Feast Day

After Sunday school this morning, I was walking with the kids past the Sacristy (the room where all the wonderful things are kept) and noticed the air was all cloudy. Then I saw someone holding the thurible (see stained glass image). This was my first experience with them using incense.  Supposedly they used to do it more, but some protested.  Puts a bit of a strain on some with their breathing, I imagine.

If you came in off the street today, you might mistake it for Catholic, if you didn't know any better.  And honestly, in Confirmation class, we were told that the Anglican church is the Catholic church in the English-speaking world. Get your head around that if you've been brought up in a traditional Reformed-Protestant manner.

Moving on.

When the procession came down the aisle, they had the incense burning. Lovely.  Then when the rector got to the altar, he waved it over the choir, altar and organist...also faced the congregation and did the same.  Repeated the process before Communion.

And the scent.  Glorious.

Today we were celebrating the Feast Day of St. Michael the Archangel and all of the other angels as well.  The rector made a remark about the angels in Revelation loving incense, and I found this verse.

"And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel."~Revelation 8:4

A new site open today...

Have begun a new blog...this time it's about physical downsizing, and I'm not talking about the house.  Feel free to visit me there.  I just wanted a place to be accountable.  Here goes...and it's really called Downsizing. Seems appropriate.

The painting is apropos of nothing, but it's pretty and is the background of the new place.

Will still be here, but need to be there as well.  An encouragement, I'm thinking.  And, no, I won't be sharing how much I weigh!

Friday afternoon

We seem to be passing a cold around in our house.  I had a queasy stomach early, early on Wednesday, then got the sniffles...felt a tad better yesterday, but woke up all draggy today.  Still had to take the kids to the library and made a quick grocery store run.  Blech.  Now in bed with Daisy...fan on, window open and out of energy.  Totally.

If the planet would stop spinning just for a day or so, I'd be grateful.  Least it's not something more serious.  A cold really ain't nothin' but multiply it by several and it gets tiresome. Pardon me while I whine.

An easy dinner is planned...just tuna salad on toast and whatever else we can scrounge for a side-dish.  Maybe more of nothin'!

I really hate being tired, though, especially since there's so much to do all the time and when a wrench is thrown into my days, I get frustrated.  If everything tended to get done, that'd be another matter.  Seems going around half-cocked is my norm.

Must go now.  My eyes are watering and my contacts won't focus.  Take care, all.

'The Big Silence' series

Have been watching another series on YouTube by Fr Christopher Jamison----this one called The Big Silence.   I'm almost done, having finished about 10 of the 12 installments.  They're all about 15 minutes long, so it's easy to watch a bit here and there.

Wonderful, and such a good follow-up after watching The Monastery.

The series on silence spends time on how our lives are so noisy and full of busyness.  The monks stress that the main way to God is through silence....deliberate quietness.  Sometimes it's only then that you can hear that still, quiet voice.  I'm amazed at the fierce way we protect our poor excuses for staying active all the time---and seeing the participants struggle with that sort of drives it home.

Sure does make a person think.

Just thinking...

• A quiet house....our conure chirps along, the four dogs are napping and the fan blows.  Kids are at work or at my mom's.  Ahhh.  Today's good.  Honestly, I don't know where the money will come from to pay the rest of the bills (not that there are but a couple), yet I'm thinking my faith walk has improved with my Anglican journey.  I'm not fretting as much, maybe getting accustomed to trusting more.  'Bout time.  And really, I think the dailyness of this church with the liturgy, etc. is a huge help.  Sort of keeps God in your face, no matter.

• Alternating pugs in my lap.  Daisy just jumped down, after getting all warm and cozy and now Violet's got her little face settled on the laptop.  They're so adorable.  My babies.

• Still being snubbed by a  neighbor who was mentioned in this post. She still got her knickers in a twist for being called on the carpet (by yours truly) about her over-involvement with one of our son's job resumes.  Then yet another neighbor we both know was told the story (by the injured party) and, glory be, this neighbor told her that she also thought she'd gone way overboard in trying to help.  Now they're not talking.

• Gosh, the drama.  Spare me, please.  But the thing is, I'm well aware that conviction time is coming for me to try to get close to her again. She's moving at the end of October and it'd be wrong for her to leave with us having this un-finished business.  The friend she shared with told our son that I don't need to expect any forgiveness. Brother.

