Patience....

"So, in all, patience is discovered to be the most perfect virtue to have achieved -patience with others,

with oneself,

with life,

with God.

Nor is this state of soul due to a disregard of the circumstances that attend our time on earth, but to a more thorough appreciation of the terms of existence.

 I see life fuller, enjoy it more.

It is the patience not of the wearied voluptuary, but of the enraptured lover, who is so sure of his love that he can afford to wait through all time for eternity."

~Fr. Bede Jarrett, O.P.

Silence Speaks

"We have forgotten that there is eloquence in the silent simplicity of doing one's ordinary duty. We have forgotten that there is power and terrific impact in example....."

"..... We forget that silence speaks, that our mere presence gives testimony to truth -or evidence of our untruth!"

~Fr. Raymond, O.C.S.O.,

in, God, A Woman And The Way

Dismas......

I always wanted to "introduce" you to Dismas, but somehow never got around to it.

We brought him home on Ash Wednesday, three years ago, and named him after 'the Good Thief" who died next to our Lord on Calvary. And this past week, on Ash Wednesday, we had to put him down. Afterwards we brought him home again, and buried him.

It was so very hard.

He was such a good dog.

Such a part of our family.

We miss him.

Mardi Gras

This morning I made up a batch of cinnamon-doughnut muffins, bacon,  and scrambled eggs. I put on a CD of Strauss' waltzes and we enjoyed them along with a lovely fluffy white snow which was falling outside..........and which later turned to rain.

I can hardly believe that Lent begins tomorrow, but I feel so much more prepared for it this time than I did last year.

And I am eager for it to begin.

I'm Craving Spring.......

My Blue......

The Guitar

I got out the guitar today. It's the first time I've gotten it out since the move...

..actually the first time I've gotten it out in a long while. I had forgotten how good it feels to play through the old songs.

I had forgotten how much the children love it.

Especially Boots.

It is a gloomy day.

We had rain yesterday, which washed away all of our snow, and I think we are supposed to have more rain today. I may just have to make up a big batch of play-dough. I've been promising the children I would for weeks.......and I think it may be the perfect day for it!

On Adventure...

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered.

An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered."

~Chesterton

Happy St. Valentine's Day!

Egg Knobs....

We had to replace a few doorknobs, and I was thrilled over the moon when my Knight came home with these!

I know Wodehouse would approve.

On Simplicity

"To be simple is to see, love, and desire God in all creatures and in all things;

it is to unify one's life with God."

~Emmanuel de Gibergues

He Knows

On days when I feel so discouraged and overwhelmed by my many weaknesses, my inadequacies, my faults, there is one thought which gives me great comfort:

He knows.

From the beginning, my life was in His plan. He knows what He created me to be, to do. He knows all the times I have failed; all the times I will fail. And yet, knowing all of this from the beginning, His plan remained unaltered. He willed to create me anyway.  He willed to give me my family, my dear Knight, my precious children. All of this I do not deserve......and He knows!

Yet, He has given them to me anyway.

So, I must keep on.

I must keep striving to repay such goodness......however inadequately.

I must keep getting up after each fall.

It's the intention that counts.

And He knows.  

Just Because....

My Knight surprised me with flowers last night.......

Just because.

And, being the man of chivalry that he is, he couldn't neglect his little Miss Posy.

So he brought her a carnation, which we put in a vase.

She carried it around with her through the rest of the evening, and before bed, insisted on placing it upon her window sill.

Where it remains.

I love fresh flowers.

Kids in the Kitchen

Last night we made homemade tortillas.

Miss Posy is every bit as good at rolling them out now as I!

Big Brother, meanwhile, kept busy frying them up to perfection on the griddle.(~He is also an excellent cooker of pancakes!)

And Boots got to fry up the meat....."all by himself ." ;)

I love my little helpers...

Morning Faces....

Painting old Doors...

Yesterday was gloomy......so I decided to get some painting done. The laundry room door was painted something similar to sea foam green on one side. I went over that with a nice crisp white. And the bathroom door was tan on the side facing in to the bathroom. White again. I love the results. Looks so bright, cheery, and clean.

Now, what shall I do today......:)

The Dining Room

Before and after.....

    

~By the way, the lovely solid oak table (it even has another leaf!), matching chairs and hutch? Craigslist. And we got such a deal that my Knight in S.A. and I still feel like we stole it! My guardian angel had a hand (~or would it be wing?;) in it, I know. He is amazing. I could tell you so many stories....

"I'm the Good Guy"....

 ..Boots announced as he entered the kitchen bearing his wooden sword and (pillow) shield.

He stood there, studying me seriously, while I continued to prepare dinner.

"Mom, I'm the good guy,"he repeated,

"and you're the good cook!"

Snowy Morning

What a lovely surprise!

Foggy Morning

Happy Candlemas Day!