Home Alone
On nights when the smallish bears are away and the Kettle Slayer is working the dinner shift, I get to eat all sorts of wonderful things no one else in my house enjoys.
Tonight’s special – oven fried oysters with a spicy mayonnaise dipping sauce. I sent a picture to the bears to show them what they were missing.
What do you eat when you’re on your own?
A Year in Faith: Telling the Stories
The smallish bears are catching on to my project. At dinner tonight I asked if they knew what I was going to ask them.
Lady Bug shouted, “How was school? No, wait! What happened in church?”
They remember more than they think they do. At first both bears agreed that they didn’t know because they’d only read enough of the bulletin to learn when Sunday School would start. Singing, yes, but not which hymns.
They told me all about the Sunday School lesson. How Jesus turned the water into wine at the wedding. How he was all “nah mom, I don’t wanna“, but his mom was all “just do what he says.”
I asked why this story was important. Why do we tell it?
Because it’s the most easiest way to show that Jesus loves us because he does nice things for people.
Right…
What happened last week in church?
Again, neither bear thought they remembered. I went back to the beginning. We start with baby Jesus in Bethlehem, what’s next?
Epiphany. The three kings.
And then?
Jesus dies!
There are moments in these conversations when I’m simultaneously glad they’re absorbing something and horrified/amused that they’re not quite getting the big picture. A year or so ago, Lady Bug drew pictures of Zues on the cross because he was the god she was most interested in at the time. This was even more amusing as Pablo is the head of the Christian Education committee. We’re doing great with these bears!
No crucifixion yet. Let’s think back. Birth, Epiphany,…
Baptism! Oh, I remember that because we did a silent play and so and so was Jesus and someone else was that other guy (pause) John, and I was God. I got to hold a paper dove.
What did God say in the story?
This guy is my son and he’s awesome.
I’m not sure we’re clear on why we share the stories, but they are sinking in somehow. I’ll take it.
In the Kitchen
The Kettle Slayer and I had a rare opportunity for dinner together at home without the smallish bears. Fine Cooking is my go-to magazine for food inspiration and, once again, they provided an amazingly delicious dish that will be added to our home menu.
The few minutes in the kitchen were like a mini-vacation. Slicing, mixing, seasoning, ahhh. I was immersed in food last week, but had no time to do my own cooking. The crinkle of the parchment paper hinted at good things to come.
I’ve only recently come to accept that pistachios are edible, just in time to enjoy this one pan meal.
Gold star to me for remembering that the fishmonger can skin the fish for me even if I already know how.
It always surprises me how little time it takes in that room for my stress to melt away. I couldn’t resist a peek into the oven.
And the finished product was lovely.
It is easy to set aside things I enjoy in favor of things I think I should be doing instead. It is equally important to make time for enjoyable activities. How fortunate that, in this case, necessity and delight are intertwined! We need to eat. I love to make food. Thankful, indeed.
Where do you find the intersection of delight and duty?
2016 NYR Check-in Two: Avoiding metaphysical fiddle
The project is launched. Not fully fledged and on its own yet, but The PM’s Companion and I managed to deftly get things started and kept smiles on our faces through seven days and many, many hours of work.
I managed to sneak in a little bit of homemaking, hanging two items that have been languishing in the mud room coat closet since we arrived in mid-October. Don Quixote is in the living room. Just across from him, near the front door is one of the mirrored coat racks. These things make me smile.
There are still a dozen or so pictures to place on the walls of the Blue Castle. One of my resolutions is to continue to become a better steward of my home. A benchmark of this goal is emptying that front closet. I am enjoying finding the right spot for each picture.
Despite the long working hours, I did make progress on The 2016 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge . I finished a horror novel (way outside my usual preference) recommend by the New York Public Library, Within These Walls by Ania Ahlborn. I didn’t enjoy it. The characters were flat and predictable and the ending was only a tiny bit interesting.
Next I’m making my way into Frederick Buechner’s Godric. I think this will fall into the challenge of reading a book about religion fiction or non-fiction, but I may have to read it first to decide. A reviewer blurb on the back cover says that “[Buechner] avoids metaphysical fiddle.” I have no idea what the reviewer is trying to say, but metaphysical fiddle certainly sounds like something to be avoided at all costs so I may add that to my resolution list too.
Next week I’m hoping for more walking and more making. And plenty of time to sit by the fire.
Looking Forward
This week I am looking forward to:
-the weekend and shorter work days next week
-mailing packages to friends far away
-reading Godric, a thoughtful gift from a mentor at my church
-nights by the fire
-catching up at my desk
-playing in my kitchen
-spending time with the smallish bears
Go-lives are busy times. My hours are not my own. I am finding the balance between presence and looking ahead to more peaceful days.
Where are you seeking balance? What have you tried to help find it?
