tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57491312563473276672024-03-05T13:56:14.899-05:00Hilltop Farma blog about loving, learning and living in rural Virginia ... pull up a chair and set a spell!Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.comBlogger464125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-63323015141492431882011-05-01T00:01:00.004-04:002011-05-01T00:01:01.178-04:00moving again ....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyemXPMgm0OSTAlmmo6bw5JZTugmgHCQc5OpTGF7kRQS9ENp0GY6vLFxkUEM6kJS_uqULrbS8KOYtxceoQZHRngR_J85DzE0hW8TQ8BE35kaHEgbWtKzvOQuaVvhg_VprG35yeaeDsrEp/s1600/copyright+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyemXPMgm0OSTAlmmo6bw5JZTugmgHCQc5OpTGF7kRQS9ENp0GY6vLFxkUEM6kJS_uqULrbS8KOYtxceoQZHRngR_J85DzE0hW8TQ8BE35kaHEgbWtKzvOQuaVvhg_VprG35yeaeDsrEp/s320/copyright+heart.jpg" width="320" /></a>.... before you faint, no we're not moving physical abodes ... we REALLY like Virginia. <br />
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But we are moving to a full website with blog and other stuff that I think you'll enjoy. So re-set your favorite to:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.marygildersleeve.com/">www.marygildersleeve.com</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for reading this note and heading on over ... click around and let me know what you think (remembering of course that it is a work in progress and may still need a little bit of tweaking)!</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-8904068745937397142011-04-27T07:19:00.001-04:002011-04-27T07:52:05.538-04:00Yarn-Along: April 27th ... Easter break and lots of driving ...... and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">therefore, lots of knitting</span>!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a single photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2011/04/yarn-along_27.html">Ginny at small things</a></i></span><br />
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<hr /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We were blessed to be able to take a short road-trip down to North Carolina to visit dear friends for Easter and a few days after. About 20 minutes from their house on Easter Sunday, our van started making a very odd, scary sound (so worrisome, I actually stopped knitting for that final stage of the drive!). We got to the house and the men took care of the van (we got it back on Monday evening, $300 later!) while the kids played with their NC counterparts and the mom and I knitted. Poor dear, she's pregnant with their 8th and so can't knit too long ... it makes her dizzy. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But I got lots done. Here's what I got done since last week:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1z2VBSb6ZVHtwnfnxYLYV1LhmsLQqTzPE6vBtCfxMUUtZ2Q55G0ahHyJuqOMFmVQiS9D2Do-dY5fE0LriPCGsEJUec1ydc7kr6hx50FQ7AqSByMLA1y_23JCOfR7xVuBrDwNSfacUjKZW/s1600/042711a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1z2VBSb6ZVHtwnfnxYLYV1LhmsLQqTzPE6vBtCfxMUUtZ2Q55G0ahHyJuqOMFmVQiS9D2Do-dY5fE0LriPCGsEJUec1ydc7kr6hx50FQ7AqSByMLA1y_23JCOfR7xVuBrDwNSfacUjKZW/s640/042711a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Two scarves in <a href="http://www.springgatefarm.com/goats/fiber/">cashmere/silk/merino blend</a> (yes, VERY luscious!) -- the top one is a gorgeous teal that I've called "The Long and Winding Road" while the lower one is a beautiful true royal blue that is called "Lapis Lazuli Lace". Both patterns <i>should </i>be up by the end of the week ....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5GDC8eXefoqzUDFEICgTZk0DBtf6SB5rNaYTv-eg2lfRYKJB9JyQaZ3nWJyIEEkEntKsv1Q8q7h4Qf56B7Eud1W77ST4_F3OVBEBB-Cv-ppwX1JtoQo-21EZ8JxWZN_dfXfKufUvLkps/s1600/042711b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5GDC8eXefoqzUDFEICgTZk0DBtf6SB5rNaYTv-eg2lfRYKJB9JyQaZ3nWJyIEEkEntKsv1Q8q7h4Qf56B7Eud1W77ST4_F3OVBEBB-Cv-ppwX1JtoQo-21EZ8JxWZN_dfXfKufUvLkps/s640/042711b.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A cable sampler jacket is currently on the needles. Knit with KP's Cadena (a wool/alpaca blend bulky) the jacket is going quickly. The welt is a cable I "unvented" which grows into a 9-stitch braided plait with seed stitch as the ground. I have jury-duty today and tomorrow, so I can get lots done on the jacket today!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Read-aloud? Not so much read since it's Easter break 'round these parts! On my nightstand, I'm just about done with <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Motherless-Brian-J-Gail/dp/1559220635?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Motherless</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1559220635" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></b> ... a fiction book packed with Church teaching (and the explanations of) for all things bioethical -- end of life, abortafacients/abortions, IVF, etc. What a great book ... I can't wait to review it! I'm also reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Smashing-WordPress-Beyond-Blog-Magazine/dp/1119995965?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>Smashing WordPress</i></b> </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1119995965" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />to get my new website up and running -- I've got a deadline of May 1st to have it ready; next week, the yarn-along will come from there (God willing!).</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How has your knitting and reading been progressing? Don't forget to check-in over at <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2011/04/yarn-along_27.html">small things</a> and catch up with all the others as we participate in this week's yarn-along. [Oh and do leave me comments on your reaction to my knitting ... I love comments and advice and suggestions!]</span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a><align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-47571823393705591412011-04-20T06:52:00.002-04:002011-04-20T11:58:31.875-04:00Yarn-Along: April 20th .... lots of knitting accomplished this week!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a single photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/">Ginny at small things</a></i></span></div><br />
<hr />Wow, this has been an amazingly prolific knitting week (must be because we did a 6-hour round-trip road-trip with dh driving and me knitting!). That said, here is what I got accomplished since last week:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KaDRRrreJCRTOyQ7T461kRHspt0Hp8R03BSikN_CzKJ_K9l51A5dCBBvZ_NnnQh6b4UwLgf8fYQw_EXlrmDMscoC0Ry-0h41FQn34fhAM9IfEbTYBwMjBIBMTaQfWfJDbq3mfpo4w68t/s1600/after+blocking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KaDRRrreJCRTOyQ7T461kRHspt0Hp8R03BSikN_CzKJ_K9l51A5dCBBvZ_NnnQh6b4UwLgf8fYQw_EXlrmDMscoC0Ry-0h41FQn34fhAM9IfEbTYBwMjBIBMTaQfWfJDbq3mfpo4w68t/s400/after+blocking.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Spring is Blooming baby blanket (30" diameter) - (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/by-hand-with-heart--hand-knit-designs/63662">immediate pdf download $5.00</a>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpbSkb_5uOyK7p-TKUGj2xDlM7sE6P2ZNg1HKDf-GSCH1crvOINVTO8SZvNwbA1Yd67EvZiKlEoDN0718ZpAhEIf9EOw94FEWJcs7oQilk7a7F2lllNNK3_f2bFK7WCPIvHa37yRpeDve/s1600/vest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpbSkb_5uOyK7p-TKUGj2xDlM7sE6P2ZNg1HKDf-GSCH1crvOINVTO8SZvNwbA1Yd67EvZiKlEoDN0718ZpAhEIf9EOw94FEWJcs7oQilk7a7F2lllNNK3_f2bFK7WCPIvHa37yRpeDve/s400/vest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Malcolm's Easy-Peasy, One-Piece One-Button Vest (pattern coming soon)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JPX7W78XxbXXSUylB_s6fgQtx6ZOzNYpeyIaQc5ilRupAnqdiBf1fwbL1cX-_uX5XH39fHLEQTfxhGWcFHYYqfLnSWp3Can_nMeZqhC0QiGS9-KRAmba8kTJOjVf3WNxn-a2EJ9oY6Rn/s1600/mitts+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JPX7W78XxbXXSUylB_s6fgQtx6ZOzNYpeyIaQc5ilRupAnqdiBf1fwbL1cX-_uX5XH39fHLEQTfxhGWcFHYYqfLnSWp3Can_nMeZqhC0QiGS9-KRAmba8kTJOjVf3WNxn-a2EJ9oY6Rn/s400/mitts+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Hand-dyed Harvest Fingerless Mitts (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/by-hand-with-heart--hand-knit-designs/63825">immediate pdf download $4.00</a>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nCnggsAn3GzaNVD8Y78WcW5HEbCqShVIZh6402PgtFU61ncFCy4RAYxEW0fqX3EurgiQ7vMl5629UBsOIbKIZ2DiLTM1pkmzxpH_jpP0Sv5ySOXghIDMTS00qutUukNKs1lPrCGwY66u/s1600/royal+red+blocking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nCnggsAn3GzaNVD8Y78WcW5HEbCqShVIZh6402PgtFU61ncFCy4RAYxEW0fqX3EurgiQ7vMl5629UBsOIbKIZ2DiLTM1pkmzxpH_jpP0Sv5ySOXghIDMTS00qutUukNKs1lPrCGwY66u/s400/royal+red+blocking.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ruby Red Butterfly scarf (pattern coming soon)</div>Cool, huh? But with that much knitting, not so much reading got done. I did finish <a href="http://vahilltopfarm.blogspot.com/2011/04/review-no-he-cant-how-barack-obama-is.html"><i><b>No He Can't</b></i></a> (scariest book I've ever read but a must-read for all voters). Here are the books we're reading this week:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e9FnnKtU5UDnz3wf4FagxzrUD6Zeef2e_kVVm11bVgZRk5W07yQc9dIV8SVVXyDYfUwRtKPMDzZldV_ef68tXmy4lw6rGaYKQCgkLKmjy4frOD-IfbpTVAl3NnN7mrL0Vov_ImdwCJqo/s1600/042011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e9FnnKtU5UDnz3wf4FagxzrUD6Zeef2e_kVVm11bVgZRk5W07yQc9dIV8SVVXyDYfUwRtKPMDzZldV_ef68tXmy4lw6rGaYKQCgkLKmjy4frOD-IfbpTVAl3NnN7mrL0Vov_ImdwCJqo/s400/042011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The family reading: we're still working on our Shakespeare unit using <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Shakespeare-Signet-Classics-Charles/dp/0451530640?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">the Lamb book</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0451530640" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/BBC-Shakespeare-Comedies-DVD-Giftbox/dp/B0000APNTV?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">BBC dvds</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0000APNTV" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (got thru <i>MacBeth</i> and <i>Merchant of Venice</i>; this week, we'll do <i>Taming of the Shrew</i> and <i>As You Like It</i>). We're also reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Vermeer-Blue-Balliett/dp/0439372976?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>Chasing Vermeer</i></b></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0439372976" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, a great first novel with puzzles and mysteries woven throughout the story ... plus all the rabbit trails for art history!<br />
