I recently had a discussion with my spiritual adviser about my writing. His advice ~ just do it and see if it bears fruit. ON the way home today , I realized that I also really enjoy teaching. I don't always like the response of the students or all the paperwork, but the actual working to engage students in the discussion that I really enjoy. Unfortunately, it would seem that neither one of these are something I am really capable of doing to earn a living. I haven't truly tired writing, especially Catholic writing. I have thought several times about writing about our experience over the past two years. Larry's illness, our shift in focus, our spiritual growth both as a family and as individuals. So the invective to just do it ~ I am not sure what writing that should be. Should it be fiction, sort stories, essays? Dose it matter if the invective is to just do it? I guess not .So my first endeavor will be to go find a play I wrote a VERY long time ago and see what it reads like now.
Wish me luck and grace!
God Bless,
Kate
Friday, May 23, 2014
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Spring!
Spring finally made it! I know that it has been here for a bit but it took so long that I wanted to make sure.
We have finally burst out of the winter snow cover. Trees are in bloom and so far I think we have a good chance at getting fruit this year.
The apple trees were buzzing as were our plums.
I snapped some pictures of our lilac bush and one of the many projects I have been working on. This one has a deadline though so it is currently getting priority.
Thanks for the visit and I hope you are enjoying your spring!
God Bless!
Kate
Friday, May 2, 2014
Answer Me This ~
I decided to participate in this weekly blog starter....these are my answers to this week's questions. Enjoy!
1. Are you becoming your mother?
Okay, so my first response is "No". My mom was pretty amazing and much better organized than I will ever hope to be. It just boggles my mind to think about all the parties we had and the planning and cooking she did, while raising 10 children. We had a birthday party for each of us every year. The party included a cup of m&m's mixed with mints at each place at the table. The birthday child got to pick out the menu and the cake. She had a book of animal/possibly some other figures cakes that you could pick from. I usually just went with a plain double layer round cake because I didn't like all the coconut that was usually involved in the other cakes. I don't have time to go into what was planned for Christmas. I try every year to do something similar and so far have not succeeded. SO no in that sense I am not becoming my mother. I am however saying things that she said that I vowed never to say: "Because I said so." "This is my house and it gets done my way. When you grow up and have your own house you can do it anyway you would like."
I have said these things and then realized why she said them. :)
2. Coffee or tea?
Coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon or evening. I cannot start a morning off without a good cup of coffee. But that is usually the only time I drink coffee. If I need a little pick me up later in the day I usually drink caffeinated tea. In the evening I drink decaffeinated tea.
3. What foreign country would you like to visit?
The short answer ~ Ireland. Actually what my husband and I have discussed is taking a tour of Europe visiting all the holy shrines we would like to see....so that would include more than just Ireland.
4. Do you cry easily?
Yes, I do. I can cry during a movie or while reading a book. I was accused once of crying to get sympathy. I don't think that I have ever been able to "make" myself cry. I am just one of those people who when I get upset...i.e. angry, or saddened, or extremely contrite I cry.
5. How often do you wear heels?
Rarely. When I do wear heels they are usually only 1/2" high. I have never been all that comfortable in high heels and that has been a hallmark of my dressing style ~ is this comfortable?
6. Do you play an instrument?
Not regularly. I know how to play the piano somewhat and I played the clarinet in the school band for a few years. I love music though and my children are taking piano lessons and are wonderful to listen to...my husband seems to think that they get all of that talent from me. :)
So those are my answers. I had fun joining in. I hope anyone who reads this will keep checking others who have joined in.
God Bless,
Kate
1. Are you becoming your mother?
Okay, so my first response is "No". My mom was pretty amazing and much better organized than I will ever hope to be. It just boggles my mind to think about all the parties we had and the planning and cooking she did, while raising 10 children. We had a birthday party for each of us every year. The party included a cup of m&m's mixed with mints at each place at the table. The birthday child got to pick out the menu and the cake. She had a book of animal/possibly some other figures cakes that you could pick from. I usually just went with a plain double layer round cake because I didn't like all the coconut that was usually involved in the other cakes. I don't have time to go into what was planned for Christmas. I try every year to do something similar and so far have not succeeded. SO no in that sense I am not becoming my mother. I am however saying things that she said that I vowed never to say: "Because I said so." "This is my house and it gets done my way. When you grow up and have your own house you can do it anyway you would like."
