Happy Halloween!!

Quick Takes vol #35

1. Happy Halloween Eve, I'm very curious to see what Elisabeth thinks of all the costumed people coming up to our door. She likes her costume, so hopefully she will enjoy the whole experience.
2. The car trip last weekend went well with beautiful fall colors seen on the drive, and E. had fun playing with her cousins ( and they enjoyed seeing how much more fun she is now that she is not a 'baby').
3. Not for nothing, I love pumpkin: pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice latte, and very likely pumpkin spice cookies; I'll tell you after I make them this weekend.
4. New Words for the Week: 'Good morning' and 'right back'
5. New favorite activity: Stomping and kicking thru raked leaf piles!!
6. Mini Book Review: I'm only half-way through "My Life with the Saints" by James Martin S.J. and am really enjoying it. He tells his spiritual biography by telling of how learning of various saints and their faith journey affected and enhanced his.
7. Happy Halloween and Blessed All Saints Day!!

Enjoy the rest of the 7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary hosted by Jen

Pumpkin Patch

Making the most of a sunny afternoon, we went to visit a local orchard/farm hosting Pumpkinland!

We picked out some pumpkins

and we talked to some jack-o-lanterns

and took some pictures to remember our visit by.

Ten on Tuesday

Welcome to Ten on Tuesday, hosted by Chelsea of Roots and Rings

1. What are you going to be for Halloween?

A Mommy! Elisabeth is going to be a bumble bee and I think I will let her go to our closest 3-4 neighbors, then she will help us hand out candy.

2. Have you ever been on television?

You can see me for about 5 secs in an episode of Discovery Health's Birth Day, from when I was working at a local birth center.

3. Do you have a toilet paper preference?

Cottonelle

4. When you’re pregnant, will you find out the sex of the baby? (Or if you’ve already had babies, did you find out the sex?) Why or why not?

No we did not, enjoyed imagining either possibility and meeting, and naming at the same time. Plus it drove my family a little crazy (small weird bonus)

5. What are three items that every kitchen must have?

A large flat bottomed skillet, a good knife, a spatula. I completely agree with Chelsea

6. Do you enjoy Christmas shopping?

Yes, except for the wrapping part

7. What is your go-to recipe? (The thing you cook more than anything else because it’s easy and mindless.) Please share the recipe.

Spinach Quiche: will share recipe later (sorry short on time right now)

8. Do you sleep on your back, belly, or side?

Side, usually left

.

9. How do you feel about Tom Cruise?

Was ultimate fave (as in posters all over my bedroom wall) to finding him a bit too strange but wish him and his family well of course.

10. What books are in your “books to read” stack?

This answer also deserves more time than I have right now (I love to read), but I am currently reading "My Life with the Saints" by James Martin and enjoying it.

Your turn! Please go to Roots and Rings and enjoy our host Chelsea's answers (and others)

Quick Takes vol #34

1. Pre-Cana weekend went well (despite the lack of heat). It was a quiet group so hard to determine what they found useful. I however found it very useful. We have never done a marriage retreat but I've often thought that spending a weekend discussing with engage couples the Sacrament of Marriage and how to be sure to include spirituality in your marriage isn''t a good tune-up for my own marriage.
2. A trip to the pumpkin patch resulted in a nice large pumpkin adorning our front step and smaller pumpkin for a certain toddler to walk around the house saying 'pumpkin' and 'mine'
3. Speaking of my favorite toddler, her farwells now include "See you later!"
4. We are headed to Richmond this weekend to celebrate some family birthdays and I'm excited for my family (who have not seen her since July) to see and HEAR how she has changed.
5. My next younger sister is two years younger, but since she married and started her family before I did, we joke that she has definitely finally caught up with her big sister.
6. As our host Jen reminds us in her Quick Takes, Christmas is just over two months away and while I pull together my list of shopping still to do, it occured to me this may be the last year I'm determining for Elisabeth what she wants for Christmas.
7. It has been fun on walks with Elisabeth now to, in addition to collecting as many acorns as she can carry, have her identify the colors of the various leaves on the ground. Fall colors are just past peak where we live and as we are traveling south this weekend, hoping for a nice color show.

