I Love Sundays

We had such a nice Sunday. We met Kelly for lunch after Mass. Then Ron took Gran home while Kel and I went to a bead show. We both enjoy looking at all the different kinds of beads. She got some pretty beads, and I got a pendant and a bracelet made of bone beads from Nepal. I'll make the pendant into a necklace, but may leave the bone beads as they are. Or I might take the bracelet apart and use the beads in a design of my own.

We came back to the house after the bead show. Kelly played with the puppies for a bit, and looked at where we are putting up a simple wire fence to keep them contained. She and Mike fenced off a portion of their yard for a garden last year, and we are using the same idea for a sort of "dog yard" for the puppies. We plan to get a metal gated arbor for the gate. The puppies will still have plenty of room, but won't have total access to the whole yard. They can still play in the yard when we are out there with them, will eat on the patio and potty in the usual places, but they won't be allowed to be out there without supervision unless they are in their own "dog yard." We're hoping it will save our yard, which they are destroying bit by bit.

Kelly and I went over to Bath and Body Works where she took advantage of their sale on hand cleaners and wallflowers, then we went to Target for socks for me. She found a cute engineer's cap and a pair of striped tights, and bought a bottle of wine. I got the same wine since she said it was her favorite chardonnay. And socks with dragonflies. :o)

We didn't really do anything special, but it's fun to spend time with Kel, no matter what we do.

UP

Praying for all who might be affected by the earthquake in Chile, and those in the paths of the tsunamis generated by it. Sarah, hope you and your family are safely on higher ground right now! *edit* Sarah, I just saw your post that you are not leaving Ford Island. You'll probably be fine on that side of Oahu, but I'll pray anyway.

Reece and Aubrey spent the night with us last night. We spent a lot of yesterday evening watching the movie UP, over and over again. Reece loves it! I had the DVD but hadn't watched it yet, so I watched it with him. I thought it was a wonderful movie, and understand why Reece likes it so much. He has been watching it at his house, and knew what would happen next, so sometimes he would tell me ahead of time what was coming up. :o)

He seems to associate the characters of the old couple with me and his Papa, and he did seem a little worried when Elle got sick and died. He kept asking me, "Where's Gramma?" I told him that she was probably in heaven waiting for Mr. Frederickson and that it would be okay. He didn't cry, but he snuggled real close. I don't think he quite understands about death.

I didn't take Reece and Aubrey with me to Gran's, but took them home as they were both a bit cranky this morning. It's such a beautiful day, but Mom was sleeping when I arrived. That's been the pattern for quite awhile now. She gets up fairly early, but goes back to sleep on the couch with Teddy, sleeping until I arrive, usually around noon. I encouraged her to get dressed and go with me to walk Teddy, and she did. She enjoyed being outside in the sunshine, getting a little exercise and making Teddy happy.

Not sure what we'll do this afternoon. Ron is talking about getting the fencing to fence in our side yard for the puppies. They are not going to be happy about that, but they'll still have lots of room. And maybe it will save our yard.

Have a great weekend!

Fish On Friday

This a vintage recipe from my 8th grade homemaking class. I wonder if homemaking is still taught the same way now. I doubt it.

There was a huge room filled with sewing machines, and another room with a lot of complete small kitchens, and in between was a beautiful dining room where we learned to set the table correctly, create a beautiful centerpiece, and be a good hostess to our dinner guests.

Our teacher's name was Mrs. George, and she was young, pretty, and a stern taskmaster. She was a good teacher. I've never forgotten the lessons she taught.

This is one of the recipes we learned to make in our cute little kitchens. The cashews, chow mein noodles and mandarin oranges make this dish bearable. I'm not a fan of canned tuna, but hey it's Lent, so this will be dinner tonight, served with peas or green beans.

Chopstick Cha Cha

1 T butter
¼ C chopped green onion
1 C sliced celery
1 can (10 ¾ oz) cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
2 C chow mein noodles, divided use
1 (7 oz) can tuna, drained
½ C cashews, toasted
¼ C water
1 (11 oz) can mandarin orange sections, drained

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a heated pan, melt butter over medium heat and saute green onions for 1 minute. Add celery and continue sauteing for 3 minutes. Add soup, half of the chow mein noodles, tuna, cashews and water; mix well. Spoon into an 8” baking dish and sprinkle remaining noodles on top. Bake for 15 minutes or until bubbly. Garnish with mandarin orange sections. Makes 4 servings.