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My reading: I'm still getting up to speed on CSS and HTML and WordPress tech stuff. I'm such a geek ... I LOVE this stuff! I also just started <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Motherless-Brian-J-Gail/dp/1559220635?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>Motherless</i></b></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1559220635" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> ... an amazing bioethics novel that grabs you from the get-go! Written with a decidedly active Catholic world-view, this is an interesting story about end-of-life issues. Very good so far.<br />
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On the knitting needles: since I just finished the Ruby Red Butterfly last night, I haven't cast on yet. But that little ball of yarn? A blend of cashmere (50%), silk (25%) and merino (25%) in a lovely deep teal color ... yes, I swooned when I got it! (The Ruby Red is made with the same fiber blend ... knits lovely and has GREAT color definition). I've already charted the stitch-pattern for that one ... a cable/lace scarf!<br />
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Ginny is <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2011/04/yarn-along_20.html">a little late posting this week's yarn-along</a> ... but feel free to leave comments below and let me know what's on your needles and on your reading table! And a blessed and happy Easter to one and all.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-26207334371077676142011-04-19T07:53:00.000-04:002011-04-19T07:53:23.515-04:00Review: No He Can't: How Barack Obama is dismantling hope and changeDisclaimer: I rec'd a review copy of this book through the publisher's <a href="http://www.booksneeze.com/">Book Sneeze</a> review program. The review below is my honest reaction to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-He-Cant-Barack-Dismantling/dp/159555338X?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">No He Can't: How Barack Obama is dismantling hope and change</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dKqXfP_GiztutI3kvrH2CFLiggbST8VtOu-N6HGdzWD_4Rgz78akL7VVsGGen6r98Ks0UlUfAqRWA8jg_U_vhlGYSd75kUqZgmHXNsIs8tZlhAJJ1_RlZV9VfUyuf0LtVuYbLO51Ymh1/s1600/No+He+Can%2527t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dKqXfP_GiztutI3kvrH2CFLiggbST8VtOu-N6HGdzWD_4Rgz78akL7VVsGGen6r98Ks0UlUfAqRWA8jg_U_vhlGYSd75kUqZgmHXNsIs8tZlhAJJ1_RlZV9VfUyuf0LtVuYbLO51Ymh1/s400/No+He+Can%2527t.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>I've been to many places in my almost-50 years of life and I have to say I love our country -- there are few places on this earth that can boast of major political upheavals occurring peacefully, of the freedoms we Americans have and use daily, of the wealth and power of our nation. But these great benefits come with a price -- the price of responsibility for knowing what is happening in our country, of knowing what our employees (remember, when you vote someone into office, they are for all intents and purposes your employees -- if you don't like what they are doing, you must "fire" them!). in Washington are doing for us, and in ensuring that we never allow these rights, these freedoms to be taken from ANY American.<br />
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Kevin McCullough's book, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-He-Cant-Barack-Dismantling/dp/159555338X?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">No He Can't</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=159555338X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></b>, is a book that every voting-age (or even, soon-to-be voting age) American should read. McCullough defines four major policies areas and what the current administration, that is, Mr. Obama, is saying he'll do, is actually doing and what the end results will be if these policies remain unchecked. The policies areas covered include:<br />
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<ol><li>the economy -- on the campaign trail, Mr. Obama stated that there would be no tax increase for families making less than $250,000 per year; but in the same speeches, he swore he would remove the tax breaks of the Bush administration -- the net result? By cancelling the tax breaks, the tax bill for everyone went up. The $1.3 TRILLION stimulus package, the brain-child of such experts as Mr. Obama, Mr. Reid and Ms. Pelosi -- a package that could have been distributed to each family in the United States (where a family of four could be given a check for $17,000) -- instead went for corporate bail-outs, "cash for clunkers" (that no one wanted anyway and which ran out of funding within a week of the program's start), and millions to STD awareness. In other words, the huge national debt incurred by this stimulus package was a major flop ... and one that we'll be paying for the next few centuries. Remember, these politicians are our employees -- "we the people" elected them and asked them to do a job; is this the job we asked them to do?</li>
<li>national security and international policies -- in May 2010, Mr. Obama gave the commencement speech at WestPoint. His topic was that he was intent on shaping a new international order, to minimize the US role of securing democratic values around the world, and "implied that America should not claim the mantle or the right of self-protection or self-responsibility" (pg 79). He was talking to newly graduated Army officers, men and women who would shortly be asked to go out and defend our country -- and the President of the United States tells them he's basically moving toward getting rid of these jobs? That's like telling a group of new-hires in a company that in the next few years, we won't need you anymore! Mr. Obama, who seems to promote a non-American agenda (buddying-up to anti-American international leaders like Chavez of Venezuela and Castro of Cuba, embracing blatantly non-democratic policies),on one of his first international trips as President he spoke to a group of Egyptian students in Cairo; the speech "equated the roots of freedom in the United States with the origins of Islam, a religious system that enslaves women and dehumanizes and kills opponents" (pg 84). Really? Is this what we want our hired President to say? Is this what we think? </li>
<li>domestic policies -- all of the domestic policies pushed by the Obama administration (health care bill, education policies, recreating the definition of "family", allowing millions of federal dollars to go to Planned Parenthood, etc) seek to shift our democracy to a socialist state through more and more, bigger and bigger government, to cause our free market economy to implode, and to punish those who disagree with his policies. When the blogosphere was rampant with critical essays about the proposed health bill, the White House website asked readers to send links to anti-administration posts to the White House so they could track the dissidents! Really? In a democratic country, we're encouraged to rat on each other? Hmmm ... so much for the First Amendment! Is this what we want our elected officials to say and do?</li>
</ol>The final section of the book, "render unto Caesar", lays-out what "we the people" need to do. McCullough asks the reader: how do we treat our political officials, and most especially, how do we treat our President? We elect these folks ... and the elected officials are our employees. If they are not doing their job, they need to be fired. We are stockholders in the country, we all benefit when all is well and we all suffer when things are not good. We elect officials who we think will fix things. We have hope that our officials will fix what's broken, leave the overall good things in place, and make, FIRST, the country a better place, and SECOND, make the world a better place. Is our current administration doing this? Why not?<br />
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Politically, I'm a conservative -- want smaller government, less federal spending, protection of rights for all humans (from the pre-born to natural death). I am a Roman Catholic and believe in a merciful God and my right to practice my religion. I don't want any of these things taken away ... I don't want a debt that my great-great-great-grandchildren will have to cover. I don't want bigger and bigger government. I don't want a socialist state where the liberal elite tell me and mine what we should do. I am part of "we the people" and I think Mr. Obama needs to be "fired" at his next "review" time. <br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>I highly recommend this book to all voting-age Americans!Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-88415122304358935042011-04-18T19:49:00.000-04:002011-04-18T19:49:20.542-04:00I love my UPS man ...... look what he brought today:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmaJKTbh8MTtiFShRvSjpg2FA6sQ6i717CafxvCw85RoKLUKI6zMFw4mqQlsArtHScoPCWU5up7GHdkmX7cqBL09Ll6Zn9yGB5xuaPSzXR2C8Wb5G7x8aJ3kjgskCztVaWRRELUyd5GX8/s1600/more+knitting+in+the+sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmaJKTbh8MTtiFShRvSjpg2FA6sQ6i717CafxvCw85RoKLUKI6zMFw4mqQlsArtHScoPCWU5up7GHdkmX7cqBL09Ll6Zn9yGB5xuaPSzXR2C8Wb5G7x8aJ3kjgskCztVaWRRELUyd5GX8/s640/more+knitting+in+the+sun.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a href="http://livingknitting.blogspot.com/2011/04/look-what-i-received-in-mail-today.html">check out this post</a> ... the top in the center of the cover -- it's mine~! For more info, check out this link:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/More-Knitting-Sun-Patterns-Knit/dp/0470874481?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>More Knitting in the Sun</i></b></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0470874481" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> ...<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-73692538907439934972011-04-18T07:18:00.000-04:002011-04-18T07:18:03.956-04:00Abandonment to Divine Providence is like a tapestry ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n3EpH0iwR7CSpQ-KdAkE2qo_5o0-qXBwjsdwqw0smNFzefOTcvs2YEHopH4oc1sfLZAT19BczA0PcmdI-jB56GFoCpdS3tMTIiNMVYY3R9uklwDAsbKXyj3rS0N6xtP9rdetX6lmPBuI/s1600/Gods+achievement+like+a+tapestry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n3EpH0iwR7CSpQ-KdAkE2qo_5o0-qXBwjsdwqw0smNFzefOTcvs2YEHopH4oc1sfLZAT19BczA0PcmdI-jB56GFoCpdS3tMTIiNMVYY3R9uklwDAsbKXyj3rS0N6xtP9rdetX6lmPBuI/s640/Gods+achievement+like+a+tapestry.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
