Peony Moss: June 2004 Archives

I received a curious piece of mail today. It was addressed to Ms Peony Bumbleroot Moss and family. Now, nobody ever calls me Ms Bumbleroot Moss (Bumbleroot being my maiden name) unless they are writing from an alumni society. But where was the computer printed name? The envelope was handwritten. And where was the return address? And what's with this "and family" business?

The return address was on the back: the address of a Benedictine monastery I'd never heard of before. Inside was an invitation to a Solemn Profession of Vows: one of the brothers who is making his Profession is a guy I had known in college.

This is just so weird to me. First, I have never personally known anyone in religious life, so I don't know the etiquette of how to decline the invitation. Should I send a card? an offering? I am shy around priests and religious in general (I'm just weird that way) and especially in situations like this, where I don't know really know what's going on or What's Done.

The other weird thing is that this fellow (let's call him Minto Bramble) is not just "some guy I knew." We were dating intensely for a while and it did not end well at all. It was a serious heartbreak for me, made even worse by Minto's obtuse failure to comprehend that my feelings were hurt, that we weren't friends, and that I really, really, really never wanted to see him or hear from him again. I was so happy to say good-bye for the last time at graduation.

That was twelve years ago, and I have not seen or heard from him since. So what's he doing dredging up my address from the Alumni Society? I'm almost scared to write and decline the invitation and promise prayers, because I'm afraid I'll get on the monastery's mailing list or something like that.

I am pleased to note that Brother Bramble (who doesn't seem to be taking a name in religion) is not the first college classmate of mine who's been called to the religous life. A year or so I opened the diocese newspaper and, right there on the Vocations Week supplement, saw the face of another classmate beaming out from her Carmelite habit. I should definitely get on her mailing list. Maybe I can beg her assistance with my two big intentions.

For anyone who's interested, Brother Bramble will be making his Solemn Profession on July 11.

I am an SRDL--Sober Rational Destructive Leader. This makes me a mob boss. I am the ultimate alpha person and even my friends give me my space. I can't stand whiners, weaklings, schlemiels or schlemozzles. I don't make many jokes, but when I do, others laugh out loud. They must.

People often turn to you for advice, and wisely. I am calm in a crisis, cautious in a tempest, and attuned to even the finest details. Mine is the profile of a smart head for business and a dangerous enemy.

I have a natural knack for fashion and occupy a suit like a matinee idol. My charisma is striking and without artifice. I am generous, thoughtful, and appreciate life's finer things.

The quizwriter concludes: Please don't kick my ass.

A natural knack for fashion? Ultimate alpha person? It's a good thing there's carpet in my living room or I might have broken a bone falling to the floor with laughter.

This quiz spotted at the blog of the evil genius at Disputations.

Abraham Lincoln You have a Bible and a library card. What more could you possibly need? You prefer the Charlotte Mason Method of reading living books for everything: historical fiction, biographies, real histories, nature guides, etc. No soon-to-be-outdated textbooks for you.


What Type of Homeschooler Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla Quiz written by Carolyn.

Thanks to Enbrethiliel via Joyce for this fun quiz. This is the first quiz I've taken for a while where I've actually strongly identified with some of the answers (though for one question, "What is on your dining room table?", I was looking for "all of the above.)

At first I was going to say that I'm not really a homeschooler, but I suppose I am -- our curriculum is just daily living. Naming colors, counting, talking about letters, reading together, talking about plants and animals, saying prayers.... I would like to start something a little more structured but I am not sure where to start. I suppose I could just designate 15 minutes of "school time" every day and just dive in.

A new Aubrey-Maturin book is coming out this fall! No, nobody held a seance to communicate with the late Patrick O'Brian. And they didn't get someone else to write it. Norton is publishing the unfinished book O'Brian was working on when he died -- corrections and all. They aren't even going to try to make up a title. It will just be titled 21.

Oh brother. I used to use scissors to give Hambet his awful home haircuts, but I thought I'd move up to the big time and use clippers. A friend gave me some little tips she'd printed up (she is an old hand at cutting hair.)

