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



Tuesday, February 10, 2015

On a happier note daybook


In the garden...
...sun, mud and cold. The birds are out there. It's a big event each day when we toss a couple handfuls of roasted (unsalted in the shell) peanuts onto the decks. The Blue jays come quickly -- there must always be a scout out there. And what I love about Blue jays is that they call for all their friends to come, too. Within minutes we have Jays dive bombing for peanuts. It's great fun. Then the squirrels show up, and even the Northern Cardinals will come and get the smaller peanuts. It's a good 20 minutes worth of entertainment. And it drives the cat crazy -- the best part (the cat and I are not BFFs).


I'm thinking about...
...what a difference a good night's sleep makes. Sunday night I tossed and turned, and woke a lot. I didn't take my Benadryl Sunday night because I hate feeling like I need something to sleep well, and every once in a while I don't take it just to prove to myself that I don't need it (not). But, yesterday's post is an example of what happens when I don't sleep well. If one little Benadryl keeps that from happening, I'll take it. Last night I slept like a log, and feel so much more stable today.


I am wearing...
...a brown skirt, a tan long sleeved knit shirt, a gray shawl, brown leggings and my brown Haflinger clogs. No bonus points for fashion dressing today. I did make myself a new bracelet, however, with my coumadin med-alert tag on it. Just. in. case. It's made with pretty amethyst beads, so at least my wrist is pretty.



I am reading....
...I have a couple of books going at once. I started Brother Junipers Bread Book, as I mentioned last week, and I am several chapters in (it's a read and a cookbook).

I also started Radical Hospitality: Benedict's Way of Love, as recommended by my friend Janelle. I am only a couple of chapters in, but so far, I am enjoying it. It's really a book about putting others first, listening, living with others in a loving way. It's not complex, and not overtly religious. But it's the Gospel at its core -- it's about living as Jesus would want us to, I think.


I am creating...

...still sewing scapulars -- that's my morning sewing.

I have a baby hat on my needles -- that's my night time work.

I have one dress, sans zipper, finished! The machine I am borrowing from a friend doesn't have a zipper foot, so I have to wait on those. No word from Sears about my machine. I called them twice and got "don't call us, we'll call you" twice. Ugh. I am really happy with the one dress though. I think I might alter my method for sewing the rest, but I'm unsure. I essentially sewed two dresses, one of crepe and one of lace and then attached them at the neck and arm holes, which was very time consuming because I first sewed them by hand using a blind stitch and then sewed them by machine, using a topstitch (the thread is exactly the same shade of purple -- whodathunkit?). I thought it would be the best method, but now I'm not sure. I think for the next dress I might sew the pieces together at the edges and then sew them as one piece. Make any sense? I'm going to sew Faith's dress next because she is here and I don't have to go far to get her measurements. It's a different pattern though, so there's that (interpreting patterns is not my strong suit).

During the day, waiting on math answers, etc. I am working on some new rosaries.




In the kitchen...
...I never did share the best of our Superbowl treats, and apparently I accidentally trashed the photos (still getting used to Chromebook), so I'm sharing the links to the two most popular snacks (meat!). I made them just as the recipes are written and my men loved, loved, loved them: Sweet and Spicy Bacon Wraps and Sweet and Spicy Asian Ribs (see a pattern here?). We've actually had the ribs several times for dinner and they are so good (and I don't normally eat ribs). Doug grills them instead of using the broiler, just FYI.

Just now there is a pot of my Mom's chili simmering on the stove, and for the rest of the week:
Wednesday: Avocado Pasta, salad, bread
Thursday: Cuban Sandwiches -- these are a favorite from the years I spent living in Tampa, Florida.  I'm using this bread recipe because the bread is crucial to a real Cuban sandwich, and we'll have kale chips on the side (for those who eat green things)
Friday: Chopped Italian Salad and Pizza bread
Saturday: feast of St. Valentine and I'll probably make my sweetheart Marinated steak, Twice baked potatoes and House Salad, with this yummy looking cake in this month's Southern Living Magazine.


At the school table...
...fractions and decimals in math (and my student has a sad face for about an hour and a half every day as a result), lots of English (which my student complains about greatly), the Middle Ages in history, including the development of the Franciscans and Dominicans, botany in science, the Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Commandments in religion, and The Silver Crown in reading. Extras this week are slim to none (at least I'm honest). We're using the Lepanto Press spelling book this year and I'm very impressed with the variety of spelling words Faith is learning. This week included in her list is imprimatur (which I, sadly, did not know until I was an adult) and a few weeks ago she had lugubrious (a word I'm sure I didn't know until at least college).


Plans for the rest of the week...

...Faith has a dental appointment tomorrow and I have a follow-up appointment with the endocrinologist on Friday. I think afterward we'll go on that long-awaited field trip to the conservatory. Dance is Thursday and I'll be in the costume room there sewing up hip hop pants.


Thought-provoking stops around the internet...
...Alice is back -- did you hear? I'm so glad Jennie tipped me off because I had just recently taken her blog off my sidebar thinking after a year she would likely not be back. I just love Alice. This post is lovely.
...I always love what Kirsten has to say, but this post really hit home
...and Sarah was just chock full of great ideas on how to spend Lent in this post


A few of my favorite things...

...Celestial Seasonings Mandarin Orange Spice tea -- a new flavor for me
...mandatory mom pencils (I'm cheap and easy)



...my husband tearing out the never-used Jacuzzi tub yesterday. It's going to be a new "dressing room." Really the space is just an in-between the closet and bathroom and I have plans for an almost free (minus the plumber's fees) makeover.


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
...for friends who have asked for prayers


Video for the day...


Today's Gospel reading (Mark 6:53-56) reminded me of this song I fell so in love with two years ago when I was making Fr. Howe's Confessional Stole. I'm posting the video again because I just love this song and it says so much about God's forgiveness.




I'm linking up with Jenny at The Littlest Way this week.







8 comments:

  1. A never used Jacuzzi tub? I think my family would fight over it! Thanks for the heads up on Alice. I click over every so often just hoping.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the kids used it once when we moved here 16 years ago. I might have used it a few times in the first year. It emptied the hot water tank, so it was quite expensive! We have a regular tub in the kids' bath, though I would have loved to replace the jacuzzi with a smaller free-standing tub -- if they didn't cost thousands!

      Delete
  2. You are so kind--thanks so much for remembering me. Thank you to Jenny as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are most memorable, Alice. Glad you're back.

      Delete
  3. I ended up getting a bladder infection that won't go away...from a hot tub (stupid me) so I'm probably never going to use a tub. Ever again. I get it. That new room sounds wonderful!

    Trying to catch up, I'll be back later (hopefully) to read the last 2 weeks worth of posts. The kids are waiting for me to take them swimming. Love to you Barbara!! (on this love day!)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Praying for your endocrinology appointment Barbara! Thank you also for the mention! Sending MANY blessings your way!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Praying for your endocrinology appointment Barbara! Thank you also for the mention! Sending MANY blessings your way!

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Mandatory Mom Pencils around here are Cadoozles by Zebra. Cute and fun! They look like little tiny actual pencils. http://www.staples.com/Zebra-Cadoozles-Mechanical-Pencils-07-mm-Assorted-Barrels-10-Pack/product_639191

    ReplyDelete

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