Saturdays with the Saints: St. Catherine of Bologna

Joining us for today's edition of Saturdays with the Saints is St. Catherine of Bologna.

Born Catherine de Vigri, she was the daughter of Giovanni de Vigri, a diplomatic agent to the Marquis of Ferrara. She was raised in the Duke's court and received an education through her position of Lady-in-waiting to the Duke's daughter, Margherita d'Este.

In 1426 she left the court and entered the convent of Corpus Dominici there at Ferrara. At the time the convent was experiencing some distress as they attempted to decided whether to continue following the Augustian rule or to change instead (as they eventually did) to Fransican.

In  1433, St. Catherine and several other young ladies founded a monastery of the Order of Poor Clares.

In 1456, she returned to Bologna at the request of her superiors and the governor of Bologna to be the founder and Abbess of a monastery of the same order there in Bologna.

She died on March 9, 1463 at the age of 49. Eighteen days after her death, after numerous accounts of miraculous grave-side healing, her body was exhumed and placed in the chapel of the Poor Clares in Bologna, next to the church of Corpus Dominici, where it remains, seated upright, and dressed in her religious habit, behind glass.

Some of her art and writings still remain today, including, most famously Treatise on the Seven Spiritual Weapons Necessary for Spiritual Warfare.  This work was instrumental in her canonization, and speaks of her visions of both God and Satan.

St. Catherine of Bologna is the patron saint of artists and her feast day is March 9th.

A very long day

I'm far too tired given that nothing has happened today. But it's been a very long, very dull day, and honestly, all I want is to go home and have a glass of whiskey while watching some crappy action film with more explosions than plot.

I'm finally working on my Irish ale socks, and I'll be honest, I feel like I'm knitting with match sticks! I've got a few more rows before I switch to the main color and switch back to the larger needles, but the larger needles are still so tiny! I'm scared to death that I'm going to break them!

Aunt D sent me a text earlier, just to let me know that she's thinking of me, which was nice. I've been trying to say the rosary at least once a day, though I'll be honest and say that, despite my best intention, I don't always manage. I still stumble over Hail Mary (which is embarrassing! It's such a short prayer!) and I don't know any of Hail Holy Queen. I've got a few of the mysteries memorized, but even so, I still find it best to use the app to help me fumble along.

I've sat here staring at this for fifteen minutes. There's literally nothing to write about. I'll see you all tomorrow when I write up the next edition of Saturdays with the Saints.

Yours always,
Tara

When the end of a knitting project feels like a miracle...

You know you've been working the same six stitch cable pattern for much too long.

Thankfully, I've finally finished the stole, complete with reverse single crochet edge (kill me now) and washing and blocking. It goes off to it's owner on Sunday, and good riddance I say!

In a rare fit of productivity in my knitting, I finished the second bootie today and got started on my Irish Ale socks! Finally! I've been dying to cast these bad boys on since I got the pattern! I'm hoping I've got enough yarn, though I've been eyeing my ball of brown yarn suspiciously this entire time, and, as always, I'm more than a little worried that they won't fit right. They should, mind you. The sizing is for a women's medium, which is like a 7-9 or so, which means that they should fit perfectly on my size 8 feet. But I'm still nervous.

But that, dear readers, is sort of my default setting.

I rescheduled my appointment with the tattoo artist today. I think I mentioned yesterday that I'm going to be working full time again? Well, that means that I can't get the tattoo this week. Which works out alright because that gives me more time to squirrel money away for it. I don't know if I'll drop back to 32 hours when I start having Tuesdays off, or if I'll be switched to working Saturdays, but if the later is true I'll have to take that first Saturday off, because my appointment is before the end of the work day.  I suppose, if worst comes to worst, I can always call again, but I really hate rescheduling things, and it took us quite a while to find a date and time that worked for both of us as it was so....

Anyway, I did that earlier. I also got my earrings in today. I finally broke down and bought two pairs of Sterling silver earrings. Now my ears won't turn green. Overstock.com was a great help. I got two lovely pairs of earrings (a pair of silver four-leaf clovers and a pair of Celtic crosses) for the price of a pair at Claire's. This means that I can wear earrings in both of the piercings in my lobes without having greenish-gray skin.

See, the only pair of nice earring I owned were gold hoops, which is a problem (and not just because I'm not a huge fan of gold-tone jewelry), because there's enough danger of ripping my earrings out of my lobes with simple studs, never mind these dangly hoops!

Besides, I prefer to wear studs, unless I'm dressed like a pirate.

True story: During the Spring semester I was taking the Comp. 1000 course and it was the most boring class I had ever taken with the worst professor ever (well, tied with the Sociology professor from the previous semester). In a form of passive rebellion (i.e. would not get a black mark on record  or such) I decided to attend this class in various pirate-inspired outfits, complete with Sharpie Jack Sparrow Tattoo (the baby powder tattoo thing does not work very well in my experience) and various colorful scarves.

I passed the class with a C, which is hardly surprising given the number of times the program we were using for quizzes and tests would glitch and the general level of apathy that pervaded...well, everything.

That was actually the harshest review I've ever given a professor in my life. She was literally never there! She'd call roll 15 minutes late, and then vanish for 30 minutes (or more!) at a time! She googled every little question and I'll be honest, I'm surprised she even knew how to turn the computer on!

And don't get me started on the curriculum! Talk about going around your ass to get to your elbow! They literally showed you the longest way to do a series of actions within the programs (Microsoft Office) and the book! Worthless! Not only is it published especially for them (meaning you spend $50 on a book that you can't sell back or buy used or rent), but it is the worst book I've ever used! The glossary was joke, the index was pathetic, the instructions might as well have been written in Hebrew for all I could understand of it, and there was no "handy things to know" or anything!

I'm so glad I passed that class, even if I do feel like that grade was robbery. I'm just glad that I never have to take it again! And the program? Yeah, there was a disc so we could install it on our computers and work at home. I had to uninstall it after two weeks because I had so many viruses on my computer. I uninstalled it, ran anti-virus, haven't had any more problems with it. One of my friends from English the previous semester lost two computers after installing that program on it.

Anyway! You really don't want to hear me rant about the problems I had last semester, especially with the mini-mester right around the corner! I'm planning on picking up an on-line class or two, since I can work on those at work. And! Since I'm not at the Campus with He-who-shall-not-be-named I can work on it without someone breathing down my neck.

Seriously, I don't know what that guys problem is, but the people who have the most issues with him all seem to be white women.

Not like sexual issues. He's just an ass.

But yeah....either way, not taking that class, or any other classes at that campus again. I'd just about prefer to gouge my eyes out.

I'm going to sign off and get back to my socks! I'm hoping to finish them up by Sunday, so wish me luck!

Yours always,
Tara

A Truly Brilliant morning!

I decided to go to mass this morning, despite a late night (12:50) and having gone yesterday and I'm so glad that I did!

Immediately following mass I ran outside to put a quarter in the meter (mass ends about 7 minutes before 8, which is when the meter starts to really be an issue) and met a lovely lady who I shall simply refer to as Aunt D. Aunt D is new, and moving here shortly. I actually saw her at mass yesterday, but I was in a rush yesterday (bad Tara!) and didn't say anything. Today though, it turned out really well.

While we where talking, I was led to give her the Our Lady Star of the Sea chaplet that I made. I paid the meter and went inside to sit in front of Mother Mary and finish the rosary I had started to say before mass began (I can usual get a decade or so in before mass starts), and then Aunt D and I went to breakfast.

There's this really nice Parker's on Drayton that I call the Fancy Parker's because it's got all sorts of little gourmet or really high quality food items, and we went there and had breakfast. It was really nice because we sat and talked for about an hour before I showed her where Saints and Shamrocks (the closest thing we have to a Catholic bookstore, as far as I know) and then parted ways.

There are two things that make this whole thing so fantastic! Number one is how happy Aunt D was! She loved the chaplet! And was so happy to just sit and talk over breakfast. Second great thing is that I got an aunt out of it! I love when you just click with people and become friends! And when you become family? Brilliant!

Of course, I'm at work now. Speaking of! I just picked up 8 more hours so I am officially full time again! Isn't that great? And my boss and I have already talked about me having Tuesdays off come September for the RCIA classes.