I have said these things and then realized why she said them. :)
2. Coffee or tea?
Coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon or evening. I cannot start a morning off without a good cup of coffee. But that is usually the only time I drink coffee. If I need a little pick me up later in the day I usually drink caffeinated tea. In the evening I drink decaffeinated tea.
3. What foreign country would you like to visit?
The short answer ~ Ireland. Actually what my husband and I have discussed is taking a tour of Europe visiting all the holy shrines we would like to see....so that would include more than just Ireland.
4. Do you cry easily?
Yes, I do. I can cry during a movie or while reading a book. I was accused once of crying to get sympathy. I don't think that I have ever been able to "make" myself cry. I am just one of those people who when I get upset...i.e. angry, or saddened, or extremely contrite I cry.
5. How often do you wear heels?
Rarely. When I do wear heels they are usually only 1/2" high. I have never been all that comfortable in high heels and that has been a hallmark of my dressing style ~ is this comfortable?
6. Do you play an instrument?
Not regularly. I know how to play the piano somewhat and I played the clarinet in the school band for a few years. I love music though and my children are taking piano lessons and are wonderful to listen to...my husband seems to think that they get all of that talent from me. :)
So those are my answers. I had fun joining in. I hope anyone who reads this will keep checking others who have joined in.
God Bless,
Kate
Thursday, March 20, 2014
So Happy I Married an Engineer!
Our fist attempt went okay but then we thought about and realized that we needed to dry it with more tension to pull out the kinks. So we went to the Man ~ he said that we needed more tension. We said RIGHT! How? So he said it is really simply just hang a bucket of water from it and you can adjust the amount of tension with the amount of water in the bucket.
My darling daughter understood better than I. And then the Man walked over and just did it. lol
Not only did it really stretch all the kinks out; it also helped to pull out the water and thus the skein dried quicker. I do not have pictures of the dried skein but I do have some of the tension. Sorry they are a little blurrier than I thought. So No it is not your computer or your eyes.
Not quite a year....this needs work
So, I once again have been quite the absent blogger. We are doing okay. The homeschooling is going quite well. Daughter #2 MK, began spinning this past year. She is doing amazing well. She is having fun creating some beautiful color combinations. She recently spun three fleeces thick , then plied them and then knit a hat. It was so cool to watch.
She is also a budding herbalist. We recently all came down with a cold that nicely circulated through our house. She was making tea every night for everyone. She will be making a batch of vinegar garlic~ at least I think that is what she was calling it. She has made two batches of chutney...not to her liking yet but she will soldier on to create some that is spicier and more to her and her father's taste.
The boys are spending their time growing like weeds! These are the two that are still at home. M is 14 and eats .... just eats. It is rare that you don't see him with some type of food in his hand. When he gets cranky, we usually ask when was the last time he ate something. :) . S just turned 13 recently. He has taken becoming a teenager fairly seriously. He is now going out and splitting wood by hand on a regular basis. The other day he had split enough wood that his father didn't have to go out split more after he got home. A really great feeling!
We are anxiously awaiting spring. We have been in the deep freeze for quite long enough ~ thank you very much. It is coming....just in very small doses.
I will try harder to post more often...
Take care and thanks for hanging in there with me.
She is also a budding herbalist. We recently all came down with a cold that nicely circulated through our house. She was making tea every night for everyone. She will be making a batch of vinegar garlic~ at least I think that is what she was calling it. She has made two batches of chutney...not to her liking yet but she will soldier on to create some that is spicier and more to her and her father's taste.
The boys are spending their time growing like weeds! These are the two that are still at home. M is 14 and eats .... just eats. It is rare that you don't see him with some type of food in his hand. When he gets cranky, we usually ask when was the last time he ate something. :) . S just turned 13 recently. He has taken becoming a teenager fairly seriously. He is now going out and splitting wood by hand on a regular basis. The other day he had split enough wood that his father didn't have to go out split more after he got home. A really great feeling!