I followed her directions carefully, and they seemed to make sense, but things started going wrong with the first pass of the clipper: the guards she uses are numbered from largest to smallest, and her instructions are based on that system. The guards on my clipper are numbered from smallest to largest. So her guard #2 is my guard #6. I didn't realize my mistake until it was too late and I had cut the back way too short. Disconcerted, I paused for a fatal moment -- Hambet squirmed -- and bzzzzzzzz -- there went a big strip of hair from the nape of his neck halfway up the side of his head!

I tried to assemble the thing into some kind of style, but now he looks like he's either off to the skateboard ramp or just back from taking the tonsure. Plus the little long cap on the top is not cut evenly. Oh well, Hambet doesn't care and it will always grow back. But next time, I won't start with the smallest guard! I just hope the new look softens up a bit before we go off to see dh's family next week.

I have a post up on Popcorn Critics about that movie list that's been making the rounds.

Elinor Dashwood has a recipe, a chemistry lesson, a history lesson, and a small catechesis on the Eucharist all in one tight little post.

Teen's Advocacy, Poetry Touched Many Hearts (WaPo; registration)

Mattie's MDA page

Mattie and his mom are Catholic. I have so much respect for them for their bravery in the face of the sorrows that have affected their family, and for their living witness to the value of every life.

Alicia has a list up of recommended books on pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.

My mom gave us a lovely gift for our anniversary this year: a copy of Our Family Book of Life. My sister and her husband received a copy as a wedding gift last year (note to self: buy card), and I was gushing over what a great idea it was, especially for a wedding present.

It's a keepsake book for recording the events on the family's sacramental life: weddings, baptisms and confirmations, ordinations.... There are commentaries on the Sacraments. There's places for photographs, and a place for recording the family tree. The entire book is rendered in calligraphy. The authors also have some suggestions for ways to use the book in family devotions.

I'm looking forward to starting our record and putting in some wedding and baptism pictures. I suppose we're no longer newlyweds, but this is our seventh anniversary, so that seems like a fitting year for such a beautiful gift.

I will just have to avoid any tempation to delay in the form of perfectionism, such as, oh, I must brush up on calligraphy before I start so I don't wreck the beautiful lettering in the book with less-than-perfect ordinary writing.

to Mama Chirp! (aka Davey's mommy)

Happy Father's Day!

My dad loves cherry pie and so does my husband, so cherry pie is our family's Father's Day treat. This year's pie is in the oven. I'm not an accomplished pie cook, so I was pretty pleased -- I managed to assemble a decent-looking pie without having to call my mother.

For the filling, I used my mom's recipe (of course.) I think it's safe to post the recipe now.

My mom is an old hand at pie-baking -- she grew up on a farm, helped cook for the threshers, had six brothers, was in 4-H, the bit -- and she detests flat, sickly-sweet pies. She likes thick pies with lots of fruit, and that's what this will make. I have used this successfully in a 9 inch and a 9 1/2 inch pie plate. If you make it in an eight you might have a really tall pie, or else just have some filling left over.

A note on the cherries: I've been using two 28-oz jars of Morello cherries, from Trader Joe's, which comes out to 3 1/2 pounds and fills up my 9 inch pie plate very nicely. If you can't get to Trader Joe's, three one-pound cans of cherries should work fine. The recipe calls for cherries packed in water; the cherries I use are packed in light syrup, so I drain the cherries into a big measuring cup and let the cup sit for a minute or two. The sugar tends to sink to the bottom, so when I pour off the juice it isn't so sickly sweet. I also use a little less sugar.

3 to 3 1/2 pounds pitted tart red cherries (water pack) (not "cherry pie filling")
1 cup sugar, divided
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 Tbsp butter or margarine
3-4 drops almond extract

Drain cherries, reserving 1 cup of the liquid. In a large saucepan, combine 3/4 cup of the sugar and the cornstarch. Stir in 1 cup of the reserved cherry liquid. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir two more minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in the remaining sugar, butter or margarine, and almond extract. Stir in the cherries. Let cool slightly and then fill your pie. Bake on the bottom rack in a 375 degree oven for 55 to 60 minutes.