Wednesday With Reece

After the excitement of seeing snow yesterday, we have beautiful blue skies and warm weather today. I do love Texas. :o)

Reece and I did make chocolate chip oatmeal cookies last night. I'm glad that he enjoys cooking so much.

He is growing taller, and looked so big in his jeans and sweater.

He got the crazy giggles during the cookie baking session.

I never did figure out exactly what was so funny. I think he was just happy. :o)




His latest obsession (in addition to cars and monster trucks) is thinking up things for me to draw, and then wanting them cut out so that he can play with them. Usually it is cars and trucks, but yesterday it was Goldilocks and the Three Bears.






After we cut out the bears, he wanted bowls of porridge, a table, and beds for the bears.

The beds reminded him that he always sleeps with a fan, so I had to draw a fan and cut it out, too.

And then he threw in a request for a random trash truck. :o)







Here he is this morning, still in his t-shirt and flannel PJ pants, playing with the three bears.

Baby bear is crying because Goldilocks ate all of his porridge.

It's all very dramatic. :o)

When I was taking him home from Gran's, he told me that he had fun at my house. He said his favorite thing was baking cookies. Then he said no, his favorite thing was singing songs (I was singing Little Bunny FooFoo to him, and he thought it was very funny).

We took Gran some of his cookies. He also took his cut-outs, and they played Goldilocks and the Three Bears together.




I was excited to see a huge flock of beautiful birds in the tree in my backyard this morning. I still haven't figured out what they were. While I was watching them, a little wren came and checked out the little wren house on the patio. I hope he moves in!

Happy Wednesday!

The End

Snow!

A strong cold front came through last night, and today the temps are in the 30s! Brrr. I drove to Mom's in rain, sleet and snow this morning. Quite a change from our 70s yesterday! There were times during the drive home when it was just snow, which was fun to see.

Josh said that Reece loved watching the big snowflakes falling. Of course nothing stuck because the ground is so warm. If this continues though, we may be in trouble tomorrow, with wet roads and freezing temps.

When I took Teddy outside for his walk, he could hardly wait to get back inside. He is definitely a Texas dog. :o) He was shivering, and snuggled down under a blanket when we got back to Mom's apartment.

My puppies, on the other hand, don't seem to mind the cold or the wet weather at all. They are inside, though. It's too cold to leave them out for long.

Aubrey didn't get a pixie hair cut after all. The lady at the salon told the kids that her hair was too fine, that it would be sticking up. So they just got it cut the same way again, only shorter. She looks very cute.

Reece will be here soon to spend the night. Since it's cold I think we will do some baking, which he loves. Maybe chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

I lit a vanilla candle downstairs; it already smells like something is baking.

Stay warm and cozy!

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...
a few clouds in a blue sky. The live oak leaves are beginning to turn that yellowish brown color they get before they are pushed off by the new green leaves. We have lots of leaves on the ground in the spring, rather than in the fall.

I am thankful...
for Ron, who loves me even when I'm mean.

I am wearing...
jeans and a black smock top.

I am remembering...
ski trips.

I am going...
to the grocery store, Mom's, maybe to get my hair cut.

I am reading...
Walden. Having a hard time staying with it.

On my mind...
wondering if Miss Aubrey has a pixie hair cut today. We watched the kids for a little while yesterday afternoon while their parents went out to eat. After they picked the kids up they were headed for Cool Cuts.

From the learning rooms...
in addition to our regular lesson plan book, we've been using a little preschool workbook I bought a couple of months ago. This week's lesson theme is forest animals. Some of the activities include gluing and coloring a forest scene, making animal tracks with plastic toy animals on paper, building a beaver dam, making a paper bowl turtle, looking at leaves, rocks, bugs, etc. with a magnifying glass, taking a nature hike, and making a nature collage. And of course books, little games and songs about animals. Since Reece is not here every day, it usually takes us a couple of weeks to do each lesson, and we still don't always get everything done.

Pondering these words...
How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.
Henry David Thoreau

From the kitchen....
Special K with red berries for breakfast.

Around the house...
washing sheets and towels, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms.

