What is currently Saving My Life ~ Winter '20

Happy February! After a crazy couple of weeks filled with Scouting and School activities I'm happily linking up with  Modern Mrs Darcy and sharing what is keeping me smiling and the blues at bay.

• Reading always and forever Amen! Joining challenges and stretching my reading muscles, revisiting old favorites and finding them welcoming; and following book blogs where I find suggestions and companionship amongst the virtual bookshelves.
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• Journaling prayers, gratitude and daily occurrences not to be lost in the craziness.
• Seeking out a good series to binge and watching a couple episodes with Dr Daddy in the evenings once the kiddos are tucked.  Currently Doc Martin and Good Bones.
• Lighting a candle or two in the evening.
• Weekly visit to a local coffee shop and making a cup of tea as we start homework.
• And seeking out 'what makes it better' for my people.  For example, finding a warm Chai waiting makes the winter morning a bit easier to face for the resident tween: which in turn makes the getting out the door routine smoother for everyone.

What is saving your life this winter?

What is saving my life currently; Winter '19

Happy February! After a week of single digit weather I'm happily linking-up with the 

Modern Mrs Darcy and sharing some of what is keeping the winter blues at bay for me.

• Reading always and forever amen! Reading blogs and feeling connected, reading deep books and feeling informed and strengthen, reading light books and finding a quiet corner amidst the chaos to feed my spirit. 
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• Coloring with my girls or journaling in my gratitude journal. 
• Seeking out a good series to binge watch a couple episodes with Dr Daddy in the evenings once the kiddos are tucked.  Currently Madam Secretary!
• Lighting a candle or two in the evening.
• Weekly visit to a local coffee shop and making a cup of tea as we start homework.

What is saving your life this winter?

7 Quick Takes #274: A Decade in the Making

1. Writing this very grateful for my warm house as we have been having crazy cold weather recently, while also acknowledging some of you have my area beat all-hollow so hoping wherever you are reading this ~ you are warm too!
2. After watching most of both National Championships games last week including overtime I'm a bit grateful for a football-free weekend. I am of course thrilled that the Patriots are Super Bowl bound and will of course be watching; but happy for a bit of downtime before the Championship.
3. The other excitement of last Sunday was the Great Wolf Moon turn Blood Moon turn Lunar Eclipse. Adding to the excitement was given the holiday on Monday we could let Lisbeth stay up for the eclipse. In reality it was so cold that starting at 11:30 we would go outside watch for a couple of minutes, come inside & color for a few minutes, repeat till about midnight. Still an amazing sight and a fun one to share with family.
4. Catholic School Week begins on Sunday and the kids are excited for all the fun activities planned by the school including various contests and a fun dinner-out at a local restaurant, and I'm looking forward to helping again with the Book Fair.
5. It is also Pine Box Derby time and Liam (a Wolf Cub) is hard at work with Dr Daddy in the design and creation of his car.  He made one last year but this is his first year entering a car in the derby which is adding to the excitement and fun.
6. This week marks 10 years since I started this blog which is a little beyond belief for me; but as the 9 month old I spent my days with then is talking about what she wants to do to celebrate her 11th birthday I am well aware that time has indeed been passing!!
7. The support, encouragement and fellowship I have received from you readers and fellow bloggers over these past 10 years (and 997 posts) has been amazing and I thank you all very much for coming along on this blogging journey with me.

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's.

Quick Lit: January '19

Linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy and sharing what I've been reading.  I enjoy reading seasonally whenever possible and so these are my  'winter' reads.


The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey is a beautifully written book about a couple's early years homesteading in Alaska; which attempts to merge realistic fiction with the fairy tale genre to a lovely, if haunting result.  The characters are well developed and the descriptions of Alaska wonderful.  The ambiguous ending definitely added to the mystery for me.

The Winter Crown by Elizabeth Chadwick is the second in her Eleanor of the Aquitaine trilogy.  While it is never fun to watch a marriage fall about; Chadwick does a good job taking us into the events of Queen Eleanor and King Henry's lives (Beckett!!) and makes very plausible explanations of how it all went so very wrong between them.  The character development and conversation are wonderful.  Will be hunting down the final book to add to my TBR list.