You may have some cherry liquid left over. You can freeze it and use it later for a cake filling (cook with a little cornstarch and sugar.) I experimented and poured mine into a popsicle mold.

UPDATE: Here's a picture of the pie. Next time I'll cut the lattice strips a little narrower. Maybe I'll use one of those pie wheels to fancy up the edges.

contributed by the Human Bride of Bob the Ape!

Peony: Well, I unpacked all the bags but I couldn't find those stamps that got lost.

Posco (Peony's husband): Well, that's the way it goes, I guess. Are you sure you don't want to go out with me this afternoon?

Peony: Honey, I really want to finish the laundry. You're going to the stamp store, aren't you?

Posco: ....maybe.

Peony: Hmmm. Did I stick them in your book? Think maybe they fell out of your book when we went to the beach?

Posco: Oh, give it up, they're lost. (starts backing car out)

Peony thinks, signals to Posco to stop, runs up and taps on window

Posco rolls down the window.

Peony: Sweetheart! I know you just told me, but what was the name of the beach?!

Posco: Rocky Neck. (sighs)You're going to call them, aren't you? Ok, See you later.

***

Park ranger: Rocky Neck State Beach.

Peony: Hi, we visited the beach on Wednesday, and I know this is a long shot, but did anyone turn in a paper bag with stamps in it?

Park ranger: Sure, let me go check.... let's see here... Purchased at Cutesy-Poo Stamp Shoppe, Massachussetts?

Peony: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait to see the look on hubby's face when I give him this news!

Yesterday I brought home a huge armful of accumulated mail -- mostly ads, a few bills, the diocese newspaper, and exactly one piece of personal mail: a letter from Pansy. She says hello and that she and the family are doing well, but that it may be a while before she can get her modem repaired. So it's going to be All Peony All the Time for a while. I would be happy to pass on any messages -- just drop an email. And I'm sure she would appreciate prayers for her healthy pregnancy and for help with her family's material needs.

Pansy also says her Roma tomato plant is starting to set fruit. Mine have not even flowered -- and I started and planted mine first! Back, green-eyed monster!

Wish him a happy birthday here, in the most recent comments box.

We had a good time, but a lot of other stuff went wrong. If it weren't against the First Commandment I would wonder if there was a jinx on our trip.

St Anthony prayer request: the thing of my husband's that I misplaced the very day he bought it. St Anthony, help!

The place we're staying tonight has not only a complimentary continental breakfast but also limited internet usage!

-- Thank you for your prayers for my grandmother. She died on Sunday (she had turned 94 just this month.) And she got her wish -- she never had to move off the farm.

-- Happy anniversary to my dear husband (it was June 14)

-- "My dinner with Alicia" -- read all about it at her place. It was SO FUN.

-- We had minor car trouble and ended up hanging around Louisa May Alcott's house for an hour waiting for a jump start. I now know that Sears has a battery express service -- installation in 15 minutes! Maybe the shade of Bronson Alcott was wreaking his revenge for my calling him "an amiable nutcase."

-- I do believe dylan has a birthday coming up on the eighteenth. Care to join me in leaving some birthday wishes in the most recent comments box? Stay to browse his archives, if you haven't seen his site before, and please offer a prayer for his recovery.

-- Think of something you need printed. Then go over here and order it. Or order some prayer books from him. My copies will be presented to the head of our domestic church come Father's Day, and they look awesome.

Having a great time! See you next week!

Peony

Okay, I am feeling a little less frantic. I got everything done that was on my things-to-do list --well, except the potatoes; I just skipped those and made couscous that night instead. And I never got hold of Pansy. But I did everything else, and more.

I still need to pack! I am waaaaaaay behind the 8-ball on that task.

The Moss-mobile is back from the shop. They still need to replace one part that hadn't come in on time, so I'll need to bring it back once we return.

I dropped my sewing machine off for an estimate. They didn't call me this afternoon, so that will have to wait until after my return.

Good news -- I found the thing I lost! Thank you, intercessors! It had fallen out of my purse on the morning I dropped the car off at the shop. So now I am breathing a little easier. And that scratches the "little thing" off my intentions.