One of my favorite things...
hoot owls hooting in our back yard.

From my picture album...

This is an internet picture of Walden Pond.

Wouldn't it be lovely to live in a cabin in the woods?

Please visit Peggy to read the daybooks of other bloggers, or to share your daybook.

First Sunday In Lent

Our Lord Jesus Christ, directly after His baptism, prepared Himself for His public life and mission by a fast of forty days in the desert, which extends from Jericho to the Mountains of Judea. Let us prepare ourselves by fast, prayers and works of charity for the solemn Feast of Easter.
The Roman Missal, 1964

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards He was hungry.

And the tempter coming said to Him: If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Who answered and said: It is written: Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city and set Him upon the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him: If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down. For it is written: That He hath given his Angels charge over Thee, and in their hands shall they bear Thee up, lest perhaps Thou dash Thy foot against a stone. Jesus said to him: It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Again the devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and said to Him: All these will I give Thee, if falling down Thou wilt adore me. Then Jesus saith to him: Begone, Satan! for it is written: The Lord Thy God shalt thou adore, and Him only shalt thou serve.

Then the devil left Him. And behold Angels came, and ministered to Him.
St. Matthew 4. 1-11

The painting is by Thomas Cole and shows the angels ministering to Jesus after his forty days in the desert.

Fish (And Grandkids) On Friday

I've had Reece with me most of the day today. He's been good, but I had to explain to him that I had things I wanted to get done, so I couldn't stop and play with him constantly. So he entertained himself while I did laundry, cleaned out our little bar area, which is a real catch-all, and made dinner. I did stop to play with him from time to time.

We have fish on Fridays throughout the year, not just during Lent. I had some catfish in the freezer, so I made bronzed catfish for supper, with green beans and rice. Ron called to let me know he was on his way home, and I asked him if he was hungry. He said yes, because he had skipped lunch. I skipped lunch, too, so I was famished and glad to make supper a little earlier than usual. It sure tasted good!

Bronzed Catfish

2 largish catfish filets

1/2 stick of butter

Cajun blackened seasoning

Rinse the catfish, pat dry with paper towels. Melt the butter and slather it over both sides of the catfish. Sprinkle both sides with the blackened seasoning. Heat a skillet over high heat until it's smoking. Put the buttered filets into the skillet, turn down the heat a bit, and cook about 5 to 6 minutes on each side if the filets are thick, less if they are thin. You can judge whether the fish is done by flaking it with a fork. I had to cook mine a little longer than I expected.

You can use almost any kind of fish in this recipe.

So simple, and yet so good! The two filets were enough for me, Ron and Reece. He liked the fish, but preferred the green beans to anything else. I've never seen a little boy who loves vegetables as much as Reece does. :o)

Josh brought Aubrey over around 6 PM. She and Reece always spend the night with us on Fridays. We spent the evening playing, drawing, watching Hot Wheel and Thomas videos, and doing puzzles.

Aubrey never wants to go to bed, but tonight she came right into the bedroom with a book, turned on the fan (they always sleep with a fan for the white noise), and climbed onto the bed, ready for her story. We are sleeping in the spare room. We left Papa and Reece in the master bedroom just as Papa was starting to read Make Way For Ducklings to Reece.

Goodnight. :o)

Thursday Chitchat

Yesterday was a bummer of a day. It was okay in the morning because Reece was here, and went to Gran's with me. But I had planned to go to the Latin Mass at 6:30 AM. Ron was going to stay with Reece until I got home, then go to work. Sometime in the night he got sick and was sick all day with some kind of intestinal thing. He stayed home from work, so he turned off the alarm and I didn't wake up in time for the early Mass.

In the afternoon we found out there was a mishap at the bank that left us way overdrawn. It's all taken care of now, but things like that make me crazy. I'm the bill payer, and try so hard to keep our finances in order, so I get really frustrated when things like that happen.

So I didn't go to Mass at all, even though it was Ash Wednesday. Ron asked if I wanted to go in the evening, but after the crummy day, I didn't feel like sitting through a Novus Ordo Mass just to get ashes. (I know, terrible attitude).

Today has been a better day. Ron was feeling well enough to go to work, thank goodness. I talked to him earlier and he said he was able to eat without a problem today. Yesterday all he had was some beef broth.