A Year in Faith: Recall
Over the course of this past week I’ve asked the bears what they remember about last Sunday. They remember that they did the pageant and that King Harold/Herod (they assure me that’s his official name, slash and all) was not honest about wanting to worship the baby Jesus.
After some stumbling, they were able to remember that we were celebrating Epiphany. They like to say that word.
They did not remember any of the scriptures, but were sure we sang hymns. I asked if they sang too and they both assured me that they did. (Because, I was informed, if they didn’t, I would yell at them. Good to know.)
I asked if they knew what the next Sunday was called in the church calendar. Neither had any ideas about that. They looked in today’s bulletin for clues.
We spent some time this week talking about what they remember from our church in Wisconsin. More kids so Sunday School was more fun, but in Massachusetts there are snacks and Sunday School happens during church so you don’t have to sit through both. We miss the mid-week dinners we shared with the Wisconsin congregation. And the courtyard they used to play in. We miss the people.
This exercise in faith-awareness is still new. The bears haven’t caught on yet. I am glad we are talking about church, why we go, and what we learn there. The conversations are beginning.
2016 NYR Check-in One
These smallish bears are one (two?) of the reasons I work so hard toward my goals. I want them to see the value of effort, the lessons of success, and the important experience that comes with missing the mark or deciding that a particular path is not the way you really wanted to go after all. They inspire me to be more joyful and more present. I am happy we get to be part of each others’ lives.
This week I did not work on any quilting projects, nor did I get out the spinning wheel. I did knit a little.
I wrote almost every day. No letters yet, but I did make sure at least one birthday card was delivered. I’d like to be better at birthdays.
One deposit into the savings account and two extra bits paid into the car loan. Almost done with that one!
548.09 miles to go. I’ll be making more time for walking next week!
For the 2016 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge, I finished Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey. It was originally published in the decade I was born. This book is slooooow. I wanted it to be more compelling than it was for me. Many of my reader friends have fond memories of this series and this first book in particular. I wonder if I’d read it when I was younger if it would have grabbed me sooner. The last couple of chapters did catch my interest and I will be reading the next book. Lady Bug turns ten soon. These may be just the thing for her too.
There were many moments this week in which to practice presence and grace. I am glad there will be just as many chances next week too. Bedtime is becoming easier as the benefits are proving to be undeniably wonderful. I am a much nicer and happier person after good sleep.
How is the new year treating you? How are you treating yourself in the new year?
A Little, A Lot
One of the hardest lessons to sink in for me is that a little effort can sometimes go a long way. This is true in my kitchen, in my knitting, in my work, and in my relationships. Small consistent investments have astonishing payoffs.
I could tell that the Kettle Slayer had helped to move things along in the kitchen. The dishwasher was emptied and the dish drainer too! Thankful that he’d spent some of his very short break between shifts making our day easier, it was less of an effort than usual to begin my turn.
Easier, but still overwhelming to look at. How does it get like this in just a couple of long work days??
I set the timer. I am a firm believer in FLYlady’s you can do anything for fifteen minutes philosophy. Fifteen minutes and then I can stop.
Wash, rinse, load, scrub. The timer went off.
I didn’t get to wipe off the stove.
Or sweep the floor.
But, oh, it looks better now.
Whatever it is that seems too much for you, do the first step. Or the first fifteen minutes. And tomorrow do it again. It’s hard for many of us. Don’t be discouraged. A little can do a lot.
How to Finish a Knitting Project
Step One: Knit
This little wrister has not completed itself while sitting quietly on the corner of my desk. Will it be done by the end of the weekend?
Only if I take it out and knit.
Monday evening 6 January 2016
Choir Wisdom
Our choir director has the gift of making good sentences. Often the source of much laughter, tonight two of these sentences hit me in a much deeper place – right in the middle of my parenting conscience.
You are in charge of lightening the weight of your own voice.
I came home from choir. It is cold here today. Wisconsin cold, but thankfully without the bitter prairie wind. My work day was difficult. I felt the signs of an impending sinus headache. One bear up past bedtime (I didn’t know it was time!), one bear sound asleep surrounded by open text books. Wake up! Now is not the time to nap!! I shake her gently, but my voice is angry. Wake. Up.
And I hear it again. You are in charge of lightening your own voice. Important words.
I’m always surprised that you don’t have the same problems I do.
These bears are like me and so unlike me. I assume they will have trouble trying new things because I have trouble trying new things. They don’t. I’m the only one worrying about that.
I figure they will be frightened by an image or idea because I am frightened. They are not.
No, they have different hang-ups. I need to remember that too.
So, yes, I was paying attention in choir tonight. Really. And because I was busy having these parenting epiphanies, I’m still not sure where we’re supposed to breathe in measure 76.
Naming Mountains 