Solemnity of All Saints, or NaBloPoMo begins

As I said on Friday, I'm going to give NaBloPoMo* a shot for another year. And since this is "Musical Monday", what better way to begin than with the lyrics to one of my favorite hymns of all time, William W. How's For All the Saints? The tune is Sine Nomine (which just means "without a name") and is by Ralph Vaughn Williams. You can hear the MIDI here.

1. For all the saints, who from their labours rest,

Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,

Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

2. Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;

Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;

Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

3. For the Apostles’ glorious company,

Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,

Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:

Alleluia, Alleluia!

4. For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,

Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,

Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

5. For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,

Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,

And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

6. O blest communion, fellowship divine!

We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;

All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

7. O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,

Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,

And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

8. And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,

Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,

And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

9. The golden evening brightens in the west;

Soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest;

Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

10. But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;

The saints triumphant rise in bright array;

The King of glory passes on His way.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

11. From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,

Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,

Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:

Alleluia, Alleluia!

The site where I found the words says that verses 3,4, and 5 are usually omitted. I had never heard them before, but I like them. (Although I do think 13 verses are a bit long for most congregational singing these days, and the only anthem setting of this I've ever seen also skips 6, 9, and 10.) And they make the reference to the Te Deum Laudamus, which is just below, very obvious. I've bolded the relevant parts.

We praise Thee, O God: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship Thee and the Father everlasting.
To Thee all Angels:
to Thee the heavens and all the Powers therein.
To Thee the Cherubim and Seraphim cry with unceasing voice:
Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Hosts.
The heavens and the earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory.
Thee the glorious choir of the Apostles.
Thee the admirable company of the Prophets.
Thee the white-robed army of Martyrs praise.
Thee the Holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge.
The Father of infinite Majesty.
Thine adorable, true and only Son
Also the Holy Ghost the Paraclete.
Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
Thou having taken upon Thee to deliver man
didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
Thou having overcome the sting of death
didst open to believers the kingdom of heaven.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God
in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge.
We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants:
whom Thou has redeemed with Thy precious Blood.
Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints in glory everlasting.
Lord, save Thy people:
and bless Thine inheritance.
Govern them and lift them up forever.
Day by day we bless Thee.
And we praise Thy name forever:
and world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day to keep us without sin.
Have mercy on us, O Lord: have mercy on us.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us:
as we have hoped in Thee.
O Lord, in Thee have I hoped:
let me never be confounded.

And just to round out the "musical" part of this, here is the metrical version of the Te Deum, which may be familiar to some of you. The original German words are by Ignaz Franz, translated by Clarence A. Walworth, and the last verse was added by Hugh T. Henry. You can hear the MIDI of the tune here.

Holy God, We Praise Thy Name

Holy God, we praise Thy Name;
Lord of all, we bow before Thee!
All on earth Thy scepter claim,
All in Heaven above adore Thee;
Infinite Thy vast domain,
Everlasting is Thy reign.

Hark! the loud celestial hymn
Angel choirs above are raising,
Cherubim and seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising;
Fill the heavens with sweet accord:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord.

Lo! the apostolic train
Join the sacred Name to hallow;
Prophets swell the loud refrain,
And the white robed martyrs follow;
And from morn to set of sun,
Through the Church the song goes on.

Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit, Three we name Thee;
While in essence only One,
Undivided God we claim Thee;
And adoring bend the knee,
While we own the mystery.

Thou art King of glory, Christ:
Son of God, yet born of Mary;
For us sinners sacrificed,
And to death a tributary:
First to break the bars of death,
Thou has opened Heaven to faith.

From Thy high celestial home,
Judge of all, again returning,
We believe that Thou shalt come
In the dreaded doomsday morning;
When Thy voice shall shake the earth,
And the startled dead come forth.

Therefore do we pray Thee, Lord:
Help Thy servants whom, redeeming
By Thy precious blood out-poured,
Thou hast saved from Satan’s scheming.
Give to them eternal rest
In the glory of the blest.

Spare Thy people, Lord, we pray,
By a thousand snares surrounded:
Keep us without sin today,
Never let us be confounded.
Lo, I put my trust in Thee;
Never, Lord, abandon me.

And that's my blogging for today. I'll see you here tomorrow!

* Oh, and my friend Tracy at The Secret of Living is doing NaBloP as well; if you've never read her, head on over there and check it out.

Seven Quick Takes Friday --Chocolatini Edition

Seven Quick Takes are hosted by Jen.

1. I totally thought I had already posted here this week. But no, I put a note up on Facebook. NOT the same thing. This does not bode well for NaBloPoMo.

2. Yes, I'm going to try NaBloPoMo again this year. Wish me luck!

3. We had chicken mole for dinner tonight. Well, a women's magazine version of chicken mole apparently designed for wimpy kids on a low-sodium diet. A saltshaker and a bottle of Tapatio made it much better. Next time I will kick it up several notches!

4. We had a chipmunk in our basement. It entered by falling down the dryer vent pipe, and Roger wasn't quick enough to keep it in the bucket when he untaped the vent to let it out. We set up a Havaheart trap, but the cat (or dog) didn't have one (a heart, that is). So now we have a chipmunk grave in the yard. Sniff.

5. Tomorrow is a don't-have-to-go-anywhere day. So we won't. We will, however, do the overdue dusting of all the furniture (me) and put shrink-wrap plastic on all the windows (Roger). And then we will have wine and cheese and shrimp cocktails for dinner, to celebrate our diligence.

6. Today was the first day all week that neither of us had an evening commitment. Next week will be the same. I thought empty-nesting was supposed to be more laid-back. Silly me.

7. The chocolatini in the title is one of my favorite weekend drinks -- chocolate liqueur, vanilla vodka, and Irish cream in a martini glass drizzled with chocolate syrup. Dessert in a glass! And now you know why this post was quick and (possibly) incoherent. Goodnight!

Seven Quick Takes Friday -- Totally Random

Seven Quick Takes are hosted by Jen.

1) I Right now my kitchen (where my computer is) smells like onions. Dinner tonight is Creamed Chicken with Corn Bread Dressing. (The recipe for the dressing is coming in November.) I did all my prep around lunchtime, including chopping the onion for the creamed chicken, which I then put into the pan I'll be using and covered with the lid. I just took the lid off. Whew!

2) It is a gorgeous fall day outside. Lots of red and yellow, fading to brown, but still enough green for contrast. I love to look at fall, but I don't really spend much time outside enjoying it. Good thing there is a window right by my desk.

3) We went to our local Right to Life banquet last night. Well, actually, except for the food part, we ran it. Tickets, seating plans, speaker, decorations, programs. you name it. But Roger didn't have to be emcee this year, since somebody has finally stepped forward to take over as president, after almost two decades. So next year there will be a banquet committee, and all we'll need to do is show up. The new president has the people-motivation skills we lack, and I expect a lot of good things to happen. Thank you, Joe!!

4) Election day is in less than two weeks. Michigan is not electing a US senator this year, but every other state and local office is up in the air. Some races have a clear (to me) best choice, some are a little fuzzier. But I'm putting on my patriot hat and telling you -- no matter where you are, or where you stand on issues -- to get out there and VOTE! A country where people take their responsibility in this area seriously will be a better country than one where they don't, even if the "wrong" candidates win.