knitting directions for the baby blanket pictured can be purchased through<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/stores/by-hand-with-heart--hand-knit-designs"> my Ravelry Store</a> ... the blanket (30" diameter) is titled, "<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spring-is-blooming-baby-blanket">Spring is Blooming</a>".<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-29795034993439573302011-04-13T05:59:00.000-04:002011-04-13T05:59:18.272-04:00Yarn-along: April 13th and Spring has sprung!After what seemed like YEARS of winter weather (not snow, but ooky-mooky, icy cold days and dreary skies), we are FINALLY getting a bit of spring. This week we're getting rain that promises to have our garden blooming fit to beat the band -- the dogwoods are blooming out, the hostas are unfurling and the Japanese maples are covered in red-green leaves. Gorgeous even if the sky is not!<br />
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But, you've come to see what I have for this week's yarn-along, haven't you. Here's the idea:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"><i>~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a single photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2011/04/yarn-along_13.html">Ginny @ small things</a>.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"><i></i></span></div><hr /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nsuc_2q8IwN7SuRm_eFfpaeIouSSsz7d86uwJh_WOPcN3PdkAmH09Stb4YE-ZQ7qHS71ID7GrE_VhR9BzEgD09f8hOuRkjbV6u_Da8_TgSn3cbgKjb0GYjQ3mXGsn2JGiIWlYt2flCiD/s1600/041311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nsuc_2q8IwN7SuRm_eFfpaeIouSSsz7d86uwJh_WOPcN3PdkAmH09Stb4YE-ZQ7qHS71ID7GrE_VhR9BzEgD09f8hOuRkjbV6u_Da8_TgSn3cbgKjb0GYjQ3mXGsn2JGiIWlYt2flCiD/s640/041311.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">This is our yarn-along!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><u>On the needles</u>: a baby blanket for a dear friend (and dh's colleague) whose wife just had their 4th child ... a beautiful baby girl ... last week. The blanket is knit in the round, so you're not getting the full effect here (as it's still on the circs), but the yarn is different shades of Dale of Norway's Falk (a washable wool version of their traditional Heilo). With a pink center and than 3 shades of purple ... it's very appropriate for a baby born right before Easter!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">The yarn skeins on the right are kool-aid dyed yarns we did yesterday in our St. Agnes Fiber Club. The greens/blues is in fingering weight for a pair of socks for me and fingerless mitts for BamBam while the reds/purples is a worsted weight for me to make String Bean a pair of fingerless mitts, too. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><u>On the reading table</u>: we finished <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Another-Whole-Nother-Story-Cuthbert/dp/1599904365?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Another Whole Nother Story</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1599904365" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></b> and I decided we'd do a fun introductory unit to Shakespeare. Using the classic Charles and Mary Lamb<b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Shakespeare-Signet-Classics-Charles/dp/0451530640?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Tales from Shakespeare</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial !important; border-width: initial !important;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0451530640" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></b> as our spine, we'll learn about the master's comedies and dramas. We've started with Macbeth ... having read the Lamb synopsis, and having memorized the witches' "boil, boil, toil and trouble" speech, we're now in the process of watching <a href="http://www.amazon.com/BBC-Shakespeare-Tragedies-DVD-Giftbox/dp/B00006FXDE?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">a BBC version</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00006FXDE" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />. We're just about finished and will then turn to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/BBC-Shakespeare-Comedies-DVD-Giftbox/dp/B0000APNTV?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Merchant of Venice</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0000APNTV" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> for something just a tad "lighter". This is a GREAT way for the kids to learn about (and learn to love) Shakespeare before having to analyze his works to death later on.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">My reading: I'm building a new website (to be unveiled soon ... please pray for me!) so of course I've been poring over books like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/WordPress-Dummies-3rd-Lisa-Sabin-Wilson/dp/0470592745?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>WordPress for Dummies</i></b></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0470592745" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (which is excellent, btw). I'm also continuing my early morning spiritual reading/prayer time with the classic, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Abandonment-Divine-Providence-Pierre-Caussade/dp/1611043182?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Abandonment-Divine-Providence-Pierre-Caussade/dp/1611043182?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>Abandonment to Divine Providence</i></b></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1611043182" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1611043182" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />. Since I'm such a fiber-fanatic, and to prep for my talk this past weekend (which went wonderfully ... thanks for the prayers), I've been loving reading the pre-publication copy of <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fleece-Fiber-Sourcebook-Fibers-Animal/dp/1603427112?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1603427112" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></b> (review coming soon): this is a treasure trove of clear and concise information about all animal fibers used to make yarn (weaving/knitting). This book is eye-candy for this fiber fanatic!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Enjoy your day .... visit the other folks who participate in Ginny's yarn-along ... and let me know, too, what's on your needles and on your reading table!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">BTW, the wrap I was working on last week ... </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QQ67ie_ObsneO7VlVd2LPckKPo4rolNd1rk8pt2GV5Gms355rCeWX-bBluddO2ZOmmCecmVuwzpBOiJAa4KSJXoODA_XvnnbmLR8fkJa5cqmMrlVpnhQw9LLpUCVYzT6X1OOxmCIvAdf/s1600/Spring+Garden+wrap+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QQ67ie_ObsneO7VlVd2LPckKPo4rolNd1rk8pt2GV5Gms355rCeWX-bBluddO2ZOmmCecmVuwzpBOiJAa4KSJXoODA_XvnnbmLR8fkJa5cqmMrlVpnhQw9LLpUCVYzT6X1OOxmCIvAdf/s640/Spring+Garden+wrap+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Spring Garden wrap</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">...<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/by-hand-with-heart--hand-knit-designs/63290"> immediate download</a> from my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/stores/by-hand-with-heart--hand-knit-designs">Ravelry store</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">for $6.00 (MUST be able to read charts!)</span></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-63710608834623207492011-04-08T17:06:00.000-04:002011-04-08T17:06:41.235-04:00So, where will you be on May 7th?Here's an email I just got:<br />
<br />
<i>THERE BE DRAGONS:</i><br />
<i>Everyone, take a look at this movie trailer for <a href="http://www.dragonsresources.com/">THERE BE DRAGONS</a>. It's a powerful film about love and redemption, directed by Roland Joffe (The Mission, The Killing Fields). It opens in theaters May 6!</i><br />
<i><object height="390" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kwgo9sldmwU&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kwgo9sldmwU&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object></i><br />
<br />
<br />
This looks like it will be a great movie! Here's a bit about the story-line:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 250px;"><i>[It's] an epic action-adventure romance set during the turmoil of the Spanish Civil War. The story traces the lives of two young men, Josemaria Escriva (Charlie Cox) and Manolo Torres (Wes Bentley), childhood friends who are separated by the political upheaval of pre-war Spain to find themselves on opposite sides as war erupts. Choosing peace, Josemaria becomes a priest and struggles to spread reconciliation by founding the movement Opus Dei (work of God).</i></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 250px;"><i>Manolo chooses war and becomes a spy for the fascists. He becomes obsessed with a beautiful Hungarian revolutionary, Ildiko, who has joined the militia in pursuit of passion and purpose. But when Ildiko rejects him out of love for the courageous militia leader Oriol, Manolo's jealousy leads him down a path of betrayal.</i></div></span><br />
