The day before Thanksgiving (At least if you're American)

It's Wednesday night, and tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in my little corner of the world. This time, last year, I had two friends, neither of whom lived near me, was working as a janitor (a thankless job that barely paid for the gas my truck needed), was stressed over college, and was lying to myself about the damage my parents' divorce had caused for the third year in a row.

I've come a long ways from there. Now, I have five friends (yay!), two of whom live within a short distance from me, a different job that pays better, no college (though I really do need to go back) and while I'm still trying to work through my problems, I'm doing a lot better. I also have a new baby sister, my relationship with my mother is better, and my journey into the Catholic church is well under-way.

I'm still a little stressed, but I imagine I'll be stressed until they put me in my grave, so I'm really not to worried about that. I feel a lot better, even with all of my ranting.

So, how do I plan on spending my Thanksgiving? Well, I'm going to help Granma cook and clean, I'm going to watch the parade and the Muppet Christmas Carol, I'm going to read A Christmas Carol, set up my Christmas playlist for work, work on my knitting, and just generally enjoy the day.

Thanksgiving officially marks the start of my holiday season, and I'm really looking forward to it.

This year is also the first year that I'll be celebrating Advent. I've got a nice little wreath and candles, and two books, the Magnificat Advent companion and The Little way of Advent. While I don't feel the same kinship to St. Therese that so many seem to, I do find her Little Way to be lovely in it's openness. Both books look promising, and I'm hoping they help me celebrate my first Advent properly.

Anyway, I'm just on to wish all of you a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Yours always,
Tara

Babies, blankets, and the fun of waiting

If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you know my mother is pregnant and ready to deliver any day now. This means a lot of waiting, and a lot of worrying. Because, you know, that's kind of what I do. Especially when family is involved. There's still no news on that front, but we're literally waiting for her to go any second now. Oh the joy.

In other news, I think I've just about finished the blanket that I started at the end of last month. I had hoped to finish it quickly, but I've been knitting non-stop since she found out she was pregnant and I'm having trouble slogging through projects. Even my socks, which I'm thrilled to be working on, aren't coming along as fast as they should be, even with me working on them sporadically. 

Adding to the problem is the fact that my knitting isn't done. One of my brother's requested a pocket watch for Christmas, so I abandoned the thought of knitting him socks in favor of the watch. That still leaves me with four pairs of socks, because my mom wants a pair, a baby dress, a shawl, a scarf, my socks, a large afghan (made in pieces) and a scarf that I've got rattling around in my brain. 

I've also got my eyes on some resin for jewelry making, more rosaries, and a knitted advent calender. 

Suffice to say, I'm a little anxious. 

I've also got my music boxes. 

The good news, I guess, is that I'm not going to St. Augustine this weekend. Like a lot of plans I try to make, it fell through. Aunt D won't be back from her home town until early in the morning, and she won't feel up to going all the way down to St. Augustine. 

This, truthfully, is probably a good thing. With Little Bird waiting in the wings for her grand entrance into the world, it's probably best I stay close to home. Even so, I am still a little disappointed. Instead, I figure I'll run into Savannah and do a little shopping, then get some craft projects hopefully knocked out, and see if I can't finally get the enormous box out of the middle of my room. 

My step-dad has a mini-fridge that he's going to let me have, so I also want to get a piece of vinyl or stone tile for it to sit on so it's not sitting on the carpet in my bedroom. This is fantastic because I'll finally be able to have a cold drink when I get home without having my alcohol in my grandmother's fridge. Given that she's a tee-to-taler, I generally prefer to keep my drinking to a minimum, and keep it out of her space. 

I might also stop by Goodwill, and see if I can't find any good jackets, cardigans, skirts, and jewelry that I can recycle and reuse. I've got a million ideas, and a million things I need for them, and very little money to spend on them. My hope is that, once I get the shop up and running, hopefully in late October/early November, just in time for the holidays, I'll be able to turn the money that comes in around and sink it into more crafts. Making things is almost addicting because there's always a new idea running through your head, a different way to color it, a different stitch pattern, or even a new technique that you're dying to try out. 

So yeah, hopefully, that's what I'll get out of it.

Yours always,

Tara

Long days and sitting on edge

Last night was a longer than usual night, which means that today has been a very long and tiring day. I have been tired and short tempered all day, and my vocabulary has sounded like a drunken sailors....sadly, no alcohol was imbibed to aid my colorful language. Nor will it be for a few days, at most, because my mother is expecting to go into labor either tonight or tomorrow.

Apparently, my little sister has decided that she's waited long enough, thank you very much, and she's quite tired of waiting. Mom hasn't gone into labor yet, but she's in the early stages, so she's expecting it to start up very soon.