So that leaves two big things, and a new thing: Please remember my grandmother, who just turned 94, in your prayers. She is in the hospital again and this time it really doesn't look good -- it sounds like her kidneys have failed, and she is too frail to tolerate treatment. But my parents ordered us to go ahead with our trip. I'm not sure, when the time comes, that I would even be able to go; I would have to take a long flight alone with Hambet, and I wouldn't be able to stay long. So we'll see what happens.

Time to pack! See you around Father's Day.

V/ Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

V/ Christ, have mercy.
R/ Christ, have mercy.

V/ Lord, have mercy. Christ, hear us.
R/ Christ, graciously hear us.

R/ for ff: have mercy on us

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God, the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, One God,
Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father.
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother,
Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God,
Heart of Jesus, of Infinite Majesty,
Heart of Jesus, Sacred Temple of God,
Heart of Jesus, Tabernacle of the Most High,
Heart of Jesus, House of God and Gate of Heaven,
Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity,
Heart of Jesus, abode of justice and love,
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love,
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues,
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise,
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts,
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father was well pleased,
Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received,
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills,
Heart of Jesus, patient and most merciful,
Heart of Jesus, enriching all who invoke you,
Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness,
Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, loaded down with opprobrium,
Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offenses,
Heart of Jesus, obedient to death,
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance,
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation,
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection,
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation,
Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in you,
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in you,
Heart of Jesus, delight of all the Saints,

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world.
R/ spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ have mercy on us.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart.
R/ Make our hearts like unto Thine.

Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of your most beloved Son and upon the praises and satisfaction which he offers you in the name of sinners; and to those who implore your mercy, in your great goodness, grant forgiveness in the name of the same Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you forever and ever.

R/ Amen.

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart is next Friday. Today is a good day to start a novena. For my personal intentions, I have a little intention and two big ones.

Divine Jesus, You have said, "Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you." Behold me kneeling at Your feet, filled with a lively faith and confidence in the promises dictated by Your Sacred Heart to Saint Margaret Mary. I come to ask this favor: (Mention your request).

To whom can I turn if not to You, Whose Heart is the source of all graces and merits? Where should I seek if not in the treasure which contains all the riches of Your kindness and mercy? Where should I knock if not at the door through which God gives Himself to us and through which we go to God? I have recourse to You, Heart of Jesus. In You I find consolation when afflicted, protection when persecuted, strength when burdened with trials, and light in doubt and darkness.

Dear Jesus, I firmly believe that You can grant me the grace I implore, even though it should require a miracle. You have only to will it and my prayer will be granted. I admit that I am most unworthy of Your favors, but this is not a reason for me to be discouraged. You are the God of mercy, and You will not refuse a contrite heart. Cast upon me a look of mercy, I beg of You, and Your kind Heart will find in my miseries and weakness a reason for granting my prayer.

Sacred Heart, whatever may be Your decision with regard to my request, I will never stop adoring, loving, praising, and serving You. My Jesus, be pleased to accept this my act of perfect resignation to the decrees of Your adorable Heart, which I sincerely desire may be fulfilled in and by me and all Your creatures forever.

Grant me the grace for which I humbly implore You through the Immaculate Heart of Your most sorrowful Mother. You entrusted me to her as her child, and her prayers are all-powerful with You. Amen.

to Mama Chirp and Papa Honk!

...something's lost and can't be found. Yes, I've lost something again, and it seems to have vanished from my purse, probably into that space-time anomaly. The something is new and not easily replaceable, so I am frantic.

Stevn has a good post up on recollection.

Esteemed blogger Alicia has a nice reflection up on Ordinary Time. She also has her green template up.

I'm leaving the red up for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart and Corpus Christi. I'll put up the green when I get back.

OK, if this were the HMS or the Ragemonkey blog, I would have all kinds of entries up about how I was taking over the blog, demanding to be addressed as Her Serene Majesty Peony the Benevolent and Clever, appointing myself Liturgist-in-Chief over all English-speaking countries, and naming my cabinet.

