We have the best kids ever ...

... this was on the laptop this morning to greet Rick & I:

BTW, that would be a "pen flower" that our favorite mail-lady gave him one day -- a loved present indeed!

... and this just came from Kotch and the "littles":

Gorgeous flowers for this gorgeous (but COLD!) day ... the florist even put real lemon slices in the vase

 

Max: putting family first

 

Six months ago, we got a mini-schnauzer from a dear friend (and breeder).  He was my birthday present for my 49th.  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.

Nothing: not a pet, not a job, not an activity.

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".

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.

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.

And, our family is whole again.at peace again.

 

What happens when you have a sister home for Christmas break ...

after her first semester of culinary arts study?

Chef Boy-ar-dee, of course!

Feast Day: St. Brigid of Kildare and Anne's birthday ...

Today is one of String Bean's patronal feasts ... St. Brigid of Ireland ... we'll make BarmBrack and I've already made a confetti cake (for the weather-cancelled St. Agnes Fiber Club meeting) ... so we are good to go.

It is also my favorite sister's 55th birthday today!  God bless you, Aunt Anne ... we love you.  Thanks for helping the kids with the "snow dance" ... we have another snow-day today!

And may all your angels keep you warm ... and cozy ... and safe ... wherever you go today!

 

Welcome to a new year ....

with new mottoes for the year ... lots of plans for better living ... and lots of nurturing creativity in the heart of our home ...

Won't you join us on our journey?  And do join in sharing your resolutions and attempts at nurturing creativity in the heart of your own homes ...

On being newly neutered ...

Max this morning (19weeks, 5 days)

We took Max (now just about 5 months old) to be neutered yesterday.  I don't know who it was harder on:  Max, the kids or me!  He gave such a pitiful look as he was led back to the kennel.  And when we went to pick him up last night ... we could hear him whining as I spoke to the attendant! 

The poor little guy!

We nursed him thru last night:  the crate has been moved into the boys' room (String Bean had him in with her for a little while a few weeks ago, but girls have so much stuff for puppies to get into while the boys just have to remember to pick up their socks!) ... Lego Maniac read The Long Patrol to Max and I, while I cradled Max to sleep ... Yes, we are a little over-the-top with this little guy!

Max woke this morning, around 5:30, still a bit less-active-than-usual but sweet and settled and loving!

For those who are local:  we took Max to the Kincheloe Clinic, a place specifically set up to encourage neutering/spaying of domestic animals and we had a GREAT experience with the folks there.  The two ladies who took care of Max were loving and cuddled him ... but were still professional.  We were able to pick him up in the evening ... and were told exactly what to do, given medicine for pain and Amoxicilin, and allowed to come get him out of the kennel ourselves (where the poor mite was shaking and so happy to see us!).  We also got Max micro-chipped at the same time as the neutering so he's all set now.  I can't recommend Kincheloe enough if you need to have your dog/cat spayed/neutered or just need typical shots or micro-chipping! [You do have to bring cash and make an appointment, but the cost and service are well worth it.  These folks WANT to help your pet!]


 

Family: you know you are well-loved ...

... when a dear friend, really part of the family, makes you a lovely quilt ....

Titled "JP Pride", this amazing quilt was made for us by one of dh's fellow teachers at the high school.  Miss Ellie isn't teaching this year (well, she is subbing) as her dh is being transferred to Georgia with the military in January ... but, an even better excuse, is that she is pregnant with her first child!  We're so happy for she and her growing family ... but will miss them terribly ... but now we have a quilt (which will be well-loved, well-used and always shown off to anyone willing to see it!) to always remember Miss Ellie!

We love you, dear and WILL keep up with you and yours ....

prayers and hugs will follow you ...

 

Thanksgiving: Faith, Family and Friends ... what more could I need?

I started out this month attempting to do a "month of thanks" each day ... posting about what I'm most thankful for and why ... I made it to day 12!

