Only Rush Limbaugh can turn the first Thanksgiving feast into a meal of free-range turkey and organic vegetables. Thanks, Rush! I needed the laughs this morning.
We had a couple short periods of freezing drizzle before the snow started. I hope my husband makes it home safely from work. We will decide tomorrow whether it is safe to drive to my sister's house in the Cities for Thanksgiving dinner. I will wait until tomorrow to prepare my bring-along food.
I have fallen off of the band wagon on my retreat resolutions, and have even taken a step backwards from the progress I had made earlier. Blessed Mother, help me out of this slump. I am persevering in my reading of The Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus Liguori, in spite of its length. In another month I will need to start my annual review for my consecration to Mary. But I am so lazy....
I started some breads today. I need to take something to the Becker Thanksgiving on Sunday, and also need some extra loaves in the freezer. The house is cold, and bread baking is a good way to warm it up. I hope to get some knitting and sewing done in between kneading and rising.
Wouldn't ya know, Janet Nepolitano has announced the possibility of using the new high-radiation full body airport scanners in bus terminals and railroad depots. The new American Police State is now in full swing. No thought of strengthening our borders because the real goal is subverting the American people, not preventing terrorism. Why else subject them to the degradation of the TSA pat-downs and body scans? Don't believe it? Experts say the new scanners probably would not have caught the underwear bomber.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Six of One
I am embroidering simple cross stitch quilt squares. As I work to untangle my floss for the first five crosses, I think of all of those who scold the long string users. The theory is that quilt thread, embroidery floss, and hand-sewing thread should never be longer than 18 inches, so that it does not tangle as it worked. Us long threaders prefer them long even if we have to deal with tangles, so that we do not have to make so many knots. We are just as correct.
I can think of countless examples where there are not the absolutes sometimes attributed. Women can make beautiful quilts out of cut up clothing and cardboard templates as well as out of pricey quilt shop fabric and the latest cutting tools. Eggs can be eaten runny or hard. Toilet paper can roll from the front or from the back. Cats can live in the house, or in the barn. A person can be comfortable reading from a book, or off of a Kindle. There is no disputing taste.
It looks as if I will have to head to the veterinarian with Gracie, if not for her shots, at least for a look-see at her eye. There is no pus, but I do wipe blood away daily from her tear duct, and her eye is quite red. The fur around the eye is now darkening, as if bruised underneath. I do not like the thought of spending money on the cat just now.
I am making headway on several different quilt projects. Can' have just one going at a time. No Sirree! Last night I did restrain myself to window shopping at JoAnn's for fabric that will match some of my future quilt pieces. If I get too much piled up my stress level increases.
I can think of countless examples where there are not the absolutes sometimes attributed. Women can make beautiful quilts out of cut up clothing and cardboard templates as well as out of pricey quilt shop fabric and the latest cutting tools. Eggs can be eaten runny or hard. Toilet paper can roll from the front or from the back. Cats can live in the house, or in the barn. A person can be comfortable reading from a book, or off of a Kindle. There is no disputing taste.
It looks as if I will have to head to the veterinarian with Gracie, if not for her shots, at least for a look-see at her eye. There is no pus, but I do wipe blood away daily from her tear duct, and her eye is quite red. The fur around the eye is now darkening, as if bruised underneath. I do not like the thought of spending money on the cat just now.
I am making headway on several different quilt projects. Can' have just one going at a time. No Sirree! Last night I did restrain myself to window shopping at JoAnn's for fabric that will match some of my future quilt pieces. If I get too much piled up my stress level increases.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Garden of Weedin'
I spent the afternoon working in the Mary Garden at St. John Cantius. Yes, Gerard, I realize now that I did not take any pictures of the garden when it was in full bloom. I cut down some perennials, pulled out the annuals, and worked on edging the patio blocks. Tomorrow I may not be able to move. I am looking forward to a cozy evening embroidering.
I finished the book, Looking for the King (Downing, Ignatius Press). It kept me interested enough to have to finish it. I would not, however, rate it as one of the best mysteries of all time. I had planned on moving right on to Rachel's Contrition, but I side-tracked into Pearce's Tolkien: Man and Myth. The later appears to be an easy read, and suitably follows Downing's book with guest appearances by the Inklings. I am on my second chapter just reading on my lunch breaks at work. Arthur has expressed interest in this book, too, since he has watched all of the Lord of the Rings movies with me. I read those books down at the lake in my youth. I am paying for those bad sunburns now with skin discoloration and moles.
