Category Archives: Creativity

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: April 26, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY April 26, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It’s 11:30 here on what was actually a very nice day — one of the first in the last week or so when I haven’t had a headache from all the pressure changes. I don’t know what the ultimate temperature was outside but I was comfy in shirt sleeves.

I am thinking… about all that I need to accomplish this week.

I am thankful… for Daniel going to bed at a decent hour tonight. He didn’t go down until almost 9 p.m. last night and woke me up at 5:30 this morning. Not good.

In the kitchen… it’s clean except for my dishes in the sink. I will probably make something I can eat on for a couple days but I haven’t figured out what it will be yet.

I am wearing… my Run for the Little Flowers shirt and black capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, for my grandma’s neurologist to figure out what is going on, and for some special intentions for various people in my life.

I am going… to the bank and a few other places tomorrow.

I am wondering… when I’ll have the time to formulate the post I’ve been wanting write on vaccines. It sure didn’t happen this weekend!

I am reading… a lot of things at the moment. I finished Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans on Friday and I think y’all need to go out and buy it as well as her book on Biblical womanhood. Other than that, I’ve read/finished Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg and read/finished The Real Macaw by Donna Andrews. Next on the agenda: Some Like It Hawk by Donna Andrews.

I am hoping… to actually be productive tomorrow.

I am looking forward to… Bible study on Wednesday.

I am hearing… Seven Songs by Amanda Opelt. She is Rachel’s younger sister and anyone who pre-ordered Rachel’s book got a download code for Amanda’s debut album. I’m liking it — kind of bluesy folk rock.

Crocheting… edging on an afghan for a wedding shower present, Daniel’s “big boy” blankie, and an amigurumi stuffed animal for a friend.

Around the house… silence. I am the only one awake (as usual).

A favorite quote for today… “For me, talking about church in front of a bunch of Christians means approaching a microphone and attempting to explain the most important, complicated, beautiful, and heart-wrenching relationship of my life in thirty minutes or less without yelling or crying or saying any cuss words.” — Rachel Held Evans, Searching for Sunday

One of my favorite things… Bejeweled. It’s my go-to thing for sorting out my brain.

A few plans for the rest of the week: sort/clean out storage unit, Daniel’s doctor appointment on Monday afternoon, Daniel’s IPP with the Regional Center on Tuesday afternoon, Bible Study on Wednesday, and whatever comes up in terms of readying stuff to be moved to my sister-in-law’s house on Saturday. Oh yes… also the bridal shower on Saturday so the afghan needs to be done.

Post Script… This is a song I heard on Air1 these past few weeks that I’m loving. It’s “Brother” by NEEDTOBREATHE.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Me Running My Mouth Again…

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Can we say “duh”? News flash: Measles Vaccine Still Doesn’t Cause Autism. The paper on this is here. I will be writing more about this in order to explain the scientific bases of all of this in the next week or so.

Until then… VACCINATE YOUR FREAKING KIDS!!!! And for those who claim a selective/delayed vaccine schedule is a good thing, your argument has been proven invalid in this study.

— 2 —

Wonderful concert. I was blessed to be able to hear the Claremont Chamber Choir sing tonight at the Drinkward Recital Hall at Harvey Mudd College. One of the basses was conducting it as part of his studies toward a DMA in Conducting. It was interesting to watch Dr. Charles Kamm (the actual director) sing because he was so expressive and looked like he was having a lovely time.

Seriously, one of the positives of my living situation is that I have free concerts in the community that are of serious quality. Tonight’s concert was a collection of madrigals and folk music from around the world and it was heavenly.

— 3 —

Rachel Held Evans’ most recent book. I finished Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans today and I highly recommend it to anyone wondering why Millenials are leaving the faith in droves as well to those who have left the faith and might be slightly amenable. Rachel’s sister Amanda is a singer/songwriter and she composed a few songs based on the sacraments framing the book. Everyone who pre-ordered the book received a download code for the album and I found them to be positively fabulous.

Another person created seven pictures of birds based on things they read in the book. I think my favorite one is for “Communion” and involves hummingbirds drinking around a flower.

— 4 —

A thank you. I was at Target with Daniel this afternoon and decided to have him put stuff on the belt to practice good behavior while shopping. The woman in front of us watched for a bit and complimented him on how he was doing. She then looked up at me and said, “You’re a good mother.”