After leaving Mom's today, I stopped at a children's resale store and a thrift store. I guess I wasn't in the mood because I didn't find much. The four wine glasses match four that I found at another thrift store a few months ago. The cookbook is really cool; it has some good recipes in it. The glass vase will replace a generic plain one. And I'm a sucker for Asian things. The little Chinese or Japanese vase has a stamped Kanji signature on the bottom. That's how Asian artists sign their work.

I'm fasting every day during Lent, eating a small breakfast and lunch and a normal dinner. But I need to get the dang Oreos out of the house.

Off to fold laundry. Tootles.

A Tuesday Daybook

Outside my window...
a clear, bright, blue-sky day. It's cold now, but will warm up to around 60° this afternoon.

I am thankful...
for 60° weather in mid-February.

I am wearing...
jeans, black socks, a black v-neck long-sleeved t-shirt.

I am remembering...
Psalm 51. 10, the way we would sing it as Missouri Synod Lutherans during the liturgy just before the offering. I loved it then, and I still do. The music and words often come to me during the day. It's very appropriate for Lent.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with your free Spirit.

As Catholics we know Psalm 51 as the Miserere and the entire Psalm is sung or recited on Fridays during Morning Prayer.

I am going...
I was up early, took Ron to work so that I could keep the car, stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things for Mom, then went to her apartment to get Teddy, who is being groomed today and had to be there at 8:30 AM. I got some doughnuts to share with Mom for breakfast. It is Fat Tuesday! Not the best breakfast for diabetic me, but I won't do it again for at least 40 days. :o)

I am reading...
A chapter from The Puppy Whisperer. I'm working with the puppy girls on heeling and walking on the leash without pulling.

On my mind...
Ron's friend and former co-worker, Mr. Hyde. He retired several years ago, and has been in poor health since then. He is in the hospital. His kidneys are failing; dialysis did not help. Today he is going into hospice care. Please pray for him and his family.

From the learning rooms...
this month the focus is on love--loving God, loving others, the Works of Mercy, the Good Samaritan. We'll also learn about sequencing and sorting by size, smaller than and larger than.

Pondering these words...
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church's penitential practice. These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).

From the kitchen....
a chicken in the crockpot. We will have it for dinner tonight, with potatoes and some kind of veggie.

Around the house...
housework to be done.

One of my favorite things...
a ruby red dawn.

From my picture album...

These pretty earrings are in my daughter's Etsy shop, Biologie. They are called Gathering Moss and are part of her Mother Earth collection. The green stones she used are moss jasper or serpentine stone, similar to the Russian Serpentine beads I used in my Panama City Beach bracelet. The headpins and bead caps are sterling silver.

You can see more of her lovely jewelry at Biologie by clicking the link, or you can click on the Biologie logo at the top of my sidebar.

Please visit Peggy to read more daybooks!

Forty-One

Our 41st wedding anniversary has come and gone without too much fanfare. But after 41 years, fanfare is not needed. Ron was home from work for President's Day, so it was nice to just spend the day together.

Lots of living has been done in 41 years, and I'm grateful to have had the love of my life beside me all that time. I pray that we'll have a few more healthy and happy decades together.

Happy Anniversary, Ron!

My Valentines

Ron gave me this beautiful bouquet of roses and hydrangea this morning. They are so pretty and fragrant.

He also got some for my mom. She was absolutely delighted. She loves to get flowers. How many men get flowers for their mothers-in-law? He's a sweetheart.

Father Kloster was the priest for the Latin Mass today, and the schola was there to chant. Mass was beautiful, and I spent a lot of time thinking about how the angels and saints are also there, worshipping God right along with us. Awesome!


The gospel was the story of the man who was born blind and cried out to Jesus to be healed.

A note in my missal says that the man born blind "...is surely the human race. Ever since man has been turned

out of Paradise in the person of our first father, he has not known the light of heaven, and therefore has suffered through being plunged into the darkness of condemnation."

We took Mom to lunch after Mass. In the afternoon, we kept Reece and Aubrey while Josh and Cyrise (and Camryn) went out to eat for Valentine's Day.

Reece came in and said, "Happy Valentines, Gramma!" :o)

I gave them each little heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, a valentine and a coloring book.

