Cathy's Grace Notes

Advent

Amen.

Thanksgiving Dinner and it was good

Though our children were other places for Thanksgiving, we had a full table. And there was laughter and thanksgiving.

Turkey, pork loin, cornbread dressing and gravy, squash casserole, broccoli casserole, sweet potato casserole, Watergate salad, relish tray, pickled tomatoes. white acre peas. Whole wheat bread, Sister Schubert rolls, cranberry from a can, cranberry relish. pyracantha jelly, fig preserves, pecan pie, mincemeat pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie, ice cream, wine, and, of course, tea. I am sure I am leaving something out.

And another view.....

It was very good.

I'm here -- -and what I'm thinkin'

Not that anyone asked, but I have been here --- a little on Facebook, but mostly busy with life in general and work has consumed my energy to put anything up on a blog. The most I can eke out is a sentence on my status on Facebook.
However, I found this.... folks, I am working on unplugging the machine, the one of the commercialized season. I hope our children realize that we are for real on this. Our gift to them is our time together when we go to the beach. Other than that..... I need to hear from you on this... I need to know if you are making changes in what you are doing for the upcoming holiday racket, um, season. 

I share this with you in hopes you can share this with others. Also how might you make the season different for you and those you love?  HOw will your Advent prepare the way for you?

It has arrived and for that I am excited!

When I was in third grade, my teacher read The Lion's Paw by Robb White to our classroom. Three children's quest for a seashell in Florida as they navigate the peninsula was an adventure and one I read over and over.

And then... when I wanted a copy to read to my children... couldn't find it. And then.... the internet... and copies could be located... for a price.

In fact..according to US News and World Report, it became the most sought out children's book, according to Bookfinder.com.

So I was happy to see when it has been put in print again. I NOW have the copy of this book:

Yes we can socks

I knitted these throughout the election results. They will be worn today and will be my "Yes we can" socks!

Trekking XXL sock yarn size 2 needles - basic sock pattern I have by memory. The only change is a boxier toe - finished off with 20 stitches left at the toe instead of 12.

Sunday Evening Blips and Dots

This weekend I was basically computerless because my power cord died. Husband brought his power cord for me to use this evening from his personal computer at work. HOpefully my new one will be coming in a day or two. In the meantime...

I got lots of knitting done.

We had a domestic goddess come into Mom's apartment and with her magic touch gave it a fresh new look. Mom has had a double whammy this week with some dental problems and foot surgery. Having both sides in pain is NO FUN!

I watched more tv than usual and it is still basically the same....mostly boring.

Our service was an All Saints' service. For All the Saints to the tune of Sine Nomine is one of my favorites. Here is it played on the organ.

Please keep our pastor in your prayers. He was not able to continue the service because he was not feeling well and there was slurring of speech as has happened once before. The service continued with a member of the congregation, a postulant to the diaconate, continuing the service as it transformed into Morning Prayer.

For some reason, I can't seem to to much more than spilling out blips and dots lately. 

Friday Five - LIE Addition (well, she did lie)

Will smama writes:
Greetings friends! It's been awhile since I've contributed to the posts here at the revgalblogpals website, but I agreed to step into the Fifth Friday of the Month Friday Five slot.

So here I be.

As I zip around the webring it is quite clear that we are getting BUSY. "Tis the season" when clergy and laypeople alike walk the highwire from Fall programming to Christmas carrying their balancing pole with family/rest on the one side and turkey shelters/advent wreaths on the other.

And so I offer this Friday Five with 5 quick hit questions... and a bonus:

1) Your work day is done and the brain is fried, what do you do?

PLOP DOWN at home in the recliner and turn the laptop on, and close my eyes to rest them... and then I snooze.

2) Your work week is done and the brain is fried (for some Friday, others Sunday afternoon), what do you do?

Refer to #1 unless it is Sunday afternoon. I also watch "In Concert" and Diane Bish. I am such a dork.

3) Like most of us, I often keep myself busy even while programs are on the tv. I stop to watch The Office and 30 Rock on Thursday nights. Do you have 'stop everything' tv programming or books or events or projects that are totally 'for you' moments?

Dorkiness continues with Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, and I really like to watch the LOCAL NEWS that I have watched since I was a child. However, other than that I am not much of a tv watcher, but if there IS something on there that I want US to watch, get out of my may and watch my nose get out of joint if it doesn't happen.

4) When was the last time you laughed, really laughed? What was so funny?
I was at a concert last week of Russian Balalaika players. I saw one of my students and went to say hello to him. He looked up at  me and had this LOOK. And then he said (and it was said as if it was one word... whaddayoudoinhere? ) HE KNEW I DId not BELONG ANYWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN SCHOOL - HE KNOWS I LIVE, EAT, AND SLEEP at school. He isn't supposed to see me any other place. He really wanted me to go - I was out of place!

5) What is a fairly common item that some people are willing to go cheap on, but you are not.

SHOES. They cannot hurt my feet. Period.

Bonus: It's become trite but is also true that we often benefit the most when we give. Go ahead, toot your own horn. When was the last time you gave until it felt good?
I put 20 dollars in the collection plate because I said whatever I pull out of my wallet, I would give. The 20 dollar bill showed up.

Really and truly though, I do enjoy going on Tuesdays to help with the Backpack program where we fill up backpacks to distribute on Fridays to targeted students who we believe might benefit from extra food over the weekend. That feels REALLY GOOD. And I take all the materials which can be recycled back to our school to be recycled.
Ok, tooted horn..... Someone toot theirs in the comments please! When is the last time you tooted horn?

Let us know in the comments if you played and I'll come around and visit. The first 50 are entered into a drawing for a new car (sorry, that's a lie. We are immersed in political attack ads here in the US that lie and so I thought I would join in). Seriously, go ahead and let us know if you play. I will visit. And buy you a new house (lie). The last person to do the Friday Five is a socialist and hangs out with computer viruses (STOP!).

As always, comments and programming on this station do not necessarily represent the view and values of the revgalblogpals website or its associates. If you are an American citizen please vote by Tuesday or your computer will self destruct in 5 seconds...

Hectic Week!

A little crazy here in terms of a week.... however, today....

Work - adding two little girls - adding students to my room always makes it interesting. But the fact we had two girls is evening out the gender distribution.

Yesterday Mom went to the podiatrist. She has hammer toes. Today we go in for some in office surgery to correct one of them. She has more, but we aren't foolin' with them unless we need to.

Day before yesterday, Mom went to dentist. Let's just say that more dental work is in the works. Before that we need to get some antibiotics in her.

I am having problems with my power connection on my computer, so I may be sans computer if it has to go into the computer hospital. It looks like it is heading in that direction. I feel like I am always working on borrowed time.

So..... it's just plain been busy. Hopefully things will slow down...

Naked Women for Peace

Because I beat Jo(e) to this video, and I am too chicken to be as bold as her, I resorted to Youtube.  Wondering if this will impact my counter.

Spinning back in time and looking towards the future

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die