Reminder to self:  "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."~Romans 12:18

Neighborhood stuff

"We make our friends; we make our enemies; but God makes our next door neighbor."~G. K. Chesterton

We found out last night that our next door neighbor, who I've talked about before with his mental illness, etc., has had his house foreclosed.  He's not been home in a steady way for ages and ages, so I guess it was bound to happen.  The most interesting part is that it goes to auction on Thursday---time to pray for God to intervene with a buyer that pleases Him (and truth be told, I'd like to be pleased as well, but that's another story). Anyway, I went to our neighbor on the opposite side of him and and one of our across-the-street neighbors today to warn them.  When homeowners see unexpected busyness at a house, it sometimes makes us a bit uncomfortable, especially with the landlord issue on our street.  One guy buys all the cheap available houses he can scoop up and then rents them to folks who 'nine times out of ten' (no kidding) have previous arrest records. Not sure what gives with that.

The first neighbor I visited is one we've been out of touch with for a bit. He's been unemployed with a back injury and is having to get help to catch up.  I wasn't aware of local programs that'll aid in that sort of instance. Pretty cool.  It's a short-term situation, but with some assistance, he'll be able to stay in his house and also get his health back in order.  But he WORE ME OUT.  I think he's lonely with being home so much, but he just about did me in with complaining about the riff-raff on the street.  I realize we're all upset about the unsavory activity that pops up with the new renters, but my goodness, it's not that bad.  When I finally was able to leave, after listening to him gripe for about 45 minutes, I went across the street, and I kid you not----it was like a Zen moment.  The other neighbor is as calm and cool as you please.  Her house was quiet, her dog stood in front of me and stared at me like I was his best friend.  She even has a Zen dog.  The sunshine made such pretty shadows in her living room and I came away refreshed.  Oh, and plus she gave me a huge jade plant, with the promise of two more---even bigger.  She's outgrown them and wants more room for other plants.  And, we're trading a bit of time with the boys helping me clean out the honeysuckle and vines from her azaleas out front.  A fair trade, I think.  Win-win for me.

Glad I didn't go to her house first and the grumpy neighbor second.  God is in the details.

Monday night

Tired today.  A bit like that 'the day after Christmas' feeling.  I even stayed in my night clothes until late afternoon, and changed just before Gary came home from work. Fourth son seemed a bit anxious about me being dressed like that so long.  I think it made him think of sickness, and all of my family get antsy if there's even a hint of me feeling under the weather.  I think I was just tired.  Too much leading up to the confirmation, and exhaustion when it was over.  About 2 months or more of classes and it was more than this homebody could bear!  All for good though.

When I went to bed last night I told Gary that there was no turning back now.  I feel married to the church in a way that I've never felt before....as a matter of fact, have never felt like that.  Church membership can be handled so casually, and this certainly wasn't.  Told the kids this morning that unless something outlandish happens, I'm at this church to stay.  I want to grow old with these people---helping, worshiping and sharing.  It just feels so right.  And middle daughter is already talking about going through confirmation next fall.  She wants to be an acolyte.  I do love a child with a goal. :)

Anyway.

I don't have to leave the house tomorrow, and am very glad of that.  I bought some purple Halloween lights and will hang them over the kitchen window.  Will putter around and settle.  Just need homey things to do, simple things to do and ordinary routines.  Hamburgers for dinner, and we'll get the house tidy and do schoolwork as well.  All do-able things.

Confirmation Day

What a sweet, overwhelming day. First off, it was so wonderful to have my whole family (with the exception of second son) at the church this morning.  Loved so much having my people with me, since it's usually just me with 3, maybe 4 of the kids.

But you want to know the sweetest part?  The bishop anointed us with oil (chrism) and the scent is unlike anything I've ever experienced.  With my thick bangs, it's still in my hair and I continue to catch a hint of the fragrance---just a snatch.  It's been a reminder of the service and all of the love that was shown to me.  So welcoming and way over the top.  I felt loved even by people I just met today.

You can't beat that for special.

Late Saturday afternoon

Took my three youngest offspring to church this morning to help in the deep-clean-because-the-bishop-is-coming-cleaning.  I'm telling you...it couldn't get any more like Mitford. I'm not kidding.  Told Gary last night that I've always had a secret longing to polish pews in church.  Have read too many English novels set in a village with an Anglican church holding sway, I guess.  Some of the women had already begun cleaning the altar brass, etc. when we got there, and not sure if they polished the pews----it's really not necessary, but is an indulgent act. Most wood is treated so that it stays nice all the time.  I might ask if I can sometime anyhow.  Imagine the scent on Sunday mornings.  Older churches do lay on the charm.  I did get to vacuum everything though.  And was asked to arrange the altar flowers which, I admit, gave me the big head.  Roses and more roses.

We were so exhausted after about 3 hard hours of work and still had to go to the grocery store.  To say we were delighted to get home is an understatement.  And to beat all, Daisy the pug had begun with her seasonal cough while we were gone. It's so much like a small child with the croup, and I did go into the bathroom with steam from the shower for her. I'm thinking that the one with the fork-ed tongue was trying to mess up my weekend.  NO.  Gave Daisy her medicine, took authority and we're napping now.  She's tired of coughing and I'm just tired.  But it's a good tired.