There's also a place not to far from the church that has beginner's Irish dance classes about an hour before the RCIA classes, so I'm hoping I can take that, and the RCIA, plus pick up a class or two for the fall mini-mester at STC.

Yeah, I gave up on trying to be really sneaky about where I'm at. Anyone who knows South Georgia worth a fig knows where the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is. No point hiding it. I live within easy driving distance of Savannah, Ga.

Anyway. Aunt D and I also saw the strangest thing while in the Fancy Parker's. Giant Wooden Rosary beads. And I don't mean like the ones you get for teaching toddlers to pray the rosary (no, I'm not secretly looking at baby stuff in the hopes of one day having progeny of my own despite telling my parents and everyone else that I am "never having kids", not at all *pfft*) I mean like 4 1/2- 5 ft long rosaries made of 1/4 in to 1/2in wooden beads and a 2 1/2 in long crucifix. And it was white.

Weirdo that I am, I'm tempted to go back and get one, just because it's such an interesting rosary, though I'll be honest, I'd probably have it a week before attacking it with brightly colored acrylics. Either way, I'm leaving it be for now. I can probably make one myself, or find one else where cheaper.

Aunt D also gave me a lovely turquois and gold rosary over breakfast. We were talking about it (because of the giant wooden ones) and I mentioned my strange relationship with rosaries (I partially blame them for the fact that I'm converting) and she just pulled it out and gave it to me. It was nice. I'm going to pray with it tonight just for her.

We talked about a lot of things. Her daughter, my mother, my pub that I want to open, her parents, and it was brilliant! I'm so glad that it happened. Nothing like this ever happened while I was attending the Baptist church. I feel like today is just a taste of what might be in my future if I allow it to be.

I'm also incredibly thankful for second chances, because I could have given it to her yesterday, but because of my nervousness and rushing I missed the chance. But God and Mother Mary (yes, I know she had a hand in this whole thing, it's got her name written all over it!) knew that we both needed this, and it all worked out!

Aunt D is headed back to her home to tie up lose ends, and then she'll be moving to Savannah and I'm so excited! It'll be nice to know someone at the Cathedral when I go (Besides Mr. J, I mean. I don't see him every time). I'm thinking about maybe inviting Father Shrek over for dinner one day, but that I think can wait for a little while. It's not like I live alone, after all, and my granma might be opposed to that. I don't think she would be, but it's best to make sure, you know?

Downside to the new hours is that I have to reschedule my appointment with the tattoo artist. I don't really mind to much, I mean, those hours will help me out a lot, but at the same time, I'm really interested in seeing what she did with my (really pitiful) rough draft. and to talk color. Of course, H is still a little disappointed that I haven't gone to see her guy (because he's the best, obviously) but I like this place. It's where I got my first tattoo (same artist too) and I was really pleased with it. It's also really close to the mall, so when I (inevitably) get the munchies after getting inked, I have lots of options.

Also, I'm almost finished with the stole! I'm a little more than half-way through the crocheted edging and boy does that make me feel like I'm all thumbs! I miss my knitting needles! It's been a while since I last crocheted anything, so I feel so awkward! But it's good practice for that sweater I really want to make. As soon as I finish I'm going to finish the other bootie and then make my socks! Then a pair of mittens and a hat, followed by Christmas knitting! I've got the yarn and the pattern for a lovely butterfly shawl for my granma (she loves butterflies) and that's where I'll start. Then socks for Sasquatch, and part one of the knitted advent calendar, that is to say, the garland it sits on. Hopefully by then I'll have money again and can buy the yarn for Little Bird's Christmas stocking and P's socks, as well as the eyelash yarn for Little Bird's dress. I've also still got to make her pumpkin hat. That, thankfully, will not be as bad as that awful cabbage patch hat.

Wow, I've written a lot tonight. I am so sorry. You are all wonderful for reading this far!

So, question time! Have you ever had something happen that just had Mother Mary's hand-writing all over it? Have you ever had a priest over for dinner before? Let me know! I'd love to hear from you!

Yours always,
Tara

Birthday, boxty, and cleaning

So I am now officially 22 years old. Today has largely been marked by a degree of self-indulgence (hello four empty coke cans) but I have accomplished a few things.

I got up early and went to mass. Now whether or not I'll make it tomorrow morning as well is up in the air, but I do plan to. Honestly, getting up at 6am is not what I want to do, no matter how much I enjoy the end result (that is, attending morning mass). Truthfully, I can knock it back to 6:20, because I don't leave until 6:45 and 25 minutes is more than enough time, even on the morning when I take a shower.

But I got up this morning and went to mass. Then I went home and took an hour long nap because I had a hard time getting to sleep the night before and was still really tired. I'm hoping a shot of amaretto before bed will cure that problem.

After that I worked on my room some. I reorganized some shelves and pulled some books and clothes down to go to goodwill. I still have several more drawers to go through just puling out the stuff I don't wear to get rid of. And more books.

I will be honest, I struggle to get rid of books, even the ones I don't really like. It's just one of those things. I'm a book person. I mean, thinking about the Library of Alexandria makes me want to cry. All those books, gone. And it's even worse when you consider just how much work went into those books! They were hand written!

I've made a decent amount of progress though, so it's not too bad. I've got three boxes to unpack still though, not including my key-board that's sitting in the shed. I need to get the empty boxes out of the corner, and try to move the end table. I'm hoping to maybe replace it with a bookcase, albeit a thin one. Maybe it can hold the million and one odds and ends I have. I also have a bunch of knick-knacks that have to go.

To this day I still can't understand why having a statue of a laughing Buddha is okay but a saint medal is not. My mother gave me the little Buddha, but I bought the saint medal. Of course, now I have several of them, but the first one I bought was St. Catherine of Alexandria, patron saint of librarians and book-keepers.

My dad gave me the St. Barbara medal I have. She's the patron saint of the Field Artillery (and more besides, but that how I know her best). Then I got St. Patrick, and just recently St. Brigid and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. Mom never liked me wearing the St. Catherine medal. (but she bought me a laughing Buddha?)

Anyway! So as part of my dinner I had half a boxty. I've decided that, the next time I make these, I'm going to make them thinner. Also, my marmalade did not set, so I have pickled onions, and not onion marmalade. Still tastes good, but also still disappointing.

I've got a lot of cleaning to do tonight when I get home though. The exterminator comes tomorrow and I need to get it cleaned up so he can do his job, regardless of whether I'm there or not. This means that I need to get the pile of clothes on my bed bagged up to go, and get the pile of clothes on my floor sorted and put where it goes. I need to move my knitting tower onto it's new home, and maybe try to move entertainment center slightly so that I can get the last piece of it in place and out of the middle of my floor.

Of course, I'd also like to finish this stupid stole....so I'd best get to work.

Good night dear readers,
Yours always,
Tara

Kit-kat bars and thrice-cursed shawls

Stole, actually, but we're not here to be finicky, dear readers.

About a month before my mother found out she was pregnant, a lady at her church requested that I make her a stole for the Prayer Shawl Companion. I agreed...and promptly regreted it after the third week slogging through the thrice-cursed cabling on the thing! Given that she hasn't been at church and I've been working on other things, the stole has sat abandoned a mere 36 rows shy of completion. She was at church last week and inquired about it. I said I'd have it done by Sunday. That means 36 rows of the misery inducing cables, followed by a complete crochet edging and then washing and blocking. I'm also 10 rows shy of finishing a bootie for Shawna, which leaves me with one more to do and I'm frankly desperate to take a break and knit those Irish Ale socks!

I'm actually hoping against all hope that I'll finish the knitted portion of the stole tonight and then just crochet the edges tomorrow. I'd do it when I get home, but I want to go to mass tomorrow morning. I'll turn 22 tomorrow, and I'd like to start my birthday off properly.

We didn't go out for lunch after church, instead we went to dinner on Saturday. We went to the Macaroni grill, which actually probably wasn't the best idea given how hot it was. Heavy food on the hottest day so far? Not the best idea.

Sunday after mass I stopped by the store and picked up a few things, including hair dye. I'm trying to get my hair back to it's natural light brown color (or as I call it, mouse brown) and would prefer not to look to strange as my hair grows out. I got a natural henna dye, so it shouldn't damage my hair any.

I made boxty and onion marmalade today. I don't know if the marmalade has set properly though, and I'm actually really worried about that. As for the boxty, it was really good, but I don't know how anyone eats a full one. It fills you up really quickly.