Not that I don't have TONS to be thankful for ... or people to whom I'm thankful ... or a great God who has given me so much ... but as I was doing those daily posts it soon hit me that they can all be boiled down to be thankful to God for:

FAITH, FAMILY and FRIENDS

See, the funny thing is ... when I sit down and think about it, these are the three things that make my world:

1. FAITH: my Catholic faith keeps me going thru the good and the bad times; when I'm feeling most sorry for myself ... most envious of others ... or just plain disgruntled ... I realize that I firmly believe in a loving God who only wants the best for me at any given time.  This makes me look for the best in the situation -- why would I be going thru x, y or z right now ... is it something I can change or not ... how can I make it better or learn to accept.  My God is a great and good God and my Church holds me up and keeps me going.
2. FAMILY:  my family is pretty bizarre ... I have family I see/talk with all the time, some I only see/talk with occasionally and some I never see/talk with ... but yet I love them all.  They are a great gift for which I am always thankful.  I'm especially thankful for the family members that don't call or write or visit -- they make me evaluate what I'm doing: is it my fault ... could I do something better ... do they need me?  The family members who don't contact me are a blessing both for what they make me think about changing and also, and more importantly, for the chance I'm given to pray for them and for our relationship ... to pray that they may "come home" ... that I may be a source of help to them.
3. FRIENDS: my friends tend to be an eclectic mix of folks ... and always have been.  When I was in undergrad, my friends came from all groups: the druggies, the hip and groovy, the geeks.  I got along with all of them.  My friends throughout life have helped me and allowed me to help them.  I have learned from them and taught them.  I have been prayed for by them and been given the chance to pray for them.  I have grown stronger in my Faith because of (or maybe even in spite of) their friendships. 

So please, on this day when our country says "thanks" ... remember first, to Whom we're giving our thanks and really think about what you're thankful for ... don't take anything for granted and know that there will always be others better off and worse off than you ... no matter where you are.

God's grace and blessings be on one and all .... I pray for you all everyday!

 

Birthdays: Happy 8th to the caboose!

Today is BamBam's 8th birthday ...   he was born while we were in Austria.

  ... in our family spanning many years, all remember the Sunday we brought BamBam into the world:  we delivered the tyke in the Scheibbs County hospital ... on the Feast of Christ the King, 2002! 

He was baptized on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the ancient church attached to the school dh attended ...

He has been a gift to us ever since!  Full of love and fun and football ... he is all boy and all-loving!

God bless you, BamBam on your 8th birthday ... and may we share many, many more!

Family: Max, the mini

Our mini-schnauzer, Max, turn 4 months old on Friday!  Here's what he looked like at 7 weeks (just a week before we brought him home):

... and here he is at 4 months!

and for those of you who know my dh .... yes, he IS starting to like the little guy:

 dh distracted by LSU winning last night ....

 got a sloppy kiss from the little guy ...

and the kids thought it great that Dad was finally holding Max!

 

October ... what a whirlwind!

Today is the first day this month that we're home by 11:30 a.m. and NOT GOING OUT ANYWHERE!  What a wonderful feeling to be home all together (well, dh won't be home till dinner), working together and separately, eating together, being together. 

Things really started heating up with busy-ness back on October 16th when the boys and dh went to a UVA home game ... it was a slaughter, but fun for the guys to do the "real life" college football (especially since the tickets we got from our neighbor included great seating and a parking pass!).  BTW, the tough-love look on BamBam is due to mom taking a picture ... he just wanted to leave!

The next day, tech week (aka, hell week) started with a vengeance:  25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a wonderful musical but tech week is always tough ... especially for this stage manager!  Lego Maniac has a bit part and the stage-managing isn't really hard, just takes time away from family.  But, you'll be happy to know I have been able to fit in knitting while ensuring props are where they are supposed to be ... mics are on ... and helping actors don various costuming effects.  A great cast and wonderful director make my job fairly easy and rewarding.

Later last week, Thursday was a prime example of the down-side of tech week:  dh teaches ccd, String Bean had embroidery club and Lego Maniac and I had to be at the theater -- all at the same time!  Thanks to God's providence, we do have a second car so (altho we ate dinner rushed, we did eat together) and the two younger stayed with dh while LM and I headed to practice.  Not ideal, but does work!

Friday, Oct 22nd will live in infamy as the day I started a new venture with my knitting: three hours of talking with the owner of Spring Gate Farm, a cashmere goat rancher down in Barboursville!  Seems she was looking for a designer to create unique designs for her cashmere yarns ... and I'm it!  She left me with about 15 skeins of the gorgeous, luxurious yarn and a head-ful of ideas of eactly what to design.  You'll be hearing more about this on my knitting blog, By Hand, With Heart! 