We are anxiously awaiting spring. We have been in the deep freeze for quite long enough ~ thank you very much. It is coming....just in very small doses.
I will try harder to post more often...
Take care and thanks for hanging in there with me.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
In case anyone has been checking, it has been quite some time since I posted. This is mainly due to time and not sure what I want to say. this past year much has happened in the spiritual life of my family.
I started meeting with a group of women once a month to explore our spiritual journeys. We put our three younger children into the local Catholic school. My husband began attending Mass daily. then we started going to the Adoration Chapel twice a week.
The fruit of all this activity has been amazing. We discovered that a family that survives on $10,000 a year can afford to send children to the Catholic school. It is VERY hard and not because of the tuition. It is all the little add ons that really bite.
Our next discovery was that daily Mass attendance increases a thirst for knowledge of faith. y husband and I began to explore our faith more. We began reading different spiritual books by Saints. Then my husband journeyed into reading church documents. I went along with my group but kept my focus on the Catholic aspect of the questions being asked. I found this very entertaining. It made me realize that I had more solid answers in my own faith.
My children in the Catholic schools were defending their faith to others than truly learning more about their faith. This awareness came about in part due to my husband's journey in exploring church documents and heresies that have beset the church through her 2000 year history.
Our family was taken under the wing of a devote young priest. He began by meeting with my husband. I have met with him a few times and my second daughter and third son have begun meeting with him on occasion as well.
The result of all this exploring, searching, reading and discussion are the following. We are homeschooling our three younger children with a classical curriculum; we are saying a family rosary daily; we are saying evening prayers as a family; we are attending Adoration Chapel once a week as a family and once a week as a couple; we are attending daily Mass as a family. My two young boys are learning to serve at the Tridentine Mass. This has had a profound effect on my son #3. His faith, reverence and prayer life has changed noticeably.
I have not fully decided if I will continue with this blog or not. My work life is busier and I am trying to cut back on my online presence. I am not ready to make the decision yet. I will let you know.
We continue to live frugally as is necessary. We are growing food, knitting and sewing. My #2 daughter is spinning and I am currently making a shawl from something she spun.
I started meeting with a group of women once a month to explore our spiritual journeys. We put our three younger children into the local Catholic school. My husband began attending Mass daily. then we started going to the Adoration Chapel twice a week.
The fruit of all this activity has been amazing. We discovered that a family that survives on $10,000 a year can afford to send children to the Catholic school. It is VERY hard and not because of the tuition. It is all the little add ons that really bite.
Our next discovery was that daily Mass attendance increases a thirst for knowledge of faith. y husband and I began to explore our faith more. We began reading different spiritual books by Saints. Then my husband journeyed into reading church documents. I went along with my group but kept my focus on the Catholic aspect of the questions being asked. I found this very entertaining. It made me realize that I had more solid answers in my own faith.
My children in the Catholic schools were defending their faith to others than truly learning more about their faith. This awareness came about in part due to my husband's journey in exploring church documents and heresies that have beset the church through her 2000 year history.
Our family was taken under the wing of a devote young priest. He began by meeting with my husband. I have met with him a few times and my second daughter and third son have begun meeting with him on occasion as well.
The result of all this exploring, searching, reading and discussion are the following. We are homeschooling our three younger children with a classical curriculum; we are saying a family rosary daily; we are saying evening prayers as a family; we are attending Adoration Chapel once a week as a family and once a week as a couple; we are attending daily Mass as a family. My two young boys are learning to serve at the Tridentine Mass. This has had a profound effect on my son #3. His faith, reverence and prayer life has changed noticeably.
I have not fully decided if I will continue with this blog or not. My work life is busier and I am trying to cut back on my online presence. I am not ready to make the decision yet. I will let you know.
We continue to live frugally as is necessary. We are growing food, knitting and sewing. My #2 daughter is spinning and I am currently making a shawl from something she spun.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
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