Snowdrift by Georgette Heyer is a wonderful collection of short stories many of which originally published in magazines. These Regency stories were light and lovely but for me too short to allow Heyer to get in all the wonderful comedy of manners which make her writing such fun.  Potentially great fun for Heyer devotees but if she is a new author for you please start with one of her novels; The Grand Sophy or A Civil Contract perhaps.

Open Book: December '18

Saint Elizabeth's Three Crowns by Blanche Thompson is a biography in the Vision book series aimed for older children.  In addition to sharing biographical facts about Saint Elizabeth's life, the book also shares some of the saint's journey of faith as she learns about the Franciscan or the Gray Brothers and learns about their ideals of simplicity and charity.  Another interesting question raised throughout the book was that of vocation and service as a wife, mother, Landgravine, and later a Third Order Franciscan.   While a bit 'sugary' at points a solid biography which shares some of the miracles and struggles of this saint.

A Christmas Wedding by Andrew Greeley tells the continuing story of Charles O'Malley the oldest son of a Chicago Catholic family. This installment cares him and his Rosemarie through their courtship and early marriage.   This was a reread for me and it holds up well; I really enjoy how Greeley focuses on the events of everyday life while interweaving some of the current events of the 1950's so as to give context to the times when his characters were living.


Currently getting into the season and reading The Snow Child and The Winter Crown.


In addition Christy of Fountains of Home has recently share a lovely Christmas book list.

Please head over to Carolyn's for more Open Book.

Quick Takes #252 Happy New Year

Longwood Garden from our December visit.

1. How is everyone? Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We did ~ safely made it to Maine before the worst of the ice storm hit and then got to hunker down cozy warm. The kids actually did great going to Mass twice on Sunday and the liturgies were lovely

2. During our week at my MIL we were able to get in lots of visiting as many of Dr Daddy's extended family were able to stop by for overnight visits. Lots of quality cousin time for the kids ~ and lots of new stuff to play with!

3. We rounded out the week with an Anniversary lunch and shopping trip and our traditional NYE fondue dinner. The year Lisbeth made it to midnight (largely by playing Minecraft with her twin/cousin)!

4. The snowstorm last week meant that the kids only went to school once the first week of January, so this week found us a bit rusty at the whole school routine but the general warming pattern did help.

5. On Monday Caitlin turned 5 and opted for Elana of Avalor decorations plus some Unicorn stuff, bringing Munchkins to school and a unicorn cake at home to mark the occasion!!

6. I owe her a real birthday post soon but as the other excitement of the week for her was parting with her tonsils I'm deferring writing in favor of cuddling her at the moment. Prayers and good thoughts welcome.

7. Have a  good weekend!!

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's.

Quick Takes #225:Tales of sanding and fruit loop necklaces

1. Crazy spring like weather this week which was in one sense so wonderful as it felt amazing to be able to go on bike rides and walks; and get some yard work done. I am however nervous for when winter comes rushing back and what that will mean for the plants starting to bud.
2. The great weather has made it easier to get a bunch of sanding done on all the wood for the Loft bed.  Not my favorite task but am hopefully improving my skills, and hopefully will start painting soon which I do enjoy though I'm sure by the end of painting all the parts and pieces I'll be happy to be done.
3. Liam and his classmates celebrated being a 100 days smarter!! Various activities included collecting a 100 of different items and necklaces containing 100 Fruit Loops!!
4. With Lent starting next week I really appreciated this post by Peanut Butter and Grace and all the wonderful suggestions for getting kids involved.
5. I've decided to give up reading fiction and so am trying hard to get Winter Garden finished cause it is wonderful!! I also really enjoyed my sister's latest even if it was steamier than my usual.
6. And I as I return now to my sanding duties I wish you a very good weekend!!
7. Photos of the week:

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's

Quick Takes #224: Crazy weather and growing kids

1. Life is good but the weather is crazy; we began the week with days in the 50-60's and are ending with a snowstorm.  Crazy Weather!!
2. I don't necessarily hate February but I do at times struggle with winter blues; and so am so curious about the concept of Hygge and really appreciated this post on Blessed Is She on how to embrace it this month.
3. We had people over to watch the Super Bowl who provided great distraction and support during the entire first half while the Patriots were remembering how to play primetime football ~ and celebrated with me when in the second half they remembered in a big way!! Not sure how many records were broken but that was one amazing game.
4. Take 4 goes to my newly minted 4 year old who has started asking me how to spell words and write letters.  The very definition of bittersweet is how  both excited and sad I am to watch her grow by leaps and bounds.
5. It is now less than a month till Lisbeth's 9th birthday and so plans are coming together including the fact that she would like me to make her a Pikachu cake.  I'm not sure which is the crazier concept: that she is about to start her LAST single digit year or that she still thinks I can bake!!
6. And in a 'watch this space' moment after months of discussion between Lisbeth and Dr Daddy I believe that the loft bed they decided to build might actually happen; with plans drawn up and perhaps materials being purchased this weekend?!?!
7. Have a good one!!

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's

Saving my life: Winter 17

Linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy and sharing some of the things saving my life and keeping the 'winter blues' at bay.

• Reading always and forever amen! Reading blogs and feeling connected, reading deep books and feeling informed and strengthen, reading light books and finding a quiet corner amidst the chaos to feed my spirit. 
  
  
  
• Playing an app game with my oldest. This is a tougher school year with more homework and tougher assignments and since winter doesn't always allows us the opportunity to run, laugh and play outside I'm cherishing the moments where we strategize together, celebrate silly successes and 'feed the animals'.
• Laughing; seeking out favorite shows like MASH and As Time Goes By and enjoying an episode or three.
• Lighting a candle or two in the evening.
• Weekly visit to a local coffee shop and making a cup of tea as we start homework.

What is saving your life this winter?

Quick Takes #222: Successes and the sickies

1. Prayers for our nation and its new president this Inauguration Day; prayers for the marchers this weekend.
2. Last weekend started with Caitie's Shimmer & Shine gymnastics party during which all had a lot of fun ~ unfortunately by Monday we were all one by one hit by a stomach bug.
3. And I again give thanks that when my kids are sick they don't tend to whine and are not impossible to console. Being sick simultaneously with both girls was definitely lousy but we have hopefully now survived our bug for the winter and can look forward to healthier days ahead.
4. Favorite Post of Late
5. Having finally decided to get Netflix in order to watch the new episodes of Gilmore Girls we are now watching The Crown. We have only so far watched 2 of the ten episodes of Season 1 but are enjoying it so far.
6. Finished The Life You Save this week and while I really enjoyed it and learn so much about these four amazing people ~ it was dense and I'm looking forward to reading slightly lighter stuff for a bit.
7. Attending a birthday party; Liam's Kindergarten Mass and doing a bit of Pre_Cana counseling this weekend while hoping for a bit of sunshine and a chance to air out the house.  Whatever the weekend holds for you ~ have a good one!!

Happy Birthday Girl!

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's

Quick Takes #202: Lent and life these days

  

1. Snow on and off all week have made for pretty views but no loss of school and not too bad clean-up wise.  Temperature wise winter is definitely settling back in this weekend.  
2. Lent plans are coming together; alms wise I'm hoping to complete 40 bags in 40 days again and will be staying open to other giving opportunities. Prayer-wise I'm using the devotional journal offered by Blessed is She.  
3. Ana of Times Flies offers this wonderful post on motherhood during this season; so in shorthand I'm going to giving up being annoyed at the interruptions which comes with loving and living with littles.
4. Nancy of Do Small Things post offers a wonderful list of different ideas for Lent. Hoping to focus on one from each category ~ maybe picking a new one each week.
5. I'm also participating again with #holylens on Instagram hosted by Abbey of Surviving Our Blessings.
6. Lisbeth and Liam both came home from school with a checklist of ideas for during Lent ~ so beyond completing the pathway from Catholic Icing and meatless Fridays I'm currently hanging back and letting them decide how they want to approach Lent.
7. Charlie and I are presenting at a Pre-Cana tomorrow; I've come to really appreciate these chances to meet with young people and discuss ideas and goals for how to build a strong marriage.

Please head over to Kelli's for more 7QT's

What is saving my life right now

Linking up with the Modern Mrs Darcy and sharing 

what is saving my life right now

Winter while wonderful does certainly wear on me after awhile and while not as seriously as Seasonal Affected Disorder I have learned to guard against the "winter blues".