Although that might just be because I don't eat a lot in one sitting unless it's Thanksgiving. And even then, I tend to nibble continuously rather than gorge.

Speaking of the coming holiday season, they have Halloween candy out already! YES! hello 2-for-5 kit-kat bars and mini peanut butter cups!

You see the kind of sweet tooth I have.

My socks are taunting me. Sitting there, just two little balls of yarn and two new sets of double points. Taunting me I tell you! But, the booties and the stole come first.

I found this rosary on ebay that I have my heart set on. Of course, as per my usual, I don't intend to bid on it until the last possible moment, even so, fingers crossed!

I'm signing off for the moment, but I'll talk with you later!

Yours always,
Tara

Saturdays with the Saints: St. John of God

Today's randomly generated saint is St. John of God. He's the patron of alcoholics, booksellers, the dying, firefighters, heart patients, hospitals, nurses, publishers, printers and the sick.

So wow, this guy has a crazy story. Apparently St. John was an incredibly impulsive person who threw himself head long into everything he did, hence the long list of patronages. At the age of 8 he left home to follow a priest who he travel with for several years before becoming ill. He was taken in by a man who managed a large estate and nursed back to health and basically adopted by the man. He stayed there for many years taking care of the sheep before running off to war to escape the pressures to marry the man's daughter, who he thought of like a sister. As a soldier he was hardly a model of holiness and was well known for drinking, fighting, and gambling. After being thrown off a stolen horse in enemy territory, he made a promise to clean up his act, and upon returning to his camp, he did. He made every one there angry by pushing them to give up their carousing as well, and narrowly escaped being hanged. He then returned to the estate and worked for many years until the next war. After that war, he decided to try to find his birth parents and was heartbroken to learn that they had died in his absence. 

He then decided to go to Africa to free captive Christians, only on the way there he met a noble family who were being exiled and  pledged to be their servant. The family fell sick after they arrived, and he nursed them back to health while working to build fortifications. The experience shook his faith, due to the cruel treatment he received from people who called themselves Catholics, and after the family was well and pardoned, he went to Spain to study.

He found so much joy in reading that he decided to sell books, first becoming a peddler, and then opening a store in Grananda. After hearing a sermon from John of Avila  he was over come with grief at his own sins that he destroyed all the secular books he had in his store, gave away the Christian books and all of his money. Because of his apparent madness, he was taken to the Royal Hospital and interred as a lunatic. He was there for 40 days before John of Avila came to visit him, and had him moved to a better part of the hospital. 

Now able to move around, he worked as an unpaid nurse in the hospital before leaving to start his own. He had no money, and so he sold wood in the square to take care of people right out on the streets. After a while he found a building that he rented, before begging for anything that people would be willing to give to furnish it. The he carried his patients there himself. Eventually he was able to move his hospital into an old Carmelite monastery. When Royal Hospital caught on fire, he rushed to the rescue, carrying the patients out before running back in to remove valuable bedding and mattress, before cutting the burning portion of the building away with an ax. He fell through the roof but emerged unharmed.

When he heard that flooding was bringing valuable driftwood towards them, he went out, with no regards to his poor health, to collect it. One of his companions fell into the river and St. John attempted to save him, but was unable to. He caught pneumonia and died on March 8th, his 55th birthday.

Basically this guy was crazy! I mean, seriously, you can't make a story like this up. He just threw himself head first into everything he did and then he managed to survive to 55? Wow. 

Until later, dear readers, I remain,

Yours always,

Tara

Powered by egg-rolls

Or at least my step-dad seems to think we are.

I went over to my mom's this morning after mass to make egg-rolls and just spend time with her. She scared the crap out of me, with her standing on her head and all. Apparently, Little Bird is still laying sideways when she needs to turn her little tail feathers around and lay head down, you know, to get ready? And so the mid-wife had advised my mother to lie with her butt up on the couch and her body on pillows on the floor. While she was doing this, my mother started laughing, which apparently hurt really badly and scared the tar out of little old me.

Did I mention that I don't do well with loved ones in pain?

Thankfully she was okay and she no longer has to do that.

The egg-rolls turned out good. The recipe is a traditional Vietnamese recipe that my mom got from a friend of hers who's husband was Vietnamese. Apparently it's his family's recipe. Either way, we've been making them forever and they are delicious. No photo's I'm afraid, but believe me when I say these are better than any egg-roll you've ever had a you local Chinese place.

My mother ate 3 and then had a energy boost, so to speak, P ate a belly full of them, and I ate 3 and got a move on myself, hence why my step-dad thinks that egg-rolls are apparently a power-boost.

I didn't get around to the boxty or the onion marmalade, so I'll have to do those tomorrow.

Sunday we're celebrating my birthday. We're going to go out for lunch after church, so that'll be nice. I spent  about an hour trying to decide where to go because I live for food that's good and cheap, and sadly that's not something you find in restaurants. I've settled on an Italian joint in Savannah, but I won't say where until Monday.

I went to mass this morning, although I almost didn't. For some reason I had a really hard time getting to bed last night and I did not want to get up this morning. I did though, and as always I'm glad that I did.

I'm headed to bed now, but I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Yours always,
Tara

Snakes, Roses, Stars, and lot's of bread

 

Hiss! I'll bite you!

So, I'm trying something a little different with my pictures today. Bear with me, dear readers.


It's day 4 with no AC and a balmy 89*F, when last I checked the thermostat. We have all the doors thrown open and with that comes the risk of snakes. Which, wouldn't be a huge problem, except that we are in South Georgia, dear readers, and the last time we had a snake in the building it was a juvenile water moccasin. Not what you want to find in your place of employment, I assure you.


On a more pleasant note, I got a new rosary today.

Much better than the last one I bought, I don't feel like this one will break apart in my hands. The beads are wood, with little swirls carved into the sides (they're supposed to look like roses) and the entire thing smells like roses....or rather, like rose water. I've never found roses to be very fragrant, but if distilled in water there is a very distinctive scent. The weight of it is nice, and while it's certainly not my favorite rosary ever, I think it'll do nicely for everyday use.

I finally finished my hat. The pattern is called the Star of County Down and it took me two days of sporadic knitting to finish it. It didn't turn out exactly like the pictures. There's supposed to be small "holes" all around the outside edges, in between the points of the star. The holes are actually there, but for some reason you can't tell. I wet blocked it last night (on a dinner plate, as per their instructions) and wore it part of today (since I can't wear hats at work).

And yes, I did giggle like an idiot when The Star of County Down started playing on my iPod.

I love "Celtic" music. The High Kings, The Dubliners, The Young Dubliners, The Bollox, Gaelic Storm, you name it. I even like Dropkick Murphys, which has a bad habit of being unintelligible.

I did some baking this morning before work, as well as scratch making some mashed potatoes to make boxty with tomorrow.

And mash! two, three, four!

First off, let's give a round of applause to everyone who came before who had to cook. Scratch made mashed potatoes are brilliant....except when you have to mash them with an old potato masher such as the one seen here.

Great upper body work out though! Burn off the calories of those potatoes before you even get the chance to eat them! Of course we have a food processor.....somewhere. It was given to my granma by my mom and has never once been taken out of the box. I however have no idea where it is, and did not feel like trying to find it when the more *ahem* traditional tool was right there.

The entire point of making mashed potatoes from scratch, after all, was the clumpy texture that instant potatoes just don't have.

I'm pleased to report that, though I lack stamina and upper-body strength, I did manage to successfully mash the potatoes into the absolutely perfect looking product you see to the right!

Totally worth the extra effort! Nothing beats scratch made mashed potatoes, though I fully admit that I have no problem using instant and will continue to do so most of the time because, as much as I love scratch made potatoes they are incredible time consuming.

Of course, adding to the amount of time it took was the fact that I was also up to my wrists with a loaf of Old-fashioned Spiced Gingerbread and a loaf of Classic Irish Soda Bread.






In the mix



Getting hot in here

 



Ta-da!

 

 

 The Gingerbread is brilliant. Well, I say that, I haven't actually been able to cut into any of my new creations (which sucks) because they hadn't finished cooling when I left. So they're all sitting on the counter, wrapped in clean dish towels.  Based off the batter (and yes, I did lick the beaters like a small child) the gingerbread is really good, but also really heavy on the ginger. I just followed the recipe.