5) Our local park system is awesome! I've mentioned the walking/running/biking trails before, but the beaches and museums are also great, and we just acquired a lighthouse! Furthermore, local groups have gathered donations and grants to repair it and care for it. So if you ever come to visit I'll be sure to take you to see it.

6) My stomach is growling. I've been cautiously trying to lose some weight but eating only when I'm physically hungry. Well, I am! But I'm going to wait for the Cornbread Dressing, because man, is that tasty!

7) Those of you who care about grammar may have noticed that I lean toward the use of the "Oxford comma"; that is, a comma after the item before the "and" in a list separated by commas. Example: I like vanilla, butterscotch, and chocolate ice cream toppings. Modern usage says the comma after butterscotch isn't necessary, and should be omitted. Go read this, (specifically the photo caption) and see if you agree!

And that's it for this week's version of Seven Quick takes. Have a great weekend!

15 Authors in 15 Minutes -- edited

I tried to use some keyboard shortcuts, and this is up in two versions. I'll read all comments both places :-D

This post was originally a Facebook note for which I was tagged by a blog-friend. I decided to put it on here as well (with added commentary) because there are a couple of people whose lists I'd like to see with whom I am not Facebook friends. And frankly, if you wind up here and this looks like fun to you, by all means play along -- leaving a link here would be wonderful -- and maybe expand my reading horizons!!

Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen authors (poets included) who've influenced you and that will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes. Tag as many friends that are passionate about reading as you can, including me, because I'm interested in seeing what authors my friends choose. (To do this, go to your Notes tab on your profile page, paste rules in a new note, cast your fifteen picks, and tag people in the note.)

(My comments on each author were not part of the Facebook post.)

1. The Holy Spirit -- As the ultimate author of the Bible, in the same way I'd list Edward Stratemeyer as the author of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. Somebody else did the actual writing, but the inspiration was his.

2. CS Lewis -- He's the ultimate reason I have more than two kids. (Read That Hideous Strength.)

3. JRR Tolkien -- A daughter named Arwen. Any questions?

4. Robert Heinlein -- He was my first introduction to sci-fi. Some of it has palled after 40 years, but he was definitely formative for me.

5. Jan Karon -- I want to live in Mitford!

6. Barbara Mertz (Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters) -- Amelia Peabody Emerson is what keeps me reading her, but I got hooked by the Readers Digest condensation of Ammie, Come Home.

7. Rudyard Kipling -- For the poems, although I like his stories just fine. But I'm a creature of rhyme and meter, and his poems suit me.

8. Dr. Seuss -- He's one of the authors who make reading the same book to your kid 72 bazillion times bearable. Ask me how many I have memorized!

9. Georgette Heyer -- She never palls. Romance with true literacy and period clothes!

10. George and Helen Waite Papashvily -- If you don't know them, Google them and then find one of their books, especially Anything Can Happen.

11. C.J. Cherryh -- For the Foreigner series.

12. Madeleine L'Engle -- I remember the day I was handed A Wrinkle in Time, and read it in one sitting. Some of her stuff has what I consider slightly whiffy theology, but I like her anyway.

13. Edith Schaeffer -- If anybody knows where my copy of Hidden Art is, I want it back!

14. John McCrae -- "In Flanders' fields the poppies grow..." The most awesome of one-hit wonders.

15. Louisa May Alcott -- Eight Cousins, Rose in Bloom, and Jack and Jill! And yeah, the famous stuff, too.

 I have to admit that I spent 5 of my 15 minute circling the bookcases in the hose to make sure I didn't leave somebody out, or put somebody of lesser importance in. I figured (correctly) that I would get good guidance from what I own a lot of.

And I would LOVE to see lists from Enbretheliel and Mighty Maggie and Rae, if you guys even see this............

15

Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen authors (poets included) who've influenced you and that will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes. Tag as many friends that are passionate about reading as you can, including me, because I'm interested in seeing what authors my friends choose. (To do this, go to your Notes tab on your profile page, paste rules in a new note, cast your fifteen picks, and tag people in the note.)

1. The Holy Spirit*

2. CS Lewis

3. JRR Tolkien

4. Robert Heinlein

5. Jan Karon

6. Barbara Mertz (Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters)

7. Rudyard Kipling

8. Dr. Seuss

9. Georgette Heyer

10. George and Helen Waite Papashvily

11. C.J. Cherryh

12. Madeleine L'Engle

13. Edith Schaeffer

14. John McCrae

15. Louisa May Alcott

 I have to admit that I spent 5 of my 15 minute circling the bookcases in the hose to make sure I didn't leave somebody out, or put somebody of lesser importance in. I figured (correctly) that I would get good guidance from what I own a lot of

A Solemn Warning (giggle!)

For all you Word and Question/Poetry Game participants who haven't weighed in -- you have one week, and then I may have to post your names on the WALL OF SHAME! (snicker!)

Word and Question 5

WORD & QUESTION 5

So I guess I've been channeling e.e. cummings .....

Word: slay
Question: Will the dish crack after all?


i would really like
to get rid of that cockroach

he's lurking now
somewhere in my kitchen
i saw him yesterday

i'd have stepped on him
but i was barefoot
and anyway i'm not
heavy enough to crush him

i could slay him with poison
but i have a cat
and besides, i'm scared of the stuff

maybe i could hit him with something...

i bet a blow with a dinner plate could work...

but first i have to find him



Don't forget to comment here with a link to your own poem when you post it. There are eight of you out there, and I know who you are! ;-D

Emails Are Out! -- Updated

OK, folks, the Word and Question emails have been sent. I'll have my poem up on Wednesday (or die trying??) We have 8 players this month, three of them new, so be sure to leave a link in the comments here when you post your poem, so that everybody can find you!

(A note to new players: if it wasn't clear, the words and questions are distributed separately, so if you want to see a poem from "your" prompts, you'll have to look at two of them! I like the way some random submissions came together in interesting ways. )

I received an additional entry after I had emailed the prompts and posted this, and because I'm a pushover a very nice lady I sent that person the prompts I had left for myself and took the ones they sent. The part of me that used to be a math teacher is objecting strongly that the distribution of words and questions no longer fits the scheme I had devised, but the part of me that thinks I need to grow in flexibility says this is a good opportunity to practice. So welcome, player # 9!

A Quick Reminder

Don't forget: if you want to participate in this month's Word and Question poetry game, send me your word and question by the end of today.

Word and Question/ Playing Poetry -- October Edition

For the last couple of months I've (as those of you who show up here regularly probably know) I've been playing the Word and Question poetry game started by Enbrethiliel of Shredded Cheddar. Being a generous sort, she has been sharing the hosting duties! Last month was hosted by Dauvit at Crosses and Cradles, and this month it's my turn.

The full rules are here, but the general pattern is that if you want to play, you email me by Friday with a word and a question. I email you back by Sunday with a word and question submitted by others, and the game is on! I have to post my poem by next Wednesday, but everyone else gets until the 27th. And if you don't have a blog, you're welcome to post your poem in the comments here.

If you're waffling about whether or not to play -- please do. The entries are all over the map in terms of style and execution, and the rules state that we all have to say something nice about each poem. And your eighth grade English teacher isn't playing!

My email is in my profile, and just in case anybody is wondering -- my name really is Salome Ellen, but I've gone by Ellen all my life. Let's Play Poetry!!