It was a beautiful day until around 5:30 PM, when a cold front came through. There was lots of wind. It made a moaning sound in the chimney, and the kids looked at me with big eyes and asked, "What was that?"

And it got cold again. :o(







But while it was nice, we went outside and I tried to get some pictures.

Aubrey's face is beautiful, even with a scratch on her cheek.

She needs a haircut. I think she would look cute with a pixie cut.

They both had sleepy eyes, and later Aubrey took a short nap.













Reece didn't really want me to take his picture.

In the next one, he was showing me how to howl like a wolf.




I wanted some full length shots of Aubrey in her little corduroy overalls. I just love little kids in overalls, and she looked so cute!















She's a little clown.

It was a lovely Saint Valentine's Day. I hope your day was beautiful, too!

Happy Valentine's Day To My Ron

And Happy 41st Wedding Anniversary on Monday!



Ron says this is "our song."

I think you'll like this version. It's one of the first times Vince Gill ever sang the song, about a week after he wrote it. Look how young he is!

Turn off my Playlist to listen to the video.

I love you, Ron!

Rice Pudding

My son and daughter-in-law got me a new rice cooker for Christmas--my favorite brand. Isn't it pretty? We eat lots and lots of rice around here, but I made too much and had leftovers. I didn't want to throw it out, so I decided to make rice pudding. It turned out great!

Creamy Rice Pudding
* 1 1/2 C cooked white rice
* 2 cups milk, divided
* 1/3 cup white sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 egg, beaten
* 2/3 cup golden raisins
* 1 tablespoon butter
* 1 teaspoon vanilla

In a medium saucepan combine 1 1/2 cups cooked rice, 1 1/2 cups milk, sugar and salt. Cook over medium heat until thick and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup milk, beaten egg and raisins. Cook 2 minutes more, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in butter and vanilla. Serve warm.

I used a little more rice because I skipped the raisins (we don't care for cooked raisins, but if you like them, go for it). I also added some cinnamon and nutmeg to the pudding as it finished cooking. You could just sprinkle some on top, but I wanted the spices all throughout the pudding. Don't use too much nutmeg--just a pinch--because it has a strong flavor.

Enjoy!

I'm Sooo Disappointed.

Well, my favorite candidate for Texas governor, Debra Medina, has probably lost my vote.

Here's the story.

She's now saying she doesn't believe in the 9-11 conspiracy theory, but it sounds like CYA to me. She should have said that when Beck asked the question.

She said she only meant that citizens should have the right to question their government. Well yeah, of course. But she also said the 9-11 truthers make some good points. Uh uh. She's just ruined her chances for election.

Now who am I gonna vote for? Dang. I'm going to have to give this some thought.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Reece was here for most of the afternoon on Tuesday, and spent the night as usual. He's a love. In the picture, he is watching Pingu videos on YouTube and eating Chex Mix while kicking back in his Lightning McQueen underwear. :o)

The next day he had his Great Gran knocking down cobwebs in her bedroom with a towel covered broom. He would spot them, point them out to her, and she would sweep them away. They are such a funny pair.

It's a cold, rainy day. I had to dry the puppies with towels when they came in from outside. I gave them baths a few days ago because they reeked. They were so funny after their baths, smelling each other to see if the other girl smelled like strawberries, too. I bathed them in the grand's strawberry shortcake bath wash. So they have a bit of wet dog smell, with an undercurrent of strawberry.

Nothing much going on this week so far. When the weather is like this I feel like hibernating. I shouldn't complain, though, since we don't have the kind of weather they are experiencing in the north. Even Dallas is getting snow!

*Later*

I'm back from Mom's. I made her some brownies while I was over there, because on a cold, wet day baking seems the thing to do, right? She loves sweets.

I was going to stop and pick up a few things I forgot on my last grocery shopping trip, but I just wanted to come straight home once I started driving. I may go this evening if it stops raining.

I made a salad for my lunch--spring greens, apple chunks, dried cranberries, walnuts, sliced leftover chicken and raspberry vinegarette dressing. Yum!

Stay warm and cozy.

The Apparition of the Immaculate Virgin Mary

Our Lady of Lourdes.

This feast commemorates the appearing of our Lady on several occasions in 1858 at Lourdes, France.