Dry ingredients first



Hot hot hot!



tad to dark on top, but still perfect!

The Soda bread looks really good to. My mom gave me a bag of the stone-ground whole wheat flour, so I didn't have to buy it. Apparently it's been taking up space in her cabinet for a while now. It only took 30 minutes to bake, so I might try baking a loaf every few days if it's good. I  bet it'd go really well with the recipe I have for Beef and Guinness stew I have. Last time I made the stew it was a little greasy from where I didn't drain the meat well enough, but this time I'll be better prepared. Of course, I have to cut the recipe in third because of how much is makes! But I'm sure it'll be great. 

I've decided to go to morning mass tomorrow because I have so much to get done. I'm going over to my mom's to make egg-rolls, and I'll take the stuff for the boxty so I can get those done to. When I get home I've got cleaning to do, and then I'm going to wash two of my new pint jars and make Onion marmalade. Unlike the stew recipe, which makes enough to feed a small army, the marmalade recipe makes enough for two little jars, which are then stored in the fridge. If I like it, I can always multiply the recipe and make a proper batch to be stored on the shelf until opened.

Anyway, I'm back to baby knitting, so I'd best get to it. A quick break for dinner, and then to work!

I'll talk to ya'll tomorrow!
Yours always,
Tara



Our Lady Star of the Sea chaplet and day 3 with no AC

I got the center and the crucifix for the Our Lady Star of the Sea chaplet I wanted to make today. It did indeed turn out to be a chaplet, and not a rosary, though it was sort of up in the air for a while, but given how long it would have been, judging off ten of the pearls strung together, it would have been highly impractical as a rosary.

The crucifix and center are both bronze, the chain and pins are iron that's been treated to look like bronze. It's not an exact match, but it's close enough. The 12 beads of the main section are fresh-water pearls, and the three beads connecting the center and the crucifix are mother-of-pearl. It's all nice and appropriately nautical, so I'm happy with it, even if I do think the mother-of-pearl beads might be a bit big. Besides, I kind of like the way it looks. Now I have to figure out who it's for.

Sometimes, I make things, just to make them, and I don't know who it's for or if it's for any one at all! Sometimes, the item becomes mine, sometimes, I figure out who the owner is, and sometimes I'm left with a funny feeling that it isn't mine.....but I don't know who it's for. Very frustrating. 

I'm still knitting away at my hat. I've got about 15 rows or so left, so I should be able to finish it before I leave tonight. Then tomorrow it's back to booties and mittens. *sigh*

In the spirit of today's episode of Mother Angelica Classics (yes, I have been watching Mother Angelica, and I LOVE her!) I have decided to treat my current frustration (i.e. knitting the same three baby patterns over and over) as a gift towards sanctification. This is not nearly as spiritual as it sounds, and is based primarily off the fact that if I don't think of it in those terms, I'll be tempted to strangle Shawna with the yarn!

Hey, I never said I was a good Christian, just that I'm trying my best.

It's really cool though, because I didn't even know we got EWTN at the house! I mean, I listen to the radio all the time on my computer, but we actually get the tv channel and it's kind of nice! I sat and worked on my hat for an hour earlier while watching Mother Angelica. Very enjoyable.

Friday promises to be busy. I plan on making Vietnamese egg rolls, going to mid-day mass, and making boxty and ginger-bread. Oh! and soda bread. I might do the soda bread and ginger bread tomorrow, along with the mashed potatoes for the boxty. Oh! And onion marmalade! I have a fantastic cook book of Irish recipes.

Buy it! I promise it's good!

 

I have no idea who David Bowers is, but I will forever adore him for writing this cookbook. It has the best recipe for shepherd's pie ever! And that's coming from me! I love shepherd's pie! It's like the ultimate comfort food (tied with Granma's spaghetti) and I could literally eat it every day of the week with no guilt. The first time I made the recipe from this book, I was sick with a small cold. First bite was pure heaven!

 

I pretty much just want to make every recipe in this cook book.

 

Except the oysters. I'm not very fond of oysters.

 

Anyway! Wow, that was off-subject. Sorry. I just really love to cook. I'll try to post pictures of my dishes, but I make no promises as to the quality of those photos. I'm not a photographer.

 

It's day three with no AC at work, but today I've got a fan, so it's not quiet as miserable. It'll probably be November before they get it fixed, and then the heater will go out! Ah well, such is life.

 

I might be back on again later this evening, but I don't know yet. Until later!

 

Yours always,

Tara



Baby hats, tattoo rough drafts, and the blessing of rain

First things first, yesterday I promised you a picture of the cabbage patch baby hat.

It is, quite frankly, a terrible picture. I've got it sitting on a pencil holder and the lighting isn't the best. Hindsight says I attached the pigtails too far up, and I should have made them longer, but I'm not fond of the pigtails at all anyway. The ribbons are light green with two-toned green shamrocks.

You can see my little St. Patrick smiling from where he sits over by my yarn.

I finally got a half-way decent draft of my tattoo design. Being unable to draw is terrible when you have a vivid mind because I know what I want it to look like, but I can't draw worth fish-sticks.

Like I said, rough draft. I'm hoping to put it on my back, just below the mid-point. I think they could probably lay the top line right on top of my scar, which would be nice. I plan on doing most of my tattoos in a cobalt blue, with a little red and maybe some green tossed in. I don't want it to be too big, either.

Our AC is still out at work, which makes the recent rainfall an even larger blessing than usual, having cooled the building enough to avoid heat stroke. I think it's about 80*F in here, which isn't really comfortable, but is cool enough that I'm not sweating like a pig.

I'm not very fond of the guy I'm working with this week. There's nothing really wrong with him, but he's a little condescending and is very knowledgeable about the world. He also likes to poke fun at my knitting, my little St. Patrick, and anything I say that seems naïve to him....which is probably 95% of what I say. Like I said, he's not really a bad guy, but he's not someone I'd choose to hang out with.

I'm supposed to be working on baby knitting for Shawna, but I don't feel like it at all. So tonight I'm working on a hat that I wanted to try. Hopefully I'll finish it tonight, and then I'll start on baby booties tomorrow.  Truthfully, I'm so sick of making the same three patterns over and over that I'm about ready to scream, but I really want to finish that soon.

The building is pretty empty because of the temperature and it's nice and quiet. Ms. L (the lady who cleans the building) is really happy that she got a new carpet cleaner. The other one hurt her back to use. Tomorrow I'll call my boss and verify my schedule this week, give what's going on here this week. I'd love to pick up a couple of extra hours if at all possible.

Anyway, I'll talk to you later!
Yours always,
Tara

I wonder if this is how my dinner feels

We have no air conditioning tonight, which means that the internal temperature of the building is a balmy 95*F and slowly dropping as it gets later.....and I do mean slowly.

Roasting alive aside, (which makes me wonder if this is what it feel like to be a chicken baking in the oven), let's talk about everything that's happened since Saturday. Well, Friday, really, since I didn't do a personal post on Saturday. Mainly because nothing really happened on Saturday. I got a birthday card from my dad (Thanks Daddy!) and got started on going through the enormous amount of clothes I have amassed.

Sunday was much more interesting. I went to the Latin mass at the Cathedral. It was really interesting, and I'll probably continue to go occasionally, but I enjoy the regular mass service as well. Next time, I'll be sure to grab one of the missals on the back table. I didn't even know they had them until right as service was beginning. Great time for them to make that announcement.

I stopped by the mall after church and had a gyro, then hit the craft store and bought some ribbon for the Cabbage Patch baby hat my mom asked for. I'll post pictures of it tomorrow. After that it was home for dinner (pizza) and a movie. I mixed up a quick little drink that I'm calling the Irish Mob. It's a twist on the Godfather (Amaretto and Scotch) that I made with Amaretto and Irish Whiskey. After eating, I settled down with my drink and The Boondock Saints for a late evening in.

This morning, I went with my mom and her friend to a 4D ultrasound. I don't know if any of you have seen a 4D ultrasound before, but it's really cool! You can see so much detail! We also found out that Little Bird isn't all that little! My sister is so long that she's pretty much folded double across my mom! She literally always had her knees up on her chest and had no where else to put them!