Time to prepare supper. Fried potatoes and fish. It's Friday.
I finished the book, Looking for the King (Downing, Ignatius Press). It kept me interested enough to have to finish it. I would not, however, rate it as one of the best mysteries of all time. I had planned on moving right on to Rachel's Contrition, but I side-tracked into Pearce's Tolkien: Man and Myth. The later appears to be an easy read, and suitably follows Downing's book with guest appearances by the Inklings. I am on my second chapter just reading on my lunch breaks at work. Arthur has expressed interest in this book, too, since he has watched all of the Lord of the Rings movies with me. I read those books down at the lake in my youth. I am paying for those bad sunburns now with skin discoloration and moles.
Time to prepare supper. Fried potatoes and fish. It's Friday.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Time
I got a hair cut today. As I looked into the barber's mirror, I noticed a very prominent silver hair near my cheek. One of these years there will be too many to count.
Gracie still has a scab on her tear duct. I hesitate to wipe it off as I usually do. It looks as though she had a claw catch her there. Not my fault if she fights. It was probably with Blackie. In the picture below Gracie is displaying the quilt which I won at St. Anthony's last week.
Gracie still has a scab on her tear duct. I hesitate to wipe it off as I usually do. It looks as though she had a claw catch her there. Not my fault if she fights. It was probably with Blackie. In the picture below Gracie is displaying the quilt which I won at St. Anthony's last week.
 |
| Gracie Girl |
 |
| Blackie |
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Long Time No Write
Anne started her own blog, so I guess that means I need to get back into the swing on mine!
My latest news is that I won a quilt at St. Anthony's (St. Cloud) Quilt Bingo. This is about the fifth year that I have gone, so it was mine time. I am proud to be one of their new quilters, as well. The quilt which I won, as are all of their quilts, queen size. It has embroidered patches alternating with maroon patches, sashing and backing. The amount of work put into the emroidery alone is incredible.
My quilting is improving in speed, if not in stitch length. At one time at a quilting afternoon at Gone to Pieces, I was advised by another quilter to use a smaller needle and shorter thread. So far that has not given me smaller stitches. Mary B. has impressed upon me the need to use a thimble. I laugh with the other ladies at St. Anthony's about using longer thread so that I tie fewer knots, even if it means running the risk of tangles. Half of them do the same.Helping the quilters has energized me in the completion of the quilt top I started for them two years ago. It was supposed to be done in summer months while work was slow. Never happened. Now, however, I am on a roll.
Baby Mark's afghan is still unfinished.
Today I am baking cracked wheat bread with millet and flax seed thrown in. I also started some oatmeal apple bread, a good bread for breakfasts. Dinner tonight is pork chops and potatoes.
Now off to do laundry.
My latest news is that I won a quilt at St. Anthony's (St. Cloud) Quilt Bingo. This is about the fifth year that I have gone, so it was mine time. I am proud to be one of their new quilters, as well. The quilt which I won, as are all of their quilts, queen size. It has embroidered patches alternating with maroon patches, sashing and backing. The amount of work put into the emroidery alone is incredible.
My quilting is improving in speed, if not in stitch length. At one time at a quilting afternoon at Gone to Pieces, I was advised by another quilter to use a smaller needle and shorter thread. So far that has not given me smaller stitches. Mary B. has impressed upon me the need to use a thimble. I laugh with the other ladies at St. Anthony's about using longer thread so that I tie fewer knots, even if it means running the risk of tangles. Half of them do the same.Helping the quilters has energized me in the completion of the quilt top I started for them two years ago. It was supposed to be done in summer months while work was slow. Never happened. Now, however, I am on a roll.
Baby Mark's afghan is still unfinished.
Now off to do laundry.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Eat Your Vegetables, or Else?
Have you noticed that when politicians talk about reducing health care costs by making healthy choices, they limit their targets to obesity, cigarette smoking, and seat belts and bike helmets, the politically correct sins of the new century? What if they mentioned studies about how abortion can cause breast cancer, or about how the Pill can cause heart trouble? What about the diseases picked up through sexual promiscuity? What about AIDS, which is still a disease acquired primarily by homosexual activity in men? What about the mental illnesses caused or exacerbated by abortion, sexual promiscuity, divorce and infidelity? What about drug users? What about people who refuse to eat their vegetables, or fiber, or protein? What about using organic products as opposed to junky white bread, apples sprayed with pesticides, and milk containing growth hormones? What about people who refuse to believe in God, or pray, or go to church, when studies say these things make people happier, and healthier? Ask the centenarian why he has lived so long, and you will be told everything from drinking and smoking to having a beer and bacon everyday. The list of things which the government would have to include if it wants to "protect our health" would be endless.