Seven Quick Takes Friday , or HOW Long Has It Been Since I Did One of These??!!

1) Today is the first of October. I am reminded by the mail in my inbox that NaBloPoMo starts November 1st. In one month. Thirty posts in thirty days. I think I am posting more often and more regularly than I ever have before, but for some reason the 30/30 sounds scary this year. We shall see...

2) One post I will certainly be doing is the one hosting Word and Question/ The Poetry Game here for October. (Well, two, since I have to post my own poem.) The rules are here, and we would love to have more participants. So think about it, and please join in! Your word and question should be emailed to me by October 9th.

3) My husband is baking bread today. Eighteen loaves. (Yes, I know I'm spoiled!) Some of it we will freeze, and some of it will go to Branwen, for easy lunches for her boys. And some of it we will eat for dinner. Yum!

4) When I am finished with this post, I am going to go out and buy apples. This is sad. I phoned our regular u-pick orchard to find out what varieties were ready, and discovered that due to a badly-timed spring freeze, they don't have ANY. The apple crop in Michigan is off 50% this year, which explains why prices have been staying so high. But we have to have some apples, since Roger can't get along without his pies, so off to the Farmer's Market I go...

5) Our bird-feeder is getting a workout. We never had one at the old house, but Roger has so enjoyed watching the variety of birds we get that he went out and bought a new one when the one that came with the house broke. (I blame the squirrels.) Also a hummingbird feeder and a suet-cake cage. I am glad that unlike the dog and the cat they require no effort on my part, even if he's gone for a few days.

6) We have talked about giving away the dog and cat, especially when having to make arrangements for them foils the spontaneity of buzzing off to see the grandchildren for the weekend. We can think of somebody who might want Joe-dog, and we could get a self-feeder/waterer for Lucas-kitty, who doesn't need to be let out. But Roger would hate to separate them, so expect we will have pets until these (relatively young ones) die. And anyway, the grandchildren would miss them.

7) And we will be seeing some grandchildren later today! Branwen and Larry, Daniel, Matthew, and Lauren are coming for the weekend. (They are also bringing Tirienne, who I am going to help make fondant for a wedding cake she's doing for next weekend.) I'd better go make sure the guest room is ready! Lucas-kitty has taken to dragging random items in there, so there might be a cake of soap, or a chewed-up postcard, or ???

See you all next week, and Happy Feast of Saint Therese!

Seven Quick Takes is hosted at Conversion Diary.

Daybook, 9/27/10

Outside my window... it is gray and chilly. One of our maple trees is bright red. The rest of them are pretending it's summer for a little longer.

I am thinking... that I am looking forward to my evening alone. Roger teaches a class on Monday nights, so I have a four hour block of "free" time. That mystery novel is calling my name...or maybe I'll crochet...

I am thankful for... grocery prices in this area. I recently had a Facebook chat with a young mom I know in New Orleans, and she is paying twice what I am for milk, hamburger, all kinds of things.

From the kitchen... grilled chicken quesadillas. The chicken is from a whole "beer can" chicken we did several weeks ago; I always cut up and freeze any leftovers. Grate a little cheese, get out the salsa and sour cream, and dinner is easy. Bonus today: I also have leftover guacamole. Yum!

I am wearing... tan pants, a pink Tshirt and socks, black walking shoes, and a pink sweatshirt! Three days ago it was 88 degrees here.

I am creating... menu plans and a grocery list. I have to keep revamping the menu plans, because until I learn to cook for just two again, we have been having more leftovers to deal with. I think I'm cooking one dinner, and it turns into two. Or three.

I am going...to Bible study tomorrow, and then to the library to pick up the book they're holding for me. But I only have five other books out right now, and I'm almost done with one of them. I think this is a 2010 record low!

I am reading... The Art of Eating In: How I Learned to Stop Spending and Love the Stove by Cathy Erway. It's not quite what I was expecting, but she's a good writer and I'm enjoying it.

I am hoping... that my van doesn't have anything seriously wrong with it. It was making "funny noises" --which stopped-- on Saturday, so we are going to have our mechanic check it. Meanwhile, I am driving it around town as usual.

I am hearing... sizzles from the griddle. When your computer is in the kitchen, you can cook and blog at the same time.

Around the house... things stay much tidier with no kids at home. I think it's funny that this comes as somewhat of a shock to me.

A few plans for the rest of the week: apple picking on Thursday, if the weather cooperates. This is another area where I need to scale back, or I'll wind up with enough apples for three households. And two of them have done their own apple picking... But there will be apple pie for dinner.

Words I'm pondering : My mother taught third grade through all of my growing up, and every year I helped her ready the bulletin boards in her classroom for the first day of school. This always went on the biggest one at the back, suitably illustrated.

Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885)

September

The golden-rod is yellow;
The corn is turning brown;
The trees in apple orchards
With fruit are bending down.

The gentian's bluest fringes
Are curling in the sun;
In dusty pods the milkweed
Its hidden silk has spun.

The sedges flaunt their harvest,
In every meadow nook;
And asters by the brook-side
Make asters in the brook,

From dewy lanes at morning
The grapes' sweet odors rise;
At noon the roads all flutter
With yellow butterflies.

By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer's best of weather,
And autumn's best of cheer.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing.... This is a view out over the Pennsylvania valley I grew up in, taken from a mountain vantage point that I could see from my back porch. I think I'm homesick, a little, every fall.

Tasty Tuesday -- Tex-Mex Stuffed Peppers

This is the first Tasty Tuesday post where I wish I had/could use a camera to document the recipe. It's also the first recipe I've posted that's really "mine" as opposed to an adaptation or credited pass through. But we had it for dinner last night, and it was too good not to share!


Tex-Mex Stuffed Peppers (serves 6-8)

(This is not a version of the classic Mexican Chiles Rellenos, but a south-of-the-border take on the one-dish meal Mom used to make.)

The Peppers:
6 large dark green fresh poblano peppers -- choose "fat" ones if possible. People who aren't used to much spice can use small green bell peppers. But the poblanos are much tastier


For the filling:
1# ground beef
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 pkg taco seasoning (or whatever you normally use to season tacos)
1 cup raw rice
1 t. salt
1 1/2 cups diced tomatoes, fresh or canned (heat lovers can use a drained can of Ro-Tel)

For the topping:
1 cup (4 ounces) cheese, shredded ( PLEASE shred the cheese yourself. And it should be something that will melt, like queso chihuahua, Monterey jack, or cheddar)
1 cup crushed plain tortilla chips, like Tostitos

To cook:
1 cup salsa or picante sauce. Your choice of heat, but the sauce should be runny rather than chunky.

Directions:

1. Wash the poblanos, then broil them whole 3-4 inches from the heat. Turn them often with tongs until they are blistered and lightly browned over most of their surface. Remove them from the oven and place them in a gallon-sized zipper bag, close the bag, and let them steam for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the filling.

2. Combine the meat and onion in a large skillet that has a tight-fitting lid. Cook over medium heat until the meat is browned and the onion is soft. Drain any fat. To the meat and onion, add the taco-seasoning mix (dry), rice, salt, and water. Bring to a boil over high heat (stirring a few times.) Give a final stir, cover, turn the heat as low as possible, and do not peek for 20 minutes. When the time is up and water is absorbed, remove from the heat and stir in the tomatoes.