It was really cool though! She has a head full of hair, and a button nose and chubby cheeks and pudgy hands and it was awesome!

How cool is it that we have the technology to do that? To actually look into the womb and see a child with that much detail! We could see that she had her eyes open for crying out loud! We could see and recognize all of her little fingers and toes! We could see her face! Every little feature of her face, her eyes, her nose, her mouth, her cheeks, her chin, her ears!

Sorry, I didn't do much gushing at the time because I was too busy watching the screen. It was really cool.

Of course, now I'm a little worried that none of the mittens I made will fit...might need to buy a little more yarn for the Christmas dress too.

But! Little Bird is healthy, active, and adorable!

Anyway, I'm listening to Catholic Answers Live while sitting here waiting to go home. I've got two pairs of booties, one pair of mittens, and another hat to make for Shawna, a chaplet for Our Lady Star of the Sea to make, I'm planning on making a Christmas rosary, and all of my Christmas knitting. I'm going to start on Granma's shawl as soon as I finish Shawna's baby knitting, which will hopefully be Friday, and hopefully I'll be able to start on the Angel dress for Little Bird after she's born, give me a little bit better idea of what the size will need to be, and until then, I've got five pairs of socks to knit.

Still haven't figured out what to do for mom, and I've got a shawl I'd like to make for myself. Plus a hat to go with my yellow socks.

The good news is that I have plenty to do when there's nothing going on at work. The bad news is that yarn can be expensive. I've got my eye on some yarn at knitpicks. Next time they have a sale, I'm stocking up!

Yours always,
Tara

Saturdays with the Saints: St. Joseph

Today's saint is St. Joseph, husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus Christ. There is very little known about St. Joseph. We know that he was a descendant of the line of David, though Luke and Matthew disagree on the exact lineage, and that he was a carpenter. He was not wealthy, indeed, when they went to the temple 40 days after Mary gave birth for her to be cleansed and Christ to be circumcised, they sacrificed two turtledoves, which was only done if you were unable to afford a goat. 

In spite of being poor, they still made the trip to Jerusalem for the Passover as was expected of devout Jews. We know that Joseph was a kind man, as he planned to "put her (Mary) away quietly" when he found her pregnant, before learning that it was the Child of God. Given that Mary would likely have been stoned to death had he done so publicly, this shows that he was a caring man. We know he cared greatly for Jesus, and that he was willing, first to live in Egypt, and then to move to Nazareth in order to protect Mary and Jesus from Herod. 

Given that St. Joseph is not mentioned during the ministry of Jesus, it is commonly believed that he died before Jesus began his public ministry. 

St. Joseph is the patron saint of the dying, the universal Church, fathers, carpenters, and social justice. 

He has two feast days: March 19 for Joseph the Husband of Mary and May 1 as Joseph the Worker.

Today went by quickly

I got up early this morning to go to mass, which, while being a slightly longer service, wasn't much different than a usual weekday mass. Slightly larger crowd, and about 5 minutes longer. It was lovely, as always.

After mass I took my truck in to have the alignment fixed, and spent time with my mom until it was time to pick it back up. I then went home and slept until 2:30pm, in what I believe was the last few days catching up to me. I did a little house work, and then had pizza and amaretto laced root beer floats until my mild lactose intolerance caused my stomach to hurt (on float number 4). My granma pointed out that I should have only drank one, but they were really really good!

No trip to St. Augustine tomorrow, or really, for the foreseeable future. It's a four hour drive, and it takes about a tank of gas either way, which isn't a lot, but it's still a bit much right now.

Tomorrow will be another installment of Saturdays with the Saints, and I hope you're as excited as I am. For right now though, I'm going to bed.

Good night dear readers.
Yours always,
Tara

Tiny Saints, Bad Catholics, and Cabbage patch dolls

My Shining Light Dolls came today. I left St. Nicholas at home, but I brought St. Patrick with me. It's nice to have him sitting on the computer smiling at me while I work. It's silly, but it makes me smile every time I look at him.

I've also been reading more of my Bad Catholic's Guide series. I haven't finished Wine, Whiskey, and Song yet, but I'm also reading a little bit of Good Living. I adore the writing. The humor alone is worth the price, and you don't have to be Catholic, or even considering Catholicism to really enjoy them.

In other news, I've also started on a hat for Little Bird that looks like a Cabbage Patch Dolls hair. Pigtails and yarn loop bangs. Yarn loops! Do you have any idea how hard it was to get that awful loop stitch? Ugh! I was so thankful that St. Patrick is the patron of Ireland and has heard far worse than my grumbling as I tried to make this stupid stitch work. I finally got it right, and I apologized for my less than charitable thoughts toward the inventor of the Loop stitch, the writer of the pattern, and my yarn, but still.

While my tiny Saint keeps smiling, I'm sure St. Patrick himself is continually rolling his eyes at me.

I'm hoping to finish this hat before I drop my truck off to get the alignment fixed, that way I can give it to my mom along with the blanket I bought for Little Bird. It's purple and green and has two little birds at the bottom. It's so cute! And not pink!

Why is EVERYTHING for little girls pink? You have to wait until they hit 1yr. before you get other color options! (Unless you're buying green or yellow, green and yellow are, apparently, gender neutral.) It's a color! Why? Have I mentioned how much I hate assigning genders to colors?

Do you realize that pink was considered a boy color up until the 1950s? and that the only reason it changes is because the Nazis had homosexuals in the concentration camps wear pink triangles? Blue was a girl color, because it was considered calming and delicate.

They are colors! It doesn't matter pink or blue! It's a color! How ridiculous!

Not that I'm against pink. I mean, it's not my favorite color or anything, but I don't mind it. It's just that I find it ridiculous how all that you can find, for the most part, is a wall of pastel pink!

It's a bit much, by my way of thinking.

I did make an appointment with the doctor. It's not until September, but I'll be able to make it until then. I'm hoping that, if I watch what I'm eating, I might be able to avoid a repeat performance of this morning.

Truthfully, it was easier to make the appointment than I had thought it would be. The lady on the other line was very helpful, and it made it easier. I'm still not happy about it, but such is life.

I would appreciate your prayers, especially since I have to get up early tomorrow morning. I'm praying for a good day tomorrow. If I make it to morning mass, I usually have a good day after wards.

I'm going to call it a night, and get to work on that Cabbage patch hat.
Yours always,
Tara

Ouch!

Last night, or really, this morning, was not fun. I woke up at 2am to fairly bad pain in my abdomen, just below the rib cage. The pain persisted until about 5:20, making it impossible to get back to sleep. I'm planning, much to my displeasure, to make an appointment with a doctor and see about getting it checked out. This isn't the first time that this has happened, so I figure it's something that has to be looked at.

I have no real desire to do so, mind you. I hate doctors, hospitals, and pretty much anything related to the medical profession as it applies to living, breathing human beings. Medical examiners are cool, and the anatomy of the human body is fascinating, but hospitals make me anxious. Also, the last time I was at a hospital, it was because Mom was there because of a scare with Little Bird and the chapel was closed! Who closes a chapel in a hospital? I mean, ok, so maybe the good priest can't be there all the time, need to get a little sleep himself, but seriously?

I ended up leaning against a wall in a hallway, praying for my family, and that I'd remain undisturbed while falling apart. I don't do well when family members are in danger. I actually scared the living daylights out of the poor fellow I asked about the hours for the chapel. He thought someone had died! I mean, I'm sure someone had, but not any of my someones.

I digress. Point is, I'm not a fan of hospitals. At. ALL.

I fixed my poor teddy bear before bed last night. After 20 yrs of dedicated service, my beloved Teddy (yes, his name is Teddy) has begun to show his age. I'd send him to a stuffed animal doctor, but I don't trust people. And this is a highly important member of the Ursa Fluffus family! He's been there through illness, through injuries, through moves, through new family members, through funerals, he's even talked me out of running away! (I was and continue to be a weird kid.) And yes, I do still snuggle with my teddy bear at night!

Anyway, tomorrow I'm going to morning mass for the Feast of the Assumption, and then taking my truck in to get the front end alignment fixed. After that, I'm cleaning the house. I'm hoping I'll get the chance to make a short trip down to St. Augustine Saturday. There's a mission there I'd like to see for Nuestra Señora de La Leche y Buen Parto (Our Lady of Milk and Happy Delivery). Maybe she'll accept prayers from a concerned older sister.