Chicken is simmering for chicken and dumplings and middle daughter just mixed up two pans of Magic Cookie Bars to take tomorrow.  Okay, so only one pan will go.  Gary asked for one to stay home, as he should.

Hope you're all well.  Take care.

(clickable pinterest photo with recipe)

Church babblings

Got the younger of my brood settled with a chore list and then went out to lunch with oldest daughter.  Fancy burgers at a local spot, then a trip to the hippie store to get my China Rain scent.  Mmmm.  Then to the fabric store to get daughter an applique to disguise a scorch mark on a skirt she made. Wonderful weather and a good trip all around.

Now I'm resting in bed, window up, and the sun pouring in.  The girls are in the backyard being silly, swinging and playing with Romeo, the puppy. Just livin'.

Will put together a meat pie later on.  Doesn't sound very appetizing when I say it like that, but it's, pretty much, a pasty in a pie shell.  Gary's mom used to make pasties when we'd visit them, but cutting/setting up all those rounds of dough make my head spin.  One rectangular pie with ground beef, potatoes and onions with seasoning is complicated enough for me. Pass the brown gravy, and it's dinner.

Not much going on this evening.  Might begin working on my skirt---have had the fabric so long, I'm surprised it's not decayed.  Seriously.  I want to wear something new to my confirmation on Sunday.  There's a reception afterward and second son (who's preaching elsewhere that day) bought a couple of pork roasts for us to have a nice dinner that night.  A celebration for surviving the stress of all of it.  I'm only half kidding!

Oh, here's an interesting bit of trivia for those of you who are Presbyterian, especially PCA (and I know there are several of you who drop in here).  The bishop, who will perform the confirmations is a former PCA pastor.  His church turned from that denomination to the REC (Reformed Episcopal Church).  They actually switched.  I find that amazing, especially considering the other PCA churches here and how firm they are in their teachings.  Anyway, thought that was interesting enough to share.  Btw, the REC is a very conservative branch of the church, and the one I go to is REC as well.  As further info., the Anglicans adhere to the 39 Articles of Religion which were written in the 1500's.  Love the history here, and Article XXII, pretty much, hits the nail on the head in regards to the Anglican view of Catholicism. 

It says: "The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping, and Adoration as well of Images as of Reliques, and also invocation of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God."  

Just what's on my mind...

Thursday afternoon

About to cook a pot of taco soup, as requested by second son.  After grilling at the restaurant all night, he just wants to eat.  I get that.  To be treated to a good dinner is a perk, and this is a fool-proof recipe.

Will also put a couple of pans of shortbread in the oven.  I LOVE our new oven.  In all our 29 years of being married, and after 5 stoves (I think), this one is my favorite.  One we had at a rental is a close second since it was older and had that neat storage section to the side of the oven.   But this is such a friendly oven, and it works like a dream.

Annnnnd with Gary coming home a bit later tonight, I figure I have time to get the main areas of the house tidied up before he gets here.  The day began a bit earlier than I expected with our next-door neighbor having one of those PODs delivered to his driveway.  The beep-beep-beep of it being delivered was just a tad irritating.  And, yes, backing out is more of a challenge now, esp. since our driveways are just about 5 or so feet apart. Those PODs are sorta big.  I'll just back in, though, so I can peek around the darned thing.  Who knows what our neighbor has in store....it's always a drama, that's for sure.

Gotta run.  Light an autumn candle, put on the ground beef to simmer first, mix up shortbread dough, vacuum, look at the kids' drawings they did while I rested......etc.

Enjoy what's left of your day!

(photo of one of the sweet little scoops gary made)

Violet looking adorable

And, yes, needing a claw trim.

Dog duty

What'd I'd prefer to be doing most days...not in that dress!

Had a pretty good day. Still feeling lazy, but that's the weather's fault.

For about 8 years, I've been the one who's gotten up with the big dogs.  They have always wanted to be up early to go out and eat---in that order. Since oldest daughter brought home the puppy, Romeo, last fall after our Lab., Olive, died, (too many commas) she offered to help me with the morning get-up-ness.  I SO appreciate it.  We alternate the 'anywhere between 5am-6am' do the dogs' bidding routine.  Today was my day, so tomorrow is her time.  I almost get excited when it's not my morning to get up.  Understand, I've been doing this all by myself for all that time, and it's really gotten old.  My least favorite part is just the dragging myself out of bed thing.  Next it's the getting back to sleep thing.  Impossible.

So right this very minute, I feel pretty sassy.  I don't have to watch the clock about how long I stay up, doing the math of how much sleep I'll get before having to get up with the alarm.  I can chill a bit.

