Quick Takes, I agree with the Pirate King about this "Beastly Month"

Trying to link up with Jen. Seven Quick Takes
(1) I know this might be more appropriate in a leap-year, but thinking (very happily) about the fact that suddenly it was the last day of February today kept reminding me of The Pirate King from The Pirates of Penzance. "For such a beastly month as February, 28 days, as a rule, are plenty". 'Paradox': enjoy it here.

(2) About three year olds. Mine did something she knows she shouldn't do (she was eating the brown sugar) yesterday, and I overheard another child stopping her and emphatically telling her she was "bad. Bad Leia!" Well, I immediately intervened and had a little talk with each of them. The older one I spoke gently with, reminding her that even when we do wrong things that mess up God's kingdom and disrupt our connection to the True Vine (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd), God doesn't call us "bad". He made us good, and calls us Good, and calls us to do good things. Fine. She has had her first reconciliation already, she gets it. She apologized to her sister. Cool. Next, the three year old. In similar, but more simple and brief terms, I said that she is good, and I want her to do good things, but even though she does wrong things sometimes.... Etc. what's the reply? "Mom, poop and pee don't mix together". Ok???

(3) My darling husband bought me cowboy (cowgirl?) boots! I had birthday money, and was obsessing online about different boots. But then I decided, no. Next pair of shoes was going to have to be some practical athletic sandals. And then, out of the blue, Fyodor ordered the boots I really wanted! Yay! I love them. They are a tad tight over the instep, and slip a bit on the heel, and I read that they are supposed to do just that, and once they are broken in the tightness and slipping will stop. I plan to wear these with everything!
 

(4) My son is a ninja. His siblings helped him with this getup, and he loves it. Worn two days running. Prompted me to show the kids Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

(5) The ninja costume reminded me of the great photos we've been seeing of the Orthodox Priests in Kiev. So manly. So moving. And good for Orthodox and Catholic boys to see.
 Being a priest is not a safe, easy  calling.   But an opportunity to imitate Christ with courage.

(6) A dear family friend who married a Russian woman was just telling me about the Russian psyche, and the deep passion and love for art and poetry. He said there is something very spiritual, and yet atheism basically took over in that country, and the damage that Marxism did to the church there is deep. I had no idea. It makes images of Eastern Orthodox Christianity more mysterious and poignant.

(7) My more tech-savvy family members just showed me that I've been composing in html, and that is the root of my format problems!! The learning curve is steep, but I'm on it!

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real -first try!

I am finally joining Auntie Leila's linkup! Here's my first p,h,f,r:
 {Pretty} is this pair of colorful appliqué fabrics, found at Goodwill and framed in our sunroom.

 

{Happy} is my Eight year old Kitty playing Sound-O with her little brother and sister, Luke and Leia. Looks like everybody has had a few bingos already.

{Funny} is this little girl. Three years old, and boy could I tell stories...



 {Real} is this pile of clean, unfolded laundry on our bed.

Thing is, to me most of these are pretty, happy, funny *and* real! Linking up!

Busy day and What I Wore

      Whew! Dinner's in the oven, and I got our oldest, to be known here as Hermione, to and from Pueri Cantores, the ten year old, Haldir, to and from band practice, and the second daughter, Kitty, to the store to get black shoes for her Notre Dame Children's Choir concert, all without messing up! Yes, we love music over here.
       We decided to protect our kids' identities, so I had them all choose characters from books. Still have to discuss with my wonderful husband more about what I will disclose on here, but I love the kids' alias'.
    It's Wednesday, and there are link-ups I could join! I am not in a stage in life where I am very good at reading actual books, though we could talk about what we read at bedtime. Maybe next week. This time, I'll just do a little What I Wore:

Jeans, Vera Wang trouser cut jeans from Clothes Mentor.
Charcoal top, outdated Liz Lange. (How can this have ever been long enough to be maternity?!).
Pink Argyle cardigan, Falls Creek,thrifted.
Cute pearls-as-bunches-of-grapes earrings, gift from my children from a Christmas Bazaar.
No shoes, cuz I have a sprained heel!
Next time, I'd better have someone else take my picture!

A web journal, social media, dialogue, and praise of God

    Its the end of February, 2014. My darling daughter, age twelve, has been encouraging me to blog. So has my husband. Last time I tried it was a year ago. And my profile at the right is as old as 2006!! (Ill update that super soon. Right now, it cracks me up and amazes me. You know, the passage of time and all). But this time I'm going to go for it. I do enjoy journaling, as a way of reflecting on my life, as a way of organizing my thoughts and goals, and maybe even preserving them.
    I also love sharing ideas through social media. I find that to be my preferred use of facebook, for example. I find so many interesting articles and discover worthwhile blogs, as well as some uplifting and, yes, funny things, by reading what my friends post. I love, love, love being around people who make me learn. I also love sharing information that has made me think, or has uplifted me or, more rarely worried me or made me mad. I also love being able to share photos of family, events and projects.
   I like the feedback and dialogue I can get through this, while never having to pick up a phone or commit to a social engagement! Yes, I am an introvert for sure. Well, it seems to me that all these things would work so much better through a blog. And it would be more archival; that is, I could search back and find again the things I post. The 'darndest things' the kids say, and the dates, for example.
     So, this will be a 'mommy blog', for sure. Not really a 'pretty blog', though I hope to share pretty things often. Not really a craft blog, though I hope to share many creations, hacks, and before and after pics. I think I'll include roundups of great stuff I've read on the web as well. I want to keep this blog for me, and I also hope it includes lots of things that will interest others and prompt dialogue.
   I realize it's folly to complete my first post without a photo! For now, I introduce myself. Hi. I'm Claire