Far better that the government gets out of the health care industry altogether, and lets individuals control their own health and seek their own happiness in their own ways.
Far better that the government gets out of the health care industry altogether, and lets individuals control their own health and seek their own happiness in their own ways.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Police State
Tornadoes ripped through the state of Minnesota on Thursday. The city of Wadena was particularly hard hit. By late evening we were hearing reports that the police had barracaded their streets so that only residents could access the city. I find that rather alarming. I can understand the possibility of gawkers and looters. What I do not understand is closing off the citizens from outside assistance by family and friends. What if you had elderly parents living in the town, or a single mother with young children. It is the natural response to want to check up on them. It is also common to call on friends and family for assistance. This one might have a chain saw, or a pick-up. That one might want your fallen trees for firewood. Why should the police department be able to say you cannot enlist their help?
The more I hear about the oil spill, the angrier I get. Why would we refuse the assistance of foreign oil skimmers just because the ships were not built with Union labor? Why not let BP burn the oil, or use chemical dispersants, so that the oil does not reach land. Why not let the state of Louisiana build sand berms when and where they want? Why send the Coast Guard out to disrupt clean up for an entire day because the clean-up crews might not have life jackets? Safety is well and good, but there is a time and place for everything. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater by being so tied up in regulations that we cannot move.
Who in our congress is willing to stand up and tell President Obama that he is acting way out of constitutional bounds by placing a moratorium on gulf drilling and by demanding that BP use a third party settle damages?
Yesterday I did a long overdue scrub-down of the bathtub. It is my least favorite cleaning job, and the one most easily left undone. Left undone, it grows into a larger task as each week of soap scum clings to the walls. It requires major elbow grease to cut through the grime. Now it is done, and I wonder what happened to that young bride who set aside one day every week to clean the bathroom, dust, vaccuum, and scrub the kitchen floor. I think she has gone knitting or something.
The more I hear about the oil spill, the angrier I get. Why would we refuse the assistance of foreign oil skimmers just because the ships were not built with Union labor? Why not let BP burn the oil, or use chemical dispersants, so that the oil does not reach land. Why not let the state of Louisiana build sand berms when and where they want? Why send the Coast Guard out to disrupt clean up for an entire day because the clean-up crews might not have life jackets? Safety is well and good, but there is a time and place for everything. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater by being so tied up in regulations that we cannot move.
Who in our congress is willing to stand up and tell President Obama that he is acting way out of constitutional bounds by placing a moratorium on gulf drilling and by demanding that BP use a third party settle damages?
Yesterday I did a long overdue scrub-down of the bathtub. It is my least favorite cleaning job, and the one most easily left undone. Left undone, it grows into a larger task as each week of soap scum clings to the walls. It requires major elbow grease to cut through the grime. Now it is done, and I wonder what happened to that young bride who set aside one day every week to clean the bathroom, dust, vaccuum, and scrub the kitchen floor. I think she has gone knitting or something.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Christian Mothers
http://www.fatherangelus.com/The national office of the Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers now sends out semi-monthly e-newsletters. They can be reached at christianmothers@consolidated.net, or at http://www.fatherangelus.com/.
Long Time No Blog
Since my last blog I have finished numerous knitted dishcloths, sewn three more Smart Bags and cut out several more, finished reading Andy Adam's Campfire Tales, become a Shaklee distributor, traveled to New Ulm, planted several annuals, and done some much needed weeding and thinning in my flower beds. I hop to figure out our new camera so I can add some pictures of my work.
Campfire Tales was a light, easy to read book. It was broken into three to four page stories, or tales, so I read one or two at a time. I found this book in one of the national park gift shops out west (probably Theodore Roosevelt Nat'l Park), and purchased it with the intention of reading it with Anne for school. We never used it as such, and in retrospect, so much the better. While the stories are told by cowboys around their evening campfires, it seems a book better read to oneself than read aloud. I enjoyed the simplicity of expression, though I did not know the meaning of all of the horse lingo, nor the geography of the trails from the 1800's.
