormous trees (like 30 inches across) came down the creek in the last rain and threatened to dam up the creek behind our house. It was all fun until he stepped in a deep spot and the water went down his boots. Some good firewood was retreived, however, so it was worth it.









16 comments:

  1. ACK...gotta get your husband a safety helmet! Brian has one and it really has saved his head many times. Branches fall all the time.
    They have tree cutting helmets with a face mask and ear protection...all in one.

    The blue lace looks really pretty!

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    1. Thanks for looking out for my husband's noggin! While he wasn't cutting anything down in this picture (the tree fell way upstream and washed down to us), he has been known to do that. I think I'll treat him to a brain bucket!

      The lace for the real dresses is plum. I like the navy, too. I always love navy! :-)

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  2. The 'wedding planning' is curious to think of - there are no such 'choices' nor decision making in the TLM nuptial Mass.
    The biscotti look delish- no comment on the chili but guess what we had for lunch again! :-)
    Daily Mass is definitely one of my favorite things.

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    1. There are no collects, no readings, no psalms, no blessings, no vows to choose? Does Father choose them for you? I do agree this is way too much choice, and I don't remember choosing anything except our readings, which would be just fine.

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    2. That is correct - there is nothing to choose. Father is not choosing anything either. The Marriage Service has its own set prayers - no choosing what form of vows or anything. And the Nuptial Mass has its own set Propers (prayers of the given Mass) that do not vary. It's all very beautiful and very consistent. In case you're interested: the Introit is Tob. 7:15,8:19; Epistle is Eph. 5:22-33; Gradual is Psalm 127:3; Gospel is Matthew 19:3-6; Offfertory is Psalm 30:15-16; Communion is Psalm 127:4-6. All the other prayers and blessings are set as well. :-) 'Liturgical planning' is a totally new and Novus Ordo concept.

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    3. All of those readings are choices for the N.O. Nuptial Mass, but with many, many other choices as well. I don't like the reason the Church probably moved to offer choices (the complaining minority most likely), but I do like some of the choices they have. I'll let you know when they make their final decisions how close they came to what I would have picked! I only know that the very popular 1 Corinthians 12:31-13-8a has been vetoed. ;-)

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  3. I enjoyed 'catching up' with you! I love how you plan meals for feast days. Maybe one day, I will too!

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    1. Thanks, Jenny. I don't always plan for feast days. In fact, during some seasons I don't on purpose -- too much focus elsewhere (those poor saints) -- but during a cold January week it can be fun.

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  4. Davey doesn't care about most of these things, either. So, I just make the decisions, ask him if it's all right with him, make any changes suggested, and then move on! Saves time and makes us both happier. :-)

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    1. Doug is the same way. The problem with our young couple is both would just like to show up! ;-) Clearly this is all happening for another (ahem) reason.

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  5. We are Math testing today too, we might actually finish second quarter this week! Let ke know if you are up for company to the conservatory.

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    1. I would normally love to have company for a field trip, but in order for her to learn one thing while we are there, she can't be distracted. You know how she gets around your beloved children! We'd love to see you guys, though!

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    2. Sounds like a plan. Getting over some coughing here then we should be free to play. I am trying to get back to a four day school day so we should be more free to play.

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  6. I could not agree with you more when you mentioned how much longer school seems to take while trying to push it along a bit fast.

    I've been meaning to tell you "thank you" for the heads up on Goodreads. I have purchased two books by perusing Goodreads and haven't been disappointed yet!

    The planning of our nuptial Mass. Yes, I agree. I think it is usually up to the woman to do all of that planning. It was in our case as well.

    Your menu sounds delicious as always. I made biscotti once. It wasn't too difficult, but for whatever reason, I have not made it again. I think I just tend to drift toward cakes and cookies that you can mix, drop (or roll) and bake. Biscotti sure tastes good with a cup of coffee or tea.

    Have a great weekend!

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  7. When is the wedding? SO much planning. Such a special event. I'm glad your future daughter in law lets you be so involved. You are blessed.

    Your husband looks cold!! What a mess, huh?

    Love you!

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  8. We've been gathering firewood--well, my husband and children have been. I would love for you to link up your Daybooks over at The Littlest Way. I post mine on Sunday but you can link up whenever.

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I appreciate your comments -- sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself!