California doesn't have well-defined seasons. We kind of meander from one kind of weather to the next and it doesn't always fall in line with what it SHOULD be for the time of the year. I used to live in the nearby mountains and almost every year, the senior class would plan a graduation outside for their May event. Most every year, they got snowed back into the auditorium for the graduation!
Down the hill doesn't fare much better. It was almost Spring weather over the last weekend verging into postively hot weather the last two day . . . we are promised drizzles by Sunday.
Until the really hot weather of summer hits, however, the house remains cool most of the day and I can still turn on the oven without a mutiny from the family. I keep a sweater at hand and just hope the Easter Bunny doesn't get muddy paws next week!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Out-of-Character Quilting Project . . .
I've been working on a very scrappy quilt this week. The individual squares are six-inch square and nothing but strips of fabric. The overall effect is lots of stripes sort of out of kilter in the pattern but it gives an interesting eye movement to look at it. Sigh . . . Miscalculated my 'filling' or batting for the quilt so am at a standstill until my order arrives next week. I have a star quilt on my bed that I enjoyed making so thought about doing another scrap quilt using any and all colors to make a sort of abstract star pattern. When I went to look up the placement of the star quilt pieces, I found another quilt pattern that was using the same pieces I had cut out. My 'scrappy nature' went by the way as I suddenly realized I had enough fabric to incorporate SOME of the varied fabrics with a majority of matched one. I got the first square done and, for me, it is a very demure one. My husband will think the body snatchers got me while he was at work.
As soon as I get enough done, I'll post a picture, computer willing in the cooperation department!
As soon as I get enough done, I'll post a picture, computer willing in the cooperation department!
Crossed another culinary border for dinner . . .
If anyone else has ever peeked into a Food Network Magazine, you will understand why I like the day it arrives in the mail each issue. I count it a very successful issue if I find recipes I want to try and extremely successful if I actually make more than one of them within a week of receiving the latest issue.
Yesterday, as I blogged, I cooked the Asian Pork soup which brought my teenage son to the kitchen twice for refills plus four random compliments over the course of the evening. Hoping to repeat a favored dinner this evening, I'm in the process of making the cheese-stuffed chiles for dinner this evening with my own rendition of refried beans and Mexican rice. My only departure from the recipe was to use Anaheim chiles instead of the Poblano chiles. My husband begged for no more pasta dishes (it's been one of those before-payday weeks!) so this is as far from pasta as I could get and still keep within the budget. Chiles are pretty inexpensive and I had the cheese on hand.
Tomorrow, in honor of another hard-earned paycheck, my husband is getting beef for dinner . . . with mashed potatoes and NO pasta!
Yesterday, as I blogged, I cooked the Asian Pork soup which brought my teenage son to the kitchen twice for refills plus four random compliments over the course of the evening. Hoping to repeat a favored dinner this evening, I'm in the process of making the cheese-stuffed chiles for dinner this evening with my own rendition of refried beans and Mexican rice. My only departure from the recipe was to use Anaheim chiles instead of the Poblano chiles. My husband begged for no more pasta dishes (it's been one of those before-payday weeks!) so this is as far from pasta as I could get and still keep within the budget. Chiles are pretty inexpensive and I had the cheese on hand.
Tomorrow, in honor of another hard-earned paycheck, my husband is getting beef for dinner . . . with mashed potatoes and NO pasta!
Why would people do that?
I'm constantly amazed and dismayed at the depravity of the world and the unchristian behavior towards other people.
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/bottlebomb.asp
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/bottlebomb.asp
A point to ponder . . .
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest thing. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing he cares about more than his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." John Stuart Mill
Loving our Home & Family . . .
One of the givens in married life is a lot of time spent in the kitchen. One of the main complaints of married life is having to spend so much time . . . in the kitchen! Cute, little meals for two were fun early on in the marriage. You had time to fuss and the budget wasn’t impaired too much when you splurged on something special or easy to cook.
Many probably feel that cooking for the family is a drudgery and meals are something to throw together as quickly as possible in order to get away from the kitchen. The newly-wed attitude of cooking to please and an enjoyable meal shared at the end of the day vanishes. When faced with the daily cooking requirements, attitude is very much in evidence . . . and it isn’t always a good attitude!
Psychology points out that we will act like we believe and believe like we act. How come so many mothers haven’t figured this out when it comes to the kitchen? Problems are more easily dealt with when they are approached with optimism. If you broach the portals of your ‘dreaded’ kitchen with visions of the final result - a happy family and thrilled husband, you might find yourself actually enjoying the meal preparation process!
