Precious Moments

Esther has now gotten into Precious Moments coloring pages. When it is raining, Mom will go to the iMac and print out a few. We gave Grandma a ballerina one in the mail. There are sometimes when you really need to sit down and color. I love it! p.s remember to stay within the lines!:()

Dreamy Tuesday

On a dreamy Tuesday in August, this week, we had our first full day at our beautiful new house, on Val View Dr. in T. I spent a wonderful night on the mattress, dreaming of things yet to come in the new house. I had set up my room on Sunday, and when we first came into my room(My Room!)the homey atmosphere was lovely. I now had a rug by my bed, two lamps since the lighting was dim, and a "Provision" room where I shall store all the things that I need for some unexpected emergencies. I have a string of tiny lanterns draped over my dollhouse/bookshelf. I have no curtains till we unpack them, but since the window is right next to the most romantic plum tree ever, I shall always have it uncovered, for the morning sun shines thru it and I wake up with a smile on my face, and a song on my lips. I have taken to reading scripture again, and St. Teresa Of Avila's autobiography. I have finished The Enchanted April,and also, Heaven to Betsy, so now I am going to tighten my belt and begin reading advanced works, like Byron, and Pope, St. Teresa Of Avila(again), and other books in our massive collection. In the library/prayer room, we have a bookshelf up to the ceiling loaded with our dear books we could not part with. I also have a little oak bookshelf in my room full of novels, my diary, and Saints. The House itself in on 9.7 acres, and we have called the acreage, The Promise Land. Isn't it fitting? We have grapes, plums, apples, blackberries, and so we have called it fittingly. We have roses, and a blooming butterfly bush full of white, and purple blooms. Our roses are uncovering their beauty and so we have our late roses showing their faces. Two wasps are building their nest in the mailbox, poor mailman! We did have a wasp in the dinner bell outside, but Clem rang it so much that the nest fell out, and the wasp kept vigil for a few days and then flew off. We have a "hide-away" tree, thats leaves go down to the ground and so we are in a little cave made out of fragile leaves which only the fairies can come. In the fields we have an old tire swing that I don't trust, but near it is a faery swing that lifts you off your feet and you feel so light its like a dream! We have a beautiful view of Mt. Jefferson, and in the mornings, since we are facing the east, the sun floods the kitchen and living room with glory that even Aslan couldn't compare with. The farm is called Twin Angels Farm, isn't that 'dramatically romantic'? The downstairs has a kitchen and storage area where there are winter supplies and 'stuff'. (This should definitely be one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon!) Hope you can visit sometime. Avi

I Don't Want To Live in The White House

I have often thought that living in the white house must have been really exciting, even daring with the large spacey rooms and all the parties, and balls they must have. But now I find that if you're the president(especially Obama)you must lead a pretty horrible life. 1. You can't drive your car without a body guard or, chauffeur. 2. You have to make people love you, so as you can get the most votes for elections, and petitions. 3. If it were a bad hair day for you, the radios and news would be agog about it. 4. If you got out on the wrong side of the bed, you could make severely bad laws. (Like, Don't Ever Be Creative!) 5. Who really wants to be the boss of the United States, and be pampered with about a million dollars? I think I'll go for Canadian Prime Minister instead.

August's Almonds

1 cup of whole almonds. 1/2 cups of sugar, stevia might work. 2 table spoons of butter 1/2 table spoons of vanilla extract Heat the almonds, sugar and butter in a small frying pan. Stir constantly until the almonds are perfectly toasted and the sugar is a golden brown. This should take about fifteen minutes exactly. Stir in the vanilla extract, and spread on a sheet of tin foil and let it cool. Break into clusters and serve. This is a really great add-in to a party as a favor, and just for fun. I would think putting it in the fridge for about 20 minutes should make it a summer treat to really remember and do it next time the kitchen feels deserted.

Catholic&Cat

I haven't done a really truly spiritual blogpost in such a long time, ever since one on my experiences of my 1st Holy Communion(on May 3rd's post). And so I am going to share with you today of some of some of my experiences during the Mass and other places with God and a bit of Catechism, which probably you already know, but I'll just put it in my own words. One summer a priest came with a lot of relics to show and heal. He gave a lovely talk on the Saint's relics and how some people were healed from either kissing our touching the relic's he had brought. After the lecture, which moved all of us, we went to the cafeteria where long tables were filled with relics. There was a piece of Mary's veil, a tiny bit of the cross which held Jesus for three hours, and the lance which pierced his side. I was looking for St. Kateri (Tekakwitha.) since I wanted her for my confirmation saint. When I found her, I kissed the relic and then walked off to find other saint's which I loved. Suddenly, I turned right around again and spent quite sometime meditating on St. Katiri's relic. I walked away again. Came back. This happened about three or four times. I now am more sure of myself that Kateri is going to be my Confirmation name. She was like a magnet, drawing me towards her, just as Mary, Our Mother has done with so many souls. Now for Catechism! I have often wondered why God took the trouble to make us. He could have had quite a bit more fun it just being himself and the angels, couldn't he? Well, I was reading Youcat on Saturday night pondering about it. I am really trying to learn my Catechism, since I want to be prepared for Confirmation, you know, and also, A true daughter of Christ must be faithful to the faith, right? I found out suddenly in my head, after reading the answer in YouCat (a catechism for youth). God is Love itself! Can you believe that?(Is God really a big red heart?)What if we had a God of no love, of Hatefulness, and Cruelty. What if he was like the priest that passed the wounded man, his sores left open until the Good Samaritan came and showed him God's Love. Wouldn't that be just awful! We would be left of the dusty road to shrivel up into nothingness, to die, while God looked on. But he IS a God of Love! That is why he made us, out of everlasting love! He thought we were that important in Life, He even had his Son die for us, out of love. Intense Love, Sacrificing love...