But alas, real life is leaving me too little time to take full advantage of Pansy's computer troubles. Here's what's going on:

On Friday, the Maryland Mosses are headed on vacation to New England. Planned highlights include the Alcott house, Cape Cod, and dinner with a highly esteemed blogger. So this week I'm getting the house ready and doing some packing.

Thanks to everyone who commented with advice on the car. I brought the car in to be fixed yesterday and got some seriously good news: the extended warranty we had purchased with the car was still in force, so this repair will be largely paid for. What a relief! I thought it had expired but we still have seven months (or 15,000 miles) on the warranty, so later this year I'll bring the car back in and see what else we can get the warranty to pick up.

Meanwhile, in the "why do I do this to myself" department -- I was hoping to make a couple of new jumpers for our trip, but that project didn't work out. Sewing frustrates me so much, yet I long to get good at it. I had cut the two jumpers on Sunday, and chose a very simple pattern (only four pieces!) so I could finish them quickly. So of course my sewing machine chooses this week to start being obstinate and skip stitches. I lubricated it and fooled with the tension, and managed to get a few seams done. I even got the collar facing in on the first jumper and I was so proud -- I usually have a hard time with facings and this one laid so nice and smooth. So I clipped the curves, graded the seam allowance -- and realized I'd put the facing in backwards. It wasn't "right sides together" with the dress. This is kind of like doing a perfect job hanging wallpaper -- seams matched, no bubbles -- and then realizing you've hung it with the pattern upside down. I finally got the facing in properly, but when it came time to do the final seam the sewing machine just wouldn't behave. I'm afraid I'll have to bring it in for an adjustment. Is it normal to need an adjustment every three and a half years?

Here's my things-to-do list for today:

• Do the laundry.
• Work in the garden, staking the tomatoes and planting out the new lettuce and basil. Will try to take pictures for the blog, since it's been a while since I've done a garden update. A chipmunk has moved in and is making burrows in the peas and parsley and in the front flower bed.
• Make a run to KMart and Home Depot for a clay pot (I succumbed to temptation and got a bay plant yesterday), bamboo stakes, and a small plant for Hambet's teacher at the Center (tomorrow is Hambet's last day.) Oh, and a chipmunk trap.
• Put dinner in the crock-pot.
• Pick up my husband and take him to his doctor's appointment (we think dh has a sinus infection.)
• At some point pick up some potatoes to go with dinner.
• At some point call Pansy.
• Drop husband and son at home.
• Return loaner car and pick up repaired Mossmobile.
• Wrap Father's Day present for my dad and get it ready to ship.

Tampa Bay Lighting wins Stanley Cup

...do you have any idea when the next installment of the group read is going to go up?

I am hoping to have the next Group Read up the week of June 21.

Good-bye, Mr President.

Tom of Disputations has a sharp post up: a rough-draft taxonomy of factions within the Church, based on which Sacrament they reject. He remarks that Confirmation is "rejected by pretty much everyone, since almost no one has any idea what it's actually for."

Well, I would dispute that. I am all for Confirmation (even though I'm don't have a complete understanding of what it's for. But I do have some idea.) So, does that mean I get my own faction? And if I do, what should I call it?

I first blogged about Confirmation in a combination "faith seeking understanding" and "resentful Gen-X rant" post last fall. I've had the question of Confirmation on my mental back burner ever since. It's something I want (and need) to study more, both to understand the Sacrament and to grow in understanding of the Holy Spirit and His actions.

I was thinking about it again more recently when I started hearing about the "Restored Order of the Sacraments" in the Latin Rite (that is, Confirmation before First Communion instead of adolescence or even later.) I saw it first on a Catholic mother's message board and then in this post on Fidelis.

Don't feel like slogging through the long meandering (recycled) reflection in the extended entry? Here's the executive summary: I think the Restored Order is a great idea. After the revolution, when I become Liturgist-in-Chief (complete with draconian powers of enforcement), I will implement it from east to west. While I wait for news of my appointment, I'll be studying up on Confirmation and learning more about the Holy Spirit, and striving to grow in devotion to Him.

