superstar

While listening to todays gospel,  it occured to me how weird it is that so many people deny the reality of Jesus, when even the demons know who He is.

The newest baby came to see us today. She seemed to like it here...this quote seems to fit her to a tee:

The smile that flickers on baby's lips when she sleeps-

does anybody know where it was borne?

Yes, there is a rumor that a young pale beam of a crescent moon

touched the edge of a vanishing autumn cloud, and there the smile was first born . . . .

How great are the works of the Lord!

The irresistible story of Moses is being read at Mass this week...don't miss it!

You think you've heard it all and then one little phrase reminds you that you haven't.

This morning in today's first reading when the lector said, "the LORD made Pharaoh obstinate..." I was taken aback. After listening to the rest of the text, it became clear, again, that God had a plan to save his people (all of us). The culmination of the plan was on Calvary, and Pharaoh had to do his part...I guess we all do...the trick is to discern when the Lord is beckoning...

probably always.

there's a reason

It's St Bonaventure's feast day, but in his humility, he probably would rather St Francis' image be displayed today...funny story...
Father said, this morning at Mass, that until St Bonaventure came along the Franciscan community was in disarray, because St. Francis had no organizational skills..."He was always out feeding the animals, talking to birds and all sorts of strange things". Father's side notes, usually quite amusing, sometimes put a detour on my rode to holiness.
For some strange reason this song keeps playing in my head...this morning after finding the lyrics, I made a definite link to Good St. Francis.

This "stash" blanket was whipped up while watching the confirmation hearings.
Any one need a rather large crib blanket?

ikea

He started last week with the beatitudes...Basically, what Jesus is telling us is..
Be nice.

Mt. of Beatitudes

Ikea is alive and well!

It was a relief to have supper and rest after finally getting out of the Twin Cities.

Granny squares were my first introduction to the wonderful world of crochet. Mom taught me 40 years ago. Given her condition the last 30 years of her life, it's hard to imagine she was, ever, able to function at that level...my kids will probably be saying the same thing about me some day.

This flowery square is more complicated than the traditional granny...smaller hook, more stitches...my eyeballs are getting a real workout**!

walking to emmaus

It is so easy to relate to toady's gospel.
Karen and I would walk and talk, endlessly, on the road to Esko.
We never discussed religion...mine was quite foreign to her and rudimentary to me. Long walks, on a country road, in the warm afternoon sun, with a good friend is as good as it gets...unless you run into Jesus on the way!

And it happened that, while he was with them at table,he took bread, said the blessing,broke it, and gave it to them.

It was a nice day for protesting...I preferred shopping.

.Activists out in full force

She's a rebel.

Rally # 2

This lap blanket has put a nice dent in the yarn stash...making room for next fall.

Magnificat-kins

I wonder when this ice, covering Sunset Pond, will sink.

The April moon was on the rise as I made the home stretch.

These willow catkins are a welcome harbinger of Spring...almost as welcome as the birds singing outside our bedroom window this morning

With Holy Week approaching , I was looking forward to following along in my trusty Magnifcat magazine. I've been a subscriber for about 5 years or more and have become very dependent on it. It arrives a whole month early and I always put it in a place of distinction while finishing the current issue. Special editions for Advent and Holy Week are a welcome treat. I love everything about this little digest...the small size, the super thin pages, the format...everything.
It took a few days (I was behind in my reading) for me to realize that my special Holy Week edition was missing. I didn't search very hard because I figured... if it wasn't where I always put it...it wasn't anywhere.

I checked a few drawers halfheartedly, and had pretty much given up the search, time was running out...it was already Spy Wednesday ... halfway through the week.
Someone suggested asking St. Anthony for help. Two hours later I shuffled through a stack of neglected magazines and there it was!

“Tony, Tony, Look Around -Something’s Lost And Can't Be Found.”

♫ little birdie ♫

The inevitable birthday snow storm hit today...only three days late.

Father Pacwa made me chuckle this morning during his homily. He was saying that the children of Israel were complaining after 38 years of wandering in the desert and wanted to go back to Egypt (and slavery) because the food was better there.

This morning I caught myself behaving like the snotty Israelites.

Because of the nasty weather, Jerry said "This would be a good day to bake cookies."
" What for...I can't have any...it's Lent?" I replied snidely.

Making chicken cacciatore for supper was almost therapeutic, after my morning outburst of selfishness.

Speaking of chicken...