Immaculate Mary, thy praises we sing;
Who reignest in splendor with Jesus our King:

Ave, ave, ava Maria.
Ave, ave Maria.

In heaven the blessed thy glory proclaim;
On earth, we, thy children, invoke your sweet name.

Ave, ave, ave Maria.
Ave, ave Maria.

Thy name is our power, thy virtues our light,
Thy love is our comfort, thy pleading our might.

Ave, ave, ave Maria.
Ave, ave Maria.

We pray for our mother, the Church upon earth;
And bless, Holy Mary, the land of our birth.

Ave, ave, ave Maria.
Ave, ave Maria.

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...
dark gray skies, rain. There are thunderstorms in the forecast. It's 61°.

I am thankful...
for the gifts of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch.

To be able to see the stars, a sunset, a flower, a grandchild's face.

To be able to hear beautiful music, the trill of the wren, a child's laughter.

To taste chocolate cake, a t-bone steak, enchiladas. I once knew a woman who had lost the sense of taste because she had had brain surgery. So sad.

To smell the fragrance of a summer rose, baking bread, rain.

To feel a gentle touch, a hug, Maggie's soft fur, the sun on my face.

To be able to experience the world in all those ways and more, Father I thank you.

I am wearing...
purple t-shirt, black yoga pants, bare feet.

I am remembering...
yesterday. We went to Mass (Sexagesima Sunday), then to Mom's where we made spaghetti and garlic cheese bread for lunch.

In the afternoon we took the bookcases to Josh's house, where Ron put them together. Cyrise had already sorted through a lot of the kid's toys, and we finished doing that. Then we sorted through all of their clothes, dividing them into things to be kept and those to be given away. Once the closets were cleared out, we put the shelves inside and put the boxes of toys on the shelves. The bigger toys and stuffed animals went back into the toy box. There is much more room now, and Reece was delighted with the organized toys. :o)

Ron and I came home around 6 and fed the puppies, who probably wondered where we had been all day.

I am going...
to shower, go to the grocery store, then to Mom's.

I am reading...
still reading Walden.

On my mind...
why do people lose their faith, and how can they regain it?

From the learning rooms...
more on the loaves and fishes, since we didn't do the activity last week.

Pondering these words...
My grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

From the kitchen....
chicken and rice on the menu for dinner.

Around the house...
today is change the sheets day, laundry day.

One of my favorite things...
thunder and lightning.

From my picture album...
Yesterday's Gospel was from St. Luke, 8. 4-15, the parable of the sower.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. And they by the wayside are they that hear: then the devil cometh, and taketh the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be saved. Now they upon the rock, are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no roots: for they believe for a while, and in time of temptation they fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they who have heard, and going their way, are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and yield no fruit. But that on the good ground, are they who in a good and perfect heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit in patience.

Which kind of soil are you?

*Oops, I forgot to give you the link to Peggy's site where you can read the daybooks of lots and lots of bloggers.

Saturday Summary

Ron and I enjoyed having Reece and Aubrey here last night. They are so much fun! Aubrey is talking more and more, and tries to imitate almost everything Reece says or does, including the stuff we would rather she not imitate. :o)

He accidentally shut the door on her fingers at Great Gran's today. Fortunately he didn't close it very hard. They were playing on the patio, and coming in and out. Aubrey cried hard for a minute, then stopped when I ran cold water on her fingers and kissed them over and over. When I put her down, she headed right back to the patio to play again. Great Gran said that she sure is a tough little girl.

I finally gave up looking for bookcases at thrift and consignment stores. Ron and I went to WalMart this afternoon to buy a couple of inexpensive bookcases. Cyrise went through all of the kids toys, sorting them into a dozen plastic boxes I got at WalMart ($1.50 each) last week. We will put the bookcases in their closets to hold the boxes of toys. They'll have much more room to play in their room with all the toys organized and put in the closets.