Remember, this happens every other day.  So every other day, I do a happy dance at bedtime.  Yeah, it's lame, but it's my lame.  And in case anyone's thinking I forgot the pugs.  Not a chance.  They're such little angels, they sleep in almost every morning.  Lazy little beggars, but wonderful as well.

I like cupcakes

While I realize the current cupcake background is a tad busy, I was imagining the book (which I write on here) being left on top of a vintage tablecloth.  Imagine with me---cupcake oilcloth underneath the leather-look notebook.  Are you with me?

Ahem.

Anyway, wanting a warmer, fall-ish look.  Playing with a black floral retro, and a deep burgundy/red floral.  Gary says he likes the cupcake the best, the dark red next and isn't so keen on the black.  Maybe it's a bit too retro.  The cupcake one is just quirky enough to maybe work for a bit.  But fall-ish it ain't.

Off to make me a cup of chai.  And we have half and half.  Yum.

Just before dinner

Not my chair, but cozy-looking!

Cooking up a dinner in the crock pot and will fry some eggplant to go with it.  This crock pot meal is a first for us. The recipe calls for cube steak/minute steak (same thing, I think).  You put that in the crock pot (tired of typing that) and add one envelope dry onion soup mix and 2 cans mushroom soup, plus 3/4 c. water.  Then you cook it for however long and it's supposed to be absolutely dishy.  Of course, I just checked the recipe and the writer says to cook it on low all day---versus what I've done and let it simmer on high since about noon.  Hope that's long enough.  I grew up on cube steak and HATED IT.  Those little stringy bits about made me want to throw my plate and my sweet mother served this to us all the time.  Must be it was cheaper then, because it certainly wasn't inexpensive when I bought it yesterday. If this turns out tasty, will definitely have to find a sale next time.

Now then.

It's an absolutely fabulous day weather-wise today.  The rain we had for a couple of days brought much coolness and breeziness today.  It was still and humid last night when we went to bed, and this morning it felt chilly. Very fall-ish.  Delightful.  If I was an energetic sort of person, I'd do something energetic!  Glad I bought that strand of Halloween lights last night at T*rget.  I got the multi-colored ones and they look so pretty hanging between the living/dining rooms.  Must take a photo.

Now I'm trying to get my head on straight.  The bedroom window is up and while I know I've got to get up in a minute to put the rice on (where the meat will sit), I'm not of a mind to follow through.  Fall fever, I guess.

Hope all is well in your world.  If you're on the east coast, you should be getting this wonderful breeze in a day or so.  Enjoy.

Church stuff

I was telling Gary again this weekend how much I appreciate his support with me joining the Anglican church.  He said, and he was right, that part of my joy in it is likely because it's the first church I've been involved in where the decision to attend/join has been my choice, not my parents' and not my husband's.  Granted, I didn't launch into this with him disapproving, but he's been accepting the whole time.  The freedom to enjoy it has been special.  And honestly, if he hadn't been in favor, I'd not have kept going.

Thinking the whole family (with maybe one exception) will be at my confirmation on Sunday.  Even oldest daughter's sweet Indian boyfriend says he'll come.  The exception to the rule might be second son who's very involved in the evangelical/slightly pentecostal church he's a member of. He gets twitchy when we talk about the confirmation service, maybe because first-born teases him about it---how he can't miss his own services.  Just older brother jivin'.  He admitted to being leery of me going there at first (thinking it'd be like the Episcopal church in the US), but when he did his research on staunch Anglicans who he respects in the literary world, then his opinion quickly changed.  All the bowing and cross-signing might put him off, though.  It's up to him.  I'm not dragging anyone there, but they're all welcome.  Shoot, I've not even dragged the 3 youngest, who always go with me now.  They seem to love it!

There are several folks around my age who I believe to be married, but who come alone.  Wonder what's up with that, not that I have much room to talk.  The husband of one friend I've made has gone back to the Presbyterian church.  Sad that their family is a bit split, but she's got the kids with her (and they're old enough to make up their own minds) and they just go their own ways.  Seems to work, though I can tell she's not happy with it, but she doesn't complain.

Church is funny....some folks seem to need it more deeply than others, but for me, it's necessary.  I feel settled and content with going.  And the Anglican service, being that it's so worshipful, is very appealing.  It makes my heart happy.