Saturday, brought the Mary's Shelter Craft Bazaar that we've been working on since August.  String Bean and I headed over at 7:30 to help set-up ... I left around 11 to pickup Lego Maniac (who was serving a Confirmation Mass) and then do the grocery shopping ... back to get String Bean when she finished (about 3) ... heat up some game-day food to watch LSU play Auburn ... than off to do the musical ....

Sunday brought 7:30 a.m. Mass (Lego Maniac served) where we heard that we gathered over $3400 in monies from our craft fund-raiser!  Not bad for 4 hours of selling handmade baked goods, hand-crafted items (including many made by our kids) and other items.  After a family brunch at Panera (our favorite bagel and treats place) LM and I went to the matinee of Spelling Bee and home for dinner and playing with Max (who really misses us when we're at the play!) till an early (we're talking 8:30 p.m.) bedtime for this cowboy!

On October 25th, we were graced with a visit from dh's sister and bil on their way home from a Clemson alumni event (he's a dean down there).  A four hour visit was just not enough ... but at least we had some good quality time with our favorite relatives.  They hadn't been to "the farm" since we moved in June 2009, so it was fun to show them how much we've done (and how much we still have to do).  That evening, BamBam had his first fencing scrimmage -- he placed  a very respectable third ... fencing against kids who have been fencing much longer than his five months!  Lego Maniac fences tomorrow in HIS first scrimmage ... but I won't be there since pick-up rehearsal starts up and then we kick off performances for this weekend (ending just before Halloween activities Sunday evening!).

Always fun to be busy ... but I'm loving the pace of today ... slow and steady ... surrounded by my family ... with dinner prepping and an evening of relaxation and family movie viewing (Sound of Music ... thanks to Netflix)!

Recipe: Rick's Take on Tollhouse

Rick's bithday celebration isn't quite over since we all have today off for Columbus Day and we're going Pumpkin Picking at Miller Farms with a great group of friends.  One of the specialties of the weekend was "Rick's Take on Tollhouse" cookies; this is the traditional chocolate chip cookie recipe, edited to Rick's preferences, and BOY are they delicious (and a bit better for you than the traditional).

Rick's Take on Tollhouse (makes about 2 doz large cookies)

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1-3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• /2 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups (12 oz) semi-sweet choc chips
• 1 cup walnuts

Cream together butter/oil, sugars, eggs, vanilla. Sift and stir in flours and soda. Mix till thoroughly combined. Add chips and nuts, distributing evenly.

Drop rounded tablespoonfuls on lightly greased cookie sheet. Chill while warming the oven to 375.  Bake about 8-10 minutes till golden brown and slightly soft. Cool slightly before removing from sheet.  ENJOY! [BTW, did you know if you place a home-baked chocolate chip cookie on a plate and re-heat for about 10-15 sec, it takes just like fresh-baked? ]

Happy Birthday, dearest ...

Edited at 8:21 p.m. -- poor dh ... it took him 2-1/2 hours to get home (a drive that usually takes 45-60min) ... but we treated him well when he got home:  crabmeat in cheese sauce over whole wheat pasta, salad and instead of the traditional birthday cake: Rick's "take" on classic Tollhouse Cookies!  He received lovely cards, text messages and facebook comments as well as The Clint Eastwood Collection, The Alfred Hitchcock collection and Hershey's chocolate bars -- what more could he want?

Happy birthday to my dear husband who keeps me on the straight and narrow, loves me even when I'm not lovable, and cares for us all with a sacrficial love that is amazing in this world of selfishness.  I thank God every day (usually more than once each day) for the gift of this man ....

Happiest of birthdays, my love ... and many, many more!

Birthdays: my 49th year ends!

Wow, what a weekend!  My dear family believes in doing it right for my birthday and always does at least a "birthday weekned" if not a full "octave"! 

This year was especially poignant -- not just because it marked the end of my 49th year, but it also marked the welcoming of a new member to the family:  Max, the mini-schnauzer -- he's only 8 weeks + 2 days old and is a little shy ...

but String Bean already has him playing nicely!

I am SO blessed with my family and friends ... many of whom sent wishes all summed up in the Byzantine song, "God grant her many years".  My children and dh gave me many wonderful things, including the cards and table decor shown below (if you look closely, you'll see BamBam's gift:  a Steve Young football card!)

I am so amazingly blessed!  THANK you to all, near and far, for the good wishes, prayers and love ...

you mean so much to me and mine!