I honestly don’t think she realized how much I needed to hear that after Daniel had a rather public tantrum on Sunday.

— 5 —

On the subject of kids and cats… I saw this online a few days ago and had to share. It’s a tongue-in-cheek list of reasons that kids should never have cats. It’s amusing to say the least.

— 6 —

Love. I’ve missed two Sundays due to fibro-related fatigue so Bible study on Wednesday was one of my chances to connect to church. I ended up sitting next to one of our founding members M who is 94 and reminds me so much of my grandma. Our priest was passing around pictures she took while walking the Camino de Santiago last year and M had just gotten shots in her eyes so she couldn’t see them. I spent much of Bible study taking her hand and pointing out various things in the pictures for her. When Bible study ended, she gave me a hug and told me she loved me.

No lie, it brought me to tears at that point and remembering it brings me to tears now because she reminds me so much of my grandma who I thankfully got to see a few months ago (for the first time in 4 1/2 years) but who I miss dreadfully. (She’s in Washington and I’m in southern California.)

— 7 —

Weekly trash-talking regarding baseball. I do believe my boys (the Giants) done swept my husband’s boys (the Dodgers). And wait… don’t I recall Jon saying that he’d get a pedicure in Giants’ colors if they swept like that? To the nail place we go!

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: April 19, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY April 19, 2015

Outside my window… dark. I didn’t get online until I was putting Daniel to bed and I opened my laptop to do my lectionary reading for today. (I missed church due to a fibro flare.)

I am thinking… about something that happened to me today and wondering if there will be any ripples because of it.

I am thankful… to have gotten through today and to have emptied 5 boxes from the storage of the many sitting in the living room.

In the kitchen… nothing at the moment. I’ll probably do some cooking ahead in the next few days.

I am wearing… green shirt and capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, vocal skills for Daniel, and a bunch of special intentions.

I am going… to have lots of stops tomorrow morning for errands.

I am wondering… how people can claim to believe in scientific research and and then reject it based on the word of someone who knows nothing about the subject whatsoever. (Food Babe fans and anti-vaxers, I’m talking to you.)

One of my favorite Neil DeGrasse Tyson quotes.

I am reading… Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church by Rachel Held Evans. Y’all need to go get your hands on a copy of this book if you have anything to do with people in your church who were born after 1980.

I am hoping… for decent sleep tonight and that tomorrow goes well for me.

I am looking forward to… Bible study on Wednesday with my wonderful church ladies.

I am hearing… various YouTube videos.

Crocheting… the edging on a blanket for a wedding shower, still working on Daniel’s big boy blankie, and crochet a stuffie for a friend.

Around the house… silence.

A favorite quote for today… “I told them we’re tired of the culture wars, tired of Christianity getting entangled in party politics and power. Millenials want to be known by what we’re for, I said, not just what we’re against. We don’t want to choose between science and religion or between our intellectual integrity and our faith. Instead, we long for our churches to be safe places to doubt, to ask questions, and to tell the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. We want to talk about the tough stuff — biblical interpretation, religious pluralism, sexuality, racial reconciliation, and social justice — but without predetermined conclusions or simplistic answers. We want to bring our whole selves through the church doors, without leaving our hearts and minds behind, without wearing a mask.” — Rachel Held Evans, Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church

One of my favorite things… a quiet and solitary place at the end of the day. I’m an introvert, after all.

A few plans for the rest of the week: errands, Bible study/date night/choir on Wednesday, and a couple other things.

Post Script…

Lora Lee asked for the recipe for my orzo with pesto. Here it is:

1 block pesto (it’s about 1/2 cup to 1 cup for the size my mom uses)
1 16 oz. box of orzo
1 jar pitted kalamata olives (I used a 12 oz. jar from Trader Joe’s.)
1 4-8 oz. container crumbled feta cheese (I used Athenos brand.)
1 bag sundried tomatoes (I used a 3 oz. one from Trader Joe’s.)
1 cup toasted pine nuts (Again, I used an 8 oz. bag from my BFF Trader Joe’s.)

Prepare orzo according to directions on package (boil water, cook for 8-10 minutes, drain). If your pesto isn’t thawed yet (overnight in the refrigerator works the best), stick it in the microwave for 5 minutes on defrost. If you didn’t get pre-toasted pine nuts, you can stick them on a baking sheet and toast in a 300F oven for 3 minutes, watching to make sure they don’t start burning. Drain brine from jar of olives. Once every thing is prepared/toasted/chopped/pitted (if you didn’t get a jar of pitted olives), put everything in a large mixing bowl and mix together. You can use a wooden spoon but my favorite method is to mix it with my freshly-washed hands.