Saturday's this and that

• went to the grocery store at noon-time and it wasn't as crowded as i figured it'd be
• chicken curry for dinner
• we'll have quiche tomorrow night
• thought you might like to know---just imagining what we'd be eating
• lame
• gary bought me the september issue of the british 'country living' last night
• i'm saving it for later
• got into reading 'the painted bridge' by wendy wallace and it's goooood
• story about a woman in the mid-1800's who's committed to an asylum by her awful husband who's a minister
• the thing is, she's not insane, at least i don't think she is
• a bit zingy feeling today---won't go away---must be my adrenal glands are suffering over-use
• we heard a loud BANG last night at around 2am
• gary went outside, but couldn't see anything going on
• middle daughter was swinging in the backyard this morning and noticed that our next-door neighbor has a smashed back window, and his iron door is bent (possible source of my zingy feeling)
• ick
• will leave it up to gary to call the police when he gets back from his workshop
• our neighbor isn't home, and rarely is
• he's the one i spoke of last summer who's a paranoid schizophrenic
• i realize it sounds rude to call someone that, but it's a true diagnosis, and he's very unpredictable
• mental illness is so sad----i'm a melancholy, but that's nothing compared to what our neighbor lives with
• will go now---looking forward to church tomorrow---last confirmation class
• we'll get a tour of the sanctuary with a lesson on what the layout/decorations represent---a history lesson in itself
• i love that church, and anglicanism as well
• feels like home, even though it's different than anything i've ever experienced
• as for you---remember to chill out---and i'll do the same

Friday afternoon

Tomorrow I'll wish I'd gone to the grocery store tonight, but with Gary and I going out to a bookstore later on, who cares?  I mean, really.

Just got on the computer, checked the news---looked at some blogs and figure a night out with no irritations is a wise move.  I can't read the news now, partly because stories are so blown out of proportion, or are written inaccurately---that is, with heavy bias.  A person has to read several pieces before even catching a glimmer as to whether honesty has been carried out. Nevermind.  I'll take my quiet house (now, that is) with the little girls embroidering and youngest son drawing, anytime over the world out there.

My brain finally feels like it fits my head.  All week it's felt like it was about to pop out of my skull.  No idea why that happens, or how to prevent it.  I realize stress is a factor, and throw in my age and my inability to handle worries as well as I used to.  Forget that---I've never really handled worries in a sensible fashion.  I worry.  That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Need to get in touch with my inner Zen, I reckon.

But now is good.  Romeo, our year old part-catahoula is getting the plastic jugs out of the recycling bin and tossing them around the backyard.  That's noisy play.  The pugs and big dog, Opal, are resting.  The kids are doing whatever they need to finish for art day and oldest daughter, who's off today, just tidied up the living room and vacuumed.  Her sweet Indian boyfriend will be over later on after they eat out, so I appreciate her cleaning up.  I'm not inclined in that area lately.  Huh.

Must be off now.  Will fold some clothes that are in danger of attracting dust, and need to make an effort, even if it's a bit uninspired.  Looking forward to a possible magazine purchase with our bookstore outing.  Visual stimulation is always a good thing.

Looking for a quiet afternoon

Having a difficult time figuring out where to put the laptop so I can type on it.  After eating lunch in the 'thinking chair'---as we call it, both pugs jumped up in my lap, which is where their hot little bodies are even now.  It's crowded in here.  The dogs are so used to people being at home at all times, that when they're all by their lonesome for even a brief time, they get anxious for cuddles.  The pugs especially are sweet.  Thankfully the big dogs are content on the floor, right?

Me?  I love the quiet, which is what I'm getting right this very minute. Just me and the animals, which is wonderful.  But I need to get my head into it.  Takes more time that I'd like to admit to get to that chillin' mode. Might require more time than I actually have, which is a tad frustrating. And with lots of stops and starts this morning, getting to a place where my insides will settle might be unattainable goal.

Got a book in the mail that I ordered after watching The Monastery  on YouTube.  Excellent.  The book goes into more detail than the film (a BBC production), and being that the title is Finding Sanctuary, might be just what I need to read.  Silence, sanctuary, rest, meditation, darkened rooms...all of that sounds choice to me.

Must go now.  Have a load of laundry to hang out, and maybe they'll get dry before the rain.  It's all to the west of us, but looks like it's heading this way.  And might bake later on.  I crave the ordinariness of mixing, stirring and seeing the end result.

Take care all.

'The River' by Michael Neale

The River by Michael Neale has been marketed brilliantly.  We're all told that "we were made for The River...." which is a nice and catchy slogan.  So far so good, since I also want to know what that means to me as a reader. And as far as appearances, the soft cover looks aged and the jagged-cut pages go along well with it.  The problem, however, is that there's not much between the front and back cover. The dialogue is juvenile and the story drags on and on.