Presentation is a huge part of a meal. Would you like your restaurant meal to arrive at the table like some of your dinners? Although breakfast and lunch tend to be on the run, the dinner meal can be ‘controllable’. A plate of simple macaroni and cheese takes on some elegance when brought to a nicely set table.“Soup and fish explain half of the emotions of life.” Sydney Smith
Food does bring out emotions. Coming home to the smell of a meal cooking and a table set in anticipation of enjoying said meal, reduces the stress of the commute home for your husband. It is a needed break from homework for your children. The time you made for this in the kitchen should fill you with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Yes, it takes a certain amount of work and planning but isn’t that our job? How often do we complain about sloppy service in the public sector, people who don’t care about their paying jobs? Aren’t we earning much more in grace and gratitude?
“The discovery of a new dish does more for the happiness of man than the discovery of a star.” Brillat-Savarin
Many probably feel that cooking for the family is a drudgery and meals are something to throw together as quickly as possible in order to get away from the kitchen. The newly-wed attitude of cooking to please and an enjoyable meal shared at the end of the day vanishes. When faced with the daily cooking requirements, attitude is very much in evidence . . . and it isn’t always a good attitude!
Psychology points out that we will act like we believe and believe like we act. How come so many mothers haven’t figured this out when it comes to the kitchen? Problems are more easily dealt with when they are approached with optimism. If you broach the portals of your ‘dreaded’ kitchen with visions of the final result - a happy family and thrilled husband, you might find yourself actually enjoying the meal preparation process!
Presentation is a huge part of a meal. Would you like your restaurant meal to arrive at the table like some of your dinners? Although breakfast and lunch tend to be on the run, the dinner meal can be ‘controllable’. A plate of simple macaroni and cheese takes on some elegance when brought to a nicely set table.“Soup and fish explain half of the emotions of life.” Sydney Smith
Food does bring out emotions. Coming home to the smell of a meal cooking and a table set in anticipation of enjoying said meal, reduces the stress of the commute home for your husband. It is a needed break from homework for your children. The time you made for this in the kitchen should fill you with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Yes, it takes a certain amount of work and planning but isn’t that our job? How often do we complain about sloppy service in the public sector, people who don’t care about their paying jobs? Aren’t we earning much more in grace and gratitude?
“The discovery of a new dish does more for the happiness of man than the discovery of a star.” Brillat-Savarin
Discovered on the Internet . . .
When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting to me hat I should get it fixed. But, somehow I always had something else to take care of first, the truck, the car, playing golf - always something more important to me.
Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point. When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a minute, and when I came out again I handed her a toothbrush.
I said, "When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway."
The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp.
Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point. When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a minute, and when I came out again I handed her a toothbrush.
I said, "When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway."
The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp.
Fear of a Few Faithful . . .
According to the new ruling from the Pope:
“Art. 5. § 1 In parishes, where there is a stable group of faithful who adhere to the earlier liturgical tradition, the pastor should willingly accept their requests to celebrate the Mass according to the rite of the Roman Missal published in 1962, and ensure that the welfare of these faithful harmonizes with the ordinary pastoral care of the parish, under the guidance of the bishop in accordance with canon 392, avoiding discord and favoring the unity of the whole Church.”
Interestingly enough, the document also address what to do in a situation if the pastor does not grant the requests of his parishioners:
“Art. 7. If a group of lay faithful, as mentioned in art. 5 รต 1, has not obtained satisfaction to their requests from the pastor, they should inform the diocesan bishop. The bishop is strongly requested to satisfy their wishes. If he cannot arrange for such celebration to take place, the matter should be referred to the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei".
The Commission stated above has the authority of the Holy See to ensure that the regulations of this new document are enforced.
Interesting scenarios evolve regarding Latin Mass. One pastor immediately implemented his ‘freedom’ and celebrated a private Latin Mass early one morning. He had around twenty in attendance. Excited by the groundbreaking event, we collared our own pastor about the possibility. We even had the possible beginnings of a choir, eager altar boys, and a sacristan willing, eager, and able to help with the training. Much to our surprise, we were nicely told that we have to obtain the permission of the bishop. We can’t just decide to have a Latin Mass even if it doesn’t supercede an existing one. Whether we try to have a scheduled one or just have one to test the waters, permission has to come from the bishop. We wondered, to ourselves, about whether the pastor knew about the new ruling or was hoping we did not.
One women voiced fear and deep concern about the renewal of the Latin Mass which never should have needed renewal, in the first place. According to her, a few Latin hymns were okay but to strike down the current spontaneity of the Novus Ordo was unthinkable.
We passed by an elderly couple, one Sunday, who exclaimed to us, “You had better go home and teach your children Latin. It’s coming back so you better watch out!” It made me wonder where they had gone to Mass in their youth. There wasn’t a Novus Ordo back then!
My favorite is that no one will understand the Mass anymore if we go back to the Latin Mass. Thinking that, how on earth did all these pre-Vatican II Catholics manage to retain their Faith before the Novus Ordo came into being?
You have to wonder about the almost-rabid loathing evidenced by so many about the Pope’s new ruling for the Latin Mass. Have they actually read the document? It’s pretty clear that celebration of the Latin Mass will not supercede currently scheduled Novus Ordo Masses. You don’t have to attend the Latin Mass. It is a free-will celebration!