Our annual trip to New Ulm took us to the Holiday Inn New Ulm for a first stay. We visited Domeier's, and while Papa did a tour of Schell Brewery, I paid visits to the two quilt shops and a second-hand bookshop in town. I enjoy the small quilt shops very much. I am not overwhelmed by too many fabric choices, and I feel like I am helping the local economy by my purchases. We discovered Turner Hall with its late 19th century paintings on the walls. Perhaps we will try out their lunch menu on a future visit. We drove past the Wanda Gag house, but it was not open for tour. We did a run through the Minnesota Music Museum, Arthur looking at Whoppee John, Sherwin Linton, and a few other familiar faces. The museum guide had lake cabin connections around central Minnesota, so I am sure his long chat with Arthur made his day. I looked for F. Melius Christiansen, music professor at St. Olaf who probably formed much of Mr. Engen's teaching at White Bear, but I found only the display from his induction ceremony into the Museum. I looked for more on Margie's old favorite, Johnny Holm, as well, but could not find his display. Arthur was not happy with his ribs at Wiegel's Kaiserhoff, so next time we will try Otto's restaurant at the Holiday Inn. Mama will probably like Otto's better, too, since they serve all my favorite German sides with their meals - red cabbage, German potato salad, and sauerkraut.
Marriage makes for truly strange bedfellows. I am hankering for a good pasta salad. Papa prefers potatoes. I like the pumpernickel bread, rosemary bread and popovers when we eat out, and he prefers the white bread. He usually orders the same thing, I usually try something different. He was raised on fried lake fish for Fridays, I was raised on tuna. I like green beans, while he prefers peas and corn. I like cooked carrots, while he prefers his raw.
I have a sparrow in one blue bird nest box, and a wren in the other. I put oriole nectar and grape juice out again this morning, but I may give up if we have another rain, or if the humidity brings on the mildew again. My new oriole feeder does keep the wasps out, but ants are still an issue.
Campfire Tales was a light, easy to read book. It was broken into three to four page stories, or tales, so I read one or two at a time. I found this book in one of the national park gift shops out west (probably Theodore Roosevelt Nat'l Park), and purchased it with the intention of reading it with Anne for school. We never used it as such, and in retrospect, so much the better. While the stories are told by cowboys around their evening campfires, it seems a book better read to oneself than read aloud. I enjoyed the simplicity of expression, though I did not know the meaning of all of the horse lingo, nor the geography of the trails from the 1800's.
Our annual trip to New Ulm took us to the Holiday Inn New Ulm for a first stay. We visited Domeier's, and while Papa did a tour of Schell Brewery, I paid visits to the two quilt shops and a second-hand bookshop in town. I enjoy the small quilt shops very much. I am not overwhelmed by too many fabric choices, and I feel like I am helping the local economy by my purchases. We discovered Turner Hall with its late 19th century paintings on the walls. Perhaps we will try out their lunch menu on a future visit. We drove past the Wanda Gag house, but it was not open for tour. We did a run through the Minnesota Music Museum, Arthur looking at Whoppee John, Sherwin Linton, and a few other familiar faces. The museum guide had lake cabin connections around central Minnesota, so I am sure his long chat with Arthur made his day. I looked for F. Melius Christiansen, music professor at St. Olaf who probably formed much of Mr. Engen's teaching at White Bear, but I found only the display from his induction ceremony into the Museum. I looked for more on Margie's old favorite, Johnny Holm, as well, but could not find his display. Arthur was not happy with his ribs at Wiegel's Kaiserhoff, so next time we will try Otto's restaurant at the Holiday Inn. Mama will probably like Otto's better, too, since they serve all my favorite German sides with their meals - red cabbage, German potato salad, and sauerkraut.
Marriage makes for truly strange bedfellows. I am hankering for a good pasta salad. Papa prefers potatoes. I like the pumpernickel bread, rosemary bread and popovers when we eat out, and he prefers the white bread. He usually orders the same thing, I usually try something different. He was raised on fried lake fish for Fridays, I was raised on tuna. I like green beans, while he prefers peas and corn. I like cooked carrots, while he prefers his raw.
I have a sparrow in one blue bird nest box, and a wren in the other. I put oriole nectar and grape juice out again this morning, but I may give up if we have another rain, or if the humidity brings on the mildew again. My new oriole feeder does keep the wasps out, but ants are still an issue.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Warm Up
I am supposed to be typing my overdue Christian Mothers newsletter right now. My internal (Patrician) calendar is always late, and in my mind I had another week to work on it, until a phone call made me realize it had to be in the mail today. I am still the student handing in late papers.