It works well at both room temperature and cold. Refrigerate leftovers… if there are any.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Books, Funeral Fun, and One Last Adventure for Elizabeth

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Oh. Em. Gee. Rachel Held Evans’ new book!!!!! I mentioned the publication of said book in my Favorites a few days ago. I finally finished what I was reading and started it today. Let’s just say that I would publish some of my favorite quotes from it on this blog… but that would involve typing the entire book verbatim. I recommend that y’all go acquire a copy of it, especially those who are having conniptions over your kids “leaving the Church”.

— 2 —

Love. I helped out with a funeral at church on Wednesday and it was fun. (I know… how can a funeral be fun?) It reinforced the awesomeness of the community of which I am part and the part that pulled on my heartstrings the most were when members of the Wednesday morning Bible study saw me and gave me hugs, calling me their “sweet girl” and one of them telling me how much I enrich her life. (One of them is 94 and reminds me so much of my grandma that it almost brings me to tears when I get hugs from her.) Considering I’ve known most of them for only 3 1/2 months (as most of them attend the 8:00 service while I’m part of the choir at the 10:00 service), this is really sweet of them.

— 3 —

Kitchen cheat sheets. I saw this on Facebook and bookmarked it to share in my Quick Takes because it was pretty amazing and something I would totally laminate and use for myself. I’m almost tempted to laminate them and make a book with them for Jon’s cousin who is getting married this summer — they’re that good.

— 4 —

Going back to Rachel’s book… This article was linked and I think it would be something good for my mainline Christian friends to read — it’s about how to welcome disenfranchised evangelicals to your church.

— 5 —

Moved almost to tears. I was catching up on podcasts yesterday and was listening to some things that Frederica Mathewes-Green (one of my favorite authors) had to say. (She’s an Antiochian Orthodox priest’s wife — a *real* khouria unlike my poseur self.) One of the podcast episodes I heard was the Nativity Paraklesis done at her parish in Maryland. It was hauntingly beautiful — very foreign sounding musical settings to my decidedly western ears but just stunning in such a way that it almost brought me to tears in the middle of Starbux. You can listen to it here.

— 6 —

One last adventure for Elizabeth. I first found Elizabeth Dehority through Ginny’s blog a few years ago so I was tickled to see that Ginny and her family made it to Elizabeth’s funeral. Go read about it! Do it now!

— 7 —

Instead of a tattoo. Instead of getting a tattoo for my 35th birthday this year, I’ll be walking a 5K to raise money and awareness for the Preeclampsia Foundation. Details are here.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: April 6, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY April 6, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It cooled down today and was actually long-sleeves weather when I was at the park with Daniel. It’s supposed to rain tomorrow and I’m getting positively giddy.

I am thinking… about the phone calls I have to make tomorrow to the IRS (I want my tax refund) and to insurance companies/Medi-Cal.

I am thankful… for a wonderful Palm Sunday with my church in San Jose and a wonderful Triduum with my church in southern California. Easter morning was wonderful as well with music at both services and a professional tenor singing with the choir. (We were supposed to have a couple other pros but they got sick.) I’m so incredibly grateful to be part of a church where I’m excited about going on Sunday morning instead of feeling like I want to be anywhere else but there.

In the kitchen… lots and lots of leftovers. We’re eating well this week!

I am wearing… one of my Run for the Little Flowers shirts and black capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, comfort and solace for Dayna, and many other things.

I am going… for a walk tomorrow morning.

I am wondering… about a couple things related to the Divine Mercy novena that a few friends are doing. They sound a little weird so I’ll be consulting the hive mind on this.

I am reading… Fudge Brownie Murder by Joanne Fluke. I finished Six Geese A-Slaying and a couple others by Donna Andrews in the last few weeks as well.

I am hoping… to get everything done this week that needs doing.

I am looking forward to… my Wednesday time to myself.

I am hearing… Jon’s CPAP machine as I’m lying in bed doing this.

Crocheting… a baby gift for a friend and also Daniel’s big boy blankie.

Around the house… silence as I am the only one awake.