Current favorite remedies:

•  making sure to be outside if sunny and take a walk if possible
• weekly trips to Starbucks or Dunkin
• making myself a cup of tea before tackling/overseeing homework and starting dinner
• crocking something large on the weekend ~ gifting myself a night or two of leftovers
• making or buying scones for 'tea-time'
• pleasuring reading
• Watching Downton Abbey
• keeping a gratitude journal and aiming for 3 entries each day

What is saving your life these days?

Fave Five: Winter Dance Party Edition

This winter's freezing weather has called for the majority of energy burning to be done inside and while the kids are great at coming up with their own games ~ occasionally the time comes to call
Dance Party!
Here are some of our favorites;


1) Mulan and Sophia the First

2) 5 days old

3) Good Morning Starshine

4) All God's Creatures have a place in the choir

5) Shake it off

Now please head over to Call her Happy for more Fave Five

Quick Takes #173 Lent and a case of the sickies

1. TGIF: What a crazy week: School holiday, Snow day, Ash Wednesday, etc
2. Both the big kids were sick this past weekend and then Lisbeth unfortunately kept relapsing all week; fine Monday, lousy Tuesday, managed a school day Wednesday, sick through the night and so stayed home yesterday. Currently at school and has hopefully kicked it to the curb.
3. Lenten plans coming together with using the Blessed is She journal for myself and the Lenten Path of Catholic Icing and Bringing Lent to Life by Kathleen Basi with the kids. 
4. Also planning on doing 40 bags/40 days along with Kelly of Familiar Joy
5. Great posts I've read recently: Mary of Let Love be Sincere on Pope Francis
6. And Jenny of Mama Needs Coffee on NFP
7. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy weekend!!

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's

Quick Takes #171: A couple thoughts and a couple of links

1. Everyone here has been passing a cold around which has made for a tough week but given that so many families have been dealing with flu this winter I feel bad complaining so I'll mention and minimize the grumbling.
2. For some reason my phone and computer aren't speaking so no new pictures but hopefully it will get fixed soon as I'm getting some sweet shoots of Lisbeth and her new 'do.  
3. Really appreciated this article and so, so agree that we are never going to make real inroads in removing barriers to nursing until we acknowledge the two choices are not equivolent.
4. Winter weather shout out to those of digging out for feet and feet of snow. Here we (and by we I mean the under 7 crowd) are dealing with the frustration of ending up just south of the storm time and again.
5. Elisabeth's school Saint Dorothy has made it into the finals of a video competition for the World Meeting of families. Please click over and vote ~ voting ends today.
6. In thanks you get this one off :)
7. Have a great weekend and please don't forget to head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's 

Quick Takes #168 Christmas Recap

1. Christmas Eve: Frantic but lovely; Charlie was able to leave the clinic in time to come to Mass with us. The kids did reasonably well and Lisbeth loved joining her fellow 1st graders in helping Father put Baby Jesus in the Nativity Scene. Wiglia small but nice as we began to explain some of those important childhood traditions which we hope will come to be important to the kids too.
2. Christmas morning: Big kids actually waited in their bedrooms till 7a; checked out stockings and then we woke Caitlin for present opening amongst the 5 of us ~ then loaded up the car and headed out for....
3. Christmas in VA, arriving after an amazing traffic-free, stop-free drive down in time to enjoy and wonderful dinner with my side of the family and more gift opening. On Friday we enjoyed some downtime to enjoy the new stuff. On Saturday the kids spent some time with their cousins and Bonne Mamy taking charge Charlie and I enjoyed an amazing day trip to Williamsburg. Really deserves a post of it's own with pictures but summary version: we had a great day to walk and explore not just the Colonial capital but the campus of William & Mary too. Stayed late enough to see some of the Grand Illumination and enjoy a wonderful dinner at the King's Arm. Truly a wonderful anniversary gift to each other!
4. On our actually anniversary we drove back to PA, and on Monday paused to do laundry, clean out the car a bit and sell our first house. I posted about it here when we moved this summer and of course the closing stirred up all the emotions a bit but only a bit as we were off on our next adventure...
5. Maine for New Years: After a longer, more traffic-full drive we made it to Maine and a wonderful New Years Eve/New Years Day filled with more presents and cousin time!!
6. Winter Sports featured on Friday with Lisbeth going skiing for the first time and Liam's inaugural ice skate. I too went skating which was a blast ~ something I used to really enjoy and haven't had the chance in years.
7. Re-entry has been a bit bumpy so I think we are all looking forward to a catch-up weekend but also think this Christmas Season will go down as exhausting but most excellent!!

