Sand Pail List – Take 2

Last year we created a Sand Pail List of things to do during the summer.  The list was good for that summer only and contained a variety of entertaining options.  Some of the items were very specific, Stop for ice cream at the local stand, and others were more open-ended, Go to at least one free concert.  

What a great summer we had!  We didn’t do everything on the list.  Some items we did more than once and in the case of another, we did a slightly different version.  All-in-all, we had fun!

Without further ado, here’s our 2014 Sand Pail List.  Some things are repeats and some items are new.  Watch out summer, here we come!

· Stop for ice cream at the RS stand. – We’ve passed by this place a few times and it looks like a combination of corner store, ice cream stand, and bait supply shop.

 

· Try out a new winery.

 

· Go to at least one free concert – Last year we went to several, but the one we really wanted to see, a Janis Joplin cover band, got rained out twice.  I’m counting on sunshine and blue skies on June 27th!

 

· Go to the County Fair and enter something into one of the competitions.

 

· Go for a hike in one of the county or state parks that we haven’t yet been to.

 

· Browse the local antique barn. - We've driven past it any number of times but have never stopped to look.  Why not now?
 

· Take a train ride.

· Go to a drive-in movie. - It's been years since we've gone to the theater to see a movie, it was the last Harry Potter one.  It has been much, much longer since I've been to the drive-in - before we were married.  Here's hoping there will be something good to see this summer.

· Brew our own beer.

· Make homemade ice cream.

What’s in your pail?

AMDG 

Time

What is it with time?  For most people, this is a short work week.  When I talk with people around here they are all complaining that the week feels so, so long.  Isn’t it Friday yet???

I have to admit, I’m one of the complainers.  This week feels painfully long.  What do you mean it’s only Thursday??

Why do short weeks feel so long?  Do we try to pack in five days of tasks into this shorter week?

Don't answer that.

It is a beautiful, glorious week.  We have sunshine and blue skies.  Just like Camelot, it has only been raining at night.  The temperatures couldn’t be more perfect, low to mid seventies.

So, perhaps instead of complaining that time is standing still, I ought to enjoy it.  I’ve been told that growlers don’t just empty themselves and help is needed at home to do so.


AMDG

Funny Foto - #8

You think they might be just a little frustrated?  When in WV for this we saw the sign at the end of what looked like a small street.  Apparently, it is not.


AMDG

Waiting Well

Five women.  A weekend in West Virginia.  Cool weather and rain.  Planes, no trains, and automobiles.  Excited hellos and warm hugs.  Beautiful scenery.  Winding roads.

Mini golf?  Rain and it’s closed.  Quick visit to the nature center.  Snakes!  Zoo?  Nope, more rain.  Time to check out the museum.  Old things, history, beautiful clothes, period furniture.  Press one to learn more about how this room was used.  Is that a man or woman in that painting?  Press two to learn more about the portraits on the wall.  Poor, poor, unfortunate woman.

Visit the gift shop.  Good chocolate cheap.  Magnet: You will always be my friend.  You know too much about me.  Fairy gardens and beautiful crystal.

Gluten free.  Dairy Free.  Soy free.  Great food.  Warm chocolate chip cookies.  Flowing wine.  After church grocery run.

Daily Mass.  Morning Prayer.  Canticle of Zechariah.  Watched over by Pope Francis.  Grace before meals.  Majestic cathedral.  Vigil Mass.  Chapel in our house.  Eucharistic adoration.

Heartfelt talks.  Late night chats.  Some tears, much laughter.  Talk of doing this again.  Sad goodbyes.

My ladies.  My friends.  Waiting Well.


AMDG

Weekends with Chesterton: Nature

“Properly speaking, of course, there is no such thing as a return to nature, because there is no such thing as a departure from it. The phrase reminds one of the slightly intoxicated gentleman who gets up in his own dining room and declares firmly that he must be getting home.”                                                                         – The Chesterton Review, August, 1993



Wonder Doubled: My Joy

We have a new post up at the USCCB website For Your Marriage.

Beware the Ides of March, and everything before and after!  If there ever was a month I was glad to see come to an end it was March.  The long cold winter ended with unexpected health issues.  Tim had a toothache off-and-on the last weekend of March that became full throttle, no holds barred – ON!  Nothing we tried could relieve, even slightly, the screaming daggers going through his head.

You can read the whole article here.

AMDG

A good read: Something Other Than God

And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.

― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

If you're a Catholic blogger more than likely you have run across Jen Fulwiler's Conversion Diary. Either you stalk her site waiting for the latest post or you read and/or participate in her weekly 7 Quick Takes Friday. But, if you're some poor forsaken soul not to have read anything of hers, here is your chance for a delightful introduction.

In Something Other Than God Jen details her conversion from atheist to Catholic with all the bumps, bruises, and doubts along the way. As she will tell you on her blog, this book was five years in the making. And you know what? It shows. It is an incredibly well written, thoughtful book. It's one of those books you just don't want to put down, except when that pesky little thing called work gets in the way.

A time came when parties and career climbing weren't enough. The birth of her first child got her thinking more about her and her child's limited time on this earth. She began reading and researching various religions and spiritual views. She started her blog which opened an avenue to ask questions and talk with others regarding their faith.

As I read this book I realized just how poorly I have continued my education in our faith and the reasons for what we believe. As a cradle Catholic I take for granted the tenants of what the church teaches. I know the basics, my grade school catechism mostly stuck. This book is an encouragement to me to continue my faith journey. Thanks Jen!


AMDG

First Photo - May

Aaah!  What a difference a month makes!  The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, and trees are starting to fill out.  Although we have had quite a bit of rain, we're taking advantage of the good days as much as possible and getting out in the yard.  The Bradford Pear in the foreground smells delightful and is a buzz with the activity of many, many little bees.

Life is good!

AMDG