I realize the point is to get the reader from the river accident which changes 5-year old Gabriel Clarke forever, to where he makes peace with himself and the river, but it just takes so very long.  The reader is walked through each stage of Gabriel's life, through conversations so trite you'd think a grade schooler wrote them.  And with that said, I don't even think the premise of the story is of any benefit to share.  But I do have one observation.  The character, Gabriel Clarke, suffers through a tragic situation as a child.  He spends his whole life trying to avoid dealing with it, but eventually comes up against it face to face.  All of his life experiences up to that climax are rosy and full of good people.  He's well-loved and sought after---a little darling, as is every person he meets.  It's all so pretty, yet unrealistic.  He gets a tiny bit of teasing as a child, but another boy quickly comes to his rescue.  That's it for hardship.

It strikes me that this book is being marketed as another (cough) winner like The Shack.  It's also a feel-good book, that will sell well.  I just wish the inside of the book was as well-done as the outside.

(this book was provided free to review from thomas nelson/booksneeze...and reviewed by melissa smith for joshua smith)

I adore this room

Source: rrantiques.tumblr.com via Debra on Pinterest

To clean or not to clean...

I remember years ago one of my sisters-in-law telling me that while she had a handle on the housework, I spent more time with my children.  Now, I realize that she meant well, but it really was a back-handed compliment.  You're going to tell me that she was saying a nice thing, but when your house looks like my house, you'd understand what's rattling around in my own head.  Just can't keep up, now that school is in session.  Dang.  At this juncture in time and space, I just can't keep up.

This same sister-in-law has a daughter-in-law who's a persnickety housekeeper as well (like her MIL, not me).  She's just beginning to homeschool their 7 year old, and was telling me when we saw them recently, that she was all about keeping the house in tip-top shape even with the new schedule.  Plus with them having two other small children, younger than the 7 year old, she expects to keep up.

I say more power to her.  Don't call me when your head explodes.

Why are we so demanding of ourselves, and so hard to please at the same time?  To my tidy husband's credit, he never berates me for a messy house. I guess he privately/mentally crosses off a checklist of what's going on here on a daily basis, and is cutting me some slack.  Don't get me wrong---we're not actually living in squalor, just not to the level of cleanliness that I aspire to.  That is, when I'm aspiring.

In other news, the kids go to visit my mom tomorrow afternoon.  This will be after we grocery shop for the meal they'll eat there.  A small grocery trip, but it's things like that that make me nuts.  Just one more thing.  I think I'm just tired of the 'just one more' part of life.  But the break from noise and conversation will be mighty welcome.

Back from a tiny break

Seems that lots is going on, so much that I've had to slow it all down today.  On the heels of getting the new stove last week, second son asked me when I got up yesterday morning if I wanted a new couch.  My goodness, a nice way to begin the day.  The manager of the restaurant where 3 of the boys work was getting rid of a sofa, and it was already sitting outside next to the driveway.  Much nicer than ours which has been getting a bit tattier each day.  I've had to repair seams and cover the back with a piece of fabric because of hard 'pug wear'....but no more! The new one has such fluffy back cushions that Violet the pug can't sit back there.  She looked offended when she tried and fell down between the back couch cushions.

So, with the two items in the house replaced that have driven me nuts for quite awhile, I'm in high cotton, though perhaps tired high cotton.  Now we just need to tidy up.  Still haven't gotten a hang of the new routine with school in session.  We're a mess.  But we're feeling mildly intelligent, so I guess that's something.

I feel a bit zingy, though.  Might just be my age showing, but don't feel settled like I'd like and need to.  Deep breaths.  Might just be because too many changes, albeit good ones, rattle my cage.  Even now Gary's taken fourth son to the phone store to change SIM cards to match their new phones.  New stuff all around, which, for some odd reason, gets me all uncomfortable.  Maybe it's because money has to be spent on all of it. Don't know about that.  I do know, though, that I need a mental rest and some ordinariness to surround me.

I think I'll go now.  Fourth son's 19th birthday is today (yes, on 9/11) and I've got Spanakopita (with chicken added) to assemble.  Fillo dough and feta cheese goodness.  Middle daughter just put his carrot cake in the oven to bake, and I'm going to rest a bit before everyone gets home.

Saturday afternoon putterings

The weather is splendid today!  A pretty rowdy thunderstorm blew through here last night and left much cooler temperatures, lots of sun and a wonderful breeze. The windows are open and I'm puttering around, cleaning things that haven't been tidied in days. Four dogs do make some mess and do leave some hair.  Not feeling very motivated, though.  Need to act like I care, which I do a tiny bit, but it's hard when it's so gorgeous outside. 

Love the new stove.  Boils things very quickly.  I hardly get out of the room but the tea kettle is boiling.  I'm used to waiting.  Oldest daughter made two casseroles---one for the party she's going to tonight, and one for us.  Will be nice to bake it in a clean and fresh oven.  Will have to think of something else to cook in there with it so much cooler in the house.