A glance out of the window showed my pussy willow in full catkins. After years of stagnance the branches are lengthened to a couple feet, and pulled toward the sky. I am trying to imagine my bush at the 20 foot height it will become. Although I saw no tulip tips in the Mary Garden at church last Sunday, I see two remnant tulips about five inches high in my flower bed in the side yard. I may not get blooms, since I dug out most of the bulbs last year, and what I see now is either a damaged or stray bulb.
One of the blogs which I follow is Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. (http://www.foothillsofthegreatsmokymountains.blogspot.com/) I first found this site in a search for a dishcloth pattern from http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/. Foothills has a gorgeous header photo of the Smoky Mountains. Recently she posted pictures of some of the projects she has knitted. I enjoy her pictures, often done against a backdrop of nature. I enjoy the vibrant colors she has used in her projects. When I looked at her site a few days ago it felt like spring. I was also intrigued by her participation in a Christian knitters group. When I have more time I can investigate that group.
Lion Brand had an article on picking up stitches in their latest e-newsletter. I scanned the article thinking I would get tips for a shawl pattern I plan on making. I am beginning to see why people who use the internet need to bookmark things. I cannot use the information from the article immediately, but I might need it in the future. Better save it! Then, just as our houses collect stuff that needs to be weeded out, every once in awhile we need to go through our computers and get rid of the things we do not need. How many computer storage sheds do you have?
A glance out of the window showed my pussy willow in full catkins. After years of stagnance the branches are lengthened to a couple feet, and pulled toward the sky. I am trying to imagine my bush at the 20 foot height it will become. Although I saw no tulip tips in the Mary Garden at church last Sunday, I see two remnant tulips about five inches high in my flower bed in the side yard. I may not get blooms, since I dug out most of the bulbs last year, and what I see now is either a damaged or stray bulb.
One of the blogs which I follow is Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. (http://www.foothillsofthegreatsmokymountains.blogspot.com/) I first found this site in a search for a dishcloth pattern from http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/. Foothills has a gorgeous header photo of the Smoky Mountains. Recently she posted pictures of some of the projects she has knitted. I enjoy her pictures, often done against a backdrop of nature. I enjoy the vibrant colors she has used in her projects. When I looked at her site a few days ago it felt like spring. I was also intrigued by her participation in a Christian knitters group. When I have more time I can investigate that group.
Lion Brand had an article on picking up stitches in their latest e-newsletter. I scanned the article thinking I would get tips for a shawl pattern I plan on making. I am beginning to see why people who use the internet need to bookmark things. I cannot use the information from the article immediately, but I might need it in the future. Better save it! Then, just as our houses collect stuff that needs to be weeded out, every once in awhile we need to go through our computers and get rid of the things we do not need. How many computer storage sheds do you have?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Knitting
I decided I would take the plunge and join Ravelry, an on-line knitting group. Once again I am spurred on by seeing a new knitting pattern on another member's web site, which I simply must have!
St. Augusta was filled with spring today. The sun was out, and the neighbor's cat was on the prowl. The black labs next door were having hissy fits when they saw the cat walk through our yard. I had to go out and investigate when I did not see the meter man's car, or the mail man, or the UPS truck, or a garbage truck, or the other neighbors working at their shed. I forced Gracie Cat to stay in the house when I left for town later on. She gets nasty when her territory is invaded, and the other cat was larger, and probably male.
I purchased some wool yarn for a prayer shawl this afternoon. I am under the weather, and my mind is half gone, so I am thinking that I probably needed two more skeins than I purchased, since I am using a different yarn than the pattern called for. I did comparisons in the store, but who knows what I was really doing when I did it!
St. Augusta was filled with spring today. The sun was out, and the neighbor's cat was on the prowl. The black labs next door were having hissy fits when they saw the cat walk through our yard. I had to go out and investigate when I did not see the meter man's car, or the mail man, or the UPS truck, or a garbage truck, or the other neighbors working at their shed. I forced Gracie Cat to stay in the house when I left for town later on. She gets nasty when her territory is invaded, and the other cat was larger, and probably male.