This little chick sitting on my kitchen window sill was looking pretty bewildered because of the snowy weather...or maybe the ice on the window reminded him of the time his buddy saved the day.

sixty two and counting

Many years ago I started receiving mailings from AMM. I have ordered many medals from them and spread the devotion whenever possible. I even went on pilgrimage to France because of my association with them. I wore a gold Miraculous medal for many years and lost it about 2 years ago and have been without one... until now.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Liam Neeson has been a favorite ever since "Ethan Frome"...he was definitely the best part of that movie and so with every thing he's in. We saw "Taken" yesterday...Jerry gave it a "10" which he usually reserves for "Star Wars".
We dined Italiano at Valentini's, where I tried my first ever martini...it warmed the heart but left the stomach in distress.

It's always a treat to go to Mass at Mary Star of the Sea...today was no exception...we had to rush home after losing at Bingo to help Tigger celebrate his 13th birthday with a photo shoot.

I wonder if he's pondering his life.

Feast of the Annunciation

The angel said to her, "Mary, you have found favor with God."

Father said, "So, too, have we."

St. Patrick gets all the attention on the 17th, while humble St. Joseph (who's feast day is just two days later) probably wouldn't have it any other way.



It's called a prayer shawl... nice idea.

Picking out an image of St. Joseph for out home is on my "things to do list". St. Joseph Prayer for protection
O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen

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"Any difficulty with Church teaching should be not the end of the matter but the beginning of a process of conversion, education, and quite possibly repentance." Cardinal Pell
Amen to that!

simple pleasures

I think I'll read this every day during lent to keep me focused.

We behold Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church,
bearing the marks of suffering,

yet preparing a marriage feast for us in God's Kingdom.

No fasting for these two...only abstinence.

The waxing crescent moon and Venus setting in the west...very cool.

declaration

I can't get enough of this instruction from St. Paul:

Today was all of those things.

quote the raven

While listening to today's first reading, I got hung up on the raven...strange, that the raven would be the subject of Father's short homily. He related an incident that had occurred years ago. It seems there were two ravens "dancing" on the lawn where he lived. They came closer to him and he said, "They started making fun of me." I chuckled as he went on to explain how ravens are rascals and apparently always were. I did a little research on the subject and found this proof.

"St. Jerome called the raven, which was sent forth and did not return, the "foul bird of wickedness" expelled by baptism; more enduringly, the dove and olive branch came to symbolize the Holy Spirit and the hope of salvation and, eventually, peace."

The text that goes with the above illustration (from 1905) adds to the raven's bad reputation

OH, HAPPY DAY!

good and evil

Is this coincidence... good-god...evil-devil?

Today's gospel was fitting for Friday the 13th. Listening to the account of the "happy fault"" I was, surprisingly, moved to tears. I'm sure the disappointments that crop up unexpectedly in life, had something to do with my melancholy mood.
After Mass Joanie treated me to a short stack at "The Bean" which helped chase the blues away. I motored to Duluth for a nice long afternoon of selfish, uninterrupted shopping. (see Minor Screw-ups)

While I was taking a smoothie break at Target this afternoon, a young mom sat next to me and proceeded to nurse her tiny baby girl. It was rather coincidental, because just yesterday Stacy had posted an interesting video on facebook and the subject of breastfeeding was in the front of my mind. I asked if she had seen the video. She had never heard of Selma Hayek...come to find out this was her sixth baby... 5 girls and one boy. I asked the name of baby, she told me a name I had never heard, and said that it was Hebrew. I said, rather dumbly, "Are you Jewish?" She said she was. She asked me if I knew anything about humidifiers (she had just bought one because her baby seemed congested) I told her the little I knew and she seemed satisfied. By then Aimee had emerged from the break room and my little encounter was over...what a pleasant 10 minutes...totally made up for the two hours in JCPenney.

Speaking of babies I find this room immensely enchanting.

low ride

Father, being type a personality, said, "Imagine the consternation the owner of the house must have felt when they broke open his roof."He aptly commented that the paralytic depended on the "borrowed faith" of the four men who lowered him...a very comforting thought.

It's the end of the world as we know it....

now that he can climb the stairs.

Why am I obsessed with learning to knit socks when I can get these for a dollar a pair?

saturday

Daily prayer is a good habit to get into, but lately I have allowed the computer to lure me away from my prayer book. While listening to today's gospel I was reminded of one of my favorite silent exhortations, "He Must increase, but I must decrease." It's a phrase that you can take with you all day, as the Lectio Divina method of prayer suggests.

My prayer book must increase, but the computer must decrease.

Amen

The second- go-round beret

Holy Mary Mother of God

Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen

My first mittens!


Valerie's bib.