Enjoy more wonderful Quick Takes at Conversion Diary hosted by Jen

Small Successes:October 22nd

1. Sweaters swapped for shorts and t-shirts and the ensuing chaos cleaned up (nearly)
2. Mid-term grades done and turned in!
3. Candy bought and ready for Halloween

Giving thanks today for:

a beautiful niece born this day seven years ago

a lovely and loving sister whose birthday was yesterday

a strong and supportive relationship with both my sisters

sunny days to be spent in the pumpkin patch and playground

a husband to lean on and laugh with

grace abounding and love unceasing

Read more small successes and share your own at Faith and Family Live

The "100th Post" post

So back in January I had this crazy thought that, since I really enjoyed reading various blogs in which people wrote their experiences good, bad and humorous as they lived out the adventures of life in their corners of the world that maybe I could do that too. I have from time to time kept a journal and while I am somewhat of a shy person, I do really enjoy the idea of being part of something much bigger than myself.

So here we are 100 post later and while I'm still not sure I have anything to say worth reading about I am beyond grateful for the kind and generous comments left by loyal followers and those who pass by on their way around the net.

So much of what I write reflects my journey as a mom and child of Christ and that I imagine will be true going foward. The nine month old I lived with at the beginning of this journey is now a walking talking toddler who fills my day with light and laughter as she hastens the greying of my hair, who knows what the next hundred posts will bring?

Care to come along?

Quick Takes vol #33

1. With the first Nor-easter predicted for this weekend I guess it is time to pull out the sweaters and put away summer clothes, which in E.'s case means packing the clothes away after deciding what is worth keeping versus donating.
2. This will be post 99 for the blog and based on my numbering these Friday Quick Takes have comprised a third of my post. Very Interesting!!
3. Sleep is returning to the house as we are now again in a teething lull and all seem to healthy for the moment. She now has 14 teeth so this break should hopefully last awhile. Being cold free...a mom can hope.
4. Apple picking got off to a rainy start, but the sun eventually did shine on us and apples were picked. Though keeping her from eating the ones off the ground proved to be quite a challenge.
5. We are now enjoying yummy apple pie, except Elisabeth. Charlie makes great pies but likes his apple pie somewhat tart and it has proven too tart for the toddler. Daddy promised to make the next one with sweeter apples and a bit more sugar.
6. Our parish hosted a Eucharistic Holy Hour this week which was lovely and well offered, except silly me, I thought it would be about an hour and at actually nearly two, it proved too long for my favorite toddler.
7. This weekend we again have the honor of presenting at our parish's Pre-Cana. I so enjoy meeting and helping couples as they plan their weddings and prepare for their married life together.

Enjoy the rest of this week's Quick Takes at Conversion Diary hosted by Jen

Small Successes:October 15th

1. Went apple picking last weekend, and since E. has been requesting apple slices everyday (several times a day). Also made plans to go to the pumpkin patch next week.
2. Have made a good start on Christmas shopping
3. Have made the time for Eucharistic Adoration three weeks in a row.

Today I am giving thanks for:

a hard-working generous husband

a growing (increasingly verbal) munchkin

students who work hard and seek to care well for their patients

fresh produce picked together with friends

Enjoy and share some of your own small successes at Faith and Family Live

Wordless Wednesday: Apple Picking

Quick Takes vol #32: Autumn Blessings

Seven lovely things to do on an autumn afternoon

1. Explore with a toddler, picking up every acorn for further investigation
2. Pick apples and go for a hayride
3. Read a good book on the patio while it is still warm enough
4. Rake leaves and teach a toddler about leaf piles
5. Plant bulbs and look forward to spring
6. Sip hot cider while eating pumpkin spice cookies
7. Give thanks for the blessings which abound all around!!

1. 
   