A group has gotten a viewing down here in Fredericksburg on May 7th at 7p.m. (movie location TBA). I know we'll be going. Why don't you think about joining us .... or check if it's in your area the weekend of May 6th ...<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-66283654537537847222011-04-06T06:07:00.001-04:002011-04-06T06:37:20.293-04:00Yarn-along: April 6th and all is well ...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"><i>~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a single photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"><i><a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2011/04/yarn-along.html">Ginny ... small things</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"></span></div><hr /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXCTahSu8oJG1mmn4RVblzKzVosS6DVuN_I05lwFd32MA9fxXQ0Lc396-zcFRLIqxpLxRi3OR8I5VEGu2HyuulSZ26ZkTtesQxQn2Gw6Mr3tEEIRngpVpKkoA3M15hGGRzZy8IJS2RaB8/s1600/040611+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXCTahSu8oJG1mmn4RVblzKzVosS6DVuN_I05lwFd32MA9fxXQ0Lc396-zcFRLIqxpLxRi3OR8I5VEGu2HyuulSZ26ZkTtesQxQn2Gw6Mr3tEEIRngpVpKkoA3M15hGGRzZy8IJS2RaB8/s640/040611+a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;">... on the reading front -- the kids' read-aloud has slowed a bit since we had a few days of gorgeous weather and they wanted to be out and about but we are almost done with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Another-Whole-Nother-Story-Cuthbert/dp/1599904365?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>Another Whole Nother Story</i></b></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1599904365" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> ... any suggestions for what should we read next? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;">I'm about half thru <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-He-Cant-Barack-Dismantling/dp/159555338X?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">No He Can't</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=159555338X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></b> ... wow, this is the scariest book I've ever read! Hard to imagine a, this guy was elected president, and b, that he thinks he should be given another four years .... McCullough's book is an amazing indictment of the machinations of this particular politico!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;">... on the knitting front all is well! Just about finished with "Spring Garden wrap" (will post the pattern soon) done in a lovely sage-y green of cashmere/bamboo blend that knits up like a dream. The white pieces are some short-row samples for <a href="http://www.doghouseyarns.com/retreat.html">my talk this weekend at Graves Mountain</a> (please pray for me ... and there may be a few spaces left if you'd like to join us out in the mountains). </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJRNTzoW8osBX8X4s-ibVhJcJUgYEboeUnQLcDcM96TIHuaFAuZ_DWYWRwMTZqzRlr6n1GB5TUKYLzcrNGb-3-XDPvIwjgbWfcPTT3bIjDKW9Y_vvCYh-C_n32cY7hGG8xjTy3Vp-Uigx/s1600/040611+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJRNTzoW8osBX8X4s-ibVhJcJUgYEboeUnQLcDcM96TIHuaFAuZ_DWYWRwMTZqzRlr6n1GB5TUKYLzcrNGb-3-XDPvIwjgbWfcPTT3bIjDKW9Y_vvCYh-C_n32cY7hGG8xjTy3Vp-Uigx/s400/040611+b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;">I've also been playing with knitted hearts. These two came from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-hearts">this great FREE design Teresa Fox</a> did up. These are so cool: they're knitted in one-piece, stuffed (or not), felted (or not). The multi-color one is KP's Bare Superwash wool ... dyed in a crockpot with kool-aid! The dyeing technique is easy, clean and gives great results (and the house smells like kool-aid for a bit!). I didn't stuff that one, but instead left it flat. The green-ish one on the left is Plymouth's "Poems" a silk/wool blend that I stuffed. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;">I've also been playing with starting up a website (thanks to a dear friend's web expertise) and have been playing with a new logo:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXFPhHh0xDoogw_pbTyTUglON9NNHB9pq7GBVVdf1-zwZZhWvAPiHoHEGKuWKXy2UVALF-6slPLLGT2sdTiDK3HGa3zovxVP8DqkKPd5Q3vR1V9U6SEuik9H8A2wd_UVOaeQa0bPodhTI/s1600/new+heart+logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXFPhHh0xDoogw_pbTyTUglON9NNHB9pq7GBVVdf1-zwZZhWvAPiHoHEGKuWKXy2UVALF-6slPLLGT2sdTiDK3HGa3zovxVP8DqkKPd5Q3vR1V9U6SEuik9H8A2wd_UVOaeQa0bPodhTI/s640/new+heart+logo.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;">What do you think of the design? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"></span></div><hr /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;">Come<a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2011/04/yarn-along.html"> join our yarn-along</a> ... always great fun to see what others have on their needles and on their reading tables! I get such great ideas for both ... </span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-80485653044959047442011-04-04T13:21:00.000-04:002011-04-04T13:21:34.245-04:00Help support creativity and get some real bang for your buck!<text-align="right">Last week, I found out about the coolest thing ... a way to support creative efforts, fledgling artists, published designers do even more. Shannon Okey (the brains behind the phenomenal publishing house of <a href="http://www.knitgrrl.com/">Cooperative Press,</a> hand-knits designer and all round amazingly creative woman) has started<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1559246367/cooperative-press-indie-fiber-fashion-publishing"> a month-long campaign to do even more for indie knitting designers</a>, using a program called Kickstarter.</text-align="right"><br />
<text-align="right"></text-align="right"><br />
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<text-align="right">Here's a video that shows some of the designs that are going into the new series Shannon is publishing: Fresh Designs:<iframe frameborder="0" height="410px" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1559246367/cooperative-press-indie-fiber-fashion-publishing/widget/video.html" width="480px"></iframe></text-align="right"><br />
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<text-align="right">I have some designs in these upcoming books -- a set of knitted dolls for Fresh Designs: Toys and a set of southwest-inspired sofa pillows in Fresh Designs: Home. </text-align="right"><br />
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<text-align="right">Now, these books will be published this summer regardless of Shannon matching (or even better, beating) her goal of $5000. The important thing here ... and why I've already pledged a bit ... is that this is a chance to help an indie publisher, indie hand-knits designers, and a host of other folks do something very cool ... very creative. Any pledge, large or small (even $1) will help. There are some cool incentives for different pledge points -- including copies of the 10-book Fresh Design books!</text-align="right"><br />
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<text-align="right">So what are you waiting for? <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1559246367/cooperative-press-indie-fiber-fashion-publishing">Go make a pledge, would ya</a>? And thanks .... from one of many independent hand-knits designers!</text-align="right"><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-41530136067205188482011-04-02T12:42:00.000-04:002011-04-02T12:42:44.925-04:00BamBam grows up ...... and makes his First Holy Communion today!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsay_u_apAoCnQLnT7R21l6IDS-XLHoj8rgMTMDgT6icrYZZdBA9XWWQCKIokgBlGCH4u2c1YjsYskJndaw0xulr9o_mVtU_7cAGL8mg7Yjz28l3jxUN0s5AIChQnzsHaAUHTQmivzv3-0/s1600/Fr+G+and+JP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsay_u_apAoCnQLnT7R21l6IDS-XLHoj8rgMTMDgT6icrYZZdBA9XWWQCKIokgBlGCH4u2c1YjsYskJndaw0xulr9o_mVtU_7cAGL8mg7Yjz28l3jxUN0s5AIChQnzsHaAUHTQmivzv3-0/s640/Fr+G+and+JP.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today is the anniversary of John Paul the Great's death and so we thought it appropriate for our BamBam to make his FHC on the date when his patron was sent home to the Father. As an added bonus, it was First Saturday, so we had Morning Prayer, Rosary, Confession AND Mass. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPF5VTucHMHUtRYvp5_phPe0dw8my9cGmP-XulxwhKR74nTDs8Z2RuR8MIX-rj3ACTF8ejBbkQKcIp77njmp5bJXaAVkrozy7y6EFQU4S2PtK7rNy1noRsq959LkDFQj7SeSuaO-4jD9qP/s1600/the+gang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPF5VTucHMHUtRYvp5_phPe0dw8my9cGmP-XulxwhKR74nTDs8Z2RuR8MIX-rj3ACTF8ejBbkQKcIp77njmp5bJXaAVkrozy7y6EFQU4S2PtK7rNy1noRsq959LkDFQj7SeSuaO-4jD9qP/s640/the+gang.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">LegoManiac was able to serve and String Bean was happy to have a chance to dress up and look lovely in pink!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Congrats, BamBam ... we are very proud of you and love you very much!</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a><align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-88314237225525967002011-04-01T06:29:00.000-04:002011-04-01T06:29:24.821-04:00Thoughts to carry us into the weekend ...... at the midpoint of our Lenten journey:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S4lPMrR6W3Ngm9Z610ndaZ7I19GEVZjGvlWuFyONjOS9x5QI72Kv6pQd2dGcwBhWf_kde9QMXmT_Lk2H8awQuDqTgTke12JQA_4Eicx-BzAhdEIFDq6N2LRa2FciQ6Y4w8tCSsOERI9a/s1600/moment+to+moment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S4lPMrR6W3Ngm9Z610ndaZ7I19GEVZjGvlWuFyONjOS9x5QI72Kv6pQd2dGcwBhWf_kde9QMXmT_Lk2H8awQuDqTgTke12JQA_4Eicx-BzAhdEIFDq6N2LRa2FciQ6Y4w8tCSsOERI9a/s640/moment+to+moment.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Do you live moment-to-moment, listening to God? How do you do that? </div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-36785310100192967712011-03-31T14:44:00.000-04:002011-03-31T14:44:14.653-04:00Just in case you're wondering ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9Faky3muRPCgbS7cyWjAXA-Z1-5f6RSbdBrrzLUk6hvWFubh1FqOwh5xK2HSP1HARUNYbFkDUyxvXSiQxom-zE4jeBIv1hMf_oOBc3VLkKJUFlgMIL6ylKIolUKVTY0heptaKQy_-k7l/s1600/green-eyes-woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9Faky3muRPCgbS7cyWjAXA-Z1-5f6RSbdBrrzLUk6hvWFubh1FqOwh5xK2HSP1HARUNYbFkDUyxvXSiQxom-zE4jeBIv1hMf_oOBc3VLkKJUFlgMIL6ylKIolUKVTY0heptaKQy_-k7l/s320/green-eyes-woman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>where to see me over the next couple of weeks ....<br />
<br />
check out <a href="http://livingknitting.blogspot.com/2011/03/heres-where-ill-be-in-next-few-weeks.html">my knitting blog</a> for some exciting knitting/fiber events coming up in the area!<br />