A favorite quote for today… “Solid-rock faith allows me to believe that despite the chaos of the present moment, God does reign. Regardless of how worthless I may feel, I truly matter to a God of love. No pain lasts forever, and no evil triumphs in the end.” — today’s devotion in Our Daily Bread.

One of my favorite things… Coke — I can have it again now that Lent is over! (I did falter and have some during Lent, a couple of those times on purpose because I needed the caffeine and sugar while I was driving and/or chasing Daniel.)

A few plans for the rest of the week: phone calls tomorrow, meeting with Daniel’s teacher on Wednesday, and other things as they come up.

A peek into my day… I seriously love being part of a church where worship selfies are an expected part of Easter worship. I’m the short chick with glasses and the hymnal.

My choir and clergy.

Post Script…

It has been an interesting time with the Lutherans, especially in churcbes where they only sing songs they know or try to attract young people by doing “contemporary” music. (Not helping, y’all.) I love this hymn which I learned during my first Easter with the Episcopalians about 20 years ago and it brings me happy memories.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: All Over the Map

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

I’m really wanting to smack some people. Rebecca of The Road Home posted something on her blog for the first time in months yesterday and it was a bombshell to say the least. (The tl;dr version is that she and her husband civilly divorced at the beginning of the month, part of it was due to infidelity on her part, and she is now pregnant as a result.) She turned on anonymous comments and some of the anonymous commenters have raked her across the coals, telling her in no uncertain terms of their disappointment with her and how she should stop blogging as a result.

…

Their words are making me quite livid. Rebecca has said in no uncertain terms that her actions were wrong and is taking responsibility for them… and yet, people still feel that they need to tell her about how she is a horrid example. To those anonymous commenters, I have this to say: it’s easy to make comments like that when you’re anonymous so why don’t you OWN YOUR WORDS AND SIGN YOUR NAME! Rebecca owes you no explanations and you have no obligation to read her blog. Seriously y’all, there’s a lovely saying we learned in preschool: if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.

— 2 —

Trader Joe’s love. For those who have never experienced the awesomeness that is TJ’s, I pity you. Here are some things that the rest of us probably didn’t know about them.

— 3 —

Must take up cross stitch again. It is quite NSFW and not safe for me to show parishioners but Subversive Cross Stitch is a guilty pleasure. I particularly love this one and this one.

— 4 —

Yay Simcha! The amazing Simcha Fisher had a lovely piece in the National Catholic Register on Tuesday about what Catholic parents can learn from Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

— 5 —

More Simcha. Girlfriend posted some amazing recipes for Passover. Well… the actual recipes are here but her commentary on the food was awesome including the stuff on gefilte fish.

— 6 —

Like I need more crochet projects! Anyone want to order this for me? 🙂

— 7 —

Disney Princess rap battle. This has been around for a while but it still cracks me up.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

#FiveFaves: Things To Distract Me from the Suckiness of My Life At the Moment

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#5Faves

In the last 48 hours, the following things have happened: I’ve had to fight with Social Security only to discover that I’m being penalized for their screw-up, my parents’ Maine Coon passed away, I got a call from Cullen’s new mommy telling me that he would be having to be put to sleep today due to advanced cancer of the intestine, I took Cullen with his new mommy to his vet appointment where he crossed the Rainbow Bridge (so glad I did — he went peacefully within a minute and a half with his new mommy and I stroking him and scratching his ears), and I’m dealing with financial issues.

So… right now, I’m wanting anything and everything that can distract me from my desire to just pull the covers over my head and hide. Here are some things that are keeping me from losing my mind.

One

Crocheting. I’m sitting at $tarbux working on some amigurumi crocheting for a friend while catching up on some of my favorite shows.

Two

“All About That Bass” rendered by Straight No Chaser. Because tenors can be *SUCH* primadonnas!

Three

Inquirer’s Class. I’ve been attending an Episcopal Church since we moved down to southern California in June and I was invited to attend the Inquirer’s Class in preparation for the bishop’s visit in March to figure out what steps I would need to take to join. The answer is apparently Confirmation. So… I’m being confirmed on Sunday after 20 years of being Christian. (My mother-in-law’s response: “It’s about time you were confirmed!”)

Four

Tim Hawkins on going to a “hand-raising” church. If you’re familiar with megachurch worship, this will cause you to die of laughter. It’s one of YouTube videos I go to when I need a pick-me-up.

Five

Rice Krispies treats. They are my kryptonite.

Go love up Jenna and the others.