While I was looking for bookcases, I did find this neat print at the hotel outlet store. They had marked everything down 50%, so the picture was $25 instead of $50. I think the frame alone is worth more than $25. But the picture is what I really love. Above the garden gate, carved into the stone, is the Latin word "Resurgam," which means "I shall rise again." The artist is Cyrus Afsary, and the painting is from his "Mission" collection. On some sites the painting is identified as "Resurgam," and on others, "Flowered Doorway." I prefer "Resurgam." :o)

I spent over an hour yesterday afternoon cleaning the yard and patio. The puppies absolutely ruined our little fan palm tree--it's just a fuzzy stump now. I raked up all the debris and threw it away, picked up all the rocks and logs that they scattered around the yard, and scooped poop. Then I put them inside and blew the patio clean with my handy-dandy leaf blower. When I finished, they ran all over the yard, going everywhere I had been to see what I had done. I gave them each a rawhide bone to chew, and they spent the rest of the day chewing on them and guarding them from each other. :o)

I was out there with them again today, reviewing their training with them and playing with them. They are so pretty, and very loving little dogs. While I was outside, Jason called and talked to his dad for awhile, then I talked to him. Ron got a new computer, and I think they were talking about that.

I took a long nap late this afternoon and didn't wake up until 7 PM.

Happy Birthday, Johnnie!

May your day be bright and beautiful!

I thank God that you are my sister.

May He continue to bless you always.

I love you, Johnnie!

Panama City Beach Bracelet

Here's the finished bracelet, using some of the Russian Serpentine beads and the three little metal turtles I got in Panama City Beach and some other random beads. I only used six of the Russian serpentine, so I have plenty left. I like the colors and the weighty feel of it on my wrist. Do you yike it? (As Reece would say).

Wednesday With Reece

Reece was having fun playing around with the photo booth thing on my laptop at bedtime last night. We took lots of pictures of him making faces and holding his cars. Then we played with the "effects" and made them look different. I love his eyebrows.

We made brownies after supper. He ate two small brownies, and later asked for more. I gave him one on his little plate, and he said, "How 'bout five?" He makes me laugh. I gave him one more, but he only nibbled on them. I think his eyes were bigger than his stomach.

It's cold and rainy this morning. Reece is still sleeping here beside me. He looks like an angel.

Ron is not feeling well, and was home from work yesterday. But he left for work this morning. I fed the puppies and let them out for awhile, then came back upstairs. About 30 minutes later, I heard the front door open.

Ever since some guys broke into our house, I always have in the back of my mind that it could happen again. I immediately looked out an upstairs window, and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw it was our car in the driveway.

Ron had gotten almost to work, but felt so bad that he came back home. It's just not like him to miss work, so I know that he feels miserable. We thought at first it was his allergies, but now I think it's a cold or the flu.

Mom's heat seems to be working okay since the maintenance man worked on it. Reece and I will go over there when he wakes up. One of the last things he said last night before he went to sleep is, "Tomorrow we go see Gwate Gwan." He sometimes still says his Rs like Elmer Fudd, so you can imagine how cute "tomorrow" sounds. :o)

I hope I'll always remember these little things. Writing them down on my blog helps.

Commemoration Of St. Blaise

February 3rd is the Commemoration of St. Blaise. He is the patron saint of throats and wild animals.

St. Blaise was a fourth century bishop who lived in Armenia and devotion to him has been popular throughout the ages. Much of what is known about the life of St. Blaise comes from the legends about his life. Historical proof exists that Blaise was martyred for the Faith in his diocese of Sebastea in Armenia in the year 316. The legends surrounding Blaise state that during the persecution of Licinius Blaise was forced into exile into the hills in the backcountry of his diocese. There he lived as a hermit, spending his days in prayer and penance.

The legends say that one of the products of Blaise's holiness was that even the most wild of animals became his companions without any harm to him. One day hunters discovered Blaise while seeking wild animals for the amphitheater and arrested him as a Christian. Blaise was taken to prison, but on the way there he interceded to God on the behalf of a child who was choking to death on a fish bone. The child was cured, but Blaise was forced to continue on his way to prison. While in prison, Blaise confirmed that he was a Christian and was given the chance to recant his profession of Faith if he offered worship to the pagan idols. Blaise refused even after being tortured by having his flesh torn with iron combs and rakes. Finally, Blaise was beheaded and granted entrance to heaven.

Dear bishop and lover of souls, you willingly bore heavy crosses in faithful imitation of Jesus. Similarly, with Christlike compassion you cured many sufferers. Than after undergoing horrible torture, you died as a martyr for Christ. Obtain a cure for these {describe the afflictions} ills if this is agreeable to God. Amen.

