Let the wild Bird in.....

This is an interesting post with some humor and a lot of food for thought.

Tried and True recipes: How to Preserve Children

Instructions from La Polette Cookbook:

1 large grassy field 

1 bushel fresh wildflowers 

1/2 dozen children 

3 or 4 small dogs 

a pinch of brook 

some small pebbles 

Mix the children and dogs well together and put them in the field, stirring constantly. Pour the brook over the pebbles, sprinkle the field with flowers; spread all over a deep blue sky and bake in a hot sun. When thoroughly browned, remove and set to cool in a bathtub.

Quotes from Pope Francis

Brighten up your outlook with these great quotes:


True power is service.  The Pope must serve all people, especially the poor, the weak, the vulnerable. (March 19)

We must not believe the Evil One when he tells us that there is nothing we can do in the face of violence, injustice and sin. (March 24)

Being with Jesus demands that we go out from ourselves, and from living a tired and habitual faith. (March 27)

To experience Holy Week is to enter more and more into God's logic of love and self-giving. (also March 27)

Accept the risen Jesus into your life. Even if you have been far away, take a small step towards him: he awaits you with open arms. (March 31)

God loves us.  We must not be afraid to love him.  The faith is professed with the lips and with the heart, through words and through love. (April 4)

How beautiful is the gaze with which Jesus regards us – how full of tenderness!  Let us never lose trust in the patience and mercy of God. (April 7)

Being a Christian is not just about following commandments: it is about letting Christ take possession of our lives and transform them. (April 10)

If we act like children of God, knowing that he loves us, our lives will be made new, filled with serenity and joy. (also April 10)

Worshipping God means learning to be with him, stripping away our hidden idols and placing him at the centre of our lives.(April 14)

Jesus’ ascension into heaven does not mean his absence, but that he is alive among us in a new way, close to each one of us. (April 17)

Each one of us longs for love, for truth, for life – and Jesus is all of these things in abundance! (April 22)

At this time of crisis it is important not to become closed in on oneself, but rather to be open and attentive towards others. (April 25)

Dear young people, do not bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you! Do not be afraid to dream of great things! (April 26)

The Holy Spirit truly transforms us. With our cooperation, he also wants to transform the world we live in. (April 28)

When Mimi gets a car someday

Diehard Heathenry

Diehard Heathenry

Drizzle-witch,
why do you drive
your load of mist
across my land?
For remedy
I will sacrifice to you
my cow, my wife,
and my Christianity.

[Hví svo þrúðgu þú
þokuhlassi
súldanorn
um sveitir ekur?
Þér man eg offra
til árbóta
kú og konu
og kristindómi.]

Jónas Hallgrímsson, “Dalabóndinn í óþurrknum,” from Ljóðmæli eptir Jónas Hallgrímsson (1847), online athttp://www.jonashallgrimsson.is/page/ljod_dalabondinn.

The above poem was copied from the blog The Joy of Curmudgeonry.  The author of the poem, Jonas Hallgrimsson, lived in Iceland during the first half of the 1800's.

Jeanne, Peter and I were discussing this poem this morning and i asked them, "Who do you suppose the Drizzle-witch is in our modern culture?"  Jeanne wondered if it would be pornography.  Peter suggested communism.  political correctness?  too much entertainment?

What are your thoughts?

Day before yesterday, Laura and Charlotte returned from North Carolina.  It was snowing on the day 6 weeks ago when they left Manassas, so Laura was amazed at all the green when they returned:  green leaves, green grass....especially green grass.....especially long green grass.....especially in their yard.  So this morning Peter and I stopped by to help laura with some of the lawn jobs, raking, weeding and mowing.





Here i am helping Laura mow the front yard:

"Keep up the good work, Laura"

She attacked the yard with a super hero vengeance:

Whilst wearing a lovely long dress:

and pushing a well designed lawn mower with at least one horse power:

well, not exactly like any of those pictures.....more like this:

Charlotte wants to try to mow next time:

But Mommy's got this job under control!

"now lets finish up the raking, dear"

May

This month

is dedicated to Mary,

 the Mother of Jesus.

Let's ask for her prayers for all of our family intentions!

Mother of Love and Holy Hope, pray for us and inspire our thoughts!

A well-spent day brings happy sleep. Leonardo da Vinci

Carl Larsson -- indoors

Tried and True recipe series: How to Preserve a Husband

Be careful in your selection,

Do  not choose too young,

When selected, give your entire thoughts to preparation for domestic use.

Some wives insist upon keeping them in a pickle,

Others are constantly getting them into hot water,

This may make them sour, hard and sometimes bitter,

Even poor varieties maybe made sweet, tender and good by garnishing them with patience,

well sweetened with love, and seasoned with kisses,.

Wrap them in a mantle of charity .

Keep it warm with a steady fire of  domestic devotion and serve with peaches and cream.

Thus prepared, they will keep for years.

Carl Larsson --- outdoors

Carl Larsson (1853-1919) is one of Sweden's best known artists.  Here is a sample of 

his outdoor paintings:

April golden, April cloudy, Gracious, cruel, tender, rowdy... Ogden Nash

Hey, this looks Interesting!

Nonie called today to tell us that this article is very well written and very interesting!


Thanks, Mom, I'm going to read it ASAP~  :-)

all too soon, peter....

you'll be going to dances yourself!

Tried and True recipes: The world's best Banana Bread (no kidding)

This recipe came from an online search, and it is so easy and delicious, it really is the world's best.  This recipe is taped inside our baking cabinet door for ninja power baking!

The BEST Banana Bread

Butter a non-stick bread pan, then flour well.  (The flour is really important for the bread to “climb” against while baking.  I had not done that before, and it makes a huge difference!)     Ususally just use vegetable spray and skip the flour.

Combine and mix well the following dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside:

2 cups AP flour

¾ cup sugar

½ cup toasted coarsely chopped walnuts

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

In another medium bowl, coarsely smash 3 ripe bananas (use a large spoon or spatula and don’t puree – the banana needs to be chunky)

To the bananas, add and combine: (but try not to reduce the banana chunks)

2 large eggs, beaten

6 Tablespoons melted butter  Canola oil is a great substitute!

1 teaspoon vanilla

¼ cup buttermilk or plain yogurt

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently FOLD until the flour is thoroughly moistened.  Pour into the prepared bread pan and spread the mixture evenly across the top.

To which add cranberries or blueberries, sprinkle the top with sugar.

Bake in a preheated 350-degree (F) oven for 45-50 minutes.

Serve with love  :-)

A baby will make 

love stronger,

 days shorter,

 nights longer,

 bankroll smaller,

 home happier,

 clothes shabbier,

 the past forgotten,

 and the future worth living for

Anonymous

from the garden

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, 

and forgot to put a soul into. 

 ~Henry Beecher, Life Thoughts, 1858

Kenny is starting a genealogy blog!

full of interesting names, dates and places!

 it does say Pedigree up there, and up til today i did not realize

 that Ken, 

wonderful as he is,

 has his own Pedigree!

 also featuring lovely ladies!

gentlemen in uniform!

and frolicking families!

his blog can be found at Myers Family Tree

Ken has discovered some wonderful stories!  enjoy!

thrilling thrifting

how does tee get anything done with this living little doll around the house?

This cute crocheted bonnet and sweater looks so sweet on Kateri!

that's my opinion....

but, i think Kateri is still thinking it over!