I remember when the illicit hand holding started during the Our Father. It begin with a few and soon the majority were going into contortions to insure they had someone’s hand to hold as if the Mass would not be valid if the chain was broken. Are they afraid the Latin Mass might cause the same, eventual tidal wave? Is it the race around the church during the Sign of Peace they are afraid of missing? Will the Latin Mass put an end to the various spiritual chaos that ensues during some liberal versions of the Novus Ordo? Read the Papal document. Look around you? How many would actually attend the Latin Mass? How can a few, traditional Catholics put such angst into so many?
I will admit, however, that people will be drawn to the Latin Mass. A look at ones already celebrated shows a great number of young people involved and loving it. There never seems to be a problem with finding altar boys for the Latin Mass . . . young ones! Suppose the Latin Mass catches on and becomes the ‘majority’. Would a hypothetical ‘minority’ Novus Ordo be as peaceful in their quest for comfortable worship? A liberal favorite is ‘live and let live’. Why are so many against so few who are only trying to do just that?
“Art. 5. § 1 In parishes, where there is a stable group of faithful who adhere to the earlier liturgical tradition, the pastor should willingly accept their requests to celebrate the Mass according to the rite of the Roman Missal published in 1962, and ensure that the welfare of these faithful harmonizes with the ordinary pastoral care of the parish, under the guidance of the bishop in accordance with canon 392, avoiding discord and favoring the unity of the whole Church.”
Interestingly enough, the document also address what to do in a situation if the pastor does not grant the requests of his parishioners:
“Art. 7. If a group of lay faithful, as mentioned in art. 5 รต 1, has not obtained satisfaction to their requests from the pastor, they should inform the diocesan bishop. The bishop is strongly requested to satisfy their wishes. If he cannot arrange for such celebration to take place, the matter should be referred to the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei".
The Commission stated above has the authority of the Holy See to ensure that the regulations of this new document are enforced.
Interesting scenarios evolve regarding Latin Mass. One pastor immediately implemented his ‘freedom’ and celebrated a private Latin Mass early one morning. He had around twenty in attendance. Excited by the groundbreaking event, we collared our own pastor about the possibility. We even had the possible beginnings of a choir, eager altar boys, and a sacristan willing, eager, and able to help with the training. Much to our surprise, we were nicely told that we have to obtain the permission of the bishop. We can’t just decide to have a Latin Mass even if it doesn’t supercede an existing one. Whether we try to have a scheduled one or just have one to test the waters, permission has to come from the bishop. We wondered, to ourselves, about whether the pastor knew about the new ruling or was hoping we did not.
One women voiced fear and deep concern about the renewal of the Latin Mass which never should have needed renewal, in the first place. According to her, a few Latin hymns were okay but to strike down the current spontaneity of the Novus Ordo was unthinkable.
We passed by an elderly couple, one Sunday, who exclaimed to us, “You had better go home and teach your children Latin. It’s coming back so you better watch out!” It made me wonder where they had gone to Mass in their youth. There wasn’t a Novus Ordo back then!
My favorite is that no one will understand the Mass anymore if we go back to the Latin Mass. Thinking that, how on earth did all these pre-Vatican II Catholics manage to retain their Faith before the Novus Ordo came into being?
You have to wonder about the almost-rabid loathing evidenced by so many about the Pope’s new ruling for the Latin Mass. Have they actually read the document? It’s pretty clear that celebration of the Latin Mass will not supercede currently scheduled Novus Ordo Masses. You don’t have to attend the Latin Mass. It is a free-will celebration!
I remember when the illicit hand holding started during the Our Father. It begin with a few and soon the majority were going into contortions to insure they had someone’s hand to hold as if the Mass would not be valid if the chain was broken. Are they afraid the Latin Mass might cause the same, eventual tidal wave? Is it the race around the church during the Sign of Peace they are afraid of missing? Will the Latin Mass put an end to the various spiritual chaos that ensues during some liberal versions of the Novus Ordo? Read the Papal document. Look around you? How many would actually attend the Latin Mass? How can a few, traditional Catholics put such angst into so many?
I will admit, however, that people will be drawn to the Latin Mass. A look at ones already celebrated shows a great number of young people involved and loving it. There never seems to be a problem with finding altar boys for the Latin Mass . . . young ones! Suppose the Latin Mass catches on and becomes the ‘majority’. Would a hypothetical ‘minority’ Novus Ordo be as peaceful in their quest for comfortable worship? A liberal favorite is ‘live and let live’. Why are so many against so few who are only trying to do just that?
A blessing in disguise?
"The only thing that saves us from the bureaucracy is inefficiency. An efficient bureaucracy is the greatest threat to liberty."
-- Eugene McCarthy
-- Eugene McCarthy
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