3. During the 20 minutes you are not peeking at the rice, clean the peppers. With your fingers or paper towels, pull off the loosened skin. Cut the peppers in half lengthwise (from stem to tip) trying to get the halves deeper rather than flatter. Carefully trim out the stems, and remove and discard the seeds and any pith. Lightly rinse and drain the pepper halves.

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Pour the salsa or picante sauce into the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. (Glass is pretty, but metal is fine.) Shake the pan so the sauce covers the whole bottom. When the filling is cool enough to handle, fill each pepper half with the mixture, rounding it up as much as needed. Place halves alternately (thin end, then fat end...) in the prepared dish, setting them on the salsa. Carefully mound any extra filling evenly on the pepper halves. Top each with cheese, then with crushed chips. Cover with foil. ( At this point they may be refrigerated up to 24 hours. Increase baking time to 45-60 minutes) Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, uncovering for the last ten minutes, until filling is hot, cheese is bubbly, and crumbs are slightly browned. Serve with sour cream.


OH, yeah: As you would any time you work with hot peppers, PLEASE wash your hands thoroughly with soap after touching them. Or you might regret it when you rub your eye. I'm just saying...

Word and Question 4 (aka The Poetry Game)

Although this meme began at Shredded Cheddar, this month it's being hosted by Crosses and Cradles. Head on over there and follow the links in the comments for the other participants. And be nice.... next month I'm hosting it here!

Word: month

Question: Is your fate made of paper?

Sometimes I wonder who planned them,
These foothills and mountains of paper:
Records of birth and of marriage,
Taxes and grades and insurance.

Daily, it seems, piles grow higher;
Bank statements, pizza ads, fliers.
Month after month they keep coming--
Bills, and requests for donations.

Someday we all will escape them
When in the grave we are lying.
But then our heirs will be burdened
With more papers, proof of our dying!



(I really struggled with the punctuation for this, and would love advice on how that can be improved. Of course I might not take it!)

Daybook -- 9/15/10

Outside my window... it's starting to be dusk. At 7:15 PM. But then fall starts officially next week.

I am thinking... that when I am done with this post I am going to go and take a hot bath. For some reason my joints and muscles are extra-stiff today.

I am thankful for... the internet. In the last 48 hours I have video-chatted with Kelson in Florida, Google-voice talked to Brandon in California, and Twitter-followed them AND my other children, sometimes laughing, sometimes praying. But always happy to be in touch.

From the kitchen... "corn man" corn, tomatoes, and marinated cucumbers. The corn man has a large market building now, and sells plants and all kinds of local produce. But we have been buying corn from him since he sold it out of the back of his pickup in a local parking lot. I used to do frizzled ham when we had this meal, but eventually we just went for corn as the main dish. Simple and delicious.

I am wearing... navy pants, a cream cotton twin-set, and black loafers. It was cool here today, although sunny and beautiful.

I am creating... a pink baby afghan. If I could just decide which pattern I wanted to use, I might get somewhere. But to this point it's been "do a trial swatch, and then frog*." I need to make up my mind. *Rip it, rip it!

I am going... back to Arwen's again on Friday. Bryan is away for work for ten days, and right now she has a friend visiting, but Roger and I are going to go down and hang with her and Camilla and Blaise for the weekend. Our car is getting a lot of highway miles.

I am reading... my library books as fast as I can. Nothing earth-shattering, but somehow I managed to check out eight or so on various occasions so that none of the due dates are the same. I just logged on to the library website and made a list of which book is due when, so that I can read them in the order I need to return them. Another reason I am thankful for the internet!

I am hoping... to get a good night's sleep tonight, assisted by that hot bath and some ibuprofen. The poor sleep and the aches and pains seem to be a chicken-or-the-egg thing, so I'm going to see if I can short-circuit it.

I am hearing... nothing much. It is very quiet around here now that Kelson is at college.

Around the house... I need to dust! Roger takes care of the floors, but I am responsible for everything above ankle level. And with the busyness and excitement of the last month, I haven't dusted. Maybe tomorrow.

A few plans for the rest of the week: tomorrow the first Noon Concert of the school year at our local community college with my friend Julie, a quick grocery run, and then the first church choir practice after summer break in the evening. A very musical day.

Words I'm pondering : "A miracle is when God does something that wouldn't happen if He didn't do it." -- C.S. Lewis

Here is a picture thought I am sharing.... This is Lauren Elizabeth, who is three weeks old today. Yes, she is a pretty girl ( ;-D), and she actually is this alert relatively often. I don't remember my own kids been awake and interested nearly as much at this age.

NEW

Well, I have a NEW description up in my blog header. I needed it because I have a NEW granddaughter. Lauren Elizabeth was born on Wednesday August 25, 7# 10oz., 19", healthy and beautiful!! I am delighted for Branwen and Larry, Daniel and Matthew, but I am also delighted for me, because I finally get to make a pink baby afghan. I have made one for each grandchild, but I made them in advance, and the only one I knew the sex of in advance was Blaise, who got blue, of course. But really, all of them were variations on blue and white. Branwen and I agreed that I could wait to begin the afghan, since they had plenty of generic blankets. So now I know, and I bought four skeins of pink yarn! By Tuesday I hope to have made up my mind which (lacy!) pattern I'm going to use. One is easier, one is prettier. Hard choices.

I also needed to change my header because we are NEWly empty-nesters. The day after Lauren was born Kelson took a plane to his new life at college in Florida. So far this has not affected the amount of sleep I've gotten, but we shall see. Maybe I'll need a NEW new header, with a picture of me awake!

Daybook -- 8/23/10

Outside my window... the air is cool. There is no doubt that fall is coming. Where did the summer go??!!

I am thinking... that I will miss Kelson when he is at college. Right now he is sitting with his computer at the dining room table, but his plane flies out Thursday afternoon. It will be different around here.

I am thankful for... cruise control! My van doesn't have it, and I thought I was fine without it. But Branwen and Larry's van -- which we used to take Miriel to Virginia -- has it, and I think I got more tired driving the 100 miles from Arwen's house to home today than I did driving the almost 500 miles I did yesterday. Of course, I was already tired... But I think for any future vehicle I get cruise control is going to be a "must have."

From the kitchen...a cheese sandwich. Roger has begun teaching an evening class at the community college on Mondays, and Kelson went out with friends. So I went for very simple.

I am wearing... a green t-shirt, tan pants, and tan sandals.

I am creating... the grocery list. Which mostly right now includes the fixin's for reuben sandwiches, which Kelson loves. It's not a "big grocery shopping" week.

I am going... back to Arwen's tomorrow, with a stop at Penzey's and New York Bagels on the way home. Actually, we are picking some friends up at the bus station and dropping them near Arwen's, but how can we pass up the opportunity to see the grandchildren?! And the round trip gives us to opportunity to restock our spices, and pick up 6 or 7 dozen bagels to freeze. Back when all the kids were home we used to get twice that many.

I am reading... Living More-with-Less, a companion volume to my much-loved More-with-Less Cookbook. Unfortunately it's fairly dated, having been published in 1980. The principles are sound, but the examples remind me of the pictures in my high school yearbook.

I am hoping...that Branwen's baby arrives soon. Of course, I've been hoping that for two weeks, and she is hoping even harder!