Source: Catholic Forum Saints

Many Catholic churches will have the Blessing of Throats today. Our priest will bless throats after the 7 AM Latin Mass today, and again after the 8 AM Latin Mass on First Friday, February 5th.

The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the presentation of Jesus in the temple/The purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary/Candlemas.

Before Mass the candles are blessed and distributed.

A procession takes place, all bearing the lighted candles which have been blessed by the priest. The following Antiphons are sung:

Adorn thy bridal-chamber, O Sion, and welcome Christ the King: with loving embrace greet Mary, the very gate of heaven; for she bringeth to thee the glorious King of new light: ever Virgin she remaineth, yet in her arms doth bear the Son begotten before the day-star: that Child whom Simeon did take into his arms and proclaim to the nations as Lord of life and Saviour of the world.

Simeon received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord; and when they brought the Child into the temple, he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: Now dost Thou dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, in peace. When his parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him into his arms. (Luke 2. 26-29)

They offered for Him to the Lord a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons: As it is written in the Law of the Lord. After the days of the purification of Mary, according to the Law of Moses, were fulfilled, they carried Jesus to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord. As it is written in the Law of the Lord. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost...As it is written in the Law of the Lord.

Amen
†

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...
Ugly, yucky, cold, drizzly, gray.

I am thankful...
for furnaces and our cozy home.

I am wearing...
jeans, black socks and one of Ron's old sweaters that he outgrew and I grew into.

I am remembering...
later this month will be our 41st wedding anniversary. There was a Kansas blizzard the night before, and lots of snow on the ground for our wedding day. My high school best friend drove in from out of town, through the blizzard, to get there. My little sister and I picked up the wedding cake from the bakery that morning--in my Volkswagen Beetle. My 14 year old sister held the cake on her lap as I navigated through the icy, snowy streets to the church. Incredibly, we made it with only a small smudge in the frosting at the bottom of the cake.

I am going...
I've been to Mom's and to two thrift stores. I want to run over to Hobby Lobby for some brass findings (for jewelry making), and to the grocery store. Ron bought bread and a 12 pack of Cherry Coke Zero yesterday, and I took the bread to Mom today, and the half pack of sodas that was already opened. He gets a little cranky when he can't find the food he just bought. :o)

I am reading...
Walden, by Henry David Thoreau. Can you believe I've never read it? I found it at the thrift store.

On my mind...
hoping the maintenance man got over to Mom's apartment this afternoon to fix her thermostat. Her heat won't shut off, even when we turned the thermostat off, and even when we turned on the AC! Hot air just keeps blowing from the vents. When we got home from Mass yesterday, it was 93° in her apartment! We opened the door and all the windows. It was still hot this morning (84°), so I turned off the furnace at the breaker box.

Not only is it annoying to have it so hot, but her utility bill has been much higher than average. It doesn't seem to do it all the time, just now and then.

From the learning rooms...
Learning about the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Sorting by type.

Pondering these words...
China tea, the scent of hyacinths, wood fires and bowls of violets--that is my mental picture of an agreeable February afternoon.
Constance Spry

From the kitchen....
I made a pot of Earl Grey tea and had it with honey, and a piece of toast with butter and apricot jam for breakfast.

Around the house...
the puppies have been spending quite a bit of time inside, so there is a lingering faint doggy odor downstairs. Need to sweep, de-clutter and do some of the never-ending laundry.

One of my favorite things...
Valentines.

From my picture album...

This is what I got from the thrift stores today.

A book of "cowboy music," two reading books for grade level 1-1 and 1-2, and the Walden book I mentioned above.


And a Waring Commercial Bar Blender. When I got my Kitchen Aid mixer, I gave my old Oster mixer with all its parts and pieces to my son and daughter-in-law, including the blender. So I've been without a blender for awhile, except for the immersible one I borrow from Josh now and then.

I mentioned just yesterday that I needed to look for a new blender, and Josh said he had heard that Waring blenders were good, and noticed that the chefs on cooking shows often have that brand. So today at the thrift store, I found one! I wasn't sure if it would work, but it does. It's not the top-of-the-line model, but wow, it sure has a powerful motor! And it was only $4.99. Can't beat that.

Be sure to go to Peggy's to read more daybooks.