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Make sure you stop by and say "howdy" if you're able to attend either of these events. The weather should be gorgeous ... and the content will be stellar!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-55326318985664915742011-03-30T06:05:00.000-04:002011-03-30T06:05:45.840-04:00Yarn-along: March 30th ... new design and new book ....<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"><i>~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a single photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2011/03/yarn-along_30.html">Ginny at small things</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"></span></div><hr /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpRj_DoyJwkE5tEVZofx7jVlHLyUohA36tBerJqKwNLc5SaJi4AtH4xVk5yhVZJTvcSmigaLn2k_uivgM7grqD0rj_VKMA60pCf9ciTTynktIqWDSnIrrGh7F-NgKrXrwmkFLH4Bp7Hjn/s1600/033011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpRj_DoyJwkE5tEVZofx7jVlHLyUohA36tBerJqKwNLc5SaJi4AtH4xVk5yhVZJTvcSmigaLn2k_uivgM7grqD0rj_VKMA60pCf9ciTTynktIqWDSnIrrGh7F-NgKrXrwmkFLH4Bp7Hjn/s640/033011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This week's yarn-along finds us with a new design on the needles and a new book on my table. The new design (close-up below) is a spring-shawl in a fun lacy pattern. The yarn is fingering weight cashmere/bamboo from <a href="http://www.springgatefarm.com/">Spring Gate Farms</a> (whose yarn is gorgeous -- she'll be at the<a href="http://www.olfibrefaire.com/"> Olde Liberty Fibre Faire</a> -- as will I -- on April 16th if you want to head down for some fun and a good cause ... all proceeds from the Faire will go to area hospice!). The idea from the shawl came from a question from Ginny ... so it's quite appropriate that it's presented here on her Yarn-Along! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNWjMtuKRT6OBa3W85vrbLjCIIsq-vD46jHlf1GPs9NwSrkbwQNPZXKjnXMleRA7ya0WPNCvyLZ5u19g_PxUAIDXE_wJuLYbrCNFDM8Sq1BGwpMWI9v6CCYoD_KgTuzWtT9JzjRqe71WU/s1600/033011+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNWjMtuKRT6OBa3W85vrbLjCIIsq-vD46jHlf1GPs9NwSrkbwQNPZXKjnXMleRA7ya0WPNCvyLZ5u19g_PxUAIDXE_wJuLYbrCNFDM8Sq1BGwpMWI9v6CCYoD_KgTuzWtT9JzjRqe71WU/s640/033011+b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;">BTW, to get the nice airy look and wonderful drape, I'm using a size 8 on this yarn. The bamboo gives the cashmere enough body to really show the stitch definition.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;">On the book table -- we're continuing to read-aloud the <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Another-Whole-Nother-Story-Cuthbert/dp/1599904365?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Another Whole Nother Story</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1599904365" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></b> ... which my kids have deemed even better than the first book, <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whole-Nother-Story-Cuthbert-Soup/dp/B0046LUXF6?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">A Whole Nother Story</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0046LUXF6" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b> (which ranks right up there as a fabulous read-aloud). Another one we're delving into that is great fun is M.B. Synge's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Book-Discovery-Margaret-Bertha-Synge/dp/1444459198?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i>A Book of Discovery</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1444459198" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> -- wonderful short readings for history/geography!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">In yesterday's mail, I received my newest reading book ... one for review for Thomas Nelson's <a href="http://www.booksneeze.com/">Book Sneeze</a> program. Titled, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-He-Cant-Barack-Dismantling/dp/159555338X?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">No He Can't: How Barack Obama is dismantling hope and change</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=159555338X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></b>, this book is written by Kevin McCullogh and details not just how Mr. Obama's administration is taking away our hope and changing what is good, but also gives suggestions on how to stop the hemorrhaging in economics, national security, human rights and accountability. I went to bed at 8:30 last night so I could get reading this one! It is really good.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Won't you join the yarn-along. Check out <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2011/03/yarn-along_30.html">Ginny's post</a> and add your own link. And let me know what you think about the burgeoning design by adding a comment at the bottom of this post!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Off to read and knit before the squidges get up!</span></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-89308012705834813712011-03-29T13:24:00.000-04:002011-03-29T13:24:52.233-04:00Lenten Retreat on a DVD ....If you're like me, Lent kind of sneaks up on you. I'm never as prepared as I should be ... with offerings/sacrifices, spiritual reading, and/or Lenten retreats scheduled. Or, if I <b><u>am</u></b> prepared, I realize that Lent is longer than I thought, and I need something more to read, listen to, or sacrifice (and, yes, I know that Lent is always 40 days ... but some years it just seems longer!).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ktJcgY-VhNyvy9ZXfKjr-qsdBWo6dDBRZSXk2y_OiS9YuJ1X6k9ANC-Jq9lA7xubzZWVUNmSr3BUddpN-6HOvwPRtyGZ3vuB3iIiVA2R2t3_iFbrcdGB5nIOFLXOPClUnG5Bdjvj0L3m/s1600/Seven+Sins+by+Fr.+Barron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ktJcgY-VhNyvy9ZXfKjr-qsdBWo6dDBRZSXk2y_OiS9YuJ1X6k9ANC-Jq9lA7xubzZWVUNmSr3BUddpN-6HOvwPRtyGZ3vuB3iIiVA2R2t3_iFbrcdGB5nIOFLXOPClUnG5Bdjvj0L3m/s200/Seven+Sins+by+Fr.+Barron.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>If you are like me, have I got a great suggestion for you: <a href="http://www.catholiccompany.com/seven-deadly-sins-seven-lively-virtues-cd-bundle-p5003342/">Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues</a> is a retreat in a box, all ready for you to watch and listen and meditate upon. Fr. Robert Barron (whose<a href="http://www.catholiccompany.com/conversion-cd-study-guide-set-p5003340/"> Conversion cd/study guide set</a> I reviewed <a href="http://vahilltopfarm.blogspot.com/2011/03/review-conversion-following-call-of.html">recently</a>) takes the seven capital sins of pride, envy, anger, sloth, avarice, gluttony and lust and explains why they are present in our lives and how to eradicate them. He gives great practical advice on how to turn these sins into the seven virtues of humility, admiration, forgiveness, zeal, generosity, asceticism and chastity. A recurring theme is that sin is caused by our own fear (thus, pride is the root of all sin) that can only be conquered by true love, the love that God shows us all round (see <a href="http://vahilltopfarm.blogspot.com/2011/03/lenten-thoughts-meaning-of-faith.html">the meaning of faith</a>) and that Christ showed us when he died on the Cross.<br />
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This DVD is great! In just under two hours, the viewer understands how Dante's <i>Purgatorio </i>is peopled with sinners and why he assigns them the punishments he assigns (for instance, those who are in purgatory because they were gluttons in life are shown as repeating<i> ad infinitum</i> Psalm 51:17: Lord, open my lips and I will sing your praises). Barron does a wonderful job of giving practical advice on how to begin to counteract these sins in our own lives. It's interesting to hear him mention such folks as Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. when giving examples of how to be a better person!<br />
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I recommend <a href="http://www.catholiccompany.com/seven-deadly-sins-seven-lively-virtues-cd-bundle-p5003342/">Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues</a> to all Catholics, particularly middle-school and above. In the video, Fr. Barron is speaking to adults, but there is no reason why tweens and teens shouldn't hear Barron's advice, especially if you need some Lenten retreat material!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px; font-style: italic;">This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px; font-style: italic;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px;"><a href="http://www.catholiccompany.com/seven-deadly-sins-seven-lively-virtues-cd-bundle-p5003342/">Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues CD Bundle<i> </i></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px; font-style: italic;">. They are also a great source for</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px; font-style: italic;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.catholiccompany.com/serenity-prayer-c1603/">serenity prayer</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px; font-style: italic;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px; font-style: italic;">and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px; font-style: italic;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.catholiccompany.com/baptism-gifts-c20/">baptism gifts</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px; font-style: italic;">.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-21360326962992450712011-03-29T06:25:00.000-04:002011-03-29T06:25:55.639-04:00Lenten Thoughts ... the meaning of faith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzTrpA7z0XVvQ17U4cVxzJlvSc1tkxewQrGBuCBIzvOCz3uAxz1h8J7gAgzGiGCUKuZlnJ4uVohY28V_7yw1m8Y0d5KEzwT62PdGORILqAhmi4gQGmZ_tn07n8rji6Y1kzGxPJOcGVBbJ/s1600/faith+from+de+Caussade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzTrpA7z0XVvQ17U4cVxzJlvSc1tkxewQrGBuCBIzvOCz3uAxz1h8J7gAgzGiGCUKuZlnJ4uVohY28V_7yw1m8Y0d5KEzwT62PdGORILqAhmi4gQGmZ_tn07n8rji6Y1kzGxPJOcGVBbJ/s640/faith+from+de+Caussade.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Here's a link to this amazing book: <b><i> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Abandonment-Divine-Providence-Pierre-Caussade/dp/1611043182?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Abandonment to Divine Providence</a></i></b><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1611043182" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> ... a very worthwhile read!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a></div>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-90641850135571607712011-03-28T07:28:00.000-04:002011-03-28T07:28:25.268-04:00Family: please pray for BamBam this week ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZtqxRNx7TJ2AqBz20ihi5HZ80JRMoFdMY4ESYGPxS5FXstSKzalX4chq38qi7Mcr7UF_H75cgKly_0AEMQObP35lOAE45TzUGi9J9fW6Vhyc_fKhRzruHwcGTX5LrBFdQIfixhDOnR0C/s1600/FHC+cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZtqxRNx7TJ2AqBz20ihi5HZ80JRMoFdMY4ESYGPxS5FXstSKzalX4chq38qi7Mcr7UF_H75cgKly_0AEMQObP35lOAE45TzUGi9J9fW6Vhyc_fKhRzruHwcGTX5LrBFdQIfixhDOnR0C/s640/FHC+cross.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>... as he'll make his First Holy Communion on Saturday, April 2nd at 9:00 a.m.<br />
<br />
April 2nd is the anniversary of Venerable John Paul the Great's death ... and since we named the little guy for him, it's a very auspicious day for him!<br />
<br />