I just got back from a day of sitting around and waiting. First I had an eye exam, and got the good news that my eyes had actually improved! The bad news: I still needed new glasses. My old ones were now too strong and were throwing off my eyes' coordination. I tried to pick out a new frame, but Hambet had had enough waiting during the exam. So off to feed Hambet, then back to pick out new frames.

At least the salesman was helpful -- when I came in and announced, "I want a cheap pair of glasses that look like my old ones," he was able to find a pair. Then off to sit and wait for them to get finished. The mall has a little play space in its center, so I turned Hambet loose and went back to waiting.

Back to pick up the glasses, and then off to the next stop: getting the oil changed in the car. My timing worked well, and Hambet slept while we waited.

He was just waking up and getting restless when the car guy came in with that "I don't have good news" look on his face. It's the power steering. It leaks, in several places. They are recommending replacing a high-pressure hose and the rack (apparently you can't just replace the leaky part anymore.) It will be a big pile of money.

I hate making decisions like this. Our car is a '97 with almost 85,000 miles on it. It's also paid for, and I like paid for. If we make this repair it will be good for a lot longer -- I'd love to be able to crack 100,000 on it.

On the other hand, our car is a sedan. If we ever had another child, it would be difficult to get another car seat in there, and we would never be able to carry a passenger.

But then, it's not at all certain that we'll ever need to get another car seat in there.

Chocolate Compounds Boost Blood Vessel Function

We can always count on Alicia to bring us important health news.

Serva ordinem, et ordo servabit te

“Serve order and order will serve you.”

(encountered in this article on family finances)

A selection of yesterday's search engine hits:

mommies girl
peony moss blog (yup, and that's how it's going to be until Pansy's modem gets fixed: all Peony all the time!)
rhubarb recipe
two sleepy mommies (this is the place! perhaps you might like to click "favorites --> add to favorites" and bookmark us?)
catholic mommies
baptism pictures (sorry, I don't think we've posted any. We'll have to pressure Pansy this winter.)
barbie tsm (hmmmm.... I'll have to get in touch with Mattel)
bathing suit patterns
boomerang toomerang soomerang
camden bishop
catholic tradition baby names
st sabina academy
cheesequake translation
clementines french san francisco (That sounds like more Erik's thing)
cream of tartar
enterprise spoilers (didn't the show end for the season last week?)

There were also six hits from people looking for information on the founders of Catholicity and their marital trouble.

Yesterday's referral leader was Gerard's directory, followed by the main page of the Fine Domain (which, by the way, brings us news of a new blog!)

I heard from her this morning. Things are going well for her and her family, though not so well for her modem -- it does not seem to want to connect to the Internet. She's not sure when she's going to be back online again.

Man lives by bread alone, and the ultimate source of bread is the baker’s van: peace matters more than honour and can be preserved by jeering at colonels and reading newspapers. Sometimes I think this phrase is the perfect summary of the last ten to twenty years.

Around here, the Memorial Day remembrances were a timely reminder of the war years, when everyone was acutely conscious of where our bread -- and our vegetables, gasoline, rubber, metal, nylon, and everything else -- came from. These days, my garden is a hobby. Sixty years ago, it would have been a Victory Garden.

Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of this week are Ember Days.

The Catholic Encyclopedia tells us that Ember Days were given to us by the Church to "thank God for the gifts of nature, to teach men to make use of them in moderation, and to assist the needy." They were days of fast and abstinence.

Karen Marie has a reflection up on the Ember Days that reminded me of this passage, attacking the books that so breezily dismiss idealism and spiritual values, from C.S. Lewis's Abolition of Man:

It will be seen that comfort and security, as known to a suburban street in peace-time, are the ultimate values: those things which can alone produce or spiritualize comfort and security are mocked. Man lives by bread alone, and the ultimate source of bread is the baker’s van: peace matters more than honour and can be preserved by jeering at colonels and reading newspapers.

And certainly our farmers can use our prayers; Sparki has an update on the devastation the recent storms have brought to the farmers in her area.

Basia me, Catholica sum

Quenta Narwenion

Wondering Philosopher

Barefoot and Pregnant and the Mighty Barrister both have spiffy new looks!