I purchased some wool yarn for a prayer shawl this afternoon. I am under the weather, and my mind is half gone, so I am thinking that I probably needed two more skeins than I purchased, since I am using a different yarn than the pattern called for. I did comparisons in the store, but who knows what I was really doing when I did it!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Friday
Yesterday I finished a baby bootie using a pattern from The Knitter's Bible. I successfully used the M1 increase from both the front and back, and did a simple turn. Today I will attempt to stitch the seam. Next I think I will start a beret from the sport weight pale blue Brown Sheep wool that I purchased years ago from The Weaver's Cabin. May as well use it up while I am trying something new. I found a shamrock dishcloth pattern from http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/, but decided not to buy the green yarn yet.
This week PBS did a rerun from Frontline on Dignitas, a group which promotes assisted suicide. The program included footage of an actual suicide from their "suicide apartment" in Switzerland. For a suicide, the man certainly required a large number of people to give him assistance. Surely, with that much support, it would have been just as easy to help him to live. The man choosing to take his own life did not appear to be in great pain or disability. Nor did the death seem very dignified as I watched the man call for apple juice to wash down the apparently unpleasant tasting sedative cocktail. His wife wished him a good journey before she left the room, and I kept thinking, a journey to where? He did not believe in an afterlife, only that we reamin alive as long as someone remembers our name (sic). There is no journey between life and death. We are only living, or dead. When we are dead we face God for our judgment, heaven, hell or purgatory and then heaven.
This issue lead me to a conversation I once had with Fr. John Mary Burns, O.C.D., regarding the existence of God. Father said somthing to the effect of, "Why not give God a try? If He is not real, you have nothing to loose. Do you want to take the chance of denying Him if He is real?" We have been presented with many proofs that God exists in philosophy, in miracles, and in Christ's coming to earth. On the other hand, who can proove that God does not exist? We are so busy trying to discredit the proofs for God, that we forget about the proofs against Him, and the "What if He does exist?". Just in case He does, I wouldn't piddle around with assisted suicide.
"At the end, forever, you and I will be in Heaven or Hell, period." Fr. John Corapi
"But the master of a slave has by law the right of life and death over him...." St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin.
This week PBS did a rerun from Frontline on Dignitas, a group which promotes assisted suicide. The program included footage of an actual suicide from their "suicide apartment" in Switzerland. For a suicide, the man certainly required a large number of people to give him assistance. Surely, with that much support, it would have been just as easy to help him to live. The man choosing to take his own life did not appear to be in great pain or disability. Nor did the death seem very dignified as I watched the man call for apple juice to wash down the apparently unpleasant tasting sedative cocktail. His wife wished him a good journey before she left the room, and I kept thinking, a journey to where? He did not believe in an afterlife, only that we reamin alive as long as someone remembers our name (sic). There is no journey between life and death. We are only living, or dead. When we are dead we face God for our judgment, heaven, hell or purgatory and then heaven.
This issue lead me to a conversation I once had with Fr. John Mary Burns, O.C.D., regarding the existence of God. Father said somthing to the effect of, "Why not give God a try? If He is not real, you have nothing to loose. Do you want to take the chance of denying Him if He is real?" We have been presented with many proofs that God exists in philosophy, in miracles, and in Christ's coming to earth. On the other hand, who can proove that God does not exist? We are so busy trying to discredit the proofs for God, that we forget about the proofs against Him, and the "What if He does exist?". Just in case He does, I wouldn't piddle around with assisted suicide.
"At the end, forever, you and I will be in Heaven or Hell, period." Fr. John Corapi
"But the master of a slave has by law the right of life and death over him...." St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin.
Monday, February 22, 2010
The Saga Continues
Since I am still trying to deplete my stock of U.F.O's, I started another scarf out of the Homespun yarn. Just when I think I have the hang of it, I discover added stitches, and my dislike of the yarn is renewed. It is impossible to find mistakes because the rows are not as sharp and even as with regular worsteds.
Last week on our trip to Alexandria, I made a stop at Dawn's Quilt Shop on Broadway. I had attempted to stop there when we were in Alex previously, but the store was locked. Dawn said that they were in fact just opening a couple of years ago. The quilt shop that was across the street is now closed. I did find a few fun things at Dawn's. She is obviously a cat lover, and has ceramic and fabric cats all over the store. Next time perhaps she will have a live mouser to keep in the spirit of things. I picked up a fat quarter cat print which I hope to put into a Smart Bag. She also had a set of sewing themed cookie cutters that came in a box: a sewing machine, spool of thread, and I do not remember what the other two cutters were, but a cute gift for someone who is gaga on sewing or quilting. I would have purchased a set had I had extra cash.