Here is an excerpt from what <a href="http://www.wf-f.org/FirstCommunion.html">Pope JohnPaul II wrote in 1994 in a letter to children, during the Year of the Family</a>:<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, Arial; font-size: small;"><i>Dear friends, There is no doubt that an unforgettable meeting with Jesus is First Holy Communion, a day to be remembered as one of life's most beautiful. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, Arial; font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, Arial; font-size: small;">The Eucharist, instituted by Christ at the Last Supper on the night before His passion, is a sacrament of the New Covenant -- the greatest of the sacraments. In this sacrament, the Lord becomes food for the soul under the appearances of bread and wine. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, Arial;">Children receive this sacrament solemnly a first time -- in First Holy Communion -- and are encouraged to receive it afterward as often as possible in order to remain in close friendship with Jesus.</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, Arial;"><i>...</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, Arial;"><i>This event is usually commemorated in a family photo, so that it will not be forgotten. Photos like these generally remain with a person all through his or her life. As time goes by, people take out these pictures and experience once more the emotions of those moments; they return to the purity and joy experienced in that meeting with Jesus, the one who out of love became the Redeemer of Man.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, Arial;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, Arial; font-size: small;"><i>For how many children in the history of the Church has the Eucharist been a source of spiritual strength, sometimes even heroic strength! How can we fail to be reminded, for example, of holy boys and girls who lived in the first centuries and are still known and venerated throughout the Church? <b><a href="http://www.wf-f.org/StAgnes.html">Saint Agnes</a></b>, who lived in Rome; <b><a href="http://www.wf-f.org/StAgatha.html">Saint Agatha</a></b>, who was martyred in Sicily; Saint Tarcisius, a boy who is rightly called the "martyr of the Eucharist" because he preferred to die rather than give up Jesus, whom he was carrying under the appearance of bread.</i></span><br />
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For Catholics, FHC is a big deal and a wondrous gift, a major milestone along the child's path to Heaven!<br />
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He is very excited ... and a bit nervous ... so if you could please keep him in your prayers. Please pray for our BamBam, especially to his patron, Venerable John Paul the Great (soon to be beatified in Rome).<br />
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THANKS!<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-89330335135029718902011-03-25T12:04:00.000-04:002011-03-25T12:04:40.020-04:00We have the best kids ever ...... this was on the laptop this morning to greet Rick & I:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyf3lolVQmCT2g8_ZhaCyurDzJ9y9nawM_D-P41-8Qyh0BHlOgj305Z4ia6TUSofpI842Yn-UFF8bGlTnRqvSxMqSMvsbRS0r57SvC8GZEqd-q7h3-6oP78_Lbqq9qlZyBNbKrrzDysTJj/s1600/note.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyf3lolVQmCT2g8_ZhaCyurDzJ9y9nawM_D-P41-8Qyh0BHlOgj305Z4ia6TUSofpI842Yn-UFF8bGlTnRqvSxMqSMvsbRS0r57SvC8GZEqd-q7h3-6oP78_Lbqq9qlZyBNbKrrzDysTJj/s640/note.jpg" width="554" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BTW, that would be a "pen flower" that our favorite mail-lady gave him one day -- a loved present indeed!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>... and this just came from Kotch and the "littles":<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYpHiFdBT9HjIa1VlDqwFHUqRZd2Kx9PFSKvTVIHs2B2xqK3vSa5assxOAzIhOqXLZTxJ8paUbWqb07ih_akUrmMw1mJB9PJUeKt2t5BbbWvAuGoEbKdEL-fxFv58lpZODKhMqTyPNbMo/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYpHiFdBT9HjIa1VlDqwFHUqRZd2Kx9PFSKvTVIHs2B2xqK3vSa5assxOAzIhOqXLZTxJ8paUbWqb07ih_akUrmMw1mJB9PJUeKt2t5BbbWvAuGoEbKdEL-fxFv58lpZODKhMqTyPNbMo/s640/flowers.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous flowers for this gorgeous (but COLD!) day ... the florist even put real lemon slices in the vase</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-70972388260746606842011-03-25T06:21:00.000-04:002011-03-25T06:21:36.796-04:00Lenten Thoughts ...... from<b><i> </i></b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Abandonment-Divine-Providence-Spiritual-Commentary/dp/0870612530?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>Abandonment to Divine Providence</i></b> </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0870612530" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />by Jean-Pierre de Caussade:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Holiness is produced in us by the will of God and our acceptance of it. It is not produced by intellectual speculation about it. If we are thirsty we must have a drink and not worry about books which explain what thirst is. If we waste time seeking an explanation about thirst, all that will happen is that we shall get thirstier. It is the same when we thirst after holiness. The desire to know more about it will only drive it further away. We must put all speculation aside and, with childlike willingness, accept all that God presents to us. What God arranges for us to experience at each moment is the best and holiest thing that could happen to us. </span></i>Chap 1: 4</blockquote><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>Hmmm ... "speculation aside" ... "childlike<br />
willingness" .. I'm not so good at that. What would you suggest?<br />
<align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-8721495875462545572011-03-25T06:10:00.000-04:002011-03-25T06:10:36.692-04:00March 25th: Annunciation and an Anniversary!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWtrUZ7uOWgWXV_sVdleavaQTStP6jfiEKHs112UXK2g4Z_dSnvBzAktNh3i8m9CQku-Gb69VcKQ_Mu4cVvKh3QjnOq84lmnD7AKqnj-Ov_c9Xxp_YxPVYCd-BzNqH5P_2Jmzf9e1LmQA/s1600/Annunciation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWtrUZ7uOWgWXV_sVdleavaQTStP6jfiEKHs112UXK2g4Z_dSnvBzAktNh3i8m9CQku-Gb69VcKQ_Mu4cVvKh3QjnOq84lmnD7AKqnj-Ov_c9Xxp_YxPVYCd-BzNqH5P_2Jmzf9e1LmQA/s640/Annunciation.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icon received on our First Anniversary --<br />
note that Mary is holding yarn and knitting needles!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br />
</a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br />
</a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br />
</a>Today is a great feast in the Church -- the Feast of the Annunciation. It is such a feast that most all Catholics will not abstain from meat today (unless they want to). The Feast of the Annunciation is very near and dear to my heart as it is also my wedding anniversary.<align "right"="" ==""></align><br />
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Here's the story, in case you haven't heard it before:<br />
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On May 26, 1992, my husband Mike died of cancer. He died four days after his 31st birthday, leaving me with a just-about three-year-old boy and an 11-month-old baby girl. I was devastated, but I had the love and care of family and friends who helped me through the time. I was climbing the corporate ladder at Delta Air Lines and they couldn't have been kinder. <br />
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But more importantly, I had the Blessed Mother to wrap her mantle around me ... to pray for grace to see me through the ordeal ... the loneliness ... the uncertainties. God was always near.<br />
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Fast-forward five years later and I decide to we need to jump-start our lives again. It is time. I prayed to God and through Our Lady's intercessions, we ended up in Raleigh, NC just when the principal of a parochial school needed a computer teacher (which I could do) and had space for my two parochial school children! <br />
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How good is God!<br />
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At this parochial school, there was a certain middle-school science teacher with whom I became instantly attracted. Something pulled us together -- we credit our prayers to the Blessed Mother. He was a conservative Catholic and so was I. He had been married (and annulled) and had older children who didn't live with him and so accepted mine with open arms. <br />
<br />
On March 25, 1998, we married in the parish church of the school where we taught ... with some of our family-member and many students, faculty and staff in attendance. Friends came from near and far to wish us well and witness to this near-miraculous event. <br />
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And so, as our 14th year together begins today: we renew our "I Do's", our fiat to live together in the state of Holy Matrimony, to assent to our Lord's will and abandoning ourselves to Divine Providence.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Thank you, dear Lord, for the past 13 years ... for being with us on this journey together. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you, Blessed Mother, for your intercessory prayers and always wrapping us in your mantle of love.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you, dear Rick, for loving me even when I am not at my most lovable and thank you, too, for the three "littles" we have together and the blended family we continue to love and pray for daily.</div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-52977009649657338532011-03-23T08:31:00.000-04:002011-03-23T08:31:14.415-04:00Yarn-along: March 23rd and the swatches are almost done ...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc6600; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 27px;"><em>~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a single photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ </em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc6600; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 27px;"><a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2011/03/yarn-along_09.html" style="color: #c3d9ff; text-decoration: none;">Ginny, Small Things</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc6600; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 27px;"><br />
</span><br />