Must go now.  I'm wasting time here, and besides, my hours are numbered on this laptop.  Gary's computer up and died, I'm handing over this one to him and fourth son is giving me his Windows version laptop since he just got a Mac.  Will miss this faithful machine.  It's been mine, all mine, for 4 years---the first thing I spent a sizable amount on just for me.  And I've not had the ability to spend that sort of money since then, so it's special. May it give Gary as much pleasure as it's given me (sorry to be sappy, but I do love this laptop).

It's been a minor aggravation to move everything from this one over to a storage thingy (not sure what you call them), and hope I've got all my bases covered.  But it's just stuff.  No real biggie if I mess up.

Now must finish cleaning out the fridge.  Almost done.

Take care.

(clickable pinterest photo)

Stove woes

UPDATE to post that follows:  Gary went to Sears.  End of story. :)  We baked stuff for dinner...just nursery food (chicken nuggets and fries), and it was so nice to not have to rip off the tape at the side of the oven before using it!)

In a teensy bit of a quandary. Yesterday Gary spurred me on to look for a new oven, even though I'm content to repair ours.  We've been getting by with having a chair propped in front of it, along with tape on the sides to deal with the broken hinges.  Funny, or not so funny, but I've never had an oven with broken door hinges, and that's saying something.  Plus, we have to slam the door to get the igniter to work.  Annoying.  Gary's tired of fixing things around here, and I can't say as I blame him.  He's leery of repairing the door hinges on the stove, especially being that the door has warped a tiny bit with us forgetting (when it first happened) to grab the door when we opened it and it'd fly out and hit us on the knees.

Fast forward.  Last night I found a new oven not too far from here on Cr@igslist.  Never used and never hooked up.  Listed several days ago and no takers.  Odd.  Makes me wonder, but not wonder so much I didn't email the woman selling it.  Still available, but Gary's got a gut feeling it's not right.  Concerned about a warranty.  I dilly-dallied this morning, thinking about it, praying in my head and asking the kids what they thought.  I just wanted someone to tell me whether to pursue it further.  Fourth son brought up the warranty issue as well.  Kind of felt that that was confirmation to wait and see.  Or just wait.

Will email her back and say 'no cigar'....maybe a bit of a 'too good to be true' situation.  Pays to be careful, but man, it looked like a neat oven.  Last year, one of our neighbors was given a barely used gas oven from a friend at work who just didn't need it.  I love stories like that, and she isn't a believer, as a matter of fact is wary of Christians.  She got blessed without even trying.

Shows that you just never know.

(painting called  'breakfast tea' by deborah chabrian)

Yes, please.

(cottage photo from somewhere in google-land)

An ordinary day

'At Breakfast' by Laurits Andersen Ring, 1898

Some days seem more settled and in control from the get-go.  This was one of them.  Partly it's because I got a decent night's sleep---the first in longer than I'd care to admit.  I guess it was because only one boy was out late, getting in from the restaurant at midnight and he got quiet soon after---ate his dinner and went to bed.  There wasn't any nonsense with laughing and carrying on late from the others either.  That was nice for a change.  I like them to be happy, but earlier in the evening, if possible. :)

Took the three youngest on errands after our schoolwork was done soon after lunch.  We stopped off at the library to pick up some astronomy books and then went to the grocery store for milk and a couple of other things. We're so ordinary.  Nothing big and important---just plain living.

I like days like today---quiet, run-of-the-mill and refreshing.  When there are too many things rubbing up against me, I get antsy.  And this was definitely not one of those days.

First day of school

Resting now.  It was a good day---getting the school books organized, filling out some last-minute paperwork, and thankfully the kids are sort of excited about it. That's a huge help.  If I had kids that dragged their feet and made teaching them a misery, then this tale would have a very different ending.

And there's something settling about having the schooling to be a centerpiece of our days (with Latin being the center of the schooling itself, as I said yesterday).  After summer-time has passed, we need more structure and it seems lots of homeschooling moms say the same thing.  Reminds me of the scene with Julia Child (Merle Streep) talking about wanting "something to DO!"  My sentiments exactly.  No more 'chickens with their heads cut off' in our house, least for awhile.  Now, keeping the housework caught up with now that school is in session is another story......

(looking up school sites online w/ violet helping out)

Late Sunday

'Terrace & Observation Deck at the Moulin'-Van Gogh

So I'm wondering why my shoulders have been tense all week.  It's not been over-busy, though the 'would-be' truck theft was a wash (thankfully) and caused a bit of a rustle in my feathers.  Then first born called this afternoon and said he'd be driving in from Chicago to arrive after dark tonight.  Ah, that's the reason for the stress.  Makes all kinds of sense now.