It'd also be a good chance to get some great photos. Last time I went, I didn't take any pictures. Well, okay, I took a few, but since I was there to see a friend, they weren't really pictures of St. Augustine.

My mother tends to be the shutter happy one, a fact which induced misery as a child (and I count that all the way up to the present day and beyond, truthfully. As long as I'm her child) but I enjoy taking pictures as well. I'm usually content with a simple digital camera, while my mom like the bulky professional models. Of course, I've never stopped loving the old Polaroids that spit the picture out and develop it in 10 seconds. Those cameras, and their film, should always be available to the public.

I think my writing highlights a problem I have with life very well. I'll be 22 at the end of this month....and I still feel like a kid. I have a job, responsibilities, bills...and I still feel like a kid. Nobody tells you that being a 20-something is terrifying because you're expected to "be an adult" and you barely even feel like a teenager most of the time, let alone an adult. But then I wonder if that's just what adulthood is? A bunch of people who still feel like kids, but they have a little more experience in life, and so humanity fumbles along.

Except for that weirdo who literally never smiles. Like, they are the human personification of dour, imposing old buildings, that call to mind horror stories of Nuns with rulers and pinched faces, who you can literally never imagine as children because they are made out of stone!

I don't mean the Eeyore people. The gloomy people who are really good, and sweet, and want to help, but just can't help but be a Marshwiggle and sigh. You know, those people are actually really nice, because they're love little things. Eeyore was thrilled (in his own way) to receive a popped balloon and an empty jar from his friends, even if it wasn't what they'd meant to give him, because they'd tried really hard, and they did it because they loved him.

Nor do I mean the people like Rabbit, who grouse about boisterous people, who like the quiet, who like their work, and would rather not be interrupted when they're working because it's important. They can be very generous, and really do love their friends, even if they don't always want to be around them. They're a bit fussy, and a bit stuck-up some times, but they don't mean any harm.

I mean the people who are just the human personification of stoic, and that's their entire personality. Stoic, mature, reserved. These aren't bad traits, but in this sort of person, they're stifling!

Meanwhile, I'm over here as something of a cross between all the Hundred Acre Woods' beloved inhabitants. But Piglet and Eeyore are still my favorites. I'm sure that says something about my personality (paging: Dr. Freud?) but I'm not going to look to deeply into it.

Anyway, that's all for now! I'm going to get something to eat.
Yours always,
Tara

A truly profitable if somewhat hectic day

As has become my custom, I dragged my tired and lazy body out of bed at 6 o'clock in the morning to get ready for mass. Truthfully, I could leave it until 6:30, because I usually only take about 5 minutes to get ready anyway, but getting up at 6 gives me time to check my email (I get the Morning Offering from the Catholic Company) and maybe grab some toast with a liberal amount of marmalade if I'm so inclined.

Mass was lovely, as always. It's nice to get there a little early, and see how the alter glows when they turn the lights up. I'm still stumbling my way through mass, but everyone is kind enough not to say anything.

After  mass I got some breakfast and walked through the cemetery reading the plaques until the office opened at 9. They weren't there, so I killed another 15 minutes walking to the nearest store and getting some tea before heading back. I went ahead and put my name down to be contacted about the RCIA classes in September, and I already talked to my boss about working on a different day so I can attend the classes.

This was followed by a quick stop at the catholic store, where I got a new rosary and another guide to mass, as I gave the other one to L. I had to rescue my scarf (with it's tempting tassels) from an adorable dog at the catholic store, I then proceeded back to the Cathedral for a few moments of prayer before braving traffic in Savannah.

I then headed to my college to pick up my Serve Safe certificate and stopped by Michael's to pick up some chain and wire for the OL Star of the Sea chaplet (rosary? chaplet? we shall see) and while there picked up brown yarn for a cabbage patch doll hat for Little Bird. I also swung by World Market and picked up a fork, spoon, and plate for work. I'll add a coffee cup a little later in the season....and possibly a tea pot and cozy.

I purchased two of the Shining Light dolls last night. St. Patrick and St. Nicholas will be arriving tomorrow, along with a cute little purple and green bird themed baby blanket. I might get OL of Knock and OL of Lourdes later. I'll be honest, I still really want the plush St. Patrick.

Speaking of plush toys, my beloved teddy bear, who has slept in my bed and kept monsters at bay for nearly 20 years, is in need of repair....again. His heads coming off again. This time on the other side. I've decided to cut all the strings and just reattach it all the way around instead of trying to do a patch job. It's a terrifying thought, but it needs to be done.

I also received my books today. I received the following:
The Bad Catholic's Guide to a Good Life
The Bad Catholic's Guide to Wine, Whiskey & Song
The Bad Catholic's Guide to the Catechism
The Protestant Dilemma
Rediscovering Catholicism
Vampire Knits
and the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

So far I've already read the Protestant Dilemma, which pointed out things I already knew about Protestantism and gave the Catholic truth (jury still ou...oh who am I kidding? We all know how this will end!) instead. I've also started in on The Bad Catholic's Guide to Wine, Whiskey & Song.

Can I just say how much I love this book? It's funny! It has all sorts of lovely little tidbits and a fantastic flow. And the jokes regarding the subject (such as suggesting that Frenchmen burning a liquor producing Abbey as being proof of the reality and activity of Satan) make it an entirely too funny read!

That, I think, is one of the more brilliant aspects of Catholicism. It's summed up in a quote I've heard a few times "Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine, there's always laughter and good red wine".  There's a fantastic love and enjoyment for life in the Catholic church when it's following it's own teachings. Protestants can often forget that we are allowed to enjoy.

Oh! I mentioned earlier I bought a new rosary. It's truly a practical move. I bought a fairly plain and inexpensive one to use instead of my Connemara rosary because marble is not a very good material to make a rosary (or truthfully much of anything else) out of. Use of it causes the marble to break down over time, and I'd like to keep it in good condition for as long as possible. The new one is nice enough for what I paid, but the Aves and Paters look more or less the same, and I tend to prefer there be a noticeable difference between them.

Anyway, that's my Wednesday. Tomorrow I've got cleaning and a few more packages, more reading to do, and another baby knit project to cast on. I'm not sure if I should do the booties, the mittens, or the last hat. I've already made a blue hat and a green hat. I'm thinking of doing the booties, and then ignoring her if she suggests that they need to be any longer. I'm extending them by a few stitches, not so much that it'll make it to hard to adjust the pattern, but enough to add the extra inch or so.

Still tempted just to throw the yarn at her.

Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow!
Yours always,
Tara

Planning for a busy day

Tomorrow promises to be a busy day. As is my usual practice, I intend to get up early and go to morning mass at the Cathedral, followed by a variety of errands to run. After mass, I'll grab a bite to eat, and then head to the little Catholic store. This requires I find some productive way to waste about an hour until they open, but I need to pick up a few things, including a rosary made of something a little less delicate than marble. After that I need to swing into Savannah and pick up my Serve Safe certificate, and pick up some yarn and beads. I'm actually thinking about just getting a small crucifix at the store, and then picking up some beads to make another rosary.

I'll be honest, with a few exceptions, I have a hard time buying anything I can make. I'd much rather buy the parts and make it myself. I think this is because making things relaxes me. I also need to pick up bronze chain and eye-pins for the OL Star of the Sea chaplet I have planned. Although, I'm not sure it will be a chaplet, or if it will become a rosary. I was actually thinking about using shells, either as the Aves or the Paters, I hadn't decided yet.

I'm really excited though. My books are supposed to arrive tomorrow, thanks to free Prime two-day shipping. I can't wait to get started reading!

I'm also not sure what to do regarding the priest/RCIA situation. Tomorrow is the day I start calling again, and honestly, I'm so tired of calling that I'll probably just ask if there is a priest who can work with me, and if not, just sign up for the classes and call my boss. Hopefully, some one will be willing to work with me!

I also need to work more around the house. Friday I plan on doing a full clean, since I'm not working, but to do a full clean, I really need to get the majority of the stuff on my bed room floor up and put away. I might need to stop by Goodwill and see if I can't find a hat stand, and maybe see if I can't get that drawer pushed under my bed.