Small Successes:October 8th

1. Was able to get the carpets on our first floor clean
2. We had a roof leak this summer which luckily resolved with some caulk, but wanting to not be caught unaware this summer made an appointment this week to have the roofer come back and let us know if anything else is need to be ready for the cold.
3. Given "Glimpses of Grace" by Madeleine L'Engle for my birthday I had yet incorporated it into my day. However so far I have read each daily entry for October.

This Thursday I am giving thanks for:

Wonderfully clean carpets

Warm down comforters to snuggle down under

Sunny crisp fall afternoons to go exploring with

A supportive husband willing to share in the nighttime fun when toddler insomnia hits

A growing happy toddler who loves me, and has learned how to say it

Visit Faith and Family Live to celebrate more of the small successes of life

Saturday Evening Post:October

Elizabeth Esther is hosting the "Saturday Evening Blog Post" again, a fun monthly meme where bloggers can submit their favorite posts from their own blogs. I chose my post about the mass where Elisabeth first spontaneously offer 'Peace' during the Sign of Peace.  Overwhelmingly this blog is about my faith journey as I love and learn to care well for my little one.

Head over to Elizabeth Esther's for more of this months selections

Sharing the Wealth: Fruited Chicken and Barley

At the request of Chelsea of Roots and Rings (an amazing blog for those who have not yet met it)

Fruited Chicken and Barley

from Cooking Light: 5 Ingredient  15 minute Cookbook

1 1/4 cups pearl barley, uncooked

6 cups water

2 pounds skinned chicken thighs

1 lg onion, coarsely chopped

1 (8oz ) package dried mixed fruit

1 tbs salt-free Caribbean spice rub

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Combine all ingredients in a 4 quart slow cooker; stir well

Cover and cook on high setting 4 hrs or until chicken is tender

Or, cover and cook on high setting 1 hr; reduce to low setting and cook 7 hrs

Neither my husband nor I like spicy food so I substituted nutmeg and poultry seasoning in place of the Caribbean spice rub.

Enjoy!!

Quick Takes vol #31

1. Breakthrough at daycare; after six weeks finally this week drop-offs did not include tears which greatly reduces my guilt, but also my concern.  Elisabeth is generally a social little girl so I was beginning to wonder/worry that there was something about the center or class she really did not like.  Her vocabulary is growing daily but she still can't always tell me whats wrong or what she needs.
2. Speaking of my favorite toddler having mastered "No!" a month or so ago, the other mainstay of toddlerhood "Mine" showed up this week.
3. Charlie was in Texas at a conference this week and it occurs to me again that Texas is just too far away.  Don't get me wrong I am happy to be back East in the land of autumn and Dunkin Donuts, but there are things about Texas I truly miss and unlike the two other areas I lived Virginia and New England which are easy road trips when I seek a booster...Texas is tougher, ah well
4. Recently saw the remake of "The Lion in Winter" with Glenn Close and Patrick Stewart, it is good and they are both wonderful actors, but Katherine Hepburn & Peter O'Toole they are not.
5. The problem with surprises is that when your husband unexpectedly catches an earlier flight, you end up at the airport for a surprise meeting at the wrong time.
6. Fascination in the world; There is an walnut tree in neighborhood and on walks E. picks and exams every acorn she can and has started to notice the colored falling leaves.
7. Weekend plans; cleaning up and catching up

Enjoy more of the Quick Takes at Conversion Diary

Small Successes:Happy October!!

1. Mailed out copies of Elisabeth's 18month pictures, to the happiness of relatives and friends throughout the land.
2. Pushing beyond an initial worry at trying anything new and outside my training, have agreed to take a largely administrative position in spring at the school where I teach
3. Made a yummy chicken dinner using a recipe out of a new cookbook within a month of buying the book.

Bonus #: Neither workday this week did Elisabeth cry upon being dropped off at daycare.

Today I am so thankful for:

a happy toddler adjusting to new challenges

a supportive husband who encourages me to spread my wings

crisp mornings  for walks and acorn collecting expeditions

the chance to sip a pumpkin spice latte with reading a good book

love supporting and sustaining from the source of all life and love

 Please check-out more small but significant successes at Faith & Family Live!