Please know head over to Kelly's for more Quick Takes!

Jumping In; 7 posts challenge

Joining in on the Conversion Diary challenge of 7 posts in 7 days challenge hosted by Jen.

  Guilty of giving in a bit to the February funk around here; the re-entry to teaching was a bit tougher than I expected plus weather related cabin fever, plus mild sickies that have passed round and round the family.  So when I saw the announcement I was excited to be a spectator/reader but thought there was no way I could be a participant/contributor ~ then I thought there might be a reader/writer out there who is having an equally fun February and might appreciate reading a note of solidarity and perhaps celebration of life with little trenches.

So here's to:

Fighting the February funk by having some fun!!

Things I want to hold onto about the last couple of weeks:

• Caitlin learning to give hugs & kisses and offering them to disgruntled older siblings
• Impromptu pizza parties
• Being inspired by another blogger to make snow margaritas
• C & I keeping our valentine promises
• Lisbeth and I taking turns reading at bedtime
• Watching the stars of his Twilight Turtle with Liam

What about you, any wonderful February memories to cherish?

Playing Catch-Up

Allo!

Happy President's Day! Lisbeth was suppose to have the day off but instead is making up a snow day which I suppose make sense winter day for winter day.  Hopefully the weather begins to improve as every snow day going forward will need to be made-up.  We are working on various activities to celebrate 100 days of Kindergarten; which is a bit of a moving target. The 2 teachers have asked for everything to be turned in this Friday in the hope that the 100 day mark will be hit and celebrated next week!!

I need to get a picture of Lisbeth's new smile ~ she lost tooth #3 yesterday ~ her first on top!!

Returning to work has been a bit Shakespearian: "the best of times ~ the worst of times" 'Nough said!

Caitlin is now wanting to stand all the time but still not showing any interest in cruising still preferring crawling as her mode of movement.  Newest words are 'eyes' 'yes' and 'hat'.

Quick Takes #151 ~ a bit late

1. Edel Gathering; Really hoping to be able to attend but regardless just so excited that it is happening.
2. On the home front ~ everyone is mobile!! Caitlin has been able to army crawl for a little while now but tended to only do so to reach something just out of reach. As of this week she is up on hands and knees and interested to see where she can get and what she can get into
3. Olympics ~ watcher or non-watcher?? What is your favorite sports?  We (the grown-ups) are both watchers especially of the skating and skiing though I know far less about the favored athletes than usual.
4. We were luck to never lose power in this latest ice storm but the heavy snow and ice will probably prove too much for a couple of trees in the back.  
5. Have been thinking a lot about what to do with this little blog of mine. Have not come to any conclusions but this wonderful post by Cari of Clan Donaldson gave me some good food for thought.
6. I got nothin'
7. The coming weekend may bring us Storm #3 for the week.  Whatever it holds for you ~ have a good one!

Please head over to Jen's for more 7 Quick Takes

Quick Takes #150

1. Hello from our part of the polar blast ~ hope everyone is doing ok. We are surviving with the help of warm blankets and mugs of hot cocoa.
2. As I posted earlier this week, this little blog of mine is 5 years old. So yay me for sticking with it and mostly thank you to all my readers and friends who have kept coming back and encouraging me in this fun little endeavor of mine.
3. Like for example nominating me for Most Unappreciated Blog at the 2014 Sheenazing Awards. Vote Now!!! And thank you, thank you!!
4. The two big kids had a lot of fun with their 2 snow days this week and as the temps are still well below freezing I expect the snow will be around all weekend to enjoy.  Caitlin is a good sport and will come outside and watch so that I can play when asked by L1 and L2 though since she can't really move around much I worry about how quickly she gets cold.
5. Am still undecided about the direction Downton Abbey is going this season but I am feeling better after last Sundays episode and I love Rachel's review!!
6. And now I'm going encourage you to head over to Mama needs Coffee and read up on her Wellness Project which I think is a wonderful idea even if I haven't managed to do something most days.  Snow days + sick spouse= tough week.
7. My week in pictures. Have a good weekend and don't forget to vote!!

And please head over to Conversion Diary for the rest of this weeks Quick Takes!!