I actually had a successful day of shopping in St. Cloud on Friday. I have a tough time buying clothes because I am both petite and large, and big in the hips, but not on top! I hate to buy a new skirt and have to cut four inches of fabric off to get it the right length. I did find a new skirt and two tops at Christopher and Banks. I was able to order a second skirt from their on-line store. I plan on going in again next pay check to try another blouse that will match one of my skirts, if not both.
The vinyl is peeling off of my nice white tennis shoes. I only paid 50 cents for them at a garage sale so it is not such a horrible loss. Still a disappointment, though. I tossed out my expensive Munro work shoes last week. They still had good soles, but the buckle straps were stretched out and worn almost through, and did not hold my shoes on as snuggly as needed. I should not cry over those, either, since I had them for ten years. Nevertheless, they were expensive to start with.
Last week on our trip to Alexandria, I made a stop at Dawn's Quilt Shop on Broadway. I had attempted to stop there when we were in Alex previously, but the store was locked. Dawn said that they were in fact just opening a couple of years ago. The quilt shop that was across the street is now closed. I did find a few fun things at Dawn's. She is obviously a cat lover, and has ceramic and fabric cats all over the store. Next time perhaps she will have a live mouser to keep in the spirit of things. I picked up a fat quarter cat print which I hope to put into a Smart Bag. She also had a set of sewing themed cookie cutters that came in a box: a sewing machine, spool of thread, and I do not remember what the other two cutters were, but a cute gift for someone who is gaga on sewing or quilting. I would have purchased a set had I had extra cash.
I actually had a successful day of shopping in St. Cloud on Friday. I have a tough time buying clothes because I am both petite and large, and big in the hips, but not on top! I hate to buy a new skirt and have to cut four inches of fabric off to get it the right length. I did find a new skirt and two tops at Christopher and Banks. I was able to order a second skirt from their on-line store. I plan on going in again next pay check to try another blouse that will match one of my skirts, if not both.
The vinyl is peeling off of my nice white tennis shoes. I only paid 50 cents for them at a garage sale so it is not such a horrible loss. Still a disappointment, though. I tossed out my expensive Munro work shoes last week. They still had good soles, but the buckle straps were stretched out and worn almost through, and did not hold my shoes on as snuggly as needed. I should not cry over those, either, since I had them for ten years. Nevertheless, they were expensive to start with.
Repeal the 17th Amendment
We had an interesting discussion on the repeal of the 17th Amendment at our BPOU convention on Saturday. The more I think about the idea, the more I like it. I like it first of all because we are a republican form of government, not a democracy. This would remind people that it is so. Secondly, it would reduce the amount of money and time spent on campaigns because we would eliminate the need for a senatorial election. Third, and perhaps most important, it would renew interest in our local elections, because our state house and senate members and/or governor would be responsible for appointing our U.S. Senators. Fourth, as Jim Knoblach brought up, it may remove the need or desire to impose term limits, because our local elected officials change office more frequently, and therefore our appointee would change more frequently. Since our local officials already reflect our local desires, at least as close as we can get out of those who choose to run, I do not think there would be a drastic difference in whom the state would choose, over whom the people would vote for.
My resolution on eliminating primary elections was tabled before it could even be discussed.
My resolution on eliminating primary elections was tabled before it could even be discussed.
Friday, January 22, 2010
More from The Imitation of Christ
I am re-reading the preparation prayers for the total consecration to Mary in anticipation of my anniversary in February. It is as if I am reading them for the first time. The following quote fits perfectly with our Schoenstatt Mothers Group study on temeprament. I need to remember this Oh! So Well!.
"We are quick enough in perceiving and weighing what we bear from others; but we think little of what others have to bear with us. He that should well and justly weigh his own doing would find little cause to judge harshly of another." Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 5
"We are quick enough in perceiving and weighing what we bear from others; but we think little of what others have to bear with us. He that should well and justly weigh his own doing would find little cause to judge harshly of another." Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 5
Thursday, January 21, 2010
What Makes You Tick?