I am hearing... Kelson drumming and tapping along with the music he is playing. I'm pretty sure that is one thing I WON'T miss.

Around the house... are signs of Kelson's "packing." Of course it will be an untidy mess until he is actually out the door on Thursday.

A few plans for the rest of the week: see above. On Friday I am going to sit as still as possible all day and do nothing, except maybe read.

Words I'm pondering : "A snuggie's just a backwards robe! How stupid are you people?!" A bit of Twitter wisdom from one of Kelson's friends.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing.... We went to Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday. It was the first time I had been there, and I was awed at how well people obeyed the signs. It was easily the quietest tourist attraction I have ever been to.

Word and Question 3

This is my third poem for the meme over at Shredded Cheddar.

Word: fossil

Question: What is the taste of sorrow?



Some say that sorrow tastes of bitter gall;
Some note instead the saltiness of tears.
Some claim the thing is tasteless, overall,
Giving a lack of savor to the years.

If joy is sweet, as many also claim,
And disappointment sour, as well may be,
Why do most people "taste" them each the same?
And is there more to this than we can see?...

Why should emotions have a taste? Is this
A synesthesia* that affects us all?
Is there a flavor for eternal bliss?
Or are such things an aspect of the Fall?

Years hence, when I'm a fossil down below,
These questions will not matter -- or I'll know.


*Synesthesia --A condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualization of a color.
(Definition from Answers.com)

Happy Anniversary, Roger!

I'm just dropping into the blogosphere for a minute to wish my dear husband Roger a happy 29th anniversary. (He reads my blog ;-D ) I didn't get him a card, but I made him a cherry pie, and we're going out to dinner to celebrate.

Happy Anniversary, Darlin'!

It's been great so far, and I'm looking forward to as many more years as possible.

Love you!
Ellen

Daybook --8/10/10

Outside my window... things are green, and the air is cooler than it was supposed to be today, helped along by the fog we had until almost noon.

I am thinking... that I am always surprised when what seems like a very little outdoor activity makes me tired. My Bible study group had a picnic today at a member's house on the lake. I sat in a chair in the shade and played Mexican Train, ate lunch, and floated around on an awesome inflatable raft for an hour. Then I came home and felt like I wanted to sleep for a week.

I am thankful for... my children. Today they suggested that a good birthdays/anniversary/Christmas present for us would be that they will provided all the supplies and next spring paint the outside of our house, which needs it. Awesome! They put in so much work on the inside last December that I thought they'd be sick of it, but I guess not.

From the kitchen... enchilada casserole. Leftover taco meat and refried beans layered between corn tortillas with canned enchilada sauce and shredded cheese. And Kelson thinks it's better than real enchiladas. Win!

I am wearing... a turquoise t-shirt, white shorts, and tan sandals. I have two identical turquoise t's that I got for $5 each at a big-box store. I bought the second one when I thought I'd ruined the first one with bathroom cleaner, but it turned out to be OK. I like both of them. ;-D

I am creating... bibs! Actually, I am waiting for feedback from Arwen and Lauren on the old-fashioned tie-back bibs I made for their velcro-and-snap-defeating little boys. I didn't have a pattern, only a memory, so it will take some tweaking to perfect them. But they can't be pulled off.

I am going... nowhere else today. Which is good -- see "tired", above.

I am reading... a mishmash of fiction and non-fiction. At one point I had four different books going, none of them anything spectacular.

I am hoping...that I sleep well tonight. I've been having "odd" dreams; not horrible but frustrating or peculiar. For example, last night I dreamed about the recipe for the cookies I took to today's party. Except it had extra ingredients. What's up with that??!!

I am hearing... music on Kelson's computer. This time it's "radio classics." So far we've had Born to Run, Leavin' on a Jet Plane, Mrs. Robinson, and The Times they Are A-Changin'. Any bets on what comes next?

Around the house... Kelson did and folded his laundry. And sorted out what he'll never wear again, and what he won't take to Florida. And I didn't even nag him. I think he's ready to get going.

A few plans for the rest of the week: grocery shopping, as usual, and a quiet weekend unless Branwen and Larry's baby decides to arrive. Actually, we're all rooting for that. Especially Branwen.

Words I'm pondering : Actually, I don't think I'm pondering anything at this point. I don't know if that's good or bad, or just a sign that I'm tired.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...This is a citronella plant. Our hostess today had them all around her patio, and if we noticed any mosquitoes at all, she would jostle the leaves of the bush, and the bugs would scram. I love this idea! And the bonus is -- it smells wonderful.

Seven Quick Takes in 17 Minutes; or Can She Write that Fast???

Seven Quick Takes is hosted by Jen.

1) I walked 21/2 miles today. Normally I try to walk for about 20-25 minutes four times a week. In our neighborhood, that often means once around the "block", which is a .3 -- .4 --.5 mile right triangle, therefore 1.2 miles. But Miriel is home for the week, and she thinks I ought to be walking more. So she talked me into taking the waking trail just down the road. For the second time this week. I enjoyed my time with her, I could definitely do this on a regular basis if I wanted to spend the time (not sure yet..), but right now my calves ache.

2) Miriel is home this week! She will be in Michigan for another two weeks, but she's going to divide up the rest of the time between her sisters who live about 100 miles from here. And Branwen's new baby is due the day she leaves. Come early, baby! Aunt Miriel wants to see you!

3) Grandma, of course, would also like to see the new baby. But Grandma knows that she will get to spend a whole week with Daniel and Matthew and their sibling (and Branwen and Larry, of course) the week after Larry goes back to work. Aunt Miriel's new job starts on the 23rd whether she's seen the baby or not.

4) Aunt Miriel's new job is in Washington D.C., where she's been interning since last January. And since she has a lot of stuff stored here and at her sisters', we will be driving her there. Yes, I said we. Tirienne and I will be going, and sharing the driving on the way back. Most of the route is familiar, since D.C. is only about an hour south of my hometown. But I'm still not sure if we'll actually get a chance to stop there. It's a 9 1/2 hour drive each way, so we plan to spend a day there in between, but the "where" has not fully been established.

5) In other news, Brandon has just found out that he will be reporting to his new duty station in Alaska before the end of the year. I'm excited for him, but it means that he may not be able to be home for Christmas. Actually, I know that we have been very blessed to have had him home for the last four Christmases, so I'll settle for anything between Halloween and Groundhog Day. But I'd like to know which, so I can get a jump on my Christmas shopping if I need to.

6) It's been 20 minutes. I knew I was too slow a typist to actually finish seven takes in 17 minutes. But I'm going to let the title stand. At least I tried.

7) And now I have to go, because the 17 minutes was based on when I needed to move on to my next task. Which is unloading the dishwasher, which just beeped. We have had this dishwasher since late December, and it still startles us when it beeps to indicate it's done. I wonder how long it will take us to adapt? (No, you can't shut off the signal. I checked.)

And here you have seven quick and boring takes, and a promise from me -- I'll see you here again next week. Have a great weekend!

Tasty Tuesday -- Beans for Guests

An on-line friend Tweeted today that she has a problem -- she and her husband have invited friends (presumably new friends, since they just moved) over for dinner. Which is a pleasure, not a problem, except that their normal diet consists, as she puts it, of "beans and kale", and she's a little tentative serving that to others.

