Time Marches On

Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future

Holy cow!  I look at the calendar and am amazed that it is the end of May already.  Where has this month gone?  I had such big plans for May; so much to do and such great weather.

I ordered my mulch and had it delivered a couple of three weeks ago with the intention of having it done by the end of the month.  Unless the mulch fairies show up, that isn’t going to happen.

We wanted to take a short weekend getaway and have a blogger meet-up.  Maybe next month??

I finally got the material for the new living room curtains and wanted to have those sewn and hung up.  Really?

It seems the BIG plans took a back seat to a whole lot of little things.  I did quite a bit of weeding, baked bread often, took more picture than I have been. 

We watched the neighbors’ dog Lucy while they attended the funeral of Kim’s mom and visited with relatives that came in from out of town for the services.  Lucy is a good dog, though a bit of a handful and high maintenance.

We prepped the land for the new vegetable garden.  We listened to the birds sing while we drank our morning coffee. 

We had a morning visit from this creature whom we named Sunny.

And several visits from this guy and a couple of his friends.

I sat on the patio and watched a terrific lightening show roll on in and rejoiced in the rain that followed.

So what if the mulch isn’t done.  We enjoyed the little things.

AMDG

April showers . . .

. . . brought May flowers!

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.

Blessed Mother Theresa



 

AMDG

Support groups???

Hi!  My name is Jack and I am a kleptomaniac.

Hi Jack!

It started when I was just a puppy.  My humans were doing yard work so I ran off.  When I finally came home, running through the mud and the muck, they had this shocked look on their faces, staring at what I was carrying in my mouth.  They thought I killed a baby raccoon or bunny.  It was just some other dog’s toy that I liked.  So I took it.  To this day they don't know from where I snitched it and I'll never tell. 

My cousin dog, Hershey, has a few good toys.  When we went to visit last time, I took her puppy.  Hershey’s old, she’ll never miss it.

My next door neighbor, Lucy, has really great stuffies.  I went over there yesterday for a visit and left with my fourth toy from her this spring.  It’s an unstuffed bunny.  She’ll never miss it!  Himself tried to return it, but I snatched it back from Lucy’s human and she just laughed.  She thinks I’m adorable!

My female human just looks at me and shakes her head.  She thinks I need help.  I don’t think so, do you?

AMDG

Great oats, Batman!

A while back I was looking for breakfast ideas and someone suggested steel cut oats. (was it you JB?)  Several months later I finally tried them and, I've got to say, am hooked.  They are so, so much better than rolled oats and I can make them ahead and just reheat as needed.

If you haven't already, give them a try.   They're Grrrrreat!  (wrong cereal, but oh well!)

AMDG

A good read – Bake and Be Blessed

We have been trying to change what and how we eat, and, as part of that, I have been baking bread from scratch each week.   I have a terrific whole wheat recipe that I make frequently, but was ready for something new.

I remembered a show I use to watch on PBS, Breaking Bread with Father Dominic, and did a little research to see if the show was still on.  Unfortunately, it is not, but Fr. Dominic has a series of books based on the show.  While checking those out of the library I came across his Bake and be Blessed.  Only a few pages into it I knew I had to have my own copy.  It’s one of those books I read with a pencil at hand, underlining his thoughts that strike me as important. 

He relates different steps in bread making to different components of our spiritual life.  Mixing the dough, letting it rise, punching it down and baking the loaves can be seen as metaphors praying, meditation, carrying our crosses, and growing in God’s love. 

I find the bread making process very satisfying, more so than cooking or baking other things.  In reading this book I think I finally found the reasons why.

Bread baking is a not cure all of modern society's ills, but it can be a means by which, on a given day, we reintegrate our fragmented selves by engaging mind, body, emotions and spirit in an intentional act of creativity.

PS.  I couldn’t find a copy of this on where I normally buy my books, so I ordered from his Abbey’s  website.  The book arrived quickly and with a little surprise – it was autographed!

AMDG

Anniversary of a special day

Many, many years ago, on this date, I made my first Holy Communion. 
How awesome was that?!

AMDG

Leaves of three. . .

. . .or four or five. . . run!  Run away as fast as you can!

I should have known.  Really.  I should have.  In that particular garden especially.  I know it's there.  But, being pig headed and stubborn, I didn't wear long sleeves or gloves.

So now I am paying the price - the worst case of poison ivy I've ever had!  It's on both arms, neck, face, lips, and now, even a little on my belly.

If you see that ivy, back away slowly, put down the garden tools, head to the patio and grab a beer.  It's much less itchy!


AMDG

Funny Foto - #2

Yesterday I took the day off from work and we did some antiquing down in Amish country.  Just when I think I've seen it all, I came across this.

And I thought my dog was spoiled!

AMDG

Thankful Thursday (16)

Today I am thankful for. . .

* Online shopping.  We are doing a little bit of redecorating and I have been able to find things online that I would not come across otherwise. 

* FedEx and UPS. For delivering the above items.  

* Redecorating.  We haven’t done much to the house since we moved in eight years ago.  Thankfully, the previous owners’ taste was similar to ours.  But, now it’s time, at last, to put our mark on it.  New paint, curtains and lights are breathing new life into our living room.  Yeah!

* Himself’s photos.  As part of our redecorating we are replacing some things we had on the walls.  Himself has taken some awesome photos and it’s about time we showcased them.

Check out more things to be thankful for over at The Road Home.

AMDG

Octo Mom & Dad

On the way back into the office at lunchtime I had to wait for this brood to walk by. Mama and Papa Goose were taking their 8 little ones for a walk across the parking lot. They didn't seemed to be bothered by all of us watching them. Too cute!

AMDG