I'm both excited, and terrified.

I like kids. I will swear up and down, left and right, that children are monsters and I want nothing to do with them, but the truth is a little more complicated.

Truth is, until my parent's got divorced, it literally never occurred to me that I might not get married and have kids. I certainly didn't plan on going out and settling with the first fellow I found and having a litter of little people, but I did think that, one day, I would find some one and have an undetermined number of kids.

My parents got divorced, forcing me to question pretty much everything I thought I knew about love and marriage, and I swore left, right, and center that I was never getting married and never having kids to any one who even remotely suggested that I might one day want that.

Honest truth. I want that. I want to get married and have kids. I want to have that. Especially now, as I'm entering the Catholic church, because there's so much that I would love to experience. Christening and first communion and all those lovely little milestones that parents prepare their kids for and that I'd like, God willing, to one day prepare my own kids for.

The thing is, it's been so long, and I've said it for so long, that I actually feel a little awkward around kids now. And I'm not willing to admit it out loud to my family that, yes, I would one day like to have kids. But I'm going to have a little sister and I'm torn between being excited and being scared out of my mind because I haven't taken care of a baby since P was born ten years ago, and yeah, I won't be taking care of her all the time, but I will take care of her occasionally.

I want her to grow up to be what I'm not. I want her to be strong, and confident, and easy-going, and to be the kind of person that people love to love. I want her to have every opportunity in life because there are so many things that I never got to try and I wish that I could have tried them.

I want her to be the person who always makes the world better.

I also don't want to step on my mother's toes any because we already have a slightly precarious relationship, largely because we just don't operate on the same wave-length. My mother is emotional, and I'm more logical, and the two do not always go well together.

All the fun.

In other news, tonight was the second night of RCIA classes. Monsignor O'Neal was teaching us tonight. It was actually really nice. The teaching bit was a bit dull, we were going over the order of mass, but not in a way that really helps me. What would help me is a comprehensive understanding of when to sit and when to stand. I've about got the standing and kneeling bit figured out completely. I don't always have to look at the people around me for that part, but the earlier part I haven't got a figured out. Anyway, it was more of a breakdown of the different parts of the mass. The best part was the Monsignor himself. He's an older Irish gentleman, and he's got a great sense of humor.

Anyway, I'll talk to ya'll again tomorrow.

Yours always,
Tara

RCIA class #1 and the hunt for a small wall crucifix without a scary price tag

Ehem.

RCIA. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Let me be incredibly honest, in the hours leading up to this class, my stomach was in knots. Why? Because I'm not, by nature, an out going person. I like people, don't get me wrong. I like groups of people too. But only if I know them all and have at least a minimum level of friendship with them. So classes of any kind are a bit intimidating.

Of course, everyone reading this who has been through these classes at the Cathedral knows that there was really no reason to be worried. There were a few tables with chairs, extra chairs along the wall, and a grand total of about 40 or so people there. I didn't count.

I took along my knitting, but did not actually pull it out. I probably should have. Knitting helps to relieve nervous energy, and most people are more fascinated by it than annoyed by it. I think I've lost one of my needles in my floor though. St. Anthony has his work cut out for him helping me find it.

My room exists in a state of semi-permanent chaos, with a vague sense of organization where my craft supplies are concerned. I still have boxes that I haven't unpacked, and quite frankly might never get around to unpacking....which is all the more reason to unpack them, because I probably need to get rid of 95% of the stuff in the boxes.

Anyway! The class! Today was a basic intro class. Father Shrek (yes, I did spell that correctly, thank you....I think) gave us a small syllabus (yay!) to give us an idea of what we'll be covering and when we will be out of class, such as St. Patrick's Day. Smart move that one. Savannah is crazy on St. Pat's!  We start to actually get into things more next week.

He also mentioned the blessings thing. Many of you may recall that, for a time, I would go up to receive a blessing during the communion procession. I stopped after reading some stuff that implied that this recent tradition was not well received by those in authority. I'm still conflicted about the whole thing, and honestly, I'm probably going to go nuts trying to figure out what to do. According to Father Shrek, it's fine to do so. I'm still not sure whether I should, or whether I should stay in my seat.

There's some things that I do that I know a lot of people argue over, and frankly, for most of it, I can't really bring myself to care. There is no definitive "this is how it should be" so I figure, as long as I do my best to follow the rules, I'm fine. I'm not going to stop doing something just because a few people don't like it. But in this case, I'm not really sure what to think.

Now that I'm off on Tuesdays, my weekday mass service has been changed from Wednesday to Tuesdays. Added to this is a new exercise regime for Aunt D and I. After mass, we walk. Just, you know, where ever. We walked around for a few hours before stopping by Saints and Shamrocks. Every time I go in there I look at the wall crucifixes, and every time the price tags are scary.

