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



Friday, May 21, 2010

7 Quick Takes

1.

Hi. I needed to chat today. I miss you and your comments. I know you love Mary as much as I do, but there's just not that much to say about my Mary posts is there? That's o.k. I can offer her the month, but I do miss you.

2.

I had a couple revelations this week about gardening. I realized that (1) I love winter because there is no guilt about gardening. You can't. You just stay indoors and that's that. I love the idea of gardening, but in actuality, I don't enjoy it that much. I do love the results however. Which leads to (2) I will not grow anything edible this year, with the exception of the strawberries that are already growing. I noticed this week that bunnies or birds ate the first strawberries of the season (but they have the gall to just take a bite and leave the ruined rest), and I decided that I can not spend the summer fussing over vegetable plants just to get a few lousy tomatoes. So I went to the garden store and I'm planning to fill the garden with herbs, perennials and a few annuals that the kids picked out. Between the mint, the chives, the strawberries and the new perennials, I won't have to plant a thing in a few years.

3.

I'm working on another baby quilt -- this time pink and blue and purple and yellow. Sweet. It's almost ready to pack up and send away. I wish the babies would stop over to visit, so I could at least squeeze a little flesh in exchange. ;-)

4.

I'm also working on some clothes for Faith's summer collection -- mostly sweet ruffled skirts. I have a tutorial in the works. You won't believe how easy they are to make!


5.

Did you notice the music? I hope you don't mind it. Let me know what you think and if it bugs too many I'll take it off. I kind of like it, but I'll probably get tired of it quickly.


6.

If you read my "Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" post you might be amused to know that Maggie is responding nicely to commands in German. Who knew our Aussie spoke German? Funny thing about German, many of the words are roots of English or vice versa. "Sit" is "sitzen." "Get down" or "get off" is "aussteigen." "Go lay down" is "go legen." They sound close enough that dog gets it, but I enjoy the way the guttural German sounds. My husband thinks I'm "verrückt" -- crazy.


7.

This weekend is the big birthday bash for the Catholic Church. I hope you're celebrating Sunday with a tasty red dessert. Because most of my family chooses pie over cake for birthdays, I'm making a yummy White Chocolate Berry Pie -- it's a tried and true yummy recipe. Happy Birthday Catholic Church!

Have a great weekend. Kiss your kids, kiss your husband, love life. And go to Jenn's for more 7 Quick Takes.

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14 comments:

  1. Tell ya what: I'll leave a comment on your post if you leave a comment on mine.

    I've already printed out your white chocolate pie berry recipe, btw. Not because I need it but because...

    Well.

    It's a feast day.

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  2. PS. Everyone who reads this comment is REQUIRED to leave one of their own.

    And then they have to leave another one over at MY blog.

    So there.

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  3. I haven't commented (sorry!), but I've actually really been enjoying the Mary posts. I should have said so!

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  4. I have gardening guilt as well -- but I just blame it all on the baby and she's so cute that no one can argue :)

    And we are all ready with red clothing for Mass on Sunday. Our parish gets the red out in a big way for Pentecost (seriously, there are reminders in the bulletin!) and it is amazing to look down from the choir loft and see a sea of red.

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  5. #1 I have really enjoyed your posts on Mary. It is always a bright little moment of grace to see the beautiful pictures you post of her and say the prayers.

    #I like gardening but I won't be able to for at least another 2 years. I'm very jealous you have your own strawberries even if you have thieves who steal some.

    #5I always turn off any music on any blog. I did like your music but with 3 little kids I always have enough sounds without my computer giving me more. I never have any objection to anyone putting music on their blog, but, likewise, I don't listen to it.

    #7Thanks so much for the dessert idea. I've been wondering what to do for Pentecost.

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  6. Now, now. No one HAS to listen to that bossy Minnesota Mom. But, I thank you for your comments just the same. ;-)

    Thank you, Mrs. Bossy Mom. Enjoy your Feast Day Pie!

    Sheila,
    Do not feel guilty. Glad you liked them.

    Aimee,
    Never thought to wear red clothes. I guess I'm out of luck since I don't think I own one red thing. I'm boring that way.

    Katherine,
    I'm glad you like the Mary posts. Don't be too jealous -- the strawberry plants aren't very pretty and it's very frustrating to see a glimpse of red but to find a half eaten berry under the leaves. I'm thinking about the music. Enjoy the pie!

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  7. I agree, if you don't like gardening, minimize it. The way I figure it, gardening is for enjoyment. Yes, it's nice to get those fresh veggies, but not if it caused you stress.
    I'm looking forward to your skirt tutorial!
    I hope to someday (soon) read over all your Marian posts and catch up with those. What a great idea for the month of May to dedicate it to Mary in that way!
    And what a great way to celebrate the Church's birthday!
    God bless you!

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  8. Now, I LOVE the music....but then I'm a music nut. ss

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  9. I usually keep my speakers off so I didn't notice the music until I thought to un-mute the speakers! I love it!!

    My sure cure for garden guilt: don't garden. I kill every plant I touch anyway, so it's all for the best.

    I have two red items of clothing: a too-large golf shirt with a Scout logo on it, and a t-shirt from Middle Sister's track team. Neither is appropriate for church. The guys in the house all have red golf shirts so they're set. Middle Sister will be an altar server, so no red is necessary there!

    Come, Holy Spirit!

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  10. I haven't been able to have a real garden in a few years. All our military moves prevent us from being able to do much of anything. I miss it but on the other hand, I don't. :)

    "Rueh" (not sure on spelling but you pronounce it as 'rue-uh") is the German word to give a dog the command "to rest" (meaning "quiet") when he's barking.

    I love your Mary posts as well! I especially love the art work you show. Thank you for giving me a quick lesson each day!!

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  11. i am a faithful commentor so i don't feel too guilty. (being on my deathbed all week long was my excuse).
    that pie recipe sounds yummy. but my tummy is still not up to par...
    but happy feast day to you and yours and that german speaking puppy! it is so funny that you posted about that...because the baby just told me the other day (very randomly, i might add):"mama did you know that some dogs only speak german? and spanish." he thought that was so interesting!
    well, it's late. got to go.
    thank you for your sweet well wishes.
    xo. to you across the miles.

    ps. just fyi if i had a baby for you to squeeze i'd let ya! (if you made me a sweet blankie that's the least i could do!)

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  12. I wish I could garden. Well, that is. I'm a plant it and forget it type. My little community plot is better than last year, but kind of pitiful compared to others. My zuchini is blossoming, but there are others 4x as large! I guess it's a different type of guilt---I feel guilty for not learning much when my mom was alive!

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  13. I just want to point out that you are speaking too politely to your dog. "Sitzen" would be how you would speak to a superior (like, perhaps, your priest or an elderly guest) and "sitz" would be how you would speak familiarly to your friend, child, dog.

    Here are some more:

    come - komm
    sit - sitz
    stay - bleib
    down/lay down - platz
    leave it/drop it - aus
    heel - Fuß, also "bei Fuß"
    release - frei

    The "ei" is pronounced with a long "i" and the funky looking B (I cut and pasted these) is a double s and is pronounced like an s (the u is an oo...so the Fuss is pronounced foos).

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  14. I have bookmarked that pie - YUM!

    I totally understand about gardening. I'm growing quite a bit this year but it's already annoying me. My extreme spider phobia doesn't help either! :D

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