BUT -- there are lots of recipes that are plenty good enough to serve to company that feature beans. Monterey Beans and Cheese, which I posted here (scroll down) are different and delicious. So is the recipe below.

Sòs Pwa (Haitian Bean Sauce)

In a large saucepan, soak overnight or by quick method*
1 1/2 cups any dried beans, with water to cover.
When beans have soaked, add:
3 cloves garlic, diced or mashed
8 whole cloves or 1/2 t. ground cloves
1/2 t. pepper
1/2 c. onion, diced
1T. oil.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until beans are tender. Drain off liquid and reserve. Remove 1/2 c. of the cooked beans and reserve.
Puree in a blender:
cooked bean mixture
2 c. reserved bean broth
Return pureed sauce and reserved whole beans to saucepan. Add:
1 hot chili pepper, chopped or 1/4 t. ground red pepper
salt to taste
1 T. margarine
Bring to a boil and simmer, uncovered, until thickened to the consistency of gravy. Serve over rice, or Nshima (below). Garnish with slices of avocado or lemon (optional).

* To quick-soak beans, cover with water, bring to a boil, and boil for five minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for one hour. Proceed with recipe as usual.


Rich Haitians eat this in restaurants over white rice. Poor ones eat it over cornmeal porridge. For those of us who've never had cornmeal porridge, here's a recipe.

Nshima (Cornmeal Porridge)

Boil in a large soup pot:
6 cups water.
Mix in a bowl:
1 cup cornmeal*
1 cup water
Stir until smooth, then add to boiling water. Simmer 15-29 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add, 1/2 c. at a time,
2-2 1/2 cups additional cornmeal
(Salt if desired)
After each addition of cornmeal, stir well with a wooden spoon until all dry particles disappear and mixture is smooth. After last addition, keep stirring until Nshima is stiff enough to handle without dripping off fingers. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand 10 minutes. Stir again before serving. this can be served in one serving dish or on a platter in scoops or patties.
Soaking in cold water helps clean the pot!

* Africans use white cornmeal, Haitians use yellow.


These recipes are adapted from Extending the Table... A World Community Cookbook. And as I was looking them up, I found a bonus recipe for my friend --

Morogo

Cook until soft in about 1/4 cup water:
3 cups fresh greens -- chard, kale ;-D, spinach, collards -- chopped
1-2 red chili peppers, chopped
1 T oil or margarine
1 onion, chopped
1 potato, chopped
1-2 tomatoes, chopped

Serve with rice or Nshima.

Daybook -- 7/26/10

Outside my window... the sunflowers are drooping. We had a couple of very hot days at the end of last week. It is cooler now, but many of the plants still look like they'd like a nap.

I am thinking...that I hope I can focus on the things I need to do this week, and not the irrational worry that keeps nagging at my mind. My life would be so much easier if I could shed this anxiety disorder for good, instead of just keeping it at bay.

I am thankful for... the tools that let me deal with anxiety without dissolving in a puddle. Until I was diagnosed twelve years ago, I would have periods when I was paralyzed by anxiety, eventually reaching panic attack levels. Now I'm mostly fine, with occasional bouts like this one.

From the kitchen... well, I microwaved the sauerkraut for the bratwurst Roger grilled. And I set the table. Does that count?

I am wearing... a turquoise t-shirt, blue and turquoise flowered capris, and tan sandals.

I am creating... settings for the Gospel antiphons for the next quarter. They sneaked up on me again, and I wish I had the whole three-year cycle done. But every time we get a new priest, the expectations change. I think this round will finish it, but it's hard to know.

I am going... to the library again but not tonight. Why is it that when I place holds on several books, they each become available right after I pick up the last one? Sometimes I've made two library runs in one day. Sigh.

I am reading... Deceiver, the latest of the Foreigner series I first mentioned here. (That was the last trip to the library.) The Sara Rosett book in this post was also good, and I'm moving on to the rest of the series. It's not "great literature", but so refreshing to read a novel where the characters are looking for a church in their new town, and say a prayer when they hear someone's in the hospital. Not explicitly Christian like Jan Karon's books, but more like me than not.

I am hoping...that I can figure out which things on the grocery list are needs, and which are wants. And which are a mistake. I now have four bottles of A-1 Sauce, because I forgot where I keep my extras in this house, and bought extra extras. But at a good deal.....

I am hearing... music on Kelson's computer. I don't recognize it, but that's not unusual. And it's neither too loud or too raucous. So I guess it's DIY Muzak...

Around the house... the day is winding down. Roger is at Bible study, I have just one more thing to do after this, and Kelson has plans to go long-boarding, which may or may not happen.

One of my favorite things... is Lindt 70% dark chocolate. But I've had my square for today.

A few plans for the rest of the week: grocery shopping, and a trip to see the grandchildren. And Miriel comes home!!

Words I'm pondering : "If your son asks for a fish, will you give him a snake?" I wish I trusted God as much as I should. And that would help with the anxiety, too.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... our grandson Matthew turned two yesterday, and his party will be next weekend so that "Aunt Mi-wa" can be there. And of course the cake will feature "tankem enin"! This is for you, Matthew!

Big Boat Race Final

Well, the big boat race has ended. I suppose I'll follow it again next year, but I have decided the details are too confusing for me. Bryan's dad's boat came in in the middle of its class, but lost a couple of places because of some handicapping system that I don't care about learning. The rival boat had a faster "corrected time", so I guess they will gloat again...

Next year I will just follow one boat, and say "Yay, they're there!" and be done with it. Or not.

Big Boat Race Update

Well, it appears that I was left out of the loop on an important piece of information -- Bryan's dad's boat has changed racing classes. Their previous class was determined strictly by length, and some of the gung-ho racers in that class strip their boats down as much as possible, to make them lighter and quicker. Bryan's dad and his co-owner, although they like a good race and wouldn't miss this one for anything (including Branwen and Larry's wedding!), also like to use the boat for pleasure cruises. This means that there's a stove in the galley, storage lockers full of non-essential gear, and so on. So they decided to switch classes to one based more on the weight of the boat.

So far this looks to be paying off. The GPS shows them right in the thick of their class, with more boats behind than ahead, and anything possible. This is being a relatively slow race; only about half a dozen boats in ANY class have rounded the buoy which marks the "corner" of the race route. And the perennial rival is behind them. Of course, the start is by classes, and the rival started 10 minutes later. But to my eyes on the map, they look to be more that 10 minutes behind. I'll keep you posted.

Big Boat Race

Normally, I pay no attention at all to boat races. Brandon has been enjoying crewing for a friend this summer in Duluth, and various kids have sailed various races on the boats of their friends' families. But aside from asking whether they had a good time, I'm not much concerned with the results.

But one weekend a year, that changes. I live "within spittin' distance" of the start of this race, which draws boats from all over the Great Lakes and some from beyond. Furthermore, Bryan's dad (Arwen's FIL) co-owns and crews one of the boats which regularly participates. They don't win (OK they won their division once or so) but for these particular guys a "win" consists of finishing ahead of their uber-rival, a boat in the same division from the same boat club.

For some reason this has captured my imagination. So every year I go to the tracking site -- modern GPS technology is great! -- and breathlessly follow the course of "our" boat and "their" boat. And then it's over, and I sigh or cheer, and go back to being indifferent to boating for another year. Anybody who knows why, feel free to let me know!