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Unfortunately, last week was a tough week for any kind of knitting as my laptop was dying a slow death and I was in the "denial" stage most of the week, trying to get the blasted thing to limp through its work. Well, it made it till Thursday a.m. and I quickly hopped on dh's and ordered a new Toshiba (and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-MP495-Wireless-Inkjet-4499B026/dp/B003VQR1S4?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">a wireless printer</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003VQR1S4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> while I was at it) -- thank goodness for overnight from Amazon and for design sales!<br />
<br />
Well, this week is starting out much better! I've been knitting and reading and generally doing the good.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0lhR8c5k6eg_6seel1p2MiuYq8KLtAw9V0aUC84AD-GvDz-wXRCplrwSjPjEBnIzGd3sqyCo7tMjRzubMDS1nxORZfnnDGdGIdTqzf-tJIyxpEz08v3-RpfBAa_3vI9tzE6tnf-iPWHN/s1600/032311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0lhR8c5k6eg_6seel1p2MiuYq8KLtAw9V0aUC84AD-GvDz-wXRCplrwSjPjEBnIzGd3sqyCo7tMjRzubMDS1nxORZfnnDGdGIdTqzf-tJIyxpEz08v3-RpfBAa_3vI9tzE6tnf-iPWHN/s640/032311.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><u>On the needles</u>: swatches for my talk at the <a href="http://www.doghouseyarns.com/retreat.html">Dog House Yarns Retreat</a> (will we see you out at Graves Mountain on April 9th?). The morning session will discuss how to substitute yarns for designs so I collected up different yarns, all in worsted weight, and am doing 50st by 72row squares(on size 8s) to show the differences in gauge, feel (or "hand"), drape and other characteristics. I'm finishing up on the midnight blue wool/silk blend and then I have one or two to go and then I'll be ready to move on to real knitting again.<br />
<br />
FYI, the yarns shown (clockwise, starting at the lower left) are:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Plymouth Yarn's <i>Boku</i> (95% wool, 5% silk) in color 8 (very autumnal stripes)</li>
<li>Universal Yarn's <i>Poems Silk</i> (75% wool, 25% silk) in color 803 "Baffinis" (greys and blues)</li>
<li>Plymouth Yarn's <i>Jelly Beenz</i> (75% acrylic, 25% wool) in color 9623 (rosy pink with dashes of brights -- perfect for a little girl's sweater)</li>
<li>Cascade Yarns' <i>Venezia Worsted</i> (70% merino, 30% silk) in color Forest (a gorgeous dark green)</li>
<li>Plymouth Yarn's <i>Royal Llama Silk</i> (60% fine lama, 40% silk) in color 1842 (midnight blue)</li>
<li>Stonehedge Fiber Mill's <i>Shepherd's Wool</i> (100% wool) in Antique Rose (a pale, but warm, pink)</li>
</ul><br />
<u>On the reading table</u>:<br />
Our current read-aloud is the sequel to the wonderfully fun-to-read-aloud, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whole-Nother-Story-Cuthbert-Soup/dp/1599905183?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">A Whole Nother Story</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1599905183" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></b>. We just started <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Another-Whole-Nother-Story-Cuthbert/dp/1599904365?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Another Whole Nother Story</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1599904365" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></b> yesterday, and it promises to be just as much fun as the first.<br />
<br />
I<a href="http://vahilltopfarm.blogspot.com/2011/03/review-daughters-walk.html"> just finished reading</a> the fascinating, based-on-fact, novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daughters-Walk-Novel-Jane-Kirkpatrick/dp/1400074290?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>The Daughter's Walk</i></b> </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1400074290" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />by Jane Kirkpatrick. I have now turned my reading toward that pile of books you see in the upper right corner of the picture: lots of books on decorating on a shoestring! Spring always gets my interior design creative juices flowing and these books have gorgeous ideas: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flea-Market-Style-Decorating-Creative/dp/0517701677?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>Flea Market Style</i></b></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0517701677" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />,<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Slipcovers-Cover-Ups-Pamela-Hastings/dp/1402700768?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"> <b><i>Simple to Sew Slipcovers and Cover-ups</i></b></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1402700768" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (especially for the leather furniture -- we stick to it in the summer!), <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Country-Living-Cottage-Proeller-Hueston/dp/1588165671?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>Country Living's Cottage Style</i></b></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1588165671" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Cottage-Style-Decorating-Comfortable/dp/0696221330?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>Better Homes and Garden's New Cottage Style</i></b></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0696221330" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Design-Dime-Hgtv-Books/dp/B0007US9N8?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>HGTV's Design on a Dime</i></b></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0007US9N8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Country-Living-Shoestring-Chic-Extraordinary/dp/158816506X?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>Country Living's Shoestring Chic</i></b></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=158816506X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />. If those don't keep me busy this week, I've also got a few Windows 7 books to help me deal with all the changes to un-broke Windows programs that Microsoft decides we all need!<br />
<br />
Go check out <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2011/03/yarn-along_23.html">Ginny's post for today</a> and add your own knitting/reading activities for this week!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-81785454264747272302011-03-22T16:39:00.000-04:002011-03-22T16:39:35.316-04:00Review: The Daughter's Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SQCo2gnKL._SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SQCo2gnKL._SS500_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Imagine yourself in eastern Washington state in the late 1800s. You are the eldest daughter (barely 20 years old) living in a Norwegian immigrant family, a family of farmers. Your family has hit hard times: your dad was ill and the farm has been mortgaged and your mother has found a solution. The solution involves you. The solution involves giving up all that you want to do to save your family. You are told (not asked) to sacrifice all for your family.<br />
<br />
This is the premise of the based-on-fact novel titled<b><i> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daughters-Walk-Novel-Jane-Kirkpatrick/dp/1400074290?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Daughter's Walk</a></i></b><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1400074290" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Jane Kirkpatrick. The Estby family, a family of Norwegian descent, are about to lose their farm due to lack of funds to pay the mortgage. The family is desperately trying to find a solution and the mother of the family discovers a solution.<br />
<br />
The solution? The mother has worked out a deal with some New York fashion moguls who want to spread the word about the new "reform dress" -- above the ankle dresses for women. This is a dress that many see as indecent (remember, it's the 1890s) but the fashion pundits want to encourage. The deal is that if the Helga Estby and her daughter Clara walk from Spokane (WA) to New York City within a set amount of time, gathering dignitaries' signatures as they go, the Estbys will earn $10,000 -- enough to save the farm, send the children to college, and better the lives of this immigrant family.<br />
<br />
What would you do?<br />
<br />
The book doesn't stop with this harrowing (true) journey these women take. The book continues with their return to Mica Creek, Washington and the family's reception of the women. The story, told through the voice of Clara, than takes a sharp turn -- Clara is ostracized and for 20 some years is denied her family for whom she sacrificed so much. Clara finds community, finds family, with two older women showing that we all need someone, that God never meant us to walk our earthly journey alone.<br />
<br />
This is an amazing story. This is an amazing tale based on the actual walk the Estby women undertook. This is an amazing tale based on the daughter's actual rejection by her family when she returns to Mica Creek. This is an amazing tale, pieced together through family records, newspaper articles and family legends that Kirkpatrick weaves together to make a fabric of forgiveness, love, family and courage. With a bit of suffragette history thrown in, this really makes a great read. Kirkpatrick also does a wonderful job explaining the fur business (in all its many aspects), the coming of World War I and its impact on the homefront, and other work that respectable women of the early 20th century could do in the West.<br />
<br />
Kirkpatrick has wonderful notes at the end that explain what was based on verifiable facts, what came from family reminiscences and what was pieced together as "probably happening" in the lives connected to Clara Estby. This is what I would call a living book ... a book where the author revels in her story and shares that joy with her reader.<br />
<br />
I would highly recommend this book for high schoolers and above, especially those interested in American social history ... in the suffragettes' movement ... in the lives of immigrants ... in the stories of family who cling together in good times and bad. <br />
<br />
As a side note: I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of early 20th century Spokane -- I went to Gonzaga University in Spokane and I knew the places discussed, the street names and the area. Very cool personal link.<br />
<br />
<hr /><br />