Nice to have all my chickens under my roof tonight.  Our oldest spent a week in Chicago visiting friends, and he got some wonderful shots of the museums there.  You're allowed to take photos inside without flashes, so he got lots of beautiful pictures to share. We just watched a slide-show of about 200 of them.  My favorites were some Aztec pieces, but many Impressionist paintings and Egyptian art. Fabulous.  And truly, I've never seen so many Monets in one place. The painting at the side was one at the gallery as well.  It just popped out at me since it's one Van Gogh that I'd never seen.

Now off to bed.  First day of school beckoning and am slightly excited about it.  We're going to make Latin the centerpiece of their work, and since we did that years ago, I remember the year went so smoothly because of it. Art, lots of reading and Latin, with the math tucked in somewhere.  Maths aren't our strong point---sad, but it's true.  And in another perk...just teaching 3 of them this year with youngest son in 10th grade, middle daughter in 8th and the least one in 5th.  Not sure how our youngest child got that old...must've been when I wasn't looking!

Happy Labor Day

Fynn

Resting for a bit.  Got some groceries for a day or so, and have chicken poaching and yeast roll dough in its first rise.  Newly-graduated son is having his dinner tonight along with a few presents.  That'll be nice, especially since he's trying to decide whether to keep his current part-time job.

Two of the older boys work in the same restaurant, but this son is squirming a bit.  Doesn't really suit him and, while we've both given him our take on the situation (we'd both prefer he wait it out and try to maybe adjust his hours, if possible), the final decision is his whether he keeps the job or not.  The manager there is trying to convince him to stay, but unfortunately he's not an employer who keeps his word.  There's little incentive to continue on there, at least for this son who seems to need verbal encouragement more than the other boys.  Simply put...he's frustrated.

Well, we'll see.

Razor

But tonight's good.  Had a bit of thrill today when Gary sold his Fynn vapor.  It'll go up to Pennsylvania tomorrow.  And another person is taking Razor out for a test drive this week as well.  Funny what makes money, and Gary's tried lots of things to make money woodworking.

Just have to do today.  With most pressing bills paid, food for two dinners in the house along with toilet paper and milk, plus school starting tomorrow, I've got enough on my plate.  Not borrowing ANY trouble. :)

Channeling my inner C. S. Lewis

Church was excellent, as usual, and the confirmation class as well.  Could I be any happier there?  I really don't think so.

I still (repeating myself) am amazed at God's provision in my prayers for a church home.  Such delightful details have been provided for and I look back on how long I prayed so specifically and here I am.  The Anglican part is a bit of a surprise, but it fits so well.  Nobody in our family on either side is Anglican or an Episcopalian.  We're more the Methodist/Baptist/Presbyterian persuasion.

And interestingly enough, the priest talked about the sacraments today in class.  I was very pleased to hear that the Anglicans accept baptisms outside the Anglican church, even if performed by one who's not a minister, and the location of the baptism doesn't matter either.  The priest was pretty adamant about it.  The emphasis is that the baptism is said in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  That's key.  The one performing it is just a vessel for the Lord to work.   I won't go into sects that don't recognize the Trinity, because really, it goes without saying that those baptisms wouldn't be valid.

Am having to re-learn or adjust some of the things I've been taught in the past.  And it's not that I've been taught anything wrong, but it seems that so much legalism creeps in even when we're not watching out for it. That's missing with the Anglicans---at least what I'm seeing so far.  And fortunately the confirmation class gives such a thorough teaching on the history, etc. of the church.  I keep tripping up on their free usage of the word Catholic, but then again, when you've been brought up like I have---well, the thing is, it's okay to learn that all things outside the fundamental/evangelical protestant church world aren't evil! ;)

My contentment at this church experience runs deep.  Never in my life have I felt such a peace and right-ness at being in church.

And they're (or rather, we're) having a fish fry next month (doing happy dance).  It just keeps getting better and more Mitford-like every week. :)

Saturday before dinner

Got out for a bit with oldest daughter today. Lunch and a trip to a local Indie bookstore to pick out something for fourth son who graduated high school back in May. He wanted to postpone his celebratory dinner until everyone could be here, which is why it'll be on Monday night. And yes, it does seem as if we've delayed it long enough, my goodness.  The restaurant will be closed, and hopefully oldest son who's been vacationing in Chicago will have gotten back home by then as well. Everyone needs the time off...just to quit DOING SO MUCH.

Now onto other things.

I wish you could see this dumb dog we've got, and I mean it kindly. He's the stray oldest daughter brought home from work before Thanksgiving last fall. We think he's at least part Catahoula, which accounts for his coat and part of his personality. The maddening thing is that he's just like the dog, Dug, in the kids' movie, UP. Not smart, but sorta sweet.

Now, must go.  We're having breakfast for dinner.  Need to help the least one measure out for biscuits.

(clickable photo from pinterest)