Daybook -- 7/12/10

Outside my window... is a gray and cloudy day. And cool! We had a massive thunder storm last night, which dropped the temperature a good 15 degrees. Marvelous! And the forecast for today is cloudy, with scattered showers.

I am thinking... that it has been a long time since I did a "proper" blog post. But this will have to do..

I am thankful for... the cooler weather! My hot-weather clothing options are somewhat more limited than for cooler seasons, and today I got to wear whatever I wanted without worrying about the sweat factor.

From the kitchen... pork sausage and rice casserole. It's one of Kelson's favorites, and a cooler day makes it just the thing.

I am wearing... navy scoop-neck tshirt, khaki pants, tan sandals, and the lapis lazuli earrings that Roger got for me at the Feast of the Sainte Claire.

I am creating... menu plans and shopping lists. I have a shawl I'm crocheting, but it's just been too hot... Maybe today.

I am going... nowhere today, since Roger's car is having brake work done and he has mine. But that is fine with me!

I am reading... Moving is Murder (A Mom Zone Mystery) by Sara Rosett. A friend read a later book in the series and recommended them. But since I'm only on page 7 I can't say anything specific.

I am hoping...that it stays cool all day. And that there's a dry period where I can go for my walk.

I am hearing... traffic outside my windows. A bit splashy sounding because of all the rainwater from last night.

Around the house... Kelson is sleeping. Since school ended, he has become almost completely nocturnal. I know it goes with the age group (I was that way myself), but it drives me a little bit crazy.

One of my favorite things... is my couch that we got when we moved. It's a sectional with recliners at both ends and a giant hassock that fits into the center curve. Dark brown, chenille-type fabric, cushy and wonderful. I'm going to sit there and do my daily study disciplines as soon as I finish this post.

A few plans for the rest of the week: not much, which is a change and a relief. Grocery shopping, and all the rest of my regular routine.

Words I'm pondering : "Do I have to?' "OK, if I hafta, I'm gonna." This is my current "translation" of Jesus' words in Gethesmane: "Father, if it be possible let this cup pass..." and "Not my will, but Thine be done." I am finding this better understanding of Jesus' human side incredibly helpful and comforting in some current curcumstances.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... some days it feels like this is how my mind works...

Word and Question 2

Another round of poetry from Shredded Cheddar.

Word: snakeskin
Question: What can I see from here?


Postcard to Grandpa

We're on vacation in the West.
The tombstones say who's laid to rest --
"Jesse James lies here"; I bet it's true!

Our cowboy hats are hot but fun.
We like to wear them in the sun
And Daddy says we'll bring one home for you.

We heard six-shooters: Bang, bang, BANG!
Mom held her ears, but I said "Dang!"
And got a "look" from Mom I didn't like.

Dad bought us all bandannas, too.
Jacob's is red, and mine is blue.
When I get home I'll tie it on my bike,

This postcard shows "The Trading Post";
The thing in here I like the most
Is in the left top corner -- can you guess?!

No, not the hatchet or the bow.
I like the snakeskin down below!
Oops; out of room. I love you, Grandpa! -- Jess

Whatcha Readin' Wednesday

Well, I've been on a fantasy kick lately. I just finished reading the third volume of Jane Lindskold's "Breaking the Wall" series. These are about "the Land Born of Smoke and Sacrifice"; an alternative world that appeared when an ancient Chinese emperor burned many books of lore and executed those who refused to turn over their books. The first volume in the set, Thirteen Orphans, relates the current experiences of the descendants of thirteen residents of "The Lands" who are exiled back into this world after an attempted coup. The focal character, Brenda Morris, doesn't even know she has a Chinese heritage until some extremely strange things happen. The next book, Nine Gates, describes an attempt of the "orphans" to get back into "The Lands". The one I just finished, Five Odd Honors, continues the story. The books are all full of Chinese myth and magic, including a creative take on the mythical uses of mah jongg sets. I enjoyed them a lot, and am hoping for at leaset one more book to tie up a number of loose ends

I am also working my way through a teen fantasy series by Michael Scott The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. I saw a display of them -- the fourth volume was just released -- at Barnes and Noble, and it caught my attention because the charater is mentioned in the Harry Potter books, which I loved. As it turned out, a friend of Kelson's was anxiously awaiting book four, and she was able to lend me the earlier volumes. I've finished book one, The Alchemyst, and have started book two, The Magician. Not a bad read for teen fiction, but not great literature either.

In the way of non-fiction, I am inhaling (no other word will do) Sweater Quest by Adrienne Martini. The subtitle is "My year of knitting dangerously." I LOVE it. If you are a knitter, know a knitter, or -- like me -- wish you were a knitter, GET THIS BOOK. I suspect that if he could get past the title even my husband would enjoy it. It's informative, entertaining, and a glimpse into the world of knitting in the 21st century. Buy a lot of copies and give them to your knitting friends for birthdays and Christmas. You will get lots of thank you notes!

Next up: A biography of Susan Boyle. We shall see.

Miscellanea

Well, I said I had a blog post idea, but it seems to have deserted me, at least for now. I was thinking about just doing a Daybook and pretending that was what I meant, but you all would have known...

Anyway, I do have my power supply back. As it turns out, I could have used any of the other power supplies in the house; it's just that they can't use mine. Everything is the same brand -- Dell -- but the connector for my machine is octagonal and won't fit into the round holes on their laptops, but the round plugs from their machines fit mine just fine. But I'm still grateful to my son-in-law's cousin who brought my own cable back. Thanks, Liz!

I had intended to make this longer, but Roger is going around closing the blinds, and the ice cream in my bowl is all gone. I think that means it's bedtime. Have a good night, and I'll see you soon.

Oops!

I have a blog post idea. I have a computer. I have a power supply. Unfortunately only two of them are in the same place -- I left the power supply at Arwen's.
See you when I get it back!

Let's Play Poetry!

Enbretheliel at Shredded Cheddar is doing a poetry meme; she gives you a word and a question, and out of this you produce a poem. (She's nice about it, and lets you give her the same!) For more details follow the link. Here is my entry.

Word: reflection
Question: How are cats helpful?

We are the proud possessors of a cat,
Or rather, really, he possesses us.
We put out food and water. Lucas deigns
To notice once a day, or maybe twice,
And never gives a nod of thanks, or purrs,
Or lets himself be cuddled on a lap.
He is the monarch of his home and life
Or so he thinks -- though we could prove him wrong
By never giving him the things he needs.
"Let's toss him out! See how he likes it then!"

Sometimes I think I act that way with God --
"I run my life; I'm sure You're there, but still
MY work gives all I need, or even want!"
I know this to be false, yet still I live
As though I were the monarch of my life,
Until I am stopped short by what I see:
My selfish life reflected in a cat.

How are cats helpful? Well, ours makes me see
I act toward God as Lucas does toward me.

Seven Quick Takes Friday - Graduation Edition - 6/11/10

Seven Quick Takes are hosted at Conversion Diary.

1) Kelson is a HS graduate! His commencement was short, sweet, and seemly -- the most riotous moment was when all the grads threw their caps into the air -- but it is kept that way by teachers and administrators galore, and a pat-down of all the grads before they process in. Arwen's graduation was disrupted by smoke bombs, and Branwen's by beach balls (brought in and then inflated) so I see the necessity but deplore the cultural attitude that makes it so.