I'm not sure why it is, but depending on the object, my "scary price tag" could be anywhere from $15 to $200. It all depends on the object. Restaurants where everything is $10 or more....scary price tags. A wall crucifix for $50.....scary price tag. A book for $30....scary price tag. Now that's not to say I never make purchases for things with "scary price tags" but I do try to keep it to a minimum. Scary price tags are called that for a reason, after all.

And honestly, I balk at spending $50 for most things. Which does not in any way negate the fact that I realize spending $100 for the complete M*A*S*H series plus the movie and a disc of bonus features is a really good deal. It just means that I still looked every where before finally making the purchase. What can I say? The joys of online shopping. I don't have to ask for help because it's already at my finger tips, I have the option of shopping multiple stores at the same time, and I don't have to deal with people. Brilliant.

Oh! Some quick shop news. While I will be doing a lot of work on personal projects, I am hoping to start on some items for the Etsy store shorty. It's my hope that I will be able to officially open for business by the end of October, beginning of November. I'll be sure to post a link when I open for business.

One thing I've been looking into is a metal casting service. Sadly, metal casting is a bit beyond my skills, but I'd really like to see a better medal for Our Lady Star of the Sea. The primary ones that I've found all look a little.....clinical. I can't help but think that any devotion to our Mother deserves to be a little more vibrant. Not necessarily colorful, but more detailed perhaps. Especially since we have so many beautiful medals for the saints, and other devotions to the Blessed Mother, easily available to us.

There's a lot of beautiful devotions to Mary that don't get a lot of attention. I'm not sure why, maybe because they aren't apparitions? But another really beautiful one is Our Lady of La Leche. I guess maybe I like that one so much because my mother breast fed my brothers, and will do so for my sister as well, but I just think it's lovely to see our Mother like that.

Anyway, I've gone off into rambling again. I really need to stop doing that. So I'm going to sign off, and call it a night. It's been a long, productive day.

Oh! Shameless plug for my favorite (well, a favorite) show on EWTN. Saints Alive! comes on tomorrow night at 5pm Eastern!

Goodnight all!

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



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

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

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

My first pair of socks and a meeting with a priest

So, going in chronological order here, last night I finished my first pair of socks!

Okay, so the picture isn't the best, but still! Look! I made socks!

I am so ridiculously pleased by this fact. I mean, I love weird socks! Crazy colors, patterns, you name it. Well, I'm not fond of socks with individual toes, but that's just a personal preference. I feel ready to take on more challenges now! Today socks, tomorrow mittens! And then baby dresses! And maybe a sweater! 

But I'd better pace myself. My knitting list is already about half-a-mile long. Still, I made socks.

They are not, of course, without flaws. The gusset on the outside of the left foot is a little wonky looking, and I think I dropped a stitch on the leg of the right one and then picked it up like two rows later or something. I don't really know. The point is that I finally made socks! I did the heel flap and turned the heel, and I did lovely little cables which required I juggle six needles and they turned out really well! I've still got about a quarter of the one skein left, and then an whole skein that hasn't been touched. Maybe I'll try making a hat, for me, not for a baby. 

I have to finish the baby knitting first though. Two pairs of green mittens, one pair of blue booties, three hats: blue, green, and striped. Then I have to make a pumpkin hat, and I then I can start working on Christmas knitting!

Anyway, I just got back from a local parish. I went to morning mass first and I wish they had of put on the website that they say the rosary in the mornings! I'd have been there earlier for that! I caught the last decade, and managed to stumble along with them. I've memorized Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, still struggling with Hail Holy Queen. Anyway, went to mass, the people were friendly, but not smothering. Afterwards, met with the priest.

This is the meeting I've been in knots over since Thursday, dear readers. Obviously, I was worried for no reason, but as you learn quickly, I'm naturally a nervous Nelly. It went pretty well. I had to really think about what he was saying because English isn't his first language, but if he could overcome the struggle of learning a new language, the least I can do is to try my best to understand him. 

He's going to try to put me in touch with the deacon in charge of the RCIA program so that he has my information and so that there's a support team of sorts (and he encouraged me to drop in on every class I could), but said that, if I don't hear back from the deacon by the end of the week, to email him back, and he'll take care of it. 

I'm actually kind of excited. I've been trying to get in touch with someone for about a month, and now, finally! I see results!

All in all, I'm pleased. I still prefer the cathedral, but that might be because it's big enough that no one notices me fumbling along in the back. 