I still have several things of books and clothes to unpack. As I'm unpacking, I really need to go through and take out anything to small or unwanted, without arguing to myself. If I'm going to keep it for the quilt, I need to place it with the rest of pieces.

Truthfully, when I had moved, I had hoped to avoid exactly this. Unfortunately, it all sort of piled together and I don't really know where to put everything because ideally, I'd be able to put everything in a drawer, or on a shelf, and that'd be it. But that's not really how it works. I need more bookshelves, but I have no place for them even if I did get them.

Actually, now that I think about it, it might be a good idea to measure the area by my bead, and maybe move my bed slightly to put a bookshelf there. That would give me more storage. I just can't move the bed to much, or I won't be able to get into my dresser. I mean, I can't reach the bottom drawers right now anyway, but that's the winter clothing, so it's not an immediate concern.

My grammar teacher would be appalled by the over abundance of Is at the beginning of sentences. It's not intentional, but I'm trying to get all of my thoughts in order, and sadly you, dear readers, have to deal with it. Well, if you choose to stick around for it, that is.

Anyway, here's hoping things work out well tomorrow, and I'll talk to you then!
Yours always,
Tara

Robin Williams, baby knits, and staying up past midnight

I got home from work last night to the news that Robin Williams is dead. Of course, everybody has to die at some time, but it's not really something I was expecting to happen. Now, I'm not a huge fan, there are actually several of his movies that I didn't like, but there were many that I loved. Regardless of whether I loved all his movies, or just a few, he was a part of my childhood, and truly it was a good part. So here's hoping.

Moving on to the next topic, baby knits! So I bought and printed off the pattern for the angel dress I'm wanting to make for Little Bird for Christmas. Now, most of the pattern make sense, but the neck band part does not. I think I understand it, but I'm not positive. Hopefully once I get to that part of the pattern it will all make sense.

I don't have to worry about it for a while though. I've got bigger things to worry about. I ordered the yarn for the shawl I'm going to make my granma, and I need to look at the patterns to see what type of yarn I need for the other gifts. I want something annoying bright for P, but that's not the point. I'm hoping to finish up the knitting for Shawna by next week, so I can move on to the pumpkin hat for Little Bird, and the Irish ale socks for me.

Also, I've been having a hard time getting to sleep before midnight. Which, of course, means I don't want to get up in the mornings. I have to tomorrow, because I always go to morning mass on Wednesday, and then I have some errands to run, including a trip back to the little Catholic store to pick up a few things. I also have to pick up my Serve safe certificate and swing into the craft shop for some more yarn. Mom wants a cabbage patch baby hat. I'm happy to oblige.

Even so, I hate when my sleep cycle inevitably hit this point. I have a hard time going to sleep, and a hard time getting out of bed.

My day today is going to be filled primarily with cleaning, and hopefully boxing some stuff up to go to Goodwill. I've got a few things to set aside, but there's a lot I just need to get rid of. There's also some stuff I need to organize, like the t-shirts for the quilt that I want to make.  Right now, they're all over my room, and they need to be together, and out of the way. At least until I'm ready to use them.

Anyway, here's hoping you have a good day, dear readers.
Yours always,
Tara

Wow, where is my mind today?

I've just been forgetting things left and right and it's getting ridiculous! Okay, so, first thing first, I almost forgot to place the order for the parts of the chaplet for Our Lady Star of the Sea that I have planned. Then, I forgot to tell you guys how mass with L went on Sunday. And then, to top it off, as I was leaving for work I forgot my water bottle, my plate, and a fork! How ridiculous is that?

Thankfully, I've remembered to cancel my subscriptions to ancestry.com and idisciple. I was using idisciple for the daily reading, but I have a free app, Laudate, that has the daily reading, the rosary, and more. I still have Netflix and Catholic Answers Live, but that's about it. Next month, my phone bill goes up by $5 when I switch from my mom's contract to prepaid. I'm not too worried about it. Other than getting my front end alignment fixed on Friday, and some bronze chain and jump rings for the chaplet, I don't have anything else to purchase.

I'm not sure if I want to keep my Amazon Prime account. I don't use it very often, mainly because I buy the absolute cheapest one possible, which is often not the Amazon Prime option. I made use of it this time, mainly because the books I wanted, The Protestant Dilemma, The Bad Catholic's Guide (all three of them) and Rediscovering Catholicism were all just as cheap to buy the Prime version as to buy the lowest price and then add shipping. I also got Vampire Knits and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

I love Monty Python. It's a guilty pleasure that I enjoy, especially with a little alcohol involved. Not that it need alcohol, it's hilarious without it, but a little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.

Oh! I'm a terrible person, I'm sure! So, about a month ago I made a Guinness Chocolate Cheesecake (it didn't cook quite long enough, giving the center a more pudding like texture) and it tasted great. But that's not the terrible part. The terrible part is what I was so so so tempted to do!

See, my mother's church does Sunday school on Sunday evenings, and in each class there is food. And they like to spring it on you to bring something, little to no advanced warning, unless they remember to put out the sign up sheet (and even then...). So I had the absolutely terrible idea (though I didn't follow through) to take the cheese cake to church, and when asked what it is, to say "Guinness Chocolate Cheesecake". Now, given the nature of Southern Baptists, there would be someone who would comment on the sinfulness of alcohol, to which I would respond "Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker!" (thank you Mr. Willy Wonka!)

Thankfully, I never did that, but it was really tempting! I could just imagine the looks on their faces! I can also count on one hand the number that would laugh at it! Even the fun loving ones can be so uptight sometimes! I guess that's just people for you though.

Anyway! Sunday mass with L. We went to the second service they offer, and sat fairly close to the back. Thankfully we had the pew to ourselves, so there was no shuffling and tripping when it came time for the Eucharist (we just stayed where we were, given that neither of us are Catholics), and we weren't so far back we didn't have kneelers. My knees were still killing me though, but that's because I walked to a low table Saturday.

But anyway, we fumbled along as best we could, I more so than her because I actively try to participate, and she was content with just sitting when they sat and kneeling when they kneeled and so on. It was good though. It was nice to have her go with me.

I slipped up though! I generally tell people that I have no desire to marry and have children, largely because I'm not looking, not because I'm not interested. And the more someone says that I'll change my mind, the louder I say it. Truth is, I wouldn't mind getting married and having kids. And unfortunately I slipped up and let her know that. Damn! I did swear her to secrecy though (and that goes for all of you as well, dear readers!) so it shouldn't go any further than that. I'll slip up with the rest of my friends eventually, but right now....eh.

I know I said I'd wait until Wednesday, but I'm really tempted to just call the Cathedral tomorrow, and if they don't have a priest who can work with me, then sign up for the RCIA classes and talk to my boss about changing the schedule in September. I'm not a patient person, truthfully.

I'm planning on going to mass Friday, but honestly, I'm a little nervous. I've been to weekday mass, and Sunday mass, but I'm pretty sure that this is going to be a little more if that makes sense. Hopefully there will be something in the Let us Keep the Feast books to give me an idea of what to expect.

I've got one baby hat done. Tomorrow I'll try to knock out the other one, and hopefully I'll be able to get the striped one done on Wednesday. If all goes well, then Thursday I'll start on a new pair of booties. I still have a pair of mittens too though. One more thing I'd almost forgotten.

I really want to get started on my Christmas knitting.

Good night, dear readers, I'll talk to you in the morning.
Yours always,
Tara

A finished chaplet, and a truck load of books

Starting with the first thing, I finally finished the chaplet of St. Dymphna that I was making for my sister.

 

The picture quality isn't the best, but you can still see it fairly well. I wasn't sure what to use as the center, since the only St. Dymphna center I could find was more than I could afford, so I ended up using a Sacred Heart center. The book My Treasury of Chaplets says "This  chaplet in honor of St. Dymphna is made up of 17 beads, 15 for the 15 years of her life and 2 for the Holy Father's intentions. This chaplet comes in red, white, or green. The red chaplet is recited in honor of her martyrdom, the white in honor of her virginity, and the green for the hope of relief of emotional disorders." 

I'm really hoping it helps her. I mean, I know it's too much to expect her to magically get better because of it, but still. Maybe it can help ground her when she's overwhelmed, you know?