2) Of course, the thing I remember most about my graduation (In 1969! I'm OLD!) is the two guys on either side of me playing cards across me during the speeches. I remember the name of one of the school board members who spoke, but that is only because he was the step-father of one of my classmates, and step-fathers in those days were rare (and somewhat scandalous) creatures. Now, probably half the graduating class has one. Sigh.

3) This includes our "spare kid', who I haven't mentioned here before - and won't ever again - and whom I will refer to only as X. X has lived with us for much of the school year. He and Kelson have been friends since middle school, and one day last fall I noticed that Kelson offered X the chance to take a shower at our house. A little delicate prying disclosed that X's mom and stepfather (!) were divorcing, and for reasons that I still don't understand after a talk with his mom, X had been thrown out of his home and was living on the streets. After a little discussion and the aforesaid chat with X's mom we offered him a bed at our house. So two members of our household graduated on Tuesday. Congratulations, X! You did it!

4) This is the first graduation we've had with no younger kids still in school. So it's a little disorienting to me to see the school buses still running, and find the mall still empty on a Wednesday afternoon. Isn't it summer?? School's out! But for non-seniors there's still a week and a half to go.

5) Tomorrow will be a massive day of cooking and organizing, because the graduation Open House is Sunday afternoon. Since this is the sixth one I've done, I have lots of supplies and lots of experience, and since Kelson didn't care about the menu, I chose things that are easy for me: queso and chips and soft taco fixings. Tirienne (who is studying cake decoration at culinary school) offered to make the cake, but discovered she has a conflicting commitment. But she has made decorations that I can just place on a base of white frosting, so I don't mind. I LOVE having talented children!

6) Of course, the other side of getting the last child graduated is the upcoming empty nest. I know I will love no longer being tied to the school calendar. No more conflicts between Right to Life meetings and band concerts, or choir practice and Quiz Bowl meets. And no restriction on when we have to come home from visiting grandchildren. But also no new-to-me music blaring in the dining room (who would have thought I'd like Romeo and Juliet by The Killers!!) and no late night conversations about faith and morality. As with any new stage of life, I guess I will just have to get used to it.

7) And we still have a couple of college graduations to look forward to. And grandchildren graduating from kindergarten. And middle school. And High School. And college! But for those I won't have to do the Open Houses, just show up with a card and a kiss and a gift or two. I think I'm going to like this new stage of dealing with graduation. Bring it on!

Daybook, 6/7/10

Actually, by the time I got to this, it was a Nightbook....

Outside my window...it is dark. Actually, the blinds are shut. When I started working on this post it was still light outside, but I spent a LOT of time looking for a picture for the end -- and wound up with XKCD again.

I am thinking... that my "baby!" will be a high school graduate in less than 24 hours. Where did the time go?

I am thankful for...the fact that Brandon is home for his brother's graduation. We haven't seen him since Christmas (except on video chat) and he adds a different flavor to life around here.

From the kitchen... meatloafies (baked in muffin cups), rice, and green beans. Not fancy, but it tasted good.

I'm am wearing... a blue fleece bathrobe and fuzzy slippers. By our standards it's LATE!

I am creating... a wedding gift for our niece. Shhhh. It's a secret!

I am going... to bed just as soon as I finish this post. Yawn.

I am reading... Wyrms by Orson Scott Card. It's an early one of his, and I am either going to love it almost as much as Enchantment or Ender's Game or dislike it intensely. Right now I'm back-and-forth.

I am hoping...that when I finally get to bed, I will fall asleep in a hurry. I have a lot to do tomorrow.

I am hearing... the quiet noise of my computer's fan. Everyone else is asleep, including the dog and the cat.

Around the house... everything has been tidied up for the evening -- always assuming that Brandon and Kelson stay asleep. Otherwise all bets are off.

One of my favorite things... is my Franklin Planner. I just got a year's worth of new pages. My inner control-and-planning freak likes this.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Graduation, followed by "regular routine", followed by Kelson's graduation Open House on Sunday afternoon. (Cooking all day Saturday.)

Words I'm pondering : "Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." No wonder I'm broke!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... Our household has people in all three groups...

Seven Quick Takes -- About my week

Seven Quick Takes is hosted by Jen.

This has been a different sort of week for me, so each take is going to be related to that theme.

1) We had our Memorial Day cookout on Sunday, since some of the kids who were in town needed to leave mid-day Monday. One thing that didn't move to the new house with us was our old and battered picnic tables, which have not yet been replaced. I miss them. It's easier to eat in the dining room, but ribs just taste better outdoors. SIgh.

2) Monday after everybody left we had a new experience. We could stay up as late as we wanted, because nobody had to go to school the next day. (The last day for seniors, including Kelson, was last Friday.) The last time that happened, Arwen was four, Branwen was a toddler, and Miriel was a baby. Not that we DID stay up late, you understand, but we could have.

3) Tuesday morning I woke up and "called in sick" to my much-loved Bible study because my right shoulder hurt so badly. It hurt to try to move, and although I could get my arm above waist height, I had to lift it with my left hand. It felt like my shoulder was dislocated, and I couldn't get it back in. (I've never actually been diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder, but I have very loose joints -- probably BJHS -- and have been able to pop my shoulder in and out at will for as long as I can remember.) No matter how much I twisted and turned and stretched (and moaned and groaned and whined...) the shoulder still hurt. A lot. So I resorted to the "Mike prescription."

Mike is a Physician's Assistant we know, and his recommendation for anything musculo-skeletal (and not obviously broken/bleeding/urgent ) is "three ibuprofen three times a day for three days." And you know what -- it worked. Wednesday was better than Tuesday, Thursday better than Wednesday, and several times today I noticed myself doing things that would have been impossible on Tuesday. But I certainly hope this whatever-it-was doesn't happen again.

4) Wednesday, sore shoulder or no sore shoulder, I participated in PAC interviews. As I've mentioned before, I'm very involved with our local Right to Life chapter. One of the things we do in election years is interview candidates for various local offices and evaluate their credibility and electablity as candidates. (Their pro-life credentials are evaluated by their answers to a questionnaire mailed out by the state PAC.) By law only the state PAC can endorse candidates, but we can do interviews locally and recommend for or against endorsement. We interviewed five candidates for four different offices, and on Monday I get to drive to another town and help interview five more. I'm an active participant in the political process!

5) Also on Wednesday, we got a call that Miriel had been offered the job she was hoping for. It's a terrific fit for her interests and abilities, and she will love it. Unfortunately she'll be almost 600 miles away, but with the internet she'll be much more in contact than I was when I went 75 miles from home for college. "It's a new world, Golde." (Name that quotation.)

6) On Thursday (assisted by Roger for the heavy lifting), I did MAJOR grocery shopping. In our area it's the custom for HS graduates to have open house type parties, and Kelson's is on the 13th. (This date was arrived at by checking his Google calendar and eliminating the dates on which his friends had already scheduled parties. And most of the invitations went out on Facebook. See quote above.) We're expecting probably 100 people, and although not all of them will eat much -- since they will be jumping from open house to open house -- that's still a lot of food. The non-perishable ingredients are all stowed away -- I'll pick up the perishables next Thursday -- and after graduation on Tuesday the preparations will begin. If you're in the area, come on over on the 13th between 3 and 7!

7) On Friday I blogged. That is all.