Wednesday I'll go to the Cathedral for mass, just because otherwise, I won't be able to go. School starts back that day, and we live right across from an elementary school. At the time I'd have to leave for any of the other parishes, it'd be almost impossible to get out at our road. But Sunday I'll go back to this one, and I might go on Friday. 

Speaking of the rosary (well, that was a few paragraphs up, but still, bear with me) I've been making use of EWTN's broadcast of the rosary every night at 9:30. It can be a little difficult to sit through, the music they have in the background occasionally drives me nuts, and the Hail Marys are said a bit quicker than I'm entirely comfortable with, but the point is that I'm do it! Small victories! I struggle to focus when I do it on my own, so the broadcast is a good thing. 

And that's it for now, dear readers. I'll check back in with you later. 

Yours always,

Tara

The Joys of (trying) to get started

I refer, dear readers, to Christmas knitting. The men in my life, whether they like it or not, are getting socks! But the other members of my family are another matter entirely. And then there are my friends to knit for as well.

So far, my list looks something like this...

Socks: H, P, Step-da, Da
Granma: Shawl (Butterflies?)
Ma:....
Sister: Toothless Dragon hat
Little Bird: Angel Dress, baby blanket, Christmas Stocking, Plush toy
Step-ma: Infinity scarf?

Cas: (Doctor Who?)
Hale: Scarf
Hale's son: Dragon toy
Hale's daughter: Sofia the first?
L: Infinity cowl?
L's son: ???

Misc.: Knitted Advent calendar, socks, shawls

My mother is particularly challenging because she's a summer person. She likes wearing shorts and tank tops and sandals. Meanwhile, I daydream about crisp Autumn breezes and pumpkin flavored everything! Hats, scarves, mittens! Cowls and shawls, leggings! Did I mention how much I LOVE being able to cover almost every inch of skin below my neck and not having anyone look at me like I've lost my mind, or dying of heat stroke? I like cardigans and long-sleeves, and jeans, and long socks! Boots, and being able to wear my hair down without over-heating.

And did I mention pumpkin flavored everything, dear readers?

Coffee, cookies, cakes, pies, muffins, butter, tea, soups, bread, scones and more!

Is it October yet? Please?

Spring is nice too, I'm especially fond of March (and St. Patrick's Day...) and the wet, but not overly frigid weather. Well, hopefully. Last year it was miserably cold! I was so grateful we didn't live up North. Just the mere thought of snow is too much.

To be fair, it usually takes me half an hour to warm up after I've gotten cold. And my feet can take up to an hour. Miserable!

I do think I'd enjoy winter a little more if we actually got snow. Not a lot, mind you, but about two inches or so. And no freezing cold rain!

I've just about finished my second sock. I'll take pictures of it when I get home, and post it tomorrow after I get home from meeting with the priest.

Did I mention I'm nervous?  Oh I am so nervous! It's irrational, and with how impatient I've been I shouldn't be nervous, but I am. That's just how life goes, isn't it?

I'm also quite pleased with my goal to cut back on sodas. So far I'm down to one a day, occasionally two. Not bad considering I used to drink four and five a day!

Anyway, I'm going to call it an evening, dear readers, and work on getting this last sock finished. After that, it's mittens, booties, and three little hats.

Yours always,
Tara

Out and about

So, I didn't make it to mass this morning. My mom and I had already planned on going to Whole Foods today, but we didn't decide on a time until last night. I might have been able to make mass, and then go, but I didn't want to risk it.

It was nice though, just to spend time with my mom. Little Bird is apparently quite active, so Mom was grumbling a bit (I would be to, though, if I had tiny limbs digging into my internal organs), but on the whole, she was good. Apparently she tires out easier with this pregnancy than when she had my brothers or I. It's because of her age, but she doesn't like hearing that.

I've got some laundry and such still left to do, as well as prepping for work tomorrow. I always struggle to accomplish anything on days like today though. The weather is so nasty and wet and all I want to do is sleep. It's a bit of a pain, honestly.

I've been waiting for my packages to arrive. I've got three books and some yarn coming. I'm so excited! Especially since the yarn is for the socks I was wanting to make. I usually have pretty good luck with shipping times, so I might get something tomorrow. I won't know until I get home from work, but I might get something.

Also, is anyone else freaking out over the trailer for the upcoming Hobbit movie, The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies? I'm so excited! And vaguely terrified! I'm not ready for my favorite characters to die/be injured/be emotionally damaged! And, dear readers, I know exactly which ones will kick the bucket.

Well, possibly. There was a rumor floating around that one of them might be spared. I doubt it, but I wouldn't mind at all.

Tomorrow I'll have more to say, I'm sure. Oh! And tomorrow I'm going to do a post about a randomly generated saint! I love history, and the stories of the saints, so it should be lots of fun!

Yours always,
Tara