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

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

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!

"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

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.

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.

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!