I went shopping at both of the local craft stores today. I have a marked preference for one over the other. One has an easy to open e-mail ad. The other's e-mail ad might be easy, but I am not accustomed to it, and the layout does not appeal to me. One store has bright lights and broad aisles, which makes it easier to choose which colors of yarn, or beads, or paper, or flowers, or ink, or buttons I would like to purchase. One store always asks for my zip code when I am checking out, which is always a turn-off. One store has a much larger variety of yarn and knitting needles. One is easy to get to from both sides of the road; the other requires ocassional u-turns at a busy intersection. One has fabric; the other one keeps a few fat quarters on hand. One has a gigantic selection of rubber stamps. One is locally owned and operated; the other is a chain. One always has sales flyers at the door; the other expects me to check the paper. One rewards me for spending money at their store; the other does not. Can you guess which is my favorite?
Suffering from Mens' Errors
"But what great matter is this, if you who are but dust and a mere nothing, submit yourself to man for God's sake, when I the Almighty, and the Most High, Who created all things out of nothing for thy sake, humbly subjected Myself to man." Imitation of Christ, Book 3 Chapter 13
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Birds
I refilled my bird table and hanging feeder with black oil sunflower seed. I also put out an orange and the last of my homemade peanut butter suet cakes. The birds usually get fed on the days that I empty the cat boxes. The sun is out, bright and beautiful. The temperature, I am guessing, is around 28 or 29 degrees, so it was a great day to be outside. I decided that I would soak up more vitamin D by staying out for a bit, and so I emptied out my bird houses from last year. Unlike my father-in-law, I am not observant enough to always tell when my bird houses are occupied, or when each particular brood has left the nest. As a result I usually do not clean out the houses until well past bird migration. Imagine my surpirse today when I found a house containing not only tons of sticks, but another round nest of grasses and feathers, containing a frozen but whole egg, about 1/2 inch long. It is a pinkish egg with brown speckles, but after more than two months of freezing temperatures, I wonder if that is the original color.
I am reading Robin Kane: The Mystery of the Phantom, 1966. Robin's father draws the comic strip, "The Family Scene", for which he uses his own children as models for his characters. Sounds just like Bill Keane's Family Circus to me, although my guess is that the book was written first. Funny!
I am reading Robin Kane: The Mystery of the Phantom, 1966. Robin's father draws the comic strip, "The Family Scene", for which he uses his own children as models for his characters. Sounds just like Bill Keane's Family Circus to me, although my guess is that the book was written first. Funny!
"There is one thing which keeps many back from spiritual progress and fervent amendment of life; and that is: dread of difficulty, or the labor which must be gone through in the conflict...It is a greater task to resist vices and passions than to toil at bodily labors."
Imitation of Christ, Chapter 25
Imitation of Christ, Chapter 25
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Off Day
I have the day off from work, and I feel like doing nothing. Some tasks cannot be ignored, though. The cat box must be emptied before rebellion occurs. The compost has to go out. The dishes from last night's dinner have to be washed. 'Til we meet again.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Christmas Gifts
I prepared Peter and Karin's package for mailing today, since we were snowed in here for Christmas day, and did not get to see them. I was reminded that while I am still enjoying sewing Smart Bags, I have yet to complete the sewing projects meant for last year's gifts. I'll let you in on what they are after Christmas next year.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Happy New Year
Today we purchased a new bed frame to replace the teddy bear bed in the spare bedroom. I purchased the teddy bear bed (so called because the head and foot boards resembled the beds seen in story books) at Wolfgrams' garage sale in WBL when I moved into my little apartment on Cedar Street 18 years ago. The mattress supports were broken in enough places that I did not feel comfortable offering it for guest use. The new mattress and box spring also made the bed higher than I wish for the times that I sleep in that room. (It is my snuggly place to go when I cannot sleep, and need to move where I can read while Papa sleeps.)
I made another run to the Foley quilt shop for more interfacing for Smart Bags. I am enjoying sewing them very much. I did sneak some Moda Christmas print fat quarters into my purchase, too. I have been eyeing those prints since I first saw them at Barb's booth at the St. Cloud Heritage Quilt Show in October. Really cute. Vintage looking. They are petite prints.
John William Dando Vandeberg, I am still laughing at your antics. I am proud to be your auntie!
I made another run to the Foley quilt shop for more interfacing for Smart Bags. I am enjoying sewing them very much. I did sneak some Moda Christmas print fat quarters into my purchase, too. I have been eyeing those prints since I first saw them at Barb's booth at the St. Cloud Heritage Quilt Show in October. Really cute. Vintage looking. They are petite prints.
John William Dando Vandeberg, I am still laughing at your antics. I am proud to be your auntie!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)