I ordered a bunch of books from Amazon earlier. I think the final count was 7 or 8, not including the four Let Us Keep the Feast books that I bought in the Kindle section (a purchase I lay square at the feet of the Catholic Librarian). Most of the books were Catholic lifestyle and apologetics, though I'm pretty sure I bought a knitting book too. Yeah, I know, it's terrible that I can't remember.

I also made another purchase from knitpicks, but this time it's all pre-wound into handy little balls. Does anyone know if they'll do that for you? Because the best I can do at home it stretch the hank of yarn across two chairs and pray. 

I'm just about done with the baby knitting for Shawna. She wants me to make two extra pair of booties that are a little bit longer, so that they last a couple of months. I feel like a terrible person, but I kind of wanted to toss the yarn at her when she said that. I mean, I know those booties aren't huge or anything, but baby feet aren't that big! They probably will last two or three months, but oh well. What's one more pair of booties, right? At least until I can get started on the angel dress for little bird, that has booties with it too. Hopefully by then I won't hate knitting little shoes.

It's Monday, and so far, I still haven't heard from the Priest. I did call the Cathedral to find out when RCIA classes started. I'd really rather not go that route because I hate causing trouble for other people (i.e. my boss) but at the same time, maybe the difficulty I've been having is God's way of telling me to go to the classes. 

Anyway, that's it for right now, I'll be back on later, as usual.

Yours always,

Tara

Confusion on top of confusion

So, in my post on Wednesday, I mentioned that, after being advised to do so by the priest, I had started going up for a blessing. On a whim, I decided to search the practice online tonight. Enter my confusion! It seems that this practice is fairly new, and, while currently under review, is generally held, by the officials in charge, as being a malpractice that should cease.

I can kind of understand why it started, and I can kind of understand why, according to those in charge, it should stop, but honestly, I'm so confused about the entire thing! You know, dear readers, that I like having my proverbial ducks in a row, so confusion and I are not good friends. I'm now left wondering what I should do! I'm not sure whether to follow the advice of the priest (whom I've yet to hear back from) or follow the (not yet official) stance of Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments! It's not a big deal tomorrow since we're going to the cathedral, I'll just stay in the pew as I did before, but if I start going to the other parish, I'm not sure what to do.

Any thoughts from you, dear readers?

I'm hoping the priest will get back to me before Wednesday, otherwise I'll call. If I still don't get anywhere, I'll start calling around.

Anyway, just thought I'd post that, maybe see if anyone wants to weigh in.
Yours always,
Tara

Saturdays with the Saints: St. Aloysius Gonzaga

Today's randomly generated saint is St. Aloysius Gonzaga, patron saint of teenagers, plague victims, AIDS patients and their caregivers. His feast day is June 21.

He was born March 9, 1568, and was the oldest of seven children to be born to Ferrante Gonzaga, Marquis of Castiglione, and Marta Tana di Santena, the daughter of a baron. 

As the oldest son, he was expected to inherit his father's title and so received vigorous military training from a young age. Growing up in a violent Renaissance Italy, he witnessed the murders of two of his brothers. At 8, he was sent to Florence for further education and there fell ill with kidney problems that plagued him his whole life. While ill, he devoted much of his time to learning about the saints and praying, and is said to have taken a private vow of chastity at the age of 9.

After returning to Castiglione, he met Cardinal Charles Borromeo and received his First Communion from him on July 22, 1580. He felt strongly called to be a missionary, and practiced teaching catechism classes to young boys in Castiglione. 

His family moved to Spain in 1581 to assist the Holy Roman Empress Marie of Austria. It was here that Aloysius decided to join the Jesuits, but was unable to due to his father.

The family returned to Italy in 1584, and many relatives attempted to convince Aloysius, if not to abandon his desire to be a priest, then instead to become a secular priest, and so maintain his inheritance to no avail. In November 1585, Aloysius gave up his inheritance and joined the Jesuits. 

He continued to have health problems, not only with his kidneys, but also with skin disease, chronic headaches, and insomnia.

In May 1590, he claimed that the Archangel Gabriel had appeared and told him that he would die within a year. In 1591, the plague broke out in Rome, and the Jesuits opened a hospital to care for them. Aloysius volunteered and was placed in a ward without plague victims because they did not want to lose him. None the less, one of the men in the ward had the plague, and within a short time Aloysius began to show signs of it himself. However, to everyones surprise, he recovered, though his health was worse than ever.

While he was ill, he spoke often with his confessor, the cardinal and later saint, Robert Bellarmine, and told him that he had received another vision, that said he would die on the Octave of the feast of Corpus Christi. On that day, he appeared to be quite well in the morning, but gradually got worse through out the day. Bellarmine gave him the last rites, and he recited the prayers for the dying. Aloysius died just before midnight.

He was beatified by Pope Paul V on October 19, 1605 and was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII on December 31, 1726. 

Minor Disappointments

So, L was unable to go with me this afternoon to mass. Her baby wasn't feeling to hot, so she asked if she could go with me Sunday instead. This means that Sunday, I will once more brave the crowds at the Cathedral instead of trying the (slightly) smaller parish of the priest who's working with me.

Well, I hope he is, anyway. Still haven't heard from the deacon, so, in keeping with what I was told Tuesday, I'm going to email the priest. If he doesn't get back to me by Wednesday, I'll be making phone calls again.

Is it obvious how frustrating I find this to be, dear readers?

I also stopped by the store with the Catholic books and such. The only problem is how small a selection they have and how little of it is would be useful to me right now. After I've been confirmed (assuming that's what happens) then it might be good, but right now, most of it would go over my head. Oh well.

Both yesterday and today I have completely ignored my usual rule about cutting back on soda. Yesterday was because I needed quarters for parking, and today because, so far, I just wanted a coke. After I finish this one, I'm back to tea and kool-aid.

The bottom just fell out with a resounding CRACK! I mean, really! I'm hoping it clears up within the next ten minutes, because I have to go out and would rather not drive in that sort of weather. No because I don't like driving in the rain, but because I don't like the way other people drive in the rain.

It's like a little in-climate weather and suddenly no one can remember how to drive and frankly it's annoying.

I don't mind them being cautious, but there's a difference between caution and stupidity.

Anyway, I'll chat with you later, my dears.
Yours always,
Tara

A slow night

I am so bored! It's a slow night here, and it's driving me nuts!  The good side of it is that I can turn the volume up on the computer and listen to Catholic Answers Live, which is nice, but there's usually more going on at this time.

Really, I can't complain, I do enjoy the quiet. It's just a little disconcerting when you aren't expecting, or even hoping for it. (In fact, if you spend more than a day around small children, unexpected silence quickly becomes something dreaded, something I haven't yet gotten over)

Either way, I'm still bored, so that's no help. Idle hands, so to speak. I could knit. I'm less than halfway through a pair of baby booties, but truthfully, I just don't feel like working on them. I have to, I want them done by Sunday so I can give her the booties and the mittens I made earlier this week, I just don't want to work on them.

I've still been attending the evening Sunday school at my mother's church, even while attending mass on Sunday mornings. Part of this is just to see my mother, part of it is because, as much as I think I'm going to swim the Tiber, so to speak, I can't definitively say just yet. And part of it, dear readers, I shamefully, and shamelessly, confess, is because they feed me dinner.

Yep, free food.

My friend Cas has two boys, and the youngest of them apparently thinks it's awesome that his mom can repay me (for picking him up or other such things) with food.

The way I see it, free food is good food. There are a few notable exceptions, and I am careful of where I fix my plate, but generally, if you tell me there will be free food, I will go. I might not listen (several school functions come to mind) but I will eat.

This may, of course, be the wrong thing to do, but I'm 21, almost 22, food is a big priority.

Of course, H would glare at me. For all that I often think with my stomach (even going so far as to navigate by restaurants), I still don't eat as much, or as fast, as she does.

It's actually terribly funny, because we'll go out to eat at this Mexican joint, and they will all order the lunch specials, and I'll have one little chicken enchilada and some chips. Afterwards, as we leave, I'll mention how stuffed I am, and she just glares at me. I'm also usually one of the last ones to finish eating, which I imagine helps.

I also really need to work on my room. It's a bit....well, a lot, of a mess, and it's long since passed ridiculousness.

I guess tonight is just going to be a slow night. Just a short post. I can't promise I'll be back tomorrow morning, but I will definitely post tomorrow night. I have to tell you how mass with L goes!

Yours always,
Tara