Disclaimer: I received this book as part of WaterBrook Multnomah's <a href="http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/blogger/users/login">Blogging for Books</a> program. I received no other compensation and only was required to write an honest review of the book. The critique above is my honest impression of <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daughters-Walk-Novel-Jane-Kirkpatrick/dp/1400074290?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Daughter's Walk</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=stathanablog-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1400074290" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></b>.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a> <align "right"="" ==""></align>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-6460971921203498292011-03-21T06:26:00.000-04:002011-03-21T06:26:52.605-04:00Max: putting family first<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EmZRkwjqUsfaLc4Fads1XUfrflCbbffFnNBD6mnjShcB_gxKc-2ZH2WFG5Qh_hPLsx_zu59PiB8f4Hc2jVJyjqw9q_EY_Sf3DZDxpuY6imsVf9qcbtkQz006ej10v-JrZ4Jyk5-MgaAM/s1600/at+4+weeks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EmZRkwjqUsfaLc4Fads1XUfrflCbbffFnNBD6mnjShcB_gxKc-2ZH2WFG5Qh_hPLsx_zu59PiB8f4Hc2jVJyjqw9q_EY_Sf3DZDxpuY6imsVf9qcbtkQz006ej10v-JrZ4Jyk5-MgaAM/s320/at+4+weeks.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LqK7EjKASaw5pvf9qGRfjeC7LWghNedvSe388H6QLa9teKMhEveajzgLU9zVbAKcABxoZWgvpeG14Acqg5Mj9E1wH_D3ty2ojYE0HnvmCEjthnh5vDabS-DTdB4xGrewq2b1DD1vSzjD/s1600/Max+at+7+weeks+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LqK7EjKASaw5pvf9qGRfjeC7LWghNedvSe388H6QLa9teKMhEveajzgLU9zVbAKcABxoZWgvpeG14Acqg5Mj9E1wH_D3ty2ojYE0HnvmCEjthnh5vDabS-DTdB4xGrewq2b1DD1vSzjD/s320/Max+at+7+weeks+b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivto3B30_7CSq3nco99r6VaCjgikPJTVLdvmC_i5P4BuuZG50exE9Lmtd7yEfCrXXgiV-4r-pG7c6jifqYsq0JqeiX06Cca3LLuTOllVjIXAcN45HwzJk7Vokmeyf1iPfSxn3Q6Z04s5Dm/s1600/Max+at+15+weeks+and+9.8+lbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivto3B30_7CSq3nco99r6VaCjgikPJTVLdvmC_i5P4BuuZG50exE9Lmtd7yEfCrXXgiV-4r-pG7c6jifqYsq0JqeiX06Cca3LLuTOllVjIXAcN45HwzJk7Vokmeyf1iPfSxn3Q6Z04s5Dm/s320/Max+at+15+weeks+and+9.8+lbs.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMeHOaSDIWw-jNZCz-5TB7nvGViGhdKrP28KI1OM2gKFWrS5D1QBDvL5lFIMaqLOc_moEfsyCpafh4fxB31hDSCUxRMuSkbfVMAIwtomtGx9cnX4xmPV9rkZHNpfyqmVbXxS2POiZxXCF/s1600/Max+015E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMeHOaSDIWw-jNZCz-5TB7nvGViGhdKrP28KI1OM2gKFWrS5D1QBDvL5lFIMaqLOc_moEfsyCpafh4fxB31hDSCUxRMuSkbfVMAIwtomtGx9cnX4xmPV9rkZHNpfyqmVbXxS2POiZxXCF/s320/Max+015E.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMeHOaSDIWw-jNZCz-5TB7nvGViGhdKrP28KI1OM2gKFWrS5D1QBDvL5lFIMaqLOc_moEfsyCpafh4fxB31hDSCUxRMuSkbfVMAIwtomtGx9cnX4xmPV9rkZHNpfyqmVbXxS2POiZxXCF/s1600/Max+015E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Six months ago, we got a mini-schnauzer from a dear friend (and breeder). He was<a href="http://vahilltopfarm.blogspot.com/2010/09/birthdays-my-49th-year-ends.html"> my birthday present for my 49th</a>. Many of us were excited to have him in our lives ... some of us were not. Six months later, we have found him a new home because nothing ... NOTHING ... should ever be allowed to disrupt a family's peace and well-being. No thing should be allowed to disrupt the harmonious living together of a family. <br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Nothing: not a pet, not a job, not an activity. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Family is the core unit of society and receives bombardment from all directions, bombardment that can rip a family apart. Society tells us we can have it all ... but it doesn't tell us how to share or how to balance the give-and-take necessary. Society says that "I have a right to xyz", "I should be able to do abc", "I have the right to go to 123". There are lots of I's in those sentences and not too many "wes". <br />
<br />
A family must be a "we" ... must be a unit that works toward the same goals and builds up from within. A family must be a give-and-take ... with all helping to support each other, nurturing different interests and activities of the individuals while ensuring that nothing tears up the family unit. At times, things will come into a family that throw that balance off, that can cause a small tear in the family fabric that can become a large rent and then a total disconnect. Max was throwing our family off balance ... he was causing a small tear. Max was causing loss of sleep ... tension ... stress. It wasn't fair to us or to Max.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So, with the help of the dear friend, we found him a lovely, perfect new home. I should amend that: thanks be to God, we found him a new home. It was fast, virtually pain-free and all are happy. It's a bittersweet happiness though as we're also a little sad to lose our mini-Max. But we know that he is in a better situation -- lots of room to run, another puppy to play with and a "mom" that really wants him. <br />
<br />
And, our family is whole again.at peace again.</div><div style="text-align: right;"> <align "right"="" ==""><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a></align></div>Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-21114426479500055892011-03-18T10:59:00.000-04:002011-03-18T10:59:18.550-04:00Review: Conversion: Following the Call of Christ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbzuqjSYeI3Meu7fDUtTyWyzVYHH9iCJfNSSb2w6lC450fdXsZ50B4eQPfnYw-C_XMWsoqIP1c92bb49s270kWL78oRDR-irhYsR4YFknHiInQ0vinr0dXSRVwKSfcKBsIgjLzX_zJKaN/s1600/Conversion+by+Fr.+Barron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbzuqjSYeI3Meu7fDUtTyWyzVYHH9iCJfNSSb2w6lC450fdXsZ50B4eQPfnYw-C_XMWsoqIP1c92bb49s270kWL78oRDR-irhYsR4YFknHiInQ0vinr0dXSRVwKSfcKBsIgjLzX_zJKaN/s1600/Conversion+by+Fr.+Barron.jpg" /></a></div>Fr.Robert Barron's latest cd-talk, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_410434860"></span>Conversion: Following the Call of Christ<span id="goog_410434861"></span></a>, is a wonderful tool for increasing your spirituality during this Lent. The review set I received from <a href="http://www.catholiccompany.com/">Catholic Company</a> contained a two-CD set of six talks (plus an introductory overview of conversion to the Truth) given by Fr. Robert Barron, a professor at Mundelein Seminary (Illinois) as well as a popular speaker. Also included in the set was a study guide and workbook written by the talented Amy Welborn.<br />
<br />
The talks by Fr. Barron are twenty minute sermons based on various Biblical conversion stories: <br />
<ol><li>Bartimaeus (the man born blind whom Jesus cures) from Mark 10:32-52</li>
<li>The Rich Young Man (who is not too sure about selling everything and following Christ) from Mark 10:17-31</li>
<li>The Calling of Matthew (the tax collector known sometimes as Levi who choses to give up his life as a tax collector and follow Jesus) from Matthew 9:1-13</li>
<li>Jonah (the only OT story of conversion where Jonah at first heads the other way when God asks him to go to Ninevah) from the Book of Jonah (which Fr. Barron describes as "a hoot to read").</li>
<li>The Woman at the Well (who, as Fr. Barron explains, is definitely from the proverbial wrong side of the tracks) from John 4:1-42</li>
<li>The Journey of the Magi (a tale of the calling of the Gentiles) from Luke 2.</li>
</ol>Fr. Barron's talks -- each about 20 minutes -- cover many interesting and provocative descriptions and explanations of each of these conversions to the Truth ... conversions to God. The talks assume knowledge (or pre-reading) of the particular scriptural story. The short talks are just long enough to listen to on a run to the store or just before starting evening prayers. Fr. Barron has a pleasant speaking voice and his message is deep, profound, but lovingly delivered. <br />
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The study guide/workbook by Welborn is a nice addition, with leading questions for each talk to help the listeners really meditate and understand what Fr. Barron is saying. The questions are split into "questions for understanding" (with definite answers) and "questions for reflection" which should lead to some pretty lively discussions. This workbook is quite useful for small groups (or, for us, in the homeschool!) when listening to the talks. <br />
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In addition, <a href="http://www.wordonfire.org/">Word On Fire</a> (the publisher of the cd's and workbook) has password-protected, free supporting materials for this set of talks. The materials include a facilitator's guide (for small groups); promotional materials for stirring interest in the small group meetings, and an answer key for the workbook questions. <br />
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This set -- especially with the additional materials on the website -- really makes for a practical small Lenten retreat to do at home or in small groups. And, because it is so self-contained, it's not too late to order for this Lenten season! I highly recommend this set, <a href="http://www.catholiccompany.com/conversion-cd-study-guide-set-p5003340/">Conversion: Following the Call of Christ</a> -- VERY nice.<br />
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This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on <a href="http://www.catholiccompany.com/conversion-cd-study-guide-set-p5003340/">Conversion CD Bundle (CD/Study Guide Bundle) </a>. They are also a great source for <a href="http://www.catholiccompany.com/serenity-prayer-c1603/">serenity prayer</a> and <a href="http://www.catholiccompany.com/baptism-gifts-c20/">baptism gifts</a>.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a> <align ="right">Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5749131256347327667.post-18891891221625062282011-03-15T07:11:00.001-04:002011-03-15T07:16:26.067-04:00Lent 2011: a third desktop background ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2moXQox7UAy_u3KPGh7vzXJWYElC5Oa-tvw7vk2KtYEFzwh_Il2Cpe63Ls1r-jvXy7tcJ9TrEFUiIw7qiVGU0kFePnLnpXrxURMnlNHJjTSsscGs7iP7T0BtRe_OEAncJBTfl3p9ZJql/s1600/green+heart+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2moXQox7UAy_u3KPGh7vzXJWYElC5Oa-tvw7vk2KtYEFzwh_Il2Cpe63Ls1r-jvXy7tcJ9TrEFUiIw7qiVGU0kFePnLnpXrxURMnlNHJjTSsscGs7iP7T0BtRe_OEAncJBTfl3p9ZJql/s640/green+heart+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/maryg/608e4e2920fd59af7da19039ace4159c.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a> <align ="right">Mary Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295815960754677983noreply@blogger.com0